Bairi Sanam: The hate of a lover

Chapter XXXVI: Mayka

Ketaki

I ran back downstairs and found maa and Smriti standing there laughing at us.

"Maa save me," I yelled running to her and hiding behind her. I watched from over her shoulder and saw him rushing down the stairs. I hid my face on her back and gripped her arms tightly in fear thinking of all the ways he'd torture me.

"Ketaki come out," I heard his loud voice and lifted my face up from her back to look at him. He was fuming and I couldn't have been anymore scared in my life but soon he sneezed again making my fear disappear. I smiled lightly when he let out another sneeze and his red nose didn't do any justice to his anger.

"Maa tell him to stop," I whispered in maa's ear from behind and kept using her as a shield. She turned around to face me and holding my ear, she twisted it lightly. I let out a dramatic scream when it wasn't even painful.

"Ahhh maa, you were supposed to be on my side," I complained cryingly.

"Good. That's what she deserves," I heard him say and maa held his ear with her free hand while still holding mine in the other.

"Ah what did I do?" He asked.

"Sharam nahi aati inte bade hokar bacho ki tarah ek doosre ke pichhe pade ho," she spoke twisting both our ears together.

(Don't you both feel embarrassed running behind each other like kids?)

"Ahhh," we both let out a scream and heard Smriti laugh at us.

Leaving our ears, she moved towards her seat and said, "now sit down quietly. I need to talk to you both." I rubbed my ear with the palm of my hand looking at him with anger filled eyes. "Allergies are for the weak," I muttered in a low voice so that it was only audible to him and no one else present there.

"I'll see you later Ketaki. No one will save you then," he whispered too.

"Pehle apni naak to sambhaal lo," I taunted him still whispering but soon heard maa's loud voice that made us both look in her direction.

(First take care of your nose.)

"You both started again?" She sighed shaking her head. Giving him an angry glare, I went to sit at the breakfast table, and he followed me. We both settled at our respective places still giving each other angry looks but I shifted my focus to maa ignoring him.

"Tejas you're supposed to take Ketaki to her maternal home for her pagphera rasam. Ketaki get ready and he'll drop you there, okay?" She said and I nodded. She got up from her seat and nearing me she made me stand up too.

"Come back soon," she said pecking my forehead and then took me in her embrace. I calmed down in the warmth of her love.

"I'll get the car keys," I heard him say as I released the hug. He soon came back after changing into his classic white kurta pajama and keys in his hand. He still managed to impress me even though I've seen him in the same outfit several times before. 

I went towards Smriti and took her into a hug. "Come soon bhauji," she said lovingly.

"Shall we?" He asked me and I nodded walking behind him.

He began driving as soon as we settled in the car. I was feeling a bit uneasy going back to my place after everything that had happened. Daadi's painful words and the gossips of the villagers would be unbearable for me. Moreover, I didn't know how I would face chacha ji as I was still upset with him.

He might've sensed my uneasiness, so he placed his hand over mine that was resting in my lap. I looked up at him and he moved his eyes from the road towards me giving me a reassuring smile and squeezing my hand a bit. I don't know how he manages to annoy me and be my comfort at the same time.