two stories of marriage

chapter 36

Dushyant came out in the garden to get some fresh air. He really didn't understand what made him feel so claustrophobic in that room, was it confronting his biggest fear for a decision, or was it the uncertain part of him that just didn't know what to go for. For the first time he had to think, does he really want something he has always been scared of?

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Kavin too came out in the garden to get some fresh air. He could be so full of conviction with a decision in one moment and question himself completely in the other. It was the worries that came after taking the decision that brought him there tonight. At first it was simply him estimating his abilities to take care of everything for his wife to just go ahead and pursue her dreams without any worries, but slowly, it became more about estimating the strength of the relationship itself, was it really strong enough to survive distance?

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Their paths collided, as they were walking through their doubts, and probably found a way.

'aap, itni raat ko, yahan?' asked kavin, as he caught the sight of his brother.

'yeh sawaal toh main bhi tujhse puch sakta hoon...' replied dushyant jokingly, as kavin chuckled slightly.

'woh neend nahi aa rahi thi..' said kavin as he put his hands in his pocket and started walking alongside dushyant.

'pareshaan hai?' asked dushyant with this sight fixed on kavin, he really did know his brother well.

'woh purvi ko job offer hui hai as a travelling reporter, she'll be travelling for 4 days a week atleast and not to mention the long working hours...' narrated kavin.

'you know na we'll help you in taking care of ridhima..' said dushyant as kavin nodden in agreement.

'haan bhai, uss baat ki chinta nahi itni, meri beti hai woh, uska khayal rakh lunga main...chinta mujhe meri aur purvi ki hai..' continued kavin, as he paused to glance at his brother for a while, who was getting where kavin was coming from.

'haan, ab distance badhta hai, toh thodi problems aati hi hain...' said dushyant as kavin nodded in agreement.

'bhai humara abhi bacha hua hai, humare paas toh abhi hi ek dusre se baat karne ka time nahi hota...ab main usko dekh bhi nahi paunga itne din, I'm worried about where our relationship will end up..' expressed kavin.

'purvi se baat ki, iss barein mein?' asked dushyant as kavin just nodded in disagreement.

'woh already bahaut pareshaan thi ridhima ko lekar because of how long she'll be away, but usse kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai mujhe ki kitna mann hai uska yeh job lene ka, itni mehnat ki hai usne iske peeche...mera kaam usse bas support karna hai abhi.'

'tujhe itna darr lag raha hai, lekin phir bhi yeh karne ko taiyaar hai uske liye?' asked dushyant.

'woh yeh job chahti hai, main usse chahta hoon, aur iske alawaa kuch aur matter nahi karta...' stated kavin, as now they both had found the answer they were looking for.

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A few days later...

'toothbrush!' exclaimed kavin from the corner of the room as he changed ridhima's diaper.

'rakh liya!' exclaimed purvi from the bathroom.

'toothpaste dekh lo ek baar, tum hamesha bhool jaati ho...' remarked kavin, as he picked up his daughter after being done with changing the diaper.

'hi!' he said in his baby voice as he looked at his daughter with a huge smile.

'arre baba koi toothbrush kyun rakhega bina toothpaste ke?' asked purvi in annoyance.

'yeh toh tum aur tumhare jaise namoone hi jaane...kyun, ridhi? Haina?' joked kavin, as purvi just grabbed ridhima from kavin.

'papa joh bhi kehte rahe, you remember what i told you, mumma is the best!' whispered purvi, as kavin was now glaring at her.

'dekho, kitnaaa jealous hain mumma se!' she whispered as kavin took the baby girl and rested her on bed, as now purvi ran away for kavin to chase after.

'tum mujhe nahi pakkad sakte!' teased purvi as she ran downstairs, only for kavin to chase after her harder, but they were brought to a halt by ishita who came in the middle.

'ruko, wahi! What are you both doing? scolded ishita as she pointed at them.

'bhaag rahe hain...' replied purvi, as kavi giggled.

'tumhari cab aa gayi hai bahar, samaan kahan hai tumhara!' informed ishita, as kavi got disheartened, it was time to say goodbye, no matter what, it's always painful.

'arre kavin, purvi kahan ho tum log...yahan khade-khade kya kar rahe ho, tumhe late ho raha hai!' exclaimed dushyant, as purvi nodded in agreement and pointed to her room,

'haan, woh...' she fumbled, as kavin interrupted,

'main laata hoon samaan, tum chalo!' he said as he ran upstairs.

'great! Chalo!' said ishita as purvi started to walk out, only to take one last look of her room, as if she's leaving a part of her life behind...

                                    ***

Purvi was seated in the cab with her luggage, as she was giving yet another one of the last goodbyes. But the tears couldn't help themselves now, as a smile too crept up, waving goodbye to ridhima, as kavin made his daughter wave her hand to her mother, she couldn't help but wonder how could something be so adorably poignant.

The cab drove away as they were no longer visible when she turned back, she wiped her tears as she moved forward, as the time had came where she would not be looking back anymore.