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You may begin now.
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This chap is affectionately dedicated to - NehalLaddha🖤✨
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"Maybe we just love the small pieces of ourselves that we find in others............"
"Come on, you have to finish this all. And don't you dare skip the milk. I'm telling..."
Adishri cut Manjiri's speech in the middle, on noticing a huge glass of milk and a plate of ample number of sliced fruits, that had been placed before her.
"Miru, but this..."
Not letting Adishri to make any excuses, Manjiri remarked shaking her head in disapproval
"Quiet!
I'm not listening anything. Finish it off quickly."
Faint voices of Mrs Dipti Mohan and Mrs Suniti Mohan were marking their presence at the dining hall, even though they were in the kitchen, busy preparing breakfast.
"Leave Miru, she won't listen to anyone. She only does what she feels like, other's advice is poison for her."
Darting his eyes from the newspaper, Ved interrupted the conversation between the two sisters with a miffed tone.
Adishri's fluctuating mood swings and low dietary consumption were recently taking a toll of him.
To which Adishri made a totally displeased face on hearing her husband's irked remark.
Observing that, Manjiri and their Kaveri Dadi exchanged a prudent glance.
Handling the matter, Mohan Granny berated Ved
"Ved, just keep your mouth shut now. I know Shri will finish this all in a blink of an eye.
Right Shri?"
"But Dadi, I really don't feel like having anything especially this..."
Adishri's spoke but soon her words were sternly interjected by her husband's mock
"Dadi, it had sort of become a routine for her to bring out different excuses daily just to skip the milk.
I don't know how will she manage to coax our baby to have milk, when she herself doesn't like drinking it."
Manjiri offered Ved a warning look and gestured him to be mum. Taking a defeated sigh, he first looked at her and then at his granny. Nodding his head, he again got immersed into the newspaper spread on the table in front of him, whilst Manjiri settled on the chair beside the one her elder sister was seated on. She picked up the glass of milk from the tray and took it near Adishri's mouth saying
"Dii, close your eyes and gulp it down.
I'm too shutting my eyelids and counting till three, this glass should be emptied by then.
Ok so let's start... One!"
"Miru, please..."
"Dii, please.
Two!"
Unwillingly Adishri took a hold on the glass causing Manjiri to release her grip over it.
"Thre..."
Manjiri slightly opened her left eye to confirm and on finding her desired task almost getting fulfilled, she softly simpered and opened both of her eyes. She instinctively watched her sister as she gulped down the entire glass little by little. No sooner did she empty the glass, Manjiri got up and put her arms around her sister from behind whilst enunciating smilingly
"That's like a good Mumma, and you don't take Jiju's word's so seriously. I'm assuring you that we sisters, both will together coax the baby to drink milk."
"And here Miru Madam changed her party yet again."
Ved exclaimed and grinned placing down the newspaper.
Mohan Granny, who too was watching the sisters in awe, added with a low chuckle
"She always does this between you two."
"Dadi, she is notoriously fickle I tell you..."
As soon as Ved declared those words, Manjiri looked up as her husband descended the stairs and walked towards the table.
Both of their gazes settled on each other, Manjiri felt her cheeks getting warm on replaying the happenings of the previous day. While Shaurya seemed very normal, as though last night nothing happened. His lips had barely formed a smile but it was not so hard for her to tell that the corners of his eyes were crinkled up as he landed his pair of eyes upon her.
"What's happening here? All are all smiles."
Pulling out a chair for himself, Shaurya asked taking a seat beside his granny. To which she was quicker to answer
"Nothing much Shaurya, Ved was only remarking on how fickle-minded your wife is..."
On hearing that, Shaurya looked back at Manjiri for a split second. And that's when the senior Mohan ladies walked out of the kitchen with trays in their hands, still talking and giggling in between whiles.
That was nothing new, as that was how ladies of the house worked in sync. Routine household chores become very handy and less boring when people have some helping hands and some gossips to hear and tell whilst working.
"Finished? Very good!"
Mrs Dipti Mohan remarked with a satisfied smile, looking at the emptied glass of milk in front of her daughter in law.
Mrs Suniti Mohan smiled too and asked to none in particular as she placed the tray on the table
"By the way, who cajoled her to gulp?"
"Our absolutely strict Miru!"
The eldest Mohan lady gushed to her younger daughter in law as she placed the bowl of mixed veg porridge before her.
"Give this to me, Maa. You sit."
As Manjiri came forward to help, her mother in law passed the tray and pulled the chair for herself beside the one his son sat on.
As Manjiri placed the bowl of porridge in front of Mrs Suniti Mohan, she enunciated to Manjiri whilst casually passing the bowl towards her son
"Be a little strict with your picky-eater husband too.
Now see, the whole family will wordlessly dig on the porridge but he, my majesty, will casually scrunch his nose and pass the bowl to my side again..."
And Shaurya exactly did the same as his mother predicted. At this Manjiri couldn't help but giggle. She very well knew that her mother in law was only trying her luck, as both of them were sure that he wouldn't have the porridge at any cost because he used to detest it from the bottom of his heart.
When Manjiri passed the serving bowl filled with oats to Shaurya, she instantly heard Suniti say
"Instead of providing him the alternatives, you only try to be strict with him. I've toh just given up on him now."
"Well Chhoti Maa, you won't believe but yesterday only she forced him to eat beans."
Ved humorously spoke making Suniti's eyes widen a tad bit with astonishment
"Really? Quiet impressive."
She glanced at her son before finally declaring
"Now today I'll make bottle guard curry in the evening, and then I'll see how you will not eat it."
"Well you ain't have to make me eat anything in the evening as thankfully I'm invited to a wedding party tonight.
So better luck next time, Maa."
Shaurya spoke up, rubbing the side of his head on her mother's shoulder, as if coaxing her to spare him from her weird, annoying veggies torture.
Everyone at the table looked on the scene with smiles on their faces. But Shaurya's mother didn't seem much convinced, shrugging off his head she probed
"Whose wedding?"
"My senior Dr Sheena Batra's son."
As Shaurya answered, Ved quizzed him
"If I'm not wrong then she's recently promoted to being your department head, right?"
"Yeah Bhai!"
"So you're going there unaccompanied?"
Suniti asked his son yet another question, to which he only nodded. Just the next moment, she declared looking at Manjiri
"Take her along."
"Me?"
Manjiri asked with a flash of panic appearing on her face. She wasn't really that type of a person who prefer social settings.
"Yes you!"
Manjiri literally used to respect and adore her relationship with her mother in law a lot. In no time she had developed a beautiful bond with her, a bond which she had yearned immensely for, since the time she came to know what significance does a mother holds in her child's life. Though her grandmother and elder sister had always showered their motherly affection upon her, but still somewhere deep inside her, the fact of her mother passing away the very next day of her birth, used to make her feel void in her life.
Shaurya's mother provided her with every privilege that her own daughter, Shreya used to posses. Having an outgoing personality, time spent with her was always enjoyable and relaxing for Manjiri. She was anything but a controlling mother in law, but yes there were also times when she used to be impractically after her to meet her fellow kitty party friends, or to join her in all her public gatherings as an absolute dutiful daughter in law. It wouldn't be wrong if anyone ever addresses her mother in-law, a social butterfly.
"Maa, but why?"
Her shoulders slumped as she hesitantly asked, only to get quick, direct remarks in return.
"Learn to meet people. Attending social gatherings will not harm you in any way."
Instinctively, Manjiri looked towards Ved and Adishri for some support, but neither of them said anything, only offered her their positive smiles.
Before she could even think to look at the eldest Mohan lady for requisite, she heard her speak
"Yes child, know the people who work with him and let them also know who you are. I'm sure you'll have a nice time."
Before Manjiri could inwardly take a defeated sigh, she caught Shaurya's gaze. He was looking at her from the corner of his eyes, a slight grin was gracing his face.
Shaurya could not help but admire that look on her face. An amused slight smile unleashed from his lips when he found her running her hand over her hair, thus messing her already messy loose bun even more.
Inadvertently, a sudden realization crossed his mind that every time his eyes wander off somewhere, they inevitably had started seeking out to her, that to nearly each time.
Her confused eyes were unconsciously captivating and confusing him more. It made him wonder wasn't she comfortable in going out with him... Even now? She was indeed a mess, it would be too cheesy to call her a beautiful mess of a gorgeous chaos. Certainly not his way to appeal. Nonetheless, the thing that surprised him more was that he was literally craving for having her jumbled self around him, with him. He wanted to her to come along with him. He aspired to absorb, embrace her chaotic nature completely. And this was one hell of a feeling.
"Ok!"
All of a sudden her reply to his mother's utterance, made him snap out of his thoughts.
"Go and adore someone exactly as they are............
And then slowly watch them transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves."
_
_
_
"Our trains are meant to reach the same destination............."
"Thank God! Finally you're here..."
As Shaurya entered his room, Manjiri's voice made his hand pause at the door knob.
He found out that she was about to come out of the room, if he would have been late for a second or two then perhaps they would have bumped into each other.
When she stepped aside and gave him way, he turned and closed the door whilst remarking
"For a change I'm awaited, that's strange!"
Feeling her gaze upon him, he turned. Immediately, Manjiri held his arm and took him to the wardrobe stating
"Yes, now come with me and help me out."
The wardrobe was wide open, and before it, a bar stool chair was placed. Before he could wonder why it was kept there, he heard her commanding
"Stand on this and bring down those two bags from there."
And at then he realized why he had been keenly awaited. Poor he! He was being glad in vain.
He sighed staring at her incredulously. Sparing a glance at the open cabinets attached to the ceiling, he muttered
"But what happened? They are looking good there, what's the need to bring them down?"
Just then his phone started ringing. Before he could attend the call, she held his hand pleading
"Hey, please wait!
I need to take out clothes from them. It's really urgent."
"I need to take this, will do your work afterwards."
He replied dodging away.
"But Shaurya..."
She paused in midway when he answered the call and raised a finger at her motioning to give him a second. It can be a minute or an hour also. What if he meant a day... Who knows?
_
When Shaurya came back to his room from the balcony after finishing up his call, his stride abruptly faltered on finding a person whom he can't stand in his room, in place of his wife. With a harsh tone, he vocalised
"Excuse me!"
The person turned around, Shaurya's eye got widened when he observed his brand-new premium wristwatch gracing on that person's wrist.
"What's up Bhai?"
"Of course my serotonin level and blood pressure after seeing you here.
So just get lost straight away!"
Shaurya commented sarcastically whilst pushing his phone inside his pocket.
Dubious Dev asked warily
"Sorry?"
"Yes, you should be sorry for barging into my room and touching my belongings."
Shaurya hissed whilst unclasping the clasp of his dear wristwatch and taking it back in his hands. To which Dev immediately retorted
"Oh hello, I also have no interest in coming here.
I'm here only because of Miru Bhabhi, as she is urgently requiring my help in dislocating few bags from the top.
But now when I'm here, she isn't."
"Where is she?"
Shaurya asked, darting his eyes all around.
Just then Dev unleashed his mischievous smile and came a little forward.
Pointing and putting his finger on Shaurya's left side of the chest, he spoke
"Right here, isn't she?"
At one moment, Shaurya looked down understanding to what his brother meant. And at next moment, Dev flicked his nose a little harshly and dodged a little away in haste
"Boop!"
"Dev, you as...."
Holding his nose, irritated Shaurya opened his mouth to let out his annoyance. But before he could complete his utterance, Dev announced chortling
"Just so you know Bhai, this conversation is being recorded. So be careful whilst cursing me."
Shaurya was about to give Dev a proper return gift, but when sounds of approaching footsteps reached his ears, he looked towards the doorway
"Here you are Bhabhi!
You know na I can't stand this human, then also you left me here in his company..."
Shaurya rolled his eyes over his brother's dramatic attitude and choice of words. Walking in the room, Manjiri explained
"Actually Dadi was needing some..."
Interrupting her explanation, Dev wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the wardrobe whilst asking her
"Leave all this, just tell me how can I help you? Out of all those items, which bags you were talking about?"
Shaurya cringed at his brother's stunt. He felt left out in his own room, he wondered why Dev was so annoying. He too felt bad that his own wife chose to seek help from another person instead of him. After all he didn't refuse her, he just procrastinated a little.
What was really his mistake if his phone call was thirty-two minutes long.
He marched towards the very two humans who had pissed him off, peeling off Dev's arm from Manjiri's shoulders, he very gently spoke
"Dr Dev, you want to help, right? So could you help us in minding our own business?"
Both Dev and Manjiri looked at Shaurya with narrowed eyes, and then they exchanged an awkward glance among themselves.
"Yeah, of course!"
Dev finished shrugging his shoulders, though he didn't really acknowledge Shaurya's unwelcoming attitude towards him.
However, he wasn't surprised at all as that was nothing new to him.
Dev and Shaurya, only had one and a half year age difference between them. As kids, when one of them needed something, so did the other. Hence, they were often forced to share which resulted in their unending fights.
Being so close in age meant that they were both at the same level when it came to arguing, which could be infuriating, which led to more arguing and then ultimately they were mostly found holding each other's collars. Whenever they weren't used to be satisfied with their verbal wars, they both wouldn't even fail in punching, kicking or pulling each other's hair to get their point across.
Hereby, they both were the closest allies to one another.
But that doesn't either meant that they were least concerned for other one's well-being. Knowing each other's nature, preferences, level of anger, extent of care and limited brotherly affection, they very well knew how to be there for the other one always, without infringing his personal space.
No doubt they cruelly argue or fight day in and day out, but none can't deny that eventually they both only find different ways of talking to each other without any need of an apology, at long last.
When both the brothers were having a heated staring session, Manjiri kept oscillating her eyes time and again with a clueless expression pasted on her face. Before she could even think to interrupt, Dev started walking out of the room after receiving a silent message from Shaurya.
Stopping outside the threshold of the room, Dev dramatically turned around a bit. With a fake super sad, disappointed tone and look, he uttered
"This is the last time I'm stepping on this pedestal, just so you both know."
Rolling his eyes, Shaurya waved goodbye while responding to Dev's melodramatic words
"Thankfully!
Hope you keep your word, Miss Drama Queen."
When Dev left, Manjiri angled her neck towards Shaurya.
Sensing her gaze, he immediately lowered his waving hand. Knitting her eyebrows, she probed him
"What abruptly went wrong with him?"
"What was even ever right with him."
He drawled dryly as he led them to the wardrobe again. Climbing on the bar stool chair, he quizzed her
"Which one?"
"That big brown bag. And also that grey one in the extreme corner."
Growing his scowl a little deeper, he shifted a few contents of the cabinet to make way for the bags whilst grumbling
"You could've waited for me, why did you call Dev?"
She could tell by his body language that he was a little upset with her. She simply answered, as if stating a matter of fact
"I thought you might take long in finishing up the call..."
Turning around with a huge bag in his hands, he cut her in the middle. He sounded a bit offended.
"But I didn't! Now step aside."
"Give it to me."
She demanded raising her hands in the air towards him to get hold on the bag. He raised his eyebrows in uncertainty, he appeared doubtful
"Are you sure? It's heavy.
Not just heavy, it is quite heavy. "
"Yup no problem, I can carry."
She assured him with a smile.
Dubious Shaurya hesitantly extended his hands to pass her the bag but before Manjiri could even feel the rough fabric of the bag, he retreated telling her
"No, leave it.
I myself will keep it down."
Manjiri found her smiling at his concern. Regardless of any circumstance, he very effortlessly, without even trying manages to remind her that she isn't unattended and that she is seen, heard, cared, looked after and understood. His gesture would seemingly be a small thing for many, but it conveyed a lot to her.
As he put the bag against the floor and climbed up the stool again to bring down another bag, he heard her saying
"Careful!"
Just then he chanced a glance at her, she was standing so near the stool with an absolute alert gaze like she would catch him if his feet wobble a bit. Instantly, his eyes sparked with amusement thinking of that scene. Why was she so unduly babyish? He questioned himself. At then, he suddenly felt so wrong to even think of being upset with her for long.
"Now this grey one, right?"
He asked her to confirm, to which replied
"Yes!"
As he descended the stool along with the bag, Manjiri offered him a genuine smile mumbling
"Thank you, couldn't have bring these down without you."
He said nothing in response, and turned around to leave. All of a sudden, he froze on his steps when he sensed her tugging at his sleeve.
Turning around, he stilled and looked at her. He clicked his tongue
"Anything more has to be done?"
She shook her head in a negative and dropped her gaze towards his hands. And suddenly at next moment, he felt her hands hold his. When his gaze met her, she quizzed
"Something is wrong with you, isn't it?"
"Is it?... Glad you noticed."
He replied with an exaggerated surprised look. As a response, she scrunched her nose first and then slowly muttered
"You know, these typical scowling wife like temperament isn't suiting you at all... This is giving me an awful vibe."
"Really? You should have thought of it yester night.
Weren't you the one who had this typical scowling wife like temperament at then?"
He mocked turning aside, so now his side profile was only visible to her. Encircling his arm in between her arms, she came closer to him, almost hugging his right arm. Slightly grinning up at his little surprised and a little contented face, she voiced
"Now whether typical or atypical, the truth will always remain that I'm am the wife here. Thereby, you don't try to act one."
In actuality, he wanted to be more mad at her. At least close to or a little more annoyed than she was with him the previous day.
But the way she was trying her best in mending the fences and make up with him seemed so touching and impressive that he couldn't hold on to his exasperation any longer.
Eying her closely, he asked her with sheer innocence
"Then how should I act, Silly Head?"
"Act like my Dr Shaurya."
She argued, making him smile gleefully.
Diminishing the gap between them, Shaurya leaned a little and planted an unhurried, moist fervent peck upon her forehead, nearly in between her eyebrows.
"Is this how your Dr Shaurya act?"
His voice was barely above a whisper. Instead of answering, Manjiri attempted to smile. However, he could anyhow clearly see the blush on her cheeks. When her blush grew deeper, she averted her gaze from his and rested her head against his shoulder. Thus, making him grin a lot more.
"Hope you have a relationship that's real for once and you are sure of where you are in their life.......
Hope you're not a distraction or a past time or something to be used. But a love, a sweetheart, a muse!.......
Hope you are something to somebody and that they are just as crazy about you as you are for them........ : ) "
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Dear ones, do share your honest views on this chap and the story, as this is the only source of motivation which literally pushes me to pen down.
This can also help me in improving. So yes, eagerly waiting now.
I would really appreciate if each one of you will come and put forward your genuine reviews + expectations from me and "JI HUZOORI".
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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.
In case if you want to share your views or suggest something, you are more than welcome.
⭐My sincere request to all the SILENT READERS - Do vote this chap.⭐
Till then take care and stay connected.
Love ♥️✨