💙

|A glance here and there, a smile ear to ear and a feel of your presence everywhere|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

Aryan never wanted to be the cause of tears in Ruchi's eyes but he needed her to know that there was no going back.

They were married. Period.

He wanted her to believe in him and their relationship. Maybe, even lend him a chance to prove that he is her perfect match. They complement each other like no other and even though their pairing was an extempore, they shared the most pious and significant bond of love. Their past was not going to change and their present would not be functioning if they continue mourning.

They made mistakes but it's never too late to start from square one.

Aryan sighed as he was able to hear her ailing respiration. If she trembles at this rate each time he brings up their future then it's definitely going to be hard for both of them. He needed to discover better ways to establish their communication.

He inhaled a sharp breath in order to supervise his brooding anger and then gently wiped away the line of moisture threatening to escape her sclera. He didn't know what occurred in the last few years but somehow it had majorly altered the fearless girl he left behind.

"I won't force you but I don't want you to forget our truth either, Mrs. Mallik." Aryan's gaze didn't waver away while Ruchi looked down at her lap with remorse for she lacked words to go against him. Her love for him couldn't defy the arguments whereas her torn disposition couldn't absorb his retribution. She was dangling on a rope that held the door of her peace but an uncouth pull from the other end was eager to sabotage her vibrant dreams. Meanwhile, Aryan removed the food crumbs sticking around her mouth and zoned out her focus on him by his words, "Now, quickly finish your meal without messing up your face." He urged, pointing at the refilled plate.

"I am not hungry anymore." She grumbled. The beef of his speech had probably started encroaching with her appetite just like her feelings.

"I am not letting you starve under my service." He clarified and she zipped up her retort when he added, "Throw as many tantrums you want to but you won't leave from here without satiating your hunger." Aryan warned in subtle seriousness and her little nose puffed up in anger.

Ruchi was keen on resisting him and his command but she was skeptical about surpassing the challenge he put up in front of her. She was well aware that he never backed down from his statement. Besides, the sight of food was simply mousetrapping her so she gave up. Also, it was better if she could simply avoid him after this because being with him had resurfaced her old stubborn self yet again. A forgotten part of her that wasn't appreciated by many.

"I'll be leaving in a while—" Aryan said after a while and Ruchi couldn't help but hastily inquire about him out of an impulse.

"To where?"

Her innocent query spread a smile on his lips unlike her, who had to squeeze her eyes shut and bite her lame tongue for the unseen slip of vocabulary. She wished to hide in a burrow and never come out of it because even if unknowingly she had brought up the typical husband-wife question.

Aryan was about to tease her for the same but Ruchi convincingly implied otherwise, "I mean to say that you are free to go anywhere. It's not like your absence has something to do with me."

"Fine!" He affirmed and the confident demeanor slipped off her features. Ofcourse, she wanted him to stay back in the house with her. She was in a new place and surrounded by a day old unfamiliar strangers. The only physical and mental support she had was Aryan. "So after I leave and you need something then do ask for it from Gauri Didi. She'll get the chore done for—"

Ruchi feigned solid offense avoiding the fact that it was directed for the wrong thing, "I'm very capable of doing my own chores. I don't need your or the staff's assistance for my personal work if that's what you're taunting me about Mr. Aryan Mallik." She defended herself while he stared at her in amusement.

"You, sure?" He faked a frown with his lips pursued in a thin line.

"You doubt me?" She grinded her teeth in chagrin and squinted her eyes at him.

"Okay." He shook his head when an idea popped up in his mind, "You see, I like your confidence but I doubt that it might not work this time, Mrs. Mallik."

"You want me to prove it to you?" She questioned and threw her arms in the air after seeing his plain response. "Go ahead." She acknowledged haughtily, "I accept your challenge this time."

Aryan overlooked her once again in uncertainty but then quickly composed himself when Ruchi literally threw daggers at him while noisily munching on the food. He cleared his throat and rubbed his nape to cloak the fluttering butterflies in his belly, "If you can really manage on your own then why don't you cook something for us." The humility evident in his voice.

Ruchi frowned, unsure if he actually wanted her to cook because he had a horde of professional chefs in the kitchen but then she didn't ponder much for she was adamant on her decision to not let him win.

He cannot have his way with her every time. She too needed a control on her life.

"I'll cook." She announced, "Whatever you want to eat."

"Great." He beamed in zing, "Dinner with you tonight." Aryan divulged, "I will message you the menu."

Ruchi rolled her eyes at him and took a dig at his excitement, "As if there is a party tonight."

"You never know." She scrunched her nose at his playful remark and got back to her food allowing Aryan to chuckle animatedly at her annoyance and rile her up further, "I hope you won't decide to ditch me on the very first day of our union."

"You know what, Mr. Mallik.." Ruchi stood up and rested her hands on her hips, "Send me the damn menu and kindly do not show me your face until then." She jested sweetly and left his line of sight with her empty dish.

Ruchi had learnt cooking along with Kartik so she didn't worry much about the evening. In fact, she was chilled and looking forward to the dinner.

She stayed back inside the room the entire afternoon and rang to her family in order to assure them of her well-being. She had to alleviate her brother to his every question imposed for he greatly despised Aryan and was pissed each time his sister mentioned him. Kartik's resentment for his newfound brother-in-law didn't have to be any more prominent to Ruchi.

The clock struck six in the evening when Ruchi geared up to step into the kitchen and start preparing the dinner. She was fractiously waiting for Aryan's so-called message which would quote the platter, His Highness wished to have him served.

She counted and lined out the pattern on the ceiling for another forty-five minutes and thought that maybe Aryan had given up on testing her culinary skills but then a loud unexpected thud proved her otherwise. Ruchi's hand flew to her chest in alarm.

She almost experienced a mild-heart attack when Aryan stood up on his feet after vaulting inside the room through the unlocked window of the attached balcony.

Ruchi's fear stricken streak evanesced and fitted into a stolid expression. Her mouth was on the verge of awarding him with some raunchy words but she fisted her palm to curb her petulance.

"The discovery of this door was meant to be used." She pointed at the closed door in a stentorian tone, "Also, the following of basic mannerism such as knocking in order to seek permission to invade into someone's space makes a human decent."

"I'm an informal kinda guy, Baby." He waffled and passed her a dazzling smile.

"I already know it, Mr. Mallik." Ruchi remonstrated in apathy. "You are the infamous rulebreaker."

"You have been quite a heartbreaker yourself, Mrs. Mallik." Aryan chimed carelessly and Ruchi had to look away from him to soak in his accusation. His words were true, so was her heaving guilt. If only she hadn't been a coward and taken a step ahead for her future then maybe it would've saved both of their sunken ships.

"Anyways, I didn't enter from the door as I wasn't looking forward to disturbing you in case you were taking a rest." He modulated his tone softer than before, "And this is a list of dishes that you will be cooking." He handed her the paper card and dashed out of the room within a blink.

The man whom she knew wasn't the spoiled rich kid perceived by the world but a huge man-child who cared for the people around him. It's not even a complete day and he was considerate enough to worry about her opulence. He saw her through the pitch darkness when no one else did then why is she unable to look at him in the same light.

Ruchi sighed in despair and carried the card with her to the kitchen. The mansion wasn't bustling with the servants because the help had already retired early for the day abiding by their master's order. She too was thankful for the gesture because working under the scrutiny of strangers wasn't her forte.

Ruchi leaned on the kitchen counter and flipped through the card only for her eyes to do a double take and pop out of the sockets. If only the smoke blowing through her ears was visible to naked eyes because red was all she saw.

"What in the frosty hell!!??" The cuss flew out of her mouth and she gawked at the paper in palpable incomprehension.

She heavily marched towards the living room just to capture the marvel of the monkey dance of a sick human who mistakenly had an elephant's size diet plan delivered to her.

"Aryan!"

"Aryan!! Listen to me-"

"Am I invisible?" Ruchi pulled down the cap of his hoodie and yelled out his name on the top of her lungs.

"Are you speaking to me?" He shouted, making her want to cut off his ears.

She isn't here for talking to walls, right? How in the world is she not audible to him while she's screaming his name like a banshee?

Ruchi noticed his ears and pulled out the earbuds from it, cutting him off the blasting music and bringing him back to the ultimate universe. He swirled towards her and she snatched away the sunglasses shielding him from her boiling rage.

"Have you installed an artificial sun inside the mansion as well?" She asked and he shook his head, "Then why are you wearing them at night?"

Aryan was clueless of the cause behind her road rage but Ruchi wasn't having a heart to fall for that innocent pout he managed because he had for fudge's sake played her.

"What's this?" She demanded from him while waving the creased card in front of his face.

"The deets for dinner." Aryan replied, "Have you forgotten how to read? I have used English alphabets, Baby. You need get yourself specta-"

"Shut up, Aryan Mallik. Both you and I know what I'm asking you about." The truthful face he possessed made it hard for her to scold him. "You want to fucking have this all?" She sued as anger took a toll on her, "All of this?"

"Baby, its—"

"French Fries, Cheese Balls, Paneer Masala, Garlic Naan, Dal Makhni, Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio ice cream..." She recited some names but it still had more than ten dishes.

[Paneer Masala — Soft marinated paneer, tossed and slightly warmed, slow cooked with aromatic blend of spices in rich tomato based gravy.]

[Garlic Naan — Garlic Naan is a soft and fluffy Indian flatbread that is nicely infused with an irresistible garlic flavor.]

[Dal Makhni — This dal has whole black lentils cooked with butter and cream and simmered on low heat for that unique flavor.]

"What are you even saying, Baby?" He retorted, "They won't serve all of it at once even at a seven-star restaurant then how can you—" but squawked himself after reading the designer card, "What the hell!!?"

"Exactly! Now tell me if you want to eat all of them at once?" Ruchi asked, her temper increasing bit by bit as he glared at the piece of card. "Do you realize if I start cooking it now then I wouldn't be able to complete it till tomorrow—"

"I fuckin' know all of it, Baby." Aryan clipped his fingers through his unruly hairs in frustration and peered at her apologetic, "I didn't do this but that dog purposely wrote these—"

"You're doing this on purpose, Aryan." Ruchi was tired of his meaningless explanation by now. He creates scenes where she gets helpless and then simply acts nonchalant about it. "I am well aware of your eating habits so why do you want me to cook a massive buffet for just two people?" She posed, "You disliked brinjal when we were served it in Manali. Then why?" She was desperately seeking answers from him or else she would go sick.

Aryan's atoning eyes turned into a darker shade and his arms rounded around her waist taking her all by surprise. His cold hand met her otherwise warm skin over the fabrics and a surprise gasp escaped her lips. Her heart began drumming against the rib cage while her legs grew jelly and she melted in their close proximity.

"What are you d-doing?" Her voice came out barely above a faint whisper. "A-ryan?"

"You've known me a lot more than from a day or two spent in Manali yet you are now finding reasons to run away from me." He vocalized, "You told me things that I've never once imagined coming from you." A chain of emotions sparkling like infinite stars in the pool of his chaotic orbs. His agonizing mind wailing for some answers, "If I wronged you in some way then does it make you feel anything less than it?"

She had once heard from her brother that an aching soul once in his entire life feels detached from the luxuries of his surroundings. Ruchi at that very moment fathomed that she was staring at a similar person in Aryan.

He too seemed far away from the lure of pleasures and was concentrated on seeking her in his ardent prayers. He was currently drinking a poison that wasn't even meant for him. He was so involved in finding her within herself that nothing else made sense.

Aryan was aggressively walking on a path of destruction in hope to find her somewhere in between but she was heartless enough to dodge away from the turns, determined to leave him behind. He didn't mind crossing miles for her but she was afraid because he had already cracked open her frozen heart. The battle of her resistance was for nothing but still it was everything.

"Ruchi—" He faltered but just received stony silence.

Ruchi couldn't utter anything in her defense, making a dejected Aryan reel away from her. He faced the wall and didn't spare her another glance while she was again reduced into a pit of sorrows. Only if she could've named the feelings that only he can bring out of her then maybe both of their souls wouldn't be left throbbing.

"Aryan—"

"Forget it." He waved his hand in dismissal, still avoiding her, "You do not need to cook. I'll fix the dinner."

"No. Please, let me do it. I can do it." Ruchi pressingly intervened. "In fact, I can make Aloo Paratha for you." The excitement to cheer him up was hiking, "They are my speciality." She added cautiously, "But only if you want as it's not something to eat at dinner.." She said and was going back to the kitchen, "Or else I can make what you have written here—"

[Aloo Paratha — Soft wheat dough stuffed with the spicy filling of mashed potatoes with coriander, chillies and other spices and then rolled out into big round flatbreads.]

"Can I get an extra?" Aryan's little voice reached her ears.

"Huh!?" Ruchi couldn't comprehend.

"Paratha." He noted and smacked his lips together to mentally relish the long forgotten taste of his favorite home-made food. "I love them."

Her lips curled up and she bobbed her head in acquiescence, "As many as you want."

"And meethi dahi?" He supposed.

[Meethi Dahi — Sweet Yogurt]

"If it's present in the house." She quizzed.

"Yes, it is!!" Aryan cheered in delight and settled on one of the chairs, "Be quick, Baby. I'm so damn deprived of my favourite food."

"On it, Master Aryan." Ruchi mock saluted and then chuckled in gratification.

A moment of temporary exuberance was a sweet reward indeed.

Lots of Love,

ANKITA