TISHNAGI

CHAPTER 17: NAINA

Maa was slicing apples for us, as both of us were busy in some work. She gave us some slices before getting up to keep the plate in the sink.

She came back with some chai and I looked at her feeling sorry. I helped her serve it before making her sit on the sofa.

"Maa, relax a bit. You have been continuously working for so long." Mahir ji said while sipping his chai.

"Ab kya karoon? Tum dono toh kaam main busy rehte ho, muhje relax karne ke liye koi saathi toh de nahin rahe."

(What should I do? You both are always busy in your work, you both aren't giving me a friends with whom I can relax.)

Both of us choked on the drink and looked at each other, red faced. Giving maa another glance-who was looking like she was about to burst out laughing.

She actually did.

"O my god, look at you both, SOO RED!!" She held her stomach while laughing, on the contrary both of us couldn't even look at each other.

"Maaaa~~" we both simultaneously whined at her childish joke. She wiped her tears before patting our cheeks.

"You both need not to race in these things. I was joking alright. Plan whenever you both are ready."

She asserted those words so easily while I was blushing hard, discussing on this topic with my mother in law was so embarrassing for god sake!

She stood up and left, while I was there sitting and contemplating my life choices.
For some reason I looked beside me and saw him already staring at me. Quickly turning my neck away I got up with the laptop in my hands and dashed towards our room.

-

We both were sleeping on the bed and I was hugging him. I don't know since when we became this close but it felt nice so we just went with the flow.

"Naina." He called and I looked at him. He called me by my name only when he was serious. I put my head on my palm and looked at him while I caressed his hand.

"I am going to a business trip to Kerala tomorrow." My movement stopped and I sat up straight. What did he even mean by this?

"You're joking right?"

"I am sorry I forgot to tell you."

"No no wait a second. You're telling me such an important thing now? Like RIGHT NOW?!"

"Naina, I am sorry. I don't have a habit of informing someone...I am really sorry."

"So you're telling me you forgot about me, that I even exist?!"

"No no, you're taking this wrong. I didn't forget you love. I just forgot tell you."

His words weren't making sense to me. Informing this now, when only some hours were left for him to depart.

"For how many days?" He hesitated before holding my hands in his and by judging from the look on his face, I held myself.

"A month." My heart dropped in my stomach and I withdrew my hands from his. My face devoid of any emotions, I took the blanket with me and slept on the sofa.

"Nainaa" he whined before coming towards the sofa and taking my hands in his. I harshly pulled it back and faced the other side.

I felt weightless all of a sudden, holding him to prevent myself from falling. I gasped when he put me on the bed and quickly went on the other side and came towards me.