Chapter 15
Author's POV
As Ruhanika reached the mansion, she called Shivansh to inform him of her arrival. After some relaxation, Ruhanika went to the kitchen to start cooking for Shivansh. The reason she declined Shivansh's dinner date idea was because she wanted to cook him special dinner. She got to work and cooked Mix veg sabji, Aloo sabji, Dal, Rice, Boondi Raita. She kept the rotis for later on as she wanted to serve rotis warm. After finishing cooking, Ruhanika cleaned up and went to sit in the living room waiting for Shivansh.
In the office,
Shivansh was excited to return to mansion. He finished his work before time and left for home by 7. His PA, Yug was equally stunned to see his boss going home so early.
As Shivansh reached home, he found Ruhanika sitting in the hall humming a song. As soon as she saw him, she gave him a smile which fluttered his heart. He returned the same smile. One of the rare instances where Shivansh smiled.
Ruhanika went to the kitchen and brought a glass of water for Shivansh.
Shivansh,"Thank you."
Ruhanika,"Aap fresh ho jaiye. Main khana garam kar deti hu."
Shivansh nodded and went to freshen up while Ruhanika retreated towards the kitchen. Ruhanika started making rotis for both of them while simultanously she kept the other thing on stove to warm them.
After freshening up, Shivansh came to the kitchen and saw Ruhanika making rotis. He cleared his throat to gain her attention in which he was successful.
Ruhanika,"Aap aa gaye? Aap baithye bas yeh last roti hai main khana lagati hu. 2 minute."
Shivansh,"Arey tum woh bana lo, main yeh sab bahar le jaata hu."
Ruhanika,"Aap kaise?"
Shivansh,"Kaise matlab. Mere pass bhi do haath hai Ruhh."
Ruhanika was in thoughts what to say him while he picked up the bowl of sabji and went to the dining table. He returned to pick up another bowl while Ruhanika was done with rotis.
Ruhanika,"Roti ban gai hai. Main le aati hu aap baithye na."
Shivansh,"Main akela waha baith k kya karunga. Khana toh saath mein hi hai. Tum woh roti le aao, main ye bowl le jaata hu."
Both of them reached dining table and took their seats.
Ruhanika,"Aapko yeh nahi karna chahiye tha. Kisiko pata chala toh kya hoga?"
Shivansh,"Kya nahi karna chahiye tha Ruhh? Aur kya pata chalega?"
Ruhanika,"Arey yeh khana lana. Dadi ya phir Dadu ko pata chala aur mujhe daant padi toh?"
Shivansh so wanted to laugh at her cute expressions. Ruhanika seemed almost like a child complaining of getting scolding to their parents.
Shivansh,"Aur kyu daant padegi?"
Ruhanika,"Woh-woh yeh sab kaam toh mere hai na. Yeh kaam aapke thodi hai. Aap bahar se aaye toh aap thak gaye honge na."
Shivansh,"Kisne kaha tumhare kaam hai? Aur main office se aaya aur thak gaya toh kya tum khana bana k nai thaki?"
Ruhanika,"Par maa ne kaha tha ki ladke bahar jaate hai kaam par toh unko ghar ke kaam nai karne chahiye. Woh ladki karti hai. Maa ko pata chala toh daatengi."
Shivansh,"Yeh tumhari Maa ne kaha hai?"
Ruhanika nodded.
Shivansh,"Meri baat suno. Hum dono ko saare kaam saath mein karne chahiye. Shaadi k vachan hote hai na ki hum sab saath milke karenge? Toh jo tumhari Maa ne kaha hai bhul jao."
Ruhanika slowly nodded her head.
Shivansh,"Toh chalo khana shuru karte hai."
As their plates were served, Shivansh was surprised to see his favourite dishes yet again. He understood that this was Ruhanika's reason to refuse the dinner date.
As they started having food, Shivansh spoke,"Thank you Ruhh."
Ruhanika smiled shyly.
Shivansh,"Pata hai Ruhh, jab mein chota tha aur papa ghar aate the na toh hum sab saath mein kitchen mein kaam karte hai. Ammi aur papa saath mein khana banate the, saath mein hum khana khate the aur saath mein sab saaf karte the."
Ruhanika,"Waah.....aapki Ammi aur Papa bahut achhe the na?!!"
It was more of a statement rather than a question.
Shivansh,"Haa. Dono bahut pyaar karte the ek dusre se aur mujhse bhi. Papa humesha kehte the ki woh mujhse bahot pyaar karte hai par Ammi se thoda zyada karte hai aur phir Ammi unhe kehti thi ki bachhe k samne aise toh mat kahiye. Aur main bas hasta rehta tha."
Ruhanika,"Aapke Ammi aur Papa aaj bhi aapse utna hi pyaar karte hai."
Shivansh gave her a sad smile and spoke,"Toh woh mujhe chhod k kyun chale gaye?"
Ruhanika knew she had to divert his mind so she spoke,"Chhod k nahi gaye hai woh. Woh toh humesha aapke dil mein hai na, Shivanshji?"
Shivansh,"Haa. Waise ek baat batao, yeh tum mujhe Shivanshji keh k kyun bulati ho. Ajeeb lagta hai."
Ruhanika,"Toh kya mujhe aapka naam nahi lena chahiye? Toh main aapko kaise bulaungi?"
Shivansh,"Arey mera matlab hai ki naam k saath Ji kyun lagati ho? Sirf Shivansh bola karo? Ya phir tumhara hi pati hu, pyaar se kuch aur bula lo."
Ruhanika,"Par aapki umar toh zyada hai na? Toh main sirf aapka naam kaise bolu?"
Shivansh,"Kisne bola? Main sirf 28 ka hi toh hu."
Ruhanika,"Mujhse 6 saal bade hai na aap par?"
Shivansh,"Toh? Buddha keh rahi ho mujhe?"
Ruhanika giggled at his words.
Shivansh,"Hass rahi ho tum? Ruko tum?"
With that Shivansh went to tickle her but she beat him to it and ran away quickly. Both of their giggles started echoing in the mansion. After some time Shivansh sat on the sofa, catching his breath and spoke,"Bas bas. Ab aur nahi bhagte. Abhi khaya hai humnein."
Ruhanika nodded taking a seat beside him.
Shivansh and Ruhanika then cleaned the dining table and kitchen together and then went to their room.
Ruhanika went to change into nightdress while Shivansh took a seat on the bed scrolling his phone.
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Next morning,
Ruhanika woke up to find Shivansh missing. Now she knew that he was in the gym. She freshened up and went to the kitchen. She was making Dosa today. She had already prepared batter last night so she went on to prepare chutney and Sambar. She finished cooking these and went to the dining table to wait for Shivansh. After 10 minutes, Shivansh came down dressed for the office. He saw Ruhanika sitting on the chair.
Shivansh,"Good Morning Ruhh."
Ruhanika,"Good Morning Shivanshji."
Shivansh,"Phir ji?"
Ruhanika,"Galati se. Chaliye aap baithye. Maine nashte mein Dosa banaya hai. Main garam garam bana k laati hu."
Shivansh,"Wow. Chalo phir kithen mein."
Ruhanika,"Aap kitchen mein kyun aa rahe hai? Aap baithye main bana k laati hu."
Shivansh,"Arey main akela waha baith k kya karunga? Do hi log hai ghar mein toh phir saath mein baithte hai na. Tum banana air main wahi khada rahunga. Khud bhi kha lunga tumhe bhi khila dunga."
Ruhanika smiled widely at his words and spoke,"Aaj phir aap apne haatho se khilayenge?"
Shivansh,"Bilkul. Chale phir."
Ruhanika nodded amd both of them wemt to the kitchen. Ruhanika started making Dosa. She made Dosa while Shivansh served a plate for them. After this, both had their breakfast with him feeding himself and her both and her cooking for both.
Both of them found a family in each other. They found a person whom they could call only theirs, but they still had time to accept it and go through with it. Shivansh found someone who would care for him, give him their shoulder to cry on, someone who will never judge him for anything he did. Whereas Ruhanika found a person who will take care of her like his own, who will treat her with all the love, care and respect she deserved but was deprived of, someone with whom she will not be scared to open up, someone who knew would always respect her.
After completing the breakfast,
Shivansh left for the office while Ruhanika went to her room.
After some time, the family returned from the resort. A staff informed Ruhanika of their arrival so she went to the kitchen and came back with a tray of glasses filled with water. Everyone settled on the sofa and Ruhanika served water. The elders went to their rooms for rest. After that, the youngsters started talking among themselves. They started telling everything to Ruhanika from what they did to what they ate. Ruhanika keenly listened to their talks as she has never been to resort so even hearing their talk is fascinating to her.
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In the evening at around 5 pm, Ruhanika was doing nothing in her room getting bored when there was a knock. She opened the door to find Aarohi there. She entered the room and sat on the sofa.
Aarohi,"Kya kar rahe ho Bhabhijaan?"
She spoke in a playful tone which brought instant smile on Ruhanika's face.
Ruhanika,"Kuch nahi. Tumhe kuch kaam tha Aaru?"
Aarohi,"Nahi main aise hi aai thi? Waise Bhabhi aap bore nahi ho rahe ho. Pura din akele hote ho, hum sab apne kaam par hote hai?"
Ruhanika nodded.
Aarohi,"Waise Bhabhi aapne English literature mein graduation ki hai na?"
Ruhanika again nodded.
Aarohi,"Toh aapko books padhne ka shauk toh hoga na?"
Ruhanika's eyes sparkled at the mention of books. She eagerly nodded.
Aarohi,"Toh phir aap chalo mere saath."
With that without giving any chance to Ruhanika, Aarohi held her hand and took her somewhere.
They soon reached the a different wing, where Ruhanika had never been. Aarohi then opened a door and took her in. It was a really big and majestic library.
Ruhanika was mesmerised by it. She was in Awww...
Aarohi,"Bhabhi yeh humare ghar ki library hai. Yeh bohor saari books hai aap chahe toh padh sakti hai."
Ruhanika,"Yeh toh bohot sundar hai Aaru."
Aarohi,"Hain na Bhabhi!?. Bade papa ne banwai thi. Unko books padhne ka shauk tha. Yaha pe bade papa padhte hai woh saare books hongi aur dusri bhi hai. Aap konse genre ki books padhti hai Bhabhi?"
Ruhanika,"Main books khareed toh nahi sakti thi par mere college ki library se books padhti thi main. Maine waha se Ramayan aur Mahabharat padhi thi. Phir maine kuch foreign authors ki novels bhi padhi thi. Nayi novels nahi hoti thi library mein. Kyunki novel section mein mostly donated novels hi hoti thi. Phir maine Shiv puran padhne ki sochi thi par phir meri college ki padhai puri ho gayi toh main jaa nahi sakti thi."
Aarohi,"Ab toh Bhabhi yeh saari jitni books hai aap sab padh sakti hai. Jo aapka mann kare. Aur chaho toh bhai se keh k nayi novels bhi mangva lena."
There was mischief in Aarohi's last words.
Ruhanika,"Sach? Kya woh laa denge mujhe kitabein? Maine phone mein se download karke padhne ka socha tha par usmein mujhe aankein dukhti hai phir." Her lips formed a small pout at the end.
Aarohi,"Ab bhai la k denge ya nahi yeh toh aapko unse hi poochna hoga. Ek baar puchyega Bhabhi."
Ruhanika,"Yeh wali thik hi hai na padhne k liye."
Aarohi,"Nahi nahi. Aapko Bhai se kehna hi padega. Aapko meri kasam Bhabhi."
Aarohi knew Ruhanika would never ask Shivansh directly so she knew she had to do this blackmailing, in which she was successful.
Aarohi has realised after spending this much time with Ruhanika that her life before marriage was not same. She is not used to opening up and sharing her needs and requirements. The siblings have decieded to make Ruhanika come out of the shell and help her be confident. First step of which is voicing out thoughts.
After this Ruhanika picked out a book and they went back to the room.
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In the night, everyone had their dinner and went back to their respective rooms whereas Ruhanika sat in the living room waiting for Shivansh and reading book.
Shivansh returned home at about 11 at night. He did not want to stay for too long but his meeting were extended till long due to starting of a new project. He came to find Ruhanika almost asleep on the sofa.
He came near her and decieded to pick her up and take her to the room to get some sleep. But just as he picked her up, Ruhanika woke up.
Ruhanika,"Aap aa gaye?"
Shivansh hummed in reply and continued walking.
Ruhanika,"Arey mujhe niche utariye na. Dinner karna hai na aapko."
Shivansh,"Tumne kiya?"
Ruhanika shook her head to which Shivansh kept her down and sighed. Ruhanika went towards the kitchen and started heating food. She then made the plates and took them in the dining table and saw Shivansh sitting there.
After dinner, both of them went to their room. Shivansh went to freshen up while Ruhanika continued reading the book. After some time, Shivansh came out and saw Ruhanika reading book.
Shivansh,"Tumhe padhne ka shauq hai?"
Ruhanika,"Ji. Aaj Aaru mujhe library le gai thi jo humare ghar mein hai. Woh Papa ne banwai thi. Papa ko padhne ka shauq tha aisa Aaru bata rahi thi."
Shivansh,"Ha. Papa ko padhne ka shauq tha. Dharmik kitabein phir novels sab padhte the papa."
Ruhanika,"Ji woh...."
Shivansh,"Bolo Ruhh!"
Ruhanika,"Ji woh kya aap naye novels mangwa sakte hai library k liye."
Shivansh was just staring at Ruhanika, so she hurridly spoke furthur,"Woh mujhe Aaru je kasam di thi ki mujhe novels ka shauq hai toh main aapse kahu ki aap la de mujhe. Agar aap nahi lana chahte toh koi baat nahi." With that she covered herself and went to sleep.
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Next Day.
A young girls around 25 was sitting in a cafe with Rajveer. They were chatting when that girl's phone rang. She picked it up and after hearing it, she was furious.
"Yeah itni badi galati kaise ho sakti hai. Aapka kaam mein dhyaan nahi tha? Mujhe kaam mein irresposibility bilkul bardast nahi hai aur yeh- . This is final warning, iske baad aapke termination letter apke desk pe milenge." With that she cut the call.
Rajveer asked her,"what happened?"
To which she replied,"Tumhe pata hai na mera woh important project chal raha tha ek international brand k saath collaboration k liye. Mere staff se uske documents misplace ho gaye hai. Mere itna important client the aur yeh sab ho gaya. Kitni mehnat ki thi maine. Ab phir se saara kaam shuru se karna hoga."
"Shhh, relax my love. Sab ho jaayega. Tum toh kitni achhi ho na apne kaam mein. Hmm. Tumhare PC mein us deal k saare documents ki ek copy toh hogi hi na?!" With that a quick peck on the lips was followed and they melted in each others arms.
"Arey ha. Maine mere PA se kaha tha ki us deal ki documents saare mere email pe upload karne hai. Thank god. Tumhari wajah se bach gai main. Thank you Veer. I Love You." She pecked Rajveer's lips once more.
After spending some more time together, they went to their respective works.
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New Character Introduction.
Parinidhi Sharma- 25 years old
Architect by profession
Works in an architecture firm.
Lives with her parents and older sister.
Mother- Sunidhi Sharma
Father- Abhinav Sharma
Sister- Adhya Khanna (28) - engineer
Married to Kabir Khanna - engineer
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