Meera

Chapter 25

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Next morning I woke up to the sound of chit and chattering in the house. Maa and Arjun were talking on a random topic. Getting out of the bed, I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair looked more like chidiya ka ghosla. How can I go in front of him like this? Maana shaadi ho rahi hai but abhi hi thodi aisi shakal dikha dungi. I quickly entered washroom, brushed my teeth, braided my hair and came out. Now, I look presentable thoda sa.

I entered the hall covering myself with shawl. Delhi becomes very cold during this time, especially mornings. Doorbell rings as soon as I step in the hall. Maa starts to get up but I tell her to st\it down and continue the conversation.

'Maa aap baat karo. Mai dekhti hun.' — I say

[Maa, continue your conversation. Let me see who is at the door.]

I open the door and as exprected it was Khushi with Siddharth ofcourse. Her plus one. She entered screaming as she pulled me into a tight hug. I give an awkward smile to Siddharth as Khushi continues to hold me.

'Who thought you would be getting married?' — She says excitedly as she takes my hand to look at the ring. I could so easily be offended right now par chhodo. Jaane diya.

'Arjun, my man it's been so long. Humein bhi yaad waad karliya kar kabhi.' — Siddharth says as he moves forward to hug Arjun.

[Remember us also sometime.]

'Toh tune bhi toh bhabhi ke aane ke baad yaad nahi kiya.'

[You also did not remember me after marrying Khushi]

'Yaar nayi nayi shaadi hui hai. Itna toh banta hai.' We stood at the side, looking at them banter with each other. These 30-year-old men fighting like teenagers but its good to see them like this. Away from all the tensions of the world.

[I am newly married, which should be acknowledged.]

'You'll understand me in a few months. Don't worry.' —- Siddharth says as they move into the house. Maa shouts from behind to stop, which literally felt like a drama serial.

She had made aarti ki thaali for the newly married couple. Khushi's eyes were wet as Maa did their aarti. Unable to hold so much of love, she hugged Maa.

'Aaja beti.' — She said.

[come daughter]

All of them moved to the table as I turned towards my room to quickly take a bath. This girl, she nevers calls to inform that she is coming. If she did I would have woken up a bit early, i took out a nice outfit as I went to shower. Within ten minutes I was out and dressed. Everybody was sitting at the table having their own gala time.

'You all have forgot to wait for me. Don't think that I have not noticed.'

'Arre, Meera leave that. Come have a seat.' — Maa says as she gestures to the seat alongside Arjun. Finally some time together.

I settle down in the seat as she serves me a paratha. As soon as I sit down, Arjun holds my left hand. I almost gasp at the contact, while Khushi winks at me. This girl. He did not leave my hand the entire time, not that I wanted him to. It felt nice. I liked holding hands with him. Before him, I hadn't even held a guy's hand. Even holding hands with him gave me butterflies. The first time he held my hand was when he was leaving and I had made him gajar ka halwa.

After finishing it, we sat holding hands on a bench in an almost empty park.

To anyone else, it may seem a little bland but I have never experienced anything more romantic than that. The moon, a silent witness to all my romantic firsts. I looked at him as he fed me little bites of paratha Maa had made. Universe had given him to me, and I will give him all the love that I have even more.

Khushi acted as if clearing her throat and I came out of that haze. Maa was laughing at us, hiding her face while Siddharth was busy teasing Arjun. I could feel myself turn red as I try to retract my hand from his hold, but he didn't let go. He just tightened his grip.

'Aunty, we need to start with the planning right away. Aapke damaad ka koi bharosa nahi kab kahan posting aa jaye.' — Khushi says

'Ab toh posting jahan bhi aayegi, mai toh saath jaungi.' —- I said holding his bicep.

[Nobody knows when and where the posting will come for your son-in-law]

[Wherever it will come, I will go with him.]

With that I stood up from the table with my plate. If I stayed even a minute more, I would have started to overthink every little thing and I didn't want that. I wanted it to be a good day. I wanted to spend it with Arjun, show him around. I won't let these thoughts cloud my brain today. I don't want to spend my life fretting over my future. Present is all that I have and I will make it count.

Khushi and Siddharth had left in another hour and a half, after which we both left for a drive. Purani Dilli is an emotion. We sat near ruins of once used to be a beautiful palaces. Arjun had his head in my lap as I gently brushed his hair. He looked so peaceful while sleeping but when awake takes tension of whole world on his shoulders. He turned towards me and wrapped his hands around my waist as his face dug into my stomach. It felt ticklish at first. I gently slid my hand on his arm as he slept.

This is all I ever wanted. He is all I have ever wanted.