-: Rajeshri :-

Cold sweat slithered down my temple as I stared at the enormous number of women waiting outside the outhouse. The backyard buzzed with their chatters, yelling and the wailings of babies.

"Are you ready Rajeshri?" Ma asked, standing behind me as I eyed the glass separating us from the dozen of women sitting outside, under the netted shade.

"Why can't you come with me Ma? I don't think I can handle this alone," I requested, not having even an eon of courage to face those women on my own. They had come for a weekly discussion session. Every weekend the women of each ward got their chances to come forward and speak up about their troubles to Ma, Shakuntala Rathore. But this week she wanted me to face them alone, after I accompanied her to the last 3 meetings.

"I am not always going to be alive to handle this Rajeshri. So I want you to handle today's meeting. But don't worry, I will be watching you from here. If I feel like you're in some sort of trouble or having problems, I will be at your rescue in a second," Ma assured, patting my back and passing me a small smile. There was a hint of pride in her eyes. Was that for me?

Reluctantly I nodded and drew in a deep breath. It wasn't a war I was going on. I just needed to sit there, liste to their problems, come up with instant solutions, if possible, or assured them to solve it.

"Ready, bhabi? Leila came into the room, adjusting her saree. I had asked her to be beside me, noting down every important things. She was delighted to accompany.

"Yes."

"Remember my girls; chin high, shoulder squared and straight posture. You are leaders and your postures shouldn't speak otherwise"

*******

"Rajeshri bitiya, aab tum he kuch karo iska. Hum to thaak gayee hai, isee samjhate samjhate." A old woman in her mid 30s yelled, her fist tight around the arms of a fifteen year old girl.

(Child, please do something about it. I am tired of explaining her."

She scrunched her nose in annoyance, trying to yank - supposedly her mother's hand - off her. "There's no one who can brainwash me to forget Bablu. I love him and we're getting married next month. That's it!" she shrieked, scratching her mother's hand. A loud slap resonated in the backyard as the girl's mother smacked her face.

"Enough!" I stood up, from the chair getting irritated by their constant rambling. They had been arguing for the last 10 minutes and were driving me nuts. Most of the women had left, their problems either solved or noted down by Leila beside me.

Descending down the small gazebo, under which I and Leila were sitting, I crossed my arms and stood informed of the mother-daughter duo.

"Sonia, I could easily say now ... this isn't the age for all this things or he isn't right for you, but I won't. Cause I know what you're feeling right now. You're young and you have lot sof expectations from your love, isn't it?" I asked, leaning down a little to be of the same height as the girl.

Her scowling face slowly vanished with every word of mine and she nodded, staring back at me.

"Okay, so let's say this ... you're 15 and he is ... ? What's his age?" I asked.

"Um ... 17," she murmered, licking her lips ... her eyes down casted.

"Right 17! So you two are barely adults and want to get married. Alright."

"Rajeshri bitiya!" her mother gasped as soon as I said alright. I eyed her to stay silent for a few minutes and she complied, reluctance visible on her face.

"Yes, cause we love each other and can't stay apart. We have even planned our babies name," she exclaimed, her eyes shining like a toddler who got his very first toy.

I mentally face-palmed myself and with great difficulty managed to hide the cringe from my face. Nibba-nibbis these days.

"And? Do you know that he could go to jail for marrying an underage girl?" I asked, my eyebrows cocked.

"Um ... we will manage to hide." she pursued her lips.

"Even he is underage, cause the marriage age for boys is 21 and he is barely 18." Sonia's face fell at my words. I shook my head and gave her a small smile.

"What about money? From where will he earn? He doesn't have a proper house as he lives with his mama-mami, cause they are his only family. What if they decide to throw him out of the house because of both of your deeds?" I enquired in a soothing voice, trying to point out the cons of this whole issue.

(Uncle-aunty)

Her eyes widened as soon as she heard my question and she shrieked out, "No! I won't let anyone harm my bablu."

"No one could harm him if you two, like normal teens, live your life. He will graduate from high school in one year, may be go to college and get a job in a few years. Even you will finish your education by that time and will be of proper age. You might even get a job if you try hard, to help him." I gave her a look, and it was clear that she had understood each and every point of mine, but there was still reluctance on her face.

"But .... but what if gets someone else, in between these years? Someone more pretty or talented that me? He is good looking so that won't be a big deal. I will be left back here and would become miserable."

"If he loves you Sonia ... " I just just about to say that her so called boyfriend bablu shouldn't matter so much that him leaving her should make her pathetic, when Shamrat ji's voice resonated behind me.

I whirled back and eyes stilled at the handsome figure of my husband striding towards me. Cald in a black shirt and grey tailored pants, he was absolutely looking drop dead gorgeous. The front two buttons were open giving everyone a delicious look at his broad chest and his veins arms.

" ... then no matter how many pretty, talented, beautiful girls he meet in his life, his heart would only belong to you," Shamrat ji proclaimed, his dark eyes fixed on mine.

"Yeah ... that." I stuttered, flustered at the sight of my husband and the intensity of his gaze at me.

"Woh ... accha. Apki umar kitni hai?" Sonia asked, out of blue and my eyebrows jumped up at my hairline at her question. I spinned back to glare at her. She was looking at Shamrat ji with dreamy eyes.

(Woah, okay. What's your age?)

He chuckled out and circled his arms around my shoulders. "I am twice your age, and already off the market, bacchi. Moreover, my heart is hooked to my beautiful wife right here. I am pretty sure it's not going to divert as long as I am alive," he declared passing me a soft look. Intertwining our hands he kissed my knuckles, his dark orbs locked at mine.

(Child)

My heart fluttered at his confession and blood rushed to my cheeks. We were out infront of his villagers and he was openly declaring his adoration towards me.

"Rajeshri, you can take rest now. I will handle the rest," Ma said, ambling outside passing the remaming villagers a curt smile.

I was too flustered anyway to continue so I thankfully smiled at Ma and looked at Shamrat Ji. He dropped a kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering for more than a few seconds and I closed my eyes in content. It was getting harder for me everyday to hate him.

********

"You were blushing that day!" Leila teased for the umpteenth time as I groaned out, putting my hair up in a bun.

"No, I was't." Taking the milk pot out from the shelves, I put it on the oven for the bilk to boil. Some caffeine was desperate need after the long hours of work both of us deed at the NGO today.

"Deny you as much as you want, but you are falling for him." Leila winked at me, passing me the mugs. I shook my head, a smile creeping up my face as I bit my upper lips to control it.

It was hard not to admire Shamrat ji. He tolerated my every tantrum without getting irritated. The way I had annoyed him after the wedding ... if it had been anyone else, he would have ran away. And yet, here he was, still sticking to me even after I had troubled the heck outta him for the last 3 months.

But with time I had become more responsible too. Ma had dumped tons of responsibilities on me ... as each day passed. And honestly, I was loving it. Doing things for the betterment of our village kept me occupied and made me fell productive. With Ma beside me, it wasn't as hard as I had thought in the beginning days.

"Rajeshri? Leila?" Ma came inside the room, while we were chatting, enjoying our time over coffee.

"Yes Ma."

"Have you two any idea where Shamrat and Arnav is?" Ma asked, looking down at her phone, frowning.

"No we don't." I relied, giving a look at Leila, who was smiling from behind her palms.

"Even Damini isn't at home. Why are all of them missing together? It's 7 pm already." She looked quite stressed but I couldn't spill the secret now. It would ruin the surprise.

"Kids." She stormed out of the room, mubling incoherent words as Leila and I chuckled out silently.

"Do you think she will like it? I haven't seen her being carefree or relaxed ever. It's like she had the stress of every walking talking member of this village on her shoulders." Leila sighed.

"That's why we arranged this for her. Tomorrow it's her special day, and she needed a small vacation and some time off her duties. We will handle everything together, won't we?" I chirped.

"Yes! We definitely will!" Leila hi-fived me.

When Shamrat ji came back along with Arnav and Mini, all three of them looked exhausted. The couple decided to crash at our home for the night while Mini was so tired, she didn't even bother changing before falling down to sleep.

"This place looks so serene. Ma is definitely going to love spending some time alone at the hills." I mumbled, sitting on the bed, my legs tucked beneath me, going through the pictures of the resort on Shamrat ji's phone.

"Aren't they? And the scenery was absolutely beautiful." Shamrat ji said, striding out of the washroom, a towel hanging low on his hips and his water droplets glided down his abbs, looking legit delicious.

"Umm, hmm ... " I hummed and kept the phone away, turning my face away from him. I haven't played any serious pranks on him since that day, when I was on my period and he took care of me. I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore.

My heart was making it difficult for me. Did I want him to divorce me anymore? Why did I get jittery at his mere presence? Why did his gaze at me makes me flustered? I was still too confused about him, or about myself.

But, wasn't this wrong? What about Daud? Where was he ... I haven't met him after that day, when Shamrat ji had dragged me out the motel, a night before our wedding. I was still in love with Daud, or was I ?

The bed dipped behind me, the light of the room went off and I heaved a breath out. Shamrat ji pressed his chest on my back and wrapped his muscular arms around my waist, his touch light but comforting. I haven't slept on the floor since that day. He never asked me to in the first place, and I decided not to shift, for the sake of my back ... and also for the warmth he had been providing me every night. His arms were too comfortable to abandon accompanied with the cozy broad chest behind me.

"Thanks for reminding me Mom's birthday. We haven't celebrated in like ... years. I think the last time we had celebrated her birthday was atleast 7 years ago," he whispered in my ears, his nose lightly grazing my neck as goosebumbs pimped out on my skin.

Keeping my hand on top of his, which was resting on my ribs, I rubbed them. "Don't mention it. She is my mother too, isn't she? And as a daughter I should remember the important dates." I mumbled, sinking into him as his grip tightened on me.

Pressing a lingering kiss on my nape, he sighed. "I hope she have a good time there."

********

Ma was out at Sohari, enjoying her time there. When we surprised her, with a cake and all the ward members present at the mini party I organised, she was not only shocked but delighted at the same time.

Everyone took a day off from their duties and spent time with her. At the evening when she left along with two guards, the smile on her face made me proud.

'Rajeshri, take care of the home and the village till I return, okay?' she had asked and I couldn't be more happy to comply.

Coming out of the living room I grabbed my journal, going through the list of chores I needed to do today. It was 11 am already and Mini was still asleep. Last night we stayed up until 2 am. She was scared to the core after watching Ouija and didn't let me go back to the room.

My steps halted infront of Shamrat ji's mini office. He hadn't gone to the panchayat office today for some purpose, which I was curious about. He seldom missed going there, not intending to loiter in the house unnecessarily.

Did he have his breakfast today?

I knocked softly on the door twice, only to get silence back. Was he okay in the there? Turning the door knob silently I peeked inside only to gasp in amazement. The room was absolutely stunning.

Shamrat ji was sitting on a chair, his forehead resting on his palms as he took deep breaths.

"Hey."

As soon as my words were uttered, his head snapped towards me, eyes blood shot red and hair disheveled. My eyes widened at his demeanor and I quickly scampered inside, shutting the door behind me.

"What happened?" I asked, standing beside him, my palm on his shoulder. My body coiled in tension at his expression.

"Nothing ... just work stress," he rasped, rubbing his face ... looking back at some documents with worry etched on his face. His eyebrows wrinkled in annoyance as he heaved a tired sigh.

Taking his face in between my palms I turned him towards me. His tired eyes stalled at me as I breathed out my next word cautiously, "What. Happened?"

Licking his lips, he gazed at me. Anxiousness seeped into my skin with every passing second. I had seen his immaculate ruling over the village, not even breaking a sweat at his tasks. What happened suddenly that he was so much in stress?

"There's an old pond which had been dead for more than a few decades, waste dumbed in it and aquatic weeds growing on it evey day. The DM had ordered me to renovate it and put some good use to it. But I can't think of anything right now. How am I supposed to bring it back to life? I am not a magician that I will just inject life in it and it will miraculously get alive. She is way too demanding. And I can't even deny her orders cause she won't take care of the other schemes. Like bullshit she won't! On the top of that, the panchayat election is in 7 months and I have no ide ..." Shamrat ji was babbling, throwing his hands in all directions when I pressed my forehead to his.

"Shh .... " I hushed him gently, as he panted, drewing and exhaling large breaths. He was way too stressed and sleep deprived.

"Relax. We will sort this out," I advised, sitting down on his lap sideways, my hand grazing his beard as he released a deep breath.

"Hmm ... " he hummed and nuzzled his face into my neck, his body relaxing under my touch.

"Take some sleep, we will discuss everything later." I murmered, rubbing circles on his head with one hand and massaging his nape with the other.

"But the work ... ?

"Later."

His body slacked and soft snores erupted from his throat within 2 minutes. I looked down at my husband, his face immaculately handsome even with the untrimmed beard and messy hair, his lips slightly parted.

What was happening to me?

●~~~~~~~< ☆ >~~~~~~~●

Hello, my lovely folk! Welcome back! 😄🥰

The story is slowly progressing and I hope you're enjoying their journey. 😇

● Do you think anything can go wrong in future?

●Will Rajeshri surrender to Shamrat and forget Daud, now that she is accepting him and her role slowly?

● Did you like Leila and Rajeshri's friendship? They will have more scene together in future.

● Do you wanna see more scenes of Shamrat and Rajeshri being together like this, in future?

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