Part-28:
Next morning, Priya woke up to find herself alone in bed. She cursed herself for sleeping due to which she didn't get to say bye to him. She stepped out of the bed but stopped listening to the soft sound of her anklet. She again sat on the bed caressing her anklets remembering the last night. He came just to spend some time with her. She blushed remembering him.
She immediately took her phone to call him.
Ram: Heloo sleepy head
Priya: I'm sorry, I don't know how I slept like a log.
Ram: you looked exhausted,so it's fine to sleep
Priya: you shouldn't have gone without waking me up.
Ram: you were in deep sleep and looking all cute. How can I wake you up?
Priya: aap bhi na. When did you reach there?
Ram: around 7.30 am. Listen biwi I will call you later. The meeting is about to get started. Eat and take rest. Bye.
Priya: bye.
Priya looked at the time, that's when she realised it was 10.45 in the morning. She got shocked seeing the time.
Priya: Maa maa
Meera ma: what happened?
Priya: why didn't you wake me up? It's very late. Now how will I go ?
Meera ma: where you have to go?
Priya: To my work, where will I go otherwise?
Meera ma: didn't you take day off today?
Priya: day off?
Meera ma: Priya, early morning Ram called us as you didn't pick the phone.
When I told you are asleep and then when I was about to wake you, he told me that you have taken a day off today and he forgot that. So asked us to let you sleep without disturbance. He will speak to you later.
Priya stared at her mother silently while Meera was confused with her daughter's behaviour.
Meera ma: what happened to you Priya? why did you take leave today? Are you fine?
Priya: woh today I had only one lecture ma so thought to take leave and rest in home instead of going there. I was little tired with the past week exam works ma.
Meera looked at her daughter surprised as Priya is the one who never takes any leave even when she is sick.
Meera ma: I'm really glad that you are taking care of yourself.
Priya: mein kahan woh toh
Meera ma: what are you murmuring?
Priya: I' m hungry ma
Meera: I will prepare your breakfast. You go and get freshen up.
Priya: ok ma
Priya took her mobile to inform twinkle, that's when she noticed Ram had already texted twinkle about her leave from her phone. Her husband had planned everything in detail. He never cease to amaze me. She smiled and went to freshen up.
Priya sat at the dining table with her breakfast enquiring about others to her mom.
Meera: Sara went to bakery, sandy and neeraj to office, maitri to her friends house, akki for shooting, shivi went for shopping with her friends. Lastly your mama and mami went to a function.
Priya: so totally,only we both are here.
Meera: yes, now eat.
Priya: I have to call brindha ma. It's been 4 days since I talked to her.
Meera: talk to her after completing your breakfast.
Priya nodded and started eating.
At the same time, bri video called her.
Priya: Hi bri, how are you?
Bri: where are you Priya? Do you have class now?
Priya: I'm in home and I'm very much free
Bri: that's fantastic, now coming to the point, Priya you never called me even once after that day at airport.
Priya: I was going to call you after my breakfast.
Bri: don't lie to me. Wait a minute I will add that husband of yours.
Ram: hi Jaan. Hello Priya
Priya smiled at his formal addressing,
Bri: Ram your wife is lying to me.
Ram: Priya why would you lie to my Jaan. It's very wrong, very very wrong.
Priya: Mr. Kapoor don't you dare to instigate bri against me.
Ram: I'm just stating the fact. Haina jaan.
Bri: haan, you are right. Even Ram called me but you didn't call me priya.
Priya: I was going to call you bri.
Ram:jaan how is adi, Kunal?
Bri: adi is here, I will add Kunal. Where is vik.
Priya: don't you have work to do Mr. Kapoor
Ram: we are free for now.
Adi started speaking, soon vik and kunal joined the call, then they had fun in group video call. They were teasing eachother and pulling others leg. After an hour, they ended the call as Ram and vik have to go.
Priya smiled to herself remembering their bickerings. She turned to find her mother smiling at her with a hint of tears in her eyes. They were now sitting in the living room. She never remembered walking over to living room.
Priya: Ma kya hua.
Meera: you are happy.
Priya: Haan ma.
Meera: I'm very happy that you are happy. Ram and his friends loves you very much and adores you.
Priya: you are right ma. You know ma Kunal and shubu are like my bodyguards. Adi and vik respect me very much. Bri woh toh Jaan hai ma like ra I mean Mr. Kapoor calls her.
They will even fight with Mr. Kapoor for me. They are all good peoples ma.
Meera: I'm glad they are in your life.
Priya smiled and placed her head on her mother's lap while her mother softly caressed her head. Soon she went into a deep slumber. Meera softly placed her head in a pillow allowing her to sleep in living room couch after covering her with a blanket while she went to prepare Lunch.
It was afternoon, Neeraj returned home to pick a file along with maitri whom he met on the way. They got shocked seeing Priya sleeping in the living room. Maitri who knows that her sister never sleeps in the day time thought whether she is unwell. So she immediately went near Priya and touched her forehead to check her temperature. While Priya murmured, ' mujhe sone do Ram' in her sleep and turned to opposite side and slept which made maitri to burst into laughter. Priya woke up startled listening to her laugh.
Priya: what happened to you pagal.
Maitri: di pagal toh aap ho woh bhi meri jeeju peh.
Priya: what are blabbering?.
Priya got up and started folding the blanket thinking about maitri's words.
Maitri: you are the one who blabbered.
Priya now got confused as she can't remember anything.
Priya: what did I say?
Maitri: trust me you don't want to hear.
Priya: what are you saying?
Now neeraj was starting to get frustrated with his wife's teasing as she is not saying what Priya said. He saw Priya murmuring something in her sleep but didn't hear the words as he stood in distance.
Maitri: woh 'mujhe sone do Ram'
Maitri burst into laughing once more while Priya's face turned the deepest shade of red in embarrassment along with a little blush.
Priya: I will never say something like that. You are lying.
Maitri: arey di why would I lie to you?
Acha leave it. Can you answer my one question truthfully?
Priya innocently nodded her head signalling her to ask,
Maitri: meri jeeju tumhe sone nahi dete hai kya?
Saying so maitri nudged Priya's shoulder slightly while Priya looked at her with her mouth in open listening to her small sister's teasing. Before Priya can reply, they heard Neeraj's angry voice.
Neeraj: maitri, enough of your nonsense. Now get my file, I'm getting late for the meeting.
Maitri looked at him irritated but went inside silently seeing him seething in anger.
Priya for the first time felt neeraj did an amazing job and blessed him in her heart otherwise her sister would never stop teasing her and she would have been dead by now with all the embarassment.
Priya literally ran into her room and locked herself inside. As if in cue, Ram called her. One look at her face in the video call. Ram burst into laughing.
Priya: why are you laughing?
Ram: okey tell me what happened?
Priya: what do you mean?
Ram: what did you do that you are looking so embarassed?
Priya: why would I be embarassed? May be I am blushing?
Ram: Trust me biwi, no one knows about your blushing face like me. I know everything about you. Now tell me.
Priya: Rammmm
Ram: kya
Ram asked in a sweet tone with cute smile which made her to slightly blush.
Priya: Do I speak in sleep?
Ram: No
Priya: Then that maitri is lying.
Ram: I don't understand, what did she say?
Priya: she said that
Ram: what she said
Priya: woh I murmured," mujhe sone do Ram'' In sleep. I will never say like that right. She is lying.
Ram started laughing out loud Making her angry.
Priya: I'm not going to talk to you. Bye
Ram: sorry sorry, but Priya trust me, maitri is not lying. You would have said that.
Priya: kya.
Ram: you always say that when I tease you while you are asleep. sometimes you will say 'mat jao na ram' and that will be my most favourite line ever.
She looked at him mortified, she covered her face with her both the hands due to which her phone slipped from her hand and fell on the bed Making him laugh in mirth.
Listening to his voice, she took her phone in the hand again
Ram: you look so cute biwi, now this is called blushing face.
Priya looked at him and answered him honestly.
Priya: I never get embarassed when you tease me, your teasing always make me to blush while others teasing even it is my sister it makes me embarassed.
Ram smiled at her.
Ram: Now you look fresh, why were you restless yesterday?
Priya: woh you didn't speak well with me for the past two days. You were very busy. When are you returning Ram? It's almost a week.
Ram: I know something is bothering you. you know I'm always there.
Priya smiled and nodded at him while decided not to push her.
Ram: It looks like we will have to stay her for another three-four days.We are trying our level best to wrap up. Let's see.
Priya: hmm. Try to return fast, Did you had your lunch?
Ram: yeah, did you eat?.
Priya: No, just now I woke up from sleep.
Ram: yeah I remember
Ram winked at her making her blush.
Ram: why don't you bring your lunch here? I'm free till evening we can talk.
Priya: Suchi
Ram: Muchi.
Priya: two minutes, I will bring the food. You to get something to eat.
Ram: ok boss.
Ram smiled at her as she was bouncing in her steps to the kitchen. he don't know whether she realises or not. But everyone can see the change in her. She is blooming.
No one will realise his change as he was always an extrovert. He didn't want to make her conscious of anything. He want her to enjoy every phase in their life to her heart content.
Priya: Ram,
Ram: haan
Priya: what are you doing?
Ram: talking to my wife.
Priya: very funny
And that's how both started their bickerings. Both chatted in the video call for more than 4 hours.
Ram: biwi I have to rush. Will call you later.
Priya: ok take care.
Priya came out after freshening up to see sandy, Sara and Maitri gossiping with eachother.
Priya: when did you all come?
Sandy: we came long back di.
Priya: no one called me.
Sara: ma ordered as not to disturb you as you were sleeping with headache.
Priya looked at her mother who gave her a knowing smile( Meera had gone to Priya's room to see whether she finsihed her lunch properly that's when she noticed her daughter busy speaking to her son-in-law and her daughter never noticed her. So silently came out of her room without disturbing) Priya smiled thinking how her mother had saved her from lots of teasings.
Sandy: are you fine di?
Priya: yeah
Sara: Shall I bring you coffee?.
Priya: I will get myself di.
Sara: okey
Priya went to kitchen and started making coffee.
Priya: thanks ma.
Meera: why are you saying thanks?
Priya: woh ma last couple of days, he was so busy that he was not able to speak properly. That's why today he called me today as he was free.
Meera: why are you explaining to me priya? It's your husband, you can speak how much time ever you want.
Priya: maa.
Meera: acha when is he returning?
Priya: may be in another 3-4 days.
Meera: okey, you go and chat with your sisters. I will bring your coffee.
Priya sat with her sisters while Meera ma brought her coffee.
Meera: By the way, Priya your anklets is very nice.
Priya looked at her mother startled,
Sandy: anklets?
Sara: wo bhi Priya. It's a miracle.
Everyone bend down to see her anklets.
Sandy: This is cute di. When did you buy?
Priya: This is an old one.
Sara: It looks new.
Maitri: may be our jeeju gifted her, am I right di?
Maitri asked with a teasing smile,
Sara: Ram kaise? He is not even here.
Priya looked at maitri in shock. She frowned at her while cooking up an answer.
Priya: I have bought it somewhere when I went for a trip with students. Today I saw that pouch in my travel bag, so decided to wear it.
Maitri: achaa
Meera: It looks good on you.
Sara: yeah it's pretty.
Priya just smiled little nervously and drank her coffee in silence. She was glad that maitri didn't tease her more about what happened in afternoon.