Anupriya grinned, looking at the album in her hands which she found while cleaning Vansh’s study room.
As she was getting jaded, staying almost alone in the huge house without her children, she decided to clean the house properly with the help of the staff.
Almost every corner of the house was neatly swabbed, gleaming meticulously.
When it came to Vansh’s private study room, Anupriya refused any staff from entering let alone for cleaning it up, owing to the belongings in the room which might be important and confidential.
She herself decided to organize the room properly and that’s when she found a few of some old albums with laminated photographs, placed in the desk of the table present at the centre of the room.
Totally energized about finding them, she collected those and walked back to her room, totally forgetting about cleaning the room.
Whirling the photos, she saw them with a never ending smile on her lips as photos of Vansh, Sanjana, Ishani, Sampath and Siya from their childhood were set properly according to the occasions on which those photos were clicked.
A chuckle escaped from her when she looked at the photo in which a undies clad Vansh was crying, as he then didn’t wanted to take a shower trying to refuse his mother who wanted to get him ready as a girl for the fashion show held in his school.
She then grinned slightly looking through the photos from Ishani’s 5th birthday, being the diva she is, almost all the photos were focused on her as she always loved being the center of attraction and posed for many photos.
As she was turning the pages, a photo caught her attention, a photo of her being pregnant with Siya, she saw how her skin was glowing in that photo. When her gaze moves to the next photo, she heaves a gasp while her fingers suddenly halt. She just gapes at the photo, unable to tear her gaze away from the photo of him, her husband.
As she looked at the photo heartily, when they were sitting together and he held her baby bump smiling at it and she just stared at him tenderly.
She still remembered that day, when Vansh wanted to take a picture of his parents together, especially of his father, as he was the one who took all the photos and missed being a part of them. It was the same time when the baby had first kicked, instantly she placed her husband’s hand on her bump being excited, when he felt her kick for the first time, he was literally on the verge of crying but chose to smile holding it while Vansh clicked the shutter button making it as a lifelong visible memory.
Tears plugged in her orbs as she recollected that fond memory, with him.
They were perfect, happy and complete; in the picture but the reality was far-off from the picture. Their lives were ultimately broken, wretched and annulled.
As her fingers caressed the photo of her husband, tears she was struggling to stop finding their way out. She knew that their lives were shattered to the core because of the things that happened around them. Their children’s lives got shattered because of their false relationship.
They had lived together happily for 10 long years only to know that it was all a lie. She knows she had a mirage of living a happy life with her loving husband and vivid children. But the reality that that was all a lie is something she could never bear.
“Why did you do this? Why did you ruin everything? Why did you do this?” She cries out stridently as all those memories hit her back, drowning her into the deepest scars her heart faced. She leans forward, closing her eyes as she cries decisively, unable to bear anything.
Her tears are simply the rain drops from the storms inside her.
“You claimed you love me and then betrayed me in the worst possible way yet it takes my life to hate you. I just can’t…. she couldn’t speak anything as she cups her face trying to forget all those bitter things.
“Anu” she wipes her tears away and swaps towards the door, finding her mother in law standing there, with teary eyes. Looking at how disheveled her daughter is, Indrani Singhania walks towards her with heavy steps, knowing the reason for her misery was her own flesh. Anupriya stands swiftly before rushing towards her and hugging her tightly in the mid-way. Indrani sighs heavily trying to not break down after seeing her daughter crying. She loved her more than her own son.
Anupriya holds her tightly, shedding her tears, trying to calm herself down from a breakdown again. The warmth she gave to her as a mother, filled her heart with pleasure despite how broken she was. She never made her feel left out and always stood in her support even if they had minimum exposure. She accepted her as her daughter even after all the things that happened.
“I shouldn’t have come that day. You both were perfect until that day. He loved you; he cherished your children so much. It was because of me that your lives got broken.” Indrani sighed deeply, as the words came out of her filled with deep pain and agony about the loss their family had years back.
Anupriya refuses her, moving backside as she wipes her tears away.
“No, you aren’t. If not for you then the truth wouldn’t have come out. My children and I would just live in that veneer woven by him and lies he created.”
“You still hate him, don’t you?” Anupriya gives a blank gaze and sneers absent mindedly.
“Hate him?” she retorted. Her face held a blank smile.
All the things they shared in the past were not something to be regretted. She loved him, she made her children with him. She still respects him except for the fact that he betrayed her, in the most vulnerable way she ever imagined.
She breaks her trance from staring into the oblivion she didn’t know was doing, when she finds someone standing at her door point.
She nods at her mother in law before walking towards the person, not forgetting to wipe the traces of her meltdown. Standing in front of the person, one of the staff, she nods at him to continue.
Taking it as his cue, he begins “Ma’am, I suppose you forgot to lock Vansh sir’s room by gaffe or out of mistake. I came to remind you about it-” He stops for a brief moment, looking at the floor with a scrunched nose, as if remembering something horrendous. Shaking his thoughts, he again looks at her and continues “- Sir wouldn’t like anyone to enter his room.” His voice held a trace of utter fright.
Anupriya looks at him pointedly, understanding his expressions and knowing that he had a bad experience in dealing with Vansh’s fury and chuckles slowly, before nodding at him that she would take care of it.
She immediately gathers the photos which were lying on her bed, except for that one picture which shook her off and walks towards the study room after asking her mother in law to take some rest as she cleans that room.
As she places almost all the files in his papers appropriately, arranging them according to their shade, one of the files falls down by mistake.
Sighing, she bends down and collects the file, which looked like a hospital report as she read the name on the top. She frowns thinking about who might be having a medical treatment going on.
As she was about to open the file, a photo from nowhere fell on the ground, in front of her, all of a sudden, making her stop. She promptly places the file on the table before reaching out for the photo. Her eyes widen while looking at the photo and she momentarily freezes.
Her eyes turn glassy as she looks at her son and husband in the picture, completely shocked.
‘He is alive.’
****
“Are you even alive?” Vansh scowls at Ridhima, who was sleeping, sleeping and just sleeping. After the best night they had making love to each other, Vansh wanted to see the new sunrise across the ocean together, trying to get some aesthetic stance.
Who was he expecting all these things fro, his wife?
“Ridhima, please get up sweetheart. It is turning late in the morning now.” Vansh whispers, trying to wake her up patiently, but she just chooses to ignore, snuggling more into the duvet. He had had enough, he thought and held the duvet and was about to pull it off her, but stopped eventually while looking at her, feeling hesitant.
‘She is just wearing my shirt in that and it wouldn’t be proper for me to just pull it without her permission, she might feel uncomfortable. Maybe.’ He voices out meekly, smiling to himself while his thoughts rendering back to last night probably the best moments he had spent with her which he can cherish for his existence.
It was as if he was curtailed and she crammed him, with her love. She had the power to intimidate him as well as overwhelm him at times. She loved him despite all the things that happened, she trusted him. He is lucky. He got her, for a lifetime.
“Vansh” He flinches, turning his gaze towards her, listening to her muffled voice. As he looks into her eyes, a euphoric smile stretches on his lips as if it was inevitable. Her eyes held some comfort she always longed for.
“You are awake.” He mutters, leaning towards her while propping on his elbow while tucking her tresses behind her ear. She squirms at his touch slightly blushing under his gaze.
She yawns feebly, closing her eyes before opening them , this time her gaze was comparatively clear. As she looks past him, she finds that they were in their room.
But last night?
“I drove us back, it was chilly last night and of course the cessation time of the shore night booking was too early for us to come back after waking up in the morning. So, I picked you up, took you to the car and drove us here.” He heaves deeply, as if indicating how arduous the entire feat was. She chuckles soundlessly.
“Now get up and get ready. We shall grab lunch at least.” Ridhima frowns.
Is it afternoon already?
She turns towards her left and gasps when she finds the digital clock showing 12 am.
“You should have woke me early.” She complains while he just stares at her.
‘Only if you know how much I did’ He snickers.
“You said something?”She thought she heard him say something. Vansh frizzes, but nods at her in denial.
Ridhima nods and gets up to her sitting form, a twinge of pain hit her in her pelvis region and she winces.
“Ridhima” Vansh worries for her while wrapping his arms around her and she holds his biceps firmly, trying to restrain the pain.
“Is it painful?” Vansh looks into her eyes, his eyes reflecting her pain. Ridhima smiles lightly and leans towards him as he wraps his arms, hugging her.
He knew why she was in pain. Only if they didn’t do anything last night-
“Stop it now.” Vansh looks down, finding Ridhima glaring at him, he frowns.
“I am fine and I don’t want us to regret last night. It was just surreal.” She whispers looking into his eyes, melting him right away.
“Was I loud?” He was thinking in his mind about those words and she read him immediately.
“Was I loud, last night?” Vansh almost chokes at her words and looks at her, who was smirking kinkily at him. He averts his gaze back, feeling shy suddenly at her words, his ears turning scarlet.
Did she really say that?
She looks at him blushing, and smiles and laughs inwardly. Such a shy type he is!
‘Even after last night, he was still reticent, thinking I would be uncomfortable if he saw me undressed.’ Her eyes held a glint of happiness knowing that her husband still values her comfort more than his desires.
It may sound so unusual but he was the shy one, most of the time, when it comes to their relationship while she was slightly outspoken and gallant. Even if he was intimidating for the people who work for him, he was extremely emotional and reclusive inside.
Maybe their relationship was made in a different way, she wasn’t ready for it but still accepted it. They spent time together, working out their differences, becoming strengths for each other, standing together in their marriage which was soon completing 6 months.
With epoch, Ridhima saw through the emotions of Vansh, his care, attitude, love, respect, anger, hurt or timidity, she saw him all or maybe more than anyone else did. He is really a charming and exquisite husband any sane girl would ask for.
Luckily, she was sane enough, so she got him.
“Hey, where are you lost?” He whispers gently, trying to find out what she was thinking earlier.
“I love you.” She smiles at him before wrapping her arms around him.
“Love you two.” He gently kisses her forehead while caressing her back. “Now, let me take you to the shower so you can freshen up. I am hungry.”
He gets up from the bed and picks her up in his arms walking towards the bathroom, She blushes slightly while staring at his face. Her gaze then falls on his neck and she gasps looking at the mark.
Was she that wild last night?
She leans forward and caresses the mark before kissing it chastely. Vansh halts, a sudden jolt passes through his body and he stiffens making Ridhima frown.
“Stop it or I will have my way with you.” Vansh warns her. Ridhima’s eyes widen at his not so decent warning and she stops, gulping in alarm. Vansh looks at her countenance and encumbers his laugh.
Ridhima gets astounded to find the bathtub already filled with warm water, so he filled it for her. Vansh slowly places into the water and she lets out a sigh when the warmth backdrops her.
Vansh smiles at her before kissing her forehead. “Get ready, I will be outside. If you need anything then just call me.” Ridhima nods at him modestly.
He stands up on his feet as he watches her looking at him intently. She was still looking so ravishing, making it difficult for him to not look at her. Ridhima smirks, understanding his not so expressive expressions. Vansh shakes his head, breaking his thoughts and walks out of the room, closing the door quietly.
****
Ridhima walks out of the room, dressed in a v-neck tunic and leggings, looking as fresh as always. She tenderly wipes her hair with the towel getting rid of the water droplets. Her whole body was feeling spanking new.
She turns around and finds Vansh sitting on the couch and the table in front of him was filled with food. She instantly flings her towel aside on the chair and walks towards him.
“Aah! I am so hungry” She groans as she takes the plate and starts eating. Vansh smiles at her, amused, and starts eating as well.
“You know this dish is the most famous here, Hainanese chicken rice.” Ridhima nods at him without even sparing a glance. Vansh chuckles slowly, seeing how desperate she was in satisfying her stomach.
“You know Ishani and Sanjana came earlier while you were sleeping.” Ridhima looks at him while he just smiles at her and continues “They were saying, they are waiting for Dottu and Dotti.”
Ridhima frowns, confusion lacing her features, while Vansh tries his best in controlling his laughter, which was threatening to come out.
“Who are they?” She asks, sipping some water from the glass.
“They-” Vansh scratches his nape, unable to find what to say and then sighs deeply before opening his mouth. Ridhima was suddenly paying attention to him. “are our kids.”
Ridhima knits her eyebrows together, totally stunned at his words. “And when did we have them?” She splutters at him while Vansh turns pale.
“I mean they were saying, we should give birth to kids, whom they will name as Dottu and Dotti-
“Yuck! Can you just stop repeating? What are those names? Dottu and Dotti, like seriously?” She scrunches her nose in abhorrence.
“Stop it now, they aren’t any worst names either.” Vansh shrugs, his face Clearly evident that he was irritated at her words.
Ridhima thinks for a moment and then starts laughing frantically, clutching her stomach recalling their names.
“I was just kidding. They are really great names.” She mocks at him, biting her lower lip to control her laughter.
Vansh huffs at her, clearly not liking her reaction. Ridhima notices it and calms herself before moving towards him and placing her palm on his hand.
“They are really cute names, Vansh. I am amazed to know that they started thinking about our children’s names. They are too fast.” Ridhima giggles thinking about the names. Vansh looks at her and starts smiling too.
“So when are we planning them?” Ridhima stares at him, while he just points an innocent look on his face.
“Vansh.” Ridhima drawls slightly confused at his sudden question. “Actually, I think we should wait for sometime. I mean there are a lot more things which need to be addressed. I should plan my career and you are busy with your work. So, I presume we should- “Ridhima stops being unable to speak further, she didn’t know what else she could speak.
Vansh looks at her intently while she speaks and then pulls her into a hug caressing her arms, indicating that he understands her stance.
“We will definitely wait, okay.” He says while looking into her eyes while she smiles heartily at him. She looked so beautiful at that time.
His gaze slightly flicked between her lips and eyes and she understood his meaning. Smiling, she leans towards him and tries to kiss him but stops when they hear someone knock on their door.
Vansh groans before looking at Ridhima, who was already laughing at him. Pulling herself, she walked to the door frowning when the person outside started knocking harshly on their door. She opens the door to reprimand the person but stops when she finds Sampath standing there, all burgundy and vehemence on his face.
His were like rage, so dark and treacherous. Ridhima slightly qualms at his disheveled form. He looked like he was raging around madly.
“Where is Vansh?” His voice was dangerously calm and she flinched at his malicious tone.
Vansh gets up from the couch when he hears a few voices near the door. He walks some distance until he can see who it was and stops when he finds Sampath standing there.
“Bhai.” Sampath looks at him and his eyes gyrate perilously. He slightly moves Ridhima aside, before taking long strides towards Vansh, catching him with his collar.
“Bhai” Vansh bellows slightly traumatized , while he looks at his eyes which are raging with anger.
Ridhima blenches at his action and runs towards them trying to pull Sampath back from Vansh. He was holding him with so much force that she couldn’t move him away.
“Bhai, please leave him.” Ridhima cries trying to pull him back, but he was not in his senses to retreat from Vansh.
“Bhai, what happened?” Vansh asks, slightly panicked because he never saw Sampath this fuming.
“Why did you lie to me?” Sampath roars, shuddering them both in trepidation.
Hello Munchkins, hope you all are safe and healthy.
So here is the next chapter, I know it took a long time for me to update but I was just busy in few things.
Hope you all read the chapter and liked it.
Please vote and comment your opinions and thanks for supporting me.
Are you people waiting for the arrival of Dottu and Dotti?