“You know when I fell in the gorge, my mind was occupied with nothing but you! I prayed to God that if my last breaths are approaching, let me die in the arms of my Sunflower.” my words reached her ears and she hummed slowly.
For a second I was not able to decipher why she hummed at it. I talked about dying and I knew she must have slapped me for saying something like this. But instead, she hummed.
“Sunflower?” I called in a low voice.
“Hmm!” Her reply came in a whisper.
I held my head high as I looked at her. Her eyes were almost closed and she was breathing slowly. She had fallen asleep beside me.
I tucked my arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me.
She rested her head softly on my chest, her hands snaked around my torso as she comforted herself in my embrace.
My heart fluttered at the sight of her sleeping in my arms after so long. I was just adoring her sleeping beauty. I was gently caressing her back as she was going into a deep slumber when I heard my mother's voice.
For a second, I was unable to decide what I should do. What if mummy sees us like this?
I couldn't pick her up and made her sleep on the other side of the bed due to my injuries so I called her in a whisper.
“Reya! Uth!”
“Kyu utha raha hai meri bachi ko?” I heard my mother's voice from a distance. I flinched my eyes in embarrassment. I opened my eyes and saw my mother approaching us.
Before she could say anything I started, “Mummy vo..pta nahi kese neend aagyi isko! Kumbhkaran hai bilkul, dekho na ye bhi nahi socha mujhe dikkt hogi! Pagal ladki hai bilkul!”
She chuckled at my words taking a seat beside me. “Ye teri Kumbhkaran piche hafte bhar se nahi soyi hai!” She said looking at her.
My eyes widened at her words. She didn't sleep for a whole week? No…
“I know you'll say she's a sleepyhead, but sach mein, she didn't get any ounce of sleep in this whole week.”
“Why?” My voice came out slowly as I looked at her sleeping in my arms.
“You better ask her. She did her college and postings in the day and in the night she used to sit beside you and make sure you're okay!”
I hummed at her and diverted my gaze back to my Sunflower. “Now that you're okay and with her, she's sleeping soundly.” Mummy stood up and forwarded my medicines to me.
I took my medicines without making much movements so that she won't wake up.
“Let her sleep the way she's sleeping. In your arms. And don't move much! Agar meri bachi ko uthaya to maar khaega! Smjha?” She warned me, keeping the medicines back in the side drawer.
“Jaisa aap kahe Mata shree!” I nodded.
“Chal ab tu bhi soja! I'll make lunch and dinner.” Saying this she left the room closing the door behind.
I gazed back on my Sunflower sleeping peacefully in my arms. I laid back on the bed carefully and pulled her gently towards me.
Pulling the duvet over our bodies, I pecked her forehead and caressed her back slowly.
“You're unbelievable, Sunflower!” I smiled looking at her as she tightened her hold around me. Soon medicines worked inside me as I dozed off.
Vayush and Reya slept in each other's arms for hours. Himani rested for an hour in the living room before indulging herself in the kitchen to prepare dinner for all of them.
She decided to make Reya's favourite dal makhani for dinner and so started preparing the curry accordingly.
She was so happy and proud for her soon to be daughter in law. She kept showing her gratitude towards the god for such a sweet girl they've got.
She was working on the dish when her phone rang. She picked it up while mixing the ingredients in the pan. It was Vayush's father on the other end.
Arpit: Kesa hai ab Vasu?
Himani: Ab better hai kaafi, filhaal to dono bache soo rahe hai!
Arpit: Reya ko neend aagyi finally!
Himani: Vasu ke paas hi soo rahi hai! Or mene bol dia hai aapke bete ko ki meri bachi ko tab tak na uthaye jabtak vo khud na uthe.
Arpit smiled after listening to her words.
Himani: We're so lucky to have her, Aprit!
Arpit: There's no doubt in it, Mani. Sab kuch kitna easily handle kar liya usne! Raunak ji or Ruchi bhabhi are so lucky to have a daughter like her.
Himani: Sach mein. Bahut pyaar karti hai Vasu se or dekho na hamari bhi kitni respect karti hai. Ek din bhi pareshan nahi hone dia hume.
They continued for some more minutes before disconnecting the call as Himani had to prepare the remaining food.
She gave medicine to Vayu in the evening and smiled at Reya's sleeping figure.
She knew Reya hadn't rested even a bit in all these days, so she asked her to take proper rest as it could harm her health.
Himani got back into the kitchen to do final preparation for the dinner while Vayush was laying down on the bed beside Reya.
My eyes squeezed as I pushed my face into the pillow. But the pillow didn't feel the way any fabric feels. Rather a manly cologne reached my nostril making me open my eyes in confusion.
As I accommodated light into my eyes, I saw I was laying in Vayu's arms. And that was not a pillow. It was Vayu's neck where I crooked my face into.
I slightly moved up to see if he was awake and suddenly I felt his hold tightening.
“Good morning, Sunflower!” His husky voice said.
I smiled at him as I hugged him back. But my eyes widened when I realised the reality. I fell asleep? Shit.
“What's the time?” I asked him.
“7.30 in the evening, Sunflower.” His answer dipped in sweetness.
Evening? What the fuck!
“What! Did I sleep the whole day? Vayu why didn't you wake me up? What about your medicines? And what if I might have pressed any of your injuries?” I bombarded all these questions at him in a go.
Before he could reply anything, I heard a feminine voice.
“Mene mana kiya tha use, tumhe uthane ko!” My head turned in the direction. Vayu's mother was standing near the door and started taking slow steps towards me.
I looked back at Vayu who shrugged his shoulders with a grin.
Asshole!
“And Dr. Sharma, I gave his medicines on time!” Aunty replied, taking a seat beside me.
She forwarded the cup of tea which she must have brought for me. “Ye lo! Chai pio!”
“Maa but..”
“Kya but? Hafte bhar se soyi nahi ho! So gayi din bhar to kya ho gaya? Tumhe bhi rest chahiye na.” She said in a rude tone and I gulped.
I shifted my gaze at Vayu who was already looking at me. His stare was making me hide myself under the duvet.
“Chalo chai pilo, mene tumhari favourite dal makhani banai hai!” She smiled at me and patted my forehead.
“Thanks, Mummy! Bahut din ho gaye kuch acha khae!” Vayu said to her without looking at me.
“Beta ji! Dal makhani sirf Reya ke lie! Tumhare liye khichdi ban rahi hai!” Saying so she left the room.
“Mummy yaar! Ye galat hai!” Vayu cried as I looked at him timidly.
He leaned against the headboard while I finished my tea. I turned around to face him. He's gonna scold me for sure.
I was not looking at him but fidgeting my fingers between the duvet. I was waiting for him to say something but he was only looking at me.
I slowly lifted my eyes to meet him when I felt a tug at my wrist and in the next second, I was resting on his chest with my lips over his.
He didn't move his lips but kept them attached. When I tried to move away caring for his injuries, he held my waist and started sucking on my lips.
I lifted my body up a little so as not to put any sort of pressure on his body while my lips were between his. The kiss was not fast but slow and soft.
I kissed him back with the same passion and pulled away, keeping my arms across him.
I looked into his eyes. He had tears in them. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him in tears.
“Why did you bother yourself for me?” he asked, looking straight into my eyes.
“I didn't!” I replied slowly, moving away over him and settling beside him.
“Why didn't you sleep?” His voice broke in between.
“I was too afraid to lose you, that sleep didn't find its home in my eyes.” I whispered.
“And what about your health? Your schizophrenia? Proper sleep is necessary to cure it, isn't it?”
I bit my lower lip while gazing at him.
“Look at me, Sunflower! I need answers.” He asserted.
“I took medicine on time.” I replied timidly.
“And what about rest? You're not a robot, or are you one?” He questioned again to which I shook my head.
“Mummy told me that you used to go to college, then postings, OPD and came back to me and stayed awake all night.” His voice was a little louder than normal.
“I'm so thankful to you for taking this much care of me, for handling everything, my parents, my operation, checkups and everything else but that doesn't mean you will neglect your needs. Look at yourself, how weak you've grown, Sunflower!”
I listened to him quietly because he was not wrong and there was no way to do any kind of argument.
“I'm sorry!” I apologised, intermingling our fingers together.
“There were times when I tried to sleep, but whenever I closed my eyes, the thoughts of losing you surrounded my senses each time. And I was way too afraid to witness them in reality, let alone in imagination.” I took a deep breath before continuing.
“So I kept myself busy that way. I attended college, did postings, OPDs and at night, I stayed back with you. Having you in front of my eyes helped me control those horrible thoughts.”
He hugged me even before I could complete my words.
“Stop making me fall for you every single time.” He chuckled, pulling away and pecking my cheeks.
“Why? Are you tired?” I narrowed my eyes making him sigh.
“I can never get tired of you, Sunflower! If you ask, I can jump off the hill for all I care!” He said, making me stare at him.
“I will push us together off the hill rather than asking you to jump alone! Because never even in hell, I'm letting you live without me!” I replied grinning.
We laughed at our own cheesy lines before I went to the kitchen to help Maa with the dinner. She prepared khichdi for Vayu and asked me to feed him myself because my future husband hates to eat Khichdi and my mother in law thought that only I could make him eat it.
I went back into the room, with a bowl full of Khichdi and settled beside him.
“Chal uth! Khana khale.” I asked him and helped him to sit properly on the bed.
I kept pillows behind his back for support and checked his loose bandages. “I'll do your dressing after dinner.” I said and grabbed the bowl in my hand.
I forwarded the spoon to his mouth but he turned his face away.
“Mein nahi khaa raha ye sab!” He said irritatingly.
“Vayu, please! You have to eat it.” I cooed him.
“I want Dal Makhani. Bring that for me.”
“You can't eat that. Eat this quietly.” I said sternly but he was too stubborn to agree.
“Vayu please!” I requested for a hundredth time now but this grown up man was showing more tantrums than any five year old kid.
“Dekh Kashyap bahut ho gaya..bak..” I was about to say the curse word but I heard aunty entering the room.
“Bak..bak..bachpana mat dikha Kashyap! Please thoda sa khaale!”
His eyes widened at my stammering. “Dekha Reya! Mene kha tha na tumse ye nahi khayega!”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Main bhi dekhti hu kese nahi khata?” I said and stood up.
“Thappad maar dena beta, na maane to! Meri permission hai!” I heard Aunty and a smirk appeared on my face.
“Oh hello? Kya thappad haan? Vese bhi isko kisi ki permission thodi chaiye mujhe thappad marne ke liye! Abhi to ye operation hua hai tab bacha hua hoon, varna ab tak kitne thappad kha chuka hota isse!” He said, making us both chuckle.
“C'mon eat it! Please baby..” I cooed him, making him choke on his breath.
Aunty chuckled at my gesture and went outside the room.
“Stop being this bold okay?” he said, pulling me towards him.
“Finish it, if you don't want me to continue this!” I stated making him roll his eyes.
“Fine!” He cried before taking a spoon full of Khichdi in his mouth.
After dinner, I washed the dishes while Maa was speaking to Papa and Vayu was resting in the room. I too called my parents to give them updates about Vayu’s health.
Later I was dressing his wounds while he was continuously gawking at me. I held his chin and spoke up, “Stop intimidating me, Vayu!”
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