Conceivable – Part 2
Link to Part 1: Part 1
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She paced the length of her room, blaming her forgetful self. It wasn’t the first time she was forgetting, but it was the . . . She couldn’t even remember. Her ‘Maa’ had always scolded her for being so forgetful, but she always shrugged off the matter saying she’d always have her. But today when she didn’t have her, still, she couldn’t keep things in her mind. She breathed out a sigh and walked towards the closet. She checked the time and she felt hopeless again. She cursed herself and disturbed, went to change into something beautiful, yet comfortable.
She stood in front of the mirror wearing a plain, black floor length gown. She smiled looking at herself and applying the minimal make-up possible, she waited for him to come, but her worries swarmed her mind. She didn’t want to upset any of them, but she’d have to choose any of the two possible options. But before she could think much about the matter, the sudden honking startled her. She walked towards the door to meet him; she knew he’d have an option surely.
He waited for her to open the door and her site amused him. She looked too beautiful to be expressed in words. She smiled at him and he could figure out she was worried. After all he wasn’t greeted with her ‘Oh-So-Beautiful’ smile and knitted his brows in confusion.
“Actually, Sahil . . ,” she muttered softly and looked down at the floor. Certainly, she didn’t want to upset him, but neither did she want Sahil to feel lonely. It was only one day that he’d returned from his school camp and she didn’t want him to feel neglected. Her ‘imperfect’ life was really confusing.
“Anika Bhabhi, there’s nothing to worry when Rudra‘s here,” he proudly said. She looked up at him startled. She wasn’t expecting him, but he was a great company to be with. She softly smiled at him, but Rudra couldn’t manage Sahil. Rudra had a carefree attitude and being the same as he his, he’d just go along with Sahil’s demands. She breathed out a sigh and wondered if they’d to cancel their dinner. They usually couldn’t manage sometime out of their routine schedule and to add to it, from next week, she herself would be busy with the initial designing arrangements.
Sensing her worries, Shivaay stepped aside and that was when she saw Om. The creases on her forehead slowly disappeared when she saw Om standing at a distance. She waved at him excitedly and now, she felt relieved. He was the wisest amongst the three Oberoi brothers and thus, she could have faith on him. He’d handle both the kids, Rudra and Sahil, easily.
He walked nearer and stood at the doorstep. Softly smiling at her, he pulled out her and Shivaay’s hands. He placed her hand on top of Shivaay’s and spoke, “You both should be leaving now. I and Rudra will manage here.”
Seating comfortably inside the car, the car pulled off and slowly, it disappeared from their sight. They went inside to look at Sahil who squealed in happiness on seeing them. They shared an unimaginably friendly bond with the little kid. Uninterested in video games, Om took out his tablet to browse through various sites searching for the appropriate clay he’d need for his next sculpture while Rudra played with Saahil.
Shivaay blindfolded Anika as they neared their destination. He wanted it to be a surprise for her, but his action confused Anika. They were going to a restaurant and there couldn’t be anything to surprise her over there. It could either be a budget restaurant, an average affordable restaurant or a posh restaurant. Oh, she knew why he’d blindfolded her. He didn’t want her to rant, neither listen to her rant seeing the posh restaurant. She laughed over his thoughts and walked with him. His hands were over her shoulder, providing her support as he led her through. She smiled thinking about how protective and caring he was for the ones he loved. He was absolutely one gem of a person.
She was brought back to reality when Shivaay removed the blindfold. She slowly opened her eyes, but it was completely dark around her. Where had he brought her? A restaurant with no electricity and to add to it, she couldn’t find him either. She shouted his name again, calling for him when the room was slowly lit up with the lanterns that hung on the wall giving it a romantic feel. Oh, so finally he’d listened to her. He’d brought her to a budget restaurant for the dinner. She smiled seeing the way she’d influenced him. She stepped forward and feeling something under her foot, she looked down. Rose petals? She walked further ahead on the petals that guided her to . . . to Shivaay. She smiled. He always found ways to make her feel special. She knew she wasn’t so special, but she felt good. She stood under the dark black sky and saw a coffee mug being passed to her. She looked beside herself and there he was, the mastermind. She smiled and slowly, took the mug out of his grip. “Your favourite Saira Baano,” he stated.
She laughed over herself and reminisced her first day at office. She was talking to him about the designs when he’d asked for coffee and offered her. She’d sipped the coffee and immediately, spat it out over his white coat. Astonished, he’d looked at her when she spoke, “You’ve Saira Baano, too?” He couldn’t figure out her words and thus, looking at her confused was the only option he had. “I meant Expresso.” It’d just slipped out of her mouth. Initially, she’d hated it, but now she liked it. Staying with him, she’d been influenced too; it wasn’t only him. Like him, the ‘Saira Baano’ now relaxed her.
He held her palm and slowly led her to the table near the swimming pool. The cool breeze blew across their faces and the goosebumps sprawled on her arms. It was an extremely calm and peaceful environment. “Where are we? At your farmhouse, am I right?” She asked out of sheer curiosity and he nodded his head. She’d been to this farmhouse before for some urgent work when he’d been on a leave with his brothers. Brothers reminded her of something and she immediately asked, “Why had you brought Om and Rudra today?” He served her the Lasagna and picking up the fork said, “You’d told me that Sahil would be returning yesterday.” “And you remembered?” He smiled and she felt embarrassed. She couldn’t remember things about herself and here, he remembered everything about her family, too.
After their dinner accompanied with a few random talks, they sat by the pool looking at each other. The two of them hardly got enough time for each other after sorting out the problems in their lives, but the mental support they knew they’d from each other always encouraged them. Their eyes talked raw emotions and they could read each other inside-out. Shivaay slowly grasped her hand and she could feel the muscles in the pit of her stomach clenching. He loved how his touch always affected her indifferently. Looking directly into her eyes, he pointed at his lips and his innocent face again smirked at her. But he couldn’t help. She looked bewitching and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Hence, asking for a kiss for this beautiful evening couldn’t be complained about.
She shook her head negatively and pulling away her hand, ran afar. Matching with her pace, he held her hand from behind in an attempt to stop her. They again stared into each other’s eyes before Anika pushed him into the pool and laughed heartily. She wouldn’t have let him have what he wanted. Lost in her thoughts, she thought about her victory when Shivaay pulled her into the water along with himself. Clueless, she stared at him and he laughed at her expression. Soaking the water, the gown clung to her body and she immediately covered herself, crisscrossing her arms across her chest. She turned around to get out of the pool, but his hands snaked around her waist and huskily, he spoke, “One kiss.”
Persistent, her back faced him. He spun her around and looked at her lovingly. The water droplets trailed down her face, to her neck, to her . . . She covered his eyes with her palms and he smiled. His lips parted and he waited for her to press hers upon his, but cleverly, she slowly stepped back and getting out of the pool, laughed at him. Defeated, he breathed out a sigh. He couldn’t win over her. She was clever enough to defeat him every time. He stepped out of the water and both of them wiped the water off from them, cautious to not catch a bad cold.
The cold breeze still blew and the goosebumps sprawled all over her. Feeling her cold body against his, Shivaay wrapped his blazer over her to warm her a little. She looked at him affectionately. She again thanked God. She’d gotten the perfect person to be with, to spend a lifetime with. Fearing that they might catch a bad cold if they stayed longer, they headed back to the car and drove back to her house.
Back at Anika’s home, Om and Rudra saw Shivaay’s blazer wrapped over her. They smiled amongst themselves and bidding adieu to Anika, they walked towards the car. Before getting inside, Rudra looked at Anika and said, “Bhabhi, you can have the blazer all for yourself now.” Her face flushed at his statement while Rudra grinned and got inside the car. She removed the blazer to give it back to him, but he raised his hand asking her to stop and smiling at her for one last time, the Oberoi brothers left.
She walked inside the house recalling the events of the evening. A tinge of the red shade covered her cheeks as she walked towards Sahil’s room to tuck him back to bed. Standing at the doorstep, she mentally thanked Om and Rudra for tiding up his room and tucking him to bed. She sat beside Sahil’s little form and ran her hands through his hair. Kissing his forehead, she promised to spend her weekend with him. She whispered him a ‘Good night’ and walked back to her room. Changing into her night outfit, she laid down on the bed thinking about the evening yet again.
The Oberoi brothers after reaching home, walked inside the mansion completely tired. After the eventful evening, they dearly yearned for a good night’s sleep. Greeting each other their good night’s, they walked back to their rooms. Shivaay entered into his room and changing into something comfortable, he got inside the warm comforter.
This evening in their life had been an extremely special one. Although, they’d been on dinners before, but this one was special. They both had done something for one another and thanked God for adding a few more blissful moments in their individual and entangled lives. Recalling about one another, they smiled and mouthing an “I Love You” into thin air, they fell asleep.
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Author’s Note: Hey Guys, thank you for your immense support on the previous one. I hadn’t thought I’d get such a good response. So, here was the second part. If you liked it, please drop down your views below, I’d be looking forward to them. Constructive criticism is accepted.