A Perfect Love Story

New Life

Roshni was unpacking her bags and trolleys at her new home. The guests were gone and Daadi was having the much-needed rest in the other room. Pratap was back to being busy with his work and Jaivanta and Udai were preparing to shift base to London. It was a week hence the wedding and they were supposed to go to Pak Fera today. But Pratap's work played spoilers to the plan and after a serious scolding from Jaivanta, he had promised to take her home the very next day. She was unpacking what she had brought from home into the newly made wardrobe meant for her in Pratap's room.

He was sitting in the office going through some files during lunch break. His father's driver came in. He got up with a wrinkled forehead.
" Is dadi ill?"
" No Sir, am here with lunch."
" Lunch? Who sent lunch? Maasa is packing for London, right?"
" Choti Madam sir."
A smile appeared slightly on his face.
" Ok keep it." The driver left.

He went over to open the box. Puri. Sabji. Halwa. The smell of the Halwa made him hungry. He took a spoonful. Roshni's cooking never failed to amaze him. He went over to his desk, took his phone and dialled her number.
" Hello." The tone was formal. She didn't need to say anything, he knew she was upset with the postponed Pak Fera plans.
" Thank You." He smiled.
" Welcome." And before he could say a thing the phone was disconnected. He stared at her photo on his desk from their Sagai n smiled.

" Huh, Thank You," Roshni murmured while stuffing her things in the wardrobe. Jaivanta came in and she flashed a smile.
" I have something for you."
" What is it Maa sa?" There was a big gift wrap that she opened before Jaivanta's eager eyes. It was a photo of them, the sindoor Daan rasam captured beautifully in the frame as the photographer had captured their eye lock.
" It is to replace this." Jaivanta pulled a chair and took down Pratap's portrait from the wall.
Together they put it on the wall and smiled.
" If you want curtains of your choice you can change them as you like." Jaivanta left her to her work.
Roshni smiled at the frame before remembering how angry she is. She needed to pull out this act till tomorrow and make him suffer.

He came back home usually late around 11 p.m. Daadi was asleep, and so were his parents in the adjacent apartment. Ever since they got married, Daadi had herself shifted to the next apartment to give the newly married some privacy, yet every night he used his key to his parent's apartment to check on the sleeping Daadi, today he did the same. Slowly moving the key to his apartment door he noticed her nameplate added to the door. " Mrs. Roshni Pratap Singh." Jaivanta surely took care of the small things well. He stepped into the nearly dark apartment, a dim light was kept on in the drawing room area and he could see light in the bedroom as well.
" She's awake?" He thought aloud. Last two days Jaivanta had made sure she was not awake for him. He also didn't want to feel guilty for keeping her awake. He turned the bedroom lock slowly and the sight in front of him brought a smile to his face.

She was half lying on the single couch in the room, a book almost on her face and the air from the AC made her cuddle up to a fetal position. She was waiting for him to get home. Her hair was all over the couch and her face as she slept soundly, a soft hint of happiness on her face. He walked up to her without making a noise and sat down on both knees carefully removing the hair from her pretty face. His touch made her wake with a jolt.
" Hey, it's okay it's me."
" You, You are home, you scared me." She picked up the book that fell on the floor from her jolt.
" You didn't need to wait." he smiled not looking at her as he took out his tee and shorts.
" I... I was not waiting... I just fell asleep reading." She fumbled to lie. Am still angry.
" Then you must have eaten." He smiled teasingly as if to say I know you are lying.
" Yeah, I ate."
Damn, am hungry. Roshni's thoughts were on her empty stomach.
" Okay then, you sleep, let me go eat." He went out of the room without even giving her a chance to speak. She stood on the balcony angry. He came back in with two plates of food and laid them on the table before the couch.
" Suno..."
" Ji?" she turned around to see two plates and looked at him in awe.
" If you still want to continue this drama you are welcome, am hungry..." He started eating from his plate. She came in slowly, sat on the bed with her plate of Roti Sabji and stared at him gobble his food like a baby. She took a silent bite. He eyed her from the corner of his eyes.
" Am still angry." She concluded aloud.
" I know you are, am sorry, we will go first thing tomorrow." He continued eating without looking at her. Finishing her food in a hurry Roshni slammed the dish beside his and said in a rush of anger, " Everyone was right, you have changed, you are so rude." She went to the washroom and closed the door.
" Are you crying?" Pratap asked from the other side of the locked door.
" No, I am not." Roshni sobbed lying.
" Come out."
" No."
" I was just trying to lighten your mood."
" By not talking?"
" Look, am confused this is new for me."
" Ah hahaha confused, new... as if I was married eight times before." Her tone made him almost laugh out but he controlled it.
" Please come out so that we can talk like adults."
" I don't want to."
" Okay, Goodnight." She heard his footsteps retreat. And the lights in the room go off. She came out silently and moved to her side of the bed.
" We can still talk." He said softly the moment she lay beside him.
" Am sorry."
" For what?" Now he was amused at this confused soul called a wife.
" I just got angry, you came after a hard day at work and..."
He hugged her tight making her stop, " This is the Roshni I know."
He smiled at her. " And since we are not sleepy... "
He advanced towards her and his face met a cushion followed by laughter.
" No, we have to leave at dawn you said, sleep." He caught her by the hand,
" So what? Am not sleepy."
She pushed him making him fall on the bed but he did not let go of her hand and her hair was all over his face. She removed it from his face with half a giggle that stopped the moment their eyes met. She closed her eyes in anticipation.

The next morning at 7 am Pratap saw a joyful wife run about with enthusiasm checking her gifts for her parents again and again before checking herself in the mirror the last time. Her hair was done in a braid carefully highlighting her sindoor and she wore a blue salwar with her Payal, bangles and mangal sutra. He saw that she had already taken the liberty to choose what he will wear and hurried him every few minutes.

They arrived at Hansa's place and before he could even park the car Roshni stepped out to hug her mother tight, then Phool. Pratap was not at all surprised to find Vishal and Rohan there as well. After all, Hansa's food was everyone's favourite. They were taken in after Aarti and Hansa were already busy supplying food to them as Roshni gave her father his gift. Phool dragged Roshni aside, and amidst his chatting, he noticed Roshni blush red at Phool's interrogation. He smiled at her.

Vishal had a surprise for them, he and Phool were back together for the better this time, he would be moving to NY soon with her, and they were going to live together. The news made Pratap and Roshni happy. After all their story started with Phool and Vishal. Rohan had a wedding present for the couple. A honeymoon trip to Zurich he announced. Roshni blushed as Pratap almost spoiled the party with, " But my work..."
" I already talked to Udaiuncle bout it bro, you go enjoy the trip next week, he will take care of everything." Rohan smiled.
Pratap saw a smile on Roshni's face, she was truly happy about the trip and he didn't want to hurt her this time.
" Okay, we will go, only if you people don't follow us there too!" Pratap stared at Vishal.
" Aww... " Rohan burst out laughing pointing at Vishal.
" Wait what... I never..." The group reunited like old times giggling and joking while planning what they will see and pack for Zurich. Amidst the group busily exploring the places on Roshni's computer, he held her hand tight and asked, " You happy?"
" Yes." She gave a smile that melted his heart as he said to himself. I promise you I will always make you smile like this. He smiled back, hand in hand.