The Second Bloom • 18+

12. Confession of feelings (Malini's POV)

"Aapke bina hum kya karenge, Varun, kaha jayenge, hum kya kare, hume kuch samajh nahi aata ab? Jaan dede apni?"

I sobbed, sitting on his lap.

His adam's apple wobbled, and he gently wrapped his arms around my body, hugging me lightly,

"Shh. Roiye mat."

I encircled my hands around his neck,

"Roye naa toh kya karein hum? Bhagwan ne humare liye koi aur chaara chhora hi nahi."

"Shh," He caressed my back gently with his palm,

"Kuch nahi hua, kuch nahi bigra hai, hum hai na aapk—"

I cut him off, snuggling my head more into the crook of his neck,

"Aap nahi hai, Varun.... Aap nahi the...itne dinon se... Aapko nahi pata.... Humne kaise samay kaata hai...ek ek pal...kitna mushkil tha humare liye...."

He clicked his tongue,

"Roiye mat, Malini. Tabiyet bigar jayegi aapki."

I straightened up, moving back and looking into his eyes through my teary ones,

"Aur aapko Aisa kyu lag raha hai ki hum aapke bina pichle paanch dinon se khushi Khushi beeta rahe the, Varun?"

He tried to hug me but I pushed him back.

"Aur aap aate hi hum par haq Jatana chah rahe the, Varun? Hn? Yahi chahte hai aap? Aap cha—"

He cut me off, squeezing my hand softly,

"Shh, Malini, shaant ho jaiye," he shook his head while letting out a soft laugh, "Itna gussa karti hain aap."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand,

"Naa karein hum gussa? Han? Theek hai. Ek shabd nahi kahenge ab hum."

I stood up and moved off his lap, walking towards the window and crossing my arms against my chest, silently.

After a few minutes, I felt him snaking his hands around my waist from behind, and placing his chin on my shoulder.

He pressed a soothing kiss on my earlobe and whispered,

"Maafi milegi?"

I didn't reply.

He placed a kiss again just below my ear,

"Nahi jaenge ab se aapko akela chhor kar, maaf kar dijiye na."

I placed my hand over his softly, and murmured,

"Hume pata hai aapko samay chahiye tha...akele... Hum uss baat se naraz nahi hai, Varun. Aap bas hume bata kar jaate ki kaha jaa rahe hai. Kab wapas aayenge."

"Hmm? Aur?" he asked in a low voice.

I turned around slowly,

"Aap bataiye na...aur... Kya?" I mumbled softly.

"Aur kuch nahi..." he suddenly left me, bent down a little and lifted me up in his arms.

I tried to resist, but he was reluctant.

He placed me gently on mattress, and moved back, only to open his shirt and place it aside, and sneak inside the blanket, along with me.

He held my wrist, pulling me close, my head lying on his chest, and hands around his torso while his hand softly caressing my back, and fingers of other hand intertwined with my fingers.