I feel this
gravitational pull
towards you
Like the universe
and all the galaxies
had a talk and said,
"Yeah, it's time"
~Gawm Birdie

Song of the chapter :

***

I wake up feeling disoriented. I look beside me to see two legs. My eyes widen and travel up his body.

Oh.

Him.

Wait a minute. I don't remember coming upstairs and sleeping. I am still in the same dress as yesterday how is-

Oh.

Heat rises to my cheeks when I realise that Hriday probably carried me up here. I'm a light sleeper. Slight movements se bhi meri neend khulti hai toh kal kaise nahi..

I shake my thoughts away and look at the clock which shows 8 am. Aaj bhi bahot der tak soyi mai. Kya ho raha hai mere body system ke saath? Alag se function kar rahi hai aaj kal..

Today both the bride and the groom are gonna have separate bachelor's parties at night. Shikhaa has forced me to come but I'm not sure about it. I don't have waise wale clothes and I honestly don't even feel like wearing them. Mai un sab ko jaanti bhi nahi so raat bhar unke saath naachna, gaana aur peena will be a little awkward and uncomfortable for me.

Hriday hote mere saath toh shayad chali jaati..

I look at him again. My leg is just inches away from his face and I internally slap myself.

He's my husband! Aur mai yaha almost unke naak me toes daal ke soyi hu.

I remove my leg carefully and go shower. When I come out, he's still sleeping. Uthaau ke nahi? Bhuk toh lagi hai bahot zor ki and I don't know whether I should order on my own or if he's planning to go downstairs to have breakfast with the whole family.

My stomach growls in hunger.

Nau bajj ke gaye hai. Kitna soyenge.. utha deti hu.

"Suniye" I shake him a little but he groans and pulls the comforter above his head.

He's so cute!

"Hriday!"

No response.

Toh mera tareeka hi aazmaana padega.

I remove my phone and open YouTube. Snickering the whole time, I play the video.

Hriday jumps up in his sleep when Shreya Ghoshal sings the lyrics to Chikni Chameli.

Jaanleva jalwa hai..
Dekhne me halwa hai!!

Hriday snatches the phone from my hand and switches it off as I laugh loudly.

"It's not funny Shravni! Mere neend ke maamle me mujhe mazaak pasand nahi. Kitni baar bolna padega tumhe" he snaps at me and I stop laughing.

"I'm sorry. Vo mujhe-"

"Please let me sleep" he says in irritation and goes back to sleep. My mood drops completely. I thought we were friends now. Lekin nahi.. ye hamesha hi mujhpe chillate rahenge.

I sit on the couch and my stomach growls in hunger again. I try to find the card which had the numbers of the restaurant and the reception but it's nowhere to be seen.

I don't even know anyone here ke akele ja ke neeche breakfast kar ke aau. I go outside to see if anybody from the staff is there but there's nobody.

Now I'm hungry and on top of that I'm angry. I'm hangry.

And I don't think this stupid man is going to wake up anytime soon.

I groan and sit back on the chair staring at the clock. Dus bajj ke jaate hai. Aur aadha ghanta jaata hai.

At around 10.50 my pati dev stirrs in his sleep. I clench my fists to stop myself from shaking him awake. Wake up you idiot! I'm dieing here!

He rubs his eyes and looks at the clock. And then he jumps up quickly.

His eyes fall on me, the clock and then back at me.

"Gyaara bajjne wale hai. Uthaa nahi sakti thi tum mujhe?" He says.

My mouth falls open. "I remember how you snapped at me when I tried".

"You were waking me up at eight thirty! Who wakes up so early?"

"Dekhiye aap.. just.. forget it" I don't even have the energy to talk to him so I shake my head and sit back on the couch.

He goes to the bathroom and there he spends more thirty minutes. Is he purposely doing this to piss me off? It takes all of my self control to not go and bang the bathroom door continuously.

Itni bhuk kaise lag rahi hai? I used to eat only one meal a day and survive without any difficulty.

Remembering my old life, my mood sulks more. I haven't met my mom ever since I left that house. Twice when I went there she wasn't home. I wonder how she is.

Itne mahino se roz heavy aur healthy naashta karne se shayad ab mujhse bhuk sehi nahi jaati. I've been eating properly kuch dino se, thanks to Hriday, I think I've even gained weight.

Filhaal, thanking him is the last thing on my mind. That's it. Domestic violence ki baari aa gayi ab. I can't take it anymore.

I stand up to go and bang on the bathroom road but stumble when the room starts spinning. I hear the door click open but I can't see anything as black dots appear before my eyes and the last thing I see is Hriday's worried face as his arms pull my almost unconscious body against him.

***

"Are you sure that's it?" I hear a familiar voice ask. It's laced with concern.

"Ha Mr. Rajput. Don't worry she passed out just because of a little weakness" the words become distant and fade away as I hear the door close.

What the hell is going on? I try to sit up on the bed when Hriday enters the room at rushes at my side.

"Wait wait I'll help" he says putting his arm around my shoulder and trying to help me.

"Mai khud uth sakti hu" I say suddenly feeling angry. Ab inhe chinta hone lagi achanak.

"Let me help you" he says sternly and makes me sit up.

"Dekhiye-"

"Shut up and drink this" he says and presses a glass of juice on my lips so that I have no choice but to drink it.

"Hriday mai-"

When I open my mouth again he pushes some boiled veggies in my mouth and I look in horror at the bowl of vegetable salad in his hand.

"Eww what the hell" I say somehow shoving down the veggies down my throat. He brings the spoon again to my mouth and I shove his hand away.

"Will you just eat?!" He snaps at me. "Chanchal bhi itne nakhre nahi karti khaate time".

"Ab kyu? Ab mujhe nahi khaana. Aap na so jaaiye. Uth kyu gaye itne jaldi. Oh maine bed pe aapki jagah le li. Uthti hu ha fir aap aaram se so jaaiye" I say getting up from the bed.

He rubs his forehead and sighs.

"I'm so sorry, Shravni" he gets the words out stiffly.

I don't reply and just look at him with my hands folded over my chest.

"Please ye kha lo. Please".

"Mujhe ye nahi khana" I say and I know that I'm being stubborn but he deserves it.

"Kyu tum aise-" he stops, realising that he was shouting at me again. "Shravni please kha lo. Please" he says with a fake smile.

I'm hungry waise toh.

"Mujhe ye nahi khana-"

"Shravni-"

"Mujhe kuch achha khana hai. Oily aur greasy. This bina namak wala ubla hua khaana tastes like feet" I make a disgusted face.

Hriday's lips lift up a little.

"Feet? Seriously? How do you know how feet tastes like" he asks.

"I don't know how they taste but I imagine their taste to be like this" I say.

"You're disgusting" he shakes his head and I glare at him.

He removes his phone and goes to the balcony and I hear him barking some orders. I roll my eyes.

"Aa raha hai khana" he says.

After around 10 minutes there is a knock on the door and Hriday brings in a big food service trolley into the bedroom.

There are almost ten different kinds of dishes, all greasy and oily and unhealthy and perfect.

I smile and start with the slice of cheese pizza and then go on to the huge burger. Utne me hi I'm done.

"Bass aur nahi kha sakti" I say leaning back in my chair.

Ordering chalu in three.. two..

"You better finish all of this" he orders me, keeping the newspaper he was reading aside.

"Aap bhi khaao" I say.

He looks at the food like he wants to but he can't.

"Don't worry aapke washboard abs pe asar nahi padega. Vo achhe hi dikhenge" I say before my mind registers what just came out of my mouth.

Shit.

Hriday is a little stunned by that comment but decides to slide it away as he picks up a chicken nugget and eats it.

I stay silent, eating bits of this and that dish and we eat silently for a few moments.

"You scared the fuck out of me, Shravni" he says suddenly and my hand stops midway when I'm picking up the fries.

I look at him and he genuinely looks upset. And a little guilty, too?

"Mai marr nahi gayi thi" I chuckle to lighten the mood. "Bass bhook lagne se faint ho gayi".

My smile vanishes when he suddenly gets up from his chair and his hands ball into fists.

"Ek jhaapad maarunga na wapas aise kuch bola toh tumne" he says, his voice strained.

"Hriday" I take his hand and pull it so that he sits back again. "Calm down, I was just joking".

"Mujhe hassi nahi aayi. Bahot hi ghatiya mazak tha" he snaps and I bite my lip to stop from smiling.

Aapko hassi aati hi kab hai..

I'm finding the whole situation amusing. I distinctly remember him threatening to kill me and ab dekho.. wow!

"Hass rahi ho tum? Hass rahi ho?" He gets up again.

"Achha sorry sorry. Please sit and have food" I say trying to stop my smile but failing. "I just remembered how you once threatened me that you'll kill me and ab aapko ye aisa mazaak bhi bardaasht nahi ho raha. Kya baat hai pati dev?" I laugh a little and his face becomes blank.

He looks a little uncomfortable and I frown at him.

Oh god inhe sach me koi bhi mazak pasand nahi aata.

There's a knock on the door and Hriday gets up. Did I just see him let out a sigh of relief?

He goes to open the door and I hear the voice of Shikhaa.

***

Shikhaa somehow dragged me out with her and a few aunties for some last minute shopping. I didn't want to go but this girl is super persuasive. Inke khaandaan me sabhi aise hai.

The aunties have gone to some mithaai store and Shikhaa has sneakily dragged me into a lingerie store, telling the aunties that we're going to do some last minute fittings to her lehenga.

"I'm so sorry that I dragged you here. Mere friends aunties ka naam sunn ke peeche hatt gaye and were not ready to come" she says.

"It's fine. Tumhe party ki tayyari nahi karni?" I ask, not knowing where to look because everywhere there are ek se badh kar ek weird lingerie.

"Party toh ekdum late night hogi. Abhi bahot der hai. I just wish you'd come yaar" she says.

"I am not really feeling well Shikhaa warna zaroor aati" I tell her.

"Tumhe kuch lena hai?" She asks excitedly and my eyes widen.

"Nahi!" I say a little too sharply.

"A corset? Or a thong maybe. Something lacy?" She winks at me and I take her hand and pull her towards the payment counter.

"You're unbelievable" I sigh.

"Koi baat nahi Avni madam. I bet you and Hriday have a great sex life" she says giggling a little.

"What!" I look here and there to see if anybody is close enough to hear us.

"Haa. I mean the way Hriday looks at you. There's so much sexual tension between you guys" she say wiggling her eyebrows.

"Ok enough. Let's go" I pull her out after she does the payment.

She laughs as we get in the car and drive towards the mithaai shop where all the aunties are waiting.

"Listen, vo buaaji is giving you a hard time and I'm sorry about that. Vo aisi hi hai. Dil pe mat lena ha" she says sincerely and I nod.

Buaaji. That woman has been giving me sour looks the whole time. Beech me ek do baar unhone Ekansh ka bhi topic nikaala but Shikhaa quickly avoided it.

She hates me. Really hates me.

The other ladies come back and unfortunately, buaaji ends up in our car.

"Ho gayi lehenge ki fitting?" She asks Shikhaa.

"Haa buaaji" Shikhaa replies.

"Mai tumhare liye ye gulab jamun laayi hu khaao" she gives Shikhaa a small box.

"Ek hi box? Vo Avni ke liye-"

"Arre mai toh bhul hi gayi" she says and I look out the window to avoid her piercing gaze. She did it purposely.

"Avni isme do hai. Lo ek khaao" Shikhaa says and I shake my head. "Nahi nahi khaao tum" I tell her.

"Please taste toh karo yaha sabse best gulaab jamun milte hai. Lo na please" Shikhaa keeps insisting.

I forward my hand-

"Arre Shikhaa usse nahi khaana toh rehne do. Tum khaao".

I take my hand back, listening to her words. Buaaji stuffs the gulaab jamun in her mouth and Shikhaa mouths a sorry to me.

I shrug, showing her that it doesn't matter. It actually doesn't. It doesn't. It doesn't. It really doesn't..

When we get down the car everyone rushes out quickly and so do I. I hear a grunt from behind and see that buaaji is having trouble lifting the bags.

Everyone has already walked inside the hotel and the car is also gone.

I go towards her against my better judgement.

"Buaaji mai aapki help kar deti hu" I say.

"Nahi. Bilkul nahi. Jaao yaha se tum" she shouts at me.

She again tries to lift the bag but her sandal breaks in the process and she lets out a painful groan when her ankle twists.

"Oh no buaaji ek minute please mujhe dekhne dijiye" I go and touch her feet to see if she's hurt and she pushes me away.

With her leg.

I fall down as tears fill my vision. "Apne ye khooni haath mat lagaao mujhe" she shouts and suddenly starts crying herself.

"Mere pyaare se Ekansh ko maar daala tune bewkoof. Mujhe pata hai ye accident nahi tha. Murder ki tu-"

"How dare you!" There's a thunderous voice behind me and I close my eyes tightly.

Hriday.

"How. Dare. You. Kick. My. Wife." Hriday picks me up from behind and puts a protective hand around my shoulder. I feel my body shaking.

"Hriday tujhe pata nahi ye ladki ek number ki characterless-"

"Buaaji aapko pata hai na mere liye age matter nahi karta. Insaan satra saal ka ho ya sattar, mera laafa dono ko equal zor se padta hai" he growls.

Buaaji's eyes widen in horror and so do mine.

"Yaha agar koi khooni hai toh vo aap hai. Do mahine pehle hi aapne apne bahu ka abortion karwaya na kyu ki ladki hone wali thi. Ek call karunga mai toh aapka puraa khaandaan jail jaayega".

Buaaji's lips move but no sound comes out and I look up at Hriday who has a blank face but his eyes are lit with fire.

"Aur Ekansh ki bahot fikar hai aapko ha? Uske funeral ke time aap aayi nahi. Na hi aapke family se koi aaya".

"Vo Mai.. vo-"

"Aage se meri patni ke aas paas bhi mat dikhna aap. Haath lagana toh dur ki baat hai. Ab ye bags khud se uthaa ke le jaaiye andar" he snaps harshly as his breathing gets heavy.

She just looks at him like she's seen a monster. Well Hriday is behaving like one right now.

But not to me.

For me.

"Uthaaiye. Bags. Go." He shouts and she somehow drags the heavy bags along with her and disappears into the building.

The sun has almost set painting the sky in hues of orange and blue and there's nobody outside. I turn to look at Hriday and just when he opens his mouth to say something, I throw my arms around him and start crying.

***

Phew that was a long chapter. You guys are gonna love the next chapter. Hint du?? We're gonna see drunk Hriday!! Hehe.. I hope you guys are liking this story. Do vote and comment. Ily :)