ACCEPTING 'US'

25.

Shyam couldn't keep his mind sane after looking at sudha. While eating dinner too he kept his gaze low and avoided conversing. Sudha tried to initiate small talks with him but he kept his answers monosyllables. He was eating but his mind kept roaming around the incident and he couldn't eat much.
" What happened Shyama? You are not eating at all. What's wrong? " Devamma asked her son surprised. Sudha also looked at him confused, who was not looking at her.
" Nothing ma. I just feel like I am full " he said without hearing anything and washed his hands. He laid in the cot in the backyard itself.
" What happened to him? Why is he behaving like this? " Devamma asked sudha.
" I too don't have any idea maaji " she said looking at the backyard from where he didn't return. Both of them had dinner but they were still worried about shyam. Devamma thought it was about the interest and money matter and convinced herself. But Sudha was still in a dilemma as he avoided her gaze and question.
Devamma went to sleep in her room not wanting to disturb them. After cleaning the kitchen and vessels sudha went to the backyard. She saw her husband sleeping on the cot deeply in thoughts. She went near him and sat by his feet. Shyam was still not looking at her and thinking deeply. Sudha sighed looking at him and placed her hand on his foot. Shyam came out of his reverie and looked at her.
" What happened? Is everything alright? You seem distant " she questioned patiently waiting for his answer who was still looking at her. She moved her hands in front of him and he shook his head.
" Nothing sudha. I am alright " he said and took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. Sudha jolted with the sensation suddenly. She sat there just enjoying the feelings of the cool breeze and his warm touch on her hand. She was lost in his eyes which were trying to convey something to her.
" What's the matter? " She questioned deeply looking in his eyes.
" I am sorry sudha " he uttered the words with utmost sincerity. Sudha looked at him confused.
" For what? I think I already forgave you " she said.
" Not for that but for something else. For...for ruining your birthday " he said and sudha suddenly realised why he was feeling guilty.
" I didn't knew it was your birthday that day. I would have never allowed you to go out alone if I knew it was your birthday " he said.

Flashback:

That day after making sure sudha was in the bus safely he came back home dull and upset. His mother observed him and went near him with the laddus.
" From where did you get these? " He asked confused.
" These are made by Sudha. Taste and tell me how they are " she said trying to cheer him up. He took one not because he wanted to eat but they are made by his wife whom he disappointed badly. The taste was absolutely delicious and he ate another one.
" They are tasty ma. But why did she make them suddenly? " He asked furrowing his brows.
" Don't you know what's today? " She asked again making him clueless. He shook his head waiting impatiently.
" Oh God Shyama! Today is sudha's birthday and she made laddus to offer to God. I thought you knew before me " she said making him shocked.
He felt very disappointed and guilty that he was the reason for her sadness that too on her birthday. Not that he would be less sad if it was a normal day but today was her special day. She even wore a new saree today. ' How come I became so oblivious to the situation ' he thought and cursed himself.
" It's okay ma. I will wish her when she returns back " he said calmly but there was a battle going on in his head.
Devamma nodded and went away from there. Shyam would sometimes eat those laddus everyday and miss her more. He wished to make her eat with his hands but she was not here. He finished all the laddus and thought to ask sudha to make them again. That to be done he should first bring sudha home.

Flashback ends...

" It's alright. You didn't knew and I am also at fault here because I never said it was my birthday " she said slowly.
Shyam took her face in his palms and kissed her forehead. She placed her hands on his chest and relished the moment.
" Next time your birthday will be celebrated by me. You are not going to stop me from doing anything " he said cheerily.
" Sure " she replied.
" Wait why can't I do that now? I mean your birthday is over but we can still celebrate it right? " He asked planning something in his head.
" How will you do that? " She asked looking at him curiously.
" Leave that to me. I will take care of that " he said excitedly to which sudha nodded her head.
Suddenly he placed his hands on her both eyes from behind and sudha was not understanding anything.
" Why did you close my eyes? " She asked touching the back of his hands.
" I said I will celebrate your birthday. So I am doing just that " he said like a kid.
" What? " She asked confused. He made her stand up and helped her walk for a while and she kept blabbering him to stop being childish and remove his hands away but he didn't budge and made her stand in a place.
" Time for the surprise. Are you ready? " He asked with full of energy.
" I think it's you who is more excited than me. Come on now remove your hands " she said and giggled. He slowly removed his hands and she opened her eyes.
Her eyes scanned the place and suddenly they sparkled with excitement.
" Did you...did you do this... " She closed her mouth with her hand and tears started to fill her eyes. Shyam kept his hand on her shoulder and rubbed her cheeks with his other hand.
" Hey don't cry and make me feel guilty. I did this to see happiness on your face not tears " he said with a smile. Sudha couldn't control her emotions and hugged him tightly with tears of joy wetting his shoulder. He too reciprocated the hug with love.
" Shall we? " He asked after breaking the hug to which sudha nodded like a kid who got her favourite icecream.
She slowly put her feet on it and looked back at her husband. When he gave an encouraging smile she slowly made her way upwards. Shyam followed her and stood behind her. Sudha stood there and looked around the night sky. She was mesmerised to see the beauty of the stars and the moon shining brightly. When she looked down she could see many houses with little lamps and lights which felt like diyas on diwali. She turned around and saw the hut.
" What's this? " She asked pointing towards the hut.
" It's another surprise. Go and look by yourself " he said shrugging.
Sudha opened the door to see a room which was made of dried leaves. Although it was small she understood it was very difficult as it is above ground. She had tears knowing how much her husband worked and made efforts to make her happy. She came out of the hut and shyam wiggled his brows.
" You didn't have to do it. Why did you take so much risk and work when you already have a lot of work to do? " She asked slightly angered.
" It's all to make you happy, to see this beautiful smile on your face, to see this shine in your eyes, to see this sparkle in your voice. Moreover I did everything for my wife not for you " he said jokingly at the end folding his hands in front.
" Yeah and who might be your wife for whom you did all this? " She played along sitting there enjoying the night view. Shyam also sat beside her and looked at her before answering.
" You don't know my wife? What a shame! She's the most beautiful and charming person in the world. She knows how to make me happy. She don't make such sad faces and cry like you " he said amazed. Sudha chuckled at his answer. She removed her hair from her messy bun and allowed them to flow in the air. Shyam was stuck at her beauty and want to talk more. He don't want this night to end neither the moment they are sharing. He wished that time stopped and he could look at her like that forever.
" And by the way you didn't tell me your wife's name yet " she asked raising her brows towards him.
" Why should I tell you? " He mocked.
" Because she might feel bad that you are spending your precious time at a precious place with me rather than her " she replied with a sly smile.
" Yeah she might feel bad but not for what you said but for this " he said and sudha didn't have time to register his words as he pulled her towards himself and kissed her cheeks. Sudha blushed hard and looked away.
" Don't do this. Your wife may come any moment " she was not ready to give up the play anytime sooner.
" I will do whatever I want " with that said he pulled her closer to him and made her sit in his lap making her gasp.
" Leave me. Someone may come " she said anxiously looking here and there.
" Wifey you are forgetting that this is our home and it's late night. No one will show up that too in the backyard " he chuckled. Sudha sighed and looked at him who was looking intensely at her. She turned her head away from him due to shyness and shyam hugged her placing his hand on her waist. Sudha felt goosebumps on her body with his touch and she placed her hands around his neck and hugged him tightly. None were ready to leave eachother. They were lost in each other's embrace. Shyam slowly pulled away from her and looked at her face. He removed hair strands away from her face and held her cheek in his palm.
" Are you happy Sudha? " He asked her coming dangerously closer to her lips.
" Yes " she whispered unable to form sentence. His closeness was making something awaken in her which was asleep till then.
" I want to kiss you so bad sudha " he whispered looking at her eyes and then at her pink lips. Sudha's eyes widened at his declaration and husky tone. Her body shivered and she also had strong urge to kiss him but her lips were sealed at the moment.
" Can I touch these beautiful lips? " He questioned again. Although they kissed before he felt it completely new this time. Before it was just his attraction towards her which made him do romantic stuff but from the time he realised his true feelings towards her there was an undeniable attraction towards her which felt anew and fresh.
Sudha didn't know why he asked for permission when they already kissed before but the way he was looking at her desperately made her give in to him.
" Yes " she whispered and it didn't take him a second to smash his lips hard on her placing his hand behind her head. Sudha was stunned at the speed he initiated the kiss but she liked the way he was moving them. He kissed her as if he was waiting for decades to touch her lips. The soft movement of her lips alongside his made him hard to control more. The way she responded to his kiss was dangerously awakening the desires within him.
He pulled away after a few moments and sudha was blushing hard as she too responded to his kiss.
He again smashed his lips on her. This time he slowly kissed them with extreme slowness making sudha's heart jump and her stomach twist. Shyam placed his hand on her back and moved it around her bare waist. His other hand which was behind her head was now moving in her hair. He was slowly and sensually taking his time in devouring her lips allowing her to breath steadily. Sudha was so lost in the kiss that she started to move her hand from his neck to his hair and started to move her fingers in them making shyam lose his control and sanity. She didn't care if she feels embarrassed later for being this hungry for him. She even moved her other hand on his chest and pulled him closer if it was even possible. Shyam did a happy dance in his head knowing that his wife was enjoying the kiss and responding with equal passion.

This much for today. We will see later part in next chapter.
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