Author: Khush

It began as a normal day. But it wasn’t a normal day today, today was our one month anniversary. Oh yes, it had already been a month. And despite of the problems we had, I loved every tiny mind second of this month. He remembered of course, and wished and celebrated this last night, in a way that is unforgettable. And too fresh on my mind yet. He had kept a lacy lingerie on our bed, blue in colour made of silk, a material so smooth that my hands floated over it. There were two velvet boxes, one with blue…

Kartik has rushed to the office after completing breakfast. I cleaned up our table and got ready to go. I left for Ashram soon after that. The place needed some renovation, small furniture, and kids and me loved doing it. We had done it several times in Hrishikesh. It is fun, and the fact we were so many of us made it even more interesting. We painted on the walls, on ourselves, even on each other. Holi had arrived a month early. As the time passed by, the amount of paint on walls was growing lesser than that on us.…

We were at our flat. Both of us had just sagged down into the sofa, day had been very taxing, both physically, and emotionally. I had finally managed to break down a joint family. I was great wasn’t I? It took me what 3 weeks to achieve this feat. People do not curse daughters in law for nothing, if they are anything like me they very well deserve it. I left behind every teaching of my family, to walk out with my husband. Yes he was angry, but I was the reason of his anger. He was forced to break…

We reached Udaipur next morning. Papa had come to take us to the new place where the kids would be residing. After bidding them adios we proceed to GV. I recall the faces of everyone, they weren’t very happy. We had taken a spontaneous decision and didn’t really get time to take their permission. I was a bit afraid of the reaction they would have to this visit. The past that which I had with them wasn’t very reassuring either. Kartik probably had the same fears. We entwined our fingers together, assuring of our presence to other. We bared ourselves…

I showed him around Hrishikesh that day, telling stories as we went. I didn’t show him the places I had to tourists. No, he had been here. He knew those areas. I showed him my places. What was it like for me. The place I went to pray, to cry. Places I and Pungi went to have fun, the place which was mine and only mine. It was secluded one, there were stones on one side, steps on another. The place was far from bigger, overly crowded place. It was quite and calm here, well relatively. I held my hands…

I began the day in the same way that I had done for so many years. On the banks of ganga. Kartik was yet sleeping, but he knew I would be here. I was relieved that there was nothing now that he didn’t know about. Every dark secret is out. There was nothing in our past to come and haunt us anymore. It was the present I was worried about. Negi uncle needed someone to care for him. I needed someone to take care of the kids. Negi uncle should not be allowed with so much work anymore. He needed…

We rushed to the hospital as soon as we landed in Hrishikesh. While Kartik went in search of doctor I went to see if Negi Uncle was alright. He was in the ICU, I signed Pungi to come out as I wanted to go in. I entered the ICU barefooted. I went to Negi Uncle my temper at its highest point. I had left Hrishikesh, and only Hrishikesh. I was yet his daughter. He had no right to hide such a thing from me. I was only married, not dead. How could he even think that he would be successful…

We boarded the first flight from Udaipur to Hrishikesh. Kartik understood my desperate need to reach there, he was trying his best to remove frown lines from my face, but it really wasn’t working. I did not want to snap on him but it was getting difficult. “Naira, look at me, worrying isn’t going to help, we are going there, aren’t we? He is going to be fine. I know he means a lot to you, I understand, but you are worrying too much.” He said. It was really my break point now, “ You really don’t understand anything Kartik.…

I woke up sometime later, wrapped in his arms, I saw him in his peaceful slumber, I marvelled at the creature who was now my husband. Memories of last night hit me, and they were enough to make me blush. I pushed myself off the bed, careful not to wake him up, he mumbled something incoherent, and went back to sleep. He had once told me about one of his dreams, this I guess was time to make it come true. I made some coffee, got dressed in my yesterday’s saree. I was thinking, these surprise visit would continue here…