He lay diagonally across the bed leafing through a file. His head supported by his right hand he faced the head board with his back to the door. He occasionally looked up from his work a tiny smile playing on his lips only evident to those familiar with his normally sombre look and would gaze absently at them and then would return to his file. Except for the occasional sounds of sucking and swallowing and gurgling there was nothing that disrupted the soft melodic singing...and yet it did not disrupt it just complimented the mood in the room. He suddenly felt a tap on his ear and looked up startled at the little leg that had just kicked him a slow warm smile spread across his face. He stretched his hand up slightly tugged at the tiny foot and kissed the underside of foot. He watched as his action disrupted the two that so far seemed to have been in their own world. His eyes followed the tiny foot up to the diapered bottom and the tiny shirt visible from under the curtain of the lemon green pallu he was under. He then looked up to the sweet smile, he was now so in love with.
He turned his head up and relaxed his arm, to lay his head on her thigh. She had been lying on the left side of the bed facing him, her legs stretched out torso supported by a pillow nursing little Gyan lost in her own thoughts singing to lull Gyan but it soothed him as well. This was their peacefull time The once uncomfortable silence between them had now become their comfort.
"Done" He asked. Gopi nodded, and stroked his hair ever so lightly, then lying Gyan a little bit further tried to sit up just as Kokila walked in, Ahem propped himself up on his arms turned to face his mum and smiled while Gopi sat up. "Hogaya" asked Kokila." Ha Maaji" replied Gopi. "Give him to me I will burp him." Gopi nodded lifted Gyan up to his Grandmother. Kokila kissed him and put him on her shoulder gently rubbing his back and walked toward the door. "You two freshen up and come down for tea the whole family are gathering together to have our tea outside. It's a nice day and as its Saturday the whole family is home for a change." "Ok Mom"replied Ahem, Gopi just nodded.
Kokila turned at the door, but her son had already turned his back to the door and was gazing at his wife who was now sitting cross legged on the bed trying to adjust her blouse. Kokila smile and quietly closed the door to give them some privacy. She paused, Ahem had changed for the better, he was now more relaxed around her, a year ago he would not have been lying down on his bed in her presence and answer her so nonchalantly. Despite her strict adherence to decorum she liked this chainge in her son. He was now more a rounded man. A man, who was still ambitious and driven; yet one, who was gentle around his dear ones. "My Gopi Vahu was the right choice" she murmured to Gayan with a satisfied look she adjusted her pullu and walked down with the precious Modi bundle in her arms
As the door closed, Ahem laid his head on her lap and looked up at his wife a little furrow played in between her eyebrow's, concentrating on buttoning her blouse under her pullu. He reached his hand up massaged his thumb at the furrow to smoothen it out, then smiled boyishly and unpinned the pullu and pushed it aside to help her. Gopi looked up startled and looking at the playfull look on his face shook her head and when his hands reached for the hooks at the front of her blouse laughed and wrapped her pullu around his head blinding him for just enough time to quickly make herself decent. Ahem unravelled himself laughing and sitting up places the pullu on her shoulder. They both got off the bed freshened up in companiable silence and helped each other in straightening the room out.
"Challo" Gopi again just smiled her reply and proceeded to head out. Ahem placed his hand on her waist his palm warm on the exposed flesh there and pulled her to his side for a moment, she laid her head on his chest he squeezed his hand on her waist, Gopi buried her head in his chest, Ahem kissed the top of her head, she kissed him on his chest where her face was in return. The pulled apart smiled at each other and proceeded downstairs, his hand still at her waist.
comment:
p_commentcount