Chapter-19 Preparations for Dinner

The day that was started with that special cold, pale light only winter's Sun could give, now turned into a grey afternoon, threatening to rain anytime. Mercury had been dropped by some more degrees sending chills in the air of the city. This kind of weather was quite rare in Ahmedabad but seemed like this winter was going to be chilling. Some people were enjoying this rare scenario but it was quite difficult for some others. and like some other people, Muskaan too was cursing this weather. In that cold afternoon, that pretty lady was lazing around in her room, with a magazine in her hand. Everything was silent, when a shrill sound of the phone broke through the silence and drew her attraction. Muttering some curses to the bad weather under her breaths, she quickly picked up the receiver and sent a greeting to the caller.

The caller was none other than but her charming husband Kabeer Mittal. And he replied cheekily, "hello my dear wifey."

Muskaan gasped on his endearment, and asked softly after a moment," you, now. "

Kabeer asked teasingly," why? are you waiting for someone else?"

" yes, I was...", The reply came instantly and with so much innocence, but Kabeer jerked on the mention of someone else she was waiting to talk to.

Kabeer asked again, tried to sound casual but definitely, it was difficult to keep a check on curiosity," really, and who's that?"

Muskaan was unaware of his condition and replied in her normal sweet voice," my college friend, actually I...", But suddenly remembered something and asked," anyways, leave that and you tell first, why did you call? Anything important? "

Though he wanted to ask more, but her question diverted him and he replied," yes, one of my associates wants us to join him for dinner. Should we go?"

"Yes, of course. I have nothing much to do tonight.", she replied softly but thinking something deeply, which did not go unnoticed by him, and he asked," what happened? What have you been thinking all of a sudden?"

Muskaan replied, cutting him in between," no, nothing like that, I was just thinking about the saree for tonight. Any suggestions?"

Kabeer chuckled at her innocence and thought, "God, I have to see her now. " Then replied," Muskaan, you will look beautiful anyway, but it's for the first time, you are going to meet someone from our business circle. You should dress really well." And hang the call bidding a bye.

And Muskaan too muttered a bye before hanging the phone. But that beautiful smile which crept on her lips unknowingly on his first line suddenly vanished and she got tensed another moment. While on the other side Kabeer looked at the receiver, smiled widely, and thought that slowly he was becoming crazy of her antics quite unknown of the fact that unknowingly he dropped a burden like a responsibility on the tender shoulders of his Muskaan. Or might be its Muskaan herself, who took his casual line so seriously and now is getting tensed over.

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"Muskaan… Mus..k..aa..n...", His words died in his mouth when he saw her talking on the phone. She gestured to him for two minutes and he sat on bed throwing his jacket and bag aside and untied the shoelaces. She took more than 5 minutes and he was lovingly drinking her sight all this while. Dressed in a simple pink and white suit, and a white cardigan, with the same earrings, mangalsutra, and chain, that she wore on the first day of their marriage, without any artificial makeup, just in Sindoor and bindi, she was glowing. Every time he saw her and thought how could she manage to look more beautiful, more serene in each passing moment. But seeing her talking endlessly, he made a face, pulled his clothes, and went to change.

After 5 minutes when he appeared again from the bathroom, she had been free from the call and arranging his thrown away things. Muskaan saw him coming and gave a wide and sweet smile, while he puffed his mouth instantly. She frowned at his quite weird expressions and asked sweetly, "what happened to your face? Is there anything wrong?"

" How does it matter to you? Go, talk some more with your friend, huh...", the reply came instantly from her complaint box.

Muskaan chuckled seeing his puffy mouth. He was looking so cute while angry, but she couldn't take his anger and replied softly," oh that, didn't I tell you about my friend in the afternoon."

Kabeer turned all ears again, on the mention of a college friend and asked, as he couldn't restrain himself," really! What is there to talk so long?"

Muskaan replied while opening her bag and pulling something out," I am joining college after such a long time. I was just asking her if there are some formalities or anything.

Kabeer now got relaxed but asked again in the next moment," oh, then, what she told? Is there any problem?"

Now Muskaan got perplexed and replied slowly with a little hesitancy and tense," didn't I tell you about my last year fees? I got some extension due to my good performance. But now as my presence was also short, my admission has been suspended. I have to go for readmission."

Kabeer looked at her, rubbing her hands together blinking her eyes. She was looking very nervous and tense. Though he completely didn't understand her tension, he held her hands instinctively just to ease her, and asked softly, "Muskaan, it's a suspension only. Don't worry, we will take the readmission. I don't think there is any problem with that, isn't it?"

Muskaan shook her head in the negative and replied slowly, "not really, but with all the fees I have to submit some documents too."

Kabeer replied still confused, "well, I don't think it's a problem. I told you about the money, right?"

" No, not money, but...", she cut him in between as he was going on the wrong track, and quickly answered his unasked questions," but for documents. That day, when aunt burnt my books, I don't know, perhaps my documents too. I am not even sure."

Now Kabeer understood her dilemma, on one side she was tensed about her lost documents, and another side the haunting memories of that unfateful day was still bothering her. Softly he cupped her face and said," don't worry Muskaan, even if we couldn't get it from there, I will surely find some other way for you. Don't worry about it. Okay "

She nodded a yes. Though she was still tense, this time she couldn't do anything. So, leaving it on God, she smiled and asked," Aren't you a little earlier today? Why so?" As he was really early than usual.

Kabeer's hands slowly slipped from her face and slid through her shoulders and arms and finally holding her hands, leaning he replied teasingly," um, for you dear. What else? I was missing you so much."

Her eyes widened at first then she blushed profusely and escaped mumbling, "let me bring coffee for you."

Kabeer sighed in relief that finally she smiled and he succeeded in diverting her thoughts. But he was now in deep thinking because he promised her but now really got tensed about her documents. After their marriage, he was seriously feeling a surge of responsibility for the first time. He was enjoying her pampering and newly found care, the warmth of relationships till then. He was in a different zone of contentment and satisfaction, but now a feeling of commitment and responsibility was also fulfilling his soul. But never for a moment, he felt this as a burden, in fact, found this feeling very beautiful, very warm, and peaceful. Slowly thinking something he made some calls and about to hang when she came with a coffee and some dry snacks.

He took the cup when he saw her still doing something in her cupboard. He was looking at her amusingly and quite unknown of his eyes, she was busy picking sarees one by one, keeping them on herself looking in the mirror, and making cute faces. Kabeer found this the most beautiful sight of his life and he was awestruck by his wife's cuteness. But couldn't restrain himself to ask, "Muskaan, what are you doing dear?"

Muskaan jerked as suddenly realized that she was doing crazy things, that too under his gaze, but the feeling of him around became so natural that it couldn't really bother her. But now blushed all pink and replied slowly, "we have to go for dinner, haven't we? So, I am trying to choose a perfect dress."

He frowned and asked again, "But Muskaan, isn't it a little early for dinner preparations?"

Muskaan sat on the bed with a thud and replied so much perplexed, "wasn't it you told me to dress well?"

Kabeer walked to her, held her shoulders, and said softly," Muskaan, I said that just like that. But don't worry about dress much, you are beautiful in any way."

Her eyes glittered instantly and she asked with a sweet shy smile, "really, but still, I am very confused."

" Ahh, these innocent eyes can kill me.", He mumbled inaudibly. But then nodded a yes and said," ok, let me choose it for you." He picked a bottle green color sari with contrast deep green and golden color border with intricate embroidery of sequins and beads.

"Are you sure? Isn't it a little flashy for dinner? Well okay.", she finally agreed and kept all other saris back in the bag.