Dono Jud Ke Judaa (Slow Updates)

Anisht

That was her gift
She filled you with the words you didn't know were there.
~Atticus

***

I again wake up in the morning really early. I feel sleepy all the time but at night when I try to sleep, I can't. What the hell is this?

I go to the cafe early before Hriday wakes up, not wanting to face him after the events of yesterday night. He  anyway doesn't like seeing my face.

It's a Friday and the day is uneventful. I concentrate on making the cheese cake that Chanchal asked me to bring.

When I go out, Hriday's car is waiting for me with the driver. Will I ever get used to someone always being there for my beck and call. I feel like I don't deserve all this. What have I done in life to get this?

Married rich.

I have everything and nothing all at once.

I get in the car and greet Shyam kaka who is the driver. He is a good man. "Kaka ye lijiye cake. Ghar ja ke Sheetal ko jarur dena" I say handing him the cake. Sheetal is his daughter.

"Aapne kyu taklif uthayi" he smiles at me and starts the car.

"Taklif kya isme? Aur aap jaldi ghar jaaya karo, aapke wife ki delivery date nazdeek aa rahi hai na. Mai akele ja sakti hu ghar" I tell him.

"Nahi nahi. Hriday sahib ne mujhe orders diye hai ke aapko kahi bhi akele na jaane du" he says looking at me from the rearview mirror.

"Hriday sahib gaye bhaad me" I huff.

"Aise mat boliye. Vo bahot achhe insaan hai" he says.

"Achhe insaan? Aur vo? Rehne do kaka mere saamne aap buraai kar sakte ho. Mai ja ke aapke boss ko chugli nahi karungi" I tell him and smile sheepishly.

"Nahi vo sach me bahot achhe insaan hai. Sheetal ke padhai ke kharche me vo hamesha bahot madat kiye hai. Aur mujhe abhi bhi bole hai, order diye hai, Shobha ki delivery achhe hospital me hi karwaane aur bole hai ke mai paiso ki chinta na karu" he says and I see his greatful smile in the mirror.

Wow. I didn't expect that. But then nothing with Hriday is expected.

We reach the house and that's when I remember I had to buy some toiletries. Kaka offers to drive me there but I persuade him to let me go alone. Paas me hi hai waise bhi dukaan.

I buy the necessary stuff and when I'm going back, my eyes fall on a familiar face. It's Devika. With a guy. And she's crying. Again.

We are near the bungalow and as always the neighborhood is almost empty.

Aise bade bade gharo me kisi ko kuch padi kyu nahi hoti? Sab ko bass khud se matlab hai. I doubt aadhe logo ko pata bhi hoga ke unke side wale ghar me kon rehta hai.

But that's not the matter here.

I seriously don't want to butt in her personal matter but she's crying. I have to go and see whether that guy is hurting her in any way. I check whether my pepper spray is in my bag and slowly walk towards them and hide behind a tree. Near enough to hear them and far enough so that they can't see me.

"Mujhe koi baat nahi karni tumse. You make your decision or we will simply break up" the guy says pushing off Devika's hand that's on his shoulder.

"But I'm not ready for that stuff yet Rahul" Devika cries.

So the asshole has a name.

And what stuff are they talking about.

"Do saal se we've been dating. Now we should do it. It's time" he says.