30. Sorry

Ahana

Five days. Huh!!! How can someone be so cold hearted. I mean, I am still stuck in the middle of this research called how to melt my 'husband’s stone heart,' and trust me it’s harder than writing a PhD thesis.

Seriously!!!

For 5 days I've been asking for his forgiveness, trying ways to make him talk to me but this cruel husband won't even talk to me. I mean, I am your wife Mr. Devil. How can you be this heartless?

On day one, I just stayed shut… too scared to say anything. But still, I kept following him around, nagging behind him like a cat that lost its owner. He didn’t even look back at me properly but my determination was strong. I refused to let go.

On day two I made him his favourite kheer followed by pulao, with extra care and dry fruit. And that idiot man ate all of it but of course zipping his lips as if telling thanks or saying the food is good would bring world war three. I swear at that moment I wanted to bang that empty kheer bowl on his head.

On day three I packed lunch for both of us and went to his office thinking at least he would eat lunch with me and do some chit-chat. But what did I see? That idiot had already eaten lunch with his assistant, Arjun. Can you imagine? Arjun. Kutta kahika. He couldn’t eat with his wife but had all the time in the world for his assistant.

Yesterday, I decided to change the plan. Instead of running after him, I ignored him completely. I thought maybe this time he would feel something, maybe he’d wonder why his wife isn’t talking to him.... You know, that UNO reverse moment.

But this man? Uff, he didn’t talk to me either. As if silence has become his best friend. He didn’t even notice that I was ignoring him or maybe he noticed but didn’t care.

Oh God, I’m really missing his voice, his teasing, his anger, even the way he irritates me. I miss it all. And here I am craving to hear even a single word from him, while that kutta doesn’t even care one bit.

"Duggu, kya kre aab mummy!!" I asked looking at him with a pout, meanwhile him showing me a look of "Don’t pull me between your fight, I wanna enjoy my life."

"Betrayer!!" I murmured, glaring at him before leaving from there.

"Now only one… I repeat only one option is left, Aahana" I said to myself while standing in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection.

"And you should give your one thousand percent in that. No excuses. No fear. You know if you do this, he will forgive you. Or maybe… maybe he will give you so many kisses, all the kisses that you’ve missed in these five days." My determined gaze locked with my own eyes in the mirror and I nodded slowly sealing a deal with myself.

Aastik

For the past five days, I’ve been seeing her acting like a child. She’s done everything possible to make me forgive her and honestly, I know she has a reason—something she wants to tell me.

I won’t lie—I want to know why she chose such a dangerous game. But these five days, I’ve also been enjoying her little drama. The way she gives me all her attention, the way she makes these efforts just for me..... it makes my heart skip a beat always. Although it's really hard not to smile at her. Only I know how much effort it takes to control myself, to hide the way her antics make my heart beat faster.

Since today is Sunday, I'm at home but still working on my laptop. It’s been over an hour since I last saw her and I can already guess that she’s planning something. I can feel it in the way the house has gone quiet. Well… I’m curious too. I want to see what she’ll do today, how she’ll try to catch my attention, how she’ll try to make me forgive her once again.

Munni badnaam huyi, darling tere liye

Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re

Out of nowhere a song started playing in a high volume making me jerk my head up from the computer. And then… damn. She entered. In a red net saree, hair flowing wild and a silver waist chain hugging her curves, that tiny til on her waist tempting me like sin itself. She did a little makeup, her face held confidence, it could be seen by anyone with that smirk of hers. Fuck, I am already gone. She mouthed the lyrics and started walking toward me like a warning.

Main zandu balm huyi, darling tere liye

Munni badnaam huyi, darling tere liye

And then she started dancing. Pointing her finger at me, she swayed her waist with the beat, each movement was hot, making it impossible for me to blink. The music seemed to control her body—the sway of her hips, the flick of her wrist, the tilt of her head all perfectly timed with the beats.

Shilpa sa figure Bebo si adaa, Bebo si adaa

Hai mere jhatke mein filmi mazaa re filmi mazaa

Haye tu na jaane mere nakhre pe

Haye tu na jaane mere nakhre pe laakhon rupaiya udaa

Ve main taksaal huyi, darling tere liye

Cinema hall huyi, darling tere liye

She suddenly sat on my lap, catching me completely off guard. Her fingers gripped my hand and guided it to her waist, forcing me to feel her every curve as she continued her item dance right on me. Her back arched, head thrown back as she rolled her body to the beat. And damn, she really did have that Shilpa sa figure.

Munni badnaam huyi, darling tere liye

O munni re, o munni re

Tera gali gali mein charcha re

Hai jama ishq da ishq da parcha re

Hai Jama ishq da ishq da parcha re

O munni re

She leaned in closer to my face, biting her lip slowly before giving me a cheeky peck. My eyes widened like I’d been electrocuted, while hers sparkled with mischief. She jumped off my lap and smirked like she’d just robbed me. Dramatic? Yes. Dangerous? Double yes.

Kaise anaari se paala pada ji paala pada

Ho kaise anaari se paala pada ji paala pada

Bina rupaiye ke aake khada mere peechey pada

Popat na jaane mere peechay woh Saifu

(haye haye maar hi daalogi kya)

Popat na jaane mere peechay Saifu se leke Lambhu khada

She lifted one leg and rested it against my chest, her saree slided upward just enough to reveal her milky white thigh. My hand twitched, wanting to touch it but before I could do that she cupped my face with her palm locking her eyes with mine and mouthed a specific line with a smirk. Wait—was she actually calling me Anaari? Damn this girl.

Item yeh aam huyi, darling tere liye

Munni badnaam huyi, darling tere liye

Hai tujh mein poori botal ka nasha, botal ka nasha

Kar de budaape ko kar de jawan re kar de jawan

Honthon pe gaali teri aankhein dunlaali, haye

Honthon pe gaali teri aankhein dulnaali re de hai jiya

Tu item bomb huyi, darling mere liye

Her voice dropped low, sensual, as she brushed her fingers along her cheek and neck, staring at me with hunger that made my skin burn. Then she turned, giving me a full view of her back as her hips began to roll and twerk to the beat. Holy fuck. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, brushing against her curves with every sway. When she turned back and sang loudly, “Tu item bomb huyi, darling mere liye”, I swear, for a moment, I felt like the one being harassed. My hands instinctively clutched my chest, as if protecting myself from this wild woman in front of me.

Munni badnaam huyi, darling mere liye

Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re

Le zandu balm huyi, darling tere liye

Munni badnaam huyi, darling tere liye

Baat yeh aam huyi, darling tere liye

Be-Hindustan huyi, darling tere liye

She came back to me and sat on my lap again but this time she didn’t let me touch her, nor did she touch me—her smirk already was saying that she's up to something dangerous.... Then, without warning her hand slid inside my shirt, roaming over my chest. "Oyee pagal larki!" I shouted with wide eyes but before I could push her away, she silenced me with a quick peck on my lips.

Amiya se aam huyi, darling mere liye

Le zandu balm huyi, darling mere liye

Seeney mein hole huyi, tere tere tere liye

Aale badnaam huyi haanji haan tere liye

Le sareaam huyi, darling tere liye

Darling tere liye

She slipped off my lap and moved to the other side of the sofa, adjusting her saree slightly higher so she could dance freely. Her hips swung in perfect rhythm, twerks blending with spins, hair flying with every move. My eyes followed helplessly, every sway screaming temptation, every beat daring me to lose control. Funny thing? I couldn’t decide whether to stop her, grab her, or just sit there and thank God that I survived this performance alive.

The song ended, silence drowning the room. Her breathing was fast and I? I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.

Her face was a little flushed, skin glowing with sweat. A few strands of her hair stuck to her cheek, scattered in a way that made her look even more beautiful.

“So? Still mad?” she asked, walking towards me. But I was too lost to form words. This bold side of her… God, please, let this side belong only to me. I love this side of hers.

My silence made a flicker of disappointment cross her face, but she quickly masked it with a faint smile. Leaning closer, her voice brushed against me, “Don’t worry, I won’t be sad… I’ll try again… and again… and again… until the moment you decide to give up, Aastik ji.”

Her face was inches from mine, and she pressed forward, pushing me back onto the sofa, laying herself over me. Her weight was light, almost fragile but her eyes carried something heavy—sadness. It hurts my heart to see her like this.

Her body draped lightly over me for a second until I moved. With one arm around her waist, I shifted us to the side. The sofa suddenly seemed wide enough for two.

Now we were lying together, side by side, our faces close. Her pair of eyes were locked in mine trying to search for something. My body covered hers partly, not trapping but shielding.

That night, when I saw her in that kind of dangerous place, I couldn’t stop myself from getting angry. And the anger only fueled more when I found out she had sneaked out of the house with Doggesh and no bodyguards.

Maybe it was good that the Midnight Mafia turned out to be me… but what if it had been someone else? What if they had tried to hurt her?

An illegal racing club—such a place is nothing less than a pit of vipers. Trusting someone there is like befriending a venomous snake that can bite you at any second. The men around? Their eyes were bloodshot, their bodies reeking of alcohol, staggering as they drowned themselves deeper into bottles. Most of them were high, lost in clouds of drugs, their senses barely holding them together.

And she… she was there. Standing among being a bold lady. What if something had happened to her? What if one of those men, intoxicated and out of control, had laid a hand on her? The mere thought of it makes me go senseless even now, as if my chest is being crushed from inside.

"Why did you go there, Sweetheart... that also without bodyguards. Have you left your brain at home, hmm? You know how dangerous that place was? You realise it right? What was the need? What if... What if!" My voice trembled, words choking in my throat. Just the thought of some animal hidden behind human flesh staring at her with those filthy eyes made my fists curl tight.

I guess she noticed my anger, noticed the storm in my eyes, the thoughts raging inside me. So she quickly held my collar.... tugging me closer to her chest as her soft fingers slid behind my back as she clung to me like I was the only safe place left. "please..." she whispered, her voice trembled as a single tear broke free and traced down her cheek.

"Please... I'm sorry..." her voice came out in a faint whisper, shaky and broken. "I know I did wrong and your anger is justified...I just… I just wanted to drive...and that’s all...I wasn’t thinking about danger, I... knowingly turned a blind eye and that was my mistake."

Her body trembled against mine as if all her strength had drained away. She buried her face deep into my chest as though if she pressed hard enough she could disappear into me.

Hot tears spilled from her eyes, soaking through the fabric of my shirt. I could feel her sobs trembling through her shoulders, her fingers gripping the back of my shirt tighter, unknowingly digging her nails into me as if releasing all the fear, guilt, and helplessness she had been holding inside.

My hand slid to the back of her head, pulling her closer as I gently patted her hair. "Shh… shhh… don’t cry, bachaa. You know why I got angry, right? If you wanted to drive, you could’ve told me. I swear I would’ve built you an entire racing track just to see you smile. But places like that… they’re too devilish for an angel like you, jaan."

"I said na… I’m sorry… I won’t do it again… maaf kijiye na mujhe… ainda se na jhooth bolungi, aur na… na hi apni life risk mein dalungi…" her muffled voice came from where her face was buried in my chest.

("I already said… I’m sorry… I won’t do it again… please forgive me… from now on I won’t lie and I also… also won’t put my life at risk anymore…")

"Achaa... Thik hai... Meri jaan shant ho jwo... Please... Aap aise rote rahogi to mujhe v to bura lagega na" I whispered, pulling her closer into me wrapping her in a hug so tight like if I don't she will vanish in the air.

("Okay… fine… my love, calm down… please… if you keep crying like this I’ll feel hurt too, won’t I?")

"Rone dijiye na... Pata hai mene aapko kitna miss Kiya inn 5 dino mey... Apki awaz sunne k lia tarap gyi thii mey, bechan si ho rhii thii mey... Apke karib... Apke baho mey aane k lia jaise mey mare hi jaa rhii thii" she confessed between sobs.

(Let me cry... Do you know how much I missed you in these 5 days... I was craving to hear your voice, I was so restless... As if I was dying just to be close to you, to be in your arms.)

My heart clenched. "I'm sorry jaan... Mujhe itna strict nhi hona chaiye tha" I murmured, placing a soft peck on her forehead.

("I'm sorry, love... I shouldn’t have been that strict.")

In that moment I didn’t even know what I was feeling. Her tears stabbed me like sharp knives but her words… her words stitched the same wounds back together.

"Aastik ji" she called after a long silence.

"Hmm" I hummed... her sobs were now slowing into tiny hiccups.

She looked up at me with those watery eyes, her mascara smudged and cheeks streaked, yet somehow looking even more delicate. "aapka sweetheart bolna hi mey aadat nhi laga paii or aap abhi... Abhi wo.. abhi... Aap... Wo q bula Rhee hai... Mey na seriously handle nhi kr skti"

("I haven't even got used to you calling me sweetheart and now… now you… now… why are you calling me that… I seriously can’t handle it.")

"And yeah... I forgive you like you did.. now again we are on good terms right, hubby?" She said with a toothy grin.

Don't know why but that 'hubby' word felt sweeter than sugar itself. A sudden rush of heat shot straight up my neck, spreading to my ears until they were burning like someone had lit a fire under them. Damn it, I could actually feel the blush crawling over my skin. Embarrassed, I quickly turned my face to the other side and quickly covered it with my palm.

"Huh? Aap... Aap blush kr Rhee hai? Bolia na..." she said quickly getting up, trying to peek at my face.

(Huh? Are you blushing? Tell me please...)

"Sweetheart, stop it... Otherwise you'll regret your actions" I warned her trying to push her away.

Ahana

"Let me regret but looking at your flushed face will be worth every single thing" I murmured trying my best to pry his hand away from his face.

But this man… he is really nothing less than a Devil. A normal human could never possess such unfathomable strength.

I clasped his arm with both my hands, pulling with all the force I could gather and yet I failed miserably.

And then out of nowhere, he caught my wrist finally moving his hand from his face. Of course, after hiding it for so long, the blush had already disappeared but in its place his eyes shimmered with a wicked gleam.

"Choriye na" I urged trying to pull my back but his grip tightened enough for me to not get off easily and not get pain.

(Leave me na)

"Chor ne ke liye pakda hota to kab ka chhod diya hota" he replied, pressing a soft lingering kiss against my wrist, tugging me closer to his chest.

(If I had caught you just to let you go, I would have let you go long ago)

"Kya… kya hua" I whispered looking a little down. My throat was suddenly parched for reason I couldn’t understand.

(What... What happened?)

"It's been five days, sweetheart… five fucking days since I held you, touched you, felt your heartbeat, breathed in your scent." He paused, swallowing hard as his eyes locked with mine. His Adam’s apple moved slightly before he spoke again, "Will you… will you hug me, jaan?"

I heard his every word but the moment that endearment left his lips, ‘jaan’ my heart skipped a beat. It was just a single word, yet the way he whispered it felt more special, more warm. And just like that a thousand butterflies erupted inside my stomach. And then again his voice came as a plea... As a request, for me to hug him.

Sometimes I truly fail to understand this man. He is far too good to ever be called as bad or dangerous. Or maybe… maybe he doesn’t even belong to this world. He feels like he has stepped out from the pages of some fictional book. Because every gesture, every whisper laced with affection, makes him different—unreal. I have never seen a man like him in real life. Never. But yes, I have always read about them. And somehow fate blessed me to marry a man who feels like fiction himself.

I gazed at him and just by looking at him my heart swelled with warmth. I want to love this man endlessly but the fear of losing him chains me. Till today, every time I expected love I received only betrayal or neglect. But this time… this time when I had stopped expecting, I found something greater than love... I found someone who treats me like his queen. Who sees me as me. Who cares for me. Who worries for me.

He doesn’t love me and I know that. He told me himself on the very first day I stepped into this house. And honestly I'm okay with that. Because right now, the way everything is unfolding feels perfect. I pray it never shatters. I don’t want to lose these moments, these breaths I share with the only person who is dearer to me than my own life.

Because in the past, I never cared whether I lived or died. But this man… this man has given meaning to my existence. And I want to honour his wish... I want to thank him by living my best, by cherishing him with all that I am.

I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around him tightly. He quickly buried his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling a deep breath taking in my scent. A faint shiver ran through me when he murmured a single word against my skin, "Peace."

My smile grew wider at that word and right now... In this moment for me the world outside ceased to exist. Nothing else mattered, no one mattered. Only what matters is this… his arms holding me tightly and safely.