Chapter 25 Matured

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

Flashback in blue

~25~

"Anuj... how is this?"

She stopped on her tracks to see him conversing with a pretty woman dressed in a tight fit champagne colored dress that hugged her curves perfectly and stopped at her thighs. Her slender long legs were perfectly waxed and she wore stilettos. Her perfectly manicured nails and classy make up made everyone in the mall turn and look at her. But she seemed to be fully engrossed in her husband. Anu felt a prick in her heart as she noticed the besotted look she gave her husband.

It didn't take long for Anuj to feel her presence. He turned around and saw her. In answer to her questioning glance he said

"Anu... this is Rhea. Rhea meet my wife Anupamaa."

"THIS is Anupamaa?"

Anu sighed. She was by now used to being recognized by random people who turned out later to be Anuj's friends. She folded her hands together in a Namaste when Rhea continued 

"You actually left ME for HER?"

Anu's hands trembled a little as reality sunk in. She must have been something more than a friend to him. Nervously mumbling she needed to see the shopkeeper, she hurried away before Anuj could say anything.

She stood in the boutique aimlessly caressing the fabric of the sarees laid out before her as her mind took her back to the taunts she had heard when Mr. Shah's affair was out.

"If she had satisfied him why would he have looked outside?"

"Look at her. Look at Vanraj. How would a man with such a big job want a classless woman as his wife."

Even Mr. Shah had taunted her.

"I felt suffocated with you. If you had satisfied me, why would I have even thought about Kavya in the first place?"

"Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you really think you match my personality?"

Her train of thoughts broke as she felt a warm hand caressing hers. She looked up to see him looking at her worriedly.

"Leave me...."

She tried to pull her hand away but he clutched it tightly.

"Anu... listen.."

"People are looking... leave me..."

He let go of her hand. She looked up at him, hurt that he let go so easily. She saw him scanning the shelves with his eyes.

"The 3rd one on the second shelf, can you take that out."

She heard his voice and looked to the sarees he had pointed out. He had chosen a pale pink soft silk one with a thin silver zari border. It looked pretty to her but she had lost her mood to shop today. 

"Anuj..."

He pretended not to hear her and said to the sales executive

"I would like to help my wife try this on. Can you show us the way to the dressing room please?"

As he pointed the way, Anuj nodded at him

"Thank you... uh we need some privacy. I am sure you can arrange that. Come Anu"

He held her hand and led her in the room. As soon as they were in and he had locked the door, she started quietly 

"Anuj... why are we here?"

"To try this on... why else?"

"I am not in the mood, Anuj. Let's go home."

"Why?"

She looked away from him and mumbled 

"As if you don't know..."

He grabbed her by the shoulders

"Anu... Anu... look at me... didn't I tell you long back that I did have a fair share of affairs? But trust me Anu... the past is past... I love you and only you..."

She pushed off his hands.

"No... no.. don't... don't..."

"Anu?"

"You are just saying that... I am not a fool Anuj and I am not blind either. That girl... whoever she was... is still crazy about you. I can read it in her eyes... she is everything a business man like you would want in a wife."

She suddenly unpinned her pallu and removed her saree in a swift move standing in front of him only in her blouse and underskirt. She looked at him with wild eyes.

"Look at me... why... why would you want me.. when girls like that are crazy about you... tell me honestly... why..."

The disquiet in her eyes and demeanor shook him. Rage filled his heart as he understood the reason for her vulnerability. He wanted to right away go take his hockey stick and break the bones of that idiot who had been the root cause of her pain but he knew it would not help her in any way. Taking a deep breath he calmed himself down for her. 

Reaching out, he took the pale pink saree and slowly draped it around her waist letting his fingers gently graze them. Tracing small patterns all along her waistline, he placed his lips on her ears and whispered 

"Someone who knows

Every little touch of mine

For she always follows

Every little prayer of mine

This is what I want"

Her rugged breaths slowed down at his touch. Safely pinning one end to her waist he took the other end and pleated it. As he placed it on her shoulders, he let his fingers roam through the neckline of her blouse dropping dangerously close to her chest. Her body arched forward to his hands as a sense of anticipation replaced the initial despondency.

"Someone who can feel

All my unspoken words

And make me kneel

With the love she holds

This is what I want"

He placed the pallu and secured it safely with a pin. Falling to his knees, he gathered the rest of the material and started pleating it. Once done, he held the pleat in one hand and put the other round her waist pulling it close to his lips. Adorning the space between the blouse and her skirt with wet kisses, he slowly inserted the pleats inside her skirt. He let his hands go deeper than necessary caressing every feminine curve of hers. She drew a sharp sigh and he looked up to see her eyes look dazed, the fear and unrest completely gone. He took his hands out of her skirt and stood up. Holding her shoulders, he gently guided her to the full length mirror.

"Someone who would

Hold my hand

When no one else would

And beside me stand

This is what I want"

He placed his lips on her neck planting a gentle kiss there. He tipped her chin and made her look at the mirror. Pointing to their reflection, he said

"This is... All I want... You... Us... We... are all I had... do... and would... always want..."

She looked at the mirror. Their reflection looked beautiful to her eyes. She leaned back into him and guided his arms to her waist. Closing her eyes, she let herself melt in his arms.

***

A/N: Hope you like it. Excuse my humble attempt at the verse... Not really good at it.

 25th part and 75th pageThanks for all your support. 

And as a little thank you note.... I will upload a bonus choclatey day with Mr and Mrs. Kapadia soon. The part will be available here in IF only.