You And I

Chapter 15

Meghna had already waken up, from the deep trance, that she didn't ebb in, during all those days that she had to live without Amey. That night of sleep, was the most comfortable one, with him near by her.

On slipping away from the sleep, she was lying there with her eyes opened wide; occupying herself with the reverence, that she had towards Amey. He was sleeping. Seeing his lusty muscles ballooning up and shrinking down, while breathing; Meghna had actually forgotten that she was stalking the spine-tingling artistry of the man, crashed behind her.

Crusty yet confused burnished brown hair, an aggressive kind of eyelids covering up those big , deep blue eyes that could speak volumes and that would squirt every damn thing that she wants to see; stylish, sharp nose that would be satisfying to senses, sweltering lips which would just make her drugged! All in all, he was a perfection!

And with those jungly, fuzz on the cheeks; he was more than perfection.

Oh, Why was he having a dense beard?

Like, some love sick dude!

An unplanned, amused chuckle fled her squishy lips instantly. Why was she stalking that man like she was a high-schooler!! Gosh!

She was still sticking prone, at her side of the bunk. She needed someone to help her to incline back to the cot and to sit. And this tempting other half, of her's was sleeping there on his belly, like he had never slept for ages. No wonder why he had those sleep bags, bordering the waterline of his blue eyes. He looked tired and harrowed. Into his slumber with soft snores, She was looking at him longingly. He never snores! And now when he did that, Meghna became aware that he was exhausted. Though, she had an urge to brush her teeth as soon as she woke up, she lied back silently without waking him up, and decided to watch him for some more time.

Only to stay, with her eyes glued to his sleepy face, she realized how much was she in love with this man. She loved all of him. Snoring included!

After an hour or so, only to get a loads of that sleepy Amey opening an eye at her, with creases of ridge on his forehead; She realized that she was actually stalking. And he affiliated this sweepstake with which he could nudge and ridicule her for four more months! He stretched out of laziness with his long hands, thrown up in air; cracking knees. And her eyes didn't give a damn to move away from the actions that were keeping her entertained. He got up, sat straight and helped her to sit. With that, he was asked to call her attendant.

When the attendant was about to be in there, Amey had gotten a phone call already; and he strode to the porch to answer the call.

Two minutes into it, the door of the room was pushed open and there came in a young lady, whom Meghna had seen somewhere inside the hospital. She strode towards Meghna.

"Good morning, Mrs. Amey.", Greeted the young lady ecstatically, with a pad and a few papers clamped in it; and a pen holding her fingers together. Meghna rolled her eyes at her being unaware of who she was.

"Oh! I am sorry. This is Issabelle. And I will be your acting attendant for a day or two." She smiled kindly. Her regular attendant was on off.

"Oh! Hi.", Meghna Smiled at her. She didn't look like she was a doctor. Means, she wasn't looking aged. Her usual attendant Ms. Chris was twenty seven. And this one, who'd mentioned herself as Issabelle,looked like she wasn't even twenty five!

"You're a doctor as well? Umm.. I mean.. I've hardly seen you around in here..?", Meghna asked her. For which she smiled and placed the padded papers on the bed, and moved forward to Meghna's hands,"Hmm.. Yeah.. I am not a doctor yet! but an Intern.. Straight from the Med school.. You know?" She asked c*****g her brows.

"How do we feel now?", She asked as she did an inspection on Megnna's hand.

"Umm.. Yea.. Better!" She replied nonchalantly And all the while, Meghna's eyes were glued on the grey t-shirt's back that was shown by Amey to her, from the other side of the balcony. Seeing Meghna watch someone closely on the other side of the glass door; Issabelle; veered her neck to check on.

"Who's that hot man standing over there?", She raised an eye brow, at Meghna. And it all took a second for Meghna to steam out from nostrils and ears, virtually.

"Well, That's Mr. Amey.", she smirked at her.

Issabelle bit her lips for being that silly to ask about the hotness of her own husband to her patient. "Oops. I am sorry." She rolled her eyes.

Meghna nodded her head slowly, with a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Hey.. You can't blame me.. He really looks.."Issabelle started and realized that she had ran off at her mouth.. "Oh my god! My big mouth. I am sorry. I really am." She raised both of her brown eyes, making it stretch a little. Meghna, smiled and mouthed,"You better be!", with a look that screamed he's mine.

Okay! She really was agitated for her husband being quoted as hot, by other women. To hell with his hotness and sensuality.

In sometime, when the attendant had done with the checking, Amey was still talking on phone; with one of his hands lingering on his hip. Meghna was watching him closely, yet she couldn't find out anything about the phone call. Few minutes later, he came to her unfurling his arms to Megnna, giving her the phone.

"Anjali!", He edified; and Meghna got the phone with a huge question mark on her face. That's when the realization hit her, she had not called back Anjali after that day. She wasn't even steady of what to be told and what not to be told to her. Meghna gulped, and took the phone to her ears, looking at Amey with a great, bad conscience over her responsibility.

"Meghna! Finally, Amey and you got on.", Anjali voiced, and so much of good will and happiness were barefaced. She was happy and okay with Meghna. Meghna, let out a sigh and talked,"Anjali! I am sorry. I didn't know If I should tell all those to you or not. Because I had told Amey, not to tell anyone. Respecting my choice , he wasn't telling anyone and I , had to reciprocate that. Right? But I am sorry."

"That's okay, Meghna. I am happy now because of Amey being with you. Like seriously, all these days I was confused. Even now, Appa and Amma do not know about all these. I am out to pick up Vibah from her kindergarten.", her happiness was clearly evident in her voice. She was such a selfless soul, who was more than happy for them, being together. Meghna, was lucky to have such a sister-in-law.

Meghna smiled at Amey, making her face off of the confused reaction, as she heard Anjali happy. And all the while, Amey was sitting beside Meghna, watching her talk on the phone.

"How is your hand now?", she asked.

"Umm.. Getting better.. How is Vibah? We missed you and Vibah so much, you know?", Meghna said ardently. Anjali, chuckled. Anjali had also missed talking to them very much. And with that, on hanging her call with Anjali, Amey made Meghna eat her breakfast. He ate too.

Only when Amey's fingers were deranging the tablet strips, Meghna laid her eyes on the diary near by those tablet strips. The note book was scrambled. Amey, on apprehending that she was going to ask about the diary; rolled his eyes with no idea of how should he react to that.

Meghna's dingy eyes, went narrowed arrowing Amey.

"Amey?", she shrieked. Her face had already gone frowning. She didn't know If Amey had read everything that she had written in the note book.

"Yeah love!", he asked making him steady. He knew that she would next ask for the diary and its state. Amey, sighed mentally and tailored himself to console her. After all, who wouldn't be embarrassed after knowing that someone had read their diary!

"Did you read that note book?", She asked, with her eyes that had the water globules, settled in it. Amey, who was sitting beside her; took his hands to her face and let his fingers brush the first tear drop. He felt really failing on seeing her eyes getting watered every so often, during the moments they had. She was not that kind. She was not that kind of emotional damsel, who'd drip tears for every emotional confrontation!

"Why do we get eyes watered every now and then?!", he disclosed softly, holding her face. His eyes had gone flimsy and easeful, seeing her with tears. And now to worsen the situation, tears had started to trail down her cheeks. Cupping her face, and earning all those tear drops into his hands, holding her like she was his most precious possession, his lips moved," We're not going to cry every so often."

"After all, this is what remains now.", she whimpered; her vision staying blurry. On letting those drops run down, she enjoined,"This is what I've become." Amey, let his gaze console her soul. His vision on her stayed like she was an adored one. Trying to make her understand that she wasn't that kind of damsel in distress; he held her by neck. The touch really comforted her as it usually does.

"I've become weak, Amey. I am feeling hopeless. Without a backbone. I don't know. Don't ask me why.. I don't know.." She bleated. He felt his heart thawing into something else! Something that can't even take back its original mode. Amey's eyes diminished due to concern.

"You're not that Meghna... You're the strongest woman I'd ever seen. You're not that ordinary girl, who use to pick up a corner and cry and feel weak and hopeless... We're not that, baby.", his comfortable words tumbled out of his tongue, wanting to make her feel alright. He couldn't see her like that. Hopeless and pessimistic!

"I was strong.. Once..", she whimpered. Words thought no more of slipping out. Her throat was occupied and held by a strong something. A force that was making her feel weak, further.

Amey, crawled forward and widened his arms.

"Come here!"

She cambered forward and snuggled into his chest. He bundled her sincerely. Even with that, those tears weren't stopping. Exact three minutes into it, what had been whimpers till now had evolved into weeps. Only he knew how it felt to save her in his arms, after a hell that they went through. May be, it was the relief and assuagement that his embrace catered, that made her wail in contrast to him.

"We're going to be okay.. We're going to be okay..", those were the whispers that were blown into her hair, accompanying the soft pats on her back. After soddening a half of his pullover shirt, with heavy breathes and sobs she disclosed,"May be I am not the same girl, whom you fell in love with.. I am not the same Meghna."

Amey's heart suffered a twinge hearing this. And that's when he learned the fact that life could change anyone, any how and knock them down, just like that.

On rubbing back smoothly, setting in peace at her, a few minutes later to the not the same moment, he kissed her hair. He then avowed,"May be you're not the same Meghna whom I fell in love with...",  Meghna detached herself from him, and tried to quiz him.

The gaze was something that Amey could never forget in his whole life. A kind of depressed, longing, despairing gaze.  One of a kind!

"But you're the same who fell in love with me. And that's enough. More than enough!", he gave away, making her lack the difficulty. His hands that were gripping her arms now jumped up to hold her face, by her neck with his allaying touch. There were no need for words. The feeling that his embrace could give her, spoke thousands of words together, making her feel at ease.

"Moreover, I fell in love with your soul. And you think soul is something unsettled and variable? No! It is soul. That is what you are! This soul of yours is an adored, prized one. So, Trust me. It is the same you, whom I fell in love with..", he drew out. Meghna was feeling top of the world, right now. Only he could make her feel so high with his words. Only he could make her go plunging into depression, and only he could crane her up, dusting her out of the dirt. Only he could!

She wanted to respond Amey. But words were hurdling in her throat. They weren't falling out. Since, she couldn't do that; she did what she could.

Her mushy hand, took hold of his palm, which was holding her face. She turned her face and stamped a peck inside his palm. Amey smiled at her seeing the gesture. He quickly wiped her tears off, by dragging his thumb along her cheeks wiping the water drops. She smiled back at him, and then he felt relieved. Again, her facial expressions changed on spur of moment. She turned serious and with her brows furrowed, she probed,"Did you read that note book?"

"No..", he voiced but then he was choked by that gaze that she let hit him, he enjoined,"Umm... Yeah.. I did."

Her brows pressed in more, and a pouty expression took over her face all over.

"That's my diary! How can you see that?", she pouted. Amey stifled his giggles. He surely knew that he would be deprived of existence by her hotshot glares, if he continued giggling. On trying hard, ,compressing his lips together, he choked them back.

"It is okay. Those were written to me. I am supposed to see all tho-"

"You must've felt bad.", an involuntary, broken voice fell in. She had already started to scowl.

"No--"

"I am sorry. That was what all I could do, when weren't together. I am so sorry for having you read all those.", she disclosed, looking at him sincerely. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't really mean.", she said, shaking her head sincerely.

"I know that. And you didn't hurt me.", he manifested.

"Really?"

"Truly!" But how much ever he did say that , those words really had the power to act numerous rips in his heart.

Convincing her, was the ultimate task that he had to do. Somehow, making her laugh and diverting the topic, they were brought back to the normal, without the intensity of any kind of emotions, or guilt. While they were talking about something, Amey decided to disclose what he had already decided from his side.

"Meghna?"

"Umm?", She altered her pretty, wizened head up to meet his gaze.

"We will fly back to Chennai, after this one week. . Though, I know that your career is important, I don't want you to take part in this internship program anymore. I don't think I can you leave you alone here. Nor I can stay back. I am really sorry.. But we've to go back.. I just don't want to leave you alone, here and suffer there and let you suffer too. Please?", He asked, with a real concern in his eyes.

She smiled back weakly.

"I wanted to say this to you Amey. That I don't want to stay back here.. I wanted to ask you to take me back to Chennai.. ", And with this Amey definitely knew that it wasn't the same old Meghna, who wouldn't compromise anything for her career.

"And you didn't tell me what's happened with Aarav? And where are the photographs?", she asked, as her expressions turned serious, fleeting.

Amey wheezed out a heavy sigh and clutched her hand, and jammed it between both of his biggish palms.

"Meghna.. I don't want us discuss about Aarav and the photographs any further. Please.. I just don't want to.. At least not for a few days..", he sighed, with affliction leashing his face, making his features stiffen instantly.

"Why so-"

"Please. Just don't!", he pleaded.

"Are you hiding something from me?", she asked, leering at him. He didn't know how to react. They'd always been frank with each other.

"It's not that I am hiding. I just don't want to talk about those stuff. You know? Lets not. We're not talking about it all again. You get it?", he beseeched. She nodded.

Once they'd their breakfasts, Krish and Julie made their way to the hospital. After having chatted for hours, Julie said that she would leave as she had to go, attend her classes in the university. And Krish accompanied her and drove her to the university.

That evening, while Meghna and Amey were talking about something, Meghna's phone bumbled. As she managed to pick her phone in her hands, she looked at the screen and mouthed,"Appa is calling."

Amey nodded. "Talk."

She swiped the call and put the phone to her ears and she talked. Sanjay and Mitha, knew that Krish and Amey were going to fly to NewYork, to meet Meghna. They were also aware of the accident, that Meghna met with; and her fracture.

"Appa?" Meghna shrilled on phone, with face blown to kingdom in ecstasy. For some reasons, talking to her parents would make her brain clean and happy.

"Kannamma? How are you?", Sanjay asked from the other side.

"I am fine, Appa. How are you? And Amma?", she chuckled. "We're fine, Kannamma!"

"Appa! Know what? Amey is here!!", she chuckled, a smile spreading wide across her beautiful face. Amey noticing her euphoria, on a dime.

"We know that Amey and Krish are going to fly there!", He chuckled back.

"Everyone knows. It is only me who doesn't know..", She rolled her eyes at Amey, on talking to her dad like nothing happened in her life.

For which, Sanjay chuckled again.

"Appa? One more thing...", she said faltering.

"Yeah Kannamma?"

"Ermm.. Appa.. I think I won't continue this internship program... As my hand is fractured, the doctor has advised not to excruciate. So, Amey said that he'll bring me back home.", She mouthed on phone, letting her glare stay on Amey.

"Huh? That's better to do.. Also, We'll not leave you alone there when you've your hand fractured. You'll not take care of yourself, properly. And we will be carefree If you're with Amey.", he sounded relieved.

"Okay Appa. Then, we'll meet soon. Kannamma is  missing you both so much.", She pouted.

"We too are missing our Kannamma very much. ", he sighed from the other side. After talking for fifteen minutes or so, they hung up.

After three more days of medical care, Meghna was discharged from the hospital; and taken back home. Two days into it, Amey had booked the tickets for them to fly back. He didn't know how he was going to manage the questions that Meghna would ask about business, office and stuff. Because right now, nothing belonged to him. He had only the apartment they live in, that's because that was their wedding gift from Anjali; and his personal savings account, in which he had considerable amount of money.

He had given away even the documents related to his business too. And that's were the problem is. As it is business, it is more than easy for Sanjay to find out things. He didn't want to let things happen in their way, in this thing. And Meghna had told him that she wouldn't want to work for him. At least for a few days, because of all what happened. For god's sake, she is a human too and she couldn't forget everything so simply. Amey agreed. Well, he had to agree because only he knows that he had no office to work for, right now.

*•*•*•*•*•

On dropping off, Krish at his home; Meghna and Amey were riding to their apartment. Meghna was now okay with her hand to a certain extent. She was not completely alright, though.

Once they got off the cab, And on reaching the door step; Amey took the key in his hands and looked at Meghna, dreamily. Meghna was giving him a glance, that did express something.

He smiled, like he understood something from her gaze that made her awe. He, then reached for her hands and placed the key in her palm. She had started smiling , now. The previous glance was because of remembering their first access together, into their apartment; right after their wedding. He did the same now, being caught with why was the glance for!

Who wouldn't fall for you! She thought, smiling and inserted the key, and stepped into their apartment after a whole of two months. It was all making her feel heavenly to be back at their home. Their little paradise. She felt much better, being back at Chennai. She had certain emotions with the city, that made her feel that.

And the day, they reached home; all they did was to sleep. It was ten in the night, when they reached home from the airport. They weren't hungry, as they'd eaten already. After talking a hot soothing shower, Meghna plopped herself to the bed, and breathed a relief.

She didn't know, what happened with Amey. Why did he come back or why did he decide to trust her, suddenly! She didn't ask for reasons. She didn't need the reasons to be known, truly. All she knew at the moment was Amey was for her, and she was going to be with him, all again. And this one reality, didn't urge her to search for the reasons or the way everything happened. In fact, she did not know even a percent about what happened. She had no clues, actually. All it mattered was Amey and only him.

Her thoughts were snapped back only to feel the comforter, enfettering her; comfortably. And to feel the warmth of Amey, beside her. On inserting himself under the quilt, he kissed her hair and mumbled her a good night. She smiled at him, and mumbled back a good night. With that they smoothed along, into a deep; dreamy slumber.

Both of them didn't seem to wake up, until the clock struck one in the noon, the next day. It was Amey who woke up first. And She rolled out too, very soon.

On brewing some coffee for both of them, Amey handed over the mug to Meghna , who was at the beanbag; leaning back lazily with the news paper on her lap. The enthusiasm that he had to witness on her face, seeing the cup of coffee was irreplaceable and worth it's weight in.

She got the mug, and closed her eyes and inhaled the substantially flavored, soul-triggering coffee's aroma and mumbled,"I missed this goddamn so much!"

Amey chuckled seeing her do that. He looked at her quixotically and sighed,"I missed, seeing you do this." She chuckled back and swigged in the coffee. As she was glancing over the news paper, taking in coffee; she had to choke on her coffee seeing something on the newspaper.

"Amey!!", she squealed and he gave in , all of his attention to her. "Look at this!", She enjoined, pointing out an announcement of Pageant of Photographs and Sale. Amey's eyes widened, seeing the ad and he turned his glance towards Meghna, radiating an expression that screamed, oh yes, You're doing it. Meghna wriggled her brows, with an euphoric smile gliding along her lips, and Amey smiled back gleefully.

On going with what they decided, She raised her hands up to give hime an hi five, and he did the same. And then she disclosed,"I have a few pictures clicked in NewYork. We'll give those?", she asked excitedly.

"We definitely should do that.", He nodded his head and ensured. With that, the day rolled out lazily. The next day, they'd decided on submitting a few of the best photos at the exhibition.

The next morning, Meghna had waken up much earlier than Amey and the usual time she used to do. She was all delighted and on the edge, to scrub in her photographs there at the pageant. She had already had shower, and slipped into her oatmeal colored loose top, with a pair of denimed trousers, with a white strap gripping it around her willowy waist.

Amey, when he woke up to his wife getting ready to go to the pageant; he felt how much did she love her job. And she was even ready to lose her works for Amey. That signified, how important is he, to her! He was watching her intently, doing things as the thoughts of she being selfless, hit him. She caught him ogling at her, through the mirror.

With a contented smile, flashing her face bright; she turned to him and he was smiling back at her, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She booted her hands to her hip, and said leering at him,"I think we have better works to do, other than ogling at me."

"I don't think I've any other better work.", he sighed in sexy, sleepy voice, with his blue eyes still staring at her in the same way. She smiled more, and neared him in a few strides, and knelt down at the cot, and on placing her hands on his lap; she smiled and mouthed,"I feel like I am getting back to normal." Her eyes were so sincere. They were back at Chennai, and it's been only two day; and she had started feeling normal, already!

Amey's face lit up, hearing her say this.

"I know, You would." He dashed his front on her's slightly and mumbled. Meghna nodded her head in reply. Soon, Amey got ready in his denims and casual black button up shirt; they were ready to leave to the Pageant.

**