Kartavya took only seconds to match his answers with hers. After getting those desired answers he smiled to himself. Looking at his reaction Geetanjali too smiled and resumed removing her jewellery.
"Woh jo nose pin ring chain jo bhi kehte hain usse I don't know.......Usse rehne do mat nikalo cause that is somewhere saving me from my distraction" Kartavya said
"Kesa distraction?" Geetanjali knitted her eyebrows
"Woh jo laal rang ka til hain na tumhare lips par, major distraction hai kasam se..... uski ko dekhne ke chakar mein sindoor lagane mein deri ho gya aur meri biwi ko galat fehmi (misunderstanding) ki mere liye woh burden hai" Kartavya said stifling his laughter. Geetanjali didn't reply just looked down......
"Sorry for misunderstanding you........" Geetanjali's apologized
"Same to you.........I won't say that am in love with you but I genuinely want to give a try to this marriage.... What about you?" Kartavya asked
Replying to this, Geetanjali nodded her head in positive.
"Okay so for that we need to understand each other's likes and dislikes which we will know eventually but there are certain distinct activities which I am very particular about it and I feel you should be aware of it" Kartavya said
"Distinctive activities as in?" Geetanjali asked
"Jese ki I want my room clean I hate no despise messy scenarios, everything needs to be perfect and on time, discipline and punctuality is what I appreciate......say it male ego or anything but unnecessary arguments, high pitched voice, indecent activities mein tolerate nhi karta......mere business mein koi interfere kare toh mujhe irritate feel hota hai, that's it I guess.......baki you will know eventually" Kartavya mentioned
Geetanjali gulped and mentally noted everything told by Kartavya. She decided to follow all the instructions given by him inorder not to irk him.
"Tumhari koi icha hai which you want me to note ?" Kartavya asked
"Ji meri ek hi request hai.....aage chal kar hum dono mein bhi aan baan ho sakta hai which is quite obvious but mein chahti hun ki sone se pehle hum dono usse solve kar ke soye chahe woh rai (mustard) jitna chota issue ho ya Himalaya jitna bada.......koi bhi cheez apne mann mein rakh kar ek dusre ke liye koi misunderstanding create na kare" Geetanjali meekly replied
"Baas yehi aur kuch nhi?" Kartavya asked being amused and in return Geetanjali nodded her head negatively.
After a brief silence Kartavya spoke "sone chalein? Subah jaldi uthna hai"
Geetanjali looked at the bed and then at Kartavya. After debating whether Kartavya will agree to share the bed with her or should she sleep somewhere else , she decided to sleep on the couch "Ji mein couch pe so jaungi"
Saying so Geetanjali started to move towards the couch when Kartavya pulled her by her waist and she landed on the bed
Geetanjali shyly turned her face and Kartavya spoke "couch baithne ke liye hota hai sone ke liye nhi.....in addition to this size dekha hai couch ka? 2 jaan baith jaye toh teesre ke liye jagah nhi hai phir tum kese fit hogi udhar.......... sleep beside me on the bed"
"Mein change kar ke ati hun" Geetanjali said looking here and there for her bag
"Kya dhoond rahi ho?"
"Ji mera bag?"
"Umm shayad gadi mein reh gaya hoga abhi toh raat ke 11.29 ho rahe hai kisiko ko disturb karna thik nhi hoga...... you do one thing tum mere kapde pehen lo kaal subah hote hi mein tumhara bag le aunga" Kartavya suggested to which again Geetanjali nodded in yes
"come then" Kartavya hopped out of the bed and moved inside his closest asking Geetanjali to follow him
Picking out a t-shirt and jogger Kartavya asked Geetanjali to change her attire in the bathroom. He too got himself changed in his night clothes.
Moving inside the bathroom Geetanjali was awestruck looking at its size and style
Changing her attire she went inside the bedroom.
Looking at Kartavya who was sleeping on his bed basically with a hand below his head and with another he was scrolling on his mobile. She sat on the bed fidgeting with her fingers.
"Nervous?" Kartavya asked responding sooner to which Geetanjali nodded in no.
"Ek baat puchu?" Geetanjali asked while playing with her nuptial chain
"Pucho" Kartavya replied keeping his phone aside
"Umm na hi hum dost hai aur nahi lovers toh according to you esa kya hai hum dono ke beech which will bind both of us together for eternity?"
Kartavya turned to her side. Lifting his head supported by his elbow, he said "ehsaas...... na mein tumhe pehle janta tha aur na hi aab itne achese janta hun par the feeling that I have in me for you makes me feel possessive for you......I don't know why but I have a sense of protectiveness for you, duniya se bacha kar khud ke liye chupa dena chahta hun mein tumhe......... people may name this anything but the moment my eyes landed on your lips I knew this red mole is mine, I can't let anyone have access to this except me.......iske alawa I feel an emotional attachment with you and I am getting an intuition ki this emotions will keep us united..........................what about you? What is your perspective on this?"
"Jese apke liye mera til (mole) reason hai waise mere liye mera dil (heart) reason hai because of which I think hum saath rahenge" Geetanjali replied smiling sweetly
"Oooh again wahi novel mein jese hota hai dil wala story............. Ek insaan ko dekh kar dil zor se dhadak ta hai and you know ki yehi tumhara life partner hai" Kartavya teased Geetanjali
But she dismissed his thoughts by meekly whispered "Nhi......jese novel mein hota hai waise mera dil zor se dhadka hi nhi........my heart didn't beat rapidly whenever you are beside me instead it was calm......very calm jese usse pata hai ki woh safe hai, someone is there to take care of her, protect her and won't let her get shattered ever and it was the moment I knew you are my soulmate"
(BGM playing)
Hearing her explanation Kartavya felt something different in his heart. He looked at her with several emotions dancing in his eyes.
Kartavya leaned down towards Geetanjali. Their nose touching with each other's. Geetanjali anticipated that Kartavya is going to kiss her and hence she closed her eyes. Kartavya came more closer and now their lips are not even an inch apart. Looking at her closed eyes Kartavya switched off the lights from her side. Brushing his lips on her cheeks he whispered "good night Geetanjali, sleep tight" and shifted towards his side.
Geetanjali's eyes opened instantly when she found that Kartavya was simply switching off the lights and not kissing her. She smiled at herself and looked at Kartavya whose eyes were dropping due to sleep.
She herself doesn't know what came over her, she rolled and hugged Kartavya. Clutching his shirt she buried her face in his chest. Kartavya was stunned due to her sudden action but soon got his sense back and held her protectively with his right arm while he stroked her hair with his left arm. He pecked her head affectionately and Geetanjali looked at him, questioning him and herself if it is true that she got a peck after long torturing decades.
Looking at her eyes Kartavya smiled and in return she clutched his shirt more. Few tears escaped her eyes after all she got a freaking peck. It's been decades since she recieved any affection from her so called family members. But she decided not to ruin her moment and she quickly controlled her overwhelming emotions. She didn't want to spoil her new phase of life by thinking about the past and it's characters.
Gradually both drifted off to sleep, embracing each other.
NEXT MORNING
Kartavya woke up before Geetanjali. Feeling something ichy on his neck he looked at it only to find Geetanjali's hair pooled in between his neck and shoulder.
He removed it carefully inorder to have better access to her face. His eyes again landed on the little red mole. It looks so sensual that he could barely control himself. He wanted to kiss that little mole.
Geetanjali in her sleep could feel something wet near her lips, on her nose, eyes, literally everywhere on her face.
She thought it might be Kartavya kissing her. But isn't he progressing too fast in their relationship. Should she submit before her husband? Shouldn't have he asked for her consent atleast? But is she regretting?.......No absolutely not, she too has a soft corner for Kartavya, she too wanted to get kissed and kiss him but she is a bit disappointed that he is kissing her when he found her sound asleep.
Along with the wet kisses she can now hear some sounds as well. Why is he panting? Esa kya kar rahe hai jo itna jor jor se saans le rahe hai?
But for now the question is how she should react after opening her eyes?............................these were the series of thoughts going on in her mind. After contemplating a lot she finally opened her eyes. The scene infront of her made her look vulnerable and a loud shriek left from her mouth.