The Second Bloom • 18+

8. Draping saree (Malini's POV)

As soon as we entered inside, we were met with the questioning and surprised eyes of my mother-in-law standing there.

"Kaha bhai? Itni raat me kidhar ghum rahe the tum dono hanso ka joda banke?"

["Where, bhai? Where were you two lovebirds wandering so late at night?"]

I looked into his eyes, he looked into mine, and she interrupted again,

"Kya? Aankhon aankhon me baatein? Kitni thand hai bahar. Kal ko dono ki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi toh humare maathe pad jaoge dono."

["What? Talking with just your eyes? It's so cold outside. If both of you fall sick tomorrow, you'll become my responsibility!"]

I wanted to laugh. Shit. How can she just use my line?

I controlled my laugh, but he didn't, he let out a soft laugh, and moved towards his mother, holding her by her shoulder.

"Ek baat bataiye aap, yeh aapne aur Malini ne yahi tabiyet kharab hone wali baat saath me baith kar yaad kiya tha kya kabhi?"

She looked at me, I looked at him, and she again looked at him.

"Toh galat kya bol rahi hai, Malini. Khud gaye toh Gaye, usey kyu le gaye saath mein? Koi dekh leta toh kya kehta, inki bahu raat me bahar ghum Rahi thi."

My smile vanished on that one.

He immediately replied to her with a persistent smile on his face,

"Haan toh kya ho gaya Maa, apne pati ke saath hi toh gayi thi, kisi gair ke saath thodi hi."

She removed his hand from her shoulder, "Jo karna hai karo bhai tum pati-patni. Hume neend aa rahi hai. Tum dono ek aur chakkar laga kar aajao subhe tak."

I bit my lower lip, suppressing my smile.

"Shubh raatri, Maa." He muttered, and she left giving him a nod.

He grabbed my shoulder next, "Chalein... Humare kamre mein?"

I smiled, nodding my head with my twinkling eyes.

That night, we slept together, just like previous night, arms in arms, our breathes lingering, and environment cozy.

Next morning, my eyes opened first — I thought.

But when I turned my face back, his eyes were wide open. I turned around completely, lazily, "Aap ...itni jaldi uth gaye."

His adam's apple wobbled as he replied in a hazy voice,

"Neend khul gayi humari, teen baje karib, phir aayi hi nahin."

I knit my brows together, "Kuch soch rahe the?"

He smiled lazily, and touched my face gently, shaking his head.

I snuggled more into him, "Bataiye na."

He wrapped his arms around me, caressing my head gently,

"Soch rahe the... Udhaar kaise chukaye ...jo bhaiya ne liya tha."

["I was thinking... how to repay the debt... that Bhaiya had taken."]

I formed a pout on my lips,

"Aap kyu chukayenge?"

He chuckled, "Toh aur kaun chukayega, Malini? Bhaiya toh aayenge nahi na chukaane."

"Yeh galat baat hai, ayyashi unhone Kiya, bhugte hum."