Unchahi Arzoo - Finale

Hello guys, I think this has been one of the most emotional stories of mine and I can't believe that this one has come to bite the dust.

I have devoted a lot for this chapter and I can't explain how much this one means for me!

Had it not been for your all love then I wouldn't have been able to continue this wonderful journey. To think of it that I had even discontinued it in between.

All of you, even silent readers please do give a thought as to what did you think about it.

It means a lot to me!

Also this update is specially dedicated to Eeshu. Loads of love to you girl!

With that, this is me signing off from the story.

Hope you like the unique epilogue.

With love,

You know who ;)

P.S : A lot of you might think towards the end why such an importance to the other characters, but over here I wanted to put forth that Arjun and Sakshi are just beyond the usual happy ever after. The way their life continues and moreover, the different shades of their character apart from lovers. :)




Previous Part (1 - 8)

I CHAPTER 9 & 10 I

Sakshi had reeled in joy for the first few minutes to get to know she had a baby growing inside her. She remembered tugging on Arjun’s collars and stammering to confirm the news while he had pressed a soft kiss to her forehead assuring the same.

Ayesha had, with supreme intelligence, excused herself from the cabin and headed out to schedule her appointments.

However, as hours passed by joy had turned into confusion, anxiety and vulnerability.

Sonia was away in her trip to Casablanca and Sakshi found herself sitting on at the edge of his private pool, her feet dipped in warm water. She sensed Arjun rolling up his pants and dipping his feet in the pool, sitting right next to her.

“I am so happy…” He muttered. His formal shirt had been tucked out and his hair was gel free. He looked so young. Sakshi’s fingers itched to caress his stubbled jaw, her heart growing fonder for the man next to her.

His smile grew wider as he realised Sakshi was staring at him, he turned towards her and brushed his nose against hers. Her hair flipped in the wind and her nose and her lips parted gently at his intimate touch.

“What?” He whispered, smiling as she blushed a beetroot red and linked her palm with his. “I am tired…” She said softly and sighed as he pulled her a bit closer. Her eyes closed as she felt cocooned in his embrace, she took in his scent and warmth. So male, so protective, so loving.

She gently ran her fingers over his cotton shirt, loving the way his taut muscles leaped at her touch. As she fiddled with a button she heard his murmur which sounded like thank you.

She knew that Arjun hadn’t been the one to shower numerous praises or speak in lengthy monologues and honestly, she needed neither.

She blurred into a dream where she, Arjun and their child would be playing around with them. She leaned closer to Arjun and rubbed her nose against his earlobe, earning a gentle squeeze on her supple waist.

In love with the man who meant everything to her. Sakshi was thrilled at the thought of being his best friend, confidante, mother of his child and w…

Arjun’s eyes opened as he sensed a loss of her soothing touches, he pulled away and stared at her confused face. He frowned as the few moments of tranquility was replaced by the confusion her face had a few moments ago.

“What is it Sakshi?” Arjun asked while Sakshi hesitantly chewed her bottom lip.

“Where do we go from here?” Her lips wobbled as she spoke out. Arjun, still in the bliss of the moment, replied “To the most beautiful nine months of our life…”

He reached to touch his lips on hers but found her fingers stopping him. She gently caressed his lips with the fleshy part of her thumb and smiled and his eyes closed and uttered a soft moan.

“Then?”

He opened his eyes reluctantly and kissed her fingers “Then we bring this baby into the world.”

“Then?”

“Then we will look after our baby…” “How?” Sakshi interrupted him. “We’ll give our baby the be…”

Sakshi shook her head and cupped his bristly jaw “How will we look after our baby Arjun?”

“You will stay with me forever, if you wish…” Sakshi got away from his lap and stared at him. She squared her shoulders and repeated his words “What do you mean by if I wish?”

Arjun tugged her wrist “Sakshi, this isn’t…”

“It is necessary, we just have a few months in hand. And please explain the if I wish part!” She placed her hands on her hips. Arjun got up and dried his feet with a towel, doing the same with hers too.

“In your life you must have your own choice. I want you, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you want me too. It has been my decision that you become the mother of my baby, but now I feel that you must live your life. The baby will be with you and you need to explore, live, learn and love. You…”

“Arjun, after all we had you are saying this!” Sakshi stared at him, avoiding his gestures to come closer.

“Yes Sakshi but…” “No buts, you mean after I have been with you the way I am, I should fall in love with another person?” Sakshi glared, her anger increasing with each word.

Arjun took a deep breath and tried to make her understand “Sakshi, you are still innocent. Try to understand. I am not asking you to shoo away!”

She blinked back her tears and nodded vigorously “Oh yes, of course. I have to understand for I am a child right? I mean how could you think that I can live without you now!”

“Sakshi, that’s all I needed to hear.” Arjun tried to coax her but she pried her hands away from his. “Wah! So now we’re going to stay together because I have said so. And pray tell me how will I live with you?”

Arjun calmed her down “By staying in this house and living the way we have been living.”

Sakshi turned aside “I am not joking, what shall I live as?”

This was truly what Arjun hadn’t planned, for now.

“As my wife.” Arjun said softly and kissed her forehead “But you’re still married to Sonia.” Sakshi whimpered softly as his lips settled on her cheek.

“Hmm, I know. We’re going to divorce in a few month’s time and I can then marry you.” Arjun smiled softly but Sakshi’s face turned pale.

“Arjun this sounds so bad… so bad. It sounds like you’re going to divorce your wife because you have impregnated your maid. Oh dear, if only this was further planned.” Sakshi hyperventilated and walked to and fro the pool while Arjun frowned.

“It was planned Sakshi. The night didn’t happen.” Arjun said. Sakshi, in spite of being angry, turned a violent red and said “Yes, but she knew that I would give your baby and leave your life. She has zero idea that I am stepping into her shoes. This thing  was never planned Arjun!” Sakshi shrieked and held her head.

“Sonia isn’t going to leave me. Your reputation will be down the drain. Our baby will be maligned… oh dear…” Sakshi broke into tears and cried hard while the wheels in Arjun’s mind began to run.

He called someone “I need your help.”

~*~

Sameer leaned on the door of Ayesha’s cabin as she fiddled with her pens and papers. “Population I tell you! Sam, in my life I have never seen so many pregnant women! And dealing with their mood swings is just not the only scare, it’s with complications and things. People don’t take this seriously at all! Oh dear do you know… ”

Sameer nodded his head time to time and he could have sworn by the Holy Bible that he didn’t even hear a single word from her bee stung mouth. It was quite a treat to find her all riled up and venting out her emotions and frustrations to him.

In the mean time, Sameer would have his own sweet time in fantasizing and dreaming about Ayesha, with a soft music in the background. She did need to put out her feelings and nobody was better than her boyfriend.

“Ah… I don’t know how do I get so stressful about something I love. But anyways, thank you for coming over.” Ayesha smiled and closed her eyes as Sameer embraced her.

“Don’t Ashu.” He was a genius, he would pick up on the last line and make her feel that he had heard everything.

Ayesha on the other hand was perfectly aware that Sameer hadn’t even hear a word of her monologue. And she liked it, for he allowed her to vent out with every expletive possible and he didn’t allow that to affect either of them on a personal level.

Noticing his “intent” listening skills, Ayesha added “You know I was thinking of buying a thong and visiting that Rohan. Probably we’ll chat over a few tequilas.”

Sameer still nodded his head and he froze; “What!” He almost shouted in the parking lot of the hospital while Ayesha innocently nodded.

“How dare you wear a thong!” Sameer looked like someone told him to murder Ayesha and then eat her meat.

Ayesha giggled and feigned surprise “Oh, I always wear one.” She winked and laughed at his stupefied face “But I thought you are going to have a problem with me visiting Rohan and having tequilas with him and mentioning the lace negligee thong along with his name.”

“Yy… yeah those were the follow up questions! And can you stop describing you thong with lace and negligee!” Sameer snapped and Ayesha leaned against his car for support as she couldn’t stop  laughing at his face.

“Making  fun out of me not very long Miss. Kapoor?” Sameer growled and Ayesha nodded her head in agreement.

“I don’t exactly bother about Mohan..” “Rohan.” Ayesha cleared.

“Jo bhi… but I am pretty much interested in the information about that lingerie… why not take a preview.” Sameer scratched his jaw while Ayesha blushed severely.

“Shut up! Acha baba I am sorry if you felt bad.”

“Playing safe now Ayesha, sorry you have to face the punishment.” Sameer laughed while Ayesha pushed his chest and smiled “Chor do hume, raakshas!”

Sameer raised an eyebrow and laughed wickedly “Aise kaise chor doon?”

“Is able nari ke saath kya zulm kar rahe ho!” Ayesha feigned helplessness and sat inside the car, to her shock Sameer followed her and cornered her.

“Zulm toh maine ab tak kiya hi nahi… ab hatto… I want to see what styles and colours…”

“Hawww!” Ayesha giggled and tried to mock attack Sameer tickled her. Just as she rested on the seat and he found himself in a comfortable position did he get a call.

“What the.” “Sam, pick it up!” Ayesha forbid him of the expletive, her face still a bright red from the recent happenings!

Ayesha watched as the smile slipped away from Sameer’s face and he sat up, his eyebrows furrowing.

“I am coming over.” Were his words.

~*~

“I feel horrible!” Sakshi scrubbed herself clean and slipped into her pyjamas. She felt terrible about everything. She didn’t want Arjun close, she didn’t want to do this anymore.

She broke someone’s house! How could she do this?

“SAKSHI!” Arjun found it imperative to yell and caught her tiny frame in his arms.

Avoiding Sameer and Ayesha’s questioning glances and excused himself from the room.

Sakshi kept on sobbing, much to his irritation and he kept her on his bed with a plop. She sniffed a little as he gently wiped her tears and gave her water.

“Sakshi, Sonia and I never had a married life.” Arjun coaxed her gently. “She’s always been with other men and after a few months, I gave up on everything. No matter how successful I was on the professional front, I was equally lost and tired in my personal front. In my wildest dreams I never thought that I would meet you and feel so many emotions. You made me feel like I shouldn’t give up. I shouldn’t mope about a failed marriage, instead I should break out of it and find myself. It’s not that I didn’t try to make it work, but she had laid her plans clear enough.” Arjun cupped her face and drew a deep breath.

Sakshi seemed to have collected herself “But Arjun, did you and Sonia ever… or did you with someone.”

Arjun gulped at this question, it would be difficult for her to understand. How could someone at her tender age understand the complexities of life.

“We did, during the initial days of our marriage.” He spoke and to his disappointment saw confusion gloat in those eyes.

“How could you not have loved her and she not love you! This is such an intimate thing Arjun! A… a part of you was in her during that time… how could it fade away!” Sakshi held her head and muttered “What if the same happens here?”

“It won’t.” Arjun promised and looked at her confused face.

“And during your marriage, after the Sonia phase… did you?” Sakshi’s words trailed as his face blanched.

“Sakshi, I am a man. I don’t want to hide anything and at one point, yes, I was so angry one day that I did have a one night stand. As vague and horrible it might seem it was just lust and a crave to feel cherished. I did have, maybe not great dreams but hope for our wedding.” Arjun confessed.

“What if she asks forgiveness?” Sakshi asked. Arjun knew better than to avoid this conversation “She won’t and if she would, I will forgive her but that doesn’t mean she’s in my life in any way.”

Sakshi nodded and closed her eyes, confusion being her primary emotion.

She tossed a little and put up a brave smile. She needed to act grown up. Here he was answering all her doubts yet she couldn’t alleviate her insecurities.

Grow up Sakshi.

She looked at him and smiled as a sign of her being happy. Little did she know that Arjun read through everything.

She was twenty, she might have faced the world but there was still a part of her vulnerable and scared.

Arjun tugged on Sakshi and once again held her in his arms, he never pondered to think how could everything go wrong. The fate or destiny wasn’t his business.

To make things right, yeah… that was his business.

“Sakshi, I need to tell you something.” Arjun smiled at Sakshi’s face. “I never made love before.”

Sakshi frowned and sat up “But you told me you…”

“I had sex, that has nothing to do with making love.” He said softly.

“But how can I understand the difference?” She voiced out. He took another deep breath and pulled her closer “I felt alive, I felt response and I felt magic. I don’t know how to say but I never got the…”

He hesitated, how would he make Sakshi understand that he had never got the climax and release before. That the intensity of pleasure tore his soul and that he actually felt what was pinnacle of sexual excitement.

He had been brought up as a reserved child, and like what people to attribute to females - he never found the pleasure in the act unless it was with the one he loved.

It took him everything to actually explain what he felt for her and he never understood that during that time Sakshi’s mood swings calmed and her curtain of misplaced beliefs fell from her eyes.

They weren’t married, they didn’t need to confess that they loved each other, yet there was this unexplainable bond between the two which couldn’t pry them apart.

What was it?

Sakshi found herself at a loss of words as she realised till what extent Arjun was going to make her understand. He chose words because he knew they were just as important as actions.

Arjun froze as suddenly Sakshi hurled herself into his chest and whispered “I love you.”

~*~

Betrayed, that’s what Sonia felt.

A bitter sweep of betrayal swept through her. Hypocrite at its best.

She hadn’t done anything in her marriage to keep them together yet she knew, somewhere down the line that emotional fool would stick on. Giving her a chance, as always.

She blinked her eyes and started at the divorce papers in her hand which had been delivered to her this morning.

Taking Arjun for granted had been the worst decision in her life. She had bathed in the luxury of having a homely husband and  seeking her adventure elsewhere.

Yet now as the doors of her marriage closed on her face did she not want to leave it. Suddenly the pain of her being left alone resounded like a slap on her face.

Her boyfriends never touted her as the marriage material and had mocked her every now and then. She remembered ditching her first lover in seek of Arjun.

But he wasn’t the one to play.

One day Sonu, one day will be such in your life that you won’t have anything to claim as your own. You will bathe in cash and gold but not even a soul will be there to give you love.

There will be several to feed your lust but not even one of them will consider you worthy of their love.

That day Sonu, you would wish as to why you left me.

His bitter words screamed in his ears. Sonia had promised his mother of their marriage. He had broken his first night with her. She knew that undertaking a loan he had bought their first house and decorated it on her whims and facies.

He treated her like a princess and gave into her demands.

He had left his mother to be with her, and she rewarded him by fawning over an acquaintance of his.

Arjun Rawte looked like a true enigma in the club, refuting every girl on fore and keeping to himself.

There wasn’t anybody who hadn’t known the Rawte’s.

And she knew just how to impress him.

At night while her boyfriend lay in her arms she only thought of how to get hold of him. She was obsessed with him and died for him. She wailed to her father and threatened suicide if he didn’t get his darling the man she wanted.

Yet the man who loved her from the bottom of his heart had no inkling that his beloved was already eons away from him.

One night, when during their session she uttered Arjun’s name instead of his was he horrified.

And she didn’t cover up. She was looking for an excuse to break up and bless the lord that it came. He shouted, pleaded, begged, cried, screamed and did everything to get her back to him. But she threw him like a piece of dirt.

Sonia laughed bitterly as karma played back on her.

She was so secure on Arjun not doing anything in fear of maligning his oh so sweet Sakshi’s name that she had missed out that love made a person stronger than what he was.

Don’t mistake sympathy for such a woman.

Her regret and bitterness lay for a few moments.

Then she called up the Vikrant Shah, editor of Mumbai Daily and spoke thickly “I have an information. Arjun is having an affair with a maid servant. She probably has her impregnated as of now.”

All that one heard was a hysterical laugh which released from her mouth

~*~

A few days had passed since she confessed to Arjun of her love.

Life had begun to take a new meaning.

She told her siblings that she was getting engaged to Arjun. They didn’t know of her pregnancy and all had agreed that the kids didn’t need to know.

Sakshi had got hold of her degree, allowing Arjun to help her out in whichever manner possible.

As Sakshi found herself stroking her still flat tummy in front of the mirror. She looked at the woman in the reflection.

Earlier she saw a naive girl who thought her world was bitter and would do anything to make ends meet. Her face would reflect the neglect on herself and the mistrust she placed on all people.

Now she saw experience and happiness reflecting in her eyes. She didn’t mistrust anybody and everybody, she had learnt how to differentiate between people. She  had learnt where to place her trust.

She wasn’t the girl who hid her feelings anymore. She was the one who vocalised every thought which came to her mind.

She loved being the foolish student who clarified her doubt than the foolish one who remained silent.

She didn’t care as to how did the people judge her anymore.

Somehow within the twisted tales of life Sakshi found herself to be content and complete.

Sakshi cringed at  the guilt on Arjun’s face when she confessed, after the elation of course.

She had caught on words which sounded ‘young’. Was Arjun feeling guilty that she was too young for all of this?

But didn’t she know what she was walking into? Earlier she felt agony and anxiety but now she felt satisfied and at peace. Was maturity gained by age or experience? Arjun hadn’t replied to her but she felt far from being disappointed when she realised that he was trying to cook up something, something to make her feel special.

What she had read earlier this morning coupled with the fact that Sunaina Kapoor had been the second cousin of Arjun made her see things much more clearly.

Now that she had a child in her stomach she was forced to think whether it’s worth crying at every matter and depreciating her health further.

It made her see what’s important and what’s not.

Stroking the baby Arjun in her stomach she walked outside to find Sameer and Ayesha looking visibly hassled.

“What’s wrong?” Sakshi asked as each tried to cover for the other. She would have commented something when she noticed that Sameer’s face held an acknowledgement and Ayesha’s held disgust.

Not for each other, not for Sakshi nor Arjun.

Sameer blinked at Sakshi while she nodded.

She bent down to take the paper when Arjun snatched it from her.

“Arjun, give it to me.” Sakshi snapped while Arjun guided her to the kitchen “Sakshi, have you had your vitamin supplement juice? What about the protein breakfast? Did you…”

“What are you hiding?” Sakshi asked while Arjun lied “Nothing.”

“Do you want an Oscar for your acting?” Sakshi whispered while Arjun collected himself.

“Sakshi it’s nothing.”

“Or is it about us on the newspaper?” Arjun paled as Sakshi threw the question on him “Baby you don’t have to wor…”

“Why not? I am not perturbed Arjun.” Sakshi flung her hand aside while he looked at her, strangely.

“I cried for the first half an hour when I saw this on my mobile. Smartphone, remember?” Sakshi mocked him “But then I realised that this was bound to be dirty and bound to happen. I should stop wailing like a child which I did a few days back. I learnt from you. It isn’t bad to cry if someone like you clears every question and solves the matter. That is what I exactly did. You, Sameer and Ayesha are feeling terrible about this news and I bet even angry - but this won’t solve it. If she’s playing dirty so will we, with the exception that we won’t fall down to her level.” Sakshi said.

“You should just continue to go ahead with the divorce and during the trial you can confess of Sonia’s affairs. You haven’t consummated with her for more than two.. three years? Sonia’s extensive travelling and a little snooping will reveal her string of affairs. So it is completely possible that after the filing of divorce you marry me. You didn’t leave Sonia, she left you.The court will be sympathetic towards you and to me since I am the mother of your child. I do need you the most. This will go dirty but I can assure you that you wouldn’t have to brace the entire brunt of what’s happening. And there’s no need to be generous on her either.” Sakshi found herself staring at an open mouthed Arjun who just placed his hand on her shoulders.

“What has happened to you?”

“You?” Sakshi smiled sheepishly, after an hour of self talk and assessing and re-assessing of their memories along with reading a few case files did Sakshi reach to this conclusion.

Sameer and Ayesha released a visible sigh while Arjun put his hand in his head.

“Also, I checked it with Sameer and he said it’s perfect. We have to go the dirty way…” “I love you…” Arjun muttered while Sakshi stared at him.

“I thought…” “I know, I wanted to surprise you with balloons and candles with roses to state my love but I think I am being utterly stupid and irrational to not confess my love for a woman like you.” Arjun spoke.

Till now he loved and respected Sakshi.

Today, he admired her.

The shine in her eyes and blush on her cheeks made him want to forget everything going across the world.

“You have taught me to see things differently. And you did not teach them verbally, but your behaviour was the biggest example in my life.” Sakshi smiled at him and hugged him gently.

He whispered a thank you to Sameer who nodded his head in acceptance.

~*~

Three months later

I caressed the little swell of a four month pregnant Sakshi. It was such a contrast to see her delicate body but the soft protruding abdomen.

It still seemed like a miracle to me, everyday, since the third month of her pregnancy, I explored the changing body of my wife’s and I declared that I was the luckiest man in this planet.

I would have admonished myself earlier to having harboured such forbidden desires for a woman who was almost a decade junior than I. I never told anybody how terrible I felt to have found the sudden desires pump my blood when I saw Sakshi for the first time.

Such a shame that was!

Of course it had been on her insistence that I should forget hesitating to touch her if I thought my harshness or wild streak would mar her fragile body.

Oh did I forget to add that my then three month hormonal wife had been yelling at me for not being “powerful” and “wild” enough on the silly pretext of me hurting her.

That what I gave you all now was a much filtered version of her monologue.

“AS IF YOU HAVEN’T RAMMED INTO ME BEFORE AND NOW I AM DAMN CRAZY AND DYING FOR YOU BUT NO! YOU SEEM TO BE THOSE HINDI SERIAL WIVES WHO AVOID SEX IN THE NAME OF COOKING OR DECORATING THE HOUSE! ARE YOU EVEN A MAN!”

The precise words.

Sameer laughed

Ayesha chuckled

Sakshi glared

I stared.

I had abstained from any sort of intimacy to not create any sort of harm to the baby and in broad daylight, in front of his cousin and best friend I was being “ordered” to be with my wife and “questioned” about my manliness.

Jesus! What happened to the thing of me wanting to being a gentle homely husband?

My cat-woman apparently had other plans.

She often brought out the child in me! And I felt years wear off whenever I was with her. Passion had another meaning altogether.

Though secretly I love embarrassing her  with the way she provoked me!

We had come miles away from where we had started.

With a lawyer such as Sameer, he cleverly threw evidence of Sonia’s infidelity long before Sakshi had even been a part of my life.

The public and investors hadn’t take the ugly split between Sonia and I too well but, with time I had managed to get through my investors and board of directors with a heart to heart talk.

It was a strange thing when I put out my emotions and included all of them as my family, slightly adding as to how Sonia, caused loss more than profit.

It was Sakshi’s idea to make everyone feel as if they are an integral part of the company.

With that, I did gain the trust back.

With me being the father of Sakshi’s child and Sameer having made me look like a sad and emotionally abused husband (a very shocked moment for me but that did its work) it’s no wonder whom the court favoured.

Sonia didn’t receive any share of the company as the board of directors didn’t trust her.

However, I have learnt from my petite wife to actually be more direct in life. Some people didn’t even deserve diplomacy.

Life in these three months weren’t an easy cake, but that didn’t make me stop from taking situations lightly and knowing that whatever was happening was for the best.

As Sakshi shifted her sleep, innocently unaware of how she flung her arms here and there around me… the sight itself warmed my heart.

The little red in her the parting of her forehead stirred possessiveness over me and I was quite content with the brooding possessive lover boy title from Ayesha.

Well I finally got this woman in my life, so what if I decided to invest my entire time with her?

When I recount my own story to myself, it sounds so brilliant and like a happily ever after.

That’s not because everything is perfect.

It’s because I made everything sound perfect, it’s because her love and spurt of energy are the things to remember and recall, more than her tears.

Things are always perfect, if they are just handled in the right manner.

I may be thirty and she just a nave twenty, but I realised that I have a lot to learn from her than from anyone else out here.

Had we not stemmed from our forbidden desires, the will of my fathers, the failed IVF and finally the split with my ex wife, would Sakshi and I be where we are?

I haven’t forgotten to thank my father any day.

It’s so strange that his one wish on a piece of paper changed my life completely.

Even though the cycle with my partner was odd. I first found the mother of my child, following which we made love, only to drift away to come back together and celebrate the incoming of our baby.

Then did she confess and I waited, and she indirectly proposed and then I confessed!

What followed was a sweet simple beach wedding.

And our “first” night, oh dear her blushes on my teases resulted me to land up on the couch and her on the bed.

Didn’t she know I had feet?

To walk and carry myself to bed?

Then came our not very innocent honeymoon, or babymoon?

I looked forward to her morning sickness as much as to the intimacy we shared at night.

Nothing ever mattered to me.

In fact after that we…

Wait, how much further shall I talk or shall you think about what happened to everyone else?

Sameer and Ayesha are looking forward to marriage after three years.

My lovely brothers and sisters in law moved in with us. Each and everyone of them gave me a side of myself I never knew.

Misha gave me the experience of fatherhood even before I carried my little newborn in my arms. It would be a pretty common scene of I carrying Misha on my shoulders and walking around the house while she would still be sleeping with the toothbrush in her mouth.

Raj gave me the experience of becoming a mentor. I often felt deeply responsible of guiding him into the early steps of becoming a teenager. He was quiet and resembled me pretty often. We would be found sitting on large bean bags on a patio, where we would be discussing talks about how life is and settling studies.

Anjali brought out the jealous brother in me. Damn! Would I let anybody stare at my sister, especially the class twelve boys. If not for Anjali’s insistent assurance that she would be perfect, I think I would have stationed a bodyguard right outside her class. She was my pampered angel and I would always shadow her wherever I went with her.

And Rahul, I never knew that I could find a best friend in a man so younger. Sameer and I had come across several situations where we were trying various methods to coax our respective partners when Mr. Tiny Rahul would actually give us the “bro” talk and settle the issues. Boy was he a smooth talker!

We had faced enough media speculation in our lives but Sakshi and I chose to just overlook everything. Life was too small to ponder over these. I had my fears of passing away leaving Sakshi alone, but then again she had asked me to forget about the future and live our lives to the fullest.

She sounds like a cliched heroine doesn’t she? Well, aren’t those heroines based on real human beings?

A sharp sting in my neck causes me to stop my thoughts and stare at my wife who has an impish look in her eyes. I rub my neck gently as it turned red. How does she manage to feign innocence while biting me! Even when…

Erm…

I think some details are best left to us.

For I don’t think our story can ever come to an end, and I do have an important work to do.

As her smile brings sunshine to my world, I once again become the young besotted Arjun. 

- fini -

I EPILOGUE I

- Sakshi -

I am amazed at what my husband has made me. He still makes my heart throb and my knees go weak when he passes the soft smile, his bedroom eyes promising much more.

Can I ever get enough of loving my husband?

I was broken when my parents succumbed to their illnesses, owing to the years they struggled. However they day before they died, they had recognized me and were so happy on the birth of Aakash.

Doctors said it was a quick death, no pain and no lingered process.

Intimately Arjun and I were… well how can I say what I want to without blushing? We always went up in flames, his rapidly growing age did nothing to him and he made me as shameless as him.

The questioning eyes? Wait, I am not shameless… did Arjun tell that to you as well! Let him come home then I will tell him. I was pregnant and hormonal and hence I uttered those words!

Arjun and I have always defied the age and number when it came to our relationship.

He never asked me to join his company after I completed my degree majoring in Physics, instead he pretty much loved my decision to become an astrophysicist. In the free time I would often go through his designs, loving how he would depend on my opinion.

As years passed with me joining the TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Arjun was the proudest amongst all when he was called as Sakshi Rawte’s husband. And I hopelessly fell in love with him, again.

We had a lovely son, people are thoroughly confused as Aakash was a perfect combination of him and I. He had the intelligent eyes and wavy hair of his father, while his skin was a notch fairer. He had grown to be so handsome and responsible. He was fickle at times, least bothered but then more than Arjun, Rahul had steered Aakash into the right path and allowed him to grow.

I walked through the party my son had organized. “Still searching for papa’s bedroom eyes?” Aakash teased me while I blushed and slapped his chest.

“Hey! You can’t slap me mamma.” “Thoda toh tameez seekh le!” I chided him but then embraced him as he wished me. My son was my buddy, the man I would share everything with. If anyone said if I missed a daughter then they were so wrong. My son was just as sensitive to me as he was protective.

In fact I was shocked when during my cycles my son would be running around to get hot bags. He would not shy from crying and he was the pillar of my strength.

A gift from the skies - Aakash.

As the party went on with everyone’s respective partners… oh that reminds me.

Rahul fell in love with his best friend after he married her. I had no idea he was this thick headed to actually marry Kaziya because he wanted to marry her and would be with her all the time only to say I love you six months after their wedding!

However, the comedy starts when Raj actually found a Simran! That is still a matter of great comedy. Poor things thought that it might have been romantic but now it’s impossible for anyone to not burst into laughter before calling them.

Anjali settled with a British. Poor Daniel Williams had to face third level interrogation from Raj, Rahul and lastly from Arjun. I am still surprised how he didn’t pee in his pants during the questioning. However his straight forward attitude and anger when Arjun purposely asked him an off question regarding Anjali had won Arjun’s heart.

Though till now Daniel prefers to call Arjun as 'sir'! Daniel often comes to me to hide from Arjun after irking him!

Misha, was still tete a tete with her boss, Siddhart Khanna whose ego made her blast at him. The way she focuses on how much she hates him yet feels for him when he’s in trouble and her disgust on those who call him “Siddie love” makes me question her feelings for him. However, today as his eyes search for Mishu in the crowd, tugging her away from the crowd and making her stand next to him only on the pretext of her taking down notes on him yet the glint in his eyes… the possessiveness is similar to when Arjun finds me talking with his male friend.

“What’s happening there…” Arjun’s face is grim as in a corner Siddhart has held her wrist and challenges Misha to something, and to our surprise he pecks her cheek and walks away.

“The thing doesn’t happen here!” I pouted and my husband’s face suddenly relaxes. “Ala Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham?”

I pat his shoulder to assure him that Misha and Siddhart will find their own way.

Likewise were Ayesha and Sasha (their daughter) reassuring Sameer and Ayan (their son) that Mishu and Siddhart will find their way.

Hours after our party Arjun entered into our bedroom, to only find a note to come to the study.

He was definitely surprised to find his study decorated with candles.

“So nothing happens he...” Arjun’s husky question stopped and I grinned cheekily, holding on to a crumbled piece of paper.

“What are you wearing?” He chuckled as I shrugged and leaned against the table seductively, wearing a maid’s uniform.

“Uniform sir.” I answered, pushing back the rim of my glasses.

He raised an eyebrow and I couldn’t help but get weak when his eyes swept over. It had been long since we had diminished all the barriers and he had helped me in making me his equal.

But today, I couldn’t help but feel like a little girl with butterflies in my stomach.

I blush and look down when I realise that this was the same feeling I had when I saw him for the first time… that means he checked me out?

“Yes I did, so what’s in your hand.” Arjun smiles at me and praise the lord when he starts taking a few calculated steps towards me.

He gently trails his finger down my rest and stares at my white shirt in annoyance “Too many buttons.”

“That wasn’t the dialogue Arjun!” I chide him while he laughed “That was my intention!”

“You lusty man with terrible…”

“Oh! And who yelled at me for abstaining…”

“Shut up!” I glared.

“Make me!” He challenged.

“I love you.” I whispered while he pecked my forehead, we laughed as he took in my appearance and tugged my bun lose.

“Something tells me I would have loved this version of our first meet.” He smiled while I pushed him away.

Now ladies, that’s all I’ll tell you for I can’t muster enough courage to state that we had never looked at our study the same way again.

Oh… did I tell you that we were celebrating our twentieth anniversary?

I Picture Epilogue I

- Arjun -

On the morning after our wedding anniversary I was thoroughly confused as my wife got out of our bed and returned with a huge album.

“What?” I asked.

“Shush.” She admonished, for the first time I was deviated from romancing her as she switched through several pictures.

Our wedding - Caribbean Islands

“You didn’t even tell me you’re taking me to marry there! I thought we’re directly babymooning!” Sakshi chuckled and I shook my head, laughing.

My eyes rested on how beautiful she looked.

The bride

After this Sakshi and I fell into comfortable silence.

The Groom

The First Night

“Arjun! Don’t tell me that you had taken… kamre ka picture!” She shrieked, well with Sakshi around how could we ever fall into a comfortable silence?

Even though she was forty, her radiance and touch sent me in a daze.

I don’t know what she calls my eyes, something like broom… but whenever I give her that look after which she mutters broom eyes… she falls quiet and turns pink.

“I kind of liked the outdoor thing.” I whispered and there, at this point of the time when I want to speak to her does she fall all silent and coy.

“You know we’ve been doing this over 6000 tim…” “Besharam!  You’re forty nine, do you know that?” Sakshi blushed further while I feigned thought.

“So?”

“Arjun! Look at the next picture na!” She pouted while I gave into her.

Honey/Baby-moon pictures.

“Ah! Arjun not this… agar Aakash ne dekhliya toh! Change the picture now… and wait…” Sakshi gently removed all the “other” pictures and kept them in our bedside table drawer.

She noticed that I was almost holding back my laughter on her pink face.

“Grr!” She growled.

Pregnancy Blues

“My favourite time.” I smiled as Sakshi cuddled closer to me.

Aakash <3

“He’s just gone on you.” Sakshi poked my chest when I shook my head in disagreement.

I looked up at my wife, still amazed as to how she gave birth to our life. I pressed a kiss near her heart, showing my acknowledgement while she brushed her tears.

“Awww….” Sakshi droned while I laughed. I was supposed to have put Aakash to sleep but then Aakash lay sprawled on my chest and I had long fallen asleep.

“I can’t believe our baby became so big!” Sakshi laughed as we got Aakash posing for us.

“He and Mishu are inseparable! Learn from him, he also knows about Siddhart but he is playing cool!” Sakshi nudged a now angry me.

“Kuch bhi!” I bit her nose “Touche!” She grumbled.

“He's undoubtedly the most handsome boy in the world.” Sakshi clapped like a happy child and I nodded my head.

Any day I would love to accept defeat from my son. That’s how fathers are!

“He still poses! Aku should have been a model ya actor. Faltu main businessman ban gaya. In business barely is anyone…” “Ahem!” I give my wife a very pointed look and she bursts into peals of laughter.

Fantastic Four!

Rahul

“Arjun.. haha… it’s not fair! Yeh Rahul ka pehla picture nahi hona chahiye!” Sakshi laughed. “I do have a better one, but tell me tumhara bhai urf mera saala kabhi hasta kyun nahi hai?” I asked.

“Look who’s talking.” Sakshi raised an eyebrow.

“He does laugh Arjun, but only when there is Kaziya.” She smiled and true to her words I found him smiling next to his wife.

Raj

“Actually even the Anands are pretty handsome! Look at my bhai!” Sakshi glowed in maternal love while I was, as always, surprised by how deep her relations ran for each sibling.

I felt happy that he had found his… Simran, literally.

“Arjun, remember when Raj was so hung over that he didn’t realise that he was blabbering about Simran and Simran came into the room phir kya hua!” Sakshi laughed and switched on her phone.

I couldn’t help but laughing as Sakshi showed me the clip. The perfect comic character - Raj and the unfortunately intelligent wife - Simran!

Anjali

“I can’t believe that she’s grown up! She was so…” I always had a soft spot for my girls. And Anjali being the crazy frisky Anjali to becoming the silent charming Anjali as she grew up.

“Is there any necessary to keep Daniel’s picture!” I grumbled. “Arjun! Pati hai uska! You’re jealous of him that’s why you hate him right?” Sakshi squinted her eyes and I rolled mine.

Well, that was the truth. He had Anji swooning on him… but then his situation was no less.

“Call them the swooning couple, each keeps on swooning for the other!” I laughed while Sakshi slapped my chest playfully.

“But he is a good man.” Sakshi said and I agreed with her.

Misha

“Firecracker eh!” Sakshi laughed while I laughed along with her. Misha was anything but as calm as her siblings. Chalti phirti time bomb!

“This one deserves videos!” Sakshi handed me her phone and I scrolled through them.

“Haha, I wonder if anyone is immune to her charms!” I laughed while Sakshi had this sudden wise smile on her face “True, no one can resist her charm.”

I turned my head sharply towards her and found a sly smile hovering on her lips “Care to explain.”

“Mishu has become old enough to find her partner.” She said cautiously “It can’t be that arrogant boss of…” My face paled as Sakshi nodded in excitement.

“Okay I know you’re not thrilled with him thanks to Mishu eternally disregarding him. But let me show you something, phir pata chalega that it’s not just him.” Sakshi squared her shoulders.

“No way, Mishu can never ever respond or reciprocate to him!” “Lagi shart!” I snapped at her while she put her hand out. “What does the winner get?” “Anything…” Sakshi smiled and I squinted my eyes.

“Show.” I put out and to my horror I realised my wife has been snooping behind them “I can’t leave my youngest one loitering in the woods. So.. I… umm, but I am not influencing either of them in anything! It’s their choice and they should live it.” She pointed out.

Another reason as to why I love her.

“See that look on their faces.” Sakshi said while I stared on the screen.

“Sakshi they both are freaked out of each other!” I put it and she gave me an -oh-just-rubbish- glare.

“See this one! Coy gazes on both sides!” She exclaimed.

“They are feelings awkward Sakshi.” I pointed out. “Is  it because Siddhart is your protege hence you don’t like him that much!” She poked my ribs while I stared at her crossly.

“And why is Mishu on this craze for Indian clothes?” I asked “He likes it.” Sakshi shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah right…” “Trust me here you will find that dazed look again!”

“Sakshi love, this is known as a confused face.” I stated while she grind her teeth “Tum mard ko pyaar samaj hi nahi aata!”

“Really!” I inched towards her while she slapped my arm “Not that but I am talking about this!”

I stared, he was STARING at my baby Mish! How dare he! “See, I told you he’s interested and so is she.”

I threw that idea right outside my head “Sakshi, Mishu baccha is not even interested and this Siddhart is just appreciating her. NOTHING serious.”

“Aage dekho!” She winked

“HOW COULD… SAKSHI YOU KNEW…” “Arjun calm down! You’ll give me heart attack! Mish is twenty four so she will experience this!” She put forth while I was on a mission to kill Siddhart.

“He is baiting her!” My protective instincts came out while Sakshi held my hand. “Trust me, you will realise that they do feel a lot for each other…”

“Sakshi that is not… not love. That bedroom look in his eyes!” I gnashed my teeth while Sakshi placed her hand on my chest “Babu, you really have to let Mish go! And how do you know that look?”

“Oh come on every time I know I have that look when I want to do something with you!” I blurt out while Sakshi turned a bright pink.

Bedroom, eyes, pink face.

So she called my eyes as bedroom eyes.

- Sakshi -

I blushed pink as my husband questioned me on the bedroom eyes. Our focus was supposed to me Mish’s future but somehow or the other he always gets stuffs other way round.

I knew there’s chemistry between Mish and Siddhart, however I would just hold her hand till I am sure she’s sure of it.

I won’t let her drown either, but then Arjun needs to step away for Mish to get out of the pampered zone and face the reality.

“So my bedroom eyes?” “Yeah because I feel sleepy when I look at them.”

I have given the lamest answer for any forty year old in this planet.

“Arjun, now see this and promise me you won’t jump out of the bed to murder Siddhart.” I warned him as his eyes got glued to the screen, as if this was the final examinations.

“Nn…” He stammered and his eyes bulged out. “You recorded this from our party.” He whispered and I gave a guilty smile.

I mean Mish and Siddhart will thank me years down the line for this.

“He is BAITING HER.” Arjun glared at me while I sighed. “Really, watch these.”

“That’s friendly concern Sakshi.” Arjun crossed his arms across his chest.

“I see, and this one?” I asked

“That’s… friendly infatuation.” He raised his chin in victory. “Mish is innocent and is clueless about..”

“Mish is innocent? Really…” I laughed and showed him the next video… no wonder he got shocked

“She tried to kiss him and you had to call her at the right moment.” I rolled my eyes.

“See, this means she isn’t sure of it!” My husband reasoned while I slapped my head. And in the next, for the first time in my life did I see my husband staring at the phone, and not even sparing me of a look despite what my state was.

“Now?” I asked while Arjun gulped.

“But it’s not right Sakshi! Such feelings are forbidden and perhaps unwanted. One doesn’t really understand them and they are young. I see love and passion but what about trust? Without that they would be perished the first day a storm hits their life. Neither even acknowledge their feeling. What about…” I placed my fingers on his lips and smiled.

“We aren’t going to leave her alone Arjun. Trust, admiration, respect will develop with time Arjun. All I am asking you is to take one step back and let them explore. Let her feet touch the ground Arjun. I am what I am and you are what you are because we have seen life and we had none to depend on it. Our family will suffer more if they don’t learn to grow independently. Baat yeh nahi hai ki hum kya chahte hai ya nahi, baat yeh hai ki kya zaroorat hai ya nahi.” I held his hand as his face showed understanding.

“Hmm… that’s true. I didn’t want us to have the first night the way it happened… but then we needed it to.” He muttered but I could see the obvious disappointment on his face.

I gently climbed towards him and settled on his lap, cupping his bristly jaw I said “That’s true, par jab koi cheez zaruri ho jaye - tab humein dekhna chahiye ki usme chahat aur arzoo hai ya nahi.” “You need to see it Arjun if it is necessary but it is equally important to asses if it has your want as well.” I understood that he had caught a hang of my words.

“Sakshi…” He called and I looked at him “Agar kisiko arzoo unchahi ho… jaise ki Mish aur Siddhart…”

I knew that he wasn’t just talking about them; “Or you mean us.” I asked and he nodded, his fingers caressing our cheek.

“Koi arzoo unchahi nahi hoti hai Arjun. It’s just the barriers which we create. We need to see if it’s a healthy desire or not. And if the barriers are just propriety or society, then damn the person who condemns his desire.” I smiled and brushed my nose against his.

He sighed in contentment and looked at me “I told them, our four and Aakash about us. How we came into being and what was the entire matter.” He said.

“And.” I asked, tensed “They were proud of you, of us.” He smiled.

Tears threatened to fall as Arjun had alleviated my last fear.

“Hey, didn’t you say that no desire is unwanted if the barrier is society or propriety.” “They aren’t the society Arjun.” I whispered while he hugged me.

“I know, but you see… some things are easier to say and difficult to do.”

“True.” I smiled against his heart.

He seemed to be thinking something when he threaded his fingers through my hair. “Like as I was saying, it is very easy to say making love but the process…”

“ARJUN!” I admonished him while Arjun laughed out loud. I tried to crawl out of the bed but he was too fast.

I let caution to the winds as I giggled and allowed him to come close to me, I turned aside to see what was tickling me to find that he had gifted me the most precious thing I could ever see.

A bunch of wild lilacs.