Nawal - Missing Moments

31. Family Ties - II

Rating is slightly higher than PG-13

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Dhawal was putting their freshly ironed clothes in the cupboard and had just noticed something when Natasha walked in, changed up for the night.

"Natasha, tumhare itne saare kapde yaha cupboard me hai jo maine kabhi nahi dekhe. Ye sab tum le ke nahi gayi thi kya shaadi ke baad?" he asked, curious. He could see so many clothes of hers, tops, jeans and what not.

"Arey ye sab shaadi ke pehle pehenti thi main...college mein. Ab ghar me kaha ye sab pehenna hota hai" she explained, coming near and going through the clothes he was talking about.

"Par kyu?

"Kyu kya Dhawal, ye sab pehen ke thode hi ghar me ghumne dengi Maa..."

"To humare room me to tum jo marzi pehen sakti ho na. Aur maine notice kiya tha when I came to pick you up for Holi ke tum yaha alag kapde pehenti ho aur waha alag." He said gesturing towards her as she was wearing a tank top with pyjamas which she never wore in Makhwana house. "Itni achi to lag rahi ho...pehna karo na aise" he grinned at her, referring to her outfit for the night, making her blush.

"Chup karo tum." She mumbled, smiling. "Tumhe aajkal mere kapdo mein bohot interest aa raha hai I've noticed" she said, crossing her arms and giving him a knowing look, remembering his very interested questions.

He pursed his lips and after a few seconds nodded. "Haan ok ok. I know. Yaad hai mujhe. Par in my defence, it was a genuine question! Koi bhi iske baare me confuse hoga!" he said, matter-of-factly but slightly awkward now, sober, than when he had asked her those questions on Holi.

"Ab ye dekho...." He picked up a top of hers with thin spaghetti straps. "How can—"

She flushed. "Tum na—" She grabbed them off his hands and stuffed them back in the cupboard. "Zyada dimag mat chalao! Aajkal sab cheezon ka solution hota hai"

He grinned at her and followed her to the bed. Since they had moved here, they had barely gotten any time to themselves with all the chaos that was going on with Pandya Store reconstruction, Dhama's health and Dhawal having to go to the office as well to help out with Amrish. Natasha had been staying overnight with Dhama almost every other day to take care of her. Even though Shesh and Mitthu did also stay overnight, Natasha had taken over most of the burden. Suffice to say that today was one of the rare nights that they were spending together after days.

"Aaj tume hospital me stay nahi karna kya?" he asked, sitting on the bed and setting up the alarm on his phone for tomorrow morning.

"Nahi kal discharge hai na to aaj zarurat nahi hai...wese bhi Dhama is doing everything apne aap aajkal. Sister help kar degi agar kuch zarurat hui to" she replied, settling inside her blanket, looking over at him.

"Kal na hum saath hi chalenge hospital. Dhama ko yaha drop karke I'll pack up and go back home. Tum aaram se rehna yaha jab tak tumhara mann karta hai. Ok?" he told her and shutting off the bedside lamp, laid down beside her, pulling his own blanket over himself.

"Arey par kyu? Kya hua?"

"Dhama ka room to unhe chahiye hoga na. Tum unke saath rehna. I'll go back. Ab wese bhi sab settle ho gaya hai and I'll keep a check on the construction update once daily. And tumhare bhai bhi ab dekh lenge store ka kaam. They know now." he said, turning towards her.

"Main unn dono ko bahar sone ke liye bol dungi. Hum udhar so jaenge." She gave an alternative.

"Arey nahi. Faltu me kyu sabko inconvenience karna. Jaisa maine kaha wese hi theek hai. Wese bhi Dhama will need you beside her." He replied and slid his hand forwards between them, grasping hers.