A minute passed neither Radhika nor Rudra uttered a word , he tapped his fingers sitting on the chair outside the backyard and she stood leaning to the pillar.

“ tu yeh sab kyu kar rha hai?"

She scoffed and sat beside him with a thud.

“ kya sab?

“ Rudra , I know you know what I'm talking about. "

“ didi what's your problem?"

“ problem, my problem,  filhal it's your wife"

“ What did she ever do to you ?"

“ She's married "

“ ofcourse she's,  ek hafte pehle hi toh shaadi hui hamari”

“ kya?"

“ kya kya?"

“ Rudra,  she was married,  divorced and can't be a mother ever , aur tu ….."

“ she can be a mother , she can't give birth,  there's a difference "

“ kya difference, sab ek jaisa hi hai "

“ can't believe a doc saying all this "

Shaking his head at the woman in front of him , he asked

“ toh usne jeena chhod de kya , uski koi galti nahi hai "

“ dekh bhai , tune apne  gharwalo ke baare main nahi socha woh kal ki aayi ladki ke liye”

“ di she's my wife and not kal ke aayi ladki , woh meri family hai and also I have been watching all these days , your indifference "

“ aur kya aisi ladki ke liye "

“ kaisi ladki didi. Aap itne neeche soch ki hongi Maine kabhi nahi socha , aap meri wife ki baare main bol rhi hai , dhyaan rakhe ……… aur woh sun rhi hai just because she is respecting you all woh bhi mere liye "

“ tu bohut bada ho gaya haina, apni behan ko hi ulta jawab de rha hai "

“ aap chahe Maa , bua, baba ko bata sakti ho , I don't care , all I care is about that woman who left her home.  And also I promised myself that I'd never make her regret her decision of marrying me . Kabhi kisiko itna mat bolo ki woh ulta jawab dene mein majboor ho jaye , jab khud kisi ki na sune toh dusre unke kya sunenge "

Saying this Rudra walked inside the house who was stopped by his mom ,

“ kaha se aa rha hai tu ab "

“Main woh ..."

He was cut off by his wife who forwarded a cup

“ chai "

“ tumne li "

His mom walked off seeing his unwavering attention on his wife.

“ Bhabhi , bura mat maan na , aaj kal Rudra ko kuch zyaada hi apni biwi ka parva karta  hai, dekhe toh kaise uski aage peeche ghoom rha hai "

Sadly sighing,  Dharani nodded .

“ bass karo bua,  uski biwi hai kisi aur ki thodi na "

Radhika's words didn't affect the two ladies instead she received a glare .

“  Anaswara,  packing ho gayi "

Radhika asked standing on the threshold of the room

“ ji Haan "

With a smile Anaswara replied and asked her to come and sit .

“ woh uss baat ka bura mat maan na , I overreacted that day , I'm really sorry "

“ didi aap mujhse maafi na maange please "

“ No its my fault "

“ can we just let that go , rudely maine bhi aapse baat ki thi "

Rudra who didn't know about his sister and his wife having a heartful conversation barged with some books in his hand  saying

“ Maine aur kuch books bhi le jaana hai Anaswara "

Startled seeing his sister, he raised his eyebrows asking

“ aap yaha kaise ?"

“ main Anu se baat karne aayi thi "

Radhika saying Anu instead of Anaswara didn't go unnoticed by him

Nodding his head , he put the books in the table and turned to go out , when a hand pulled his shirt . Looking at the owner of the hand , he asked her through his eyes . She looked at Radhika then at Rudra , as if understanding her expression,  Rudra walked towards his sister and kneeled infront of her , taking her hands in his hands , said

“ main naraaz nahi hoon apse , na muh latkaye aise "

“ maaf karde bhai "

She cried and Rudra hugged her

“ di yaar , bacho jaisi harkate na kare "

Being everything settled so far , Anaswara drew a sharp breath when the breeze hit her face , shifting her gaze to the playground nearby , she stood lost.

Rudra and she had come to Mumbai weeks ago , since she has nothing to do , she looked after the home, cleaning and cooking and everything. 

She was liking it and not liking it , she was busy back home and here she had to search to do what next .

“ Would you consider continuing your studies?"

Rudra asked her who took seat opposite to him after serving him a cup of coffee. 

“ I might."

He was always very understanding since the marriage and here she was thinking as she wasn't putting enough efforts.

“ Well , give your thoughts a long pause and talk to me yaar."

He kinda whined making her laugh , they were awfully comfortable with each other now.

“ hello Rudra "

“ aunty woh naha rhe hai , aap kaisi ho ?"

“ achi hoon,  aaye toh phone karne ke liye bolna  "

With that the other end hanged up,  she shook her head and kept the phone aside .

Collecting her books , she walked out of the room. 

“ Your mother called "

Placing a plate of food she said .

“ hello Maa "

“ tu kab aa rha hai?"

“ kaha ?"

“ Ghar aur kaha "

“ aavunga , abhi busy hoon "

“ ek saal hone ko aa rha hai teri shaadi ko , aur tu ghar bhool gaya jaisa hai , patti achi pada rhi hai teri biwi”

“ Maa,  mujhe kaam par jaana hai aa kar baat karta hoon "

“ Rudra,  Rachana ka ghodhbarayi hai aur tu nahi aayega "

“ aavunga Maa. Kab hai waise ?"

“ agle hafte ko hai "

“ aavunga abhi rakhta hoon "

Steering the wheel , Rudra said

“ it's Rachana's baby shower "

“ I know. She called me the other day , I forgot to tell you , when are we leaving ? "

“Next week "

The journey stopped at Anaswara's university,  their life seemed settling , his job and her studies , they build up a home of their own. 

Little did they know,  a storm was to come which would have no big but small inconvenience.

Author's note :

The stories won't have any negative leads 😁😁