Nawal - Missing Moments

25. The Morning After

25. The Morning After

It was the day after the Makhwana family had moved back into their home and in other words, the day after Dhawal and Natasha's second wedding. It was morning and the house was bustling with activity. Hetal was getting Golu ready for school, Pranali and Dolly were in the kitchen making arrangements for breakfast, Amrish and Bhaven were discussing today's meetings while having their morning tea, Chirag was on a business call and Amba was sitting in the living room with Chabili massaging her feet, her eyes stuck on the staircase since awhile as her beloved Bakuda and that Choti Ben were yet to make an appearance this morning.

Amba was feeling very restless. All of them had went to bed very late yesterday night with all the rasams and unpacking that was to be done. After all, they had moved back in after quite some time. She had cooked up a very clever plan to trap Natasha and make her appear wile in everyone's eyes, especially Dhawal and had been meaning to accost her yesterday only to put her plan in action but her Bahus had hurried the newlyweds upstairs. Everyone was really tired and she had thought that one night wouldn't really affect her plan that much but it appeared that she was wrong.

It was already about to be breakfast time and there was no sign of them coming downstairs. She did not want Dhawal and Natasha to get closer and to put it frankly, she didn't want them to indulge in marital activities because she was afraid that it would make her lose her youngest son to that witch. But it seemed that she was too late now.

"Arey Hetal, zara ja ke dekh upar ye dono kaha reh gaye hai. Itni der ho gayi hai ye Choti Ben ko pata hai aaj iski pehli rasoi hai...bula ke la usse. Khana khana hai sabko. Uske bhai ka ghar nahi hai ab ye jo abhi tak so rahi hai.", she ordered, scowling and then muttered to herself, "Ye Bakuda ko bhi pata nahi kya ho gaya hai...aaj tak itna der se nahi aya"

Hetal paused what she was doing and exchanged a look with Dolly and Pranali and they all bit down a grin among themselves. Dolly almost giggled, thinking that their surprises had worked and the lovebirds had gotten so lost in love that they had forgotten to come downstairs. Even Bhaven and Chirag got a knowing look on their faces.

"Arey han...Dhawal ko bhi aaj office join karna hai...bulao unhe" said Amrish, unaware of his mother's actual intentions.

"Aaj to rehene dijiye na....kal hi shaadi hui hai dono ki...itni jaldi.." Hetal tried to say but stopped at the look Amrish gave her.

"Aap rehne do Bhabhi, main jati hu Amrish Bhai" Dolly told him cheerfully, hurrying to tease them when Amba stopped her.

"Ek minute, Hetal ko bhi le ke ja...tu to wahi beth ke unke sath khi-khi karne lag jaegi" Amba said, knowing Dolly's tendencies to waste time.

Nodding at her, Hetal and Dolly went upstairs, smiling to themselves to see what was taking the couple so long.

***

Natasha woke up feeling immensely comfortable as she slowly opened her eyes feeling incredibly rested. It had been a long time since she had had such a peaceful sleep. As consciousness started creeping in, the memories of yesterday filtered in through her brain. Her almost wedding to Shashank, the machand with the property papers, her actual wedding to Dhawal in the police station and then...yesterday night with all those surprises, Dhawal's gifts...and...his kisses. She could feel herself blushing as she remembered the way their night had taken a very steamy turn. Awareness of her surrounding started seeping in and she noticed the blanket tucked up under her chin and warmth was enveloping her with a solid weight slung across her waist.

She was nestled against him, back pressed against his chest and his arm around her encircling her into his body heat. He was breathing deeply, still asleep. Joy swelled up inside her, filling her with contentment and happiness. Waking up next to him like this was making her heart flutter. They had never had the chance to experience these moments in their first marriage, never having had that comfort or understanding with each other like other married couples did. But now she was going to savour each and every bit of these missing moments that they were now finally experiencing.