“Raghuveer, I let you explain because you were so intent on it, but I really don’t need an explanation. First, I had never expected any of you to remember my birthday, so this party and all was truly an exceptional gift for me. Second, I completely understand that miscommunication happens, and it’s quite silly actually what happened with you today. Third…,” she paused, not meeting his eyes.

“I trust you. I’m not going to bother to confirm your story, which, should I wish to, would be easy enough to do. And suppose even if you were lying to me, our relationship is not like that of other husbands and wives’ that I would feel jealous seeing you with another woman, right? Even if it was, I would give you a chance to explain. Honestly, we were all just worried about where you were. The only thing I was disappointed about was that you didn’t inform us where you were going.”

Our relationship may be like others, but you have every right to be jealous of me, to be angry with me. Haq jatao mujhpar. Apna bana lo.

Veer hugged her close and kissed her forehead. “You should be screaming at me, throwing everything you can get your hands on at me, kicking me out of this bedroom – sorry, this house – for the next month. You’re letting me off too easy.” Vaidehi looked up, a wholly wicked look in her eyes. “If I always did what I should do, we wouldn’t be married right now.” She was rewarded with a chuckle that she felt rumbling through his body, protectively wrapped around her. ‘I’ll make it up to you sweetheart, I promise,’ he thought.

Vaidehi and Raghuveer quickly changed and headed downstairs. While Radhika, Shraddha and Abhiram’s families had left immediately after the cake was cut, the trio stayed behind. Everyone else had changed into comfortable clothing, too, and plates of cake were just being passed around. Radhika and Shraddha, not to mention everyone else, still looked pretty pissed off, but they came over to hug her. “If one of our fiancés did this, they would have become history.” “Radhi…” “Yeah yeah, Yash Bhai explained everything. But you madam, still have a lot of explaining to do. Tomorrow.”

Vaidehi sighed and nodded at Shraddha. Veer explained to everyone what had happened with the business party, and they still seemed angry, but a bit more understanding. “Now that that’s out of the way, let’s enjoy our cake?” Vaidehi tried to diffuse the situation, and it worked; it seemed like everyone was too tired. “I have a gift for you. I couldn’t make it to the party, but at least I can give you your gift. Happy 23rd birthday, meri biwi.”

Raghuveer handed her a well-wrapped box. Vaidehi carefully opened it, and inside was a beautifully bound and signed advanced copy of a book that Vaidehi had been dying to read. Not only that, but there was a note from the author wishing her a happy birthday and a request for a heartful review. Vaidehi lifted the book out of the box and looked up at Veer, with a sheen of tears in her eyes. But as she looked back down, she saw another envelope inside the box. She opened it and found tickets to the ICC World Cup finals.

Vaidehi squealed and clapped her hands, tears spilling out of her eyes and down her face. “Shh, don’t cry. I’m hoping this means you’re happy?” Raghuveer gently wiped the tears off her face and gathered her close. “Very! I can’t put it into words.” “Not fair, Bhai! You always told us we had to earn it when we asked for tickets!” “And your Bhabhi did, gadhe. Now, chup!”

(Gadhe- donkey, chup- quiet)

Seeing Vaidehi happy cleared everyone’s moods, and they all called it a night. As Vaidehi and Raghuveer were about to sleep, she suddenly got up and turned to him. “Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hain.”

(I need to talk to you.)

“Abhi? Neend nahi aa rahi?”

(Now? You’re not sleepy?)

“Baad mein bata sakthi hoon, lekin abhi batani hain.”

(I could tell you later, but I want to talk to you now.)

“Kya baat hain?”

(What is it?)

He wrapped an arm around her and drew her close, sitting up against the headboard, and Vaidehi allowed it. “Saaf saaf bata deti hoon. Jo bhi hain humare beech, if it’s going to become something more, aapko yeh jaanna zaroori hain. Agar main kuch cheezon se normally nahi react karti, toh uske peeche ek waja hain. Bachpan mein, aur ab bhi, Maa aur Papa bohot distant the. Matlab unki puri duniya ek dusre hi the, toh humare liya kuch bacha nahi tha. Bhai aur maine Maitreyi aur Nitesh ko bhi pala.

(I’ll tell you clearly. Whatever is between us, if it’s going to become something more, you need to know this. If I don’t react to certain things normally, then there’s a reason behind it. Growing up, and now too, Maa and Papa have been very distant.  I mean, their whole world was each other, so there was nothing left for us. Bhai and I even raised Maitreyi and Nitesh.)

Tab se seekha maine, puri tarah se self-sufficient banna. Mentally, emotionally, sab kuch. Zyaada tar main bohot khush rehthi hoon, kyunki ek sukoon mili hain mujhe zindagi mein. Itne saare log hain jisse main apna samajhthi hoon, aur jo mujhe apna samajhthe hain. Lekin kabhi kabhaar, woh bachpan wala akelaapan wapas aa jata hain, aur usse main humesha ladungi. Pata nahi mujhe ki main aur kaise samjhaoon, bas…”

(I’ve learnt since then how to become completely self-sufficient. Mentally, emotionally, everything. Most of the time, I’m very happy, because I’ve found a sense of peace in life. And there are so many people that I call my own, and who call me their own. But sometimes, that childhood loneliness comes back, and I will always fight against it. I don’t know how else to tell you or make you understand, just…)

“Shh, samajh gaya main. Maine tum aur tumhari bhai ke kuch baatein sun liya. Itna accha parivaar hain, dost hain mujhe, phir bhi mujhe akelaapan mehsoos hota hain. Shayad ameer hone ka ek unavoidable side effect, ya workaholic hone ka. Joh bhi hain. Pehle main tumse issiliye bhag raha tha, kyunki woh akelaapan aadat ban gaya, aur tumhara saath jo kuch pal maine beetha, woh aadat choot raha tha. Ab aur nahi, main kahi nahi jaunga.”

(Shh, I understand. I overheard some of what you and your brother were talking about. I have such a great family, great friends, but I still feel lonely sometimes. An unavoidable side effect of being rich, I guess, or being a workaholic. Whatever it is. First, I was running away from you because that loneliness had become a habit, and in the few moments that I had spent with you, I felt I was losing that habit. But not anymore, I’m not going anywhere.)

Vaidehi smiled, biting her lip. “Mann halka lag raha hain ab.”

(My heart feels light now.)

Aur dhimaak overthinking se bhaari.

(And my mind heavy from overthinking.)

“Ab so jao, bohot thak gaye hum.”

(Now sleep, we’re both very tired.)

And like that, they fell asleep in each other’s arms. 

___

Everyone woke up late the next day, and as it was Saturday, they lazed around, not doing anything important. Although the rest of the family tried to put up a feeble protest, since it was Vaidehi and Raghuveer’s seventh monthiversary, they gave in pretty quickly when Vaidehi and Raghuveer staunchly refused. (**A/N – in logon ko bas celebration ka bahana chahiye, thak nahi jaate kya?) Raghuveer’s gift to Vaidehi that day was that he would do whatever she ordered him to that day. He thought it was proper compensation for his mistake the day before.

When Vaidehi smiled innocently, he thought she had some sinister plank cooking in her head, but she only asked that he spend the day with her. Not going outside, or shopping, or anything of that sort. But just spending the day at home with her. It was a new experience for him, relaxing at home and taking joy in the simple things. Drinking coffee out on the balcony, basking in the sun. Sitting next to each other on the swing as they read her favorite book together. Her waiting patiently for him to finish reading, so she could flip to the next page. His amusement at her reactions to the book, even though it was likely her hundredth time reading it. Cooking food together, and watching her as she randomly hummed while zipping around the kitchen. Her explanations about why this song was her favorite, or that song. The transcendent look on her face when she stopped to listen to a particularly poetic lyric.

Their peaceful reverie broke the next morning, as Raghuveer left before Vaidehi even woke up. He had left her a simple message, “Urgent work abroad. Be back in a week. Take care of yourself.” There was an ‘m’ written after, but it seemed an afterthought. An accidental scrawl of the hand. The rest of the family hadn’t been informed about any trips abroad, so they were surprised as well, but accepted it as this had happened a few times before. Raghuveer was on a government-related project. Related to the client whom his employee was supposed to meet at the business party on Vaidehi’s birthday.

It was crucial to get this deal sorted ASAP, so the government could continue with their investigations. And Raghuveer had only gotten the heads up late last night. He’d written the most impassive note, crumpling paper again and again. I can’t write this…This will be too much…You’re not a lovesick puppy writing poetry. Even writing the last note, the one he managed to leave behind, his hand was following his heart instead of his mind. How long do you have to wait before calling your arranged bride ‘meri jaan’?

Two weeks passed by in a blur. The time difference barely left a few hours each day that Raghuveer could talk to his wife or family, and the long days of confidential meetings took away that time, too. Vaidehi messaged and called him the first two days, but then got caught up in an urgent project at work and the preparations for Radhika and Shraddha’s wedding, which was in two weeks. They played a game of phone tag those two days, messaging basic ‘good morning’s and ‘how are you’s, promising to call later when they had a moment of time.

When a week passed, she messaged him again, but received no reply. It did hurt, a little, but she didn’t want to disturb him further since he seemed very busy, and she let it be. Because it was better to respect someone and accept them as they were rather than running after them only to have your heart broken. It was better to distance yourself and only appreciate what you receive rather than cursing them later for causing you pain. Or so her childhood had taught her.

One thing that was important to understand about Vaidehi was that she had a more subtle strength that people often ignored. While everyone else struggled with lost expectations and disappointment, Vaidehi had made herself so independent that she accepted the attention people gave her, while never feeling bad at their ignorance. That was not to say that she was weak-willed or spineless. No, she was bold and confident to the world. But, she knew how to choose her battles and worked to preserve her happiness. But perhaps that was changing now. Maybe, Yash was right. Maybe it was time to bring down her walls herself, to let her heart exercise itself. To let herself experience more than just her controlled contentment.

Why are you being so dramatic over a single text message? Heart broken? Seriously? Thankful, for the devil on her shoulder that brought her back to reality, Vaidehi put it out of her mind and let herself be swept up in wedding chaos.