Chapter-15 Golden Morning

First day of December, the weather was respectively cool and foggy, dew drops were shining on the leaves and blooming buds of flowers making them more beautiful. In this beautiful weather, maybe it was twitter of birds that made that beautiful lady open her eyes. Slowly opening her eyes, she tried to stretch her body, but a known fragrance filled her nostrils and an unknown feeling stopped her.

Muskaan could of course feel his fragrance, but why it was so close and strong, and the realization made her eyes open wide, when she found the actual reason that stopped her to stretch. Of course, no one could stretch when safely held by two strong arms around shoulders and waist and legs nestled between his legs gently and possessively.

" Oh god, I was sleeping in his arms for the whole night. so close in fact clutching his t-shirt tight in her fist", she thought and a pink blush adorned her cheeks instantly.

" But why didn't she feel any uncomfortability and forget her, why didn't he find this position uncomfortable? Why he slept on one side for the whole night and in fact with a weight on his shoulder, and still sleeping so calmly and peacefully.", Again some questions made their way in her mind. She might not answer these questions in her mind, but an alien feeling of righteousness in her heart was so strong that his t-shirt was still in her hand, might be unknowingly but instinctively.

Her heart raced, brain buzzed with an unaltered pleasure of a feeling of belongingness and her hand shivered just in a want to touch and feel his heartbeat. Slowly she opened her fist and her palm flattened on his chest.

Despite his calm and rhythmic heart beats, she felt her own breasts getting heavier and palm burned with an unknown sensation. But still her heart was not ready to give up and hearing her heart slowly she traced her hand upwards from his heart to shoulder and then touched his neck and rough jaw. Her long slender fingers trembled when touched his bare skin but slowly tracing his features with her feather light touches, she caressed his cheeks, eyes and eyebrows as if doing it in a trance. But suddenly her trance was broken when she felt his breaths as traced outlines of his nose and reached to her lips. Before her thumb could touch his lips, she composed herself, and jerking her head very carefully tried to pull out of his embrace.

Here detangling herself was such a hard task for her. She was completely plastered on his body and even a slight movement was causing deep sharp but unknown sensations in her. But slowly lifting herself and balancing on an elbow, she carefully slipped from his arms. And smacking herself for the dare she did a few moments back, she lovingly looked at him and then her hand. Suddenly remembering something and pulling her clothes went quickly in the washroom with a blushing cute smile.

"Muskaan'' Kabeer Mittal woke up with a startle and a name on his lips. And throwing his blanket he hurriedly walked to his wife.

Muskaan, who was pinning her sari's pallu on her shoulder saw him at his sudden move and frozen at her place, when at the next moment he cupped her face without bothering that she was still in between of her saree draping. Cupping her face, he looked deeply at her as if trying to find the shadow of night and asked immediately," are you okay?"

Slowly she lifted her hand and kept his hand on her face and replied by nodding a yes and an assuring blink of eyes.

But he looked at her as if not convinced and then traced her eyebrows and eyes which still had some puffy tinge of redness.

He said instinctively, “sorry, I think I disturbed you last night. I should not ask those things. But I didn't know that unknowingly I am tearing your old wounds."

But she spoke in between and replied softly, "no worries, you can ask me anything anytime, I will not feel bad."

He sighed and lowered his hands and asked, "you slept very late last night, you should rest now. Why are you up so early?"

Muskaan replied, holding her slippery pallu intact in its place, “actually, on every Thursday I used to do a special worship, and today is Thursday."

Seeing her trying to hold her pallu, he jerked and realization dawned on him. His eyes hungrily wandered over her and he realized that unknowingly he stepped into a forbidden territory, when he saw her almost in between a mess. Her one hand was on her shoulder holding her falling pallu, while her other hand was continuously pulling the pallu on her bare waist and navel, while pleats of her waist were still untucked and falling near her feet. Brain buzzed with some unknown couldn't help but took a small step towards her, and she shivered.

Her lowered eyes and shivering eyelashes were forcing him to compose. And he hurriedly entered the washroom mumbling an almost inaudible "sorry”.

*********************************

"Listen, I have something for you.", Her sweet voice rang in his ears as soon as he came out of the washroom. And she, who was about to leave, stopped and said this.

He immediately nodded and concentrated or one could say tried to concentrate, because his eyes were not listening to him and compelling him to at least see her if he couldn't hold or touch or love. He was swimming in his own world of thoughts, when again her voice echoed in his ears and pulled him out of trance.

she said slowly, “no matter in what situation our marriage happened, but I never regretted it. And I promise I will try my best to make it good for you too. I promise that I am very happy being your wife and daughter-in-law. When grandpa asked my opinion, I didn't know you, but I knew him, I trust him that he loves me and understands me." And the firmness and confidence in her voice trembled him.

Kabeer listened to her calmly thought something, leaned to her side and asked teasingly, “by the way, other than grandpa, someone else is also here, who understands you and looooovvvee..." He dragged the word love and looked at her with a knowing smile.

The glitters in his eyes were so shiny that

Blushing on his teasing she took some back steps and turned to escape, when he called softly from back," Muskaan, don't burden yourself, by overthinking. I trust you."

"I bring coffee for you." with a content smile she replied and left.

He was looking at her back with amazement. "What is this girl? So soft and delicate at one moment, but so strong and courageous at second. Are all girls like this?" so many questions but no answer. But his heart knew at least one that no girl could be like this, because in the whole world only HIS Muskaan was so strong but soft at the same time.

His lips curved into a sweet smile, when realized that just now his heart declared her as his. Of course, his she was his. "My Muskaan.", he mumbled and shook his head on his own craziness. And before he could drown more in feelings a shrill ring of phone caught his attention.

*************************************

He was in the lounge, reading the newspaper, when his eyes fell on her, coming towards him with a tray in hand with his cup of coffee. He felt like his life was slowly taking steps towards him. A life which he never cared enough before, now suddenly got precious, very precious. She kept the coffee on the table and said something, but he was no more listening but looking at her mesmerized.

Decked in a simple deep golden yellowish toned sari with red border, loose pleated hairs and only kajal and lip balm, minimum make up but she was looking very angelic pretty.

Kabeer thought," this is the color of morning, but she is looking much more beautiful than any morning he has ever seen. In Fact, her presence and this belongingness is making her every morning, every night infect every moment very special, beautiful and incredibly awesome."

He was in his deep thoughts when he felt that she was calling him, and jerked his thoughts, he listened to her.

she was telling him to have coffee and about to leave when he remembered something and told her," Muskaan, don't cook for lunch box today. ``

Muskaan nodded but asked curiously, “why, is there any outside meeting?"

Kabeer smiled and replied, “no, I am at home today. I am not feeling like going to the office today."

"Why, what happened? Are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?" Asking worriedly, she sat beside him in a jiffy and kept her hand on his forehead and neck to check the temperature.

At one side her touch jerked him but in the very moment, he felt a deep but content sensation of happiness, satisfaction and pleasure. He couldn't help but smile at her care. She made him realize her close affinity to him in just one gesture.

He replied with a heart full of happiness and peace, “Don’t worry dear, I am fine. Actually, there is no important meeting today and whatever else, I will handle it from home. So.."

She heaved a breath that held for long and stood to leave nodding a yes. But he was quick enough to hold her hand, and when she looked at him questioning, softly told her," Muskaan, sit with me for some time."

She looked at him confused but sat immediately without asking or thinking anything. They were silent but no feeling of awkwardness. He was sipping his coffee looking at her as if drinking her from eyes and she was blushing like never before but trying to understand him, his sudden demand of sitting together and this silence.

Just to break this silence he asked softly, “what have you decided? When are you going to start your college?"

Muskaan replied but slightly hesitating and fidgeting her fingers, " From Monday, I guess."

Kabeer nodded but guessed that something was not right and she wanted to say something from her gestures.

Though he so wanted to ask immediately but then stopped thinking to give her space and time to be comfortable. So, nodded again, he assured," okay, let me know, if you need anything. We will go shopping."

She nodded and he asked again, recalling having a phone call," and yeah, today I have called a contractor and interior decorator to renovate our room. Be ready with your list. Do tell them everything you want in that room. Okay."

Muskaan replied confusingly, “me… you mean that you are going to decorate your room according to me."

He jerked on the word "YOUR”, but didn't say anything but said again kind of assuring, “Yes, or else. You take your time and think about your preferences."

Muskaan nodded and asked for permission to leave. And she was leaving when his voice reached her ears, “Muskaan, cook something special for breakfast today."

Now she was confused," just tell me what do you want to eat?"

Kabeer replied excited, “anything, but not bread and fritters. Okay."

And she left smiling in excitement.