The Desert Lily

Chapter 29

"I don't know Saphi! He makes me feel special. I don't know if I love him. I don't know if he loves me. But one thing Iam sure of. He's making an effort to make our marriage work. But... "Samaira was talking over her phone with her elder sister Sapphira, who is settled in UK. She was her constant support and the only person to whom she can talk about anything.

"But what? "Sapphira asked her.

"But... What if it is out of sympathy? It's the last thing I need. He loved Praniti so much. I don't think he can move on so soon."

"Is that what your heart says? "asked Sapphira fondly.

"Uhm.. Err...I don't know. "Samaira stuttered, tucking back a few strands of hair that fell on her face.

"One thing I can understand. "remarked Sapphira.

"What? "

"Both of you are perfectly useless. "

"Excuse me! What do you mean? "

"Ayush's flirting with you just an year after his wife's death.Hes is breaking his shell to make you smile. You were silently sobbing when you were talking to me about his accident. And still, you people are afraid to think that you're in love. What on earth, Sam? What on earth?"Sapphira exclaimed loudly.

"He was a very good friend of mine before our marriage. So we of course are very open and umm.. funny around each other. "

"Yeah yeah. Its a very good time to be funny. Falling in love for the second time is no mistake Samaira. You deserve love. Now speaking about sympathy, did you marry Ayush out of sympathy? "asked the elder sister.

"No. "

"Did he do that out of sympathy? "

"I don't know. "

"Then what on this freaking planet do you know? Listen woman,he told you that day that he was marrying for both of you.Then why should he feel sympathy?If you're to be sympathized then what about him?Was his life happier than yours?"questioned Saphi while hitting her head with her hand.

"Just understand one thing. You're a fighter and none will feel sympathy for you. If someone is to feel something seeing you, then it's either respect or admiration. Stop thinking of yourself as someone for whom people feel sympathy. Just throw that word out of your dictionary. "She tried to make Samaira understand.

"Its true that you're irritating but you are very much useful."Samaira teased,breaking into a warm smile.Saphira was an irritating-mocking-tricking-leg pulling-still loving kinda sister.Frankly a typical Indian sister.

"I know I know,you always need someone to knock some sense into your head.Now give me a niece or nephew quickly."replied Saphi.

"Cheeee...Three are not enough for you?Make some more children for yourself first."Samaira was like Ewwww...

"I'm trying no?But my so called husband is worse than yours.He doesn't complete his jobs too.You know what?Yesterday night-"

"Saphi no!I don't want any details."Samaira interrupted.

"Arrey..I was saying,he came late yesterday and slept before washing the dishes.What is your dirty mind thinking of?"Saphira wiggled her eyebrows which Samaira could imagine very clearly.On the other hand,Saphira could see her little sister clicking her tongue out in embarrassement.

"Okay.Its time to sleep."Samaira was about to cut the call.

"Yeah!Yeah!Always dump me after your use.I'm your towel no?Wipe with it,throw it away,repeat."Saphi pouted.

"Oh my dear sister!Please forgive me.I love you and I hope we could meet sometime soon.I miss you."Samaira said affectionately and her sister returned her the same notion.The call ended and Samaira set up the bed for sleeping.
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Ayush smiled wide.Wider.Widest.
He had heard...well..overheard Samaira talking to her sister.
It however disappointed him that she thinks he is doing all this out of sympathy.But the fact that she is well aware of his efforts and at least feel something near to feeling loved,made him display that rare smile on his face.
He looked at his wrist watch.It had become more precious to him.He slowly traced it's glass with his thumb.The fact that she cared to mend it for him made him happy.

He had tried to make this marriage work as a payback?But now he wondered if that was really the cause.He knew tat the reason had changed but the destination did not.

He loved it when she smiled and he would say without a doubt that he was addicted to it.Her eyes were another intoxication. The unspoken words they shared with him made him feel specially strange.They were the entrance to her beautiful soul.He was so much enslaved to those clinquant pair of orbs that whenever they watered,he felt bad.Very bad.

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Little Prarthana chuckled as she played with her father's beard,sitting on his lap. He had just returned from hospital in the afternoon after a tiresome day. She widened her eyes curiously as she got her hands on the stethoscope snaked around his neck.She pulled it out and hanged it on her neck like her father does. She asked him about it and he somehow made her understand its use.She shaked her legs in excitement as she put the earpiece inside her tiny little ears.The cute little anklets that adored her ankle chimed in a soulful rhythm adding more liveliness to her laughter.She tried to check her father's heartbeat.

Samaira entered the bedroom they were sitting in and opened a cupboard.She started placing the washed and dried closed,neatly folded inside it.

"Papa no healtbea."said Prarthana as she pressed Ayush's chest with the stethoscope.Strangely,she couldn't hear anything like her papa said.

"Thats because Papa's heart is with somebody else."Ayush remarked showing actions with his hands.

Prarthana pressed it again and this time she could hear a pumping sound.

"Now i cane (it came)"she laughed at her father and continued listening to the sound.

"That must be someone else's heart."he said as a naughty smile bloomed within his lips.He knew the poor kid didn't understand anything but he was sure the person whom he wanted to understand did very well.

Samaira did not make any unwanted movement and carried on with her work.She tried to conceal the curve on her lips but couldn't.
Ayush stared at her back turned figure.He saw all her efforts to contain her contagious smile go vain through the mirror of the cupboard.The slight turning up of her lips made his heart flutter.
She looked up at the mirror to meet his deep gaze.Once again she was lost in his deep shiny quarts.....happily.
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Hope you like the chapter.Do leave your valuable votes and comments

Adios,
Chris