The arrangement wasn't easy for the couple. They both lay in their respective rooms staring blankly at the ceiling, their hearts yearning of each other. Kajal sat up, leaning against the head rest she replayed all that transpired between them. She knew she was to be blamed for the situations they were in but she now wanted to conclude whatever the result will be. With a deep sigh, she moved to the window, leaning against it she stared out into the darkness . Her eyes went to the wedding ring in her finger. She recalled the day he had visited her before leaving for UK, he had pushed the ring in her finger stating they weren't over yet. She lifted her gaze back to darkness, her eyes wet, closing her eyes she wished, 'Please god, let Tarun stop me . Let this six months turn into a forever.'
***
Tarun rubbed his chest lying on his back, his heart thudding madly against his ribs. She was back with him under the same roof, but not for long. His heart reminded him, yet he felt excited. He didn't deny that he enjoyed her presence. He chewed his lower lip, cursing himself for taking the rash decision of separation. He could have waited for her to cool down. He so wanted to save this relationship as he had reached a comfort level with her. He understood that his inability to express his feelings led to this situation. 'But you have 6 months.' His mind reminded and he jumped out of the bed all excited. He smiled to himself it was his golden chance to correct all he did wrong.
'Does she want the same?' asked his other side.His smile immediately faded, what if she doesn't want the same? What if she wanted out? He felt worried, 'then show her that staying in with you is the best choice.' He felt suddenly pumped up. Pulling out his laptop, he quickly switched it on and wrote a mail to his asking him to postpone his travel plans citing personal issue. With a wide grin he pushed his laptop flap shut.
''Why are you not in bed?'' Tarun jumped , Kajal stood at the door with a grim expression on her face. He wanted time to stop, he missed her scolding him over small things. He hid the smile that covered his lips. He opened his mouth to answer but got cut by her, ''Don't tell me you were working at this hour? Its not good to ignore health by keeping up this late.'' He smiled, keeping his laptop aside he walked to her, ''Now if you are done with your questions, can I ask just one?'' He requested
She nodded like an authority. He smiled at her expression, she looked cute.Binding his hands behind, he leaned lower to come closer to her, ''Why are you up then? Couldn't sleep alone!''
She blinked but couldn't break the eyes from him, he burst out laughing, ''Look at your face, you look like caught doing something wrong.''
''I am sorry, I over stepped. I have no right to ask you that.'' She turned away. He huffed, ''Kajal, I was mailing my boss about postponing my travel plans.''
her heart danced. ''You can go if you want to, it won't hamper anything.'' She replied without turning
''It would.'' He stopped her moving feet with his words, she still didn't turn. He walked past her and stood opposite to her with his arms crossed over his chest, ''I want us to be like we were before I messed up. even if these are few last days, I just want you to go back with good memories.''
She smiled, ''Like before right'' He nodded, she took a step, ''Then you better clean up that laundry basket by tomorrow.'' Now it was Tarun's turn to blink, she giggled walking into the hall.
''You didn't answer my question Kajal, why are up so late ?'' He followed her
She looked at him, the answer was on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to scream at his face that he was the reason, that she wanted to be with him but decided against it. She shook her head, ''Place change I guess, but you should sleep.'' She said running back to her room, not wanting to face further questions. Tarun stood there, waiting for her to come back once . She didn't. He knew it was going to be long sleepless night.
***
Kajal woke up to weird sounds coming from the hallway. She squinted, rubbed her eyes and looked around confused. She huffed realising she wasn't at her place. Putting her robe she stepped out of the room to check on the same. The sounds increased as she approached the kitchen, she peeped in to find Tarun turning it all upside down.
''What are you doing ?'' She asked looking at Kitchen's state.
''It 10:30, I am late and I don't know where is the coffee.'' he replied going ahead with the rampage. She noticed , he had been continuously moving towards the area but missing the coffee bottle. She had never seen Tarun this agitated, she picked the bottle and stood opposite to him, ''Here!''
He smiled, ''Thanks!''
''Go and get ready, I will make something for you.'' Se offered
''Oh no, I just made breakfast for both of us.'' He replied showing her the morning feast he prepared.
''This is why you are late! Why?'' She asked hoping he would answer it
''Because I wanted to, for you.'' He replied , and it was true. He made sure she saw that in his eyes proved his words. She smiled, ''then I will do the coffee.'' He nodded walking away. Kajal looked at the dishes, ''So he didn't sleep.'' She grinned, this little gesture by him fluttered her heart like wind does to flowers. Taking a deep breath, she brewed and poured two cups of coffee.
Her breath hitched when her eyes fell on Tarun, he was ready to leave. Dressed in blue shirt and crisp trousers he looked like a model shooting for an apparel brand. Though, she had seen him before like this but today her heart flipped. She took a deep breath walking into the room, ''Your coffee.''
''Thanks! Are you going to work.'' He asked just to let conversation flow
''No, I am on a break. I have done 3 assignments, too much for a year.'' She replied
''Shall we go out then, in evening.'' He offered
''Tarun, you don't have to be so considerate...'' He silenced her keeping her finger on her lips, ''I am just trying to correct my mistakes. Kajal, I am not going to lie. I regretted sending papers to you and I want to give these 6 months my best shot.'' Her breath hitched. She couldn't tell him how much pleased she was to hear those words. But she refrained from celebrating early, she still wanted to be sure about what Tarun felt for her. She promised herself about not losing her patience this time.
''So are we going out today?'' he asked and she nodded. Her jaw dropped when he placed a peck on her cheek, ''Tarun!''
''I can for 6 months !'' When she didn't respond, he smiled and walked out. Kajal stretched her body and decided to deck the house up. She got herself busy and between cursed Tarun was not keeping in tidy. She took a long leisured bath after finishing her work and then decided to read a book. Around late in the after noon she received a message from Tarun asking her to be ready by 6 PM. She rejoiced and got busy in choosing the best outfit for her first date with her husband.
It was around 6:30 in the evening when her heart leaped as someone pressed the door bell but her eyes fell looking at Tarun. His eyes looked sore and face all red, ''I will be ready in 10 mins.'' he said walking in.
''You are not well'' She said following him
''Just little cold, lets not waste time. I will freshen up.'' He replied but she pushed him down on the couch, ''No, not today. For now you need to rest.'' Her fears came true when he developed high fever by night and kept apologising for breaking the promise. She gave him a moderate tablet, after food and tucked him to bed, ''Tarun, call me if you need something.''
''I need you!'' He replied groggily under the influence of the medicine. She sat beside him holding his hand, ''I am here, sleep.'' She ordered and he followed holding her hand to his chest. She made her body comfortable against the head board. Some where in the night she felt extremely hot, when she looked around she found herself in Tarun's arms, sleeping comfortably on his chest. She couldn't understand how it happened, she looked up to his face. He slept calmly, holding her to his chest. She thought of moving away then the greed to be with him took over, she moved closer and his arms automatically tighten around her. She placed her ear against his chest to hear his heart, it sounded like music. She wanted to hear and cherish it all her life. With a smile she closed her eyes not worried about the morning.
***
Tarun opened his eyes, he felt weak. His throat felt parched, leaning against the head board he closed his eyes to gather some strength. Images of him holding Kajal flashed behind closed eyes. He shook his head, not able to understand if that was real or just a figment of his imagination.
''Good morning, here your breakfast and medicines . I called your boss and told him your will be on leave for few days.''
''How did you get his number?''
''Not his, I called Praveen. Now, finish this up.'' He kept studying her all along, there was a strange glow on her face, her cheeks looked flushed. ''Kajal...last night...''
She froze, ''Last night what?''
he noticed the change in body language and answers came to him, he did hold her and that gave him immense pleasure. He shook his head, ''Nothing! Thanks for all you did.''
''Have to, my date is still due.''
He smiled in way that was something new, it appeared as if he was teasing and flirting with her . She looked away. She quickly got up to leave. ''Kajal, the date is still on. Are you game for my kind of date?''
''have you ever taken any one on a date before?'' She questioned
''No, you are the first one. Have you been on a date before?'' he asked
''Yes, but they were pathetic. ''She replied walking out. She then peeped in to find his expression hard, 'He looks cute when jealous. I am loving it.' She danced to her victory walking away leaving Tarun all pissed.
***
''Tarun, what is more important than resting. You have been sitting on that laptop for past three hours.'' Kajal chided him for not resting. ''I just was studying..something about work.'' He stammered. She snatched it and forced him to have food and medicine, he still looked grumpy about the morning thing. Kajal pressed her lips, after the little conversation in the morning she had made up her mind to work on her relationship. Tarun had more good than bad and she wasn't going to let him slip away that easily, specially when she felt so strongly for him.
''I am switching off your laptop. Rest for sometime its still time for dinner.'' She said but her fingers stop, she grinned looking the page Tarun had been browsing, she went back to the search. She wanted to laugh, he had been searching about how to win his wife back. The word wife struck with her, she was still and was planning to be in the future too. Putting it off she cleared her throat, he looked up confused, ''I have never been in a relationship Tarun, and the dates I mentioned were just casual meetings. The guys never seemed to like me, enough.''
He grinned wide, ''Glad to hear that! So , our date is still on.'' She nodded, he immediately started feeling better. She shook her head walking out, stopped and then turned, ''By the way , did you learn anything from the search about how to win a wife back?'' Tarun opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He slid lower covering his face with a pillow, as she laughed her heart out. He smiled to himself, 'I just took the first step with your smile.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope you like it. Do leave your comments and don't forget to vote.
Next- the date.