Secret wife

Chapter 6

It was the next day was a rather sleepy Sunday. The dew had not yet evaporated from the leaves and a mild moisture hung in the air. Before the boys could make up their mind to laze around the house, Rajiv shooed them to the yard and made them tie a volleyball net to make them play. Since Rajiv had been busy for the last few days, the kids did not get to spend time with him, so they got excited to play. When they were starting to play, Leena walked out of the annex in her pajamas with a newspaper and a cup of coffee.

"Care to join?" asked Rajiv. It was his plan to make the children accustomed to their mother.

"Sure", replied Leena and she joined them.

"Acha, it might be too rough for a lady to play the game with us, said Ravi to Rajiv.

"You are sure of that?" asked Leena.

"Lets see. Shall we divide into teams?" asked Rajiv.

They divided into two teams with Rajiv and Ravi, Rajiv being a good player and Ravi an average player in one team. The other team made of Abhi, Kiran and Leena. Abhi was an excellent player while Kiran was a very poor player and they did not know anything about the skill of Leena.

"We are going to bulldoze you", taunted Ravi.

"Lets see" said Abhi.

Little did anyone except Rajiv know that Leena was an excellent volleyball player who had played for the state team.

The game began and Abhi immediately guessed that she knew how to play and was quick to use the words and lingo to communicate with her and they were able to pummel the offense. Kiran was having a blast hazing Ravi.

After a hard fought match Rajiv and Ravi lost to the others.

"Good play" said Rajiv, his face was glowing with a smile, rather than sweat.

Ravi was upset and did not speak at all.

"Congratulate them Ravi, be gracious even in your losses. This is unsportsmanlike behavior" chided Rajiv.

Ravi grumbled and shook hands with the others. Kiran, Abhi and Leena had formed a good rapport and they were high-five-ing each other when slowly something clicked inside Ravi's brain and he stood rooted to the spot.

"What happened?" asked Rajiv.

"Nothing" muttered Ravi shaking his hgead, but staring intently at Leena.

"Kids, come for breakfast" Gomati called from the portico of the house.

The boys quickly removed the net and ran back home, laughing and chatting with each other.

"See, you got time to spend with them!" said Rajiv as soon as the kids were out of earshot.

"Yes, thank you", said Leena, she too was glowing with happiness.

Rajiv took leave of her and went back to the house. All through the breakfast, Ravi was quiet. But he kept staring at Abhi from time to time finally irritating him enough, he asked "What?"

"What?" Ravi retorted back.

"You lost fair and square, so don't show me eyes" replied Abhi, his eyebrows scrunched in irritation.

"Pfft" said Ravi getting back to his breakfast. It wasn't the loss that bothered him, it was just how familiar Leena felt. How she smiled, just like Abhi. How she was kind with the boys, how she would look with pride whenever the boys played well and how when Rajiv lost points she looked at him teasingly. Why all through the game Rajiv had eyes only for her. He looked at his father, he seemed happy, a smile was playing on his lips; it was a rare thing. At first he thought that it might be because Indrani aunty had slept though the breakfast. But it was something else, his father seemed to be happy from inside. He remembered how he talked to Leena, eyes gentle and standing too close than he usually does to other women. He laughed and smiled when they lost points and whenever she took a great shot he would shake his head grinning at her as if to say, "won't you stop surprising me?" It seemed like he was..... in love.