Hello everyone! Thank you so much for all the love and affection this story is receiving! I know I’ve been assuring you all of being more regular for quite a few episodes now, but I fail to do so every single time with something or the other coming up. But now on, you all will actually be seeing back to back episodes just like before. Happy reading!
Twinj: My Lifeline: Episode 69
A quick recap: While Kunj learns cooking – actually just one simple dish, but it’s the effort that counts right? – to make Twinkle feel better, she fights her own self and Usha to go ahead and accompany Kunj to meet Alisha, with whom they finally make peace.
Twinkle sighed as she looked at the sight in front of her, and had just stepped forward to get rid of the mess, when an idea struck her and she smirked to herself. “Kunnnj!” She called out, more of like she was whining, and slowly walked to their coffee table and jumped up to sit on top of it, swaying her legs just a foot above the ground. She patted herself appreciatively when she heard the door that opened from their room into his home studio crack open. She quickly put on her best neutral face as she eyes him come running to her. “Twinkle? You’re alright?” He asked, concern dripping in his voice, and Twinkle almost gave up right then, just almost though. She fought back her smile as he made quick moves to check if she had a fever. She didn’t miss the confused look that flashed in his eyes when he realised that she seemed absolutely alright. “What was that for?” He questioned, beginning to appear annoyed, but she simply blinked at him, further riling him up. Of course she knew him well enough to know how far she could push him, and was doing just that, a skill that she had recently mastered and enjoyed toying around with. “You knew I was doing this live session on my social media, right? I’m sure everybody heard that!” She nodded with careless ease, but said absolutely nothing, and so he continued, “Twinkle, you know how important these interactions with my fans are to me! And despite it all…” He trailed off because his wifey had chosen that precise moment to throw her arms around his neck and pull him closer. He had definitely not anticipated that. “Looks like you’ve forgotten, Mr. Sarna, your biggest fan ever is right here, in front of you, and she’s definitely not happy with you!” She whispered, looking right into his eyes, giggling as she watched his jaw drop at that. “Oh, that’s a concern. We need to something about that right away.” He whispered back, nuzzling up against her, which she allowed him for just a moment, before pushing him away, and he looked like a deer caught in the headlight, earning a hearty laugh from her.
“Come on, Kunj! You ought to do better than that!” Twinkle teased, getting off the table and stepping towards Kunj. He crooked his eyebrows, wondering what she was up to now. This wasn’t the Twinkle who would meekly keep her thoughts and feelings to herself – back then she had been extremely predictable, he always knew she would agree to everything he said – but damn, this shade of her had only made him fall deeper for her. And now, he couldn’t wait to see where this was leading. He bit back his smile as she grabbed onto his collar and faked a gasp instead, setting her up for whatever was cooking on her mind. “Go on, ask me how you can make up for disappointing me!” She teased, reading his mind perfectly. “Tell me then!” He replied, tilting his head just enough to drop a feathery kiss on her hand, but quickly quipped in, “How did you know what I was thinking of though?” She flashed a content smile at that before responding with a confident, “Because, Kunj Sarna, so many years of being part of this big fandom of yours paid off, and I can proudly claim that I know you better than you yourself do! And as a consequence, I know every single mess you’ve created and tried to cover up so poorly. Just remember that I catch those quicker than you know too, so you’ll be punished for each.” Her hands had let go of his collar by then, one of them drawing random patterns on the back of his neck, the other clutching his shirt right over his heart, asserting her dominance and he gulped, picking up her reference immediately.
“I meant to get back and arrange everything before you finished your routine gossip with Ma when we got back home..” Kunj explained honestly, watching the sparkle of amusement leave Twinkle’s eyes, and an offended look took over. “I don’t gossip, Kunj!” She protested, smacking him playfully, and he shrugged his shoulders, muffling his laughter in her hair as he leaned onto her. Of course she gossiped with Usha every single day, who was she kidding! That didn’t mean she would accept it though. “You’re sleeping on the couch for a month!” She declared her verdict, fuelled by the embarrassment he had just caused her. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” He wailed, following her into the balcony, catching up with her within a few seconds, but the sudden change in footing sent both of them crashing to the ground. She cried out in fear, anticipating the impact of the fall on her head, but it never came. Instead, her head landed on his hand that he had thrown around her protectively the minute he had lost balance. She looked up at him, his eyes looking down at hers with the same warmth, the very belongingness, love, affection and admiration that she knew for a fact that he reserved for her, drowning her in the ocean that his eyes were. “Kunj, get off me!” She demanded when she heard their windchime tinkle gently due to the wind, breaking their trance. She was admittedly surprised when he began to move immediately, sighing when she realised that he was only rolling them onto their side so that he wouldn’t crush her under his weight. She watched him expectantly, since he had got her accustomed to him whispering a quiet ‘I love you’ and a gentle peck on the forehead when they lay in each other’s embrace like that, but Kunj Sarna had mischief up his sleeves. “You know what it is the perfect weather for?” He asked and she watched him curiously, only to hear him grumble, “A perfect nap!” just as he shut his eyes. Needless to say, he had to bear the brunt of that too, and now his curfew on the couch was extended to two months, but they both knew for a fact that he wouldn’t be abiding by it, not for a single night, neither of them would be able to take it. Now that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have to convince her.
“Twinkle, I’ll do it myself! You don’t have to take the trouble!” Kunj suggested only half-heartedly, when he blocked her way to the closet, making her snicker at just the thought of the outcome of his attempt. “It wouldn’t be this worse if you didn’t rearrange the entire cupboard every couple of months! Now I don’t know where to find my stuff, and this morning I was in a hurry..” He narrated dramatically while she crossed her arms and listened attentively with nods every now and then. “If you can’t find something, ask me for it, Kunj! I think – could be, I mean, I’m only suggesting – that would be a better way out!” She retaliated, but he was in no mood to give in either. “Like you would know exactly where every single thing is?” He shot back at her, and she simply nodded with a smile in response. But before he could put forth his next argument, she dared him, “Try me!” He narrowed his eyes at her, the competition lever automatically going off in his head. After a minute of staring thoughtfully at her, he fired his question, “My blue jacket?” She wondered if he was actually being serious before she sighed deeply and answered, “Right where the rest of your jackets are, Kunj. Probably the third one from the end.” Kunj pondered over the location, he didn’t remember seeing the jacket anywhere that morning after all. “We’ll check.” He stated in a very matter-of-fact manner and she readily followed him, knowing he was going to lose this.
“It wasn’t here this morning, I promise!” Kunj bickered and Twinkle laughed at him as she headed to sort through all of his clothes that he had dumped on hers during his search. “I’ll help” He offered in a small voice, stepping beside her and promptly smoothening out the wrinkles he had caused on her clothes. “What have you planned to wear tomorrow?” He asked casually a few minutes of silence later, earning a “Nothing” in response. By all means, she had only meant that she hadn’t thought about it yet, but Kunj being himself, leaned close to her and whispered, “In that case, the two of us should just stay in here. We wouldn’t want the whole world watching you wearing n..” The rest of his words were muffled because she had immediately put her hand on his mouth, her eyes widening as she stared at him in disbelief. “Kunj!” She muttered in horror, but he only laughed into her hand before kissing it gently, making her withdraw it. “I was only suggesting!” He teased some more and she kept her eyes carefully off him, when his eyes landed on the bag of sanitary napkins that she had cautiously hidden under some of her clothes, all wrapped up in old newspaper. He remembered how awkward their previous encounter about the issue had gone, but today his mind was bent upon sorting things out.
“Twinkle..” Kunj began, grabbing her attention, but the minute she spotted the bag in his hand, she snatched it from him and put it back in its hiding before turning to him, standing in between him and the cupboard, and spoke, “Kunj, I’m really grateful that you’re very understanding about this, and that you have been so caring when I needed it, but couldn’t find it in me to say a single word, but you need to accept that we live in a world that isn’t as considerate towards women as you are, and you cannot be bringing this up over and over. Although I really, really love you for your broad-mindedness, let’s just leave this here, Kunj. Please!” It was a request, but it sounded so desperate that even if just momentarily, Kunj was forced to rethink about his stand. “Listen!” He beseeched of her, his hands on her shoulders to keep her calm as he presented his view. “This isn’t about me being tolerant or “broad-minded”. This is about all that you women are put through so unfairly every single day, just for being yourselves. It shouldn’t be that way! I know I might not be able to change the whole world singlehandedly, but I want to, and will – whether or not you agree with me initially – do all that I can do! I know there must have been a ton of myths and restrictions you were forced to submit to growing up, but you need to realise that it’s all just wrong. This isn’t a taboo for certain and I will not take you believing in crap like that! At least not anymore! We live in the 21st century Twinkle, and we loudly proclaim that men and women deserve to be treated equally, but how much of that is actually realised? Ma always says that change begins at home, and we need to contribute our little bit to it. I need you to know that you can discuss all of your thoughts with me, even these. I need you to trust me enough to be able to do that! And I know it’s going to be hard initially, but I’ll put in every bit of effort possible from my end, and all you have to do, is take slow but steady steps towards me. I’m sure we’ll meet midway. Is that okay?” Twinkle was literally blown away by the new perception that Kunj had brought her to, she no longer felt the embarrassment towards menstruation that school and college life had taught her to adapt to. She felt enlightened, and smiled at her husband, who immediately recognised the look of acceptance in her eyes and grinned widely.
Whew! That was one challenging sub-plot! I had always imagined Kunj’s monologue being this way in one of my stories, and am so, so glad I found the courage in me to infuse it into this very special story, and this alone take the story to newer heights for me! I hope you guys had a great read. Lots of love!!