The Story of an Indian Wife

28

"Ji, suniye. I made the list." Meera forwarded the note to Abhiraj as he was getting ready."This is all children needs." She said.

Abhiraj kept the note in his pocket and was buttoning his kurta." And what do you want me to bring, Meera?" Abhiraj asked her.

Meera first look at him for few second, nowadays he is asking her anything out of blue and she ofcourse she doesn't have answers for it, Not knowing why was he even asking her in the first place because he never asked her before.

" Umm..." she cleared her throat, " Me? I d..don't need anything? What will I need?" She replied, with a nervous smile.

"Ok" Abhiraj returned her a small smile, when the button of his kurta broke. Both of them looked at it, Abhiraj has put more pressure while buttoning than required.

Holding the broken button in his hand, he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. He was already getting late.

Meera quickly went to the cupboard and bring out the sewing kit from it. Picking up the button and thread of the matching color to his kurta.

"Give me your kurta. I will attached the button quickly. " she asked while inserting the thread in the needle. " Meera, I will get late." He replied.

Shaking her head, she went to him. She stood on her toes to match his height and started sewing the button on his kurta. Meera could feel his hard gaze on her which was making her cheek burn without her notice but she only focused on his kurta.

Her toes slipped and she was about to fall back. She gasped and closed her eyes when Abhiraj's strong pair of hands restricted her from falling, their bodies pressed against each other as he hold her by her waist.

Her breathing fasten, when she felt the grip tighten. She thought to fastly finish her work and get away. His hot breathe fall directly on her face and her hands trembled.

He joined their forehead and asked her to breathe. He chuckled seeing his effect on her. She finished attaching the button on his kurta, breaking the thread with her teeth.

He let go of her waist, she was about to turn when he cupped her cheeks. He made her looked into his eyes which were alreay staring at her as if she is the most precious in the world.

She could feel warmth radiating from his touch. It had care and love for her but she doubted they are geneuie
or not. She didn't wanted to believe him.

He removed the hair strands which were falling on her cheeks and tugged them behind her ears. He caressed her soft cheeks and pecked in forehead. His lips lingered there for some second making her close her eyes in bliss.

He left her and picked up his bags to leave. He left the room and she followed him outside of the house.

"Vikrant ke babasa" she called him as she stood by the door, he turned towards her, " Come back early". She said to him. Why? She herself don't know.

Today, she was feeling uneasy and her heart was restless.

He was going to the town for some work and then to the market to get all the monthly essentials for the kids and family.

He just past her a smile and nodded. He wondered how he has started smiling around her more often.

He felt like some teenager.

---

Meera was making dinner for the family but her mind was not at focus. She was restless, she peeked out of the window time to time.

She was done making the dinner and went out to see all the family members chatting there. " Bindni, Abhiraj didn't came?" Her mother in law asked.

Meera shaked her head , denying.He usually returns by this time whenever he goes to town. An unknown fear was gripped in heart.

" Bindni, you make the children eat their dinner. We will wait for him"

"It's okay Maasa, all of you have dinner. I will wait till he comes." Meera replied slowly making her to the kitchen again.

Nodding, all of them went to dining area. She served everyone and started feeding her children.

But her mind was roaming around him only. She regret not stopping him from going out, when she wasn't feeling good about him going to the town today.

Everyone started leaving the table. "Bhabhisa" Keshav called her from the trance she was in, " Don't worry, Bhaisa will come home soon." Keshav answered her unasked question. Her body language was clearly showing him how worried she was. " And Anuj is also there with him".

" Ji Devarsa." She was clearly not satisfied by his words. She won't be until she sees her husband on her own eyed. But just nodded at him.

" Take some rest Bhabhisa. " Its was Aarti who rubbed on Meera's shoulder. And the coupled left. Meera prayed to God, to let him home early, safely.

Meera took her children to the room and patted them to sleep singing a lullaby.

Meera's woke a from a temporary sleep when she felt herself sweating. She didn't know when she slept while making the children sleep.

She drank the water kept on the side table. And went out of the room. She looked at the clock. It was showing 9:30 which was too late in the village during those days.

She sat on the cot in the hall and stared at the door of the house. More bad thoughts invaded her mind and she just prayed for his safety.

But today the time was going slow for her. After which she felt like years, she heared the sound of the jeep. Her eyes shined and she ran towards the door.

Opening it, she stopped in her tracks and the colors vanished from her face, when she saw her husband whose whole weight was on Anuj as he helped him walk.

His one hand was around Anuj's shoulder and other was covered with bandages and even his head had bandage. He was limping as he walked in. "Vikrant ke Babasa" she screamed in horror after gulping, breaking the night silence of the house.

She gained their attention, ran to them. " What happened to you?" She said as tears escaped her eyes to see his condition. Rest of the family members came out of the room hearing her voice.

" Bhabhisa, let us take him to the room first" Anuj said. She wanted to ask more questions but restricted. Nodding at them, Meera helped Anuj to take him to their room.

Once settling Abhiraj on the bed, everyone was looking at Anuj for explaining Abhiraj's condition. Meera was standing beside the bed and her tears weren't stopping.

" Bhaisa was accidentally hitted by a motorbike when he was crossing the road." Making Meera gasp as she kept hand over her mouth.

" By God graces, there were not any serious injuries. His right hand got fractured and some bruises on head and legs." Anuj said, " we admit him in a hospital. The doctor kept him in observation for some hours in the hospital after treating him that why we got late".

" why didn't you make a telephone in the house?" Keshav asked.

" I was in a rush to take bhaisa in the hospital and after treatment bhaisa didn't let me" Anuj completely.

Meera was looking at him,he was in so much pain. On the other hand, Abhiraj tried to tell her through his eyes that he is OK.

" What is this Abhiraj?" His mother asked in anger, " what if something bad happen to you then how will I survive" she sat beside him and caressed his face.

"I am fine, Maasa". Abhiraj said but hissed immediately when his hand moved." Yes, I can see."

"Ok, now let him take rest"Anuj Said and everyone exited from the room.

After that, Meera sat in front of him on the bed, crying silently."why are you crying, Meera?" Abhiraj Aksed softly.

"You shouldn't have went out today. I should have stopped you". Meera replied sniffing. Sometimes inner feelings for our family becomes true. Because the roots are deeply connected.

Though people sometime forget to admit it but the soul doesn't.

" I troubled you so much, Meera. I gave you so much pain. This injuries are nothing in front of your pain. I deserve all this....." Abhiraj breathed in pain and hissed.