Chapter 39

Rishi looked at Aadhi who was shocked on hearing his answer that he never missed her. He held her hand kissed tip of every finger slowly with a smile.

Rishi:  I lived every minute with you Aadhu so how would I miss you but I did feel the ache in my heart that you weren’t beside me physically. I imagined you live with me. There wasn’t a moment I did something alone. I slep on the bed but you were there next to me, you were there sitting opposite to me when I had my food, I felt you moving around the kitchen, I listened to lot of songs and watched movies in the living and all the time you were next to me and I was passing comment to you in everything I did. Our home is no more the neat and tidy one. I have made it a mess but it looks beautiful now. You will get to see when we return and I hope you won’t be shocked and beat me on seeing them but deep down I know you will love everything. You were my oxygen Aadhu, I would have been dead if I had not thought about you even a for a few seconds. You kept me alive, you gave me the strength and wish to live and look at me how happy I m living with my Aadhu baby.

Aadhi smiled on hearing his words and moved the hair from his forehead and caressed his hair gently.

Rishi: I m sorry Aadhu, since I felt it would be good to get married on the exact time I had to do all the shopping on my own. So tell me did you like everything or if you feel somethings could have been better then we shall get it right and get married once again. I will be happy to marry you any number of times.

Aadhi: Everything was perfect Rishu, you bought me the exact color saree I wanted for the wedding, the location was beautiful and the people whom you had invited touched me. I couldn’t forget the moment you looked into my eyes seeking permission to tie the nuptial thread. It was like a fairytale Rishu, thank you so much.

Rishi: Don’t thank me Aadhu, we have just started and we have a long journey ahead. Trust me baby, I have lot plans to spoil you with my love. There is still one thing left to be planned now but I wanted you to decide a destination for our honeymoon. I will have everything arranged immediately and there is something very important I have in my mind and wanted to discuss with you before you choose the destination.

Aadhi: What is it ?

Rishi: I want you to pass out in flying colors and for that I don’t want to distract your studies so I thought we should wait until you complete your studies. This is just my opinion and I want you to decide.

Aadhi: Then why do you want me to choose a destination ?

Rishi: Aadhu, we shall go around sight seeing and as of now we shall enjoy life with subtle romance and kisses. I think we deserve to spend some time after the break we had taken. Now tell what do you think ?

Aadhi: Ok …

Rishi: Just ok ? I thought you will fight with me that we could balance everything. Why are your ears and cheeks so pink Aadhu ?

Aadhi pushed him away and tried to run away but Rishi held her wrist and pulled her back to him. Aadhi landed on his lap and Rishi wrapped his arms around her waist.

Rishi: I love to see you blush Aadhu. I m bad a singer Aadhu but I have memorized lot of lyrics for you, only for you. Do you want to hear the lyrics that struck my mind right now ?

Aadhi was surprised to see him being so romantic and shocked as well that he was learning the lyrics for her. She simply bobed her head curious to know the lyrics he had for her.

Rishi:

காதல் சடுகுடுகுடு…
கண்ணே தொடு தொடு…

It’s a game of love, Beloved… come touch me… touch me… 

Rishi turned her face him and cupped her cheek in his palm and kissed the tip of her nose.

என் கண்ணீா் என் தண்ணீா்…
எல்லாமே நீயன்பே…
என் இன்பம் என் துன்பம்…
எல்லாமே நீயன்பே…
என் வாழ்வும் என் சாவும்…
உன் கண்ணில் அசைவிலே…

Oh! My beloved, you’re my eyes, my tears you’re everything to me! My beloved, you’re my joys and sorrows you’re everything to me! My life and death is in the movement of your eyes!… 

Rishi: Never even in my dreams I thought I would fall in love with someone Aadhu but look at me, I m so madly in love with you.

உன் உள்ளம் நான் காண…
என்னாயுள் போதாது…
என் அன்பை நான் சொல்ல…
உன் காலம் போதாது…

My life is insufficient to study and know your heart! To express my love your life will be insufficient!

Rishi: Thank you for loving me and proving that I can love too. You have me wrapped me around your little finger Aadhu.

கொண்டாலும் கொன்றாலும்…
என் சொந்தம் நீதானே…
நின்றாலும் சென்றாலும்…
உன் சொந்தம் நான்தானே…
உன் வேட்கை பின்னாலே…
என் வாழ்க்கை வளையுமே…

You’re the only one, I have to celebrate life or kill me! If you’re with me or leave me I am the only one you have! My life surrounds around you!

Aadhi felt his love and pressed her lips on his forehead. Rishi hugged her, placing his head on her chest feeling contented. They stayed in each other’s embrace for a long time and Rishi was the first to pull back from the hug.

Rishi: You must be feeling uncomfortable so lets get changed and hit the bed for the much needed sleep but before that lets click some selfie.

Together they stood before the mirror and started clicking selfies hugging, kissing and some crazy poses. Rishi waited until Aadhi got changed first and later he entered the washroom and got changed into a shorts and vest. When he walked out Aadhi gasped in shock but Rishi winked at her.

Rishi: I bought this long back but I wanted you to be the first person to see me dressed like this. Your opinion madam ?

Aadhi: You chose this because I asked for it ?

Rishi: Anything for my baby now tell me how do I look ?

Aadhi: Smart and handsome as always.

Aadhi showed a super sign and Rishi raised his fist that Aadhi liked it. He laid on the bed and pulled her to his chest. They fell asleep in a few minutes in each other’s embrace.

At Vimal’s home Manjari laid on the bed scrolling through her mobile. She was upset that she hasn’t received any calls from Vimal for the past 2 days and she had no idea about his whereabouts. She received a notification about  Vimal’s new post on his social media and opened it immediately but her mouth hung open on seeing the intimate wedding photos of Rishi and Aadhi. They looked so much in love and the happiness was evident on their faces. She was so shocked on seeing the way Rishi was looking at Aadhi as if his life was dependant on her.

A lone tear escaped her eyes on seeing Vimal, Aadhi and Rishi in a group hug. Even her grandfather looked so happy blessing the couple.

Manjari: Even after living apart for 6 months you were able to win my brother’s heart Aadhira.

She heard voices from the living and rushed to check on what was happening. She stood in the corner on seeing Hari and Kavitha watching something in their mobile and their happiness was evident from the way were smiling.

Manjari: What is that they are looking ? Could it be the pictures of Aadhi and Rishi bro ?

She slowly ambled to them and sat on the couch opposite to them hoping for a reaction from them but they were too lost in the mobile to notice her.

Manjari: Uncle, aunty you both seem to be so happy. Its nice to see you both like this.

Kavitha: Please don’t your cast your evil eyes on our happiness and don’t plot anything to ruin our moment.

Manjari: Aunty, I m sorry. Please forgive me.

Hari: You want us to forgive you ? We lost our daughter only because we believed in your words. I m ashamed that I failed as a father. Aadhi has always been understanding yet I refused to believe in her words. We are not less cruel than you. You hurt her directly and we hurt her indirectly.

Kavitha: You are here only because of Vimal. We are not ready to lose our son just like we lost our daughter so take advantage of your stay here and you better stay out of our matters.

Manjari: I m really sorry, Please forgive me.

Hari: How do you expect us to forgive you when your own parents couldn’t do that ? The damage you caused to our family is something I never visioned in my dreams. We were happy and then came you, like a witch and destroyed all our happiness.

Kavitha: Today our daughter has finally got the life she deserved but we couldn’t be a part of it and bless her. I wish you rot in hell but my son’s life is still tangled with you so I refrain from cursing you. I wonder what even he saw in you.

Manjari couldn’t take anymore and rushed back to her room. She shut the door and plopped on the floor crying her heart out.

Manjari: How did I get to this point ? I m all alone and none cares for me. Even my own parents refused to stand for me. How do I fix this ?

With trembling hands she picked her mobile and looked at Aadhi and Rishi with Vimal.

Manjari: How do I get back everything I lost ?

She returned to the bed and laid with her eyes closed crying over her life.

At Goa, Aadhi woke up and saw Rishi wasn’t beside her. She entered the washroom to refresh and walked out in search of Rishi and found him in the kitchen stirring something in the pan.

Aadhi: Rishu, what are you doing ? you could have called me if you are hungry. Please don’t burn the kitchen.

She tried to take the ladle from him but Rishi pulled her stand before him and caged her between the counter and him. Aadhi peeked into the pan and smelt the delicious aroma of her favourite paneer curry.

Aadhi: You cook ?

Rishi: Yes, I learnt cooking especially all your favourite dishes. I really thought of finishing up before you woke up but its ok, I m enjoying cooking with you before me.

He kissed her cheek and stirred the curry and opened the lid of the pot and Aadhi saw it was ghee rice. She closed her eyes to the aroma and tilt her head to look at him.

Aadhi: You learned to cook for me Rishu ?

Rishi kissed the tip of her nose and bobed his head with a smile.

Aadhu: What else did you do ?

Rishi: Not much baby, just few things that I wanted to learn to make you happy. Now everything is done and let me serve you hot.

Together they placed the cassseroles on the dining and Aadhi waited for Rishi who was still in the kitchen. She gasped on seeing him walk out holding a cake and place it before her.

Rishi: I learnt to bake cakes, cookies for you.

Rishi passed the knife to her and together they cut the cake. Rishi picked a small piece and fed her. Aadhi fed the remaining of it to him.

Aadhi: This is so amazing Rishu, I love it.

Rishi: Ofcourse it is good but not more than the red velvet you baked for my birthday Aadhu.

Aadhi who was holding a large piece stopped and looked at him bewildered. Rishi smiled and fed her another piece.

Rishi: That was the most delicious cake I ever had Aadhu. Especially the black berries you had hidden in it.

Aadhi: Rishu, how ? I mean I dumped it into the trash.

Rishi: Your love was dominating me despite all my struggles to keep you away. I watched you cry that night and guessed you baked it. Something stirred in me and I couldn’t stop myself my tasting the little left over on the base that you left on the kitchen counter.  Thank you for the best ever cake.

Aadhi hugged him and Rishi caressed her back gently. Later he served the food he cooked and Aadhi praised him for the tasty food.

Rishi: Now that you love my cooking then let me be your personal cook. I will make sure to prepare breakfast and try my best to return early from office to cook dinner too.

Aadhi: And what will do then ?

Rishi: You have a lot to do Aadhu. You will love me, I will spoil you with all my love and I want to be drenched in your love every moment of our life. I want to be loved truly, the love you have for me.

Rishi cupped her cheek and they leaned in closer slowly surrendering into the warmth of their love and kissed until they were reminded of the food left over the table.