Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 8

Tara

I woke up feeling a weight on my body. I knew where it came from. I opened my eyes to look at my now husband with his face on my chest. For the first time his face looks so relaxed, no frowns. I trace his face with my fingers without touching him. His face keeps rising and falling as I breath in and out.

I look at the clock hanging on the wall and realize it's 6:30am. Oh my god I am late. I try to remove his hand from my waist but he tightens the grip and snuggles more in my chest.

"Sojao chup chap" he says in his sleepy voice.

"Ji.. Der horahi hai. Hatiye na" I say slightly pushing his hand. He opens his eyes to look up at me.

"Itni mushkil se milli ho aur ab tumhe jana hai"

"Wo rasame hai pehle din ki. Bhabhi ne bola tha" I say looking away from him. He always makes my heart beat so fast.

"Kya yaar" he says making a face. He continues to lay for a while and then again looks up with a frown.

"Chalo theek hai jao" he says rolling to the other side and then sitting straight. I shyly pull sheet up my chest.

"Yeh yahi chord do" he says tugging at the sheet as I try to stand with it, covering my naked body.

"Ji?"

"Ji haan" he says and again tugs at it. He can easily snatch it from me but he doesn't apply that much force. I put my hair in a bun and then leave the sheet on the bed. I can feel his gaze on me. I stare down and make my way to bathroom, almost running.

I brush my teeth and take a shower and then realize I forgot to take towel or any of my clothes.

Kya karu?

I finally decide to ask him for the towel.

"Ji suniye" I shout from the bathroom.

"Kya?"

"Wo.. wo tauliya aur kapde Lena bhool gyi mein"

"Toh lelo aake"

"Aap dedijiye"

"Ruko"

I hear some drawer opening from the outside and then a knock on door. I slightly open it, hiding my body.

"Yeh lo" he says forwarding his hand. I quickly take the towel and clothes and close the door.

I hear a sound from outside. Did I just hear him laugh? No no that can't be. I need to focus on getting ready. I quickly dry my body and wear the petticoat.

How am I supposed to close all the hooks of this blouse? I try to reach every hook on my back but am able to close only two of them.

"Ji suniye" I shout again.

"Haan" I hear him shout back.

"Aap bhabhi ko bula dijiye" I request."Mujhe saree pehenni nahi aati"

"Tumhe Pata haina mujhe nahi pasand koi humare kamre mei aaye"

"Mein khud chali jati par-"

"Theek hai bula raha hoon. Par aaj dhang se seekh lena" he says and I hear the door opening.

After few minutes I hear Bhabhi's voice.
"Tara darwaza kholo"

"Ji bhabhi" I open the door to reveal her grinning self and my husband's grumpy fully clothed self. I look away from him while he carries his towel and clothes and enters the bathroom.

Bhabhi helps me close the hooks and tie the saree while teaching me the steps.

"Waise pehli baar darshan huye hai tumhare kamre ke" she says in a teasing tone.

"Wo bhabhi abhi uthe the toh abhi thoda fhela hua hai"

"Haan Haan mujhe pata hai" She says finally putting the pallu on my head and securing it with the safety pins.

"Chal ab jaldi aajana" she says and leaves the room. I quickly apply my sindoor and wear rest of the hand jewellery. I notice from the mirror my husband coming out of the bathroom just wearing pants, no shirt. My face immediately heats up and I look away. I just noticed my teeth marks on his collarbone, the place I bit him. Well I also have many hickeys from him, I hid it with my pallu and necklace.

He comes and stands behind me, his hand snaking around my waist.

"Laal saree mei khoob sundar lagti ho. Tumhe subah subah apne paas dekhke lagta hai bhagwaan bhi meharbaan hai mujhpe" he says and kisses the top of my head. He then moves away to wear his clothes.

Getting ready we both head downstairs. All elders are already sitting on the khaats. I do my ghunghat and touch everyone's feet.

"Kuch meetha Bana do Tara aaj" Amma says.

"Ji amma"

I go in the kitchen to find bhabhi and my mother in law already there.

"Uth gyi bahu. Hogyi tumhari subah" my sasu ma says in very sweet tone.

"Ji" I don't know what should I call her.

"Ji kya? Ma bol tara" she says laughing to herself.

"Ji Ma"

"Chalo theek hai ab tum dono Sambhal lena" she says and goes away.

I start making sooji ka halwa, his favorite. Bhabhi tells me where all the stuff is kept. When the food is cooked, Amma and all the elder male members are served. They all praise me and give me shagun. I am getting rich today.

After they are done, everyone else is served. They all eat the food and praise me and Bhabhi. This day is going good. I can feel my husband staring at me even while he is eating.

"Aree Veer bhaiya aapki hi biwi hai kyu ghoor rahe ho" Daksh says and earns a slap on the back of his head.

"Hume laga tha shaadi ke baad shayad thode theek hojaeye par Veer bhaiya kabhi nahi sudharege" Sanjay whispers and i try to control my laugh.

"Kuch kaha tune?" My husband asks.

"Aree bhaiya mein kya hi kahuga. Bas bol raha tha ki kitni acchi Jodi hai aapki aur Tara bhabhi ki. Wah wah wah"

"Chup karke khana kha"

"Veer khana khake factory par chalna hai" Vijender bhaiya says and gets up washing his hand in the now empty plate. My husband also finishes his food and washing his hand, dries them with my pallu. Everyone looks at him, slightly shocked but he remains unbothered and leaves with Vijender bhaiya.