Watch carefully
the magic that occurs
when you give a person
just enough comfort
to be themselves
~Atticus

Song of the chapter : Nazdeekiyaan by Nikhil Paul George and Neeti Mohan.

***

My foot for the fourth time, or was it the fifth, steps on his foot.

"Sorry sorry" I say again. I've said it twenty times in the last ten minutes.

"You were not lying when you said you're a terrible dancer" he says pursing his lips together.

"Oh hello! Aap bhi koi Hrithik Roshan nahi ho! You're dancing so stiffly I feel like I'm dancing with a plank of wood" I say.

"At least I can keep my partner alive after the dance. Unlike you! Vo toh mai hu toh thik hai. Koi bichara kamzor ladka hota toh ab tak zaroor langda ho jaata" he says.

I stomp on his foot, again. It's just that this time I don't do it accidentally.

"Shravni!"

"Why are you so fixated with calling me Shravni. I don't like that name" I glare at him.

"Aadhar card pe yahi naam hai na. Toh mai vohi bulaaunga" he says with a straight face.

"You're so arrogant!"

"And you're annoying".

I huff in anger and suddenly am jolted forward into his arms when someone pushes me from behind.

Hriday catches me before I topple and fall and I look behind to see the weird dancing couple.

"Sorry beta" that uncle says to me while the aunty has not even realised what's happening around her.

"No problem" I say as they both start dancing beside us.

I have never seen something like this. Agar koi isse social media pe daal de toh it'd get viral worldwide. Jo bhi ye hai, dance toh pakka nahi hai.

But they're so cute and adorable and the ones that are enjoying the most. But that doesn't mean it's not funny.

Their hands and legs are flying everywhere and the aunty almost slaps me while doing so.

My eyes widen when her hand misses my cheek by just a few inches and Hriday pulls me closer.

I look at him and he's looking at the weird dancing couple without blinking, in complete amusement.

After a moment, his horrified eyes land on me and he bites his lips to stop the laugh that is threatening to burst.

Laughing on people's faces is too impolite aur humare Hriday sahab aisa kar hi nahi sakte. He's a gentleman.

I, on the other hand, am having serious trouble to stop my laughter.

Don't laugh Avni, don't laugh.

This is a sophisticated prom party. Ameer logo wali party. Yaha muh faad ke hassne walo pe fine hoga.

The song nazdeekiyaan starts playing and I dare to look at the dancing couple again.

They're doing the famous hip bump against each other wala dance. On a love song.

On a freaking love song!

Aunty's hip bumps uncle's hip so hard that he almost falls.

I lose it.

"BAHAHA-"

Hriday pulls my head into his chest and I hear him saying, "Nothing nothing. Aisi hi pagal hai ye thodi".

I shake with laughter hiding my face in his jacket.

"Shravni! Maar khaaogi ha tum" he warns me but I can hear the smile in his voice.

"Did you.. did you see- hahahahahaha" I bite the lapels of his jacket to control my laugh.

"Fucking hell girl! Will you stop! You are embarr- Fuck tumne mere lapel ko kyu bite kiya hai idiot" he whisper yells at me and I pull my face away from his chest.

"Mat dekho" Hriday warns me, biting his lip hard and closing his eyes after looking behind me.

Hriday ko bhi apni hassi control karne me dikkat ho rahi hai matlab jaroor kuch ajeeb dance ho raha hai mere peeche.

"Shravni nahi!"

The curious dumbass in me obviously doesn't listen to him. I want to see what step they're doing now.

I look at the couple again with the corner of my eye and now they're doing the famous kaho na pyaar hai wali step.

I'm about to burst out laughing again but Hriday puts his hand on my mouth and quickly slides us out of the hall.

The song was still playing and the lights were dim so thankfully nobody notices us sneaking out.

Once we're out in the open he removes his hand and I burst out laughing, loudly and very unladylike.

"Shit mujhe pakdo aap" I say between laughs.

He frowns.

"Pakdo" I say as my legs give up below me.

Shit I hope I don't pee!

He quickly holds my arms and pulls me up looking at me like he's looking at an one eyed alien.

"Tum pagal ho gayi ho kya" he says looking left and right.

"Mai khadi nahi ho paa rahi thi hassne ke wajah se aur baith jaati toh dress kharab hoti" I say finally calming down a little.

I take deep breaths and close my eyes, counting till ten.

"Okay okay bass. I'm not laughing now. I'm not laughing now. I'm no- Bahahah..."

I start laughing again and Hriday slaps his forehead.

In the middle of my laughing spree, I snort.

Snort!

Like a freaking pig.

Please please Hriday I hope you suddenly turn deaf!

Hriday's head whips towards me and my laughing completely stops.

"Did you just snort?"

"No!" I say looking away.

"I've never heard a person snort, what the fuck! That's the sound donkeys and pigs make" he says looking at me with wide eyes.

"Ha toh. Meri hassi aisi hi hai" I say folding my hands.

And then he bursts out laughing.

Dammit Hriday!

A smile forms on my face as I look at him. He grabs a nearby lamp post for support. I would have whacked him over the head by now if the person was not Hriday.

But it's him. And his laugh is like the most precious thing in this world. I just gaze at him.

I'm ready to snort, bark, moo, chirp, howl and make whichever animal noises and embarrass myself just to see him laugh like this.

He looks his age when he's laughing and happy. Warna he always looks very stern and mature with his guard up.

This side of Hriday is my favourite. I want this side of him to not just be a side. That's how I want him to be fully, completely. Happy.

Just happy.

He finally composes himself and catches me staring at him. I look away.

There are few moments of silence.

"Do you want to go back?" He asks nodding his head towards the hall.

"Do you?"

He shakes his head.

"Itna zulm kaafi tha mere pairo pe".

Ugh! Will he let it go?!

"Agar aap mere pati nahi hote toh ab tak chaar mukke toh kha hi lete mujhse" I say.

"Tum maarogi? Mujhe?" Hriday raises his eyebrows.

"Ha toh".

"Maar ke dikhaao" he folds his hand and my eyes automatically go towards his arms that flex deliciously. Damn those muscles!

I raise my hand to punch him and then stop when he doesn't back away. He doesn't even blink when my fist comes close to his nose. Pursing my lips, I drop it down.

"Domestic violence ke khilaaf hu mai. Rehne dijiye" I say turning away from him.

"I still remember distinctly how you kicked my jaw in the morning" he says and I stop in my tracks.

"That was your mistake!" I say looking back at him.

"Why are you always arguing with me? Kabhi galti maanti hi nahi tum".

"Galti ho toh maanu na" I say defiantly.

I walk towards the pool and remove my heels and sit cross legged on the edge of it.

I pat the space next to me, looking at him and he walks towards me with a little smile.

His little smiles are really little. But I've started to notice them easily now.

Hriday removes his shoes and folds the length of his pants a little and dips them in the pool water.

"It's just a dress Shravni" Hriday rolls his eyes when he sees me dusting the tiles a little around me.

"It's not just a dress. It's the best gift I've ever received out of the few I've got before. Aage jaake bhi I don't think iss gift ko koi gift beat karega" I tell him running my hand over the beautiful texture of the dress.

"We'll see about that" he says.

There's a pause.

"Thank you. Thank you very very much. I really love this dress. It's beautiful. Definitely at the top position of the things that I like" I tell him referring to his little note.

He scratches his nape awkwardly and I smile at how uncomfortable he becomes while receiving compliments.

"Thanks.. I mean you're welcome" he says.

"When did you buy this?" I ask.

He just shrugs in reply and I place my hands behind on the floor to lean back and look at the sky.

It's clear, the moon and the starts shining brightly and beautifully.

A shiver runs down my spine because of the cold wind. We should really get in now but I'm really liking it here.

Hriday gently places his jacket on my shoulders and my eyes go towards him.

"Thank you" I whisper.

"No problem".

I pull the jacket properly over me and inhale his scent that's lingering on it, as discreetly as possible.

Why does his scent always makes my head go a little fuzzy and giddy. It's intoxicating. It's lovely.

"Achha suniye?"

"Ha bolo?"

"Do you still hate me?" I ask.

I don't know where that question came from but I just had to. Our equation has definitely changed since the past few days. But I'm still not sure what it is? What is going on? What is happening between us?

"No I don't hate you" he replies after a few moments of thinking.

"Thanks" I say.

"Kyu?"

"Mujhe chance dene ke liye. Maine bahot badi galti ki hai par mera koi iraada nahi tha ke mai Ekansh ko fasaa ke usse shadi karu paiso ke liye. Jo bhi hua mere galti ke wajah se hua aur mai maafi ke laayak nahi hu aur na hi mai vo galti kabhi sudhaar sakti hu. Fir bhi aap mujhe hate nahi karte ab, that's a really really big thing for me. Aur aap na please-" I place my hand on his, lowering my head as my eyes get welled up.

"Please don't hate me. I'll try my best to be a good wife. A good daughter in law. I swear agar mere paas option hota toh mai khud marr jaana prefer karti-"

"Shravni" Hriday tips my chin up, stopping my rant. I close my eyes as my tears fall on his hand.

"Don't say that. Please" he whispers. I wait for him to say something more but he doesn't. His expressionless mask is back on and I regret bringing this topic up.

He was in a good mood and I ruined it.

"I wish I could do something so that aap mujhe maaf kar sakte. Lekin aap mujhe kabhi maaf karoge hi nahi mujhe pata hai" I say as my mood too, sulks completely.

I mean I'm happy that he doesn't hate me anymore but I wish he could forgive me. Which is impossible.

"Tumhe meri maafi chahiye?" He asks suddenly.

"More than anything" I tell him sincerely.

Aadha bojh mera halka ho jaayega sach me agar ye mujhe maaf kar de.

"Ok then. Maybe I will. Only on certain conditions" he says.

"Chalenge koi bhi conditions" I say as a little ray of hope lights through me.

"Sunn lena fir bolna" he says.

"Ha toh boliye na, I'm listening".

"Abhi nahi. I need time to think, fir I'll tell you" he says. I nod without thinking, happy that at least I have a chance.

We sit there for a few minutes silently. The music in the hall can be heard in a distance but other than that it's all quiet.

"Suniye".

"Sunn raha hu, Shravni".

"Thank you".

"Ab kyu?"

"Yuhi. Aap bahot achhe ho. Gussa bahot bhara hai aur arrogant bhi bahot ho but I guess I can live with that. Bass thoda aur hass liya kijiye. Bahot achhe lagte ho aap hasste hue" I tell him honestly.

His posture becomes stiff and I shake my head with a smile.

I move a little towards him and place my head on his shoulder. I'm feeling a little too brave these days but he's my husband. So I can do this na.

He grows more stiff and I feel like I've placed my head on a rock.

"Aur ek baat bolu?" I ask.

"Ha?"

"Compliments lena seekh lijiye" I say shyly and his stance gets a little relaxed.

"Pagal ho tum" he says.

"Kyu ki mai aapki taarif karti hu?" I ask letting out a yawn.

I'm feeling really really sleepy.

"Kyu ki tum meri taarif, buraai ke wrapping paper me wrap kar ke karti ho" he says and I can't help but chuckle.

"Achha?"

"Ha aur mujhe bhi pagal kar deti ho" he says.

"Aap ho hi pagal" I smile and close my eyes. I'm not able to keep them open anymore.

"Mai pagal hu toh tum annoying, stupid, crackhead, devil ho" he says before my sleep completely takes over me.

"Jaisi bhi hu, aapki hu".

***

This feels like an achievement because iss baar mujhe koi messages nahi aaye to update the next part aur maine pehle hi kar diya. Hope you guys are liking their little moments and the way the story is progressing. This is not even the main part.. asli rollercoaster abhi baaki hai!! Don't forget to vote and comment.. ily :)