Love after Marriage (50 page)

Looking straight into his eyes, she moved a step closer and started pushing him away, then started to gently pound her hands on his chest. She continued venting her feelings with tears flowing down her cheeks. Deepak tried to hold her hands, but she forced them out of his.

“In a moment, in a flash of a second, all my dreams were shattered, my ego, my morale was crushed to pieces, and do you even realize what I had to go through? No, Deepak, no, you don’t! It was so easy for you to say what you said that night. Did you even think you were talking to a human being! I don’t think so! How can anybody be so rude to a wife on the first night itself? What were you thinking…a toy wedding or a fairy tale? We were two human beings, grown-up human beings, and…and you decided to break the relationship in a second! How could you? How could you?”

She continued to be a little violent, pushing him, and Deepak stood listening to her. Finally Roshni got the opportunity to vent her emotions that lay suppressed for so long. She grabbed his shirt with her hands and said, “I hate you. I hate you…for all that you said and did to me. I hate you, Deepak…I hate you, Deepak.”

She wept when Deepak held her hands and pulled her to his chest. She resisted, but he forcefully pulled her and hugged her tightly and consoled her, and repeated, “I am sorry, I am sorry, Roshni!”

His eyes were glassy too. He knew she was mentally tortured; he consoled her. He was thankful that she finally vented her anger and all the bitterness she had for him!

After a few minutes, unawares, Roshni hugged him tightly. She wanted him more than she thought; she knew it and gently raised her head to look at him with tears in her eyes. She cupped his face with one hand. “I love you, Deepak. I love you. I have always loved you. How could you do this to me?”

She buried her head in his chest and cried profusely.

Deepak cupped her face with his hands and turned her to face him. “I love you too, Roshni. I love you, and I cannot live without you.” He pulled her to him and hugged her. Both of them wanted each other. They hugged, feeling the comfort and warmth.

They remained in each other’s embrace for a long time, satisfying their hunger and thirst for each other, feeling safe and secure in each other’s arms!

Chapter 32

Akash and Sheetal Agree to Marriage

Roshni and Deepak woke up to reality when Roshni was startled by the door opening. Sheetal stood in front of them with a box in her hands.

Sheetal looked at both of them. “Oops, I should have knocked first! I am so sorry.”

Roshni wiped her tears of joy and moved her head away from Deepak. “It’s all right, Sheetal.” She quickly glanced at Deepak and turned towards Sheetal. “We should be repentant, for…for…not being aware of our surroundings. What time is it?”

“4:30.”

“Sheetal, we didn’t realize it was this late. Please forgive us.”

“Don’t worry, Roshni.”

Sheetal glanced towards Deepak, and he nodded that all was well and looked very happy and relieved. He continued to hold Roshni close to him with one arm around her waist.

Roshni noticed the box in Sheetal’s hand. “What’s in the box?”

“Well, you asked me to bring something, didn’t you?” Sheetal reminded Roshni.

Roshni instantly remembered that Sheetal was bringing a cake. “Ha, yes, I remember. Deepak, we have a cake for you. We want you to cut it,” Roshni said, facing him.

“So you bought a cake for me,” he said, and then he bent down to her ear and whispered, “I received my gift, thank you.”

Roshni felt a little embarrassed in front of Sheetal and quickly changed the subject. “Deepak, can you cut the cake now that Sheetal is home too; then we–”

Deepak let Roshni loose, and both started to move to the table.

“Can you wait for a little longer, please?” Sheetal asked.

Both Deepak and Roshni stared at each other and then wondered why Sheetal wanted to wait.

“Sheetal, is there a particular reason you want Deepak to wait?”

Sheetal did not want to tell them that Akash was expected any minute and spoil the surprise, so she thought quickly. “Well, it’s been a long day. I’d just like a few minutes to freshen up.” She hoped Akash would arrive soon.

“Of course,” Deepak said. “Please take your time.”

Relieved, Sheetal placed the box on the dining table. Deepak moved to the family room to relax while Roshni limped to the kitchen area to finish what she’d been doing before her outburst.

The doorbell rang.

Sheetal jumped to open the door, and Roshni was astonished to see Sheetal so ecstatic. Who could it be?

Akash was at the door, and Sheetal and Akash were delighted to see each other. It was obvious, and Roshni and Deepak shared a knowing look.

Akash came to his senses and came forward and hugged Deepak. “Happy birthday, Deepak. Many happy returns of the day.”

“Thank you, bhaiya, but you…here!”

“Well, I wanted to give you a surprise,” he said.

Then he glanced at Sheetal, and Roshni noticed this. It did not take her too long to perceive that he must have arranged this with Sheetal.

Akash turned around to look for Roshni, and he was glad to see the improvement in her health. He hugged her. “Roshni, so nice to see you. I am happy you recovered well! How is everything going?” Then Akash looked at Deepak, waiting eagerly for his response.

“Everything is going very well, bhaiya,” Deepak responded and winked at his brother, indicating all was under control now with regards to his relationship with Roshni.

After what she’d seen a few minutes ago, Sheetal could not deny it but nodded her head in agreement. Akash was relieved to hear this.

A few minutes later, everybody moved to the dining table for Deepak to cut the cake.

“Wait a minute. Sheetal, I have a question for you,” Roshni said.

Sheetal was confused and didn’t know what to expect.

“Did Akash bhaiya communicate with you that he was coming here?” Roshni asked Sheetal.

Sheetal felt shy and nodded her head.

“Oh hooooo! How long has this been going on?” she asked.

“What?” Sheetal pretended to be ignorant.

“C’mon, Sheetal, I can see all that is going on between you and Akash bhaiya.”

Both Akash and Sheetal were embarrassed and looked at each other. “What is going on?”

Roshni came closer to Akash bhaiya and whispered, “Bhaiya, tell me very honestly; do you like her?”

Akash was in a dilemma to answer this question, but he nodded his head. Roshni hugged Akash. She was happy, and Deepak noticed this, and he suspected that their suspicion regarding Akash and Sheetal was true. He was happy himself. He moved to Sheetal and asked Sheetal if she also liked Akash. Sheetal agreed.

“Akash bhaiya and Sheetal, I want to ask each of you something,” Roshni said and looked at Deepak for his approval. He smiled and nodded his head.

She took Sheetal to her room while Akash and Deepak waited outside.

“Sheetal, do you like Akash bhaiya?” she asked very openly.

Sheetal agreed.

“Would you want to marry him?” was Roshni’s next question.

Sheetal again nodded.

Roshni moved a step closer to Sheetal. “Sheetal, did you talk to your parents about this?”

Sheetal answered affirmatively to this question as well.

“So, what do they say?”

Sheetal mentioned that they agreed, and Sheetal felt shy and hugged Roshni. Sheetal was shy and remained in her room.

Roshni was very excited. She came out of the room and held Akash’s hand and took him to their room. She asked Deepak to accompany them. In the room she asked, “Akash bhaiya, do you like Sheetal?”

Akash agreed, so her next question was, “Do you want to marry her?”

Akash was startled by Roshni’s openness. He looked at Deepak and then towards Roshni. “Yes, if she and her parents agree, I would like to marry Sheetal.”

“So, what about Sashank bhaiya?”

Deepak and Akash were confused and looked at Roshni.

“What about Sashank bhaiya?” asked Akash.

“Don’t you want his approval too?” Roshni asked.

Akash was shy. “Of course, I don’t think Sashank bhaiya will have any objection,” he said very confidently, and Deepak agreed.

Roshni and Deepak both hugged Akash for giving such good news. Then Deepak hugged Roshni. “Very nice, mission accomplished, Roshni.”

All of them returned to the dining area.

“It is a wonderful time to celebrate. Akash and Sheetal want to marry each other – such a wonderful piece of news,” Roshni said.

Sheetal interrupted her instantly and said, “More important news of the day…” She glanced towards Deepak to seek his permission, and he agreed. Sheetal continued, “What more could we want when Roshni has forgiven Deepak, and both of them will start their life together. Let’s celebrate this first!”

Roshni could not believe what she’d just heard! Who told Sheetal? Deepak saw the expression on Roshni’s face and whispered in her ear, “They know all of it, Roshni.”

Roshni looked at him, and he nodded, indicating that he’d informed them. Meanwhile Sheetal moved forward and gave the knife to Deepak to cut the cake.

Deepak pulled Roshni to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. “I am so happy today,” he expressed. He looked towards Roshni. “Thank you, Roshni, for such a wonderful birthday gift!”

The tears of joy in both their eyes blurred their vision, and Roshni knew what Deepak was referring to as ‘the birthday gift’.

He held her hand, and they cut the cake together. As Sheetal and Akash watched this new growth in their relationship, Deepak fed a piece of cake to Roshni, and Roshni did the same, and they were lost in their gaze only to be disturbed by Sheetal and Akash.

Roshni turned towards Akash and Sheetal and asked them to feed a piece of cake to each other as well, and they did. All four were in a very joyful mood.

Silence followed.

Deepak interrupted the silence. “Such a great day to celebrate. Why don’t all of us go out to dinner to celebrate this!” he suggested.

He looked at Roshni so lovingly and asked for her acceptance, and she agreed. Sheetal and Akash also agreed to this idea, and it was already 6 p.m.

“I’m starving. I did not eat much all day; shall we go out now?” said Akash.

“We can’t go now,” was Roshni’s response.

All were stunned to hear this.

“Why not?” Deepak questioned her instantly.

“Please give me a few minutes to get ready at least.”

All laughed at her request.

“Certainly, let’s take a few minutes to freshen up before we leave,” Deepak responded.

Deepak followed Roshni to their room. Roshni was at the closet, flipping through her salwar kameezes, when she felt the warmth of hands around her belly. Deepak was behind her with his arms around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder. “Shall I help you pick a dress?”

Even before she replied, he went through all her dresses and picked a dress, a navy blue dress with heavy mirrorwork and embroidery, showing it to her. “Roshni, I think you should wear this.”

The dress he picked was too fancy for dinner. She held the dress and turned around to face Deepak. “Deepak, don’t you think this is too jazzy for this occasion?”

Deepak now wrapped his arms around her tighter. “This is not ‘just dinner’, Roshni. We are celebrating for two reasons!”

Roshni saw the happiness and excitement on his face, and she quietly smiled. Deepak noticed this and continued, “This is not a simple celebration you know.”

“I know.”

“So, I think you should wear this dress. This color looks good on you, Roshni.”

“Can I wear something a little simpler, please?” Now she started to plead with him.

Deepak looked at her pleading face. “Okay, but can I look with you?”

Roshni turned to face her closet and dresses and, after she went through a few, picked a dress that was simple and appropriate for the occasion. She turned around to show Deepak.

“How about this dress? It is simple and good for this occasion, and…and it is the same color you picked. Are you happy?”

Deepak nodded. “Yes, nice suit.”

He continued to hold her, so she requested, “Deepak, I can change only if you let me go, please?”

Deepak nodded and let her go to change while he himself had a wash and changed. He came out to check if Sheetal and Akash were ready, and both of them were ready and waiting in the family room.

Deepak excused himself and came back to ask if Roshni needed any help and was dazzled. Roshni had changed and looked extremely beautiful. He also noticed that Roshni was struggling with the zipper at the back. She needed some help, and Deepak went behind her and snuggled into her hair.

“Can I help you?” he asked again, and she nodded.

Deepak helped her with the zipper, and she moved along to brush her hair. Deepak followed her; unable to resist, he pulled her by the waist. “Roshni, you look so beautiful in this dress, but I have a request.”

“What is it?” she asked and looked at him through the mirror.

“Can you leave your hair loose, please?” he said and snuggled into her hair again.

Roshni agreed, and Deepak tried to romance her.

“Deepak, they’re waiting for us outside, shall we go?” she interrupted him.

Deepak and Roshni joined Sheetal and Akash, and they left for dinner to one of the better restaurants in Bangalore. Deepak and Roshni were seated together, and Sheetal sat with Akash. All of them were very pleased with the developments that day. The dinner was served, and all of them enjoyed the food.

Roshni initiated the conversation during dinner. “Sheetal, when will you talk to aai and baba about this?”

“Don’t know,” Sheetal shrugged.

“Akash, will you inform Sashank bhaiya and bhabhi, or do you want us to inform him?” she asked.

Akash was relieved that Roshni had taken over the responsibility of informing Sashank bhaiya.

“Sheetal, Deepak and I will talk to Sashank bhaiya tomorrow. Do you want to inform baba?”

“Yes, I can…b-but how do I approach this topic with him?”

Deepak interrupted, “You should talk to your mother first. What do you say, Roshni?” He looked for Roshni’s approval.