Love and Respect

Chap 29 - Fair Chance

Third Person's POV

They went back home hand in hand. Moni keenly found that the air between them was a little different than usual. They seemed to be immersed in the romantic atmosphere, looking distinctively happy together.

"Mittali, what is wrong with your lips?" Moni noticed that Rudra looked very pleased, so she probably guessed what had happened between them. She couldn't help but jokingly say to Mittali,"They seem to be... bitten by someone."

"Re... really?" Hearing Moni's words, Hetal immediately blushed with embarrassment. She couldn't help but cast a complaining glance at Rudra who was standing right in front of her.

The way she reacted only gave herself away.

Seeing Hetal's reaction, Moni roared with laughter and said,"Mittali, you are so adorable."

Hetal's cheeks turned pink. She made an excuse and left the room. After Hetal left, Moni became serious.

Monica's POV

I looked at Rudra and said, "Bhai, tell me the truth, are you in love with Mittali?"

"That is none of your concern," Rudra answered with a frown.

"I care about you," I said in a serious manner.

After their parents died, Rudra  took over all responsibilities and became the head of the family as dadaji instead of him. He even guided Moni in every step of her life. Moni accepted every decision Rudra made for her without any complaints. But now, she had to speak for Mittali. She knew Mittali was the best Rudra could get.

"Bhai, I know you weren't too happy to marry Mittali. But now you are husband and wife. Dadaji also agrees with me on this. If you don't like Mittali, you should put things straight and not get in the way of her pursuit of happiness." I started earnestly.

Rudra looked at Moni with a blank face. He had affectionately brought up Moni under his wings. He had always considered her as his own child. But now, he suddenly realized she was all grown up. Her words made sense and she sounded all mature.

Rudra frowned and asked, "Why do you say that?"

Rudra didn't respond to Moni's question. Moni hated to poke her nose into other people's business. There must be some reason why she talked to him about this.

I sat down on the couch and angrily asked in reply, "Don't you know what you have done?"

"What happened?" Rudra was confused.

"Riya called on our home phone today." my eyes were fixated on Rudra's face. I was trying to figure out things from his expressions. But I couldn't as he just kept a straight face.

Rudra's POV

After hearing what Moni said there was a gleam of anger in me while going towards my room. But as soon I saw my wifey I calm down. She was like a drug to me. Just seeing her my stress and tension would go in the air.

I saw Mittali was nervous and was flinching with her saree edge. I knew the reason of it, so I quickly went behind her and sat beside her, 

"What happened why you seem so nervous" I asked.

"I ... I am scared." I just chuckled at her innocence and said "I am sorry for today's behavior , I became impulse, I'm sorry once again, then I took her hand, in mine but she did not protect so I continued "wifey, I want you to be comfortable with me, I'll never force myself on you, I promise I won't touch you until you open up to me. And we'll take baby steps in our relationship! Ok" I said assuring her...

Third Person's POV

Hetal was greatly touched by Rudra's behavior. She thanked Rudra again with a blushing face. Rudra held her hands and said, "No need for thanks. You are my wife. I can do anything for you."

That night, Rudra embraced Hetal in his arms with her permission and the two fell asleep together peacefully. But they only held each other without doing anything further.

Hetal felt a bit strange at first. But when she thought of her promise of giving him a fair chance, she didn't push him away. She used his arm as a pillow and fell asleep soon. Both of them got a sound sleep that night.

When she woke up, it was a new day and the sun was shining bright. Hetal began looking for her phone to check the time. When she saw the time, she was suddenly wide awake. "Oh my god, I over-slept!"

She quickly got up to complete her chores. Since Rudra slept beside her last night, Hetal slept so well that even alarms couldn't wake her up.

When she got downstairs, she saw Rudra having breakfast at the table. He looked at ease.

To not bother Hetal any further, Rudra cancelled the servants' holiday yesterday. When she saw the table being laid with a lavish breakfast, Hetal felt powerless and frustrated. 

Dadaji introduced Hetal to servants and left to meet his friend and Moni went to her fashion house and Rudra for his office. She was left alone but she couldn't do anything as she had no job and also wanted some time to think about this new relationship which was a contact earlier, but soon new changes were taking place in it like care and respect. She wanted to give this relationship a sincere chance. 

Hetal's POV

I was sitting in my room when I received a call from my mother,

"Why did you call me, what you want?" I asked in an annoying tone

Mom laughed scornfully and said,"You and Rudra are from different strata. You must always keep that in mind, Rudra is your brother-in-law. You should help Mittali to win his love whenever she comes back. Do you understand?"

Mom's warning agitated me.

Before I married Rudra, I loathed him. But the longer I stayed with him, the better I knew him. He was not the kind of playboy as the media described him. I tried so hard not to fall in love with him, but the more I tried to stay away, I found myself more attracted to him.

I didn't respond. Mom asked, "Hetal are you there?" and that broke my trance of thoughts for Rudra and our future." I said ok and kept the call without talking further  

************************

( Rishtey Kisi Se Kuch Yu Nibha Lo.  Ki Unke Dil Ke Sare Gam Chura Lo. Itna Asar Chhod Do Kisi Par Apna. Ke Har Koi Kahe Hame Bhi Apna Bana Lo. ) 

रिश्ते किसी से कुछ यूँ निभा लो
की उसके दिल के सारे गम चुरा लो
इतना असर छोड़ दो किसी पर अपना
के हर कोई कहे हमें भी अपना बना लो ...

*************************

मोहब्बत कभी किसी की इजाज़त की मोहताज नहीं,
ये हमेशा से होती चली आई है,
और हमेशा होती रहेगी।

( Mohabbat kabhi kisi ki izzazat ki mohtaz nahi. yeh hamesha se hoti chali aai hai. aur hamesha hoti rahegi )