After Anu's exams, they finally decided to move into the new house. Neel took a few days off from the office and hired the Packers and Movers which really took a big load off their shoulders.
It was a hot morning. Neel was watching over the men working, instructing them whenever necessary, all the while holding his son in his arms. Like always, he didn't ask Anu to help with anything other than when it came to packing her own stuff, which was not much.
By the time they finally reached Neel's old house, they were both dead tired. The furniture and other stuff were settled by the movers, leaving the household items for the worn-out couple to handle themselves. As the workers finally left, the man-in-charge flashed a bright smile to the unusual couple. "Sir, as a complimentary service we send a framed photograph of our clients who are making a new beginning, with their new homes. Can you please come outside so that we can take the pic?"
His smile, however, vanished instantly when he noticed Neel glaring at him. Reema, on the other hand, seemed elated. "A photo? Di, Di lets come outside. They are taking our photo." Neel frowned at Anu. She threw a quick glance at Reema who seemed very excited, and then muttered to Neel, "Please."
After a moment, Neel nodded, and with a heavy sigh headed outside with his small family, holding on to Aryan, who for strange reason seemed as ecstatic as Reema.
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When she entered her new bedroom at night, she felt an uneasiness rise in her stomach. She was going to share the bed with Neel for the first time since they had visited Natasha and Nishant in the same house, a few weeks earlier. However, she was soon relieved as she found him sprawled on the bed, still in his suit and tie, snoring gently, as he held his son on to his chest. He was obviously tired from all the shifting. As she gazed at the man and son sleeping peacefully, in the dim moonlight peeking from the windows, she couldn't help but feel a sense of tranquillity wash over her in the humble abode that was her new home. She quietly closed the door and headed towards the guest room, where she decided to spend her first night in the house.
The next morning Anu woke up earlier than usual. Oddly enough, Reema and Neel had already left. After taking a bath, she prepared her breakfast from the little stuff that was in the refrigerator. Practically free for the whole day, now that her exams were done, she wandered around her large new mansion all alone. The cartons were still unopened and there was nothing that she could do to spend the time.
Her eyes darted to the clock every minute or so, as she awaited the return of Reema, and strangely her husband too. She missed the innocent questions that Reema shot at her out of the blue, and her ramblings about her day at school. She even missed the man, walking quietly around the house as he tended to his son after office.
In the evening when the doorbell finally rang, Anu practically ran to the door. When she opened it, she was greeted with the wide beaming smile of her sister and the tired weariness of her husband's face. An odd contrast, but at the moment she embraced both of their emotions.
"Welcome back," she smiled and welcomed them inside. Neel was honestly a bit surprised. Anu had never welcomed him before. Unsure of what to reply, he simply nodded.
Aryan was already asleep, resting his small head on his father's shoulders. When the man slumped on the sofa, which was still a bit dusty from the moving, he closed his eyes and rested his head on the headrest of the sofa. Anu, by the time, was already busy with ushering Reema to her room, while she listened about her day in school.
When Anu came back in the big spacious room with the tall ceiling, their new living room, she was greeted with the sight of Neel sipping his tea, while scrolling on his smartphone. He gestured Anu to another cup on the table, which was still giving out hazy steam in the clean countryside air. As she took a seat on a chair near the sofa, she couldn't help but notice, lines of worry creasing on Neel's face.
"What happened? Why did you leave early today?" She asked in a quiet voice.
He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. "I was looking for a good creche for Aryan nearby."
"Did you find it?" Anu probed further as she sipped her tea. He shook his head.
"Then where did you leave him for the day?" Anu tone hinted a bit of concern.
Neel gritted his teeth. "I took him to the office." His voice was giving it away, Anu realised it instantly. He felt ashamed of taking his son to the office. Neel probably couldn't bear the looks of his colleagues, who in his eyes, were all judging him. A man taking care of his one-year-old when he had a wife at home. The reputation of the-man-of-the-house was getting tarnished.
Anu wanted to tell him that taking care of his son didn't make him any less of a man. But she knew he was not a person who could understand in such a fashion. After thinking of the matter she asked, "I can take care of him for some days if you want. Till you find a good one."
Neel eyed her silently. "No". He simply replied.
"Why? I am practically free for the whole day. It would be nice and would take my minds off in this large house." It was the truth. She thought for a moment. "Do you not trust me?"
"It's not that" His voice was heavy. He paused and calmed himself a bit. When he spoke again, his voice had a faint trace of gentleness, something that could be easily missed. "When I married you, I knew what you expected. What my mother wanted. And what the world thought of us." He paused for a moment. " You are my wife, Anu. I don't want you to be my maid."
Anu was torn. She felt the dichotomy of his words. The man who he wanted to show the world, and the man who really felt something else. And yet his words had a ring of truth. Their marriage, in reality, was a tacit pact. She was supposed to take care of his son and him in payment for the financial support that Anu's mother wanted. But that never came to be. He struggled alone, both with his son and himself, never asking a single favour from her. And in some twisted way, whatever he might say and pretend to be, was his way of showing that he cared.
Anu knew she had to choose her words wisely. "Well, as you said, I'm your wife. So let me help you. I won't be doing it forever. Just till you find a good nursery."
Neel gazed at the ceiling as if thinking about what she just said. He then finally turned to her and whispered very quietly, "Thank you." As he got up to change he picked up his son who had just woken up and squirmed in his arms while Neel headed towards the room which had the crib.
He took a few steps and then stopped. Turning back, he held his son to Anu and placed him in Anu's lap. The little child gargled and smiled at her. And strangely, Anu also couldn't help smiling back at Aryan.
YOU ARE READING
A Heart of Stone with a Coat of Gold
General Fiction"I steal smiles, Anu. That's how I live. I stole the smile of an innocent cherry tree. One who I brought in my life only to then burn it to the ground. You, Reema, my mother all are the same for me. And I am afraid, soon, I will steal it from my son...
