Abandoned wife

Chapter 33

"Mrs Ranawat"

"Yes, Mr Ranawat" Smita replied in equal tone.

"What you think about dinner in Pan asian."

"I would love to."

"Then be ready at 7 on sunday. I'll pick you."

"I'll pick you" she mimic him and giggled "we live in same house my dear husband. You can't pick me. We shall leave together."

"wait and watch sweetheart." the statement bring desired result. There is tinge of red on her cheeks. She was smiling and lost in her dream world.

Monday to friday Smita spent most of her time in shopping. She brought a purse no its called clutches. She brought a clutche in five hours and Akshay brought purse, tie, shoes and two denims in that time.

"How much more time you need?" frustration is present in his voice.

"I am done." Smita whispered while closing lid of coffee flask. "where is our mugs?" she searched in cabinet.

"I already took mugs , hurry up." Akshay said looking towards the exit.

Smita came sneak out from the house, following Akshay.

"Coffee" he asked

"check" she replied

"coffee mugs"

"check"

"spare clothes"

"check"

"umbrella"

"check"

"Car keys" she asked  and he showed her.

"Then why are you waiting, lets go." she whispered and they hurriedly hope in the car.

Its a schedule they both decided to follow. Every Saturday night, Smita prepared  coffee, fill it in flask and they went on a drive without informing anyone . They drink it together wherever they like. Last time they drink it in empty road, sitting on the roadside.

Smita turn on music system on full volume. She played some peppy dance numbers.Akshay smiled looking her antics.

"So where to go today?" he asked

"Anywhere but not that road with lots of pot holes. "

"oh, that road where a car splashed mud on your clothes."

"Don't remind me."

"That was your favourite dress na?"

"Akshay, shut up."

"That colour suits you very well."

"It was not that great."

"It was not that great but you received compliment from everyone."

"I am not talking to you." she turn towards window to look outside.

"Smita, my god, you are looking drop dead gorgeous." Akshay mimic her friend with hand movement and laughed.

"Akshay stop it." she said and he stopped the car.

He poured the coffee in the mugs and handed it to her. She didn't take it.

"What, we decided, wherever you said STOP, I'll stop the car and we will drink coffee."

"Don't act innocent Akshay. You know what I mean and I'll not drink it."

"Okay, sorry, I'll not tease you."

"better" she took  her mug and start drinking

" Till the coffee finish." he laughed and she came out from the car and ran towards woods.

"Smita where are you going?" he followed her. She run few steps, turn back towards the car and sit on the driver seat.

"You know I hate running." his breath is uneven due to running.

"and I hate teasing."

Few minutes passed in silence. Coffee isn't hot anymore and they drive few more kilometers to a tea sellers shop.

"We have spare clothes right?" Akshay asked.

"Yes, we have but why are you asking?" Smita followed his gaze which is fixated on a board indicating Dalhousie 550Km.

Sudden abrupt break on the vehicle bring back Akshay from memory lane. They reached to Hazarat Nizamuddin dargah. This place is crowded most of the time and today is no exception. They parked the car in parking lot and went ahead. The atmosphere of this place is divine. There is shop on the both side of road  selling rose flowers, loban, chadar and other stuff. Akshay's eyes searching only one person in the crowd of people. They moved few more steps ahead. She he is waiting near the entrance of main shrine complex, wearing pink Anarkali dress. Her hairs were braided. She applied light make up and her overall persona is decent. She looked him and smiled.

"You wanted to meet?" she asked

"Yes." he said looking towards vaibhav who is signaling him to go ahead.

"Anything special." she asked hesitantly

"Yes, No.. I mean first we should pay respect to the saint and then discuss." Akshay said whatever came in his mind.

"Okay."

They moved inside the dargah of the saint. Akshay liked the calm this place bring to the heart. They sat in the complex for some time and then come out. They walk few more step and there is another grave.

"This is belongs to Amir khusrow" Akshay told her and she nodded in acknowledgment.

"Khusrava ishq bazi." Smita repeated few of  his words." Its written by him.? "

"Khusrava dar ishq bazi kam zi hindu jan mabash kaj baraye murda mi sojad jan-e - khes ra." Akshay repeated whole sher. "Yes its written by him."

"And what it mean?"

"You are not interested in why I called you?"

"I am interested but I love to know it too."

"I told it as this came in my mind at that time nothing special."

" tell me meaning of it." she persists

"Okay, language  at least, please?" she almost begged

"Its written in Persian"

"Tell me meaning otherwise it will bother me. It cost you nothing to give translation."

"Khusrow said that if you want to love, love like an Hindu woman. Who loved only her husband and burned herself with him in funeral pyre."

Smita was shocked, not because Amir Khusrow's poetry but Akshay's choice of words. This is not just simple words. They have deep meaning. Its about one and only love. If beloved is finished, lover will finish together. There is no future ahead, apart from the loved one. Its only chance, no second, third chance. If it failed it will remain as such there is nothing can be done.
Is this is the reason for no further dating of him?