15 DAYS LATER
“Vayush, beta uth jaa!” I heard my mother's sweet voice and I pushed my face more into the pillow shifting myself on my stomach. I hummed covering the duvet over me.
Only a minute or two would have passed when my eyes wide open and I sat on the bed with a jolt. My face become dull and sad. My eyes wandered around the room to find Reya but she wasn't there.
My heart throbbed fast and started singing deeper. Today I'm leaving for Dehradun almost after a month and my Sunflower was nowhere to be found.
“Maa, Reya kahan hai?” I asked my mother as she entered the room with a cup of coffee.
“Mandir gayi hai! Aane wali hai bas.” She answered by forwarding the cup in my hand. I nodded and sipped the coffee.
I stood up and went to the balcony and saw my father reading the newspaper. I approached him and greeted, “Good morning papa!” His eyes lifted up to me and he smiled, caressing my back. “Good morning champion!” My face lit up at his gesture.
I went inside the room. Mummy was getting ready so I asked, “Where are you going? My flight is scheduled for the night, mummy!” Setting her dupatta on one of her shoulders, she chuckled and replied, “Main or papa mandir jaa rahe hai!”
My lips formed and I went inside the bathroom to take a shower. While I was under the shower, I heard my mother's voice, “We're taking the keys with us! Reya will be here soon.” I replied okay and continued my business.
After taking a shower, I came out of the bathroom and saw Reya's phone lying on the bed. My lips smiled softly knowing that she's back home. I pulled my t-shirt and went inside the kitchen.
She was making something, her back faced me and so she was unaware about my presence in the kitchen. I quietly approached her and hugged her from behind, making her flinch.
She turned her head a bit and relaxed on seeing me as I rested my chin on her shoulder. “You scared me, idiot!” She whispered, chopping the vegetables.
“I missed you!” I said in a childish voice and pecked her backside. She shook her head and chuckled. “I was just away for half an hour.”
“I can't spend a single second without you!” I said turning her around. She smiled before pecking my nose and said, “You're going to..” she couldn't complete because I interrupted her. “Haan madam I know I'm going back to Dehradun today…you've said it for a hundredth time now!” My voice full of irritation.
She chuckled and said, “and you've said it for a millionth time that you can't live without me.”
I sighed and dipped my face in the crook of her neck, “That's true only.” my voice barely audible.
Her hands reached my hair as she caressed them. Her touch has always brought me into peace. I can hold her in my arms for my whole life without getting tired.
“I don't want to go without you!” I whispered, kissing her neck softly. I felt her hold tightening around my nape. “As much as I want to hold you back, I won't ask you to stay!” she worded against my neck.
I released a sigh and pulled away from her, I cupped her cheeks in my palm, “You need to say it only once to have me for your whole life!” I pecked her lips.
“I know this baby! But your dream is more important for me than any of my wishes.” She said looking directly into my eyes.
“I want to see you passing out from IMA and I would be standing in the audience clapping for you with a big smile on my lips.” She continued but I saw tears in her eyes.
But before I could wipe them, she pushed me away and said, “Don't make me cry, Kashyap!” And saying so she went back to continue chopping the vegetables.
I smiled at her because she did this so that she can assume that she's strong and tough. Those tears in her eyes were nothing but because I would be going away from her. I didn't say anything because I don't want to make her feel more weak. I just went behind her and pecked her cheeks and uttered, “I love you!”
My heart was sinking deeper and a painless fear was developing inside my guts with each passing hour. My eyes were moving back to the wall clock after every 15 minutes . The time was running at the speed of light.
Vayu would be leaving in the evening for his flight and this was making me restless. I don't know how, after spending so many days with him, I would live without him.
I know this was making him anxious too, but he needs to be strong and tough. For his dream, for his hard work and passion he has to go even if it means we have to stay away from each other.
For all those sleepless nights he has spent in IMA, he has to leave from here. And if for this, I need to be rude to him, I will. Without feeling bad about it.
He pecked my cheeks and that made me blush like an idiot. I continued chopping the vegetables as I was making biryani for lunch. It has been more than a month since Vayu has been on khichdi and now I feel it's better to give him some tasty food before he leaves for his academy.
Maa said she would help me after coming back from the Mandir so I decided to chop the vegetables and do the other small chores until she came back.
I washed my hands after I was done and was gulping cold water down my throat when I heard Vayu's feeble voice. “Reyaa!” He yelled.
“Kya hua?” I asked, coming out of the kitchen, my brows knitted in confusion. The voice came from the bathroom so I went in that direction with long steps.
“Kya hua, Vayu?” I voiced reaching the bathroom. He was washing his hands in the wash basin and suddenly, he screamed, “Cockroachhhh….”
As soon as that word reached my ears I ran towards him inside the bathroom and hugged him, hiding behind his back. “Aaaaaa…kidhar hai!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, holding tightly around his torso, closing my eyes.
I sneaked a little from the side to see where the cockroach was, my fingers holding his biceps tightly. I bit my lower lip in fear and muttered, “Ki-kidhar gaya?”
He chuckled turning around and leaned near my earlobe, “Bhaag gaya teri cheekh sunke!” I patted his chest in annoyance and said, “Bhar nikaal jaake! I won't step outside until the cockroach is in the room!”
“Ruk!” He said as he stepped forward and peaked from the door. “Dekh vo raha!” He said in a whisper, making me scream, “Aaaaaa..”.
I patted his back hard and yelled, “Bahut pitega! Mat dara na mujhe! Usko bahar nikaal jaake!”
He turned around and shut the door behind him. My eyes frowned in confusion as he stepped towards me. His lips twitched in a smirk as he came closer. “Kya kar raha hai, nikaal…” and my words died in my mouth as he slammed his lips over mine.
My eyes opened wide at his sudden action while he devoured my lips, his hands curling around my waist tightly as he pulled me, making our body collide.
He smiled in between the kiss and continued kissing me like no tomorrow. Soon, I gave up on it and kissed him with the same passion.
Our eyes were closed as our lips danced in a sync. Suddenly I felt cold water over me making my eyes open instantly. I pushed him away placing my hands on his chest as we broke the kiss and I shouted, my voice passing through the water, “Kashyap, I'll kill you!” And I stepped forward towards him only for him to lift me up in his arms.
He moved towards the wall, until my back touched it and we were standing just under the shower, water finding its way down through our bodies.
“I told you I thrive to turn my dream into reality, Sunflower!” He muttered, his lips inches away from mine as he held me against the wall in his arms.
My eyes weren't able to open properly because of the water, so I looked at him with my wet lashes. “You're an idiot!” I whispered, making him chuckle.
“Jaisa bhi hu, ab to tera hi hu! Ab to jhelna padega zindagi bhar!” He replied, his fingers playing with my wet strands.
“Jhelna? Achaaaa?” I narrowed my eyes at him, my fingers choking his throat. I leaned forward taking his lips between mine and nibbled over his lower lip harder making him winch.
“Ahh..” he hissed as I pulled away, little blood oozed out from his lips mixing up with the water from the shower.
“Dubara esa kuch kaha to bahut piyega! You're mine and I'll spend the rest of my life with you!” I said before kissing the sides of his lips.
His hands trailed down my back as he held the hem of my kurta. His eyes held a mischievous look and a smirk appeared on his lips before he started pulling it upward to get my body rid of it.
I could see him struggling with the kurta as it was all wet and was sticking to my skin tightly. A soft chuckle left my mouth and I kissed his neck.
He was doing the efforts while kissing the life out of me when we heard Maa's voice. “Vasu…!” He pulled away and our eyes widened at the realisation. I parted my lips in urgency, “Holy….” But Vayu's hand shut me in between.
“Chuppp!” He whisper yelled.
He slowly removed his hands from over my lips and I panted heavily. “Shit shit shit!” I muttered.
“Reya!” Maa called again and my eyes squeezed in embarrassment. Vayu moved towards the door of the bathroom, and replied, “Maa we're inside!”
I choked on my breath and patted his back hard, “Kya bol raha hai tu?” I cried.
“Andar kya kar rahe ho tum dono!” Maa asked, I heard her footsteps, maybe she was approaching the bathroom.
I bit my lower lip and held Vayu's biceps tightly. “Ab de jawab!” I muttered near his ear and he gulped.
“Mummy…vo..vo..haan chipkali aa gayi thi bathroom mein, use hi nikaal rahe hai! Bahar na aajaye isliye gate band kar diya tha!” He replied and gulped.
I released a sigh of relief and rested my forehead over his back. I heard Maa's chuckle, “Oh! Aajkal chipkali shower bhi leti hai! Mujhe nahi pata tha!”
And boom! My eyes widened again, we forgot to turn off the shower. At that moment I just wanted the earth to gulp me inside it.
“Mummy..vo..” Vayu scratched his forehead, trying to think what should he answer now.
Before he could say anything, Maa's voice entered our ears as she said, “Bhagao bhagao chipkali bhagao! Main to sirf purse lene aayi hai, main or Arpit market jaare hai. But make sure hamare aane se pehle tumhari chipkali bhaag jaae!”
She chuckled in the end too and went away. “Oh god!” I cried and held Vayu's torso, snaking my arms around him.
He turned around chuckling. “Has kya raha hai? I locked the door after coming back from the mandir, how did she get inside?” I asked him, patting his chest hard.
His brows frowned and then he released a sigh continuing, “Are haan, I remember she told me she's taking the keys with herself!”
“Asshole!” I cursed him and started moving out of the bathroom but before I could take more than two steps, I felt a tug at my waist and another second I was caged between the wall and Vayu's hard chest.
My breath stuck in the throat as he leaned forward, his lips planting sloppy kisses over my face. “Let's complete what we started, Sunflower!”
“I didn't start anything! It was your plan!” I blurted out and tried to get free from his hold only for him to grip my hands tightly.
“Okay so let me complete it!” Saying so he attached our lips under the shower.
I joked about the cockroach so that I could call Reya inside the bathroom. It was a mischievous plan that came into my mind the day she told me ‘In your dream Kashyap!’ How come I not do something which my Sunflower denies.
Right now I was packing my stuff whereas Maa and Reya were busy with something I'd no idea about.
“All set Captain?” I heard Papa's voice and I turned around as he entered the room. I smiled at him and replied, “Yes sir!” His chest rose up in pride as he patted my back.
“Take care of yourself!” His voice softened as he sat on the bed. “Hanji!” I replied sitting beside him.
His eyes were everywhere on the room but on me. “Look at me, Papa!” I said with courage.
His eyes met mine and the next second he lunged forward hugging me tightly. “I'm proud of you, Vayush!”
I could hear his fast beating heart. I knew he was tensed about me and but like every other father, he won't let out his anxiety in front of his children.
“I love you!” I whispered, pulling away from him only to witness tears in his eyes. He hurriedly stood up and wiped his tears off and said, “That's something you should say to Reya!” He chuckled, hiding his pain.
“Vo to roz hi bolta hu!” I muttered under my breath. “Kya…?” Papa turned around, making me choke on my breath.
I shook my head, “Nahi..nahi kuch nahi!”
Soon Mummy entered with Reya with a box in her hand. “Vayu take this! I made your favourite besan ke ladoo!” Mummy said, forwarding me the box.
“Isme to bahut calories hongi! Main ni…” and before I could complete my mother twisted my ear and yelled, “Chup chap khaa lena! Kisi se share kie phir dekhna!”
“Jo aagyah matashree!” I joined my hands and bent down in front of her, making everyone chuckle.
My eyes went to Reya who was standing beside my mother lost in her own thoughts. I gestured to my mother to look at her.
“Reya, bacha kya hua?” Mumma asked, holding Reya's hands. “Kuch nahi Maa, I don't know how will I stay without you all now? She whispered in a low voice.
“It's been a month and I'm so used to you and him, that it would be very difficult for me to live here alone without you guys!” She continued sitting beside Mummy and keeping her head on her lap.
“I'll miss you to mera bacha!” Mummy cooed her caressing her hairs softly.
“Sunflower! I've an idea!” I said in a jolly voice moving towards her.
“Shaadi karle mujhse! Apne saath le chalta honk!” I winked at her, making her laugh. Mummy chuckled and patted my forehead, “Arpit, aapka beta bahut besharam hota jaa raha hai!”
Papa shrugged his shoulders and said, “Mujhpe hi gaya hai!” We all laughed out loud and Mummy Papa left the room taking my luggage out.
Reya was too going behind them when I held her wrist and pulled her towards me. Her hands fisted around my shirt, her gaze lowered not meeting mine.
My fingers gently danced across her face and stopped at her chin. Lifting up her chin, making her look at me, I looked into her eyes.
“Won't you say anything?” I said in a low voice.
She shook her head, tears rolled down her cheeks and I leaned forward to kiss them. “Why Sunflower?” I asked cooing her.
She closed her eyes and sobbed, “Will you promise me something?” She asked. I pulled her closer to me, her head rested on my chest. Her hands curled around my torso as she wrapped herself around me in a strong grip.
“Yes!” I muttered kissing her hair.
“Will you take care of yourself? Will you take your medicine on time, give your body proper rest and nutrients, will not overdo anything, not stress any of your body parts, will…”
I didn't let her complete it and captured her lips in a slow kiss. I could feel her tears rolling down her face. Pulling away, I looked straight into her eyes and muttered, “For you, I will.”
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