Chronicles Of My Darling Husband

39. Durdhara (Part 4)

"It's so serene and tranquil out here," Nishita remarked, gesturing with her beer bottle towards the peaceful surroundings. "I absolutely love being surrounded by nature."

Jagdish strolled beside her, absorbing every word she shared about her adventurous exploits, from traversing Ladakh to exploring Dhanushkodi and beyond. She was a true explorer at heart, embarking on treks and immersing herself in the company of strangers.

Beyond merely admiring scenic landscapes, she delved into rural villages and small towns, delving into the intricacies of irrational traditions and the plight of women. In many ways, she was an educator, collaborating with various NGOs and traversing the globe to uncover injustices and extend a helping hand to those in need. Her compassionate heart and noble endeavors rendered her a role model for countless girls, a fact that never ceased to amaze Jagdish. He had caught glimpses of those through the photos she shared of her journeys, witnessing her profound impact on women and girls' lives.

Despite their busy schedules, their interactions were primarily confined to weekends, when Jagdish made the journey from Mumbai to Pune to reunite with her. Phone calls and text messages felt inadequate for truly connecting with her, but rather than lamenting their limited time together, Nishita had remained optimistic, remarking, "It's okay, we have a lifetime."

Her unexpected remark had taken him aback and she had jokingly added, "But don't worry, if I find out you're nothing but miserable, I'll divorce you. Haha!" Her playful comment, delivered with a laugh, only had served to deepen their bond.

For Jagdish, there was no conceivable scenario in which he would allow her to slip through his fingers again. For three years, he had been captivated by her physical beauty, but now, having glimpsed the beauty of her soul, the mere thought of losing her was unbearable.

She turned to him, noticing his empty hand. "Where's your bottle?" she inquired.

He shook his head, a scowl on his lips. "I'm what people call a teetotaler," he said, with a hint of irony.

She wrinkled her nose in confusion. "What's sad about that?" she shrugged. "It's your choice whether to drink or not. I admire that you didn't succumb to peer pressure," she added, gesturing towards Chandrakant, who sat alone with his whisky bottle on the beach shore.

Jagdish sighed. "He's not himself... Something's bothering him and he's not sharing."

"Oh," she responded quietly, then strolled toward the waves. "Do you enjoy spending time at the beach?"

"Not particularly," he admitted. Outdoor activities didn't pique his interest much, except for sports. But he did have a soft spot for the monsoon. "I love the rain. It's the only time I find joy in looking out at the world."

"Hmm..." she chuckled softly. "Most folks hate the monsoon, especially Mumbaikars. It's surprising to hear a different take."

He blushed a little at her observation. "Does it surprise you?"

Moving closer, she locked eyes with him, her mesmerizing eyes reflecting the hue of the water. "You're full of surprises, Jagdish... And I want to uncover every layer of you, down to each cell and nerve."

Swallowing hard, he found himself momentarily breathless beneath her seductive scrutiny, blinking rapidly. Her passionate eyes seemed to set his body ablaze with their intensity.

"Yes, that's the irresistible shade of pink I like," she remarked with a smirk before taking a sip of her beer.

And he smiled wide, blushing more than ever.

--

"So, you're on the path to becoming a neurosurgeon?" Vijay settled in next to Arihant, a friendly smile on his face. "How'd you manage to swing some time off for a vacation?"

Arihant had never been one to hide his sexuality.

After years of grappling with it, he had finally come out to his friends, explaining why he never seemed interested in women—he was into men, bloody hell. While some of his friends found it hard to grasp, Jagdish and Suryadev had been accepting, saying, "Your personal life shouldn't affect our friendship." And true to their word, they never made a big deal out of it. Arihant wasn't about to flaunt his preferences to everyone, though. Just because he was attracted to men didn't mean he was on the prowl.

But this Vijay Jha chap—now he was something. Arihant couldn't help but notice his striking features, even if he wasn't typically his type. Still, he wasn't eager to delve into personal matters, especially with homosexuality still being a taboo subject for casual conversation.

Clearing his throat, Arihant tried to focus on something other than Vijay's radiant skin peeking through his unbuttoned collar. "Well, I figure a little downtime won't hurt anyone, right?"

Vijay chuckled. "Ouch, hit a nerve, did I?"

"What about you?" Arihant deflected. "What do you do?"

"I help out with my dad's business," Vijay replied with a shrug. "I was never really into commerce, but my Papa insisted that at least one of us kids learn the ropes to take care of the family business. So, here I am, trying to navigate a life in the world of numbers and spreadsheets."

Arihant sighed sympathetically. "That sounds tough. I am sorry."

"Not your fault," Vijay said with a chuckle, studying Arihant for a moment. "You seem familiar, though. Can't quite place it."

"Probably you came to meet someone in the hospital where I work," Arihant suggested.

"No, not the hospital..."

"Hmm... Bye."

Arihant took his glass and left for his room. He couldn't sit and answer much, especially when his eyes kept travelling to Vijay's alluring lips.

--

A/N

"Dil Kyu Yeh Mera" just so cutely fits to both the stories in this chapter :)

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