Recap:

"What is honeymoon doing to my wife?"

I jokingly swatted his arm and he laughed harder.

"You always make me proud baby..."

With those words, he lifted the stethoscope and placed it around my neck. It felt as if I was marrying him all over again this time with love in our hearts, peace in our minds and bearing the same principle in our souls.

Tears cherished this moment too as I looked at myself and then into him. He looked a bit emotional too as he ceased the opportunity to kiss me once again and this time I could feel his want as there was lust playing along too.

As much as I wanted this to happen, I very gently pulled him out from the kiss and rubbed his tummy.

"After dinner, perhaps?", I winked.

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After a wonderful and perhaps the most relishing honeymoon, Raj ji and me took a cab back home from the railway station. There were definitely two sides of me quarelling which one wants to win.

One side was literally offended with the fact that I had to share her husband again with the outside world, breaking their cosiest, intimate and comfortable bubble that encapsulated love and laughter. The other side was however the practical one, which spoke my heart's words. The bottom line to all of it was spoken softly from within.

I missed my family.

I missed Ma Ji's quirky words, Papaji's orders and Rekha's sisterly bond. I missed that little house and the tution centre. I missed waking up at 4 A.M and doing all the chores. I missed the tired and silent  romance with her husband.

Ofcourse the open and bold honeymoon did bring me close to my husband, more than ever, but I really didn't want that sort of comfortfor eternity. I had a family to run and a dream to pursue.

This brought meaning to my life and I am glad about it. As the cab took a familiar right turn, I felt a strong arm around my neck, pulling me closer and quickly kissing my forehead.

"Welcome back to real life, I love you...", he whispered.

I smiled and leaned on his shoulder and let the breeze playfully mess my hair.  As the cab stopped, my eyes fell onto my mother in law.

She awaited our presence with so much excitement that she literally opened the cab's door and pulled me into her warmest and tightest embrace!

While my husband was unloading our huge shopping bags, I stayed there comfortably in her motherly hold.

"Bahu, you are back! I am so happy!!"

"Ma ji, aashirvaad dijiye"

"Kush raho bahu! Aao, come inside."

"Ma, even I am here! You did not even acknowledge my presence!", joked my fake-hurt husband.

"Aao aao Raj! Thum bhi!", laughed Ma ji.

God, it feels super surreal to be back!

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After a bombastic lunch, the whole family huddled in the hall while Raj ji and me shared peripheral details of our honeymoon and presented our gifts to the family.

As they listened to our stories and accepted our gifts, my mother in law just keenly looked at me and gave a nod enquiring whether everything's okay...

I smiled at her reassuringly that everything is fine and I rose to make some tea.  It genuinely felt good to be back.

My sister in law followed me to the kitchen. She gave me a big hug.

"Bhabhi, it's so good to have you back at home..."

"Thank you dear, how have you been?"

"Good Bhabhi, thank you so much for those lovely kurtis and hangings."

"You liked them dear?"

"Yes Bhabhi, very much-"

"Go tell your brother. It was his selection!"

"Oh, nice Bhabhi..."

As the milk boiled I switched off the stove but parallely I could feel the hesitation and emptiness in the conversation.

"Rekha, kya hua?", I asked her.

She looked like a caught thief.

A tear slipped through her eye as she looked at me.

I let the tea leaves stew in warm water while I looked at her.

"Bhabhi, Sushant called me..."

Oh!

I immediately peeped out of the kitchen to check whether my husband and mother in law were still having a happy conversation in the hall and I thanked God to see them having one.

I immediately rushed back to the kitchen.

"Phir?", I asked her urgently.

"He called me multiple times Bhabhi, but I didn't pick up.

One day he messaged me saying that he still misses me and is ready to talk to my parents about us-"

"What?"

"I didn't reply Bhabhi, I swear. You can even check my messages.

But Bhabhi truth to be told, I still like him a lot. He sees me for who I am Bhabhi and we both want to be engineers. We worked really hard during the exams just to ensure that we get into a good college. Bhabhi results are due next week. In the meantime even tutions will start and definitely I'll be around to help you out.

I know it sounds crazy when I say that in 17 years itself I have understood and found love. But. I really think I do Bhabhi-", and with those heavy words she broke down.

I shushed her immediately and consoled her.

"Listen to me Rekha, our family is not into love marriage and all. But if you both really prove yourself with your 12th standard results and get into a very good college, I'll understand that you both are not any distraction to each other.

If that happens, then, I shall meet him first and validate whatever you are saying. Okay? "

She smiled through those tears.

"See, now stop crying and make this tea and serve your brother.

He really missed you, okay?"

"Ok Bhabhi!"

"And Rekha?"

"Ha Bhabhi?"

"Never cry or feel bad if you are in love. Things will find their way back at you if they are meant to be. Be strong. Be bold and be hopeful. Okay?"

I saw my little sister in law nod through those words while we both carried the tea trays and biscuits to serve our family.

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