LONGING FOR….. ( CHAPTER 4 )

I slowly opened my eyes and I found him looking at me intensely. As I was about to get up, he slowly started leaning towards me. I could feel the sweat on my forehead slowly reaching my cheeks. I rubbed my eyes to ensure that I wasn’t dreaming. I clutched my pillow tightly in anxiety. He came closer and closer and his breath fell on my face. I closed my eyes in reflex. I could feel him more closer and I called all possible gods to my rescue. I have become mad. He is my husband and I am feeling weird. Why am I feeling so strange like this? I opened my eyes and mine met his. He slowly leaned more and slowly took the ac remote which was beside me on the dressing table and drifted apart.

I looked at him, astonished. He switched on the ac and slowly lay on the bed beside me. I could notice the mischief on his face as he did that. So he is pulling my leg. That’s why he didn’t talk to me first. Ok done. If superstar harsha is stubborn then his wife Nieve is no less than him. I turned to the opposite side and pretended to sleep. But I could not sleep. A small smile crept over my lips. I know that Harsha is too shy. But I like that the most. He speaks so little. And I remember how our conversations were in the initial days after our marriage. The sad part is that till now we couldn’t break the ice between us.

If we were able to live together unlike this, then we would have be more close to each other. Today’s incident is enough to make my heart flutter in joy. This is the first ever time he had behaved like this. His mischievous smile is magical. I slowly turned to his side and saw him fast asleep. He must be tired. I slowly caressed his hair. I interwined my hand into his and closed my eyes. The warmth of his hand just made me feel so comfortable and secured. This night is so special for me.
***************************
My phone buzzed and I slowly opened my eyes. I saw the time. It showed 4:00.a.m. I have to go to shooting which is at 6:00 a.m. I am a punctual person when it comes to my profession. I was about to get up when I realised something heavy on my chest. It was HER. She was sleeping on my chest peacefully. She smiled in her sleep. My lips curved into a smile seeing her smiling. I looked at her and slowly placed her head on the mattress. I glanced her once before moving to freshen up myself.

As I came out of the restroom, I looked again at her. She was still in her deep slumber. I got ready and was about to move when something inside me stopped me. I guess, my heart. I turned back and went towards her and caressed her hair and moved away from there. Till date, I have never did this with her. I don’t know what makes me do like this. I brushed off my thoughts when I saw Vikram standing downstairs.
**************************

The sun’s rays entered the room filling warmth inside it and I woke up. I rolled on to the other side of the bed and then realised that it was empty. I got up with a jerk and hit my head with my palm. Gosh! How did I forget that he had shooting today at 6:00 a.m? Yesterday, Mom told me. Uff! He would have reached there by now. I got up and freshened myself. Today’s morning seemed very different to me. After all, I had a peaceful sleep. I am feeling all sort of positive vibes around me. I am feeling good. I looked at the messy room. This Harsha!! How ever famous celebrity he is, he just can’t keep his room clean. I never knew that the shy Harsha will be this much messy. I smiled. I started to clean up the mess when I heard a knock. It was Mom. “Good morning, Ananya!!” She chirped as she entered the room. “Good morning Mom!!” I replied. “Anu, I thought why don’t you take an off and visit Harsha?” Mom said. My eyes widened. Me? To the shooting spot? That sounded great but…. I don’t know what’s stopping me. “I will speak to Ishaan about this beta. You don’t worry.” Mom said and I nodded.

“Tu apne majnu se romance karne ke liye off maang rahe ho na?” Before I could open my mouth, Ishaan mocked. “O chimpanzee! Tu chup kar!! I am just going to meet my husband.” I told him. “You are saying as if you have never met your husband.” Ishaan mocked again. “Bachhe! Wait till your turn comes. I will tease you like hell!” I yelled at him. He glared at me and I smirked. “You both are driving me mad in the morning” Mom complained. We both smiled sheepishly. “Okay, Okay, You can go! Take this as your gift.” Ishaan said dramatically. I looked at him angrily. “Itna gussa mat kar, phir tumare pati dev dar jaayega bechara!” Ishaan said and laughed. “Ishaaannn!!” I shouted and stomped my feet and went from there. Ishaan is crazy. Just opposite to his brother. I bade bye to Mom and Ishaan and went towards the car.

As I entered there, I saw him talking to the director. He was so immersed in his work. I noticed Vikram telling him that I have come there. He raised his head and looked at me and gestured me to wait with his eyes. I nodded and within a few seconds, Vikram took me to his caravan and made me wait there. After sometime, HE came. He sat beside me. “Any problem?” He asked me in a concerned tone. Baap re! After 3 months, when a husband meets his wife, he asks this!! Why? I have to come here, only if there is a problem. I muttered under my breath. “Just thought to see you acting.” I told him politely. He nodded. “Sir, The director is calling you” I heard a voice and he looked at me. “You wanted to see me acting right, so you too come” He said. I smiled excitedly and followed him. I sat and was ready to see him acting.

“Wasn’t it an action scene, Sir?” I could hear HIM saying to the director. “Yes, it was supposed to be. But, the heroine has an important work and she has to go to Mumbai tonight. So, now we are going to shoot the romantic scene.” As the director said this, I could feel my blood boiling. I am just like a common girl. Even I too feel jealous sometimes. That’s the reason, I always watch HIS films at home so that I would forward the romantic scenes and watch the rest. I know I am crazy. But…. I can’t describe this. HE looked at me sceptically. I was surprised. I didn’t know that he would do like this. I can notice the care on his face. He cared for my feelings. I smiled at him and nodded. He smiled back at me. Slowly, the ice between us is melting.

Only I know, how I controlled myself from expressing my feelings. I felt nervous as the director shouted, “ACTION!!” as I don’t know how will I control my jealousy. I tried my level best not to reveal my jealousy as I could feel the crew’s eyes glued on to me waiting to see my reaction. I acted to be calm. As the director shouted “ACTION!!” I looked at him. The scene started. HE was supposed to hold the heroine from falling and to whisper that she was looking beautiful. But, HE started to stutter… Stutter badly. Though I felt bad for him, I was happy deep inside that he couldn’t romance properly onscreen. I controlled myself from smiling. I looked at him mischievously and I received a sheepish smile from him in return.

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

“Ishaan!! Please mujhe help karo! I promise, I promise that hereafter, I won’t call you devarji…. But please help me” I heard HER voice as I entered my home after shooting. Today I had an early pack up and so, I am here today at 8:00.p.m. SHE had left the shooting spot before lunch. I was shocked when I saw her there. Mom’s idea perhaps. I was tensed to perform a romantic scene in front of her. I had heard from my actor friends that their wives don’t like that. Of course, it’s obvious. But to my shock, SHE was so calm. In fact, she smiled at me when I was about to perform. She is unique. I had never got the time to know about her entirely, same with her I guess. The profession of mine is such.

“Ishaaannn!!” I heard her shouting. Woah! She could shout too. Why is she pleading Ishaan now? I know that though Ishaan and I are not at good terms, SHE and Ishaan share a beautiful bond. I smiled unknowingly when I heard her pleading him. I made my way towards the kitchen, from where I heard the sounds. I hid behind the pillar so that I could listen to them. “What’s your problem duffer? Being a sanskaari bahu, you don’t even know to cook” I heard Ishaan’s mocking tone. “Mujhe sach mein cooking nahi aata” She said sadly. “I know duffer. I still remember your pehle rasoi, where you added salt to the kheer…” His voice trailed off as he started to laugh. “Thank god, your Pati parmeshwar was away for shooting. Or else….” He laughed again. She fumed at his words. “Teach me Ishaan” She said. “Ok, I will. But you have to tell me the reason for your sudden cooking class” He said. “Actually….. I thought to make dinner for HIM” She said. “Who?” He said in a pretending tone. I chuckled silently.

“Ishaan…. Don’t act!” She said scornfully. He burst into laughter again. She glared at him angrily and started to move from there. Oops… Time for me to move before she sees me. As I was about to move, “Harsha baba!! What are you doing here in the kitchen? Do you need something? Why are you hiding here baba?” Krishna Bai, our cook asked me and I got caught terribly. Oh no! There she was, staring me as if she is gonna eat me.
***************************