You And I

Chapter 5

It must be five in daybreak, when Amey's phone chimed. The phone flourished the photo of the woman, he loved indefinitely much. Meghna. He wanted to swipe the call, lay the phone on his ear and shout out that he loves her so much, and he'd been missing her like hell. A wonted sigh of uselessness flew out of his mouth. He flipped his masculine body to the other side of the bed. His long hands reached for the phone and an involuntary groan remained aloft, out from his mouth. He cut the call, and put the phone back on the table, and came back to his position.

He hadn't slept, the gross night. He, actually hadn't slept well since she drifted away. All those sleepless nights had vigorously gifted those sleep bags under his eyes. He hadn't trimmed his stubble, since three weeks. The rough coarse of short bristles around his hot jaw line, had now outgrown and evolved themselves out as beard. Meghna, used to like his stubble very much. Though, she hadn't told him out that to him.

He wasn't wholeheartedly doing anything useful during all those three weeks. He couldn't do anything. Once in those three weeks, he had to meet Sanjay, face to face during a business meet. For all that, Sanjay and Mitha never knew what happened between their daughter and son-in-law; Amey felt guilty and he couldn't talk to Sanjay properly. He struggled to get a grip, during their conversation on that day.

Amey's parents had to fly to Germany, to meet Amey's elder sister who had settled there, with her husband and child. They'd planned a four months trip to Germany. And so, now, Amey was left all alone, with no one by his side. The loneliness was eating him up. Precisely, the loneliness without Meghna.

Even the previous night, he came home late, flung off his coat, un looped his tie that lied around his nape, lazily; and plopped himself to the bed, without even getting rid of the formal clads. He didn't eat, too.

All the night was spent, in racking his brain, thinking about all those happened in his life in the past eight months. He was in his way, leading his life, youthful, untamed, costless! But then, love happened in his life. He couldn't hold out for it. It came off. Just like that. He fell in love with the most beautiful, innocent young woman he met and married. He'd never forgotten to let her know about how much does he love her, and all that sort of things. Their life was a perfect one. No complaints. No regrets. Nothing. Just happiness.

Following the sleepless night, his eyes went shut helplessly only when he ran out of thoughts. Prolly, in the early morning. But then, the phone call instantly shook him out of his sleepiness.

Once he decided that he would not be able to sleep, at the moment; he rolled out of the bed and strolled to the restroom to take up his morning duties. On finishing them, he sauntered off to the living room and dropped himself at the cozy bean bag. As his hands booted up to rack his disheveled hair, his phone jingled once again, on receiving a text message.

An angry sigh with a hell lot of hot air, deep down from his abdomen; dashed out like a dart, as his lips moved cursing, muttering something under his breath.

After a furious sigh, his hands got hold of the phone and opened the text.

Meet me at my apartment in another fifteen minutes. If you really want me to sort out the issues between us. Or even If you don't want to! You know what I can do and what I will do, If you're not going to listen to me.

Good luck dude! Come soon.

-Your beloved asperser.

As his fiery eyes roved over the text, he pegged the phone at the beanbag, with a mammoth force.

What the eff was he thinking? That piece of martian scum!

No! He wasn't going to do what he asked for. This time, he was damn sure in not going to meet that bloody bastard. Every time! Every damn time, he had went running to him whenever he had called, pricking up some issues, making their lives miserable. This time, nothing was going to work.

Amey, decided not to go to meet that mutt, once again.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Meghna was listening to her stomach, her heart, the hairs on the back of her neck, and the blood flowing through her body.

Being honest with herself, she was drowning herself into the cautionary hum of her heart. What we call as Intuition, has been making sudden waves float and riffle through her body, making her neurons tremble in the flares of jitters. She knew that she wasn't going to be with Amey, or anybody concerned with her for the next six months, except Julie and Joshua.

She felt something. Something really bad that made her call Amey, at the instant. On gulping off the tears, She dialed Amey's number.

She heard the phone ringing. But anyways, what she had guessed what was that happened. Amey, ha disconnected her call. She couldn't do anything anymore. Even if she was going to call him again! She had already started shuddering in monstrosity that was scaring the s**t out of her. She had always been pretty good in innate knowledge. All through her life, if something hit her hard by heart, definitely there was something that would make her moan in agony.

Specks of tears, were already falling down her cheeks; rolling down her neck. What she could do was only that. On wiping off those tears and sending off silent prayers to god, that nothing should go wrong; she placed her phone on the table and strode to the restroom to drench herself under the shower, making her worries dissolve in the magic of the steamy hot water, and her mint flavored shower gel. Wondering, why? That's what she loved! Not unlike other girls, did she have a strong liking towards the strawberry flavored or any other berry flavored shower gels and shampoos. She used the same flavor, which fell to be in harmony with Amey's.

She scrubbed the gel, all over her chassis-tic body. Even under shower, her eyes didn't stop their water works. She finished her washing-her-worries-down process and came out of the restroom. She picked up her full sleeve, black and white checked shirt and a blue denims that matched it. On slipping into them, she brushed her hair. Amey's eyes would just eat her up, when she stands before the vanity table to brush her hair. She had a short hair; Yet Amey loved watching her, hackling her bouncy, curly hair. On gulping off those tears, that were in the form of lumps, congesting her throat, her hands flew up to pick up the winter jacket. She put it on, and on mounting her back pack, she left the room. While, she entered the living room; Julie was on the couch in her boxers and a lazy tee, with a bowl of corn flakes soaked in milk; in front of the TV.

"I don't have classes today.", Julie waggled her brows, being in the joy of not having lectures that day. Meghna, strolled forward and bent down to her. On stealing a spoonful cornflakes, with dripping milk drops, she inserted the spoon in to her mouth and started munching on the cereal.

"You don't have... What? Oh my god. I have to go and come alone. Eh!", she voiced, chewing her morning breakfast.

"I don't have classes!", Julie mouthed and stuck her tongue out, playfully.

"Screw you and your university.", Meghna pouted and took up a chair nearby her.

"Take these.", Julie suggested, showing out her car keys. Meghna didn't want to go by car, that day. She used to ride her two wheeler, while she was at Chennai. But now, she had no other ways for her independent transportation. Though, Julie had nil issues in sharing ride with her; Meghna didn't want to do that. As she was not sure when would she break down and burst out in tears. Till today, Julie explicitly knew that something was wrong, with Meghna. When she told it out to Krish, one day when he had called her; Krish told her the same. Both of them were utterly confused, seeing her like that.

"Nah! I'll go by walk.", Meghna lipped, leaving out a small smile.

"Seriously?", Julie raised her brows, as she looked at Meghna who'd gotten up from the chair straightening her bag.

"Yes! You tardy donkey!! Bye!", Meghna chuckled and started walking out of the living room.

"Don't skip your lunch, Meghna.", Julie shouted leaning back at the bean bag, seeing Meghna opening the gate.

"You too, Julie!", Meghna shouted back and started walking on the streets of that beautiful city. The climate outside was actually passable to take over a simmering down, walk. All through the walk, she had to pull back herself from Amey and his haunting thoughts. Its been three weeks, which is almost a month by now. She was still in the stage one. The same as how she was when she left Amey. Amey's thoughts that used to besiege her rakishly, had never allowed her to have an improvement in leading a life without him.

Though, she had his thoughts haunting her; she would always devote her whole concentration at work. She loved her job so much. With that wonderful machine, jammed between her hands she was able to forget all of her worries. It was a kinda stress buster, for her.

As she stamped her ID card at the machine, the glass door glissaded and allowed her in.

"Hey, M!", her colleague; A British guy squalled from his seat, booting his hand up.

"Good morning, Pat!", she screeched at him, leaving out a wide smile. He was Patrick, a fellow internee at Avant-Garde.

Meghna's eyes floated apart to the nearby seat. Wondering why it was empty, she looked back at Pat, questioned and winked . "Where is your girlfriend?"

"M! You're going to die in my hands for telling this to me.", he gritted his teeth.

Meghna left out a cheeky chuckle and voiced, "alright where's your partner, Eva?", she wriggled her brows. Pat and Eva were partners like how Meghna and Joshua was. Eva was a beautiful, young girl; must be of age twenty three or four. Pat and Eva, were like Tom and Jerry. They used to fight for anything and everything.

"The devil didn't show up, today!", Pat snickered out a hearty laugh, and threw back himself at his chair.

"Devil? Am I the one?", From somewhere near by, a fiercely, womanly voice fell in, and Meghna had already started bursting out in laughter, realizing that it must be Evangeline aka Eva.

Only when Pat craned his neck slowly to the area from where did he hear the voice, he scooted his pace, running to the restroom; to escape the hits from his dear partner.

"M!This is what he does, when I am not around. Let that sulky blockhead come, and I will show him what would I do, as a devil!", Eva punched her bag down at the table and took her seat. With that, Meghna had to move to her cabin; with herself drowned in the laugh riot, that she had to go through because of those two.

Only to see her fellow partner, sitting disgusted, and her hands that had long nails with a fricking nail color on it wrapping her temples, Meghna  stopped her laugh, and walked forward in discomfiture.

"Good morning. Hangover! Eh!", Meghna chortled patting Jo's back.

"A real bad morning ! And one worst hangover.", jo's abashing voice came out, as she moved her hands off her face.

"That's why I told you not to drink so much. It is okay. Come. Let's go fetch some lemon squash for you ", Meghna suggested, putting her bag down at her desk.

Joshua didn't deny. She really was in a position to drink anything that could wipe her shakes off.

As they sauntered off to the cafeteria, Joshua sighed impatiently and asked, Meghna.

"Did you ask why is it a bad morning?", she rolled her eyes.

"Because of the hangover! Obviously.", Meghna widened her eyes and stated.

"Screw you. Nope."

"Then, why?"

"You know.. Last night i drank. Too much . A little too much that I threw up at my house owner's doorstep.", Joshua let out, disgustfully.

"Whattt!! You threw up.. At your land lord's door step?", In a split second, Meghna's sip of water choked her throat due to the giggle.

"Yeah. And that guy kicked me out. I am homeless now."

"Oh-no!", Meghna gasped, narrowing her brows.

"So, I've to go search for apartments today. I've only a week's time to find home for me.", And now Joshua's face had gone haywire, in this new found constriction.

"Is it possible to find out a home that immediate?"

"Not possible at all.", Joshua sighed.

"So, come stay with us. Move in with Julie and I. At least until we find a home for you.", Meghna let out her heart felt idea. She had no doubt about Julie agreeing for this, because she had already witnessed Julie enjoying Joshua's company during the two movie nights, all the three had lat Julie's apartment.

"No Meghna. Not-"

"Oh come on. Don't be too dramatic. Just say yes.", Meghna uttered earnestly. Since, she had no other go than agreeing to what Meghna said. She nodded yes, and engulfed Meghna into a tight hug. "Thanks much!"

"Pch. Keep it with you.", Meghna cackled.

Joshua let out an amused chuckle and voiced,"I pity Amey!"

"What! You pity Amey. Why?", Meghna asked heedlessly. It had been only three weeks, since they're together; but they'd become great friends already. However, Meghna had decided to keep her issue with Amey, as a secret from her. So, until now; For Joshua, It is just Meghna staying there at NY, to pursue to internship. Though, she never disclosed the truth about their relationship, she had let Jo know that she loved Amey more than anything and he does the same. Eight out of ten words, that fall in from Meghna's mouth would be about Amey and his deeds. Joshua would always sigh dreamily, hearing Meghna babble her stories happily.

"I am just wondering about how did he put up with you!", Jo ducked her head slowly.

Meghna left out a grimly chuckle, and voiced,"He never whines about me and my behavior. You know? Never once, he had done that.", Meghna's croaky voice hummed out, with her eyes staring at her engagement ring, longingly.

"We're going to miss her, Sanjay!", Mitha gasped leaning on Sanjay's shoulder; sitting on the couch inside their room. Meghna was about to get married in two days, and her parents had already started worrying for those upcoming days, without their perky, bubbly  daughter.

"I know.. I know.. Don't worry. She is going to be here. Nearby us. Just a few kilometers far away.", Sanjay's weak voice didn't seem to convince Mitha, today. He, himself was in grief that he was going to miss his daughter, terribly.

"Will she be able to be lead a life there? New life with new people. I am worried, Jay."

"I won't say that she will do accustom immediately. But you know, She will. Eventually. Like, you did here, with me.", he said; as an automatic smile got glued to his face. The same happened with Mitha.

"Let's hope so!", She sighed, as she wrapped her hands around Sanjay's arm; still resting her head on his shoulders. When his hands ousted up to pat her cheeks, they heard a knock at their door. Sanjay, gestured that he would check at the doorstep as Mitha sauntered off to the bed.

When he opened the door, to his astonishment, he found his daughter standing there with her eyes watered, a little.

"Kannamma, Are you okay?", Sanjay actuated forward.

"Appa! Can I sleep with both of you, today?", her lips moved helplessly, letting down a ball of tear. Sanjay smiled, being pleased with what Meghna had asked.

He nodded his slowly but steadily, and blinked his eyes."Come here, Kannamma."

With that, Meghna jumped forward and hugged her dad tight. The hug that meant everything to her at the moment. She knew how bad she would miss her parents.

"No crying, Kannamma. We're going to be here. Just a small drive away."

She wiped her eyes off, after wetting her dad's tee shirt successfully. She craned her head to him and mumbled," Appa, we three will sleep together, tonight?" It was such a sight to see his daughter ask for sleeping with them adorably, for Sanjay.

He chuckled airily, and brought up his hands to dab her head and lipped," As Kannamma wishes!" A smile got stuck to Meghna's lips. Without delaying a minute more, she ran and dived into the bed; inserting herself into the duvet; nearby Mitha. Mitha, stroked her hair, and kissed her in head. When Sanjay, turned off the lights and occupied the other half, on the other side of Meghna, She felt solace; in that. In that night of protective, contented sleep, between her mom and dad.

Two days later to that was the wedding. Meghna felt so out worldly to be draped in a Saree. She had no ways to escape a Saree that day. With her calling Mitha, every minute once to adjust her Saree; She managed to make herself ready for the wedding.

Meghna had already said strictly that she would not allow an alien cosmetician to paint her face. She had called her friend, who is a beautician to whom she would ask for a very little amount of make up for name sake. She hated putting on make up of any kind. Her vanity section generally consisted of a shower gel, a face wash liquid, a moisturizer, a lip balm and a deodorant. Nothing else other than these, she did have on her dressing table.

And on adding all these typical wedding qualms, she was asked to put mehndi in her hands, which she hated to the core. Last night, a bunch of ladies, inclusive of the cousins of both bride and the groom; caged her up and threatened her on putting that awful smelling, paste on her hands. Yuck! She hated that. She didn't want to put on that.

While she had to escape from them, and had to hide behind a door; Amey who was on a call near by the door step, found her blotting out there, nervously.

"Hey! Why are you here?", he screamed. Well, it was out of that nameless joy, seeing his girl standing out right behind his doorstep.

"Hey. Shush!", she hummed and tugged at his wrist, making him wince sideward and stand direct opposite to her.

"Don't stand there and betray me. Come here!", she hummed in a lowest voice, with her eyes sincerely roving at the place behind the door.

"What're you searching there?", Amey asked, diverting his gaze to where was she looking at.

"All of them are giving their best shot in making me get mehndi." , she rolled her eyes, impatiently.

"Oh!", he chuckled gingerly.

"As If you'll not tie the knots If I don't put Mehndi.", she pouted, in a delectable manner, looking down. Amey, stood adoring her mumble and pout.

"Will you not marry me, If I don't do that?", She asked widening her eyes, making them go like saucers. Amey, giggled and voiced," I like you, Meghna not the Mehndi." Those words were much more than being sincere.

"Happada*! Thank god.", she sighed wearily,rubbing her temples. Soon, she moved a little and started walking away.

"Where are you going?", Amey, asked being confused by her sudden drift.

"To tell them that Amey likes  me, and not the Mehndi!", she shouted as she walked past him, in a fast pace. Amey, stood flabbergasted seeing this girl, saying all those things. She fascinated him, during their first meet. And she still was doing it.

The next morning was the wedding.

Amey was already on the dais wearing a silk dhoti and a shirt, giving out a typical south Indian groom appearance. In front of him was the sacred fire flaring sternly, with the pandit reciting mantras for Amey to repeat them. He was blindly repeating all those words, that barely reached his ears. Reciting back all those in an half-baked manner, with his parents and Meghna's parents standing around him and with other family relatives being seated widely, all around the wedding hall.

The situation was kind of embarrassing him.

In sometime, when it was the time for the bride to arrive at the dais, he caught her walking towards the dais, draping a Saree, which was a narrow bordered silk saree. She had matched the Saree, with a simple necklace and the earring that was with the necklace.

Amey's beryl eyes, were sincerely staring at her; as she clambered up the dais and took her seat nearby him.

She looked gorgeous, with all those womanly stuff gussying up her beauty. He couldn't help but awe at her beauty. As soon as, Meghna sat down near by him; he gasped.

"You look different!", Looking straight into her black eyes, that seemed to be a little nervous.

"Huh? Bad different?", she asked broadening her eyes. She was already in grief that the day had made her wear a Saree, which she would do never once in a billion years.

Amey, slowly nodded his head in negative and whispered,"Beautiful different!" His tone was utterly sincere, which she got to know with the stare that she was gazing at.

"Thanks. You look good, yourself!", Meghna chuckled. With that, they were asked to shut their mouths.

In sometime, Amey had to tie the knots to Meghna. With that, she knew that her life was going to be a total different one; than the one she was in.

After all other boring rituals and liturgies, when Meghna had to depart to Amey's new apartment with him, all alone. They were now finally, in their car; with Amey holding the steering and Meghna struggling to hold back the tears. They'd bidden good bye, for a long one hour; yet Amey wasn't able to move his car; forward seeing Meghna's eyes dampened.

Just then, Sanjay; bent down to Amey, and mouthed croakily," She is our little princess, Amey."

Amey, turned his gaze to Meghna; who was expecting a reply to her dad's statement. He sighed. A contented sigh, Indeed. He then looked at Sanjay, assuringly and voiced,"Don't worry, Uncle. She is my Queen!"

With those words, that lit up Sanjay's face; Amey smiled at him promisingly. In ten minutes, after a an ultimate good bye; Amey accelerated the car.

The ride was silent, without any chalk talk.

Once they reached, their apartment; Amey leaned forward to latch open the car door, and Meghna stepped out. He climbed down, and locked the car. They strolled to the door step, and paused right there. Meghna, allowed her gaze to meet Amey's as she talked,"Open the door!"

Amey's hand hovered to get a grip of her wrist; and on opening her fingers; he made her go orderless in amazement. There laid the key on her palm, with her gaze stuck on that, she heard him saying,"I want you to open the door."

She smiled at him, and inserted the key to open the door. On pushing the door, what Meghna saw was a beautiful, pleasant, newly furnished apartment, that was small, posh and newfangled.

They stepped in, and Meghna had already spent fifteen minutes in gazing and scrutinizing the apartment.

"Amey?", She called him. He was in the bed room, getting rid of his wedding attire.

"Yeah?", he voiced from there, where he was struggling with his dhoti.

"Apartment looks wowwish, Amey!", she squealed, examining all those stuff, adoring the flat.

"Do you like it?", he squealed back, while he was on half way, towards her.

" I love it!", Meghna emphasized, broadening her eyes at him. Amey smiled, blandly.

Soon after this small conversation, Meghna pulled off the Saree out, and took a soothing shower; to take that make up mask off her face. She then slipped into a pair of loose trousers and a tee shirt.

On striding along the apartment, she found Amey; standing at the balcony, leaning forward; resting his elbows on the bars. She sauntered off to him.

"So, what shall we do now?", Amey asked, still standing as he did.

Meghna moved a little forward, leaving out a lost puppy look at him, she voiced,"How about making coffee for two?"

Amey craned his head to her, smiling in an enjoyable manner. She was looking back at him, with the same puppy dog eyes. The stare was so naive, that could melt someone's heart.

"We'll!", he chuckled and grabbed her by wrist and escorted her to the kitchen.

On reaching the kitchen, Amey looked at Meghna quizzically and asked,"Where is it?"

"It is there. On the teapoy! Wait, I will bring it for you.", she announced as she took the honor of bringing him the packet of milk, that they had bought on their way home.she jumped off the cabinet, quickly and stomped to the living room; and brought the pack of milk, back to the kitchen.

She handed it over to him, and kept watching him; intently doing things with milk packet, and the boiling pan.

"You like coffee very much?", he asked breaking the silence, as he turned off the coffee maker.

"Too much of caffeine addiction. You know?", she cackled at him. He chortled back, as he had to hear those words. When he was about to throng off the super hot, strong coffee into the mugs; his phone buzzed.

Amey placed the pan back on the stove, and his hands flew to fish his phone from the pocket. On seeing the the phone's display, Meghna adverted his face going pale, lucidly.

His face,went ashen all of a sudden. With hurt etched all over his face; he looked at Meghna apologetically; and gestured her to pour the coffee to the mugs; within it could cold down.

While she did so, he swiped the call and took the phone to his ears. Within next split second, his face went feeble furthermore. On letting out a sigh, and cutting the call; he called her.

"Meghna?"

"Yes, Amey.", she voiced guzzling his mug of coffee into his hands; with an evident befuddlement floating on her face.

"Meghna.. Ermm.. I know this is not fair to do this to you. But , I have to go somewhere now. I really have to.", he gasped; uttering all those words flustering in disgust; making her stand shut.

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