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"Ghar ki badi bahu pehli baar ghar aayi hai… aarti nahi utarenge aap log?"
(The eldest daughter-in-law has come home for the first time… won’t you do her aarti?)
Aastik's voice was chilly cold, enough to make even ice shiver.
His mother blinked, coming out from the shock, and plastered a shaky smile on her face. Her hands trembled as she took a step forward with a quivering voice she spoke, "Is... is this a dream? Aastik bachaa.... My son..., you.. you came? Finally you came... I knew one day you would come back to your mother again."
But Aastik's eyes remained blank. He repeated himself again with double sharpness, "Aarti ka thali kaha hai Ma? Meri biwi pehli baar ghar aayi hai."
(Where is the aarti plate, Ma? My wife has come home for the first time.)
His hand was still tangled with Ahana's, gripping tighter now as if grounding himself. Ahana could feel the stiffness in his arm, the tension pulsing beneath his calm face.
His mother looked at her and her face twisted with disgust.
"Aastik what are you saying? This girl? Your wife? Never... Look at Ishani, we chose Ishani for you. We already fixed your engagement date. We were planning to tell you when we saw the news... Son, I know you don't love this girl, she must have used tricks—"
"ENOUGH!" Aastik shouted, making everyone flinch from their place.
"Aap logo ki himmat kaise hui meri biwi ke baare mein aise baat karne ki... Aap log agar mere ghar wale nahi hote na toh zubaan kaat deta aap sab ki... Ek baat yaad rakhna, biwi hai ye meri. Aaj ke baad kisine bhi inse unchi awaaz mein baat karne ki koshish ki na... toh anjaam bohot bura hoga. Uski aankho mein agar ek bhi aansu aaya aur uska wajah aap log hue toh dekh lena... us din ye Malhotra Mansion aag se bhasm ho jayega... aur uski guarantee main khud, Aastik Malhotra, deta hoon."
(How dare you all speak like that about my wife… If you weren’t my family, I swear I would’ve cut your tongues right out. Remember one thing — she is my wife. From this moment on, if anyone even tries to raise their voice at her… the consequences will be very, very bad. And if I ever see even a single tear in her eyes because of any of you… mark my words… that day this Malhotra Mansion will burn to ashes.
And I, Aastik Malhotra, personally guarantee that.)
Each word was pointed, everyone was shocked by Aastik's sudden announcement or maybe threat to his own family.
Ahana looked at Aastik with her wide eyes filled with tears and unknowingly a small smile came across her face.
Ahana
He is fighting with his parents for me? Taking a stand for me?
This was the second time he had stood up for me, and just like the other day, I smiled again, my heart fluttering at his actions.
How can he be so perfect? How can he do all this for me, whose brother... betrayed him?
I wanted to thank him, to hug him, but I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t cross those boundaries, for the sake of our lives.
I was lost in my whirlpool of thoughts when that girl, Ishani, suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
"Aastik... Please don’t be mad at uncle and aunty... You know na... They did everything for you... This girl, Ahana... She’s not suitable for you. She can’t fit beside you... Kaha tum aur kaha woh... Dono ke beech zameen aasman ka farq hai, Aastik... Try to understand... DIVORCE—"
The moment the word divorce escaped Ishani’s lips, a gunshot echoed sharply through the hall, followed by a piercing, painful scream.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
With terrified gaze I looked at him, hoping he didn’t do what I was thinking but no, I was right… He shot her hand.
Blood was pooling out from her palm, dripping onto the floor, her face twisted in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Whyyyyy… Whyyyyy did you do ittt," Ishani screamed, her voice breaking as she clutched her bleeding hand, trembling all over.
"Because I know what are the words you used for my wife when you went to my home… Don’t ever think of setting foot near her, near me nor my house or else the next time it will be your head" he barked.
Then he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of there without looking back.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ishani fell on the ground, writhing in pain. His mother and father were rushing towards her, helping her to stop the blood. But he didn’t care, he didn’t even spare them a single glance, just kept dragging me to the car, with his tight and unrelenting grip.
I just kept looking at him all the time he dragged me but my mind, my heart both didn’t feel even a bit scared of him. ‘Unhone ye sab kuch mere liye kiya… sirf ek naam ki biwi ke liye…’ this thought was roaming in my mind restlessly.
(He did all of this for me… for a wife who’s just a wife by name…)
He made me sit in the car and settled himself in the driving seat. Hi anger was still visible on his face, nose flaring in anger, jaw still clenched so tight it looked like stone.
With a little confidence I spoke, "Y..you...why did you shoot her… what if she complains to the police… what if—"
But before I could say more, he jumped up from his seat and pinned me against the backrest, placing one knee on his seat and the other beside my legs, both his hands on either side of my head, hovering his body over mine.
I blinked twice with wide eyes processing the stunt he pulled and for a second I forgot to breathe, maybe in shock.
"Breathe."
"Huh?"
"I said breathe!" he said, voice deep voice and that’s when I realised this person who just made me forget to inhale air is the one asking me to breathe.
I started taking small shallow breaths again but did he move?
NO.
“Who am I?” he asked.
I looked at him, confused.
“Aastik ji,” I replied softly.
"To you, sweetheart, I’m asking what relation I have with you," he said leaning closer to my ear, intentionally brushing his lips against my skin, causing goosebumps all over my body.
"P… pati… Pati hai aap mere," I stammered, my face turned red at his actions, as I lowered my lashes.
(H.. Husband... You're my husband)
"So remember this… until my death… you’re Aastik Malhotra’s wife. No one will be spared after speaking ill of you. So next time someone disrespects you, I want you to tell them, why you’re Aastik Malhotra’s wife… why are you Ahana Aastik Malhotra."
"Understood?"
I just nodded.
"Words."
"Yes."
"Good," he said, and I was just waiting for him to sit back in his place but he wasn’t moving.
I looked up at him from under my lashes and whispered, "Hatiye na."
(Move na...)
"Kyoon? Abhi to bola tumne pati hoon main tumhara… to fir waise hi tum meri biwi… to main meri biwi ke kitne bhi paas rahoon… usse tumhe kya," he said, an evil smirk playing on his lips.
(Why? You just said I’m your husband… so that means you’re my wife too… then no matter how close I stay to my wife… why should you have a problem with it?)
"Tang mat kariye na," I said with a small smile.
(Don't tease me na)
"Arey… to main nahi karunga to kaun karega… haath na tod doon uska main," he said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.
(Come on… if I won’t do it, then who will… shouldn't I just break that person's hand?)
"Aapko maar-pit ke alawa kuch aata nahi kya?" I asked, genuinely curious.
(Don’t you know anything besides hitting and fighting?)
"Kon bola nahi aata… mauka deke to dekho…" he said, and my eyes widened, understanding the meaning behind his words.
(Who said I don’t know? Just give me a chance and see…)
Seeing my face, he suddenly started laughing, "Haha… sorry sorry… you look so cute that I can’t stop teasing you… haha."
But did I listen to what he was saying?
NO.
Because my eyes and ears were completely lost in his laughter, in his smile. For the first time after marriage, I saw him smiling, laughing.
"Iss smile ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakti hoon… kuch bhi," I thought to myself, smiling softly.
(For this smile, I can do anything… absolutely anything)
Aastik
I just started driving the car, which followed a comfortable silence between us, but I wanted to break the silence, I want to hear her voice, I want to talk to her.... And the hell I'm getting nervous.
Ufff, take a deep breath… now let’s do it. "Ahmmm… Shall we play a song?"
She looked at me, breaking her eyes from the passing outside scenarios and chirped, "ok...fine.. I was also thinking about it."
Her eyes light up with the mention of it, a soft sparkle that wasn’t there before, which brought a small smile on my face which I successfully masked within a second.
"Is there any song in particular you like?" I asked, trying to drag the conversation forward, wanting to keep it going just a little longer. But I guess I hit the wrong nerve, cause her face became a light shade of pale, like she drowned into some old memory... lost in her own thoughts.
"Umm... Leave it... Let's just listen to the first song which comes," I said quickly, trying to divert the topic, and she nodded with a smile.
Her silence is killing me. In these past days, I came to know she's the type of person who doesn’t express her feelings much, keeps things to herself, feels low for some reason, and damn… she’s not confident at all.
I taped on the music radio of the car and played the song, (Teri jhuki Nazar) and this song felt as the perfect explanation of my situation.
Chaahe kuch na kehna
Bhale chup tu rehna
Mujhe hai pata, tere pyar ka
Khamosh chehra, ankhon pe pehra
Khud hai gawaah, tere pyar ka
The moment this song started playing, she looked at me, whereas my eyes were already fixed on her brown eyes. Her eyes were showing so many emotions, like a burst of emotions which is so tough to learn but I can see, she's not hiding it anymore.
I silently parked the car at a side so that I can look at her more clearly, more properly…
So from the next line, I started catching up on the lyrics.
Teri jhuki nazar, teri har ada
Mujhe keh rahi hai ye dastaan
Koi shaqs hai jo ki in dinon
Tere zehan-o-dil pe hai chha gaya
Teri jhuki nazar, teri har ada
Mujhe keh rahi hai ye dastaan.
Our eyes didn’t leave each other, it’s like we want to join each other’s world, but can I? Can I bring this innocent angel into this devil’s… this monster’s world? I don’t want to hurt her, I don’t want to break her… I don’t know what she does to me… is it some kind of black magic or what… but if I ever break her, I will burn this world to fire, and in that fire, I will also burn myself. And in my end moment, I would ask the Lord to bring her to me… so that I can say sorry to her, say that I’m the one who broke you… but is it selfish of me to ask for one more chance?
Teri zulf jab bhi bikhar jati hai
Aye haseen tu haseen aur ho jati hai
Jo kitabon mein padhte rahe aaj tak
Woh pari humko tujh Mein nazar aati hai.
I sang the lyrics, and my hands unknowingly went to her hair locks which were falling over her face, disturbing her from looking into my eyes, becoming a barrier between us… and I gently tucked it behind her ear. The moment she felt my touch, her eyes slowly closed as she leaned into it, resting her face softly against my hand… and then she opened her eyes again. And again, she looked into mine. Honestly, I want to know something. Everyone says my eyes don’t have any emotions, that my eyes are the scariest thing about me so what is she seeing in them right now? What are the emotions? Are there any of it?
Teri hi baahon mein, panaahon mein
Rehna mujhe hardum sada
Teri hi yaadon mein, nigaahon mein
Rehna mujhe har dum sada
Teri hi baahon me, panaahon me
Rehna mujhe hardum sada
Hardum sada...
Is this what I want? I don’t know either. But what I know clearly is ‘she is becoming my weakness,’ which I clearly never wanted, which I never even thought I would have. This is dangerous… for me, and more importantly, for her too.
Chaahe kuch na kehna
Bhale chup tu rehna
Mujhe hai pata tere pyar ka
Khamosh chehra, aankhon pe pehra
Khud hai gawaah, tere pyar ka
Teri jhuki nazar, teri har ada
Mujhe keh rahi hai ye dastaan
Koi shaqs hai jo ki in dinon
Tere zehan-o-dil pe hai chha gaya
Teri jhuki nazar, teri har ada
Mujhe keh rahi hai ye dastaan
Throughout the whole time, we were looking at each other, but what made me glad was noticing one thing. So far, she doesn’t feel uncomfortable with my touch, she doesn’t flinch, and that thing filled my heart with joy.
"Aastik...ji..." she called, and rather than answering her, I stayed silent, just listening to her soft, angelic, sweet voice… which is no less than a melody to me.
"Aastik ji... kaha kho gaye aap?" she said, shaking me gently.
(Aastik ji… where are you lost?)
"Aap mey," I replied unconsciously.
(In you)
She looked at me with her doe eyes and asked again, "Kya bole aap?"
("What did you say?")
But luckily this time, I pulled my soul back from my thoughts and said, "Aap ne bulaya?"
(Did you call me?)
"Oo ha... A-aap kitne achhe gate ho... kisse sikha hai?" she asked excitedly.
(Oo yeah... You sing so good, from whom did you learn?)
I chuckled at her reaction and replied, "Aastik Malhotra is talented in every field. I just know how to sing, no one’s ever taught me."
"Ooo... God gifted hai fir aap," she said with a teasing smile.
"Ya, kind of... wanna check more?" I suggested with a smirk.
"No... its—" but before she could finish, a loud chuuurrnnnn sound came from her stomach.
SILENCE.
She looked down and covered her face with her palms, I bet she had already turned into a strawberry.
"Sweetheart, if you’re hungry, you could’ve said earlier," I said genuinely.
"Nhi... It’s ok... mujhe adat hai."
(No… it’s okay… I’m used to it.)
"What do you mean by adat hai? Bhuki rehne ki adat hai aapko?"
(Are you used to staying hungry?)
"Hmm... kind of," she replied still hiding her face.
I paused for a flicker of second and in the next second I unlocked her seatbelt and with a soft plop made her sit on my thighs. "Didn’t I say? You’re MRS. MALHOTRA now and I won’t keep my biwi hungry"
"Kya khana hai?" I asked her strictly.
(What do you want to eat)
She looked up at me with that signature strawberry face of hers and said softly, "Kuch bhi chalega..."
(Anything is fine)
I knew this girl wouldn’t agree so easily. So I leaned closer, breathing near her neck and whispered, "You sure, sweetheart? Then I guess this is a good opportunity for me."
She looked at me with wide eyes, such an innocent girl is she, can't even hide her emotions.
"Stoppppppppp! I want to eat momos... Momos khana hai... chale kya?"
Without waiting for my answer, she quickly unlocked the door and stepped out, cheeks flushed with that adorable pink tint.
I smiled quietly to myself, a low chuckle escaped my lips. Such a cute baby she is.
She started walking with her short legs, without looking in my direction. Her hair swayed a little as she made her way towards a small, unhygienic stall at the corner.
I held her hand and pulled her back. "Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?"
She looked at me for a while, and replied in a serious tone "Aap dikhne mey to nhi lagte but shayad sachme budhee ho rhee ho."
(You don’t look like it, but maybe you really are getting old.)
Did this girl just call me... B.U.D.H.A?
I looked at her with a forced smile. "Why do you think so?"
"Q ki aap thore bhulakar ho rhee ho, yaad nhi hai kya ki hum momos khane wale thee? Samne dekhia momos ka dukan hai... Chalia na khate hai." She said and started pulling my hands.
(Because you’re getting a little forgetful, don’t you remember we were supposed to eat momos? Look, there’s a momos shop right in front of us… Come on, let’s go eat.)
But I again pulled her back.
"Aab kya?" she said scrunching her nose.
(Now what?)
"Ji nhi biwi, we're not eating from this unhygienic stall or whatever... Look beside that, we're going there," I said slowly turning her head towards a 5-star restaurant right next to it.
"AASTIK ji..." she whispered, so low that if I hadn’t been paying attention, I wouldn’t have even heard her.
"Hmmm"
"Apko agar 5 star, 4 star, 7 star restaurants mey momos khana hai to aap khaiye... mere liye street wale hi thik hai," she said with a smile and for the first time, her smile didn’t ask for approval. It said, ‘shut the fuck up and listen to me’.
(If you want to eat momos at 5-star, 4-star, or even 7-star restaurants, you go ahead... for me, the street ones are just fine.)
"Fine," I said with a sigh, accepting defeat.
We went to the momo stall. Well... it’s the first time for me though.
"Aap tikha lenge ya normal?" she asked, looking at me with those innocent eyes.
(You want spicy or normal?)
"Nhi sweetheart, I don't eat these unhealthy things... you have it, I'll take one from you," I replied casually.
And in an instant, her evil smile returned. That signature devilish one.
Well it's... it's kind of scary.
"Ok," she said sweetly.
"Bhaiya, extra tikhi wala chutney dena… jo special spice tolerance walo ke liye bana hai," she ordered without breaking eye contact with the stall guy.
(Bhaiya, give me extra spicy chutney… the one made specially for those with high spice
tolerance.)
Did she just… did it intentionally?
Does she know I have zero spice tolerance?
No no... she doesn’t. There's no way she knows.
Well, I'll have just one… it won't cause anything. It’s just a tastener.
Right?
________
Well guys that's it for today and momo lovers attendance please 💅🏻
Insta- olly_writess
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