* Quill! * - Page 40

The advice is good. She is away from the store. She needs something to do.

How long can she ignore him? He will keep messing with her and getting in her face.

Open & Close

She didn’t see him Monday or Tuesday, she heard him at night, on Wednesday morning he approached her as she was making herself some eggs “I plan to be gone for a couple days, do u need anything?”

“How about u tear up the document and let me go back home” came to mind

She shook her head quietly

Sumedha could not hang with her both days

They were going to go out Wednesday

Taaruni didn’t really care for the growing closeness but she was all Taaruni had in Delhi at the moment

“Will you ever want something from this relationship?” she asked him calmly

He was startled as usual, she was direct and upfront

“We can talk about it” he responded silkily

“If u want an open marriage I am fine” she shrugged coolly

“I DO NOT want an open marriage actually” he said firmly, his jaw twitched as he chewed the last bit of his omelette (which he made before she cooked hers BTW)

She played with her red bangles and nodded looking faraway

She did not pay a speck of attention to how great he looked in his biz travel clothes, navy jeans and a sulphur blue flannel check shirt

He sipped his coffee watching her sleepy form, clad in red pajamas with candy cane and Christmas tree pattern on it

“OK” she said turning towards the stove

“Do u want an open marriage? He goaded her

“I didn’t want a marriage” she mumbled burning holes in her eggs “Ouch!” he muttered but smiled, this was delightful for him, she was in his home, and he was chipping away at her defences, or trying to

“Umeshji or Bhaiji or Balmukundji can help out if u need anything”

She turned and watched him leave

He flashed a smile staring at the front door, as he let himself out

Lavanya called her immediately

“Like I said last nite u will be this way forever”

“U woke up and chose violence?”

“What do u mean?”

“U think I want to be here?”

“U are so crazy, there is no meter reading for it”

“I know” she hung up, tired of talking about her crazy act of holy matrimony

A week went by, and he returned the following Tuesday night, she went to Tis Hazari multiple times, to find a heavy duty lawyer, scoured 3 or 4 book shops, chatted about how to acquire rare books

Papa’s rare books supplier has sold his business in the last year and the new guy was busy trying to woo overseas buyers to bother selling to a small bookstore in Chandigarh

So she was on a mission to get herself a rare books supplier right here in Delhi

She didn’t break the terms of the contract and secretly travel to Chandigarh and spend the week there, the terms clearly stated “Taaruni Bhushan shall understake travel to Chandigarh with consent from her husband”

“I was SOOO goddamn desperate for getting the store back I never really paid any attention to what was written in the fine print

“Note to self: Next time get some sleep before sitting through a all night lawyer meeting”

Parashar called her a couple times to talk about legal matters, she talked to Harkeerat about getting cameras all over the store so she could at least ogle at it vitually

Her attachment to the store and the neighborhood had increased greatly after being abruptly snatched from that location

Harkeerat said he would “Talk to Bhabhiji first” since Taru needed to focus on her marriage

It rankled but she decided to talk to her mother

Her nephews kept her busy between 3-6 PM every evening, they did homework together and she cried to Pallavi about how she wanted everything to be the same

Nidhi would scold her about being too honest with Bhabhi in case she took the matters to her parents

But Pallavi was kind to Taaruni

Sumedha invited her for dinner Tuesday night, Pradyut came from the airport and father and son talked shop as they played billiards in the basemet as soccer played on TV

It was a cold rainy evening, he noticed she was wearing, blue jeans and a pink shirt, and had developed a habit of not noticing him

“Can I get more beer?” he raised his water mug, that looked deceptively like a alcohol mug

He hadn’t told her he was a teetotaler

She brought him 6 kinds….

Gopal was amused his son was ribbing his DIL.

They ate and were hanging out, u know, in two groups again, since MIL and DIL had somewhat of a pleasant connection

Pia and Veer attended but left at 10 PM

There was a giant commotion outside, and a soaked guard came running to announce someone “claiming to be bhabhiji’s brother was outside, DRUNK”

Taaruni turned deep red

She ran out barefeet

And saw a visibly inebriated Gaurav Bhushan staggering near a open cab door, yelling expletives at the other guard on duty.

It was indeed “Bhabhiji ka bhai” she realized in shame

Aparna was inside and was mumbling at him

“Bhayyya” she hissed

“SHOP bhi le li, aur ab iske ghar reh rahi hai?????

Pradyut was right behind her

“Bhaiii I cant talk right now” Taru shrieked

“Chal mere saath, he dragged her into the cab as she fought him

Oh no…why is Gavrav creating a scene? Pardyut was right behind. Is he going to interfere?

She is questioning him about the marriage and want to know what he wants from this marriage. He is yet to say anything.

what a slow burn?!

What's going to happen now, why gaurav is suddenly behaving this way? Fingers crossed

No one needs Brother like this.

Hope Pradyut stands up to him.

You couldn't be man enough to save father's store. She did. And this is the way you are reacting?

I guess Taruni needs brother like Gaurav to realize how decent/good her husband is.

He flashed a smile staring at the front door, as he let himself out

Killer, he is. He is going to kill her by his patience and resolve to take it slow.

@Nisha May I please have link to your old stories? I would love to read them. Your stories are stress buster.

What a difficult situation Taruni is in! She is really resilient.