It has been five days since that incident.
I was sitting on the bed still; the wires still connected to my arm.
A sigh escaped my lips. What has suddenly happened? why was he caring all of sudden? Or is this a new plan strategy. He was sitting on the armchair, working on his laptop. So calm, so professional. People say that actions matter more than words. However, his actions and words, both confuse me.
Suddenly the door opened.
Ayesha entered with a tray of meal and Naina... well usual chatter of what was happening around the mansion.
"Poha for you. I heard it was your favourite?" Ayesha smiled warmly at me and placed the tray aside. "Let it cool down. I brought curd also; you have a habit of that na."
"Your mother called on your phone, but you were asleep bhabhi." Naina said with her usual charming butterfly energy. "So, Ayesha bhabhi picked up the phone and told her that you are unwell."
A flicker of fear crossed my face. H-how can they attend my family's phone? What if Ayesha told this all to her? what if they are ashamed of having a daughter like me? what if they know that I am the wife of Vivaan? will they abandon me? oh God I never did something that points finger at me and...
"I managed it all nicely." Ayesha said while placing the tray of poha in her lap. "Naina, I forgot to bring the orange juice. Would you please..."
Before Ayesha could complete Naina went out of the room with a concerned nod.
"See, I didn't know what to say. 20 missed calls on your phone, continuous ringing. Vivaan didn't pick up the call because he didn't knew what to say." Ayesha leaned and whispered good naturedly. "He is allergic to being social."
A deep deliberate coughing sound filled the room. He was still typing on his laptop, but perhaps his sixth sense got activated.
"Anyways, I said that I am your roommate. We both recently decided to share a place and then told your family that due to overworking you were unwell."
I sighed in relief. Thank God... what would I have explained them if the truth was out?
"It was surprising that your mother was too nonchalant at this." Ayesha chuckled. "Perhaps you don't have good terms with your family."
My eyes widened slightly at her comment. Indeed, she has good observation.
I nodded.
"It isn't even called a family at first place."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"For these conversations, Vivaan is a pro player."
He coughed again from the corner.
"What? if your throat is unwell, have tea or a herbal drink. Your coughs are disturbing the conversation, Vivaan."
"No, I am fine." He spoke finally but didn't look up from the laptop.
"Good, so don't disturb." Ayesha eyed at him and focused back on me.
"Let her rest." He spoke again.
"Without meals? how long do you want to 'Let her rest' without meals?"
"Fine. Just don't exhaust her. I need to talk to her later."
Ayesha sighed and rubbed her forehead, mumbling something under her breath.
"Mail her what you want to say."
And for the first time today, since I woke up, this man looked up from his laptop.
"You are insane."
"You are more insane. Five days you had with her and couldn't converse?"
Ayesha passed him a sarcastic smile.
"I don't have honeymoon blabbers to talk." He said without wasting any moment. Literally sharp.
Sharp enough to... falter Ayesha's smile.
"Then talk to your family about that. Your cousin is a mental patient, and I wonder what is going to happen during honeymoon. Ever since I married him my life is a hell."
"B-Book two rooms then. Separate?" I said in a low tone.
And that immediate moment, I regretted.
Both of the heads turned towards me slowly, almost surprised.
"J-just a suggestion." I said trying to hide from the embarrassment in my little space.
"You are too cute. But don't worry, I will manage. Don't take stress." Ayesha patted my head lightly.
Vivaan cleared his throat and kept his laptop aside before coming next to me on the bed. Silently, he placed the tray on his lap and mixed the poha and curd before forwarding a spoonful to my mouth.
I could notice Ayesha looking at both of us dumbfounded.
"She can have it herself na?" Ayesha intervened.
The door opened and Naina entered with two serves of orange juice. "One for me, one for bhab..." Her words trailed off seeing the scene unfolding in front of her.
A frustrated sigh left his mouth.
"Can everyone stop over-reacting? She's still on IV."
"But she's in the condition to eat." Ayesha said again.
"She was also in the condition to function well when I left her." Vivaan said and looked at me sharply. I opened my mouth and had the spoon of poha finally.
"I wonder if you made such efforts for the bookish scho..."
"Shut up." Vivaan stopped Ayesha suddenly, but cutting her words in mid.
"Who?" Naina asked innocently.
"Nothing. Its elders talk. You should leave now." Vivaan said to Naina and continued feeding the meal to me.
"I am also an adult." Naina protested.
"Than me?" Vivaan looked at her calmly.
She shook her head, hanging it low like a baby who just got scolded for stealing chocolates from a Ferrero Rocher box.
Fine. This may be normal for them, but I only had that chocolate only thrice in life.
"Fine. Going." Naina said and took her orange juice.
"But I'll talk to bhabhi soon...today only... you all will see." She looked up with teary eyes and wiped her tears as if a child enough to make my heart clench.
"Suniye..." I spoke suddenly. "It's okay na. Let her stay here. As for adults talk, we can do it later."
Naina's eyes lit up, a warm smile on her face.
She sat next to me and hugged me by my side. "You are the best bhabhi."
"Don't touch her." Vivaan intervened again.
Now every head turned to him.
"I-I mean let me feed her the meal then...occupy her."
A small smile crept my face. His voice cracked. Mr.Coldie's voice cracked for the first time. It feels like a victory, even though I wasn't in the battle even.
Or maybe... I was the reason of the battle.
The thought crossed my mind faster than anything.
'I am the reason of the battle.'
What if everything that is happening around... is because of me? I am the reason of the battle?
"Bhabhi, you know..." Naina spoke suddenly bringing me out of the bulletin of my thoughts.
"Badi dadi misses you a lot. I mean, you used to cook and mover around the corridors and all na, Badi dadi wanted to meet you, but everyday doing up and down on stairs can be exhausting for her. Dadi has finally returned from her spiritual trip and was soo shocked to know that Vivaan bhaiya is married...."
She continued her yapping.
And her brother? well, he continued feeding me, taking some bites himself too between times, listening to Naina's telltale.
And Ayesha was correcting Naina wherever she fumbled with the words.
Indeed, Vivaan never scolds Naina, for her innocence and infectious energy still shined without any embarrassment.
"Anyone else than us four... don't care enough." Ayesha spoke suddenly. "I don't want to hurt you, but I'll be honest here. Along good moments come bad memories too. Rushaan's family is happy for your condition, others? well let's say they feel this is neutral, as if it is the most common thing in the household."
"I-It's okay." My tone was polite. Not sharp, not too soft. Just me.
"I understand. Ofcourse, this is life. Positive and negative both happen together. But I am glad that Badi dadi, Naina, You and...my husband are there for me."
A light red tint appeared on my cheeks. My eyes lowered instinctively.
"Dadi too. And Mirhaan bhaiya too. Plus, Swana also" Naina corrected. "Five people."
"Seven is my lucky number." I smiled softly at her. "But who'd Swana?"
"Her golden retriever." Vivaan whispered in my ear before sitting back in his position again.
"Ohhh..." Naina nodded thoughtfully. "Seven is your lucky number bhabhi? You believe in lucky numbers?"
I chuckled softly at her childlike curiosity.
"No, but it makes things better."
"How?" She asked again.
"Sometimes when you are confused about things. Or something horrible happens, you can convince yourself that this wasn't my lucky day so that's why that happened. As for luck? I believe in that but I trust more on mindset and efforts, rather than just numbers."
"So logically." Naina took out her phone and searched her lucky number on that. "My birthday is not on my lucky number day."
My eyes widened slightly before I laughed lightly. This girl is so... sharp witted innocently.
"We'll ask your lucky number to astrologist." Vivaan teased Naina good naturedly.
"I will come later, when I have knowledge of this lucky number things." Naina said engrossed in her phone and stood up. Phew, diverted finally.
"Bhaiya." She looked up at him. "What is your lucky number?"
"Seven."
"But it's of bhabhi na!"
"It's mine."
"Since when?" She asked him, folding her arms on her chest.
"Today onwards. I don't waste time on such thoughts, now go and do your research."
Naina squinted her eyes for a moment. Shrugged gently and left from there.
"I'll also go then." Ayesha stood up, and took the empty utensils from the room. "It's time for Badi dadi's medicines."
"Ayesha." Vivaan said suddenly.
She turned, looked at him.
"If something happens at honeymoon, you are uncomfortable with, call me right away. I know my cousin is a mental patient."
Ayesha smiled lightly and nodded before leaving from there.
Finally, we were both alone.
"My husband huh?" He spoke suddenly, smirking lightly at me.
"What?"
"Badi dadi, Naina, Ayesha... and my husband. That's what you said."
I paused lightly.
"I... did. But you are my husband logically."
A knowing smile, small enough appeared on his lips.
"Indeed I am." He nodded. "I am glad you are out of those syllables."
"Which syllables?"
"Nothing." He stood up, stretching himself lightly. "Look away wife."
That's when I realised. I was...staring at him. He was unbuttoning first button of his shirt for relaxing...
And I...
Shamelessly...
UGHHHHHH.
I looked away suddenly, flustered, and mentally slapping myself.
"It's okay. You have that right." He spoke.
"What?" I looked at him suddenly. Oh no...he's shirtless.
He looked away, as if hiding his smirk, and pointed at his upper body.
"This right."
I...
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HIM...
HE'S A MENTAL PATIENT INSTEAD OF RUSHAAN NOW!!!
But then, as smile appeared on my lips. A mischievous one.
"Oh..yes, I do." I looked at him. "Have that right."
His eyes widened lightly.
Great, that's how you should feel Mr.Vivaan. You think only you can make me flustered? I am a better player!
"And I appreciate the view. Manly chests, toned body, abs, shaved, cleaned thoroughly and all..."
His eyes widened more before he scratched the back of his neck and muttered something under his breath.
"I rate you seven out of ten."
His head suddenly shot towards me.
"Seven? Only seven?" He asked in his usual cold tone but now tinged with a hint of surprise. "Where did I lose three points? Chest? biceps? veins? Navel?."
"Hey stop." I said suddenly with a chuckle and threw his shirt on him. "Seven is my lucky number." I smiled at him teasingly and laid down on the bed.
"And you shouldn't undress in front of me." I continued. "If you do it next time, I'll click a picture and leak it."
He smirked lightly and wore another shirt.
"Then you should hide your waist too."
"I wear a saree, Vivaan." I protested good naturedly.
"I know. But you don't have to wear it everyday when you find it uncomfortable to walk in that. Western wear is allowed in this family."
He said calmly.
For a moment I was at loss of words.
Since I arrived here, I have been wearing a saree...but no one asked me to. Perhaps I was trying too hard, when it could have been all easy.
And worse?
He noticed...
He noticed my discomfort.
And well... his way of expressing his point was good too..
I hid a smile looking away.
Seven out of ten...
really?...
Well, out of ratings...