Chapter 11

Tvfanatic85

@Tvfanatic85

Chapter 11 – The Challenge

Once the kids were asleep, they went to their room and tired were lying on their bed and Rishab moved Prerna near him.

“By the way mera gift”

“Rishab, yaad mat dilaye mujhe I am too tired and who pata nahin kyun maine Shivani ki baat man li. Mujhse”

“Don’t listen to Shivani and I love you the way you are.” Prerna sat bolt right on his bed. “Ek min aap kya bol rahin hain ki I am boring but you still love me” Rishab sat up beside her. Rishab looked at her confused.

“Apne wahi kaha that you love me the way I am”

“Prerna?”

“Sorry!!You are right and it’s our anniversary I don’t want to fight. And I don’t need to do all this you make up for all” Rishab looked at her confused and Prerna was surprised that she had said it so she kept on blaberring. “Haan to aur nahin to kya bolu aap satate hain mujhe. I, I don’t need to do anything like this because no matter what you are always …. Main main prove kar sakti hoon that its always you who first…”

“Really? Aap sentence pura nahin kar pa rahin hain to what I do – fill in the blanks -- and you will prove.”

“Really check kar lete hain one week and let’s see who breaks down first”.

“And what do I get after I win?”

“I will wear the same gown and what do you mean by I win I will win and you will do as I ask”

“Really?” He went very quietly near prerna making Prerna shocked and whispered into her ear “Done” and then slightly rubbed his unshaven cheek to her cheek making Prerna shiver and left from there to the washroom. Prerna realised what had just happened and throw a pillow at his retreating figure.

“You……” as Rishab left and prerna went and stood infront of mirror.

“I will prove it I will prove to Rishab Bajaj.” And the realization hit her what she had just done.

“Maine Mr Bajaj ko challenge kiya. I just challenged Rishab Bajaj. Log pair pe khuladi marte hain maine khuladi per pair mar liya. Nahin no I can do this. kyun nahin I will I can do this”

The next few days were heaven for Rishab Bajaj. My wife had tried everything and I must say everything and I had to exercise a lot of strength. He didn’t know how much time it will take her more to break or who will break first but one thing is for sure that his wife was not boring in anyway.

Prerna waited and waited until 3 days trying to look her best wearing all his favorite clothes and colours and hoping he will break but he didn’t and he had the stupid smirk on his face every time he looked at her and she had had enough and and she missed him. He had just come home after 1 week. Why did she put up this challenge? But she cannot think about this, she cannot lose so she had to attack.

Strike 1

This was kind of a tried and tested formula.She had seen it all daily soaps. She chose a shirt and took out all buttons.She had planned it well. She had got Sneha and Kukki to choose his shirt which she knew he will wear no matter what. She went into the shower and came out all fresh with wet hair trying to dry it through the towel, a red saree and hair dishelved everywhere. She took her own time to dry the hair in front of him.She tried to put her bindi but Rishab was there to do it for her.

“Yeh to kar sakta hoon” Rishab and prerna kept looking at one another. He tucked a strand disturbing her face behind herears and started to leave as he had to fight with himself to stop himself from kissing her then and there.

“Are buttons. Shirt ke buttons tute hue hain. Rukiye Main laga deti hoon”

Rishab was surprised and sighed in the next moment, Prerna she knows how to plan but just doesn’t know how to hide. The small little smirks say. Prerna came and started fixing the buttons and did that for the next few minutes making herself as slow as possible looking into his eyes and Rishab stood like a log. Had he not been playing the game and knew it was a plan he would definitely be missing office today but no it was a plan.Just as she was about to finish, he went very close and Prerna looked straight at him giving a winning smile. He moved all her hair to another end and blowing on some of the water droplets on her neck, she closed her eyes and her hand unknowingly went to grab his shirt collar and unaware of what just happened stood like a statue for some more minutes. Rishab very quietly took the needle out of her hand and placed it on table and he just said – “Prerna sare buttons ho gaye” and left from there. Prerna came out of her trance and fuming went tochange.

Strike 2

Since her very bold Indian way flopped she tried a more modern approach. She was a little apprehensive at first but she remembered his smirk and got the much needed boost.

Rishab had had a very long tiring day and he just wanted to go home and take Prerna in his arms and sleep. He had had enough of this challenge. Prerna was not making it easier with making sure she was being at her best and looking beautiful day and night and those buttons trick,he unknowingly smiled thinking how innocent she was.

Kukki and Sneha were already asleep. He hated days like this when he reached home after her girls were asleep. He just didn’t like it and tried to keep it to a bare minimum. He Checked on them both made sure they were okay and went to his room.

He found it somewhat different and empty.The washroom door was open and he went towards it to find Prerna in bath tub reading a book with soap all over covering her only her off-shoulders visible,headphones in ears and candles lit all around and just then one of her legs came out of the tub just a tiny bit and Rishab cursed and was shocked. Then suddenly very suddenly Prerna’s eyes did a quick slide glance towards him and that is when he realised what it was. Not so innocent is she, Game on Mrs. Bajaj.

He bought a chair from his room, got himself a drink heck he even got himself a cigar and sat like that in his washroom looking at her directly and enjoying the view. Prerna was stunned but had hid her face behind the book.They both continued like this for some time and Just when he realised Prerna has given up and was about to get up he went near her, took the book out of her hands and moved her face towards him, Prerna was shocked by this sudden movement but smiled nonetheless thinking she won and Rishab took a candle from behind and “You have more they are finished” and then fized out the candle and walked out of the room leaving Prerna fuming.

Prerna was in a sulking mood the next day.Even at dinner she hardly said anything. She kept making sounds with cutlery and stuff just like Kukki does when he doesn’t buy a toy and the smirk had increased much more. They were sitting in the hall playing with Sneha and Kukki when Prerna approached Mr Bajaj.

“Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hain”

“Finally. So, I win.” And tried to hug herbut she stopped him with a finger. “You wish”

“It’s not about that. Maine aapne jo kaha uske bare main maine socha. Its ok if you invite Mr Bose for some days. He is your mentor and is important for you, but we should talk to Kukki together and get her to understand all this”

“Ok. Kukki pause game” and called her to sit near him

“Kukki mujhe I mean hum dono ko aapse kuch baat karni hain.” Prerna went and started playing with Sneha so that she can give Rishab and Kukki both time but kept an ear for their conversation in case Rishab needed her help.

“You remember Mr Bose hum unse mile the bahut din pehle, who aapki” Rishab

“Miss Bose ke papa hain meri mom ka naam Prerna Sharma bajaj hain” Prerna stopped what she was doing for a moment but didn’t turn around.

“Woh kuch din hamare paas rehne aa rahin hain. Right now, he is all alone and I want to be there for him. Menaka ki death ke baad unka koi hain nahin. I haven’t asked him yet”

 “So,a guest is coming? Why so serious”

“Kukki haan but ho sakta hain ki he gets emotional looking at you as you are his granddaughter or try to talk to you about Menaka. Please don’t get scared or get angry. I know you didn’t like Meneka because of the kidnapping and all but for him it was her daughter. Also, he is not Menaka and we are here if need be.” Rishab

“Aur if possible, try and be friends be with him. Jab aap bol nahin sakti thi tab aapke papa aapko kitna miss karte the waise hi Mr Bose bhi apni beti ko miss karte hain unhe acha lagega to be able to spend time with you ok” Prerna

“yes, I guess. I mean many of my friends have grandparents and I love spending time at Sharma Niwas so I guess it would be good.”

“You will like him. He is a really nice guy”

Prerna took both her daughters to room and started getting them ready for bed. She had tucked them both to bed and was about to leave when Kukki called “Mrs Bajaj” Prerna came back Kukki showed with her fingers to come down to her level. She usually called Prerna that while joking, Prerna did as asked and Kukki kissed her forehead.

“Don’t get scared I am and always will be Kukki Sharma Bajaj” and Prerna was almost tearful, she repeated the same with kukki and once she was asleep, she went to her room.

Prerna went to the washroom to wash her face. Rishab knew she was emotional and had tears. They were lying on bed when Rishab suddenly said

“Prerna?”

“Hmm” She was surprised to hear the voice of Mr Bajaj.

“Pause game?” and Prerna was confused.

He went very near Prerna and took her in her arms and said “Pause game?” and she got teary eyed and went a bit more near him grabbed his hands tightly that surrounded her and slept like that without any fear and wished she could sleep like that for many more days to come.

Chapter12 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5163074?pn=35#153418106