Duty of Love

Chapter 57

Meera's POV

"Kachori...."  I looked around to see who kept it there. Seeing no one , my eyes went back to the Kachori and it's delicious aroma.

A smile spread on my face as I picked one.

" Caught you"

I jerked around scared to see Deva leaning on the door with a smirk

" What is this , Deva? You sacred me"

" Serves you right"

" What did I do? " I asked astonished by his taunt

" Really, you don't know what you did?"

I nodded in no confused by his behaviour

" How many times I asked you whether you crave for anything but what did you say,  No ...Deva I don't want anything."  Deva said the last sentence  mimicking me and glared at me

I sheepishly looked at him

" Sorrryyyy" But he just turned the other side in anger

" Soooorrry....Soooorrrry.....Sorrryyyy" I started chanting around him .

In all these, suddenly I knocked my foot against the table and would have fallen down , if Deva hadn't grasped me in the nick of time

" What are you doing? Where is your attention? Now sit still... Are you hurt anywhere..."  Deva began to inspect me from top to bottom. His concern for me was so endearing.

I just sat there smiling at him enjoying my husband's love and care

" Here I am worried and angry at you and you are smiling?"

" That is because I know my husband loves me soooooo muccchh....." I yelled

" Shhhh... the kids will wake up"

" Let them " I said confidently

" Wow.... today my wife is in a mood"  he commented sarcastically

" Deva...I didn't mean to hurt you. I would have asked you if I really needed anything but that time I didn't.  Our relationship have gone past the stage of any awkwardness or any limitations. I WOULD NOT hesitate  if I want something now.  Promise." I told him seriously once he made sure that I was not hurt

He looked at me for a moment, then released a long sigh and said,

" I know ... It is just that I saw you looking at the Kachori's other day when we were returning from the doctor. I thought you will ask me but you didn't and it somehow reminded me of the time when you craved for pani puris"

" Deva, I agree that I wanted Kachoris but it was not like a craving craving and I would not have had it from there especially after Doctor told me to be careful regarding my food.... Did you buy it from there? " I suddenly  asked wide eyed

" I am not an idiot.... I asked Mom to prepare... I don't want to take any risk with your health"

Hearing him, I started laughing. 

" Now I understand why Mom called me to say that even though she would love to have me there and  pamper me but she is in one way glad that I am here" I told him in between my bouts of laughter

" I am not a tyrant" Deva said offended at my laughing

" Yes, you are. Don't you remember  last  time how you troubled Mom even for small small things and that time you didn't even like me"  I replied absent mindedly

Only when I saw the change in Deva's face, I realized what I said.

" Deva...."

" Leave it..." he tried to change the topic

" No... I don't want to. Deva it is part of our history. We can't go on living forgetting those 8 years , then it will mean erasing the moments of our Anshu and Devu too..Do you want that?"

He looked at me intensely  and nodded in no.

" So we will move forward taking the past with us as a lesson. Promise me, if ever the past is mentioned, you won't  feel guilty or dejected"

"I will try ..."
 
" Thats like my good boy" saying this I pinched his cheeks affectionately

" Ok...Ok ... now have this Kachori before it gets cold" saying this he put a Kachori near my mouth

With a happy smile on both our faces, we started munching on the delicious  Kachoris

I was on cloud nine when I felt something on my leg. I looked down to see Deva placing my leg on his knees. Then from his pocket,  he took a pair of payal and one by one, he adorned it on my legs.

It was one of the most beautiful  payal I have ever seen. Second to the pair I have with me, the one a 11 year Deva brought for the 3 year Meera.

I didn't know when my tears started flowing until Deva wiped them

" Deva....this is so beautiful...."

" More beautiful  than the one you have? " he questioned

I stared at him in surprise.

" I am sorry for reading Veta Aunty's diary. I didn't mean to but you yourself gave me and I couldn't resist...." 

" Did you give me this because...."

" Look at me ,Meera... Do you really think I am doing all this just because I am feeling guilty.... No...I know like you said we have to move forward but there will always be a slight pain in my heart regarding our past especially  knowing how Veta Aunty trusted us.... trusted me....."

Deva stopped and I knew he was gathering  his courage to continue

I was not wrong when he looked deep in my eyes and spoke his heart,

" A 11 year old Deva was much better than the 26 year old . That Deva protected you while this one made you suffer. It feels like I was a different  person then. If a 11 year old could love and care for you why couldn't I do it 8 years ago? Why didn't I remember the 3 year old girl I  protected? Why didn't I keep up the promise and trust Veta Aunty had on me to protect you from harm? WHY....?"

I could sense the pain behind his question

" Because you were different  back then..."

Deva tried to steal his eyes from me but I made him look at me

" Deva , that was a time when our mothers were best of friends. My maa loved you and you also did the same. There was no pretense in that nor was there when you cared for me. But then there came a rift after my parents passed away. I don't know why .... but it took us another 13 years to meet. 13 years, Deva , it is a long time. Lot of things change. An immature sweet innocent boy changed into a responsible man. Nobody will ever blame you for forgetting  something which was not in your hands..... It took me a long time too...Reading my Mom's diary, I made a picture  of all of you in my mind and kept you like that . I too forgot that time doesn't stop for anyone and the only constant is change. "

" Meera...." his voice still contained the pain

" But you know that innocent boy has always been there, I had glimpses of him especially  when you made sure Anaant and Aparna do not trouble me anymore just like Maa wrote"

With overwhelming  eyes,  Deva just hugged me close

" But still this payal comes only a close second to the other one. " I said smugly

Then on a serious note I said, " That one has many memories attached to it. It had helped me out during my tough times both before and after marriage"

" I know that I can never compete with the 11 yr old Deva. You have kept him on some kind of pedestal. I am happy being a close second because  I am the one right here, right now fulfilling all my wife's demands . This payal is not to replace the other one but as a promise from this Deva to this Meera that he always will be with her"

I smiled and  looked down at the payal on my legs. It looked so delicate and beautiful. 

I jiggled my legs to produce one of the beautiful sounds I have ever listened to. My face broke out in a smile and I couldn't resist looking at Deva who also had a similar smile on his face.