Chapter 48

Aadhi sighed and opened the door slowly. Rishi smiled at her and Aadhi opened her mouth to alert him but Rishi was too impatient and started kissing her immediately. Aadhi tried to push him but Rishi locked her against the wall holding her hands to the sides.

The three humans in the living who happened to see such an intense kissing scene gasped and turned away from the sight. Rishi was too lost in the kiss to hear their gasps. Aadhi stomped on his feet and shook her head to break the kiss. Rishi was confused on her actions and moved back breaking the kiss.

Rishi: What happened baby ? Why wouldn’t you kiss me back ?

Aadhi grit her teeth and turned his face to look at the people in the living. Rishi wiped his lips and winked at her before he made his way to the living as if nothing happened. Aadhi couldn’t stand there and scurried to the kitchen and gulped a glass of water to calm her senses.

Aadhi Mv: Idiot Rishu…I will never open the door for you ever..

Meanwhile in the living Rishi got seated opposite to them and cleared his throat. All the three looked at everything except him.

Rishi: How are you all ? I m surprised to see you all here so what is that I m missing ? Did something happen ?

Vani: No….Nothing.. nothing.. we .. we just thought to give a visit.

Rishi: I expected you to hint me about your visit since me and my wife are still in our  honeymoon period. This meeting could have been better still no problem lets get over.

Aadhi placed a glass of water of Rishi to which he glared at her and pulled her to sit beside him ignoring the gaze of his mother.

Raghavan: We are here to invite you to live with us. Initially father wanted you both to live separately to realize the importance of each other. Now that you have realized and got married for the second time, I think its time we get back together.

Rishi: Good, you started with this topic. I had plans on visiting you all next week since me and Aadhi have plans this weekend.

Grandpa: Are you planning for second honeymoon already grandson ?

Rishi: No grandpa, I have decided to construct a home for us .. I mean me and Aadhi, for our future. I have got the plans ready to start with construction. I thought of visiting you to inform the plan.

Raghavan: New home ?

Vani: Aadhi you never spoke a word about this plan when we revealed our wish to you earlier.

Aadhi: Aunty, I thought Rishi would change his plan on hearing your words. I didn’t want to upset you with all the details.

Rishi: Aadhu, hold on let me handle. Mom, I have a lot of dreams and together we are living it in reality so its better how we are now. We shall meet quite often and on special occassions too but I m happy with the life we are living now so lets not disrupt it.

Grandpa: Good Rishi, I m happy for both of you.

Rishi: Thank you grandpa, I will share the location and the date of pooja to start the work.

Raghavan and Vani felt disappointed and realized there would be no use in talking further about living together.

Vani: Did you talk to Manjari ? I know you haven’t and I don’t want to hear the reasons. She did a mistake and do you think disowning her is the right thing ? she had joined her friend’s office to work.

Rishi frowned on the information and stayed numb while Vani continued with her words.

Vani: She lost her baby and now she is left all alone despite having her parents, in-laws and brother. Please talk to her and I think you should get her to work with you.

Rishi: I will talk to her but I also wanted to know, did you all talk to her ? Did you all forgive her ?

There wasn’t any response which gave him the needed answer. He picked the glass of water and gulped it before he looked at his father.

Rishi: Dad, have you ever looked back at your life, the path you have come across ? Do you have any moment with me or Manjari that you could cherish, is there an occassion that would lit up your smile when you think of it ? Is there a moment of us as a family enjoying at a diner or a park, a movie theatre or a vacation ? You are old now and one day I will grow old too and sure I will be in my deathbed.

Aadhi immediately clutched his hand hearing him speak of death. Rishi smiled at her and squeezed her palm while he continued with his father.

Rishi: I don’t want to die having nothing to cherish at my death bed. I don’t want to die in regret that I have no memories with kids, I don’t want to feel guilty that my own children hated me for being a stranger rather than a father. I want to carry memories of my family. If my soul happens to stay back and see what my family goes through in my absence, then I would be happy to see them watching over albums and reminscing the time we spent together, I would be happy to know that they miss me, I will be more than happy to see them shed tears for me unlike the day you, me and Manjari stood without shedding a drop of tear when grandma passed away.

Rishi’s words were a hard blow and Raghavan rose to his feet immediately seething in anger. Vani stood by him whereas grandpa was still seated feeling proud that finally he achieved what he wanted though still Manjari was yet to be handled.

Rishi: Dad, what you feel now is not anger. I just pricked the bubble of your ego and I m sure your guilt would start surfacing. I hope you realize my words. Its better late than never dad. I have seen you as a role model in business but I want to be a role model in every aspect to my children in future. I want them to be proud of me and their mother, my Aadhu.

Raghavan couldn’t stand anymore and walked out followed by Vani. Aadhi tried to stop them but this time grandpa and Rishi together stopped her from doing it. Grandpa pat Rishi on his shoulder and engulfed him in a hug. He then hugged Aadhi before he made his way out of the penthouse.

Once they were gone Rishi wiped his face with his palm and plopped on the couch. Aadhi sat in silence for a while before she felt him lay on the couch with his head on her lap.

Rishi: What are you thinking baby ?

Aadhi: About what you spoke to uncle. Why did you do that or you could have been subtle in your words.

Rishi: Somethings has to be conveyed in the right way even if it is supposed to hurt a little. Lets expect the best out of what I spoke to him today. That was not only for dad but mom too. I hope they will change and we will know that soon.

Aadhi: Today was the first time I cooked for them but couldn’t serve them. They would feel bad on leaving their son’s home in such a state.

Rishi: They got served with something their brain needs now so don’t worry and did you know that Manjari has started working ?

Aadhi: I would have informed you if I had known. How about we visit her tomorrow ?

Rishi: I will talk to Vimal and may be we shall meet for dinner this Saturday.

Rishi turned his face to her tummy and Aadhi felt ticklish when he nuzzled his nose in her abdomen. Only then Aadhi realized she was yet to confront him about the kiss.

Aadhi: Rishu, you pervert, aren’t you ashamed after the stunt you pulled infront of them ? god, wish the earth had swallowed me.

Rishi chuckled at her words which only triggered her so Aadhi pulled his hair to which he started screaming and pleading for mercy. Aadhi let go of his hair and Rishi instantly sat pushing his hair to back.

Rishi: You could have sent me a message about their arrival or you could have placed your palm to cover my lips.

Aadhi: Rishu, they stopped me from calling you, I couldn’t touch my mobile in their presence and didn’t you notice I m still in the same outfit from morning. Why didn’t you think the reason I wasn’t wearing shorts and your shirt ? You are crazy, stupid and pervert.

Rishi: Deed is done and its their fault so why blame me ? They should have thought of our privacy considering that we got married just two weeks ago. Its not like they would have not seen or done anything so what is wrong if I kiss my wife ? I will kiss you anytime, anywhere and who will question me. And I was so eager to taste your lips that I failed to notice your outfit.

Rishi neared her to kiss her but Aadhi ran away from him. Rishi jumped over the couch and started chasing her. Their laughter filled the living as they were running around. Finally Rishi cornered her near the wall and Aadhi pleaded him with her eyes.

Aadhi: Rishu, don’t ..stop right there or I will scream.

Rishu: There is lot more time for you to scream baby so relax, the least we could do now is kiss, touch and cuddle. Let me kiss now and save the touching and cuddling part after having dinner.

He locked her hands to the sides and they started kissing until their lungs screamed for mercy.

Rishi: What did you cook for dinner ?

Aadhi: You are too high on hormones so I m planning to serve you raw food.

Rishi smirked and leaned to her ear and let his lips graze her ear lobes.

Rishi: One day I would be devouring a raw meal that would be my most favourite one forever.

Aadhi: what food is that ?

Aadhi asked him in a low voice and Rishi looked at eyes and pecked the corner of her left eye.

Rishi: You…..

He winked at her and moved away from her but Aadhi stood rooted feeling her legs turn jelly and a knot twisting in her abdomen. She felt her core clench and she couldn’t move from the place.

Rishi watched her state and with a smile he carried her in bridal style to the kitchen.

Rishi: Relax love, lets have the food you cooked. I m very hungry.

He let her stand to wash her hands and they got settled to have dinner. All the while he was teasing her and Aadhi kept pushing him to look away from her. With lof of banters and love they completed the dinner and returned to their room.

They got changed into night dress and instead of the bed Aadhi moved to the balcony and mattress. Rishi sat next to her and covered them with a single comforter. Aadhi snuggled into his chest and they watched the moon.

Aadhi: Rishu, every full moon I used to sit in the balcony and talk to the moon as if I was talking to you. Malini used to tease me and once she said that I should send you a note through a pigeon like people did in olden days. She teased us as king Rishikesh and queen Aadhira. I imagined ourselves as a king and queen and that is the reason I gifted you the portrait on our anniversary.

Rishi pinched her arm and Aadhi hissed in pain and glared at him with a pout. Rishi chuckled on her seeing frowning and pecked her pout quickly.

Rishi: I pinched you because I did the same. I loved talking to you through everything that was around me and moon was my favourite too.

Aadhi smiled at his words and she swayed her body along with his. Rishi heard her snore a little and without disturbing her sleep he carried her back to room and lowered her carefully on the bed. He covered her with the duvet and kissed her forehead.

Aadhi: Rishu….

She mumbled in her sleep and Rishi felt over the moon to feel her love for him even in the sleepy state.