Chapter 10
Spilling steaming hot coffee over shivs chest the sensation of burning could be seen on shivs expression yet being shiv kapoor he doesn't let much on. Silently injuring the pain he watches gauri In an overwhelmed panic.
"Sorry woah…jaal raha hoga naa..ab mein kya karu!"…in a state of panic gauri worries yet sees no sense to the situation. Looking at shivs shirt ruined..remembering how hot the drink was gauris panic and anxity turns into tears that cup her eyes. Shiv softly watches…as she tries to look for a first aid kit and walks in the wrong direction…grabbing her wrist as she walks past to stop her. Gauri feels that warm touch and the feeling inside starts to butterfly worried about him gauri tries to explain her search yet shiv doesn't give her the chance. Letting go of gauri walking a few steps to the bedside table he opens a drawer. Taking out a first aid kit he leaves it on the table..turning to gauri with the look of understanding…he unbuttons his shirt…leaving gauri In a state of embarrassment.
……Unbuttoning each button with a defining moment gauris expression shakes into embarrassment as she realises the reality of the situation. Gauris expression tries to hide behind a barrier of hesitation yet her feelings are on show with the crimson color that takes over her cheeks. Yet from another point of view..shiv had no altera motive he was simply removing the stained shirt that was causing discomfort but he was sharp enough to know and notice the impact this kind of situation would have on gauri. It would make her uncomfortable and it was doing just that. …shiv watched gauri from the short distance and something within him felt the urge to provoke her…..yet the innocence she carried was too overpowering for shiv. All the while keeping his watch on an self-conscious gauri shiv removed his shirt..slowly taking it off you could say prolonging the action just to see gauri this way something inside him was enjoying the tease. Arm by arm shiv softly took himself out of the shirt and threw the stained material onto the bed. Hearing the Russell of a swift throw gauri takes a glance up by chance and lays eyes on her husbands shirtless figure.
Surprised..startled by a built figure in front of her..gauris expression turns red at embarrassment. Seeing her husband in this way for the first time gauri knew not what to do.. scattering her sight past all angles gauri was like a blushing bride.
She coudnt deny that shivs appearance attracted her….but she was inoccent soft and meek In personality that never would allow any extravagant moves… trying to avoid the moment shiv watched upon gauris uneasy eyes…..
He knew she was uncomfortable and instead of expecting anything from her he walked towards the side table, picked up cotton wool…dipped it in a sort of pasty oitment and rubbed It against his chest… his skin had gone a shad of red where gauri had spilled the hot liquid over him. There was bound to be a stinging sensation but he let nothing on. Very sliently and smoothly completing his task shiv walked towards his waldrobe took out a nightshirt and slipped it on. From the corner of her eye gauri watched. Seeing that shiv had now changed she managed to feel a little more comfortable.
Shiv walked around her…past the bed to the other side and from a distance threw a pillow to the other side of the bed…it was an indication that this side was his but she could have the other side.
Shiv went about his usual routine and in due cause fell asleep on his side of the bed. But for gauri she wasn't comfortable…she avoided shiv …went to fetch water..to the rest room…and a number of other chores until she walked into the room with care and saw shiv asleep.
Looking around the room she is unsure as if to take the space next to shiv or not..unable to decide gauris eyes fall on shivs chair….but even then would it be right to take his chair?
----- Hours into the night and gauri sits on her side of the bed..watching over her husband sleeping in peace…gauri thinks over him, she was still self-conscious from earlier..weather she would like to belive it or not he was having an impact. But there was still that side of her that felt uncomfortable unknown to him. She couldn't forgive him so easily and the way she behaved was a symbol of her feelings. Having watched shiv in deep sleep …gauri takes a cushion from her side of the bed and leaves the room silently as not to disturb shiv.
Next morning and as shiv leaves his bedside and heads for the shower gauri takes advantage of the situation and enters the room..taking fresh clothes…her mangalsutra and box of sindhoor she leaves the room quickly as not to be seen by shiv.
Later into the morning as gauri walks into the grand lounge of the haveli..an unexpected and unfamiliar looking guest stands before her. Not anupam but standing next to her an peitie looking older lady... frosty white hair….tradional Indian attire of a cream saari…fair skinned rosy cheeks and half moon spectacles an special glow in her eyes just like the one anupam carried. She was adorable and gauri had gone through a possible list of people she could be in her mind but only one ticked the box. When anupam as lightly and evergreen as ever made an introduction.
Anupam: "Gauri yey Meri dadi hai", As soon as gauri heard ..her prediction was approved of..this lady had the same aura as anupam airy and positive.
As anupam introduced gauri… dadi looked at gauri with all knowing understanding. It was as if she already knew of gauri.
"Dadi yeh aapki bahu…..mera matlab shiv ki gauri…shiv ki patni.."
Dadis eyes lit up when anupam introduced gauri it waas like she already knew everything about her and gauris expression took to a smile too. Behaving in the proper way in accordance to her nature gauri takes dadis blessings which impresses her. In this sort of situation a long winded interaction formulates and it was just saw…gauri laughed lightly at anupams jokes and made her self comfortable with dadis presence. Sitting around the louge area the picture from a distance is of a family atmosphere but as footsteps are sounded and shiv walks down the staircase and stops at a certain stair….all eyes are drawn in his direction.
All suited and booted, a tie-less attire…with that sense of superiority shivs look consists of a black suit white shirt there was a fare sparkle to his eyes today. At seeing dadi his lips creases to a soft smile. With all that was shiv kapoor.shiv …formal yet not to his usual extent. But both dadi and anupam noticed how gauri blushed at the site of shiv… crimson red cheeks an agitated persona she couldn't control herself yet she put on the face of not noticing shiv. She tried all pretence but it was obvious that shivs presence was making changes to her zone.
As shiv stood smiling he took a hidden glance towards gauri..he saw all that the others were seeing and was a little amused. Not acting upon gauri..he concentrated on dadi. Walking towards her with a sense of subtle excitement shiv kapoors innocence under that hard exterior shun threw when he opened his arms for dadi and dadi too happy to see him gave shiv a hug.
Leaving gauri shocked in surprise, after all she had never seen shiv like this before. He was always moral in the way he behaved with her anyway…she had always been confronted with an firm personality.
Whatever it was it was adorable….anupams dadi was close to shiv and her tears her excitement said it all. As shiv took dadi into his arms..gauri immediately flash backed the moment in which shiv had offered the same for her and she had rejected. Feeling insecure at that thought gauri brushed it all back and ignored the strange feelings arising within.
The more light hearted moment was of shiv and dadi…under a very silent interaction as shiv had taken dadi into his hug he thanked her… "sukhriya dadi.. aane ke leighyey." Dadi just smiled although frail she carried a outstanding smile which could comfort anybody. But in all her wiseness just before dadi parted from shiv she had noticed the cotton dressing under his shirt…
It was the dressing where gauris coffee spill had burnt . shiv yey kya hua beta?... touching upon the patch under his shirt..a worried look took over dadis face. Shiv took a glance a gauris passive presense and commented.
"aapki bahu se puchyey " shiv turned to gauri and he looked rather serious..gauri avoided the moment and the only excuse she could think of was…coffee.!
Leaving shiv thinking he was a point up gauri fled just in time only to come back with coffee. As she served teas the one cup left on the tray was shivs.. gauri did the act with the upmost care. Avoid him was the one rule yet as she approached shiv who was sitting next to dadi the moment was in favour of shiv. His glares purposely turned gauri to a blushing bride in seconds.
…….
As shiv decides to take his responisblites for this village more seriously he takes anupam as a guide around the village. Wanting to know more about the type of place he was responsible for shiv decided that it would be better if they went in looking like tourists as not to pull any attention to shiv. He wanted to see the villages for what they really were…and Someone who knew the place better than he did… driving amongst rural land…farms…dry landscapes all in this jeep of there was a rather overhelming with heat. The only positive being that anuapam had stocked up on water and that they were both dressed to battle the heat. Shiv in his farmilar white and anuapm in a blue shade….with the aid of sunglasses adds a hint of what he thinks is trendy. As anupam drives along they come across a range of villagers that are walking past. Some who notice shiv and reconise him pay there respects yet shiv feels out of place. he was used to people reconising him as shiv kapoor yet this was something different. Here he was reconised as the possessor of the community of the land…of everything. It was a diffent type of power that he was estranged to. As wemon and children past anuppam reconised even spoke to some of them…shiv observed how content the people were..
Not rich yet rich with all the important things in live. Love happiness, attitude to life. Anupam explained how the men of these villages worked in his farther cotton mills……mehen had opened a number of these mills to employ these poor families.. and he had created a community.
"Shiv bade papa ne jo kiya hai naa its commendable". Maybe anupam just wanted to know if shiv was still in the same mind frame of anger when it came to his farther and the look and comment shiv gave showed that he still was.
Shiv: "Dad ne aise bhi kuch kaam keiyey hai jiske leighyey mein une kabhi maaf nahin karsakta."
Just as anupam is trying to defend mehen shiv is quick to add to his words …..
"Mere Mom ke hote hue dusri shaadhi anupam.. tum maaf karpaate?"
Shivs comment was still full with resentment for his farther…it was true that somewhere down the line he had forgiven his farther yet the incident with faking his illness had been the icing on the cake which had bought up old wounds.
Before anupam could console shiv or correct him in any manner shiv had noticed something and asked anupam to stop the car. A little harsh breaking had stopped them outside the police station.
Anupam questions why shiv was so interested In the police station but shiv talks of having something to attend to and anupam goes along with his reasoning.
As both of them walk into the conventional looking police station…the smallness of it, wooden interior…and a rather sluggish overweight looking police officer reacts at there interance..
Getting up from behind his desk in one shot..he takes his hat of as a gesture of respect…
Officer: sahab aap..
Shiv says nothing…looking around the room his eyes trail to the row of prisoners behind bars… he comes across an array of soleless characters but one in particular that he looks for is seen. Locker number 12:
He was gauris farther... shiv took a momental glance..and then turned away and took a seat in front of the police officer and anupam following in shivs footsteps did the same.
…. The officer was putting on a pretentious loyalty which could be seen clearly.
Anupam had no idea what was going on yet…he was putting the pieces together silently until shiv asks something of him.
Anupam iske naam ek blank cheque likho. Anupam thinks about what shivs had demanded and then acts upon it…reaching into his blazer pocket he takes out a cheque book and pen and scrbbles and tears off a slip putting infront of the officer all he could ever want.
Officer: "Nahin sahab aap kahyey mein aapke leigyey kya karsakta hoon." Pushing back the piece of paper the officer proves his loyalty.
Shiv: "Muje us locker ki chavi chahiyey. Shivs indication was to the imprisonment of gauris farther.
As shiv and anupam headed back for the haveli anupam couldn't help but question. "Shiv woh already jail mein hai ..???"
Shiv gave a two-worded answer with very little more to say. "Jaanta hoon."
Anupam didn't quite understand maybe it was so shiv could be sure that he would never get in gauris way but something told him it was just a shiv kapoor thing -something that maybe he wouldn't understand.
………….
Back at the haveli as only two of them are present gauri spends her time looking after dadis needs. Being old she had a number of different things to remember, medicine food specifics…there was a certain way around everything.
In the comfort of the lounge dadi lies on one of the sofas for an late afternoon nap and as gauri walks past trying to keep as quite as possible dadis
calls her over with a hand gesture. Gauri smiles and walks towards dadi. Taking a seat next to her she realises that dadi wanted to talk to her… yet there was something that was bothering dadi… -- gauri: aap theekh toe hai naa dadi?
Dadi tells gauri that her feet are burderened with arthritis and gauri offers to massarge them. Dadi had really took to gauri…they made small talked and laughed…
Dadi "Gauri beta…"
"ji dadi…" looking up from pressing dadis feet gauri sees a familiar glow in dadis eyes, she had the same feel as shiv.
Shiv ko kya hua…aaj subha woah meine dekha ke… dadi was talking about the dressing under shivs shirt.
Gauri was unsure if it was the right thing to say but..it felt right. With a little insecurity she spoke "Woahh..dadi..meine unpe garam coffee giraadi.." the amusing thing was tha even though gauri was embarrassed by her mistake dadi found it hilarious…her laugh was miniature, sweet and comforting, it made gauri laugh too. From a distance..shiv enters the haveli floors and seeing dadi and gauri together happens to overhear.
Dadi: "Jo bhi ho woah tume pyaar karta hai lekin khud mehzoos nahin kiya hai ab tak. "
Gauri disagrees with dadis comment.. she says very little yet her expression shows a sadness.
"Dadi mein unki simidari hoon aur kuch nahin..
Une pyaar nahin karti. Unki isaat karti hoon, une aapna pati maanti hoon lekin…pyaar..pyaar nahin." Gauris eyes show a deep sorrow, she was in a situation that made her feel confused and helpless. in response dad just smiled…
Listing in to gauris words shiv takes note of gauris feeling and understands how frail this relationship really is. Thinking over it he walks away to freshen up. Whilst dadi consoles gauri.
"Jaanti hu..bete..shiv ne muje sab kuch baatayay tha." It was true, shiv was very close to dadi and had told dadi everything about gauri. Dadi knew that she could never really understand what gauri was going through to the full yet is saw something common in gauri…something that she had been through in the past too. Comforting gauri with a touch of the shoulder dadi shared something that she had never told anyone with gauri
jab meri sadhi hue thi naa toe muje bhi aise lag ta tha…..lekin aaaj woah nahin rahe lekin une pyaar karne se fursaat nahin. There was so much love in those old eyes and it gave gauri hope.
Gauri was curious to as what dadaji was like in persona…she was so lovely and gauri was sure he would be too… -- "Woah kaise the dadi…??" asking with innocence dadi liked that she had found someone to talk to.
"Bilkul anupam ki taara.." both dadi and gauri find a lightness that leaves them smiling……….
As shiv freshens up into a change of clothes he tops off his white shirt look with a brown blazer. he takes out of his trouser pocket the key the officer had given him and takes a thoughtful look at it. Walking towards a certain drawer he opens it..places the key inside and closes it shut.
Walking into a rather quite senorio as shiv walks into the lounge he sees an unusal site. Anupam and gauri are sitting oppersite each other at a game of chess. Shiv knew his friend was a keen player yet gauri, that surprised him. Watching silently shiv happens to be in time for the last move where gauri wins the game. Dadi and anupam both commend gauri on her game yet not knowing of shivs presence gauri is shook in surprise when she hears shivs voice. Shiv walking towards the chess table stops behind anuapms chair to tease ..yet it was unclear of who his words were aimed at. He was looking at gauri yet maybe his words were for anupam? But gauri new that he had stressed the fact that she was his wife and hearing it from him made gauri feel a sensation of nerves.
Tum shiv kapoor ki patni se khel rahe the anupam haarna toe tume tha hein.
Shiv stands behind anupams chair and consoles his loss..yet his eyes watch gauri. As anupam leaves his seat to sit next to dadi gauri also wants to leave yet shiv stops her. Sitting in anuapms place shiv takes off his blazer and drops it on the back of the chair. Sitting in front of the chess bored and an nervous gauri who was just about to run off shiv touches upon gauris hand just as she tries to leave. "Tum kaha jaa rahin ho gauri.?" Gauri struggles for a response "…ji wohh…"
Shiv knowing full well what gauri was thinking takes advantage of the situation.
Shiv: "Hame bhi ,moka do…yeh dekhna hai ke vaakaihein tum is khel mein kitni maahir ho."
Sparkes were flying from where dadi and anupam were watching for and liked that the two were finally spending some time together. Shivs eyes gave of a deep stare at gauri as he spoke….
"Ise aur bhi diljaasab banate hai…" picking up the scattered pieces on the board shiv tidied them up all the while talking with an certain influence. Glancing towards gauri he laid down his conditions.
"Agar mein hara toe Ek pura din tumare naam..lekin agar mein jeeta toe kal ka din tum mere naam karongi." Shivs words made gauri feel on edge…the look in shivs eyes was more than just a airy joke and gauri began to think over the possibilities.
Shivs expression was as ever serious but within there was a sense of knowing. He new how to pull the strings in his direction and it was working.
Gauri was on edge…she never interacted with calmness around shiv and his new way of playing with her mind was even more striking for gauri. She watched gauri with a cunning look and Anupam applauded the idea. He was ready to get the popcorn out.
Gauri couldn't object after he was In all ways demanding by personality and by nature gauri was timid..she couldn't speak up against his words as the the game went on. Mehen had taught gauri how to play but she new that if there was one person that won over mehen it was shiv. Gauri took the first move as shiv insisted ladies first. The game went on..gauri tried her best to avoid eye contact…her never were almost visible in the game yet she played well. Every move of hers provided a challenge for shiv.
Shiv spoke silently as to distract gauri… rubbing his chest from what he made out to be an inch shiv took his move with some words that made gauri blush. Lagta hai aapka pehla kaam is dressing ko badalna hoga gauri…ji. Giving a rather mischievous look and adding that ji to his words really distracted gauri.. she felt uncomfortable yet couldn't deny that her husband was charaming in every way.
As the game went on neck and neck…it was coming to an end..with very little pices left on the board shivs black king and horses seemed to dominate the game. It looked as if shiv was about to win. Anupam getting a little worried for gauri bites his nails. Gauri wouldn't have minded loosing to him yet spending time with him, judinging from his words it would be an ordeal of embarrassment. As shiv is distracted by a phone call he puts it off for a few moves yet when the beeping become repeated he takes the call. Walking out of the lounge he leaves gauri and her spectators.
Conversation between dadi and anuapm strikes they spark an idea. As dadi gives a mysterious wink to gauri… anupam takes the opportunity and moves one or two pecies in gauris favour. Not approving of it gauri tries to stops anupam yet its too late. As shiv returns and takes his seat…a little distracted he waits for gauris move. Yet this one move ment that she had won the came. It was unclear if shiv had overlooked to cheating or not noticed it at all yet he congratulated gauri over her win.
That night three of them…dadi anupam and gauri spend the night talking …gauri falls asleep beside dadis bed and late into the night she retreats to her bedroom..avoiding disturbing shiv.
Next morning as gauri freshens her self up she cant help but think about last nights happenings. She began to wonder if it was dream or realitly. Standing in front of the mirror gauri applies her sindhoor…puts her mangaltura around her neck and touches up her red saari look.
Wondering weather it was a dream was ruled out when In the mirror she saw shivs reflection standing behind her. Shiv took a few defined steps closer that raised gauris heartbeat. Dressed in immaculate black he looked as handsome as ever, carring a sense of authority and power…shiv changed his stance folding his arms across his chest he waited for gauri. …..
Turning around to face him she took a glance up to shiv and dropped her gaze. His Meier presence sent her butterflies within yet when he spoke the feeling within her gave away. She was misplaced uneasy. As he spoke each word played in gauris mind with an echo
"Mera pura din aaj tumare naam ….ab kaho kya chahti ho mujse?"
Gauri couldn't believe the situation, she never thought a man of shivs stature would accept defeat and act upon his words like this…..
What was she going to ask of him?????------------------------------
"Mera pura din aaj tumare naam ?.ab kaho kya chahti ho mujse?"
Wow!That's superb.Claps 4 u & shiv.He rocked in the last scene thru his dialogue.Dadi's description was lovely.Wish i could c her.Who is playing Dadi's role?
Originally posted by: Naina2127
omgomgomg! this was such an awesome update! loved the chess game but o.O what will she ask of him?!
do continue soon!
~Naina
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