Chapter-21 My Muskaan

Kabeer stopped, looked at her confusingly and questioned and raised his eyebrows as a gesture of 'for what.'

Muskaan replied looking at the floor, blushing, and fidgeting her fingers, “I... actually… I can't...." Then suddenly turned around and her back now facing him.

Kabeer got more confused and about to ask, but soon widened his eyes and got his answer, when suddenly she slowly slid her hairs from back to front at one side. And instantly his smile went wide when finally, he understood her problem. Actually, that sari was paired up with a golden shimmer blouse, with a low cut deep back and had three strings on the upper side in a gap of two inches. For once he thanked that unknown person who designed that blouse for her. slowly taking steps he came near and started to tie strings one by one, but her fragrance, and this proximity started to play with his senses.

"gosh, she has a very deep effect on me.", he thought in daze. Suddenly some realizations dawned on him and he thought," oh God, this is so deep that it's almost backless. Oh... shit... she is going to wear this and everyone will see her. No... but what to do now? Should I ask her to change? But…" and his chain of thoughts broke when he felt her tremble and inhaled sharply, and realized that his fingers were grazing on her back.

Slowly he tied all three strings looking at her reflection in the mirror. With closed eyes she was nervous, blushing and smiling. He now knew that he too affected her deeply, and enjoyed his effect on her, then thinking something he took a step and came very close that her back was now touching his chest, held her shoulders, leaned a little and whispered in her ears, “Muskaan, you are very beautiful." she blushed some more and smiling he left for change, but then thought something and said," Muskaan, let your hairs open for tonight."

After sometime when they were finally ready and about to leave. He picked his blazer, walked to her and gave it to her. She looked at him questioning. Silently, he lifted her both hands with a blazer, turned around and slipped his one hand in. She now understood and adjusting her hands slowly slid the blazer on his shoulders. Then again, he turned and narrowed his eyes, and this time understanding and blushing, she adjusted his collars, while he was playing with her loose naughty hair flicks.

Admiring each other for some moments, they finally left for dinner. And in the whole way, Muskaan was stealing his glances and thought decked up in a black turtleneck t-shirt and jeans with a steel grey blazer, he was not looking less than any filmy hero. Kabeer too looking at her in between and she too dressed in his chosen sari, with Kundan and onyx studded long earrings, deep maroon lipstick, kajal, matching bangles, a stoned small bindi,and her long hairs, which she left open with a side puff, actually looking like a doll. But Kabeer somehow noticed that she was checking him out, thought something and his eyes glittered with mischievous sparkles, and he said teasingly," ummm… not like you girls, but even we guys deserve praising, aren't we? Since you have been sneaking at me for a long time, can't you say something good for me, or you feel like your husband is not worthy of your good words."

Muskaan jerked as caught red handed then blurted hurriedly blinking her eyes animatedly, "what can I say? You are most handsome like always."

Kabeer pursed his lips to prevent a smile and asked again, raising his collar," really… are you sure?"

But she now understood that he was teasing her and shut her mouth saying, "I don't know."

But before he again asked or teased her more, she screamed in joy," please, stop. "

"What happened?" he asked

She replied excited," the bangle shop. "

He asked again, "you want those."

" Can I take a look please? I really love them.", she hesitated.

He just stopped the car and nodded. She quickly stepped out and went near the cart.

Soon Kabeer witnessed his wife choosing bangles very excitingly. He was surprised to see her so happy. He was admiring her lovingly, almost lost, when he suddenly noticed that she was bargaining on price. She was looking so cute that he couldn't help but laugh after admiring all her antics and paying what the shopkeeper asked.

"Why don't you let me bargain? I can convince him." She asked as soon as she sat in the car.

Kabeer replied softly," it's ok Muskaan. It's for 20 rupees only."

Muskaan again protested, `So, 20 rupees isn't a big amount for these. "

Kabeer looked at her, thought something then replied," even if it is. You asked something from me for the first time. Isn't the occasion more important than 20 rupees? "

Muskaan was again about to say something but he interrupted and said," well, i never knew that you like bangles so much."

Muskaan replied happily," yes, and this shop is best in their collections. Nandini, bought from here only."

"And you too. Right?" the question came instantly.

"Not really, I mostly spent my maximum pocket money on books, pens and stationery only." she replied now thinking something deeply.

His heart ached. He looked at her, thought in grief that how she had been struggling for her whole life with just one dream, and concealed her every wish so strongly, just for that dream, and in the end that dream too was snatched away. But she survived and that too smiling. How this tender looking girl is so strong. but then sensing the silence he asked," it means, you never used to wear them before marriage."

"Sometimes, I borrowed them from Nandini, but only sometimes. But today, I am really happy. See the design. Aren't they pretty? I wanted them from long." she lifted her hand with those bangles and jingled them.

Kabeer lovingly looked at her, nodded but couldn't help to suppress his curiosity, so asked," didn't you go for a splendid shopping trip before marriage? Why didn't you purchase these then?"

Muskaan mumbled, “shopping. " And slowly about to answer but they reached and the talk left in between.

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The dinner was quite a jovial affair. His associate Mr. Bhandari invited two more associates with their respective wives. and this became more like a get together. They got immediate attention when they entered the house of Mr. Bhandari. And Kabeer sensed a nervousness in Muskaan and simply wrapped his one arm around her shoulders. She trembled at first but slowly relaxed, when he squeezed her shoulder gently in assurance. Soon her self-confidence returned. The guys were having drinks and ladies were chatting and having snacks. Muskaan's eyes widened, when she saw Kabeer take the glass. She was looking at him shockingly. it might be her eyes that he sensed and turned to her side. Sipping slowly, he looked at her shocked face, got confused and asked, raising his eyebrows. but she shook her head in no and composed herself. Kabeer was looking at her sweetly. In all the ladies, she was looking different. her face was glowing naturally unlike the other artificial beauties around. He thanked his stars once for sending this angel in his life.

Everything was going very well until, his other associate Mr. Parekh said that to Muskaan, which not only boiled his blood but spoilt the mood too. After the drinking session, when they headed towards the ladies and joined them, Mr. Parekh said to Muskaan, must be under the effect of alcohol," Mrs. Mittal, do you have any idea, what storm your marriage news brought in our business circle?" Muskaan smiled and nodded hesitantly but Kabeer got alert.

Mr. Parekh continued, "really, no one had ever thought that he would marry such a simple middle-class girl. But look at you. You are just so…"

"Mr. Parekh.", before he could complete, Kabeer's loud voice interrupted. All of them jerked and stood immediately. And Mr. Bhandari, the host, already sensed the simmering volcano and tried to handle the situation.

But Kabeer wanted to leave immediately holding her hand. and Mr. Bhandari ran behind him and said," Kabeer sir, Please, Please, don't do this. It's my party, please don't go like this. I am saying sorry to madam on his behalf. He is a little tipsy now, you can. Please madam. please you say something."

But before Muskaan could say something, Kabeer busted," Mr. Amit, since it's your party, I am leaving quietly, or else I can kill that very person, who will ever dare to insult my Muskaan like this."

Muskaan looked at him surprised, as in anger he just declared her his. But did it matter. She knows in her heart that she belongs to him only. she felt warm and touched, somehow feeling a very different feeling on the word " my Muskaan" from his mouth. She was in her thoughts, when saw again Mr. Bhandari requesting. And thinking something she softly held his arm, rubbed and squeezed gently in a way to calm him down. He looked at her and she nodded a little. Heaving a deep breath, he finally agreed and went to the dinner table.

The rest of dinner was quite silent and tense. somehow his other colleagues tried to lighten up the mood but he ate very little silently and took a leave soon.

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Muskaan looked at his closed eyes surprised as he was behaving differently. They had returned from dinner, and now laid down to sleep, and he was behaving weird all this while. He had held her hand the whole way, but didn't speak anything apart from asking almost a thousand times if she was ok. He even denied to eat anything, which Muskaan offered because he ate very less in dinner, and now slept very soon holding her hand only. Muskaan didn't get the reason why he was behaving like this, and wanted to ask now as this was getting too much to bear. And she turned to ask but before she could say anything, he said with closed eyes, "sleep Muskaan. Don't overthink. I am alright, okay."

Muskaan jerked and looked at him, his eyes were still closed, but couldn't do anything so asked, "really?"

Kabeer didn't say anything but turned while holding her hand and now her hand on his chest.

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" uff, What an eventful day it was'', thought Kabeer. He opened his eyes, as soon as he sensed her calm and rhythmic breaths and assured of her sleep, and thought about the long day.

"How much happened in just one day. Something good, something bad.", but his heart said, '' nothing is important until she is with me." His heart and mind finally gave him one answer, "I don't know it's love or what, but it's really beautiful, something very special. And I am going to enjoy every moment of it." And also, his questions were answered. Maybe not completely but he now understood her feelings.

" At one side, where she was not comfortable in that kissing moment, but not stopped him, might be a matter of rights. But in next moment when she herself asked him to tie the strings clearly depicting that how much she trust him and he now knew that she must have some feelings for him, maybe not of love but definitely a liking or something like that.", Thinking so much he finally closed his eyes with a promise to make her every moment very special from now on.

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The next morning was chilling as usual. He woke up a little late as it was Sunday. And after a delicious breakfast just sat down to check some files when the phone rang and he left immediately informing her that he would be back after two hours.

Muskaan was cooking lunch, when he came back with a packet, and gave that to her and asked her to open it. She got perhaps the biggest surprise of her life, when she opened the packet, and asked him overwhelmed, " How did you get this? I mean where did you."

Of course, she was overjoyed seeing her document file, which wetted her voice. And understanding her situation, he held her hand and replied lovingly," silly girl, why didn't you call your uncle before tensing yourself so much? I called him, and he told me to come."

"Means, you went to my home?" She asked quickly.

Kabeer replied softly," no, not home, but we met in a restaurant. But Muskaan, if you want to go and meet everyone, I will talk to grandpa. Don't worry, I will convince him. You can go there whenever you want. You must be missing your family, mustn't you?"

Muskaan replied slowly but strongly, "no, I can't. But thanks, and don't worry, I am happy like this."

"But why can't you go there?”; of course, the question had to come.

Muskaan looked at him and requested, "let's talk about it sometime else. Not today, please."

He nodded and went into the room to freshen up saying loudly, "by the way, your grades are great. You should opt for higher studies."

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Unlike the last day, this day went very peacefully and they both slept holding each other tightly with lots of dreams. And the next morning is going to be a morning of dreams for one as she had to start her college and for him a morning of determination and resolutions to hold, support and fulfill her every dream. Their lips were smiling in the hope of beautiful tomorrow. And they were going to witness each dream and feel together while holding hands.

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The next morning was very beautiful. Muskaan woke up a little early to prepare breakfast and arrange his tiffin as decided earlier that she would prepare veggies and Radhe would send the tiffin in time with hot breads and rice. And later got ready for college. Kabeer dropped her and asked her returning time so he could send the car. He was also planning for some surprise and other things. But life had more surprises than us.