Echoes of Love

Burning Night

Anurag was burning with fever and Prerna was on the verge of tears. She had called kakababu to know some medicine names. She wanted to rush him to hospital but she couldnt hold him up. She kept on praying and chanting and sponging him with cold towels. 

At around 4.30 in the morning Anurag woke up to find his Chuza sitting on her wheelchair, holding his hand in both her hands and crying silently. Anurag smiled, that was his Chuza. If ever he fell ill, she had the heart of a chicken. His CHUZA, she will start to cry and behave as if it were the end of the world. For her maybe even it was. He was crazy about her but he still felt that he could never love her the way she loved him.

He picked her up and held her to him tightly. Pree immediately smiled at him and then had her hand roam on his face and ran her fingers through his hair. 

Pree: Theek hai tu? Hmm. Then kissed his nose, forehead, cheeks as if he were a small kid. 

Anu: Hummm theek hu main. Normal flu hai Piddi, itna ghabrane wali kya baat thi? Aur tu raat bhar soyi nahi naa? Kitni baar samjhaya tujhe tere jaagne se main kaise better ho jaunga? Bandariya kahiki…

Pree held him tight to her and breathed deeply. He was correct, of course but whenever he got unwell, all her logics left from the nearest window. How do people cope with such things she had no idea but when her Grumpy went sick, she gets so scared of losing him that it becomes impossible for her to even breathe.

She raised her head from his chest, and looked at him tears still staining her cheeks and hair all messed up, eyes looked as if she has been through seven degree torture. Sometimes it felt as if she would go through fires of hell to reach him if he needed her. Anurag tucked her wet hair behind her ears. 4.30 a.m. and she had already bathed, and most probably done her pooja, and by the smell of the aromas she has done some portion of her cooking too. Anu thought, she knew when he was ill he generally never let her be away from him. So like the super efficient wife that she was, she has utilised her time in finishing the rest of the household work, so that she could be with him.

Anurag sighed, Kissed her on her trembling lips, and then asked her what did he need to do? She immediately got up told him to wash up but kept hovering near the bathroom door with towel and his clothes. Anurag hated that women should be like made servants and caretakers to their husbands, but he has learned a few of them take immense pleasure in doing certain things. His Priu always liked to dress him in her choice of clothes, perfumes and cook  for him. And he was always better turned out when she chose things for him. In general, he was a lazy guy, hated to apply his mind in these things. 

On their marriage he had taken her shopping to choose his Dhoti and Kurta, and whatever she wanted him to wear. It was her day for him, he didnt care what he wore or how he looked if she liked him enough. 

When he was ready, as he had guessed he found his food ready. It was hardly 5.30 a.m. and he was very hungry. But he couldn't justify the food, it all tasted like saw dust to him. Yet he had enough and then turned to her. Her eyes were tired and red rimmed from a night of crying and staying awake. But she was busy changing the bedsheets of their bed. He came and picked her up in his arms.

Anu: Tujhe itni si baat pata nahi lagi itne saalo mein ke meri sari bimaari bhag jati hai jab tu mere paas hoti hai. Simply mere paas aake so jati toh main theek bhi ho jata abhi tak. Stupid Piddi….

Pree: (held his face in one hand  and looked at him) Main yahi toh thi...tere paas, kahi nahi gayi. Tere siwa jaungi bhi kaha Bandar? Meri jaan chali jayegi agar kabhi gayi toh… Tujhe pata hai na? Hmmmm

Anurag : (sat on the bed immediately because he felt dizzy) And then held her to him tightly. Haa, mujhe toh pata hai, par teri zidd itni hai ke jaan chali bhi gayi tab bhi tu rukegi nahi agar tujhe mujhe punish karna hoga toh. Dekha maine kitni jaldi maan gayi tu ke ek tute chandelier ki wajah se humein nahi milna chahiye. Stupid Bandariya.

Pree: Baat chandelier ki nahi thi aur woh tujhe bhi pata hai. Kitna samaan toda tune uss din Pagal insaan. 6 saal ke bachche se bhi kam akkal hai tujhe. 

She was getting in her lecturing mode, exactly the way Anurag had wanted her to. He loved it when she got angry with him on his behaviour. The way she always corrected his actions, dressing, life and everything surrounding him. He loved that everything in his life was always surrounded by her care and concern. Her scolds and expectations was his, her dreams and aspiration were his, every aspect of their life had them entwined till eternity. And he vowed to himself that he will never let anything take her away from him. She was the entirety of his existence and he will keep her safe at any cost. 

She was still giving her lecture...When he just adjusted her body and wrapped his arms around her kept his head on her heart and slept on her with a peace which only his heart understood....

P.S. I am starting the sequel of Uncharted Trails on some your behest. I am hoping i can justify the love with which you have asked me to bring Back that Grumpy madman Anurag And His Chuza Prerna.... Their  love was crazy... their friendship unparalleled...their trust is blind...hope their marital life is as entertaining as you found the love story of our Grumpy Bear And His Bandariya ....🐒🐻🐣🐵😂😂😂

Love your comments...votes... follows... and shares. 🙏🙏😘😘 Hope to entertain you with this one too.