ACCEPTING 'US'

16.

When they reached the main gate of the exhibition, Sudha got overly excited and skipped her feet. Shyam immediately held her hand and sighed in relief that nothing happened to her. Sudha smiled gratefully and left his hand.
" Be careful Sudha " he said to which sudha nodded looking forward. Shyam shook his head looking at her childish behaviour.
They roamed for a long time admiring the beautiful lights and the decorations. Sudha mentally took notice on everything as she don't want to wipe the image of the surroundings. Shyam observed his wife and was stuck for a moment. He couldn't find suitable words to admire her beauty and innocence. He hadn't found a being in his life who made him feel so delighted just with their mere presence. He didn't understand what was the feelings name but his heartbeat increased looking at her. He just want to keep looking at her till eternity if possible.
" Let's go there " sudha interrupted his chain of thoughts and shyam looked at the direction she had shown.
" You want to climb that? " He asked looking at the giant wheel.
" Yes " she said with a lot of enthusiasm and shyam was surprised. He thought she would be scared to climb that but she is willingly asking him to go.
Both of them sat side by side after paying and sudha was smiling all ear to ear now. Two young boys sat opposite them and they were chatting among themselves. Sudha was waiting for the giant wheel to start but a sort of tension prevailed in her looking at the giant wheel. Looking at sudha's unsure expression, shyam held her hand firmly reassuring her that he was beside her. Sudha closed her eyes tightly when it reached the highest point. It stopped there for a few moments and she looked down. She was mesmerised with the amount of beauty this place carried. Suddenly it started again making Sudha fear. She held Shyam's hand tighter when it moved with speed. The time it was going against gravity it was fine but when it was towards gravity sudha's stomach made summersaults and she felt like she's being thrown down from that height. The boys opposite them shouted loudly and sudha too shouted when she felt scared. She was relieved when the fear she had till then disappeared when she shouted her heart out. She was completely enjoying the ride while holding his hand. When it came to a stop sudha pouted not wanting to get down.
" Come on now " shyam urged her and she reluctantly got down.
" Looks like you don't want to come " he said looking forward.
" Yeah I want to stay for a while " she said sadly still looking at giant wheel dreamily.
" Okay go and sit in that till the end of exhibition and after that I will come and take you back home. In that way you can enjoy more. What say? " He said jokingly while making Sudha angry.
" You are not a good man. I will not come with you anywhere now on " she said folding her hands turning towards opposite side.
Shyam was about to console her when he heard someone calling him.
" Hey shyam. You here? " Bhairav his friend said making shyam surprise.
" Yeah I came a while ago " he said. Sudha immediately turned towards them.
" Good to see you after long time. I was actually busy with work you know " bhairav said and looked towards sudha.
" Hello sudha. I am Bhairav, Shyam's friend. How are you? " He said.
" Namaste. Good to meet you " she said with a small smile.
" I will be near that shop " sudha whispered to shyam and he nodded.
She slowly moved towards the bangles shop and started looking at them. She already have many of them but she was just passing time until her husband was free. Her eyes scanned here and there to find something which could pick her interest. When she spotted a book shop, her eyes lit up with excitement and rushed towards it. Shyam kept looking towards sudha every now and then to make sure she was in the same place. When he turned in her direction after few moments, she was missing. His heart skipped its beat and his eyes scanned every corner of the shop to find her but she was not present. He got very tense and left his conversation with his friend to search her. As it was very crowded it was not possible for him to find her easily. He asked the shopkeeper but he said he didn't see her. He kept searching for her and calling her name.
Sudha on other side forgot that shyam is with her and kept looking at different books. She opened many books and kept reading few lines from them. She was enjoying her time with books when she heard her name being called. She became alert and turned back to see her husband. She immediately rushed towards him.
" What happened? " She asked him holding his arm. She can see him all worked up, sweat on his forehead and arms.
" What happened? Where have you been all this while? I have been searching for you whole place and you ask me what happened? " He roared at her. As it was busy and noisy no one cared for the couple's conversation.
" I...I was just going to... " She lost words and kept looking here and there.
" What? Do you know how worried you made me? You should at the least inform me before going somewhere. But you just took the liberty of leaving me there and roaming alone " he said and kept his hands on his hips. He was taking deep breaths to calm himself and sudha understood how grave mistake she did by not informing him.
" I am sorry " she said slowly.
" If something happened to you, does your sorry help me? " He said again and sudha's eyes filled with tears. She didn't know how to convince him and she just held his hand and looked in his eyes.
" I am sorry and I will not leave your hand now on. Please forgive me " she said with tears falling on her cheeks. Shyam's anger disappeared as soon as he saw her tears.
" Fine. Just don't leave my hand " he said and she nodded.
They played various games and it was too late for dinner. Sudha wanted to eat so she dragged him in a food stall. Both of them ate snacks and had tea. Now that their stomachs was filled again they started roaming around. Sudha bought few items this time.
" I think we will head back home. It's quite too late and buses will not be available if it is too late " shyam suggested and sudha nodded. Both of them boarded the bus while sudha again sat on the window side. She was very tired and leaned on his shoulder to sleep. Shyam observed how she held his hand while sleeping and smiled looking at her serene and calm face.
When they reached home Devamma was sitting in the front yard with Aabida chatting.
" Ma you waited again. You know we will be late. Then why to wait till now? " Shyam said but Devamma shrugged it off. Everyone retired to their places to sleep and sudha's face was still glowing with happiness.
" Thank you " she said when she laid in his arms. He kissed her forehead and both of them slipped into slumber.
....