Chapter - 23
I was sitting in my room, trying to arrange my things. After moving here, I hadn't really gotten the chance to properly settle in. As I folded a dupatta, I heard footsteps, and when I looked up, Mr. Rathore was standing at the door.
"Siya, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice calm yet firm.
"Nothing... just organizing," I replied softly, feeling a little nervous under his gaze.
"Come, I want to show you something," he said, and I felt a flutter of curiosity in my stomach. I followed him as he led me to the left side of the closet door.
To my surprise, there was a big portrait of Mr. Rathore hanging there. He pressed a hidden button in the corner of the portrait, revealing a fingerprint lock. I watched in awe as the portrait turned into a door that opened smoothly.
"Come," he said, stepping inside. I hesitated for a moment before following him through the opening.
What I saw took my breath away—a cozy wooden library filled with glowing fairy lights and garlands.
A plush couch with colorful cushions and a soft blanket was nestled between shelves brimming with books.
It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen, and my heart swelled with joy.
I loved reading, but since coming here, I hadn't had the time or the books to enjoy it.
"Do you like it?" Mr. Rathore asked, watching my reaction.
"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Rathore," I said, unable to hide my excitement.
He shook his head slightly. "I told you before, you don't have to say thank you to me."
"Then what should I say?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Nothing. Just make cookies for me—that's enough," he said with a small smile.
I couldn't help but smile back. His way of speaking sometimes caught me off guard, but it also made me feel... special.
"Now you can study here. No one will disturb you," he continued. "This is my secret place, and only you can come here. I'll add your fingerprint, too."
"Why are you sharing your secret place with me?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Because you are my wife," he replied simply. "And a husband and wife's relationship shouldn't have any secrets, right?"
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. He was right, but I was hiding something from him, and I wasn't sure how to share it. What would happen if I told him everything? I couldn't bear to think about how Taiji and Tauji would react.No, no, Siya, you can't tell anyone.
"Where are you lost?" Mr. Rathore asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I blinked and shook my head, trying to clear my mind. "Nothing," I said, forcing a smile.
He looked at me, concern flickering in his eyes, but then he smiled softly and took my hand. "You can always talk to me, you know?"
I nodded again, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I felt a little guilty for not being completely honest with him. But how could I? I took a deep breath, reminding myself to focus on this beautiful moment instead of my fears.
With that, we spent the whole day together in the cozy library. We drank coffee and chatted about everything and nothing. I even made cookies for him, and it felt so nice to see him enjoy them.
As the day went on, I began to feel more comfortable around him. There was something about him that made me feel safe. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew I wanted to be near him all the time.
Maybe it was the way he looked at me or the warmth of his presence, but I felt a connection growing between us. For the first time, I realized that I was starting to care for him, and it made me both happy and nervous at the same time.
I woke up early today, feeling excited but a bit nervous.
After two days away from college, I was finally heading back.
I quickly freshened up and took a shower, allowing the warm water to wash away any lingering worries.
I decided to wear a soft pink anarkali paired with a sheer yellow dupatta adorned with delicate floral embroidery.
It made me feel pretty and a little more confident.
Once I was ready, I went downstairs and took Dadi Maa's blessings.
She smiled at me, and I felt a little more at ease.
I headed to the kitchen where Maa and Chachi were busy preparing breakfast. The smell of fresh food filled the air, making my stomach rumble.
After a quick chat with them, I decided to make chai for myself and coffee for Mr. Rathore.
I wanted to surprise him since he usually came home late or was busy with work.
After preparing the drinks, I carefully placed the cups on a tray and made my way to Mr. Rathore's study room. As I approached his door, I hesitated. He had told me before that I didn't need to knock, so I took a deep breath and opened the door without knocking.
I put the tray on the table, feeling a bit awkward. I didn't know how to start the conversation, and I was lost in my thoughts. Suddenly, I felt a presence near me and looked up to see Mr. Rathore standing there. "You don't have to think so hard about what to say to me," he said gently.
I nodded, feeling my cheeks warm as he sat down beside me on the sofa. "I thought to spend some time together," I said, my voice a little shy.
Mr. Rathore smiled, his eyes lighting up. "So, my wife wants to spend time with me?" he asked, teasingly.
I nodded again, my shyness making me blush even more.
"Today will be my best day, then," he said, and I turned even redder. We started sipping our drinks, and I told him that Buaji was coming next week.
"Yeah, I know. Dadi Maa told me," he replied, taking a sip of his coffee.
I hesitated, wondering if I should ask him something. Finally, he prompted me, "Ask."
I blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
"What are you thinking? You can ask," he encouraged.
I took a deep breath. "Is Buaji not good? Chachi said she wants to go to her parents' house after hearing that Buaji is coming."
"She's a little strict with tradition," he explained. "She doesn't believe in modern things. She's a bit old-fashioned."
"But Dadi Maa isn't like that," I said, confused.
"Because Dadi Maa changed with time, but Buaji doesn't believe in changes," he said, looking thoughtful.
"Oh," I said, understanding a little better now. I didn't want things to change too much, especially not with Buaji coming.
"Let's go for breakfast," Mr. Rathore said, breaking my thoughts. "Otherwise, you'll be late for college."
I nodded, feeling grateful that he cared. "Okay," I said, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves about facing the day.
As we walked out of the room together, I felt a sense of comfort being near him. Even with my worries about Buaji, I was glad to have this moment with Mr. Rathore.
After our lecture ended, Trisha and I sat in the cafeteria, enjoying some free time. The usual buzz of students surrounded us, but my thoughts wandered to something else—Karan hadn't come today. It felt a bit odd without his usual chatter.
As we sipped on our drinks, Trisha looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Siya, you know our college is completing 50 years soon, right? There's going to be a big celebration for it," she said excitedly.
"Oh," I said, nodding as I sipped my chai. Celebrations sounded nice, but I wasn't sure where this conversation was going.
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "And... don't get upset with me, but I did something without asking you."
I frowned, feeling a twinge of worry. "What? What did you do?" I asked.
"First, promise me you won't get upset," she said, giving me her puppy eyes.
"Okay, okay, promise," I said, even though I wasn't sure what was coming.
She leaned closer and said, "I gave your name for a solo dance performance."
"What?" I said, almost dropping the cup in my hand. My voice came out louder than I intended, and a few heads turned in our direction.
Trisha looked guilty but also determined. "You were the one who told me you love dancing! And you said you used to perform in school."
"That was years ago," I argued, still reeling. "Maybe when I was in 3rd or 4th grade! How am I supposed to dance in front of so many people now? Please take my name back."
"I can't," she admitted, looking sheepish. "Your name's already gone to the principal. And you know how strict he is."
I groaned, panic rising in my chest. "Fine, then I just won't come that day. Tell them I'm sick or something."
"Siya!" Trisha looked exasperated. "It's just one dance performance."
"Exactly!" I exclaimed. "One dance performance. And I can't do it."
"Siya, please," Trisha pleaded, grabbing my hand. "Do it for me. You'll have Karan and me right there cheering you on. It's not a competition—it's just for fun!"
I bit my lip, my thoughts racing. What if I forgot the steps? What if I embarrassed myself? But then I looked at Trisha, her eyes full of hope. She really wanted this.
After what felt like forever, I finally gave in with a sigh. "Okay... fine. But if I mess up, I'm blaming you."
Trisha grinned, practically bouncing in her seat. "You won't mess up, Siya. You'll be amazing—I just know it!"
I wasn't so sure, but seeing her excitement made me feel a little better. Still, as we sat there, my mind began to swirl with all the things that could go wrong. What had I just agreed to?
~~~~~~~~
Dinner time had arrived, and I was helping Maa and Chachi arrange the food on the dining table. Everyone had come home by now, except for him—Mr. Rathore. My eyes kept glancing at the door, but there was no sign of him.
As everyone sat down to eat, I stood by the table, unsure what to do. Maa noticed and said, "Siya beta, sit and have your food."
I hesitated before replying, "I don't have an appetite right now, Maa. I'll eat later."
She frowned, her tone filled with concern. "What do you mean you're not hungry? You haven't eaten anything since the afternoon. Come, sit down and eat something."
I shook my head gently. "I will eat later, Maa. I really don't feel like eating right now."
Before Maa could say anything further, Chachi chimed in with a teasing smile, "Didi, don't you understand? She's waiting for Aarav."
The moment those words left her mouth, my face turned bright red. I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks as everyone looked at me, some smiling, some laughing softly.
"Enough," Dadi Maa said, laughing warmly. "Don't make our Siya blush like this. Let her be."
Unable to handle the attention, I quickly said, "I forgot to bring the sweets from the kitchen. I'll go get them," and hurried away before anyone could say more.
As I reached the kitchen, I let out a soft sigh, trying to calm my racing heart. Their teasing replayed in my mind, and despite feeling shy and embarrassed, I couldn't stop a small smile from forming.
It was already 11 o'clock, and Mr. Rathore still hadn't come home. Everyone had gone to their rooms, but I stayed in the living room, waiting for him. The house felt so quiet, and my uneasiness grew with every passing minute.
After waiting for what felt like forever, I decided to message him. "Mr. Rathore, where are you?" I typed, hesitating for a moment before hitting send.
I stared at my phone, waiting for a reply, but the minutes dragged on, and there was nothing. No response. My anxiety started to creep in. What if something had happened? Why hadn't he informed me if he was going to be late?
Unable to sit still any longer, I decided to call him. My hands felt cold and a little shaky as I dialed his number. The ringing felt endless, but he didn't pick up. Disappointment and worry sank in as I stared at the phone screen.
"What's the use of giving me phone if you're not going to pick up?" I muttered under my breath, frustrated and nervous at the same time.
I didn't know what to do next. My thoughts were all over the place. Then I remembered what he had told me earlier: "If my phone isn't reachable, you can call my PA. This is his number."
I hesitated again, but worry pushed me to dial his PA's number. The phone rang three or four times before he picked up.
"Hello, I'm Siya..." I started, but before I could say more, he interrupted me politely.
"Yes, ma'am, I know about you. Is everything okay? You called so late in the night," he asked, sounding concerned.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "Where is Mr. Rathore? Are you with him?"
"Sir left the office in the evening, ma'am," he replied. "I'm not sure where he is right now."
His words only made my chest tighten further. "Okay, thank you," I said softly and ended the call.
Now, I was even more anxious. Where could he be? Why hadn't he told me anything? My mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts, each one scarier than the last.
I dialed Mr. Rathore's number again, but he still didn't pick up.
Worry settled in my chest like a heavy stone.
I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and before I knew it, they were streaming down my cheeks.
I didn't know what to do. "Please, Shivji," I whispered, praying with all my heart.
"Keep him safe. I don't want to lose him. "
As I tried to calm myself, I thought about waking up Maa or Papa, or even Arjun bhaiya. Maybe he would know where Mr. Rathore was. I wiped my tears away and decided to go to Arjun bhaiya's room.
I knocked softly on his door. After a moment, he opened it, looking concerned. "What happened, bhabhi? What are you doing here at this time?"
I took a deep breath before speaking. "Mr. Rathore hasn't come home yet."
Arjun bhaiya's expression changed, but he quickly reassured me, "Bhabhi, Bhai comes home late sometimes. He must be on his way. Don't worry."
"But he's not picking up my phone, and he didn't reply to my message," I said, my voice trembling. "His PA didn't know where he is. Please, can you find out where he is and why he hasn't come home yet?"
"Okay, bhabhi, calm down," Arjun bhaiya said firmly. "I'll find out."
We both headed to the living room, where he handed me a glass of water. "First, drink this," he insisted. I took a sip, trying to steady my nerves.
He dialed someone, and I watched him intently, my heart racing. After a brief conversation, he turned to me with a smile. "Bhaiya is coming in 20 minutes, bhabhi."
Just then, my phone buzzed, and I saw a message from Mr. Rathore: "I'm coming, Siya, in 20 minutes." Relief washed over me like a warm blanket, and I felt my shoulders relax.
"Thank you, Arjun bhaiya," I said, wiping away the last of my tears. "You can go to sleep now. I'll wait for him."
"It's okay, bhabhi," Arjun bhaiya replied, settling down beside me on the couch. "I'll keep you company."
We started talking to distract ourselves, and I didn't even notice when the 20 minutes passed. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a car approaching, and my heart skipped a beat. He was finally here.