jasveer

Part 5 Mischievous Rohit

After dinner, Rohit and Jiya went to their shared bedroom. As Jiya sat on the bed, trying to focus on Sunita aunty's plan, his mind kept returning to the looming threat outside.

"Rohit, how can we be sure no one will find out?" Jasveer's voice trembled with anxiety. "Anyone could inform us, and then not just me, but you and aunty could be assassinated."

Rohit couldn't take his eyes off Jasveer, who looked like a diva dressed as a newlywed bride. Seeing that Jasveer was spiralling into panic, Rohit took a chance to move. He grabbed Jasveer by the shoulders and kissed him on the lips. The suddenness of the kiss left Jasveer stunned, momentarily silencing his fears.

Jasveer pushed him back, eyes wide with shock. "Hey, this is disgusting!"

Rohit held his gaze, his expression serious but gentle. "I know, Jasveer. But it got your mind off the riots, didn't it?"

Jasveer blinked, processing what had just happened. Slowly, he realized that Rohit's unorthodox tactic had indeed jolted him out of his anxious thoughts. "You... you did that just to distract me?"

Rohit nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes. Sometimes, a shock is what we need to break free from our fears. You're safe here, Jasveer. I promise."

Jasveer took a deep breath, the tension in his body slowly easing. "Okay, Rohit. I'll try to trust you."

Rohit squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Good. We're in this together. We'll get through it."

The room felt lighter as Jasveer's fear began to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of trust and camaraderie. Despite the bizarre circumstances, he felt a little more secure, knowing that Rohit would do whatever it took to keep him safe.

The next morning, Sunita woke Jiya early while Rohit was still sleeping. She led him to the bathroom and asked him bathe, ensuring he looked every bit the part of a bride. Sunita then dressed him in another saree, adjusting it with care.

In the kitchen, Sunita began teaching Jiya how to cook something simple yet significant for the ritual. The sweet aroma of halva filled the air as Jiya stirred the pot, his bangles creating a musical accompaniment. His movements were tentative at first, but under Sunita's guidance, he grew more confident.

When Rohit woke up and entered the kitchen, he was taken aback by Jiya's transformation. Jiya, now looking even more convincing as a bride, was focused on cooking. The sight of him in the kitchen, his bangles clinking softly, made the situation feel surreal.

As the first rays of sunlight began to filter into the house, they prepared to welcome the neighbors for the first rasoi. Jiya's transformation was nearly complete, but the challenges of maintaining this facade had only just begun.

Sunita left for some work, leaving Rohit with clear instructions. "Always stay near Jiya. We can't let our guard down for a moment."

Rohit nodded, determined to protect his friend. He watched as Jiya continued to cook, marveling at how convincingly he played his role.

As the morning progressed, a group of neighbouring women arrived, their faces filled with anticipation. They eagerly sampled the halva, nodding in approval at Jiya's cooking skills. They showered Jiya with small gifts and blessings, their eyes filled with curiosity and kindness.

Rohit noticed that some women continued to keep a close watch on their house, their curiosity about Riya only growing stronger.

Jiya, staying true to Sunita's instructions, remained under the veil at all times, offering polite nods, smiles, and the occasional "ji" and "hanji" in response to their questions and blessings.

After exchanging pleasantries and enjoying the morning ritual, the neighbor women bid farewell and left, their minds temporarily satisfied with the glimpse they had of Rohit's new bride. Yet, the lingering suspicion in their eyes hinted that their inquiries might not end here.

As the last of the neighbor women departed, Rohit couldn't resist the urge to express his relief and gratitude to Jiya. Quietly stepping into the kitchen, he approached Jiya, who looked so naturally beautiful while covering his head under the veil, still busy with the rearrangement and cleaning of the kitchen.

Unable to contain his emotions, Rohit wrapped his arms around Jiya from behind, pulling him close in a tender embrace. He planted a gentle kiss on Jiya's cheek, a silent gesture of reassurance and affection.

However, their moment of intimacy was interrupted by the unexpected return of one of the neighbor women. Caught off guard, she froze in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight before her.

In that fleeting moment, when she saw Rohit's spontaneous display of affection for Jiya, a dawning clarity came over the neighbor woman. She realized that her suspicions were wrong. In that brief, vital exchange, she understood that Jiya was indeed Rohit's wife, and her earlier doubts were nothing more than a misunderstanding.

Feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief, the neighbor woman offered a sheepish smile before quietly retreating, leaving Rohit and Jiya to bask in the tender moment they had shared.

Jiya angrily pushed him away. "Now you're taking advantage of my situation."

Rohit kept his expression calm. "But this worked anyway. Now those women will think that you are my real wife, and will never have any doubt about you."

Jiya paused, processing Rohit's words. "Oh, I didn't think of it that way," she said, looking impressed.

Rohit asked with a grin, "So, can I kiss you?"

With a smile on his face, Jiya showed her cheek to him, but Rohit leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips, giving her a sudden shock again. Before Jiya could react, he ran away with a smile. That kiss shocked Jiya, but this time, it did not feel as disgusting as the last night. She continued her work with a smile on her face, still feeling the taste of Rohit's kiss on her lips.

It was a small victory for them as the neighbor women no longer doubted Jiya. These small moments gave Jasveer a chance to smile amid the life-threatening chaos of their reality.

As Jasveer started living as Rohit's wife, he took on more household responsibilities from Sunita aunty to keep herself busy and give aunty some rest since she was a working woman.

Meanwhile, Rohit never missed a chance to tease Jiya and feel her body. He often pinched her waist or navel, sending an unnatural shiver down her spine.

As days passed, he became more mischievous. Whenever he found Jiya alone and busy in the households, he grabbed her from behind, hugged her, and kissed her on the neck, cheeks, ear, or sometimes even on the lips.

Initially Jiya opposes him, but soon she gets used to those moments with Rohit. Unknowingly she started enjoying them.

One afternoon, as Jiya was rearranging things in the house, Rohit came up from behind and hugged her.

Rohit: You know, Jiya, you carry yourself in a saree very well. It's impressive how natural you look while working, keeping yourself under a veil (ghunghat).

Jiya (Jasveer): It's easy for you to say. But remaining under a veil (ghunghat) all day is quite challenging.

Rohit: I can only imagine. But you've done it with such grace.

During the conversation, Rohit moved closer, trying to kiss Jiya. Jiya gently pushed him away.

Jiya (with smile): "I can manage the saree and ghunghat more easily than your naughtiness.