For @GurpreetKaur10

Continuation of 16.1 (The previous chapter)

Bani and Veer left the club. Bani felt considerably better after the few sips of the salty drink but she wasn't completely sober. Veer held her by her waist, he could not keep his eyes off her and felt more possessive than usual.

B: Veeeeeeeranshu

V: Bolo Bani

B: Veeeer

V: sweeeeetheart!

B: aise nahi, you sound like shakura (Bani tries to hide her face)

V: sweetheart sirf mai bulata hoon, uss gandi copy ko bhool jao na gharwali.

B: Haan but is tone me mt bolla kro na.

V: Okay okay...let's go.

B: Hmmm..

Veer walks to valet.

V: Shit sweetheart!

B: Kya hua Veer?

V: Vo Daksh car le gaya. Mai car me aya tha and vo dono bike pr...badmash ladki ko flaunt krne ke chakkr me car le gaya. Ruko let me call him..

B: Don't be a buzz kill gharwale...hum bike le lenge.

V: Pr tum? Is dress me...you sure?

B: Raat hai, mujhe koi issue nahi hai...tumhe hai?

V: Nahi ...okay love..

Veer notices her shiver slightly. He takes off his jacket and hands it to her. Bani shakes her head but Veer forcefully makes her wear it saying he is wearing a thicker shirt inside. He sat on the bike and expected Bani to sit with both her legs to the side (like people do in saree) but Bani got on it like him, a slight rip sound came as her bodycon dress ripped near her right leg ending all the way to her right thigh. Veer gulped.

V: sweetheart? Tum aise?

B: Hmm?

She shifted close and hugged him from behind.

Veer saw her hot exposed leg and shook her head to clear all the dirty thoughts and started the bike. The weather was amazing and bani was humming quietly. Her cheek resting on his back.

B: Veeranshu?

V: bolo sweetheart..

B: Hum kahin aur chale?

V: Kahan?

B: Kahin bhi...bs ghar nahi jana..

V: Sweetheart?

B: Please...

V: accha thik hai..

Veer took a detour and drove around. A while later, Bani asked him stop.

V: Kya hua Bani?

Bani got off and started to walk. Veer got off as well and walked towards her direction as well.

V: Sweetheart? Ruko

B: Kyu? Ruk jaungi...tum pakdo to sahi...

Veer ran and caught her. She giggled and he spun her around.

V: Kya hua sweetheart? Aaj bade mood me ho!

B: Hmm...Veer!...vo dekho ice-cream. Chalo na

V: Bani...

Bani gave him puppy dog eyes but Veer did not melt.

B: tum aisa karoge mere saath...

V: Drama mt karo..

B: I thought you love me Veer (sobs)

V: You thought wrong

Bani's eyes widened. Her fake sob receded and real tears began to take its place. She stared at her husband and tried to force down a cry, creating a choking sound. Veer felt guilty and tried to cup her face but her body felt cold, numb.

V: Sweetheart suno...ye love to halka sabd hai uske aage jo mai feel krta hoon....I just don't love you. I am truly, madly, unconditionally in love you. Mujhe tumse ishq hai, tumhari har baat se...I respect you, I adore you so much...inside and out, okay...ek ek sans tumse judi hui hai...Tum ho toh mai hoon...ab ek I love you me ye sb nahi cover ho skta..

Bani was listening to this and tears were flowing freely.

V: Gharwali? Believe me love. Tum aisa soch bhi kaise skti ho ki I...

B: shhh...ye khushi ke ansu hai veer. Mujhe kabhi kisi ne pyaar nahi diya...Satyug me mere gun-gaan wale to they pr jo ek saathi ka pyaar hota hai, vo maine kabhi nahi paya...I felt responsible, like I had to protect everyone, be brave but with you, I feel free...jaise mujhe bhi koi protect karega, jiske aage mujhe responsible banne ki zarurat nahi h...vo sambhal lega...Thank you Veer, thank you...

V: Bani...gharwali...I will always be there for you ...

Bani hugged him tight. Keeping her head on his chest. His heartbeats calmed her down and realization hit her. She loves him, absolutely everything about him. They continued walking on the deserted road and Bani kept staring at her man.

V: Aise mt ghuro, ice-cream nahi milegi...raat ko thanda khaogi to beemar ho jaogi and waise bhi drink kiya hua hai..

B: Mai vo nahi dekh rahi...

V: Hm...to? mujhe? I know I am hot and sexy but control karo..

B: Kaise?

V: kaise kya?

B: kaise control karu?

Veer looked at her with surprise. Her bold side might be inspired by her intake of alcohol but he absolutely loved this. He held her hand, her soft tiny ones in his rough warm ones and they kept walking.

B: Pata hai mujhe na humesha se mn tha, mai aise raat ko ghumu...Chachi toh humesha kaam me laga kr rakhti thi...mere pass fursat hi nahi hoti thi kuch bina baat ke kuch karu...aage se aage kaam dikhta tha...aise tumhare saath free feel hota hai...mn krta hai chalti rahu...aaj mujhe ghar nahi jaana Veer..

V: sweetheart? Accha ruko...hmm thik hai..Chalo bike pr aao..

Veer guided her back to the bike and they rode for a while. Bani relaxed hugging him from back and enjoyed the feel of the air against her face.

They reached Veer's farmhouse and got down. Bani looked at the familiar house and tried to recall.

V: Stay here sweetheart. Mai bs shed se kuch lakadiya le aata hoon.

Bani was lost in thoughts and nodded. She suddenly remembered the place. This is where she woke up first after the blast and asked jai to pick her from. The place is Veer's? She put two and two together and realized that he had saved her yet again and never rubbed it on her face. Even when she hated him, yelled at him and accused him; he never boasted that he saved her life. He had saved her twice now and she like a thankless woman never told him his true feelings. He wore his heart on the sleeve and she caged hers. He was carefree and she aspired to be free. She looked up, sending her prayers and gratitude to her god for their union and love.

Veer came back and set up a bonfire. He noticed his wife staring at him. She had a lost look in his eyes. He went near her and touch her arms slightly, bringing her out of the zone. She looked up to meet his eyes and hugged him. This hug was warm and comforting. Veer smiled and kissed the top of her head.

V: Bahar rehne ka mood hai na? Chalo thodi der bonfire ke pass baith jayenge...phir room me challenge.

B: Tumhare saath rehne ka mood hai...jaise bhi ho..

Veer raised a brow, teasing her but his eyes betrayed him. They shined with happiness. Bani held his hand and began walking around the clearing in the woods.

V: Gharwali?

B: shh...mujhe kuch kehna hai

Veer kept numb and they continued to walk.

B: Pata nahi kaise kahu

V: Mu se

Bani shot him a glare.

V: Arey mazak tha gharwali...bindass kaho, mai hi toh hoon na.

B: Hmm...to suno. Sbse pehle toh thank you gharwale

V: Kyu

B: Mujhse itna pyaar krne ke liye, aisa pyaar- ek dum unconditional. Sbke khilaf jaakr bhi tumne mera saath nahi choda..

V: sweetheart...aise thank you bolkr mujhe chota mt feel krwao.

B: uff...interrupt mt kro. Mai bhool jaungi.

Veer kept her hands on his lips.

B: Tum mujhse pyaar krte ho but jo mai tumhe kehna chahti hoon vo isliye hai ki tumne, tumne meri jaan bachai hai Veeranshu, I am alive because of you.

They reached the end of the clearing and began walking back to the house when Bani lost her footing. Her feet also hurt due to being in heels all this while. The heels were not high but Bani had never worn them, let alone this long. Veer noticed it. He was sensitive to everything about her and lifted her in his arms. Bani was not surprised that her noticed her discomfort. She smiled at him gratefully. Her acceptance to his affection was welcomed by his heart.

Veer also realised that maybe she recognised the house and thus realised he saved her from the blast.

V: waise tumhe kaha kisne tha wahan rehne. Mujhe itna gussa aya...agr mai nahi ata sahi time pr...to tum..tum..chey! I don't want to even think about it.

B: To mt socho...I am safe and I am yours.

Veer looked at her. Her telling him all this, being so warm, accepting was making him do a victory dance every time. His heart was doing somersaults and he was sure everyone within a few m radius could hear his heart.

B: Waise not just for the blast. You saved him before this also.

V: Us dhabewale se shadi krne se? Bani vo nahi krta to khud suli chad jata...mai na-

B: shh...tum bolte bohot to gharwale. I meant, vo bachpan me...vo bacchii mai thi Veeranshu. Jise tumne plane crash se bachaya tha...vo mai thi.

Veer frowned, confused and then it hit him. Plane crash, him turning and saving two children. He beamed and hugged her close.

V: I am so relieved love. Waise tum thi bohot cute.

B: aura b nahi hoon

V: ab hot and beautiful ho..

They reached the house and set her by the fire. They basked in the heat.

V: Mtlb humara connection kafi lamba hai...waise to sadiyon purana hai but is janam me bhi...mai aur tum...

B: waise you saved two kids na..

V: haan...toh?

B: Tumne jisse bachaya than a vo Jai tha..connection hum teeno ka hai.

V: shit! Shit! Shit! Kyu?

Bani laughed at his bewildered expression. Her laugh was like music to his ears. The sat there for a while, discussing their childhood and incidents. The fire was dying out. Veer got up and Bani lifted both her arms to him. Indicating him to lift her and he just smiled at her cuteness.

V: Adat kharab mt karo gharwali. Mana mai strong hoon but itna bhaar? Meri kamar ka toh socho.

B: accha? Utaro mujhe...mai kissi aur ko dhoondh lungi mujhe uthane ke liye..

V: Oye! Sochna bhi mt...koi aya na to ek haath todkr doosre haath me de dunga...

Bani giggled and kept her head on his chest. She calmed down listening to his heartbeat, fatigue taking over her now. She drifted off to sleep, feeling protected.

Veer set her on the bed and got a wet wipe, removing her makeup. He got rid of her heels and earrings. He looked at her dress and noticed the rip. Maybe she would be comfortable given the torn part. He gulped and covered her bare legs with the sheet. It was making him uncomfortable in all the wrong places. He kissed her head.

V: Sleep well gharwali. Tumhara gharwala tumse bohot pyaar krta hai..

B: Hmmm...mai bhi (muttered Bani)

Veer eyes widened, unsure of hearing her right. He smiled and got on the other side of the bed. A huge smile adoring his face as he finally continued to walk with his sweetheart in his dreams.

................

xoxo