Published on 25th January 2022.

____________________________

♡ Waiting, I just keep on waiting

For the final curtain

'Cause I just can't let go of your love ♡

– R I S H A B H –

I was in the car, checking the status of construction of our new showroom when my phone rang. As it was from papa, I quickly picked it up.

"Are you going somewhere?" Ma asked as soon as she saw me. It was obvious, they could see through the rear windshield in background. I knew there was no point in changing the topic but lying was the only choice left.

I shook my head and spoke, "I was in the meeting. And now I'm going back to the hotel. How's everything there?"

"Fine. We just came back from the new year party." Papa spoke and I raised my eyebrows.

"Isn't it too early to be back?"

"Your ma isn't feeling good. We had to be home."

"What's the matter ma? Is everything fine."

"I'm fine. I guess it's flu. It would be fine soon." She spoke and I sighed.

"Why aren't you taking care of yourself? You're not a child ma."

"Hey, don't scold my wife." If I had to do something, I would've hit my head on the wall. I mean, I was telling ma to take good care of herself but papa was in another mood.

"I can't win from you. Where's Shruti?"

"She's preparing a decoction for me. It's been a long time she's in kitchen, I wonder what's taking her so long."

"I'll call her, don't worry." I suggested and they nodded. Hanging up on the current call, I immediately dialled Shruti's number but my mood worsened when she didn't pick it up.

Why wasn't she picking my call?

I hung up on her earlier in the morning when she asked me to turn my camera on and show my face. Was she angry for such an issue? I was on the airport when I received her call. I couldn't show my background and tell her that I was on my way back to home, could I?

My work finished earlier than expected and I was extremely thankful to the situation. I cancelled my ticket which was booked with rest of the staff for six days later and bought a ticket for the latest flight. I had absolutely no plans to stay alone and roam in a foreign city when my family was far away from me.

After ringing her for the fifth time, which was also left unheard by her, I sighed and closed my eyes. A wait for few minutes was the only thing I could do.

I reached home at 11:27 and saw all the lights off. Everyone was asleep and I took it as a disgrace to wake everyone up at this hour. Our entire neighborhood was busy celebrating the new year eve, counting the last few minutes of this year and our family was sleeping.

They would've been out too if ma's health was good.

Using the spare key, I walked in and shifted all my bags inside. Ascending the stairs, I stepped in my room and saw my wife sleeping on the bed. My pillow was sandwiched between her arms, being crushed mercilessly while her soft snores filled the volume of entire room.

I shook my head at her careless form and found my way to the bathroom to have a hot shower. I needed it to calm myself down and get a good sleep after the tiring jet lag.

Stripping all my clothes off, I turned the shower on and felt extremely hot water falling on my muscles. The warm liquid did wonders on my body and calmed my nerves. I took a deep breath and cleansed myself using shampoo and soap.

When I was done, I switched all the taps off. I was wrapping towel around myself while walking out of the shower cubicle but stopped dead in my tracks when I heard the sound of water flowing.

I closed all the taps, didn't I?

Is there a ghost at my place?

It couldn't be.

I peeped out at the sink and toilet and my gaze fell on Shruti who was probably washing her hands. I sighed and pulled my clothes from the rack to wear.

If she turns back now, she would be surprised. I mean, how could anyone not be shocked after seeing her husband standing in front of her, in the same bathroom, when he should've been miles away from home.

I know this was cruel of me to not inform her beforehand!

But I wanted to surprise her.

She turned the tap off, wiped her hands with towel and walked towards the door without paying any heed to me. I knew she was in half-sleep and wouldn't stop until I call her.

"Shruti."

Before her hand could palm the doorknob, she stood still and turned around to face me. I opened my mouth to speak to her but nothing came out. I was seeing her after days. Facetime is another thing and real presence is another.

She took slow steps towards me and I felt water pooling in my eyes. Not now, Mr tears. Her hands raised up to cup my face and I smiled. My eyes closed on their own and my arms flew in air to wrap around her but before I could feel her against me, I felt a sharp push on my chest.

What the hell was that?

I stumbled back and regained my balance, protecting myself from falling down on the floor. "I know you're just a dream. Go away before I kick you!" She spoke and I looked at her bewildered.

"Shruti... I'm here. You're not dreaming."

"Shut up. Just shut up!" She grumbled in her sleepy voice and turned around to walk out. I stayed in and wore all my clothes before walking out to her. She poured water in a glass and the opaque utensil touched her lips. I crawled over the bed and sat beside her, making her shocked. "Why am I-"

"You're not dreaming. I'm here, right beside you." I spoke and my arm snaked around her back. She took a long moment to stare me as her fingers came up to touch my face, to see if I was real.

If she's not going to hug me right now, I'll—

She jumped over me, clutched my shirt in her fists and hid her face in my neck. I wrapped my arms around her and felt her tightening her hold on me. When I heard muffled sobs, I looked down and gazed her.

I hate it when my loved ones cry.

"Hey, Shruti, what's the matter? I'm here." I caressed her back and she calmed down. She leaned back, looked at me and again hid her face, this time in my chest.

"How dare you hang on me! And where we you?"

"I'm sorry for doing it. I just wanted to surprise you. That's it. I couldn't show you that I was at the airport, could I?"

"You... were... at airport?"

"Yup, I couldn't drive back home. Taking a flight was the only way." I answered and she looked down. Her expressions showed she felt embarrassed. But for what?

"I thought that you were..."

"What did you think?"

"You were not ready to turn your camera on. So I thought that you were hiding something from me. I mean, someone. I know it was wrong of me but you left me with no option."

Someone?

How could she think so low of me?

"You thought I was cheating on you?" I asked and she nodded hesitantly. "Is that how strong our trust is?"

"Rishabh, listen to me-"

"Why should I? I would rather die than doing such a thing. Even the thought of cheating disgusts me! How could you think so low of me Shruti?"

"I'm sorry Rishi. I know I'm mad. You can be angry with me. But, please don't stop talking to me. I want to solve this matter now." She mumbled and I nodded. I wanted to have a good sleep tonight. I couldn't get slumber before resolving all our matters. "I don't know what got into me with I thought that you're bored of us. I was scared. At first you were hiding and then you hung up on me. What could I even think?"

"Anything. You could've taken out other possibilities too. What if I was kidnapped? Or had an accident? Or died?" I spoke and she covered my mouth.

"Please."

"Please what? How long will it take for me to gain your trust? I love you, get this straight into your thick skull. No-one can ever come between us. I will never get bored of us, our relationship, never." I said and she hugged my torso tightly, her face stuck close to my heart. She cried and my heart ached. I pulled her closer and placed a kiss on her head, "Don't cry."

"I'm sorry."

"It's my fault too. I chose a foolish way to surprise you. But promise me, you would never question our relationship."

"I promise it will never happen again."

Atleast she was speaking her mind instead on concealing all her thoughts from me. That was enough for me.

I nuzzled my nose in her neck and took a deep breath to inhale her fragrance. It had been more than two hundred hours I was away from her. The first two days were fine but then it felt torturous.

"I missed you a lot."

"I missed you too. Thank you for being back early. But I hate you. You could've told me beforehand that you were coming back instead of anticipating me."

"I'm sorry. And I'm not going anywhere now." I chuckled when she slapped my chest. I held her hand, brought it near my mouth and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "Don't start crying now. And yes, like you said, you're mad."

She let a small laugh out and her lips remained up, showing the smile which I love to see. I leaned my face down to her and placed a kiss on her lips. She fisted my shirt in her hold and I cupped her face to enhance the kiss in right direction.

My right hand travelled down to grasp her ass while the other one escaped beneath her shirt to feel her warm bare skin. I pulled back from the kiss, which for me was as torturous as snatching chocolates from a child. Trailing my lips down to her neck, I slowly licked her sweet spot and she pushed me back, atleast a feet away from her.

"Wait, Rishi." I hummed, "I'm on periods. Not now."

"When did your periods start? You were fine when we talked the last time."

"It's been more than twenty-four hours you enquired me about my periods. Moreover, it barely takes two minutes for the uterus to shed blood. You don't know anything."

"I'll know if you teach me. I'm a quick learner."

"Very funny."

The clock struck twelve and emitted a loud sound. My gaze turned to the window as firecrackers snatched the highlight of night sky.

My face was forcefully turned to a side and a pair of warm lips pressed on mine. I sighed and responded to her forced kiss as she wanted me to.

She's becoming fierce!

"Happy new year."

"Same to you. Let's aim to do innovative things and turn stronger this year." I spoke and she nodded.

Talking about new things, there's a lot we can do. I would love to see a little Shruti running around our household someday, who would turn everyone's life upside down and dress me up as a doll. I would love to see a little version of me someday, who would carry his grandparents on his fingertips and make them fulfill all his wishes.

Someday, not now. We've spent just a few weeks together and there's a lot we need to do before we become mentally and physically ready to sacrifice our privacy to our children.

"I love you." She pecked my lips and got off my lap, "Let's go to sleep. You must be tired." I smiled and joined her to bed. Slipping inside the sheets, I hugged her from back by wrapping my arm around her. It had already been more than a week of staying away and I wanted to keep her close to me as long as I could. "Rishabh, can you scratch my back? It's itching."

"Sure." My hand slipped beneath her shirt and travelled high up to her back. "Here?"

"No, a little lower."

Moving my hand down, I scratched her skin lightly, "Here?"

"Nope, just go right and then down." I followed her directions and moved my fingers down. "Not here. You're doing it all wrong. Wait!" She turned around and faced me, "Do it now. It might be easier." My fingers rubbed against her bare back and I dragged them down.

"Fine?" I asked while scratching the spot lightly. She looked into my eyes and nodded. "How is ma now? She was alright last day. What happened to her?"

"Her blood pressure dropped to 80 over 50. She was feeling dizzy so we came back from the party earlier. Don't worry, she took her medicines. I prepared the decoction with her recipe and it's already in her body now. She would be fine."

I frowned and looked at her, "But she told me that it was flu, nothing much."

"Maybe because she didn't want you to worry about her. You were busy with your work and she didn't want you to take more stress. Moreover, we all were here with her."

"Hmm. What about mumma, papa, Akriti di and Adit? Are they fine?"

Her lips twitched up to let a laugh out. "Don't ask about them. Everyone's fine. You know, papa has gone out of state for some work, just for two days. And mumma! She's over the top and gave us a feast today. She's saying that our home is calm and peaceful when papa is not there. According to her, papa always demands things, he's never willing to do a work on his own and is dependant on her. He can't even have a glass of water on his own."

"Really?"

"Yes. Just like you. Even you can't do your chores on your own." She said and I gasped.

I can't do my work on my own?!

"Can you cook your own food?"

I can't cook but it doesn't mean that I can't do anything.

"No. But they're two different things. Moreover, I can have water on my own."

"Whatever suits you." She smiled and I rolled my eyes, "Mumma and Akriti gave me a big lecture for doubting on you. Sometimes I feel that you're more important to them than me."

"Well, they did nothing wrong. I am their son-in-law. By the way, I called you a few hours ago. Why didn't you pick them up?"

"I didn't feel like picking your call. As simple as that."

"I know you were angry on me."

"I surely was. I'm your wife and it's my right. You can't snatch my right."

"I have no plans to take your rights, don't worry." I spoke and she nodded, "Talking about rights, I too have some rights being your husband." I rolled over her and nuzzled my face in the crook of her neck. As soon as my stubble tickled her skin, she laughed loudly.

"Rishabh, get off, now!" I took my time to tease her and got a cue to lie back on bed when she was entirely pissed off. Let's say, it was a bad decision to trigger a menstruating woman. "Go to sleep and don't touch me."

"Touch?" She closed her eyes and I kept my hand on her shoulder to shake her. In an instant, she threw my hand away from her. "Hey!"

Now, I could only wait till she's sound in sleep. I can't even get a proper hug from her!

Cruel woman!