Part 32

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Everyone is getting ready for the pooja. Rishmi are in their room doing the same. Lakshmi is looking for something in the cupboard when some things fall on the ground. She is picking up the stuff when she gets her hands on the love band. Yes, it was the same love band Rishi had bought for himself and Malishka. She looked at it and all those bad memories came rushing back in a second. Her eyes filled with tears remembering all that happened. Rishi came over to help her pick the things when he saw her sitting statue with the love band in her hand. He looked at her and understood what she must be going through. He quickly grabbed the band from her hand and made her stand up. He pulled her to him and hugged her tight.
Rishi: I am sorry Lakshmi. I am very sorry. Pata nai kaise ye yaha reh gya. Main jaanta hoon ye dekhke tumhe mere die hue sare zakhm yaad aa gye honge na. Wo saari buri yaadein firse taaza ho gyi hongi na. I am sorry sweetheart.
Lakshmi didn't say anything. She just held him close and tears flowed from her eyes, Rishi consoled her.
After coming out of the hug, he went and threw the band in the dustbin.
Rishi: Iss band ki ab meri life me koi importance nai hai. I only love you Lakshmi. Bas tum ho mere lie and I will try my best ki tumhe kabhi bhi purani baaton ko yaad na karna pade.
Lakshmi held his hands and gave him a kiss.
Lakshmi: Acha ab ye sab jaane do. Let's get ready, Pooja ka time ho rha hai.
Rishi: Haan chalo change kar lete hai.
Lakshmi: Chalo matlab?
Rishi: Saath me change karenge to jaldi ho jaega na
Lakshmi: Rehne do to tum. Sab pata hai mujhe change karne ke sirf bahane hai. Tumhari asli intentions samajh aa rhi mujhe.
Rishi: To kya. Apni khud ki wife ke saath romance karna hai mujhe. Kisi aur ke saath thodi kar rha hoon.
Lakshmi hits him lightly and goes to the cupboard. Rishi goes and closes the door. And then comes back to see Lakshmi's hair tied up in a messy bun while she is taking out clothes for them to change. He goes to her and traces his finger down her bare back. Lakshmi is startled and turns towards him to find hum dangerously close.
Lakshmi: Firse shuru ho gye tum
Rishi: Abhi kaha. Abhi to shuru karna baaki hai. He starts to remove her saree and kisses her ever so lightly.
Lakshmi: Rishi please abhi nai. Bahot late hai hum already. Tumhe hamesha bas yehi sab karna hota hai.
She stops him and goes to get ready. Rishi also gets ready but he is a little annoyed.
Everyone gathers for the pooja and Shalu and family also come over. After the pooja they go to burst crackers and Lakshmi is busy with all the work and looking after the guests. Shalu and Aayush are as usual having their fun throughout the entire function. Rishi keeps an eye out for Lakshmi but they don't get any time together. After the guests have all left, the family is sitting together. Everyone is pretty tired.
Aayush: Chalo ye festival to ache se ho gya
Dadi: Haan ab next celebration to hamare Vir aur Neelam ka hoga. Unki anniversary jo aa rhi hai.
Neelam: Lekin maanna padega mummy ji aaj Lakshmi ne ek perfect host ki tarah sabkuch sambhal lia. Ab hume lagta hai hum apne post se retire ho sakte hai. Hame hamara perfect candidate mil gya hai.
Everyone laughs. Lakshmi notices that Rishi is not too enthusiastic and something seems off.
Vir: Acha ab chalo sablog aaram kar lete hai.. sab bahot thak gye hoge.
Neelam: Haan chalo. Goodnight everyone
With that everyone goes to their respective rooms. Lakshmi goes to the kitchen to take water to her room. When she gets to the room she sees that Rishi had already changed and lying on the bed with his phone in his hands.
Lakshmi goes and sits on her side.n
Lakshmi: Kitne ache se ho gaya na sab aur sabko pasand bhi aaya celebration.
Rishi: Hmm
Lakshmi: Aur tumhare friends ko bhi acha laga na. Waise wo Rahul kuch keh rha tha na kuch school reunion hone wala hai tumhara.
Rishi: Haan next week hai. Invite kar rha tha mujhe. Maine mana kar dia.
Lakshmi: Arre kyu mana kar dia. Jao na. Purane dost milenge, acha lagega.
Rishi: Mera man nai hai aur wo tumhe bhi saath laane ko bol rha tha aur mujhe pata hai tum comfortable nai hogi.
Lakshmi: Arre Rishi to kya hua. Tumhare lie main itna to kar hi sakti hoon. I'll come along. Tum jaane ke lie haan bol do.
Rishi: Maine kaha na mera man nai hai. Ab main abhi bahot thak gya hoon. Main sone jaa rha hoon. Goodnight
And he turns to the other side and closes his eyes. Lakshmi is surprised to see Rishi behave this way. Since the day they confessed, he never sleeps without hugging her and kissing her. Today he didn't as much try to even touch her. She understands something is wrong but has no clue what it could have been.
She goes and gets into her night clothes and comes back to the bed. She sees Rishi sleeping facing her side. She gets into the covers and holds Rishi close and tries to sleep but Rishi doesn't move.
In the morning, when Lakshmi wakes up she sees that Rishi is not there on the bed. She goes to the washroom to check and finds it empty too.
Lakshmi: Itni subah subah kaha chala gya Rishi.
She is still wondering when Rishi walks in all sweaty in his running gear.
Lakshmi: Rishi tum itni subah kaha chale gye the wo bhi mujhe bina bataye.
Rishi: Run pe gya tha
Lakshmi: Rishi kya baat hai tum itne ukhade ukhade se kyu ho. Kya hua hai. Kal raat se dekh rhi hoon tum mujhse theek se baat bhi nai kar rhe.
Rishi: Aisa kuch bhi nai hai
Lakshmi: Aisa hi hai. Kal pehli baar tumne sone se pehle mujhe hug bhi nai kia. ( she gets tears in her eyes while talking) aur jab main tumhare paas aayi to tumne muje Chua bhi nai. Batao kya baat hai. Mujhse kuch galti ho gyi hai kya? I am sorry jo bhi baat hai but please Rishi tum mujhse aise naaraz mat ho. Mujhe bilkul acha nai lagta jab tum aise hote ho.
Rishi wipes her tears.
Rishi: Chill Lakshmi aisa kuch nai hua hai. Bas mujhe tumhari kal raat wali baat ka thoda bura laga.
Lakshmi: Konsi baat
Rishi: Jab tum hamesha mujhe kareeb aane se mana karti ho aur kal jab tumne kaha ki mere dimaag me hamesha bas yehi chalta rehta hai to mujhe laga ki main tumhare saath jabardasti kar raha hoon. Mujhe bas itna hi bolna hai ki Aisa nai hai. Main tumse bahot bahot pyaar karta hoon aur tumhare kareeb rehkar mujhe bahot acha lagta hai. But main kabhi bhi tumhe force nai karna chahta kisi bhi cheez ke lie aur physical hone ke lie to kabhi bhi nai. Agar tum mere kareeb nai rehna chahti to main koi jabardasti nai karunga. I am sorry
Lakshmi stops crying and hits her head.
Lakshmi: Ohho mere buddhuram
She goes to him and hugs him tight.
Rishi: Lakshmi I am all sweaty. Kya kar rhi ho
Lakshmi: Apne pati ke kareeb aa rhi hoon. Unki galatfehmi door kar rhi hoon ki mujhe unke paas rehna nai pasand.
Rishi: To fir wo kal raat wali baat
Lakshmi: Wo to maine sirf islie kaha tha kyuki Pooja ke lie late ho rha tha. Aur tum agar mere kareeb aate to main khud ko rok nai paati aur fir hum aur bhi jyada late ho jaate. Kitne pagal ho na tum. Agar tumhe kuch aisa laga to mujhe bolna chahiye tha na, poora time bas apna mood kharab kia aur raat ko door bhi rahe mujhse Bina koi matlab ke.
Rishi: Hmmm aage se aisa nai hoga
Lakshmi: Main hone hi nai dungi ab se. Acha chalo ab naha lo, fresh ho jao. Fir breakfast karte hai
Rishi goes to the washroom with his towel. He is just getting ready to take a bath when he hears a knock on the door. He goes to open it and sees Lakshmi standing there with a towel in her hand.
Lakshmi: Chalo side ho, mujhe bhi nahana hai. I am getting late.
Rishi tried to come out of the washroom.
Rishi: Theek hai fir tum pehle naha lo
Lakshmi: Kyu hum saath bhi to naha sakte hai na.
Rishi mouth is left open. His shy wife is asking for it. He looks at her blushing and pulls her in close with a jerk.
Rishi: Ohho Mrs. Oberoi aap to keher ban rhi ho..kya hua ye aapko. Aur aaj kya aap kahe to hum roz hi saath naha sakte hai. Time bhi Bach jaega.
Lakshmi keeps blushing and laughing and Rishi takes her in the shower. They both have a great time with each other and all issues are resolved.
Later, on the dining table after breakfast
Virendra: Guys I have an announcement to make. Actually ye Rishi ka initiative hai but I am making the formal announcement. Lakshmi beta idhar aao.
Lakshmi goes to him. Neelam then hands over a file to her.
Virendra: Ye tumhari nayi shuruaat ke papers.
Lakshmi: Nayi shuruaat matlab. Main kuch samjhi nai bauji
Virendra: Actually humlog kaafi time se apna business expand karne ka soch rhe the, koi naye sector me venture karne ka plan tha. And finally we have decided to go ahead with event management aur hum apni iss nayi company ki responsibility tumhe Dena chahte hai.
Everyone claps and is very happy.
Lakshmi: But bauji mujhe business ki koi samajh nai hai. Mujhe to kuch bhi nai aata.
Virendra: Uski tension tum mat lo, business side Rishi aur Aayush sambhal lenge. Tum bas events manage karna. Aur haan humne officially interior designing wala part Shalu ko handle karne dene ka socha hai.
Lakshmi: Thank you bauji, thank you mummyji. Main bata bhi nai sakti main kitni khush hoon. Aapne mujhe kitna kuch dia hai already aur ab ye.
Neelam: Thanks hume nai Rishi ko bolo..uska hi idea tha ye sab.
Lakshmi looks at Rishi and thanks him. Rishi smiles at her being so happy.


Sorry guys for the late update. I will try to be more regular from now on but I will be ending this ff soon because I want to give it a good end.

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