Pooja concludes and everyone gets prasad.
Taarini and neha talk with each other in low voice. They both are silent in nature but when they are together, they can talk about anything under the sun. Arjun eyes his wife who becomes a chatterbox to just two people in the family ~ his mother and sister in law.
"Papa" His daughter's voice breaks his trance. He looks at her irritated face.
"I'm bored. Let's go out. Please " Her request make him smile.
"Ok. Come"
***********
Night
"Hello Tara" Mayank's excited voice is heard from the other side.
"I was about to call you bhayya. Is everything alright there? " Taarini asks her brother
"More than just 'alright' .We got the deal. I'm so happy."
"Oh wow, congratulations. So when is the event ?"
"It's scheduled on next month. We have enough time. I hope everything works out well"
"Don't worry bhayya. I think our good times are coming"
Mayank started an event management company. Their younger sister Taani supports him in business. The brother-sister duo has been working on their dream for the last 3 years. Even though Taarini is married to the richest family of the town, their self esteem never allowed them to take help from chauhans. Not that chauhans cared for taarini's family.
After their parents' death ,the siblings realised that they are enough for each other.
Taarini talked with her brother for about 20 minutes and hung up the conversation.
She enters the bedroom and finds Arjun sitting on the couch. He looked at her the moment she entered the room.
"Who were you talking to?" Arjun asks his wife.
"Bhayya" She replies softly and keeps the phone on the side table.
Taking out clothes from the wardrobe, she goes to the bathroom. She closes the bathroom door.
Arjun looks in her direction and walks towards the table. He takes her phone and types the password which is their wedding anniversary. While typing something clicks in his mind. He looks at the calendar to confirm the date. He felt bad that he forgot the anniversary again. With a deep sigh, he searches her phone app and rethinks whether to open the call log. His heart was not ready to check her phone but his brain instigated him to do that. He presses the back button without opening the call log.
The bathroom door opens. Arjun keeps her phone back to the table. He opens the drawer and fakes as if he's searching something.
Taarini sits in front of the dressing table and applies moisturiser on her arms and face.
Arjun turns to look at her. It's 10:45pm. He had the whole day but he didn't wish her. Now he understood why his mother taunted him while he was having his dinner . He was out with his daughter the whole day after finishing pooja.
He clears his throat.
"Taarini" he calls her slightly embarrassed as he doesn't know how to initiate the talk regarding their anniversary.
" Happy anniversary" he tells her with a little hesitation in his voice.
Taarini looks at him for few seconds.
'Maybe he wished me because of mumma's words' She thinks in her mind.
She softly smiles at him and nods her head. Then she continues what she was doing.
Arjun frowns as he is confused why his wife is not fighting with him. She always does this. Her lips never failed to smile every time he messes up things for her.
Someone knocks on the door.
Arjun opens the door. His daughter Ahaana is standing there with a cute little pout. She runs inside and climbs on the bed.
"I'll sleep with you tonight." Ahaana declares.
Taarini smiles looking at them. She walks towards the bed but stops when Ahaana screams telling " I don't want to sleep with anyone else."
Hurt flashed on Taarini's face for a millisecond but she composed herself and smiles.
"Ahaana" Arjun tries to coax his stubborn daughter but Taarini stops him by saying " Ji, it's ok"
She takes her phone and moves out of the room. This is not the first time in the last five years.
Tears filled her eyes.
Taarini opens the guest room and moves inside. She locks the door and cries palming her face.
**************
Arjun couldn't sleep peacefully. He unwraps his daughter's hand around his waist and stealthily gets up from the bed. He walks towards the door and opens it making sure that his daughter is not disturbed.
Upon reaching the guest room, he finds the door locked. He stays there for few minutes and was confused whether he should knock the door.
Inside the room, Taarini is awake . She is in deep thoughts. Her mind rewinds all the past events of her married life.
Arjun goes back to his bedroom. He is feeling restless. Something tugged on his heartstrings.
Thank you❤️
