He closed the door gently and sauntered in. The haveli was quiet, he just the way he liked after a long day. He heard the soft tinkle of payal coming out his room. A vision in white stepped out with a steel jug. She stopped the second she noticed him. He smiled. She just ignored and kept walking. He covered the distance between them in a few swift strides.
She glared at him for blocking her way. "Shrimatiji, where are you going?" he asked softly. She pushed him away with the jug. He grabbed it and tossed it aside. "Aren't you happy to see your husband home?" he asked. She replied that she would have been happier if her husband had returned at a reasonable hour.
He laughed softly as he fingered her hair. So that's why she was upset. He could do the decent thing and apologise. But he was her Jallad. "If I come early, I wouldn't get to pull you close and kiss you like this," he said before his mouth covered hers and his body wrapping hers up in a cocoon. She pulled away in shock, "Did you stay away on purpose? I thought you had work keeping you busy."
He didn't say anything but his eyes gave him away. Bapusa had come all the way to headquarters certain that his son would go there first. Even then he didn't meet him just sent her home and continued to work. "Paro try and understand, Ranavat came there to pick you. Weren't you happy to be home early? I know you missed everyone when we were away. And how long would you wait for me to finish," he explained wrapping his arms around her dainty waist.
She looked away. She was happy to be with Bapusa, Sunheri and Jeeja. But that didn't mean she couldn't have his company too. Why couldn't they be a big happy family? Then she remembered the Ranavat clan weren't happy. There was too much anger and betrayal. They all had some issue or the other. The only tie that bound them was the love between the brothers of the older generation Bapusa and Kakosa.
"Go freshen up. I will get your dinner," she said turning aside. His fingers trailed her long sinewy arm as she pulled away. "I ate Paro. Come to bed," he said. She pointed towards their room, "That wasn't a request. It was an order you just have to obey." He raised his eyebrow when he heard his own words used against him. But her face was unrelenting. He saluted, "Yes ma'am."
Paro watched him walk away. He was always the soldier. Even in exhaustion, his broad shoulders never slumped, hands never stilled as the boots thudded along the corridors. She almost turned into the kitchen when she saw him walk past the fountain. He was heading to Bapusa's room. She smiled. The two were such odd balls. Bapusa had come all the way to the headquarters just to make sure his son was in one piece. And now Rudra was sneaking in to check if his father was hale and healthy just the way they left him.
Within minutes, Paro had returned to the room with a plate filled with roti, dal and his favorite potatoes. She placed it on the coffee table and looked around when her feet gave way. She braced herself for impact. But nothing happened. She felt herself ensconced in a warm pair of arms. "Rudra," she whispered feeling his chiseled chest under her palms. She breathed in the fresh lime smell that invaded her senses after his showers.
He watched the faint tint of pink on her tired cheeks. Her lip disappeared under pearly teeth. Her soft bosom heaved as she drew in breathe. He moved closer feeling her touch against his heart. They were no longer soft and tentative but determined and firm against his skin. The organ responded violently to its queen.
"Aren't you hungry?" she asked as he scooped her up in his arms. "I'm ravenous," he said carrying her to their bed. She giggled as she felt him place her, "Wait!" He shook his head. He wasn't going to be patient tonight. He had done his best to stay focused on his work. But now it's was time to be at ease. He ripped off the cotton duppatta as his lips found the spot which made her insides quiver.
Paro's mind was becoming hazy. She was forgetting what she had planned on asking him. Things that hadn't let her fall sleep even though it was 1 am. "Just one minute, Rudra. Then I will do whatever you ask," she said tugging his silken hair back gently. She gasped when she saw how much she was desired unmasked in his eyes. How could anyone want a simple girl like her so desperately?
"50 seconds, Shrimatiji," he growled. She shut her eyes to gain some perspective. "What did Bade saab say about Jeeja?" He got up annoyed. Their marital bed wasn't the place for her to bring up his boss. "I wanted to ask you when you were eating. I know how much this case is affecting you. I was worried and couldn't sleep," she replied.
This girl would become the death of him. He bent down and kissed her tenderly. "I don't want you to loose sleep over my work," he said. She smiled. How could she sleep soundly unless his mind is at peace. She knew how important his work is. Rudra smiled. This was exactly why he liked coming home to Paro. She always knew what to say.
"I haven't told General Singh about Nandini yet. There was a meeting with Major Sequiera the lawyer who is representing us. I don't trust him to reveal everything to him," he said. She frowned at his lack of faith. "Don't look at me like that. If Tejawat had been getting away with this for 17 years he must have someone in the BSD on his side. And before you ask your Jeeja is fine. You can talk to her through secure channels tomorrow morning," he said.
She raised herself slowly and held his stubbled jaw gently between her teeth. He closed his eyes when he felt soft kisses raining on his face. She felt him tremble and wrapped her arms around him bringing her closer. He pulled her on his lap wondering when his luck had changed. When did his namesake realise that he needed love so badly.
Her mouth moved to his neck leaving leaving languorous, dozing kisses all over him. He purred in contentment weaving his fingers through her hair. He felt soft suckles on his skin, a roving open mouth, a hungry mouth, needing him as desperately as he needed her back. He tries to take over but she pushed him back gently. She had taken his Yes ma'am' to heart.
Rudra was the first to wake up a few hours later. Beside him, Paro nuzzled closer, working her head in against his shoulder as they lay against each other, exhausted after several hours of love making. He pulled his perfect blanket more closely around him, reveling in its softness. He kissed her hand gently and felt a smile against his skin.
She was awake too. But her eyes didn't open yet. What seemed like a good idea last night was mortifying in the light of day. How could she face him today? And why did he let her take charge? She felt him play with her hair as it cascaded across his broad chest. "Rudra?" she asked softly without raising her head.
His hands ceased it's movement. "Do you need something," he asked. "Can you close your eyes? I want to get up," she said. He wanted to laugh. He knew more about her form than she ever would. Lack of sight wasn't going to change that. But he knew his wife had her inhibitions though she gave into his whims. He closed his eyes as requested.
Paro quickly got dressed and rushed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Soon she fell back into the comfortable routine with Jeeja. Her heart stopped when she heard the faintest thud of army boots. Was he looking for her? Her skin flushed as she remembered last night. Was he thinking of it too? "Paro, the rotis are getting burnt. Where is your head today?" Jeeja scolded gently attending to the stove.
"She wants to remind me of my bachelor days," Rudra said making her drop the belan. He caught it before it landed on her foot. "Shrimatiji, can I get a cup of tea before I leave," he said handing it back nonchalantly. She stared at his retreating legs. Was he trying to steal a quiet moment before breakfast?
"Crazy girl! What is going on? First you forget devarsa's tea. Then you burn breakfast. And now you are staring at the kitchen door," Jeeja scolded. She rubbed her arm and took out a fresh cup. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Paro, You call me Jeeja. It's my right to scold you when you are wrong," her sister said.
Paro turned around and said that she is correct with a smile. "And it's your right to come to me when you need to talk someone," her sister continued. Paro shook her head and said nothing was wrong. "When you are married to my devarsa how can anything go wrong? I can see how things have changed between you two. My little sister is always smiling these days. But sometimes we need to talk just foe talking sake. Why don't you give devarsa his tea? I will finish making breakfast and we can have a nice long chat," Jeeja said.
Paro took the tea tray and went to her room. She found it empty. She started to look around for him. She didn't find him anywhere. The back door opened and Sumer bhaisa came in, "Bhabhisa, are you looking for Rudra? He was heading to the terrace." She thanked him quickly and climbed up the stairs.
She had been his wife and partner for months now. Still as he watched her drape an end of her dupatta over her head, his heart stopped. How did someone so fragile become his greatest strength? How did someone so sheltered manage to put the beast to him to sleep? The Jallad will sleep and the man will wake up,' she had told him. But neither of them knew how hard the journey was going to be.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked curiously. He reminded her of the day she returned to the haveli and challenged him. "I was wrong to think of you as the villain," she admitted. He took the tea cup and placed it on the ledge. They were both wrong. But now the truth was out. The past didn't matter. "I was waiting for you," he said holding her by the waist and pulling her close. She smiled he always searches for her when they are apart. She felt the same way.
The dupatta she held over her head slipped out of her grasp in the warm morning breeze. He caught it and arranged it on her head. His fingers grazed over her soft skin leaving a trail of fire in its wake. They deliberately paused at her rosy lips tugging them closer. His mouth covered hers with insistent, probing kisses, his body wrapping hers up in a blanket of lukewarm comfort. His shoulders hunched and he brought one arm under her neck and one under her shoulder blades. A soft growl escaped him.
Her hand weaved into his neck as when she felt the cold metal against her skin. She pulled away realising he was in uniform and was heading to work. "You will be late," she said placing her forehead on his. "You could come along. Stay in my tent. I could sneak away to see you," he said. She laughed. Major Rudra Pratap Ranavat wouldn't think of anything but his case once his feet crossed this threshold. "That's not true. I think of you," he said. That meant she was being a bad wife who wasn't letting her husband do his work. "Nothing about you is bad," he said placing a kiss on his forehead and holding her close.
She saw him reach for something in his pockets. "Do you have a present for me?" she asked excited. "I don't go about carry trinkets for you in my pockets all the time. I have my things there too," he said. She didn't reply but just placed her hand on his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed. "Give her the phone," he told the caller. Then he handed over his mobile to his wife letting her go.
"Nandu Jeeja?" she asked wide eyed. She had been waiting to talk to her. But Rudra had returned late and she decided to ask him about it today. But as usual her husband gave her what he wanted before he asked. She saw him walk to the parapet wall with his tea giving her some privacy.
"How are you Jeeja? Is the safe house convenient? Do you need anything?" she asked. Nandini replied that it was fine but she couldn't stay there for long. "Not long Jeeja. Just till the trial is over. If Thakursa finds out he won't spare you," she said. She knew well how it felt to be trapped in a strange place. She would try to escape. "The trial is starting Jeeja. Once you testify they won't hide you from the world anymore. Please be patient for me," she asked.
He felt a pair of hands hold him from the back. He wished his uniform didn't stand in the way of her softness pressed against her. "Jeeja isn't happy. I wish I could see her and tell her it will get better," she said. He pulled her around and pointed to a tree discretely, "Those men are watching the haveli," he whispered.
Someone or the other were always watching over their home or following her at a distance. She had gotten used to her new life as the wife of a BSD officer. Guards were appointed to protect them from the dangerous foes he attracted. "Paro, they are Tejawat's men not mine," he said. Her eyes grew wide with fear.
"You don't have to worry. They cannot come in. You are safe here. But if you go out of this haveli and they follow, we can't stop them from going to public spaces. And if you lead them to your Jeeja's safe house. Everything is finished," he explained. She nodded slowly. She could be patient for her sister's safety. "Good girl," he said leading her downstairs.
Nandini was glad that she could talk to her sister. It had been terribly boring since she got here. She had absolutely nothing to do. The men who watched her were of the decent sort who left her to her devices. That gave her some relief from her former prison. But she wished for more than 10 words a day.
There was a series of knocks. The constable got up to open the door letting his colleague in. She had tried to memorise the pattern so that atleast she can let her own protectors in. But they changed it everyday. "Nandiniji, we bought your dinner," they called. She saw the disposable tableware and the food parcels. She had offered to cook their meals. But they wanted to keep the appearance that other than two bachelors no one stayed here.
She ate in silence and watched them talk. Things had become hectic since the Major had returned. More patrols were ordered and training drills were enforced strictly. She wondered again what kind of man her sister had wed. She hadn't seen him since she was brought here. He and that other bhaisa were staying away.
They finished their meal. She paused as she washed her hands. "Do you need anything?" one of them asked. She paused. She asked for a piece of paper where she wrote down a small list of herbs. "What's this for?" they asked slightly suspicious. She replied that she wasn't feeling well and wanted to make herself a herbal tea.
They were immediately concerned. Should they get a doctor or smuggle her to a hospital? One of them pulled out his phone to call Major Ranavat. "No don't. I don't want to trouble him. Just get me these things," she pleaded. She knew he was a busy man and wanted him to spend his free time with Paro not take care of her.
Within half an hour, the tea was boiling. "Do you want some too? It's very relaxing," she asked the remaining soldier. He politely refused. She insisted and brought him a cup too. He thanked her, "You are very much like Parvati bhabhisa. She also makes sure that we are taken care of when we are posted at their haveli." He emptied his cup.
She was nothing like Paro. Paro would be strong and wait for things to get better than to escape. Paro would never try to hurt the people trying to protect her. She would never use her guileless face to sedate someone. She was the good girl raised by her mother. The kind Officer's wife. She watched her protector fall asleep.
She slowly slipped out of the door. She smiled as she breathed the free air. She looked around and saw two little girls run barefoot with a kite. Silly little things they had no idea how dark their future would be. She walked in the opposite direction. She saw some men holding court under the shade of a tree. The old fools took themselves too serious. She saw a woman with her head covered and a plate of offerings. The poor girl must be heading to pray for her deadbeat husband who considered her as nothing but a tool.
Her feet had taken her to the market square. She saw vegetables vendors haggle with housewives. She saw a clothes merchant arrange his display. She saw a toy shop with golden haired dolls unlike what she had seen in Birpur. This must be a bigger town. She followed the glitter of bangles the stopped. Why would she need jewelry now? There was no one to impress.
She saw a cobbler stare expectantly. She adjusted her veil. A leer appeared on his face when he saw her trip over a rock. He rubbed his hands excited over a prospective customer. She turned away. She would walk barefoot but not give in to his tricks. She turned aside when she noticed a wide eyed man.
She turned aside and walked back to the safe house. She heard firm footfalls behind her. She held her skirt ghagra wondering how she could loose him. A hand held her shoulder tightly. She stopped walking. "Aren't you," he started to ask when she slapped him and ran. She bolted the door as soon as she stepped in. She had been so selfish. Tejawat would hear of her return and use this against the BSD. "Oh Paro! What have I done?" her heart cried out.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
