A Heart of Stone with a Coat of Gold

A House of Dreams

Author's Note - Please share your thoughts dear readers, I would love to hear them

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"Di, I did it." Reema came running to Anu, beaming with smiles, as Neel slumped on the sofa, beads of perspiration on his face, all the while the little kid banging his hands on his shoulders jubilantly. Anu stared at the tired man as she patted her sister, he had worked so hard with her, while she had buried in her own books. For the whole week, after coming from the office, he would help with Reema on her speech. Of course, only after he put Aryan to sleep. It had worked wonders, Reema had been growing in confidence and finally today on the day of the test, she had cracked it. Anu was both relieved and proud of her.

She went to the kitchen and came back with two cups of tea, handing one over to Neel. As she seated across him, he seemed amused, while trying to subdue his elated son. "What a good wife you are. Thank you." He said in a light tone as he accepted the cup. Anu was not at all impressed with the compliment, but she let it pass.

While sipping his tea, he watched Anu's face in silence. Her dark dainty hairs, the adorable frown on her countenance, and the dark circles beneath her deer eyes. "You have been studying late," he commented. She merely nodded. "Let's go out. My friend has invited me to dinner. I was going to decline but not now."

Anu was surprised. "Raghu?" She didn't want to meet his old witch of a wife.

"I have friends other than my boss," Neel replied, slightly irritated, as he got up and entered the bedroom.

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Strangely, Neel took the kids with them. And even more strange was that he handed Aryan to her. As they drove in silence she wondered who this friend was, she always thought of Neel as a recluse. Still, she was thankful for the break, all the studying had been killing her.

They reached the place. It was far from their home, a 45-minute drive. As she waited outside the house, Anu couldn't help but admire the place. It was a big house, in the suburbs. It had 3-storeys, with red bricks jutting out all over, giving it an almost ancient feel.

Neel circled around the house and parked in the huge backyard, almost as if it was his own home. The back of the house had a glass rear opening in the backyard. The whole yard was covered with lush green grass, giving it a peaceful and calm appearance, full of hope.

As they stepped outside, surprisingly, again Neel handed Aryan to her. "Hold him," he said and then knocked on the back door of the house.

A smiling woman in her late 30's opened it, beaming with warmth. She had curly long hair, was tall around Neel's height, and wore a maroon red sari, shining with vibrancy."Anu, right? Natasha" She smiled while putting forward her hand. Anu smiled back as she shook it. She really liked this lady in an instant.

"Aunty" Reema said as she waved at the woman.

"Hi Reema, well aren't you lively today?" The woman pulled Reema's cheek gently with love.

"Have you guys met?" Anu asked, puzzled, still holding Aryan.

"Jiju left me and Aryan here for the night, don't you remember Di?" Reema answered shaking her head at her sister's ignorance. They finally entered the house.

There was a man, in a tracksuit and glasses seated on the table working on his laptop placed on a large mahogany table. A chandelier hung above, casting a yellow hue even when it was not lighted. Adjacent to it, a round wooden staircase led to the rooms upstairs. Anu noticed that the living room had a very tall ceiling, probably touching the top of the house. And the other rooms, both upstairs and down, had been designed around it. It was one of the loveliest homes that she had ever seen.

In her mind, an image flashed. Of Nikhil. She had once imagined a future with Nikhil, in a home like this. Husband and wife living in the countryside with beautiful kids who could play in a big yard. They had even discussed it sometimes. As he heart longed for those times, she looked back to face the reality, the man who was now her husband. Strangely, he too had a look of longing in his eyes, as he glanced around the house.

The man waved at them as he shut his laptop. "Nishant," he introduced himself to Anu. The man was tall and muscular and had an aura of energy around him. Although he seemed to be about Neel's age, still there was still a youth in him, his hairs although even greyer than Neel's, had a shine to them. Anu, couldn't help but admire this man a bit.

Soon two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl joined them and greeted Reema. As they seated on the dinner table, the men and kids started talking, while Natasha went to bring food to the table, Anu being left alone with Aryan, squirming in her lap.

Soon he started crying, wailing at the top of his lungs. She tried to make him stop, even made faces to cheer him, but it was like a dam had broken. He just wouldn't stop.

"Make him stop," Neel whispered to her, in a commanding voice. Anu was annoyed, he wouldn't ever let him near his son and now he was expecting her to do it. She wondered what was wrong with Neel, why was he letting her hold Aryan since they left the house. Then it struck her.

The man of the house. Who earns. While the lady takes care of the house and the kids.

Anu's temper flared as she went through the meaning of his actions in her mind. Still, she held her tongue not wanting to create a scene. All the while, Aryan kept on crying, and Anu kept on doing her vain attempts to stop him. Anu threw a quick glance at Neel, his face was twitching. She knew he was dying to hold his son.

"You can't even handle a kid," he finally snapped at her, while Nishant looked down in embarrassment.

That was it. Anu got up and dumped the wailing baby in Neel's lap. She then stormed into the kitchen, proceeding to help Natasha.

"You have a lovely home," Anu commented as she noticed the equally fantastic modular kitchen.

"Well, its all thanks to your husband." Natasha, replied, as she put the food in the casserole. Seeing Anu's puzzled expression, she continued, her voice a bit unsure, "Don't you know? Neel designed it himself. He used to live here. Well, he and Shruti," giving Anu the answers to the longing in Neel's eyes.

As she had dinner, two images switched alternatively in her mind, one of a young Neel and Shruti, and the other of her and Nikhil, both the pairs living happily in the serene utopia this house was.

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