Tea for Two

jagrutid

@jagrutid

As Tea for  two 

Rishabh searches for his Rolex and his search leads him into  their bedroom. It had been missing from his wrist since the early hours of the morning. He’d finally found the time to look for it.

With no meetings panned for the rest of the day he walks around the house in a relaxed version of one of his suits. A crisp white shirt and a open collar.

He looks around at the bedside table then at his armchair, with no sign of his watch he walks into the bathroom. 

There it was sat by the wash basin. He must of forgotten it there this morning.

Whilst picking it up and fastening Rishab notices a scrunched up medical prescription and carton in the bin. 

Concerned about Mrs Bajaj although she hadn’t mentioned anything to him he takes out his mobile phone and dials the doctors number. 

...

A little later that afternoon and  the beauty of the layout out their bedroom meant that Rishabh could see what was going on in the lounge through the window and particularly well from his chair. 

“What’s going on there?” he asks typing a message on his phone whilst walking  towards his chair. He knew Prerna had walked into the room behind him with tea.

Rishabh takes a seat in his arm chair whilst Prerna mixes together a cup of tea. She perched on the floor beside the coffee table in front of them. 

“Kuki has  invited Mr Mehra to tea, they’re eating the cake they missed out on yesterday.” She explains picking up the cup and handing it to him.

“Of course” says Bajaj thinking back to

 They’d turned a normal afternoon into something  quiet romantic which meant little time for the plans they did have that day.

“And let me guess we’re not invited?” 

“No” says Prerna with smiling eyes ,after all what they were talking about was adorable whatever the outcome. 

A moment  of them looking out at Kuki and Mehra with smiles passed by and Rishabh drew his attention back to Prerna.

“Take a seat Mrs Bajaj” he said invitingly  when he saw Prerna was still perched uncomfortably not having really moved since preparing his tea at the table. There was a perfectly fine chair adjacent to his. 

“I should check on Kuki” she said scattering her eyes a little. 

“She looks fine to me” his eyes pointing towards the lounge.  

“You don’t have to tread on eggshells l around me Mrs Bajaj,  Something he’d noticed since their wedding day.

Perna however didn’t agree. 

“Aisa kuch nahin hai” (I’m not, that’s not the case she tried to correct him.)

The way in which she began to clear cutlery  rather than sit down comfortably as he’d suggested was telling. 

“Nahin hai” (it’s not like that”) she said again when she caught him giving her that challenging look.

“Aap Mr Bajaj hame bussniess ke bare mein sikha sakte hai, parenthood ke bare mein  but jaha baat ek atchi  patni honi baat ati hai waha mein kuch nahin sunungi” 

He’d certainly met his match. He liked this side of Pernas. 

Speechless in a gratified sort that left with a smile he kept from showing. 

She was about to step away but before doing so did she placed a  hand on his shoulder just in time to stop him from picking up his cigar. 

“Please don’t light another.” She requested.  Her eyes expressing how important it was that he remained in good health.

She took two steps to leave the room but halted when she heard Mr Bajaj speak.  

“I came across the pregnancy test Prerna.”

The expression on Mrs Bajajs face although not visible to him now she was on her way out creased 

The fact that she had been worried about getting into  a impromptu pregnancy with all their recent intimacy wasn’t something she had shared with him.

He didn’t want to make this  uncomfortable for her, said his body language and the way he chose not to ask her to step back, face him or even meet his expression. He continued to speak casually.

“I’m not Mr Basu Mrs Bajaj you’ll conceive as and when you wish and when you are  ready. Rest assured I’m not frivolous on such matters.” 

“jaanti hoon” (“I know) she said with her Back to him

a little quieter as this wasn’t as easy to say out aloud. However she continued hoping he would understand. 

“The  insecurities are mine and I’ll try to see beyond them but please don’t mention Anurag.”

She was uncomfortable at the mention of Anurag around Rishabh.

“Anything for you Mrs Bajaj” he said in return. Which gave Prernas heart another layer of comfort. 

As Prerna left the room Rishabh admired everything there was to about his wife silently with a smile.

* changed this moment slightly