Do Anjaane

Chapter 14

Vaidehi's parents left immediately after the cake was cut. Everyone requested them to at least stay for dinner, but they had another Mehendi event to attend. Vaidehi smiled as her parents simply waved and left. The feeling of loneliness would never completely leave, but she had learned to manage it and didn't take such things to heart anymore. Her friends teased her throughout dinner about her husband's antics at the cake cutting, and soon it was time for the presents.

Everyone gathered in the living room, leisurely enjoying their slices of cake as Vaidehi and Raghuveer opened their gifts. Actually, it was Vaidehi opening the gifts and Raghuveer watching with an unreadable expression on his face. Last was the gift given to them by Akshu, Priya, Shraddha, Radhika, and Maitreyi, Vaidehi's younger sister and Nitesh's twin. "Actually, Bhabhi, you may want to open that in private." Snickers and giggles echoed throughout the room as Vaidehi blushed and discreetly set the box aside.

"Hey, don't make fun of my sister!" "Oy, leave my daughter alone!" "Don't tease your Bhabhi!" Three male voices rang out simultaneously, causing the ladies to laugh at their protectiveness. Priya whipped out a long, slim, wrapped box from behind her. "I lied Bhabhi, aur bhi gifts hain. The gifts that you and Bhai got for each other. Maine aapke room mein yeh dekha, so I thought it's obviously for Bhai, and I brought it down. Why don't you give it to Bhai now? Unless it's something personal, of course." (I lied Bhabhi, there are more gifts. The gifts that you and Bhai got for each other. I saw it in your room, so I thought it's obviously for Bhai, and I brought it down. Why don't you give it to Bhai now? Unless it's something personal, of course.) "Priya." Just hearing her name from her Bhai's mouth in the dark tone was enough to scold her.

"No, it's ok. She's right Raghuveer-ji. I got this as a gift for you. Happy six months." She handed him the box, her eyes encouraging him to open it. Raghuveer opened the box to find a slim gold bracelet that perfectly matched the gold chain his grandfather had given him before passing away, the chain that he wore every day. He expected to feel anger, since he had been adamant about not replacing his bracelet when he was younger. Hell, he expected to feel indifference, since she had likely bought it with his money.

However, he only felt pleasure. Pleasure that his wife had taken the time to know something personal about him and give him a gift that respected his past rather than replacing it. It looked nothing like his old bracelet, but he would wager it was exactly what he would've chosen had he been in the store. Raghuveer handed the box back to Vaidehi, and she felt the disappointment trickling in, until he stretched out his hand, gesturing for her to tie the bracelet on his wrist. She clicked the lock in place and looked up. "Thank you." She smiled her most genuine smile that day.

"Ok Bhai, now you have to give your gift to Bhabhi. I didn't find it when I looked, but I'm sure you must have it hidden somewhere." "No, I don't have a gift hidden away." Everyone gaped in shock and anger, especially Chandrika and Aparna. Vaidehi instantly jumped in to settle the situation. "Arey, rukhiye sab! Inhone mujhe already gift diya, issiliye aise keh rahe hain. Aaj maine jo jewelry set pehni, woh hi meri gift hain." (Everyone, wait a second! He already gave me my gift, that's why said he didn't have a gift hidden away. The jewelry set that I'm wearing today, that's his gift to me.) "Oh my god, Bhai, you're really stepping up to the mark!" "Maine aapko pehle hi compliment diya tha Bhabhi, lekin tab mujhe yeh nahi pata tha ki Bhai ki taste itna bhi accha ho saktha hain!" (I complimented you on it already, Bhabhi, but I didn't know then that Bhai's taste could be this good!)

Vaidehi avoided looking at Raghuveer, not wanting to slip up and give away her ruse. Thankfully, he stayed quiet. As everyone was leaving after the party, Yash pulled Vaidehi to the corner. "Mujhe pata hain ki yeh jewelry set Jiju ne nahi diya tumhe. Jhooth kyun boli? Sab kuch theek hain kya?" (I know that Jiju didn't give you this jewelry set. Why did you lie? Is everything all right?) He was right, Raghuveer had not gifted her the jewelry set. Vaidehi had bought it with her first salary as a gift for her mother, along with a watch for her father. However, her mother had given it to her as part of her wedding jewelry, since she had 'never worn it anyway'.

There was only one thing Vaidehi could now say to keep her Bhai from getting suspicious. "Actually Bhai, inhone jo gift diya, thoda personal tha. Aur agar main sabke saamne yeh hi waja kehthi thi gift na dikhane ki, toh sab mere taang kheechte the. Sirf issiliye. Aur sab kuch sach mein theek hain." (Actually, Bhai, the gift he gave me is a bit personal. And if I said this in front of everyone, then everyone would have made fun of me. That's why. And everything between us is fine.) He smirked, "Acha, toh asal mein kya gift diya jiju ne?" (Oh, so what gift did Jiju actually give you?) Then he immediately cringed and shook his head. "Actually no, I don't want to know." "Bhai," Vaidehi whined. "Acha baba, sorry. But in all seriousness, kuch bhi pareshaani ho, don't hesitate. Mujhe turant batana, hmmm? Apna khayal rakh, jaldi milte hain." (Ok, sorry. But in all seriousness, if there's any problem, don't hesitate. Tell me immediately, hmm? Take care of yourself, we'll meet soon.) Vaidehi hugged her siblings and friends one last time, seeing them off. As soon as they came back inside, the Malhotras wished each other good night and dispersed to their rooms.

Back in their bedroom... "Why did you lie to our family and to your brother?" "Aapne suna humare baatein?" (You heard us talking?) "Hmm." "Chup chup ke baatein sunna acchi baat nahi hain." (It's not good to eavesdrop.) "Pehle tum yeh batao, jhooth kyun boli?" (First, you tell me, why did you lie?) "Kyunki sab bawaal khada kar dete agar pata chala ki aapne ne gift nahi diya. Lekin aapko aaj subhe tak yaad bhi nahi tha ki aaj humare shaadi hokar che mahine ho gaye hain. Toh aap mujhe gift kaise dete?" (Because everyone would've made a big deal out of it if they found out that you didn't get me a gift. But you didn't remember until this morning that it's been six months since we've married. So how would you have gotten me a gift?) "Bura maan gayi tum?" (Did you feel bad?)

"Pehli kabhi bura maani jo aaj maanungi? Nahi." (Did I ever feel bad before to feel bad today? No.) As Vaidehi fell asleep, Raghuveer lay awake, thinking. No, his emotions were not controlling themselves, as he had imagined. Hell, they were growing stronger each minute. Who did he think he could fool with his idea of friendship? No that was just an excuse to succumb to the temptation that had pulling him since he met Vaidehi. He was neck deep anyway, might as well drown completely. There was no point in denying it to himself when he knew he was falling for his wife. 'Sweetheart, no half-measures this time, I'm truly going to make you my wife.'