Hopeful Streaks

Chapter 18

Mitha didn't know, when she had slept. The next morning, she woke up to an excellent aroma of food. She rubbed her eyes; and let out a yawn. The aroma of the fresh food, that sneaked in and tickled her craving. She filtered herself, from the bed; and stomped towards the privy. She brushed her teeth, and cleaned herself, and came out of the closet and slipped into her dress. She knew that it was her answerability, for having done a false play to Ajay. But still, she couldn't prevail against, his words that clapped her face last night.

'Who the heck are you to do that!'

She braced up herself that she was not going cry for his words, while she felt woes, that's been thrown up by her droopy eyes.

The distinctive flavor of the food, kept laying siege to her mental resolution, of not eating the breakfast. She couldn't convince her stomach, by saying that she was upset with Ajay, and she couldn't go and eat his food shamelessly. On top of all, he didn't give a damn to provide breakfast to her. While, she was battling between her heart and mind, Ajay's deep voice hit her ears.

"Mitha!", he called out as if he could hear what she was thinking. Mitha, felt galvanized on hearing his vivid tone.

She didn't respond. She was really hurt! She knew that it was her mistake but still those words that came surging, from his lifeless lips.

"Mitha..", he alarmed again, making her throat go dry all again. Remember, you're psyched out with him. This is not any game. Hold on to what is sticking to you now! She kept playing those words again and again, in her mind.

"I know you're awake! Come here!!", he called her again, in his deep voice that was more than enough to send shivers down her spine. How could someone's voice can just have an effect like a house on fire! She wondered. This guy never failed to make her wonder . She cussed herself, and decided to butt in, at the dining table; where Ajay would be reading his news paper.

She simply, got down from the bed and went to the dining table. She stood erect, folding her hands against her chest, expecting Ajay to talk.

"Take your food!", he ordered, pinpointing her plate, that was loaded with her favorite waffles, coated with finely baffled, cream; overloaded with chopped bananas! Was it some plan to convince her by cooking her favorite food? She couldn't actually resist by seeing her fully loaded plate.

"I don't want food!", she simply one-lined.

"Sit down, and gobble up. I know you're hungry.", his voice was more deep this time. She stood silently; with no response.

"Remember that, I can make you have your food! So, better!", he said casually, gazing through the newspaper.

"I said i am not hungry. I don't want food!",she repeated the words. She felt too weak facing him.

"I can literally hear your stomach shrilling for food. So, JUST EAT!", he said looking at her, keeping The Time Of India, aside.

She had no other way than going with the food. She settled down, at the chair; and on tugging the plate towards her she muttered,"As if you really care.."

Ajay, didn't fail to listen what she muttered.

She sighed being lost to the lad all again, she groaned under her breathe,"You're such a Christian Grey!"

This time, Ajay had to react to what she just spat out.

"Did I hear it right?", Ajay, pruned up his brows and queried on hearing Mitha stacking him up against Grey!

"You heard it right? You're such a Christian Grey!", she blabbed out, as she pricked a small part of the waffle with her fork.

"What do you mean?", Ajay, trebled! His accent was a bit stern and weighty.

Being caught with what she had prattled, she realized that she shouldn't have, said that. She bit her tongue in embarrassment. This couldn't grow any worser. This guy enjoyed embarrassing her.

"Before thinking anything else! Let me tell you this, Grey forces his girlfriend to take food like this. That's why I said that.", she spoke in favor of her; sincerely munching on her waffle.

He randomly, reclined to the chair and said,"You're not my girlfriend!", with a damnable smirk dancing on his face. He looked sexy as a hell, when he did that. Which made Mitha, even forget her anger.

"I know, i am not your girlfriend. But,i guess..i am your wife!!", she shot back, and Ajay was amazed by what she just said.

Ajay, twisted his lips; raised his brows hearing what she said. She didn't bother to talk to him further. She decided to concentrate on her food, rather; which she would die for.

Once, she was done with her breakfast; she got up and tromped to the kitchen, to clean the plate and grab her cup of coffee. While she came back, all she saw was him talking on phone, sincerely.

"I don't really mind, traveling even in economy class, Karthik! But genuinely, i need my tickets booked to Sydney.", he was talking in an unadulterated business accent.

She traipsed back to the dining, as she wondered about what happened to his private aircraft. Mitha, kept noticing Ajay speaking on phone to his PA.

"Yeah! Perfect! Thanks Karthik.", he muttered before he disconnected the call.

"What happened to your airliner?", she prated out, sipping in some coffee.

"The pilot is on off! I had no idea that there would be such a quick necessity for a flight. So, flying by public airlines.", he said, looking at her chestnut eyes.

"Oh!", she hummed. With that, he didn't talk any further.

"When will you come back?", she asked making a long face. She tried hard not to show it to him, but she just couldn't.

"In a couple of weeks. May be!",he said casually.

"Couple of weeks!?", she high-pitched.

"Yeah! Be careful and stay safe.", he gave a high sign.

"Okay!", she assured. He then, quickly went into his room and got dressed. And on grabbing his coat, he came out and announced,"I won't be coming tonight! Or for a couple of weeks. Be safe.", he said and walked towards the exit.

She did nothing but nodded her head, to what he said. She couldn't apprehend if Ajay, was out of his fury. The day rolled out. She expected him to text message her. But her expectations remained the same. That weekend, While Mitha was watching television, with Ajay's thoughts clouding her brain and heart. His darkish eyes, that'd always been enduring something that was scarcely visible to her. She wanted to make him feel sheltered. His uncertainty had always been curdling her blood. She wanted to pamper him, love him, care for him, ached for him to come out of his stupid perspective on the world.

While, she was sitting simply doing nothing but wading in the thoughts of her husband;

She heard some rumpling noise from her room. She barreled out to her room, and found Siddharth standing there.

She couldn't help but control her giggle!

"Why do you still come this way?", she asked between giggles.

"I came to apologize to you!", he replied sincerely.

"Come on! You're Divya's boyfriend. It is me, who was rude to you on that day! And Ajay was more than rude. Sorry for that too!", she surrendered.

He smiled and nodded his head, in order to fess up her sorry.

"But you effectuated your duty as a wife, perfectly on that day. I was even scared that you would slap me!",he said; being reminded of how she warned him.

Mitha chuckled. "You want some coffee?"

"I would rather prefer a glass of water! Please?", he said beaming.

"In a minute!", she informed and vanished into the kitchen and to serve him with water.

"I want to ask you something!", he asked hesitantly, sipping in drops of water.

"Mhmm?" She hummed.

"Will you allow me to take Divya out for a walk?" He asked with a pleading face. She couldn't aid him in that. Ajay's fury was already full-fledged for allowing Siddharth to see Divya, without his permission. And once again, she was not ready to do something and squeeze out the remaining certitude that Ajay, had for her.

"Making all these kiddish face won't work here. I can't do that without Ajay's permission!!", she turned thumbs down, plainly. He needs to understand.

"Once again.. You're a typical wife!", he said sarcastically.

"It is not like that, Siddharth. The problem here is not that i am his wife, Divya is his sister.", she said and added,"Try to understand!!"

Siddharth frowned. She neared him, and on patting his shoulders," Listen. I can help you may be! I will ask Ajay, to allow you to take her out! Okay?", she asked convincingly.

"Woah! Okay!", his face bloomed all again immediately. On placing the empty glass, beside her bed; "Okay! So, get permission granted from your husband, and let me know!", he grinned at her and initiated to hop down from the fenestra.

Mitha, was awestruck to find him hopping off the window, even after apprehending that there were no necessities for a secret meeting.

She was too confused, about texting Ajay. An ego was floating all over her body, that restricted her from texting him. She waited for him to volunteer a text message. Just a text message. She also knew that she would remain the same if she expected him to do something for her. It's been a week since he left; she didn't even care if she even existed or not. It unquestionably afflicted her.

Ajay, was missing Mitha terribly. The first thing that he could see in the morning was her face. But now, since a week he hadn't  seen her innocent, pretty face. Her beautiful lips. He even wondered that what did that girl had to do with him. Beyond questions, if it was any other girl, she wouldn't have given a damn to compile things and render up, to make him feel better. Those lips never get tired of calling out her 'Jay'!

He sighed and came to his bed, being done with that day. He still had a week to pass without her. He had no idea, about how would he glide by seven more days. In point of fact, a period of seven successive days threatened him like it was a year or something. He had no time to talk to her, since the day, he left.

As he was laying his, well incised body; that was carved with strapping, lusty muscles he got struck with an idea of checking if she was all normal.

On clearing off all the ego, he texted her.

Hey! Are you okay? -Ajay

Mitha, was watching her favorite show on the television while her phone bumbled. On grabbing her phone, she perceived that Ajay had texted. Her lips were fleshing wide, in a way that could even hurt her cheeks. She couldn't help but overwhelm in happiness. Though, he was angry on her; he made her eat her food properly; and had that niggling intention of checking on his wife.

I am all okay! How are you? -Your wife!

She felt it eternal, when she typed it as his wife, instead of her name. She had to make sure that she wasn't in the midriff of a freaking dream. An immediate reply flashed and jogged her memory that he can be sweet too.

I am fine. Just a bit busy. How is Divya? - Her responsible brother!

Mitha, couldn't control her giggle, on seeing the message. She typed an instant reply!

Divya is good too. Siddharth came. He wanted to take her out. Should we allow him? - Your trustworthy wife! She hit the send button, and waited for his reply.

Let him take her out! - Pampering brother.

Mitha couldn't stop awing at the reply, that had just hit her screen.

Oh my gosh! Are you seriously okay? I have to get your brain scanned as soon as you come here! - Worried wife.

She knew that she was all stupid, sending texts with a put up board called wife!

Let's first get your eyes checked. I'd already mentioned that i wanted to pamper her! -Your over smart husband.

On reading the text, Mitha could actually visualize a playful smirk keeping Ajay's face busy.

Do not smirk! I am already missing you too much! - Mitha.

She texted him. Mitha's face went all of a sudden curving down. She didn't want to let him know that she missed him. When, she was blaming herself for sending the previous message; her phone jingled. She took it her hands, and she had no enough teeth to beam by seeing the text that her husband had just sent.

I miss you too! - Ajay

She just couldn't believe her fate, that was on good terms with her for that day. She also didn't forget to text Siddharth saying that Ajay has granted permission to take Divya out.

Days passed. Both of them were missing each other equally. There was a day more, for Ajay to leave Sydney. He was bizarrely happy, that he was going to come back to his home.

That morning, when Mitha woke up and checked her phone; it already carried a message notifying Ajay's name. It didn't fail to bring up a smile on her face. Heedlessly, she opened the text which read..

Happy half-anniversary! - Ajay

Mitha was about to black out, by seeing his text. She didn't even expect him to remember their half-anniversary. Or he had no necessity to remember their sixth month anniversary. It was just a pact, indeed. Ajay, himself was startled by the thing that he had done. He didn't even kick around on remembering their sixth month anniversary.

A ball of tear, rolled down her cheeks; as she typed a reply!

Thanks and Happy half-anniversary too! -Mitha

Mitha started to fly high, on seeing that text from Ajay. Even, she had forgotten about their half-anniversary. She was overwhelmed by what her husband had just did for her. Though, the half year of their wedded life wasn't a lovey-dovey one; they'd at least got to exchange their greetings on their anniversary. Tears, were wild like a loose canon. That evening, Siddharth had come to fetch Divya.

He carefully carried her and revamped her on her chair mounted on wheels. When Siddharth, bid good bye to Mitha by turning aside, his printed tee fell on her eyes which didn't plop to rekindle what Deborah, blabbed on Divya's birthday.

The printed tee, was something that she had already seen somewhere. She couldn't seize her thinking, completely. But she really felt cryptic about those thoughts. She also, assured herself to inform Deborah that she felt the same on seeing Siddharth's tee-shirt. Somehow, she didn't want to overthink and make useless of that happiest day, that had ever Ajay made her.

The next day, the sun had vanished. Ajay had already informed her that, he would be reaching Chennai, by that night. He must've probably boarded his flight at Singapore, she thought. Because, he didn't forget to text her before leaving Sydney, to Singapore.

She was all happy, waiting for Ajay to come home after a fortnight. She couldn't help but flush scarlet whenever she had to think of his miss you too message. After having her shower for that day, she came to the living room smiling and switched on the TV. Something that was flashed on the television, made her knees tremble in fear; and tears had already started rolling down. The stupid television emblazoned the flash news of a Flight crash, that had to arrive Chennai! Her heart thumped; and her throat choked. The whole of her body, went fluxing as if she was made of a block of ice. Sobs, jammed her throat; An alloy of qualm, misery, pain, throes came into existence all over her body. She didn't want it to be Ajay's flight. She flipped the television channel. The same news was being put forth; with a cumbersome whole story that it was the same flight as Ajay's!

Holy crap!

The whole world pretended to shut down. Tears, were like flood streaming due to the broken barrier. She inclined to the wall, folding her knees close to her trunk; and went crashing down to floor. She was all blank; at a loss! She remained the same, leaning to her folded knees that went sore; her beautiful pointed nose pinked all over, due to continues sobs. She couldn't fly in the face of the fact, that Ajay will be no more. She couldn't grapple with the actuality that her Jay, wouldn't be there to call for! Her Jay; her Savior; her husband, her everything.