Chapter 26

Rishi woke up and immediately set his gaze on the empty couch. Slowly he sat leaning on the head rest and looked around the room searching for Aadhi but she wasn’t around anywhere. With trembling hands and legs he made his way to the balcony, the only place where he got used to see her sitting on the swing, watching the sky.

She looked so beautiful in the cotton saree and messy hair tied in a bun, the little stud and the bindi enhanced her beauty.

Rishi: You look beautiful Aadhira.

Aadhi: Stop lying Rishi, we know the reality so why do you try your lame attempts ?

Rishi: I m not lying Aadhira, In my eyes,  you look the same just like how you looked the first time I saw you. Your eyes still keeps captivating me and I would love to be lost in them.

Aadhi: If this is your another attempt then I m sorry to say that I will never forgive you. I have kept my words and will keep my words for the rest of my life.

Rishi: Don’t you feel pity for me Aadhira ? Please forgive me and give me a chance before I breathe my last.

He started coughing suddenly and was about to collapse but Aadhi held him passed a glass of water to him.

Aadhi: You are not young to try all these now. Where is your walking stick ?

Rishi: I don’t need a walking stick Aadhira, I need a chance from you. I might have lost my charm, hair and I might be counting my days but I still hold the same love for you. Every wrinkles on my skin are evidences of the number of attempts I made to earn a chance from you. Only if you had given me chance we would have had our own family, may be we would have been playing with our grandchildren rather living all alone in the confines of this penthouse.

Aadhi: I never stopped you from moving on in your life Rishi. You could have divorced me and got married to someone then today you would have been playing with your grand children and living the last days of your life in content.

Rishi: I m happy to die looking at you rather marrying someone and having a family with her. You are my love, my family and even with those wrinkles you look like a baby to me, my dear little wife. May be we meet in next life and I wish to love you the way you deserved.

He noticed tears rolling down from Aadhi’s eyes and shook his head vigorously. He started coughing and held his chest. ” Rishi ” he heard her scream and opened his eyes instantly. He saw Aadhi looking at him with worry but there were no wrinkles on her face. He sat with a jerk and looked at his hands and touched his face. He jumped out of the bed and rushed to the vanity and noticed he looked young.

Rishi: What the fuck did I dream ?

He rushed to Aadhi and stood before her with a scared face.

Rishi: Aadhira, please tell me that dreams that we see at this time doesn’t come true. Please Aadhira.

Aadhi: I assume you had a dream of our marriage so don’t worry that doesn’t come true.

Rishi: Our marriage would be the most beautiful dream that I would never wish to wake up from but this was scary, vey scary. I need to act quickly.. yes, I have less time and I need to act quickly.

Aadhi frowned and saw him entering the closet talking to himself.

Aadhi Mv: What happened to him ? What could be the dream that scared him so much ?

She walked out and saw Shruthi dancing to a song. Since it was sunday and everyone would be home she decided to cook breakfast a little late.

Rishi descended the stairs and made his way to the dining calling Aadhira.

Rishi: Aadhira, can I have your special coffee please ?

Aadhi followed him and entered the kitchen while he stood next to her leaning on the counter and watched her prepare his coffee.

Rishi: I was really scared Aadhira, the dream was so scary.

He waited for her to look at him and just like that she cast a glance at him. Rishi counted the time and it was exactly 3 seconds before she averted her gaze from him. He smiled feeling relaxed after getting to see her eyes which calmed him instantly and set his hormones on fire at the same time.

Rishi Mv: How does she does both things to me at the same time ? Chill and hot..May be because my wife is hot and her attitude is calm now ? I love my fire cracker more than anything.

Aadhi placed his coffee on the counter and walked out followed by him. He rolled his eyes on seeing Shruthi dancing and settled himself in the dining area.

Shruthi: Aadhi, Rishi today is sunday so how about we go out for a morning breakfast ? The climate is chill today so we could have a nice time for a while to relax. Rishi looked at Aadhi and felt it would be a good idea to go out with her so he agreed. Aadhi too bobed her head having no other way.

They got ready and when they reached the parking Rishi opened the front door for Aadhi before he got settled in the driver seat.

Rishi Mv: The climate is really good and perfect to fullfil one of her wishes today.

He mentally made a note and stopped the car before a five star hotel. Aadhi rolled her eyes for his choice of visiting a five star hotel for breakfast. She would rather got settled with a bowl of maggie. Rishi being the new gentleman in town pulled the chair for Aadhi before he sat next to her.

Shruthi: You really have a taste in everything Rishi, this place is so classy and I m really loving here.

Rishi: Aadhira, do you like this place ?

Aadhi: Ofcourse Rishi, I m loving this place. So nice of you to bring us here this morning for breakfast. I think we should visit more often. What say ?

Rishi felt the scarcsm dripping in her words and realized he made a blunder in choosing the hotel.

Rishi Mv: Its ok, I will make it up when we return home. First step to our better tomorrow.

They ordered breakfast and both Aadhi and Rishi were listening to Shruthi ranting about her work and colleagues but he was constantly watching Aadhi forcing a smile at everything Shruthi was saying.

An hour later, when they were ready to leave the hotel, Rishi chuckled on seeing Aadhi sigh in relief. While he drove back he stopped the car by a hyper market and excused from the two women before he rushed inside.

Fifteen minutes later he returned with a package and placed it on Aadhi’s lap before he ignited the engine. All the way he was so curious and excited to see Aadhi’s reaction though a part of him was prepared for her rejection.

As they reached home, Aadhi placed the package on the teapoy in the living and sat on the couch scrolling through her mobile.

Shruthi: Rishi, Aadhi come lets go to terrace and enjoy the breeze for a while. Our actual plan was to enjoy some fresh air but we couldn’t do it since Rishi drove us to a star hotel so now lets spend some time.

Rishi: You both go ahead and I will be back after changing.

He quickly rushed to bedroom and pulled out the first track pant and T shirt since he didn’t want to delay any further. He returned to the living and saw the package had been opened and pack of puffed rice missing in it.

Rishi: How did she know that I bought puffed rice for her ? God, Rishi, you can’t miss watching her play.

He skipped the stairs and rushed to the terrace and even before he could step out few puffed rice hit his face. His lips curved into a smile and he stepped into the terrace but instantly his smile vanished on seeing  Shruthi playing and eating the puffed rice. He looked for Aadhi who was sitting on the wooden bench looking at the sky as if she wasn’t bothered by the scene happening before her.

Shruthi notice Rishi and pulled him to stand next to her and passed the packet to him.

Shruthi: Rishi, your wife is boring than you. She doesn’t seem to be excited for anything. God, thank you so much for buying this. I m really enjoying this. Who wouldn’t love to play like this ?

Shruthi then turned to Aadhi who was scrolling through her mobile.

Shruthi: Aadhi, loosen up a bit and enjoy. This is really funny.. Come one..

Aadhi: I feel its crazy to play with puffed rice especially when its windy but if it excites you please carry on. I m good with how I am. Rishi likes me this way. Am I right Rishi ?

Rishi gulped down hard on hearing her words, not that he was complaining and he deserved every bit of pain she was giving back.

Shruthi: Rishi, knew you very well and that is why he bought the bubbles for me. I m happy he never forgot that I love bubbles.

Aadhi: So nice of him. Go ahead and enjoy.

He returned the packet to Shruthi and sat next to Aadhi with his hand behind her on the wooden bench.

Rishi: You know I bought them for you but if it satiates you by giving back to me then I m happy about it. I still learnt a lesson today that I should have waited for her to leave before I bought them for you. No problem, I will keep buying for the rest of our lives. Now can I have your special coffee please ?

Without waiting for her reply he walked away and Aadhi followed him. When they reached the first floor of the penthouse Rishi stopped her from leaving to the kitchen.

Rishi: I don’t need coffee Aadhira, I just wanted you to leave from there. You might act as if nothing affected you but I know my little fire cracker would be hurting so relax for a while and you don’t have to cook today. Lets order food.

Rishi heard the foot steps and immediately pulled Aadhi and locked her against the wall. He leaned closer and tilt his head as if he was kissing her. Aadhi shut her eyes and Rishi whispered against her ear.

Rishi: Relax Aadhira, I won’t do anything that would hurt you. I have been an idiot once but not anymore. Shruthi is getting wrong ideas about us and I don’t want her to have such thoughts about us so pretend for a while.

Rishi saw her gulp and her fragrance hit his nostrils like a breeze. He couldn’t avoid inhale her fragrance and Aadhi curled her toes and gulped once again feeling his hot breathe against her neck and she couldn’t deny that his proximity was affecting her.

Rishi: I will just hold your waist and lets get inside our room. Three steps and we will be in our room. I will shut the door behind us. Ok ?

Aadhi bobed her head and Rishi slowly placed his palm on her waist and Aadhi’s breathe hitched though his palm was over her top. She stepped back and just like Rishi said they entered their bedroom in 3 steps and Rishi shut the door behind with his leg.

Shruthi who watched the couple froze in her spot and on seeing the door being shut she returned to her room.

In Rishi and Aadhi’s bed room, Rishi backed off the moment he shut the door and Aadhi immediately rushed to the washroom. She shut the door and her chest heaved after the stunt they pulled.

Aadhi Mv: No Aadhi, don’t let him break you once again. You are not weak to fall so easily. Stay strong girl.

In the room Rishi sat on the couch, he couldn’t come out of the feel of having her in a close proximity. Her fragrance still lingered around him and he wished to stay close to her forever. For the first time his hormones were triggered and beyond the love and care, he desired for her, he desired for his wife as a husband. He rubbed his face with his palm and felt his breathe turning hot, he couldn’t remove the image of her gulping to his proximity and the shade of pink on her cheek and ear got etched in his heart and mind.

Rishi Mv: You are driving me crazy Aadhira….you bring out every side of me that I had hid from this world and it is unfair to leave me behind craving for your attention and now I m craving for you to. I want the whole of you Aadhira……