Dono Jud Ke Judaa (Slow Updates)

Saath

She is both
Hellfire and holy water
And the flavour you taste
Depends on how you treat her
~ Sneha Pal

***

Somewhere in the middle of the night I wake up feeling completely disoriented.

Why am I feeling so warm in this air conditioning?

Itni gehri neend lag bhi kaise gayi?

I almost scream out loud when I realise that there's an arm wrapped around my shoulder.

Hriday.

How dare he- oh wait a minute.

I remember everything that happened a few hours ago. He offered me to sleep on his shoulder because I was in pain. He applied ice pack on my head. He told me that I've not abandoned my mom.

Kya ye pakka Hriday hai?

I stay still, not wanting to wake him up. His arm was outstretched when I rested my head, how did it wrap around my shoulder.

Khud bholi mat bann! Tu usske chest pe haath rakhi hai uska kya ha?

I quickly remove my hand like I burnt myself.

Kaise tu ek paraye mard ko chipki hui hai Avni.. chee!

Vo mere pati hai.

Aur vo tera murder karna chahte hai.

I look out the window and see that we've reached Mumbai. It's 4 am. I should move away. I don't want to make it awkward once he wakes up.

I slowly move away and I see Raghu kaka suppressing his smile in the rearview mirror.

Shit!

As soon as I move a little away, I slump in my seat and let out a long breath. Hasshhh...

Hriday's head suddenly falls on my shoulder and I go stiff again, holding my breath.

Wow. Will this man let be breathe?

I feel like laughing and crying at the same time.

I touch the back of my head. Okay soojan ab pehle se kaafi kam ho gayi hai. Ye achha ho gaya.

"Avni ji, hum pahoch gaye" Raghu kaka says and I look out. We're in front of the house.

"Ermm aap inhe-"

"Nahi aap uthaao please sir ko" he says quickly and I groan internally.

Time to wake up the monster. Hope he doesn't eat me up.

"Ji suniye.." I say softly and he hums in response rubbing his face a little on my shoulder.

I feel like awwing out loud.

Look at this super rich, annoying, arrogant advocate who is always shouting at me suddenly turn into a cute little puppy.

Heheh..

So adorable.

"Avni ji?"

"Oh ha.."

I poke his arm and still he doesn't wake up. Ok so no other option..

I push his head away from my shoulder using two of my fingers. I go close towards him bringing my lips towards his ear, take in a deep breath and then... I blow air in his ear.