Madhav runs into his house. The house, eventhough he has lived in it all his life - looked new. He smiled and kicked off his shoes.
"Bhai'saab!" He hears a voice. Madhav quickly turns and finds Shyaam and Devi rush down the stairs. "OMG it is you!!"
Shyaam was wearing his favourite blue shorts and a white teeshirt. His hair was messy and disarray like a bird's nest - he probably was asleep. Devi was wearing the nightgown she brought at the maternity boutique in Bandra.
"Shyaam! Devi!" Madhav exclaims as Shyaam comes running and dives into Madhav's open arms.
"Thank god you fucking returned!" Shyaam exclaims hugging Madhav tighter.
Madhav smiles and gently pats Shyaam's back.
Shyaam looks up at him. "Don't leave us again like that! Or I'll fucking hate you."
Madhav laughs. "I'm not going anywhere, Shyaam. I'm not leaving the house, our parents, you or my adorable sister in law-
Madhav let's go of Shyaam and embraces Devi - who was on the verge of tears.
"We thought we lost you forever, bhaava." She cried in his arms. "Thank thank God you came back to us! You are never getting on a plane ever again if you plan on raising your babies and your nephew."
"Nephew?" He asks looking at Devi.
Devi nods. "Shyaam and I had a baby boy - Vasudev Ramakrishna. You know - you know - he's so tiny and adorable. Come on upstairs, I want you to see him!"
"Devi - Devi! I would love to see him and hold him in my arms; but I really really want to see Shree right now."
Devi smiles. "Silly me. You must be so eager and aching to see akka. She's probably in Rukmini Mumma's library."
"Thanks Devi." Madhav says racing up the steps. He stops midway and looks down at them. "And - and I'll try to be back soon so you can show me to Vasu - or maybe in the morning I guess?"
"Morning will be perfect." Devi says.
* * * * *
Shree sighs as she finished reading the hard bound volume of Wuthering Heights. She was snuggled on the vintage Victorian setee in Rukmini's library, basked in the soft orange glow from the chandelier. She was wearing a light pink chemise-night gown with a soft cotton and lace trimming.
Groaning, she gets up with a lot of difficulty. Shree hums to herself as she walks towards the big rack of fiction novels to keep the book in it's place. It was 1 AM - and she was ready to drown herself in the sequel of Wuthering Heights.
As Shree pulls out the book she notices the door open.
Shree gasps taken aback as she sees Madhav standing across the room. He was wearing a black shirt with ironed and tailored pants.
"Madhav!" She whispers to herself and smiles. She comes running across the room, a firm hand across her baby bump. Shree wipes her moist eyes and she tries to hold his hand, but her fingers go through his form.
"My mind is playing games with me." She realizes shaking her head. She walks away and sits on the setee, wiping her tears. "You aren't real!"
"Go away!" Shree yells angrily. "I'm tired of you playing such cruel tricks on me!"
M A D H A V R A M A K R I S H N A
Anxiety bursts in my chest and my heart starts hammering. I push the heavy wooden doors of Amma's library and walk inside.
"Chellam!" I call out and I notice her seated in Amma's sofa.
She turns her head and I notice her back turned to me.
"Please go away!" She yells in agony. "You aren't real! You are a figment of my imagination! Stop tormenting me like this!"
"But Shree-" I say, walking towards her.
"My husband is gone. I don't think I'll ever get to see him again." She says weakly. "Can you please go away?"
I sit in front of her.
"My beloved Chellam." I say as I look into her tear strained face. "I really came back. I came back to you."
"That's what you say every time and disappear as I try to touch you!" She shakes her head looking away.
"I really came back this time!" I convince her. I grab her hand and place it on my chest - right above my heart.
It takes two loud heartbeats for Shree to realize that she wasn't dreaming.
"M-M-Madhav?" She asks looking into my eyes. "Is it really you?"
She places her hands on either sides of my face, staring into my eyes, and I stop breathing. Her eyes gleam with tears the moment I nod. I pull her and have her seated across my lap, while she peppers kisses all over my face. A kaleidoscope of vivid and colorful emotions fill the void that I've carried inside me since I last saw her.
I sigh in relief as I bury my face in her soft bosom, wrapping my arms around her. I feel much more safer and happier. I try to contain myself from crying, but the feeling of Shree's beating heart, the softness of her bosom, the sandal scent of her - everything, makes my eyes wet. Shree was running her fingers through my hair. I yearned for several days and nights to feel her loving touch. As her fingers comb through my hair, a soft relaxing wave washes over me. I was finally home.
Shree choked on a sob and squeezed her eyes shut, releasing an endless onslaught of tears.
"No, no, chellam." I consoled her, looking at her with tears pooling in my eyes. "Please don't cry, please."
Shree tried to give me a smile, but within a few little seconds her lips started to wobble, and with no warning she burst into tears again. She turned quickly away, not wanting me to see her face.
"Oh, Chellam." I whisper, and I hold her face, looking adoringly.
Quickly wiping the drops of tear from my eyes, I smile and run my fingers over her face, remembering the features of her beautiful beautiful face. My hands wandered up, stopping on her cheeks. For a while I held her face, staring into her beautiful black eyes.
One hand went straight to her hair. Fuck, her hair is so soft. I cupped the back of her head.
With a gentle motion, I pulled her closer. Shree leans in, her nose brushing against mine - so slowly and tenderly. Then our lips brushed teasingly, until we were kissing each other. Her hands were firmly wrapped around my neck.
Shree felt herself smile again as we kissed, the kiss compensating for all those months of our separation. We cherished that kiss. The moment was precious and we relished it. It rejuvenated our despaired souls the way a dying man does when he is offered a glass of water. A drop of tear falls from her eyes.
"Please don't cry, Shree." I murmur against her lips.
"Tears of joy, my dear husband." She says smiling.
"I love you Madhav." She whispers pressing her forehead against mine.
For a long while I tried to catch my breath, but the words stuck in my throat.
"I... I love you, Chellam." I whispered, feeling my eyes well up with tears. It was such a relief, telling her that after so long and seeing her beautiful face light up with a smile. "I love you so fucking much."
She smiled and reprimanded all at once. "No swearing in front of the babies, Madhav. They're listening intently."
"They are?"
She nods. She smiled at me and ran her fingers over her distended belly to feel them inside her, her ninth month was coming closer, and our unborn twins gave her a feeling of excitement. She knew that she would be seeing them pretty soon and the long wait was finally coming to its closing stages. In a flash, she grabs my hand and keeps it on her belly.
She kept her hand above mine, holding my hand in place until we felt movement. It was the strangest sensation. I can only barely imagine what it is like for Shree to be feeling it happen inside of her. Chuckling softly as ripples of movement occurred under our hand, she looked at me with sheer joy.
"You should be asleep." I tell her, caressing her as the clock chimes. "Come, let me take you and our adorable kannamma to bed - where is she by the way?"
"Probably downstairs with Yasho Ma." Shree says and gets up. "Afterwards, she will not let you out of her sight even for one spare second."
"Nanna! Mumma!" Madhu screams gladly as she comes running into the library. She climbs onto the setee and onto Madhav's lap. "Let's watch Paw Patrol together as a family!"
"No, young lady." Madhav says. "You need to go to bed, right now and so does your Mumma."
"No!" Madhu says crossing her arms.
"If you go to bed now, I'll promise to watch as many episodes as you want." Madhav whispers into her ears.
"I accept the deal Mr. Nanna." She says. "Tomorrow full day we watch Paw Patrol as agreed."
"Then, as agreed this little miss should be marching off to bed, right now." Madhav says.
"I'm going to bed, but I don't wanna sleep. Can we all just lie down in bed and talk?" Shree asks.
"I wanna talkie talko too!" Madhu announces standing on Madhav's lap. "We should talk about Paw Patrol new season!"
"We should talk about going on a vacation." Madhav suggests. "Just the three of us."
Shree clears her throats. "Vacation! Seriously? Look at me, please!"
"I'm sure you can change out of that night gown." Madhav says with a smile.
"Very funny." Shree says rolling her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere when I'm close to my due date."
"Come on, Shree!" Madhav pleads.
"Can we go to Munnar? It's a really nice place to be in and it's going to be a short stay. Plus, I'll make sure you have a comfortable journey to Munnar."
"Trust me, chellam." Madhav says looking intensely at Shree.
"Yeah, chellam." Madhu repeats grinning.
Shree smiles. "Alright, let's go to Munnar. It's been a while since we went to Elysium."
"Alright! We leave in two more days!" Madhav announces.
"Can we take Meow too?" Madhu asks looking at Madhav.
"Why not?" Says placing a kiss on her head.
"Can Pudding also come?" Madhu asks.
"Now who on earth is Pudding?" Madhav asks amused.
"Madhu's new cat." Shree replies and turns a stern eye to Madhu. "You won't believe how she got Pudding."
"I'll tell! I'll tell!" Madhu shouts excitedly. "I called Mumma through driver bhai's phone. And asked her if I could buy Pudding on the way from school."
"I didn't know that she named the cat Pudding!" Shree shrugged.
"Mumma said okay and pinky promised." Madhu adds.
"Pinky promised over the phone, you mean." Shree adds.
"It still counts, Mumma!" Madhu says grinning.
"She brought the cat home and I didn't couldn't ask Madhu to return it to the pet shop."
"And you couldn't say no to my cutesy little face!" Madhu exclaims and Madhav laughs out.
Shree smiles.
"Plus, Mumma loves Pudding!" Madhu announces gladly. "Pudding gets more kisses from Mumma than me and Vasu."
Madhav couldn't stop laughing.
"Keep laughing and the cat will get more kisses than you, Madhav." Shree says crossing her arms.
"I pity the cat." Madhav chuckles and Madhu snorts laughing. "Now where is Pudding, Madhu?"
"She's sleeping now." Madhu whispers.
"At least one of us is asleep!" Madhav remarks getting up. "Alright ladies, march off to bed. I want to spend more time with you'll but it's way past bedtime for both of you! Off to bed, now!"
"But I'm not sleepy, Nanna!" Madhu protests as Madhav lifts her. "I said 'Off to bed', soldier."
"Soldier isn't sleepy!!!" Madhu whines and eventually yawns.
Shree giggles and caresses Madhu's hair. Madhu yawns again and snuggles on Madhav's shoulder.
"Come on, Chellam." Madhav says to Shree as he carries Madhu out of the library.
To be continued....
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