After the day's tiring work, Ram had got exasperated but the sight of his daughter tucked in Mrs. D'souza's arms took all his exasperation away and a warm smile covered his face. Peehu had become a center of attraction in his office. Each and everyone in the office wanted to have a hold on her. She was that adorable, and carried her warmth with her antique plays and a wonderful smile.
Ram smiled looking at the scene in front of him and went near her. All of the office staff had gathered around her and were singing and dancing and were having a jolly time with her, of course the work was never compromised. All were pretty relaxed since it was the time to leave the office as well. As soon as Ram came close to Peehu - the strong bond between this father and daughter could be seen and felt. She jumped in his arms immediately as she saw him, giving him the world's cute smile and cuddling around. Ram carried her jumping feet and took her in his arms delicately. He smiled looking at her, and gave a kiss on her forehead and her cheeks. And murmured which only she could hear : " Papa aa gaye...my princess seemed to enjoy a good jolly time in papa's office...hain naa...?"
She only knew to smile and cuddle around him. And it always carried a vision that she only had her eyes and soul for her father and vice versa. She shared sweet nothings to him every time she was in his arms. And the father enjoyed her sweet nothings with a sweet smile.
All in the office were very pleased to see this bonding and wished them with loads of blessings across their hearts.
Ram thanked everyone and especially Mrs D'souza for taking such a good care of his child when he was not around and was busy in his meeting. In return he got genuine wonderful smiles of everyone which tucked his heart.
After bidding adieu to the delegates of the meeting, Vikram came near him and tapped his shoulder saying : "Chalein.."
Ram looked at him and with a smile over his face with the little bundle in his arms said: "Haan chalet hain..." Ram didn't checked further over post meeting modalities with Vikram as he knew his buddy would have taken care of it already.
Bidding adieu after the day's work Ram along with Pihu engulfed in his arms and Vikram who carried her belongings happily made their way to Ram's car for home.
KM:
A new morning had dawned upon and with it the rays of bright sunshine hovered on the premises of KM and the interiors of it. The sunrays slowly traced their path towards Ram's room wherein the newly wedded couple had spent their first night.
As imaginary things could pull apart, the sight inside was the reflection of the same.
Priya was lying on the couch and Ram on his supersize bed. The first rays fell on Ram's face and he lazily opened his eyes. He turned his face on his left side with a desire to laze around more, but the sight he had in front of his gloomy eyes was nothing less than bliss.
The bright sunrays clicked a beautiful picture in the form of his bride. His bride - Priya. She looked dazzled and beauty personified carrying no makeup, no additional touches. She was looking at her natural best. The sunrays on her face depicted a natural beauty queen who was sleeping peacefully in her emblem.
Looking at her for a minute Ram felt that his morning came out beautifully after such a long time - really a long time. But after a moment he overcome this emotion and came out of his bed for his new day's start.
On his way towards washroom he saw Priya sleeping peacefully. Her face refused to stop glowing and the sunrays helped more to it.
Ram kept looking at her and was mesmerized again. He couldn't stop seeing her. His eyes were on her but a sudden tear dropped in his eyes. He then managed himself and went towards washroom. He almost banged the door so hard that the sound of it woke Priya up with a slight scare. She opened her eyes and looked around. With the sunshine glowing all over room by now she realized that it could have been almost 7.30 or 8.00 am.
She got up from the couch and folded her duvet. The sound of splashing water inside made her understood that Ram is freshening up. She went on to put the duvet and the cushion rightly on the bed and then came near window. She opened up the curtains of the windows allowing the sunrays to brighten the already brightened room and her divine face.
"Kya kar rahi ho tum?" "Parde kyun hataye..band kardo unhein..." Little louder voice from behind evaporated her bright mood. She didn't turned behind but standing in the current position exclaimed saying: " Parde isiliye hataye kyunki main subah ko mehsus karna chahti hoon...""Aisi subah achi lagti hai mujhe..."
"Par mujhe nahi..." he grumbled from behind.
"Toh fir yeh apki problem hai...meri nahi..." "Anyways, agar aap naha chuke hain toh kya main nahane jaa sakti hoon aapke royal washroom mein...ya mujhe kisi aur ke kamre mein jaana hoga nahane..." She questioned sarcastically.
Asking this she turned behind and froze seeing the man in front of her. He was looking radiant enough to catch her eyes. A nice shimmering orange sherwani matching his colour texture, a colored dupatta around his neck and a nice fragrance seeked her attention. He looked stunning. Her eyes widened looking at him and a smile on her face reflected her feelings.
With a confusing look on his face he asked: "Aise kya dekh rahi ho..." "Main hi hun tumhare saamne.."
She smiled listening to his cuddled expression and said: "Oh acha...thankyou...aap nahi batate toh mujhe pata hi nahi chalta ke ye aap hain..." She grinned seeing his confused look and continued asking:" Waise aapne bataya nahi ke kya main aapka washroom use kar sakti hoon?"
Ram annoying answered::" Kal use kiya tha na..toh ab bhi use kar hi sakti ho...""Itna courteous hone ki zaroorat nahi hai..."
Priya smiled and uttered a thank you and made her way towards the washroom, but as fate had it, she slipped up again in Ram's arms. This time they had no eyelock, as an irritating expression from Ram questioned her: "Tum baar baar gir kyun rahi ho?"
She immediately hopped on her feet and answered:" Woh kya hain na...jabse aapke is mahal mein aayi hoon tabse zameen pairon tale aati hi nahi hai.."
"Very smart.." Ram replied annoyingly. And he walked towards the door. He stopped midway and turned back. Priya was just about to close the door when he asked: "Saree toh hai na tumhare paas..."
She opened the closing door and replied politely: "Haan hain toh...kyun?"
Ram: "Woh...Maa aur Dadi ne humari shaadi hone ki khushi mein pooja rakhwayi hain...toh...isiliye..."
Before he could explain further Priya immediately replied saying: " Main saree pehen loongi...Don't worry. Thanks."
Ram smiled listening to her answer and said: "Jaldi aana..." "Don't keep engaged for so long in the washroom..."
Priya exclaimed : "Haan theek hai...taunt na maariye..." And she closed the door.
After sometime, Priya came out of washroom and draped herself into a nice pink saree, with matching accessories and kept her hair loose on the left side of her shoulder. She looked at the mirror and smiled looking at her reflection. In her thoughts expressing a slight loudly looking at herself said: " Are waah Priya, tumne apneaap ko is tarah pehli baar dekha hoga...hain naa...not bad Priya...not bad at all..." She laughed praising herself and looked around. Her laugh turned into a slight embarrassment when she found Ram near the door observing her.
She covered herself and asked:"Aap...aap kab aaye...?"
Ram smiled and said: " Jab tum apne aap ko nihaar rahi thi..."
Hearing this she got a little embarrassed and a shy smile spread over her face. Ram came near her and stood very close to her. Her heartbeats ran faster than usual with every closing step of him.
With the flashes of their proximity of last night, she clutched her saree not knowing what to do; she definitely couldn't look up to him. She only realized that he was standing very close to her observing her.
What made him to come this close to Priya, Ram himself couldn't recognize but her innocent beauty definitely attracted him towards her. And this was happening since last night. It was as if he was getting affected but didn't want to accept it. His mind and soul were ruled by his angst and hatred. But the fact that all little things of Priya since she had stepped back in his life was starting to affect him was the truth he didn't wanted to face.
He kept on looking at her, from head to toe. Yes, she was simple, elegant and stunning equally according to his mind. But the refusal to accept it again made a way when a sudden wind blew up from the windows making a picture of the side table to fall on the ground.
The crackling sound made Ram come into reality and he turned to look at it. He picked up the picture and with it a sad expression covered his face. It was his Ria's picture. The frame was broken into pieces and he got saddened seeing that. He was about to bend down and pick up the frame and its broken glasses but was taken aback when he saw Priya collecting those.
Seeing that he bent down and still offered to help her but she refused saying : "Haath mat lagaiye...lag jaayega aapko. Kaanch hai...chot lag jaayegi..Main uthati hoon..."
His emotions choked up and with the choked emotion he said: " Chot toh already lag hi chuki hain..."
On listening him, she looked at him and read his face. She was glad to see that Ria was still in his heart in spite of so many years of her death.
He got up in angst and said: " Tumhein jaldi tayyar hone ko kaha than a maine..toh ab tak taiyyar kyun nahi ho..."
Priya softly said: "Main tayyar hi hoon Ram..."
Ram annoyingly said: " Agar tayyar ho..toh chalein...""Sab wait kar rahe hain neeche..."
Priya's eyes had turned moist seeing him like this and got up saying: " Aap ek hi baar mein saara gussa kyun nahi nikaal dete...is tarah kyun nikaalte hai...bol dijiye ek hi baar mein jo bolna hai..dil halka ho jaayega..."
Ram getting miffed said: " Agar gussa ek hi baar nikal diya toh darta hoon ke main us insaan ko maaf kar doonga jisey main gunehgar thehra chukka hoon..."
Looking at her sternly he continued saying: " Aur main tumhein kabhi maaf nahi karna chahta Priya...kabhi nahi...main kuch bhula nahi hoon aur naahi bhulunga..."
Saying this he started walking away but Priya stopped him saying: " Ghar mein pooja hain naa...humari shaadi hone kee khushi mein..toh aapko nahi lagta ke humein neeche ek saath jaana chahiye ab..."
He stood silent, and Priya affirmed his positive reply in his silence. She put those glass pieces into the dustbin, kept Ria's picture safely on the sidetable, went to washroom and washed her hands and came near him.
Both of them looked at each other for a while sharing all kinds of emotions from angst to pain. They then started walking into the hallway of KM.
comment:
p_commentcount