Published on 31st July 2021.

__________________________

K, someone watching Zindagi Gulzar Hai?

Last time I saw it was years ago......

When will I find a Zaroon of my own!!

♡ Just when I think you're gone

Hear our song on the radio

Just like that, takes me back

To the places we used to go ♡

- S H R U T I -

Twenty minutes!

It had been twenty minutes Radhika was in the labor room and her husband was a crying mess. All this time, he had been saying that it's all because of him she was there. If he had not cheated in the game of chess while she was in the bathroom, she would've been well.

Chess!

What he meant to say was that their child was angry on his father for using black tricks to win the game from his mother!

Why would an unborn child even do that?

Entire gallery was in a pin-drop silence. There was no sound audible from the labor room too. Then, how do the movies show the shouts and cries made during the delivery?

Radhika's in-laws, and ma and papa were waiting patiently outside the room whereas Rishabh was busy consoling Ansh. I stood against the wall and held my head as it was aching a lot. In addition, the loud noise made by Ansh wasn't doing any better to my condition.

Will he stop?

My gaze went towards the gate of the OT as the red light went off. Taking a deep sigh, I stepped towards the room and in a minute or so her obstetrician arrived.

As everyone was eager to know how everything went, the doctor wasted no time in answering. "Congratulations, it's a girl. As for a premature child, she's quite healthy. We've admitted her in the NICU. And, the patient is perfectly fine. She's resting. You can meet her an hour later."

Thank God!

Happiness of both the families was over the clouds. And, the new dad had finally stopped crying!

Thank God, again!

Walking to the nursery, we saw the baby from the glass window, who had a few wires attached to her body. Although it was was terribly painful to see the tiny child with those machines, if it was for her benefit then there was nothing wrong.

After an hour, Radhika was shifted to another room and her husband stayed beside her. As she woke up, the first thing she asked was about her baby, obviously.

"She's fine."

"She? We have a daughter?" Radhika asked. As she saw his smile, she broke into happy cries and hugged him.

"Shruti." I heard Rishabh's voice and turned back. He gave me a glass of juice and I mumbled thanks. "You can go back and rest. Let me drop you. It's already late."

"You?"

"I need to handle the work here. I can't let these new parents look after such things."

"I'll stay here too. I think, ma and papa should go back and rest." I said and he nodded.

✨

Pulling the quilt up to cover myself, I held the soft cushion tightly and snuggled more into it. As I heard the sound of slow and steady beatings, I slightly opened my eyes and saw Rishabh lying in place of the cushion. So, it wasn't the cushion but Rishabh?

He had to stay up last night to complete two of his designs! Whereas I had to cuddle the pillow beside me!

While gazing his face, I moved my head above his chest and slithered my arms around his waist. Thank God he was asleep. After reading his features for minutes, my eyes closed on their own.

I never knew winter mornings could be so warm and satisfying!

When I felt something moving in my head, I came out of my sleep but kept my eyes closed.

"I know you're up." Rishabh said while his fingers moved in my scalp. "Shruti." He called me but I acted to be asleep. "Shruti?"

"Hmm..." I hummed as slowly as I could, trying to act that I just woke up. As my eyes opened fully, I saw him grinning. "What?"

"You're terrible in acting." He said while laughing and I closed my eyes in my failure. He pressed his lips against my forehead and I opened my eyes immediately. He pulled me above him and placed his hands on my butt.

What's with him holding my hips?

"I need to use the bathroom." I mumbled and he hummed while looking straight into my eyes. "What hmm? Leave me. I need to go."

"Go." He said and moved his sight down through my face. I followed his gaze which ended on my cleavage and widened my eyes. Pervert!

As there was no way he was going to loosen his hold, I leaned down to hug him and hid my head in his neck. Atleast it was better than being up for a show.

"You don't want to go?" His chest quivered under mine as he spoke.

"It's your fault."

"How?"

"N... nothing." I mumbled and he chuckled.

"Shruti?" He called my name while moving his arm around my back and I hummed. "Any specific place for our honeymoon?"

God!

We haven't even done the deed.

And we're here, discussing about our honeymoon!

All these days were spent in work. After Radhika's daughter was born, entire house had been in hustle and bustle. The baby was successfully discharged from the hospital last night after showing all positive signs.

"Do you have any place in your mind?" I asked.

"Yeah. I thought about one a long time ago. Actually, ten years ago." He said and I leaned up, only to look at him with disbelief. What he meant was that he had decided the venue of his honeymoon a decade ago!

Did he decide his wife a decade ago too?

"Ten years ago?! With whom?"

"With the wives I had." He said and I widened my eyes. Wives? Am I not his first wife?! He broke into a series of laughter while I was busy trying to understand his thoughts. "I was just kidding. You seriously think that I could have a wife at the age of twenty?"

Why do I always make a fool of myself?

"It's not impossible."

"For your surety, main Geeta par haath rakh kar kasam khata hoon, that you are the only wife I had and will have. Happy?" He said and I chuckled. He encircled his arms around my back and placed a kiss on my right cheek while I did nothing but gazed his actions. (I take a pledge by keeping my hand on holy Geeta)

"I need to go." I mumbled and he nodded, moving his hand off me. As I tried to get up, he grasped my hips and pinched my butt cheeks. "Ouch! Rishabh!!" I shouted and he smiled, acting oblivious of the fact that he pinched me just a moment ago.

How come I mistook this notorious man for a sweet gentleman?

I'm a fool!

In a revenge drive, I leaned towards his neck and bit his skin. "Aah... What are you doing?!" He yelled and I gave him a thin smile in response. Tit-for-tat!

"Nothing." I said. He raised his eyebrows before laughing and I joined him too, until I felt something poking my hips. It's not what I'm thinking, is it? I tried getting up but failed when he pulled me back towards him. As he leaned his head towards mine, I placed my palm in between. "I haven't brushed."

Not those stinky morning breaths!

"Neither have I." He said. This man is adamant!

Before I could give him another excuse, he joined his lips with mine and slipped his hand inside my t-shirt. When he was about to deepen the kiss, I pulled back and jerked up, unfortunately sitting on his groin.

My gaze went towards his face, which clearly showed the extent of his uncomfort. I quickly descended his lap and tried rushing, which only resulted in me falling off the bed.

My back!

"Shruti! Are you fine?" He peeked down while lying on the bed and asked. I was dying with pain and he was still lying on the bed!

"Yes, I'm more than fine. It's good." I said and he looked at me with an amused expression. "Ofcourse, it's paining!" I yelled and leaned up, taking the support of bed.

"I'm sorry. I-"

"It's okay. I'm fine." I stood up and stepped towards the bathroom. Locking the door from inside, I slid my lowers down and sat on the toilet. While thinking about all the happenings of recent days, I completed my work and took a warm bath.

I walked out of bathroom and stepped in the closet to wear a saree. Today marked ten years to our school farewell and we always celebrate it each year by wearing the type of same outfit, saree, except Parth. He would look like a clown if he wears one.

As I finished wrapping the saree around me, I heard the door of closet opening. I looked to the front and saw Rishabh walking inside. He leaned down in front of me and held the pleats I was making. "I don't think I can sit here for an entire day. Do it faster." He said, snapping me out of my dreamland.

I quickly pinned the pleats and he sighed while getting up. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." He mumbled before walking forward to pick his clothes. Attaching the saree to the blouse with a pin, I walked out to the kitchen.

Ma and papa weren't home, which clearly meant that I had the duty of breakfast on my head, as Rishabh is the worst cook I've ever seen. They were at Radhika and Ansh's place to stay with their granddaughter.

After setting the breakfast on stove, I walked back to our room to get ready in the meantime. As I walked inside, I saw Rishabh buttoning up his navy-blue shirt. If he had a shirt of this colour, why didn't he wear it till now?

I love this colour as much as bulls hate red!

The only thing I wanted to do now was to kiss him unconditionally, without any barriers.

Control Shruti, control!

But he looks hot.

Why do I sound so desperate?!

"Is the breakfast ready?" I heard his voice which pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Y... yes." I said and ran towards the mirror to get ready.

Calm down.

Calm down!