That was her gift
She filled you with the words you didn't know were there.
~Atticus

***

I again wake up in the morning really early. I feel sleepy all the time but at night when I try to sleep, I can't. What the hell is this?

I go to the cafe early before Hriday wakes up, not wanting to face him after the events of yesterday night. He  anyway doesn't like seeing my face.

It's a Friday and the day is uneventful. I concentrate on making the cheese cake that Chanchal asked me to bring.

When I go out, Hriday's car is waiting for me with the driver. Will I ever get used to someone always being there for my beck and call. I feel like I don't deserve all this. What have I done in life to get this?

Married rich.

I have everything and nothing all at once.

I get in the car and greet Shyam kaka who is the driver. He is a good man. "Kaka ye lijiye cake. Ghar ja ke Sheetal ko jarur dena" I say handing him the cake. Sheetal is his daughter.

"Aapne kyu taklif uthayi" he smiles at me and starts the car.

"Taklif kya isme? Aur aap jaldi ghar jaaya karo, aapke wife ki delivery date nazdeek aa rahi hai na. Mai akele ja sakti hu ghar" I tell him.

"Nahi nahi. Hriday sahib ne mujhe orders diye hai ke aapko kahi bhi akele na jaane du" he says looking at me from the rearview mirror.

"Hriday sahib gaye bhaad me" I huff.

"Aise mat boliye. Vo bahot achhe insaan hai" he says.

"Achhe insaan? Aur vo? Rehne do kaka mere saamne aap buraai kar sakte ho. Mai ja ke aapke boss ko chugli nahi karungi" I tell him and smile sheepishly.

"Nahi vo sach me bahot achhe insaan hai. Sheetal ke padhai ke kharche me vo hamesha bahot madat kiye hai. Aur mujhe abhi bhi bole hai, order diye hai, Shobha ki delivery achhe hospital me hi karwaane aur bole hai ke mai paiso ki chinta na karu" he says and I see his greatful smile in the mirror.

Wow. I didn't expect that. But then nothing with Hriday is expected.

We reach the house and that's when I remember I had to buy some toiletries. Kaka offers to drive me there but I persuade him to let me go alone. Paas me hi hai waise bhi dukaan.

I buy the necessary stuff and when I'm going back, my eyes fall on a familiar face. It's Devika. With a guy. And she's crying. Again.

We are near the bungalow and as always the neighborhood is almost empty.

Aise bade bade gharo me kisi ko kuch padi kyu nahi hoti? Sab ko bass khud se matlab hai. I doubt aadhe logo ko pata bhi hoga ke unke side wale ghar me kon rehta hai.

But that's not the matter here.

I seriously don't want to butt in her personal matter but she's crying. I have to go and see whether that guy is hurting her in any way. I check whether my pepper spray is in my bag and slowly walk towards them and hide behind a tree. Near enough to hear them and far enough so that they can't see me.

"Mujhe koi baat nahi karni tumse. You make your decision or we will simply break up" the guy says pushing off Devika's hand that's on his shoulder.

"But I'm not ready for that stuff yet Rahul" Devika cries.

So the asshole has a name.

And what stuff are they talking about.

"Do saal se we've been dating. Now we should do it. It's time" he says.

"You know na baby mere ghar ki condition kaisi hai. I just-"

"Don't you trust me?" He asks.

"I do"

"Don't you love me?"

"Of course I do"

"Then problem kya hai. I want to take the next step with you. Physical hona koi buri baat nahi hai. Vicky aur Tejal ko dekho. They've been together for just two months and they've had sex".

I gasp. Sex? Sex? He's forcing her to have sex. Iski toh mai..

"I need the answer soon ya fir mai ye samajh lunga that you don't love me. It's better to break up then" he says getting on his bike and leaving a sobbing Devika on the street.

She stands there, completely still for a while and then finally wipes her tears and turns.

Her eyes fall on me. Shit!

She storms towards me and pushes me harshly. I stumble back. "So you're stalking me now ha! I told you to stay out of my business. Problem kya hai tumhari? Yaha chhup ke sab baate sunn rahi thi?" She shouts.

I hug her.

I just hug her. She goes completely stiff and I hug her more tightly. When she doesn't hug me back, I slowly let go.

I take her hand and lead her towards a nearby abandoned bench and she lets me. I make her sit there and I sit beside her. The sun is setting and soon it will be dark.

For a moment I just look up at the sky waiting for her breathing to calm down.

"Devika, I know tum mujhse nafrat karti ho. You blame me for Ekansh's death. Kuch galat nahi hai usme" I take a pause and she doesn't reply.

"Ekansh bahot baate karta tha tumhari. Last year jab tumhara beauty contest tha yaad hai? Aur Ekansh ko tumne earrings laane bheja tha kyu ki tum bimaar thi?" I ask and she frowns but nods.

"Tab mai thi uske saath. Itne saare dukaan ghum ke tumne di hui description ke hisaab se red and golden combination ke specific length ke jhumke usne aise dhoonde the jaise tumhare liye pati dhoond raha ho" I laugh at the memory and I see Devika's lips form into a sad smile.

"Vo tumhe pictures kheech kheech ke bhejta raha aur tumhare replies the ke 'ha ye thik hai, vo thik hai', lekin tumhare reply ke baad vo seedha shops le nikal jaata. Sach bataau toh mere per dard karne lage the pura market ghum kar. Mai usse chillayi bhi ke vo bol toh rahi hai thik hai. Le lo na koi bhi earrings" I say and then face her completely.

"Do you know usne mujhe kya kaha tha?"

I place my hand on hers and gulp. "Mujhe Devika ke liye kuch thik ya achha nahi chahiye. Perfect chahiye. Absolutely perfect" I say and tears roll down her cheeks.

"I remember your reply after he sent you one specific picture of a set. 'Bhai they-"

"Bhai they are perfect. Just what I needed" she completes my sentence looking into a distance as more tears fill in her eyes.

"Devika, usse tumhare liye earrings tak perfect chahiye the. Earrings. How would he feel about you settling for a guy.. like that" I say and her head lowers.

"Sahi galat ki samajh hone jitni tum smart ho. Baaki ka I'll let you figure out yourself. But agar tumhe meri koi bhi jarurat ho toh tell me. Tumhe agar mujhpe chilla ke achha lagta ho toh vo bhi kar lo. I'm ready to listen. I just want you to be happy because I know that's what Ekansh would want. I want that too" I say and get up.

"Abhi ghar aana chaahogi or you need some time by yourself?" I ask.

She shakes her head and gets up and I smile as we walk towards the house. She presses the code on the door and gives me a small smile before going upstairs to her bedroom.

That little smile makes my whole day.

Dekh rahe ho Ekansh? Mai dheere dheere seekh rahi hu. Tumhari baate follow kar rahi hu.

"Chanchal!" I call out and she comes running towards me and takes the box from my hands.

She pulls my hand so that I bend forward and kisses my cheek. "Thank you bhabhi" she says and hops into the kitchen.

I have tea with daada daadi and then when chachi and Hriday's mom come into the room and start giving me looks of disapproval, I run to the room upstairs.

Hriday barges into the bedroom after an hour or so and I jump in surprise. Jaldi aa gaye aaj?

As soon as he enters he opens the door to the walk in closet and removes some of his clothes.

"Aap kahi ja rahe ho?" I ask.

"Tumse matlab?" He snaps.

"Tumse matlab 'you' in English" I murmur under my breath.

He suddenly stops whatever he's doing and looks at me slowly. "Seriously Shravni?"

I look away.

"Hriday sahib neeche khana laga diya hai. Aap dono ko bulaya hai" Aashish kaka informs us and leaves.

Hriday groans in irritation. He walks out of the room and I follow him downstairs where everyone is already seated for dinner.

We both take our places as Lalita tai brings the food. "Hriday meeting kal hai na. Aaram se subah tak pahoch jaaoge Surat. Khaana aaram se khaao" his mom tells him.

I start eating and my eyes meet Devika's. She offers me a small smile as my chest fills with warmth. I smile back.

I see Chachi and Hriday eyeing me suspiciously. I lower my eyes and concentrate on clearing the plate.

Suddenly daadi clears her throat to speak. "Hriday, Avni beta ko bhi le jaao".

I choke.

I start coughing vigorously and for a moment I feel like I'll past out. My eyes water a little as daadi pats my back.

She gives me water and I drink it and see that Hriday is calmly eating his food like nothing happened. Devika is suppressing a smile and I glare at her.

"Hriday tumne sunaa? Le jaao na Shravni ko" daadi says once I'm okay.

"Nahi" Hriday simply replies.

"Hriday! Aise baat mat karo daadi se" daadu scolds him.

"Mai waha kaam se ja raha hu. Chhuti manane nahi" he says.

"Ha toh kya hua? Chhe ghante se bhi jyada ka rasta hai. Chale jaao na saath, rasta bhi jaldi katt jaayega fir" he smiles.

"Mujhe kuch kaatna kataana nahi hai daadu. Driver bhi hai so koi tension nahi" he says.

"Jaane do usse agar vo akele jaana chahta hai" his mom says.

"Tum gayi ho kabhi Surat?" Daadi asks me.

"Nahi mai kabhi Mumbai ke bahar nahi gayi" I tell her.

"Toh tum jaana nahi chahti kya Avni. Bahot achha hai Surat" she tells me with a smile.

I look at everyone on the table nervously and finally look at Hriday beside me. He gives me a don't-you-dare look and I gulp.

"Hum fir kabhi chalenge sab saath me daadi" I tell her kindly and she sighs in disappointment.

"Achha Hriday waha ka jo vruddashram hai na jisse hum har saal donation dete hai waha aate hue kuch de aana" daadu says.

"Hriday beta" daadi says sweetly. A little too sweetly. "Ek kaam karna waha ke sab aurto ko zari ki saree dena. Surat me silk ki saariyaan bhi best milti hai na. Toh tum saree ki dukaan me ja ke achhi si saariyaan lena aur un sab ko gift karna".

Saree ki dukaan me Hriday? I can't even imagine that sight.

Wait a minute..

"Daadi mai paise de dunga na" he groans.

"Nahi saree hi dena" daadi argues.

Hriday removes his phone. "Mai aapko waha ke best shops ki site khol ke deta hu. Aap select kar lo aur fir mai bass le ke chala jaaunga" he says typing furiously on the phone.

"Hey Bhagwan" his mom mutters under his breath.

"Nahi nahi. Vo Prem ji Patel hai na waha ke, unhi se lena. Vo ye aise vyaapaar nahi karte computer se. Par unki saariyaan saalo tak chalti hai aur bada kaarobaar hai unka. Hai na ji?" Daadi says looking at daadu and he smiles secretly giving her a adoring look.

Wow daadi. Kya game khela hai aapne.

"Mai saari ki dukaan me nahi ja raha daadi! Mai waha kaam se ja raha hu" Hriday says breathing out heavily like he's trying to control his anger.

"Achha? Toh ab?" Daadi taps her chin in innocence.

"Avni beta?" Daadu's eyes light up and I know what's coming next. "Tum chali jaaogi. Ye kaam karna bhi bahot jaruri hai aur ghar me aur kisi ke paas wakt bhi nahi hai".

"Vo mai.."

"Please" both of them say together with the best puppy dog face I've ever seen.

I look at Hriday. "Please" I whisper to him so that only he can hear me.

"Fine" he says through clenched teeth and gets up.

"Avni tum bhi jaldi se tayyar ho jaao. Kal raat tak aa jaaoge toh jyada kuch mat lena" daadi says.

"Jaao ab Hriday ko har chiz time pe chahiye hoti hai" daadu says and I get up quickly and go upstairs.

I go inside and Hriday looks at me angrily. "Kyu daadu aur daadi mujhe aise torture kar rahe hai kya pata" he says stuffing his clothes inside the bag.

"Pure ride me tumne ek baar bhi muh khola toh I'll throw you out" he says and goes inside the bathroom and slams the door shut.

I sigh. What a monster.

I pack my little bag and after a while go downstairs when daadi calls out my name. "Tumhe bura toh nahi laga na Av-"

"Nahi daadi. Aisa kuch nahi hai" I say giving her a sincere smile.

I hear Hriday's footsteps behind and he straight goes out without saying goodbye to anyone.

"Usse mai baad me sorry bol dungi. Vo Premji Patel bhai ke dukaan ka pata maine driver ko bata diya hai, vo tumhe sahi se le jaayega kal subah" she says.

"Sambhal ke jaao ha" she says and I touch her feet before leaving.

I look at the car in front of the house where Hriday is waiting in the backseat impatiently.

7 hour car ride with Hriday Rajput with nowhere to escape.

All the best Avni.

Taking a deep breath, I enter inside.

***

How are you liking the story this far guys??? Also do you guys like the titles that I put? I didn't know the meaning of Anisht before but meri vocabulary achhi ho rahi hai ab ye story ki madad se.. Don't forget to click on that star button and please do comment.. ily :)