Dheere Dheere Se

Jamai

"Chalo na didi, kuch dikhna hai." Khushi, one of my younger cousin said dragging me outside the house. All my cousins forced me to leave the work I was doing to show 'something' that I've no idea about.

"Khushi, ab batayegi bhi kya chal raha hai?" I asked when all of them made me stand in the front yard, not giving any hint on what's happening.

Suddenly a pair of hands reached my eyes cupping from behind, closing my view.

I could feel those hands, rough but gentle. I can't ever mistaken them no matter how long I go without them.

The hands that go places on my body, the hands that lift me up, grip me tight and hands that hold me every night.

No, he can't be here!
He said we wouldn't be able to make it up.

I could feel him coming closer to my nape, a soft whisper hit my ear "Hey!"

It was the same person who said hey to me on our first night, raising the same butterflies in my core as they did the first time, but the only difference between the hey then and now, is the amount of comfort we have build in each other.

A small touch from my dear husband, and I'm grinning like a small kid who saw a gaint teddy bear. Removing his hands with mine, I hugged him tight, forgetting the fact that we were admist all the family members.

I could listen to the soft murmures and giggles going around as everyone watched us, linking into eachother s arms.

I tried to pull back, but those rough yet gentle hands tightened around my waist keeping me in my place.

"Rishabh, sab dekh rahe hai!"
"Ha toh? Apne biwi ko me apne baho me nahi rakh sakta kya? Kaho toh kiss kardu?"
"Rishabh!" I smacked his back and untangled myself from his hold.

My cheeks were heating with both embarrassment of facing my family and because of the flutters Rishabh gave me.

Everyone faked coughed and my cousin had fun giggling and recording us.

"Arey jamai aaye hai, koi Pani toh lao." One of my Mama said.

Taking blessings from all the elders we went inside. Jamai ji has been getting whole 5star treatment ever since he stepped in. Which also means that i haven't been able to talk to him because everyone else has been keeping my husband occupied.

"Bilkul bilkul mama ji."

"Unn dino ki baat hi alag thi, tum aaj kaalke bacho ko ye sab shayad samaz nahi aaye.."

"Ahem ahem." I try to bring his attention towards me as he kept sipping on the cold drink listening to my Mama's young adult days stories.

"Yes?" He asked as if I called an HR for recruitment. What the heck? Where's his 'meri biwi' from before now?

"Nothing. Nothing! You keep sipping on your drink." I said, annoyed shaking my head.

He turned his direction back to my mama and I took the advantage of the bags on the floor, pushing my leg towards the man that has been ignoring me.

Playing with my pinky I tickled his leg, he darted his attention down and when he saw its me he waved his leg over me. Hush, finally! I scooted closer pretending to hear mama's story

I can see him smirk under the glass and then shifting aside from me he said with a low voice "C'mon Pari, sab dekh rahe hai, you know." Repeating my words from before.

Dammit this man!

"Abhi tak nahi dekha? Areyy aaise kaise, chalo aao hum dikha denge." Mama's voice again gained my attention.

"Kis bareme baat ho Rahi hai mama?" I asked

"Arey jamai aaye hai unko koi khet ghumane hi nahi leke Gaya, ye bhi koi baat hue. Chalo chodo, hum jake dikhte hai."

'haa Haan le jao mere pati ko muzhe aur dur' I muttered in my mind.

And as if Rishabh could hear my inside thoughts, he smiled and turned towards mama."Mama ji, app kyu itni taklif le rahe hai, yaha bahut kaam bhi hai, mami ji ko bhi madat chahiye hogi. Pari-, uh Paridhi hai na, woh dikha degi."

"Chalo ye bhi theek hai. Pari beta woh kailash ke khet me maat Jana bass, bahut bolta hai woh. Pata hai jamai ji.." before mama could start telling Rishabh about mama's long lost Friendship turned into rivalry with Kailash uncle it was time to interrupt and take my man away.

"Ji, ji mama, me dhyan rakhungi. App tension maat lo. Chaliye chalte hai?" I asked Rishabh pressing my lips so I could hold back the huge grin that was taking over my face.

"Haa. Chalo." Dammit I didn't realise it until now maybe, but this man has really flirty eyes. A moment ago he was avoiding me giving me the taste of my own words and now he's literally eating me up staring like that '.

Like the kids bunking their first lecture me and Rishabh walked out of the house, giggling and making sure not to come in contact with anyone else.

But I guess, my sweet cousins had a different plan.

"Di, kaha ja rahe ho?"
"Uh, woh tere jiju ko khet dikhana tha." My voice was so slow, full of disappointment. Now all these people will join us and my alone time with Rishabh is going to get ruined.
"Hum sab bhi chale? PLease didu, please!"
'Gai bhes Pani me' I said to myself and glanced at Rishabh, hesistance clear on his face.
"Haa, chalo. Sab chalo!" More than agreement It was frustration.

---

"Jiju, aapko ped pe chadna aata hai?"
"Jiju apko konsa fruit pasand hai? hamare khet me sare fruits hai."
"Jiju, apke bhi gaav me aaise trees hai?"
"Jiju me bhi pathar se aam gira sakta hu."
"C'mon jiju, 2 aam toh Tod ke dikha do."
"Wow jiju apke muscles hai."
"Jiju app muzhe bhi utha sakte ho?"

Jiju this and jiju that. My parents also didn't ask so many questions to Rishabh when we first met and here my younger cousin are interrogating him like anything.

We walked in our farm from one end to another listening the chitter-chatter of my younger cousins. Rishabh got us all a few mangoes, showing off his skills and we then stood under a tree, eating the lucious mangoes.

While we head back to our home, my cousins were all ahead us with mangoes and some white jamun in their hand. Taking the advantage of their distracted minds I pulled Rishabh back towards the forbidden area of Kailash uncle's bushy farm.
"Pari?"
"Shussh!"

"Didi?" "Pari Didi?" "Jiju?" "Rishabh Jiju?" "Kaha hai app dono?"
Dammit why did they have to realise we were not behind them.

Before I could come up with anything Rishabh uttered, loudly - "Khushi! Raj! Tum sab log aage jao! I forgot my phone near that mango tree me aur Pari woh lekar aate hai, tum log baki sab ko mangoes de do tab tak."

As we heard them leave Rishabh turned towards me his eyes twinkling like stars in the day. "What was this?" He asked me raising one of his eyebrows.

"I don't know." well I really didn't know. Was i jealous of everyone else getting time to spend with Rishabh? Yes. Was i thinking about sneaking him somewhere no one could find? Maybe. Did I let my mind take an impulsive decision of actually sneaking my husband? Hmm, Definitely!

Rishabh smiled looking at me shaking his head "Pari, sab dekh lenge." He wiggled his eyebrows teasing me.

"Ha toh dekhne do, apne 7 phere liye hue pati ke sath hu, baghe hue ashiq ke sath nahi."

"Ab muzhe yaha aaisa jhad patton ke beech me la hi Diya hai, toh ek aacha sa hug bhi de do?"

Stepping forward closer to him, I put my arms around his neck and he held me tight by my waist. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" I asked snuggling closer in the crook of his neck.

"Toh surprise kaise deta Pari"
"Hmm."
"Did you miss me?"
"You really need an answer? I literally sneaked you in front of my cousins."
"Point. But maybe I would like you hear you say it."
"I did. I missed you!"
"I missed you too."

Pulling back slightly he pecked on my lips "Ab yaha se chale? I don't want kida makodas ruining are moment."
Chuckling I agreed "chalo!"

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