Krishna Mohini TS "To Mumbai"
Part-1: Jasmine
1:30 Am
Aryaman glanced at his watch. They have been in the car for almost an hour. Jamnagar Airport is still a long way ahead. He felt jealous of Ketan, who was sleeping peacefully in the front. Well, why wouldn't he? After all, he did not get married and turned his life upside down. He turned to look at his 'wife'. Krishna was looking at her brother who was slumbering comfortably on her shoulder. Her left hand caressed Mohan's hair. Her right shoulder wrapped around Mohan, snuggling him. Just then, the car went over a bump causing everyone to fall forward.
"Krishna!!" Aryaman called out as he caught her by the shoulders before she hit her head on the driver's seat.
"You ok?" He asked after he pulled her behind. She nodded.
Krishna looked at Mohan. Thankfully, it didn't look like he was disturbed or hurt. She patted him lovingly and leaned back only to feel Aryaman sir's arm still around her shoulders. She looked at Aryaman-sir. It looks like he didn't notice it as he was busy enquiring driver about the sudden jerk. She didn't know how to make him realize but before she could do anything, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He murmured something along the lines of "one more hour to go" and massaged his forehead with his free hand. And before she knew it Aryaman-sir slept in that position leaving her troubled at what to do.
"Saab, we have reached the airport." The driver's voice roused Aryaman from his sleep. The smell of jasmine reached his nose. He opened his eyes and saw that Krishna was sleeping on his shoulder which was hugging her. His chin rested on top of her head. He got confused. Why was he holding her this close? When did this happen?
He heard Ketan grunt and wake up. He loosed his grip on Krishna instantly.
"Krishna.. we have reached." He said as he tapped her on the left knee to wake her up. She opened her eyes in an instant and Aryaman removed his arm as soon as she sat straight. He hoped that she never noticed it. Krishna soon started to wake her brother up.
"Mohan.. wake up. We have reached." She said as she patted on Mohan's cheek
Aryaman came out of the car not even looking at Krishna's direction. The jasmine scent was still lingering.
3:30 Am
Aryaman and Ketan returned to the waiting area after booking a special flight. Krishna and Mohan were waiting for them with the luggage. Mohan was sleeping on Krishna's lap.
"Our flight is in 1 hour" He informed Krishna. She nodded.
"We better check in fast," He said as he took the big bag. Krishna woke up Mohan. They both silently followed Aryaman's instructions. Mohan and Krishna looked around in awe as this was the first time they were in an airport. They saw that their luggage was put on a black floor that moved. Ketan said that the luggage would go directly to the airplane. This all was so new and weird.
"The security check for females is that way," Aryaman said pointing towards the right.
"Here's your boarding pass and Mohan come with us," he said as he gave Krishna the boarding pass. Mohan hesitated but left his sister's hand when Aryaman called him the second time.
Krishna looked back on her way to the security check. She let out a small smile as she saw Aryaman sir hold Mohan's hand like a brother.
A woman moved a glowing noisy stick over her body top to down behind a veiled counter.
"It looks like you are newlywed" The security woman commented as she checked Krishna from behind with the detector. Her eyes were on Krishna's chura.
Krishna nodded with a small awkward smile.
"Well then... All the best for your married life." The woman said with a wide genuine smile. She noted down Krishna's PNR number and let her pass through.
She stood outside the security checks. It looked like the men's line was much longer than the women's.
"What nonsense is this... if they wanted to check the handbag then, why did they make me put everything out of the handbag... now I have to put everything back inside." An old woman was grumbling as she put things from tray to bag. A brown packet fell from her hand spilling medicines. Krishna rushed forward to help her.
"Thank you beta." She said as Krishna picked up the scattered medicines. Mohan came near her after his security check and helped her. The granny continued to put things back in her bag while continuing to call the airport people "Gadhede" from time to time.
"Here you go, Dadi," Krishna said as she handed the packet. The old woman showed her gratitude once again. Krishna introduced herself and her brother. The old woman explained that she was going to Bangalore because her grandson's wife had delivered twins that day, and she was rushing to meet them.
"Ramesh, my elder son, was stopping me from going at night... But I reminded him that I was still his mother.. he was not my father to order me... Why should I listen to him? I am the one who became a great-grandmother. I want to see my great-grandkids soon. If Ramesh's father were still alive, he would have rushed to Bangalore at the news of Bahu going to the hospital. At least I waited till that Punjabi girl delivered my great-grandkids." The woman continued to ramble. "Are you both also going to Bangalore?" She asked as she lifted the handbag from the tray, ready to leave.
Mohan quickly responded, "No, no. Krishna Didi and I are traveling to Mumbai with Aryaman-sir. She got married to him, that's why."
As if, on cue, Aryaman came near them, "Mohan, Krishna.. let's go."
"Oh! So he is your husband." The Dadi smiled at him. Krishna awkwardly nodded as she was not used to the 'husband' word.
The Dadi asked them to help her reach her departure gate. They agreed. Aryaman led the way while Krishna held her while walking. As they walked, The older woman sensed the couple's awkwardness and chuckled.
"It seems you both are still shy around each other." She said and saw the couple exchange glances. " That is good. That is good. Initial shyness is one of the most beautiful things in marriage. Ramesh ke papa and I used to fight like cats and dogs. Even when he was hospitalized. But we were not like that in the beginning. No... no... In the first few months, I was so shy that I could not even look at his face while talking to him."
"Every time we talked, I used to look only at his watch. Then, after a few months, he suddenly stopped wearing the watch. At first, I was confused as I didn't know where to look at. Then, I decided to look at his sun locket while talking. After a few weeks, He stopped wearing even the locket. I then looked at his mustache. One day, he called me to the room all of a sudden. I asked him the reason, still looking at his mustache. He said in an exasperated voice, clearly irritated. "Arre! Tarulatha, do you really want me to shave my mustache now?" "
Mohan sniggered. Krishna and Aryaman smiled.
Dadi continued, "I laughed and he too laughed with me. That was the first time after our marriage we looked each other eye to eye."
They reached Gate 1 where the boarding for the Bangalore flight will start. Aryaman informed Dadi that she had to wait for an hour before the actual boarding started. Dadi blessed them all as they were about to leave.
"Oh!" Aryaman looked at the display board. "Our flight's boarding has started. Krishna, Mohan.. Let's go!" He caught her hand and brisked past other passengers to reach Gate 2. They met Ketan near the gate. "Ketan, Mohan will sit with you."
They walked inside the flight. Ketan and Mohan sat in their seats. Krishna and Aryaman had to walk further behind to reach their seat. As they reached their seats, Aryaman asked her to sit in the window seat. When she didn't move Aryaman looked questioningly. She nodded at her hand which was still held by him.
Aryaman released her hand with a gentle "Oh,". As she glided past him, the familiar scent of jasmine enveloped him again, and he found himself unconsciously wearing a faint smile as he settled down beside her.
To be continued
Part-2:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/krishna-mohini/5355500/krishna-mohini-ts-to-mumbai-part-2
abb zyada padhne ko milega
aur dono soo bhi gaye ase hi
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