You And I

Chapter 2

"I and Amma; think that it would be nice to see you pairing up with him! What say?", Sanjay spat it out, in a go.

The next split second, food jammed her throat; and she had to slobber out the food; that choked her fauces. A rough cough occupied the smothering choke.

"Kannamma.. Careful!", Sanjay uttered, as he patted her head, meekly.

"Slowly, Meghna!", Mitha lipped, as she thronged some water, into a glass and forked out to Meghna. She got hold of the glass of water, and swayed it away, in a gulp; and placed the glass back on the table. And now her breathing was heavy due to the swigs of water.

"Are you okay, Princess?", her dad's voice came out with lots and lots of concern.

"I am .", Meghna breathed. There was an utter, silence for next, five minutes between them. No one did talk.

"So, Both of you want me to get married?", Meghna opened up her mouth, finally. Krish, had started giggling already hearing Meghna getting married. He knew what she was ! A carefree, happy-go-lucky girl. For now, she couldn't think of getting married.

Marriage! That means commitment. That's what she cannot promise anyone unless and until,  she likes them.

Meghna, left out an icy stare, at krish; who was giving his best shot in pushing buttons on his giggle. When she found out that he wouldn't stop poking fun at her, she voiced.

"Not so hilarious, Krish. Better stop.", Meghna squinted at Krish, gritting her teeth.

"I .. I am sorry!", He stifled his giggle.

"What's wrong with both of you? And Kannamma, what's wrong in getting married?", Mitha raised her brows; at both of them.

"Amma.. First of all; your question is wrong. Ask this donkey, what's wrong with him. Because he laughed; I didn't. And secondly, What, what's wrong in getting married? Marriage, itself is a wrong thing, I say!", Meghna cockeyed at Mitha and Sanjay.

Sanjay, let out a guffaw.

"Why do you say so, Princess?",Sanjay asked controlling his guffaw.

"Appa.. How do you think I can give a lifelong commitment to someone whom I barely know? Just tell me.", Meghna asked, pushing her plate aside; getting seriously involved in to the act of making things clear from her side .

"I don't want it right now, Appa. Please." Meghna pouted.

"No, Princess. We would've not brought it to you, If it was someones else. I, personally think that You'd do good with Amey." Her dad didn't seem to leave out what he was saying. Meghna had never been forced into a decision all through her life. Even now they weren't forcing her.

"Kannamma. You know that you'd never been forced to take any decisions. But, now when we say something like this , try considering. Even now , we're not forcing you. You know, Appa and I will never jump into conclusions, all of a sudden. Especially, when it comes to you. ", Mitha said.

What they said was true. They'd always been respecting her choices too. She sat, thinking; drumming her fingers on the table.

"May be, You'll consider this If I say that you might get a job in Amey's concern. You know, he owns one of those Ad agencies..", Sanjay said; and started thinking the name of the Ad agency.

She kind of liked it. She really really liked this deal! Errr.. This kind of marriage.

"Yeah! Jove Ads! That it is.", Sanjay squealed; being caught with the name. He knew how to make things work with his wife and daughter!

"What? Jove Ads?", Krish screamed; with his eyes widened. And the other three faces inside the room, abruptly turned to his side. Meghna rolled her eyes at Krish and muttered," Seriously?  What's happening here?"

"Doe.. Jove Ads, CEO..Amey, Doe!", Krish had become hyper now.

"Oh! Come on.. So what?", Meghna's brows had gone pinched and knit.

"Doe.. You're a dumbo.. You don't remember him?", Krish hmpfed!

"Break your enigma! Who's he?", Meghna screeched again.

"Pch.. Our school team captain.."

"..."

"Cricket team captain.. Do you remember? The one who bashed up the senior boys when they flogged me.. Remember? Remember?", and right now Krish was all excited because he personally adored Amey, a lot; since he had been his savior once.

"Oh! That blue-eyes?!", Meghna had him in her mind. Basically, he was the heartthrob of the girls of the school, and she had heard her classmates being excited to ask him out. She remembered him. She had even bumped against him. Once. She wasn't even sure.

"Doe! Marry him, Doe!", Krish's yell was the one to bring Meghna back, from the macrocosm, into which all those flashbacks carried her.

"Dei! I can't marry him, just because he is your beloved captain !", Meghna screeched, flailing her palms on the dining.

"Meghna!", Mitha warned; for doing that. These kids had actually forgotten their parents accompanying them for dinner; as they'd lost themselves discussing heartthrob and stuff.

"Sorry ma!", She mumbled out a quick sorry, gawking at Krish.

"Doe-"

"If you really say that krish! You, go marry him..", Meghna said out in a go, and Sanjay started giggling. Krish's lips had gone compressing into a straight line.

"Ouch!", Meghna yelped; as Krish had stomped his legs on her's;  for saying that. For saying him to marry him off.

"Jay, Uncle?", Krish called Sanjay out.

"Yes!"

"Meghna will marry, Amey. Final!", Krish declared, leering at Meghna.

"Shut up, Krish. I am not ready for a marriage, yet!", Meghna gritted her teeth, Pinching his thighs. Krish, wailed in pain.

"Kannamma.. This is no fun.. Take time, think and disclose..", Sanjay said, swigging in some water.

"Alright! Give me some time?", Meghna chuckled, seeing both of them.

"Alright!", Sanjay and Mitha, echoed.

"For now, we're leaving.", Meghna and Krish, got up from the table and fixed themselves for a hike. It was a Saturday. Saturday had always been their day. Meghna and Krish, would spend Saturday eves together. Like..Not even Julie would be included in their Saturday plan. It was them. Just them.

As Meghna strode to Sanjay's side, and hugged him from side. That was a sight to die for! Mitha would always feel august about Meghna, Sanjay and their relationship. A simper broke out in Mitha's lips seeing the scene.

With that, Krish and Meghna took a leave; after letting out a sincere good bye, to them,"Jay! Do we really need to get her married right away?", Mitha asked her husband, considering the fact that Meghna doesn't know any other thing other than her photography. Not even cooking.

"Mitha.. Have I ever opened up about Meghna's wedding till today? It is all because of Amey, I am saying this. He will take care of our Meghna, well. Like, how we do. Or more than what we do, may be."

Mitha was now amazed seeing her prudish husband, supporting someone so much. She had never heard him saying that someone else would take care of their daughter so well. That was the first time.

"Alright! So, you think that guy Amey will take care of Meghna, well?", Mitha chuckled.

"Yes!", That was a firm yes that came out from his mouth.

"How do you say so, Jay?" Mitha was now befuddled. He now had an important string of clearing off things with his wife. He came out of the chair, and walked to Mitha's near by. She kept eyeing him, wondering what was he doing.

He careened back on the dining table, facing his wife; who was sitting in the chair, oppositely.

"I'd met him a few times, Mitha. He is really cool. You know? And needless to say, it was his father who came to me to talk about our kids getting together.", He sighed.

"So, I can get it when you say so much about him. Let's see , what Meghna says.", Mitha delivered. The night was rolling down slowly. Meghna, came home; after a whole of three hours. Sanjay, wasn't sleeping that night. He wanted to talk to his daughter. He really needed to.

When he found her room bright, with almost all the lights turned on, he apprehended that Meghna was awake. On seeing Mitha, talking on phone to someone; he sauntered off to her bedroom. He saw his baby girl, working on a photograph; on her MacBook. He strode to her.

Meghna's eyes were so sincere; gluing to the laptop screen; that she didn't even notice her father; was standing there admiring her work.

Only when, she felt him standing right beside her; he craned her neck to see him. She smiled. He smile back, stroking her hair.

"Didn't sleep yet? What's Mrs.Rish doing?", Meghna wriggled her brows and winked at him. He let out an airy chuckle, and pulled out a chair in front of Meghna.

"Mrs. Rish is on a call!", He chuckled.

She twisted her lips drolly!

"Princess, Did you think about what we asked?", Sanjay asked, letting his gaze scrutinize her reaction.

"Oh! Yeah, Appa. As you say, okay. I will get married.", Meghna smiled. Sanjay was now daunted. The thought of his daughter agreeing to get married, just for the sake of a job; wasn't giving him a good time. He decided to ask it out, to her.

"Kannamma, You're not agreeing just for the job.. Right?", Sanjay asked. His probing gaze stayed examining the glint, evident in Meghna's eyes.

The next moment, a titter broke out.

"Definitely not, appa!", Meghna cackled. Sanjay, sat addled at her spasmodic glee. As he held the fort, still; anticipating an explanation, Meghna made it perfectly clear.

She migrated the laptop, from her lap; and turned her stance towards Sanjay, and held his hands with her's.

"Appa! Amma has told me... That you promised me to give the best out of everything, on the very first day of my birth, when you lifted me up in your arms; and kissed me for the very first time.", she threw light upon, the fact that he'd give her the best, in everything.

Sanjay's lips lurched into a neat; amused smile hearing his little daughter talking so much in an emotional manner. She'd never done this before.

As his stance stayed on her's she continued.

"..It has been the best, what you've given me till today. I cannot ask for a better Appa and Amma.. ", she chuckled. He chuckled, back.

"And Appa, if you think the job is the only reason for me to accept this proposal; No!", she let out an effortless chuckle, that made Sanjay more curious to head what she was going to say,next.

"It is because of you and Amma. See, I can do whatever you want me to. After all, I know that both you won't be bringing up a thing to me, If it's not that important. I know, right!", She said

smiling, with a blink in her eyes. Sanjay, was astonished hearing what his daughter said.

"I agree, Appa. To meet, Amey! Wholeheartedly.", She said, after leaving out a sharp sigh. Sanjay's eyes had gone sheer; hearing this from his daughter. To him, she was the same five year old Meghna, who used to melt his heart with her babyish talks.

A happy sigh, escaped Sanjay's lips. He nodded his head, slowly; in amusement and dabbed her head, warmly.

As Meghna's stare stayed probing him, about his reaction on hearing what she explained; he smiled again; baggily.

"All this while, You've been proving me that you're a blessing that I've got in my life.. Just like Amma.", Sanjay chuckled, ducking his head, slowly; realizing what he said, by heart. Meghna was happy, seeing her able to make her parents happy.

Her lips were wide, out of the smile invading those slushy lips.

"So, I will let them know, and ask Amey to meet you! Done?"

"Done!", Meghna chortled.

"Okay! Sleep soon. Don't stay awake all night. Good night, Kannamma.", He said, as he stood up to leave the room; but paused right there and kissed her hair.

"Good night, Pa.", she recited back.

Sanjay sauntered back to his room, where he found his wife; waiting for him.

His face was lit up, with a new cheer, now. It didn't fail to amuse Mitha, when she happened to witness his unfaltering, sincere, warm smile.

As her eyes probed him, he smiled more. He was wordless,may be!

"Did she agree to meet Amey?", Mitha asked as his miasmic smile infected her lips.

"She did. But you know what?", He pried, being unable to withstand the joy.

Mitha remained watching him intently,to listen to his happiness.

"She knows.. Us.. Too much. Way too much!", Sanjay couldn't say it out in a go. The amusement choked his throat. Mitha smiled back now and answered him.

"May be, a little more than what we know in her."

This is what he was about to say. Humbled, by hearing his wife say this; he nodded his head slowly. Mitha scrolled over to Sanjay's behind; and chuckled.

"A man, who was scared of a life long commitment, years go; is now proud of his daughter!" Mitha, let out a cackle; eying her man steadily. He let his gaze, amuse her sharply, as his vibrant lips, lurch into an arch.

"..And it all happened, because of my beautiful wife.", He said, leering at her. Mitha couldn't help but smile, wide hearing what Sanjay said.

"You've repeated this for a countless number of times in all these years!.", she said, looking at him.

"Even then, you like to hear it from me. Right?", he smirked.

"Jay!", she cackled.

He smiled back, warmly. And added,"I will ask Amey about when would they be meeting!" Mitha flickered a quick nod.

•••••••••

With thousands of hugs and kisses,

Meghna Amey!

As his azure eyes, struggled along those words; his heart flinched and he felt some unfamed pain. Without her beside him , for sure he knew that his life would be hard on the eyes.

A sharp sigh, fell out of his virile lips; as his hands fled to his temples to rub them. Migraine, was breaking his head as if someone was hammering it. He had even felt his migraine getting under some control, with Meghna beside him all those days.

A part of him, was still not ready to believe the fact that she was the one to betray him. His eyes roamed all over the letter. He was muddling through, it for the fifteenth time. Soon, his hands barnstormed, to get a grip of the car keys. He wasn't letting her go.

But he had to!!

Even, If he was going to trust her.. At least to find out who was the one to do it. But for now, all of his trust that prevailed upon Meghna had gone. He was actually, kind of sure that she was the one.

His hands flew back, in reverse as he stopped hitting the fact that he had to rush to the airport and hold her back from moving away. With the most indistinct pain, muscling in his heart, he loosened his clenched fists.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•

It's been five hours, since her flight landed at NY. Julie had come to the airport, to pick her up. The happiness that Julie had to hold on, was well visible on her face when she met Meghna. Well, Meghna wasn't that happy. Her eyes kept dripping all the while when she flew to NY.

And now, she was lying , curling her knees up; folded like a ball; with the tears furling down her cheeks.

She didn't eat, since she reached NewYork. When Julie asked her about food, she simply answered that she wasn't hungry. She also added that she was sleepy and sick of traveling. The sobs had now broken down into wails. As Meghna wanted to sleep, Julie had left her home and decided to go her classes. So, it was only Meghna left at home. She knew that Julie wouldn't be coming any sooner, that she had this own accord of wailing, for her life had gone into a plague.

Her stomach was shrilling more louder, than she did. The hunger made her flash her past back, right before her eyes.

"Amey!" Meghna yelped.

"Hmm?" That was the hum that came out of his mouth.

"Amey.."

"Yes!", He said, as his fingers were struggling on the buttons of the remote.

"Ameynn!"

"Yes, Meghna!" His husky voice fell in, again.

"I am hungry, Amey!", She pouted, placing her MacBook down from her lap; and turning her stance towards Amey, who was much more sincere in devoting all of his concentration to the Xbox.

Yes! He played Xbox.

He giggled, hearing what she just said.

"Wha-at!", He snickered. Even then, his eyes were roaming to and fro; from the remote to the screen.

"I said, I am hungry!", she gritted her teeth, stomping one of her legs, flailing against the floor. Amey, didn't seem to pay attention to what she was saying.

"Let's go, cook; Amey!", she said, twisting her lips. Amey bursted out into a laughter, hearing what she said, again.

"What? Let's cook? Seriously?", his laughter grew further, that he had to hold his stomach while laughing.

"Alright! You'll cook and I will assist you.", Meghna disclosed, bringing her hands close to her chest.

"Really?", he had now paused his game, and his eyes finally travelled up to meet her's.

"I can aid you by giving my assistance!", she up casted her invisible collars.

"What kind of assistance will I get?", he wriggled his brows and left out a smug look, that screamed wickedness.

"Amey!"she gave him a high-sign in her voice before starting up. "Assistance in the sense, transferring the ladle from the stand to your hand; getting hold of spices to you; and whatever you ask me to do!", she finished uttering sincerely and then she realized that she'd prattled out something that would make him talk too much, right away.

"Wow! I like this kind of assistance. You'll do whatever I ask for! Good deal, baby!", he smirked again. This time, the smirk seemed to do something in her stomach. It really did!

"No! No! I take back my words. I will do, whatever you ask for regarding the food", she grouched, so adorably. He liked it, when she pouted. He actually enjoyed, making her go all pouty!

"Amey! You know that I eat like a pig. Better come and cook something. Please!!", this was a mere obligation. He started laughing all again.

"Don't laugh, Amey! Otherwise, I will go, cook!", she threatened him. Well, he wasn't giving up.

"Alright! Go, cook!", he smirked.

"This is not fair, at all! You knew it all before.. That I don't know cooking and you wanted to marry me.. And now... You're teasing me." Her hands booted up its way to her hip, her lips curled downwards.

On struggling hard to control his laughter," Pch! Come here.", he said widening his arms. She did so.

She drooped on to him; with her hands wrapped around his neck and his hands around her waist; with the remote on. She overhung on him, like her life depended upon that.

With that, he proceeded playing his game; and she continued distracting him; pouting.

"This is cheating, Amey! You told me that you'll cook now.", she pouted against his neck; placing her cheeks on his shoulders. He had to press his lips against one another to prison up the giggle, that was on the way.

"When did I say, that? "He giggled.

"You're cheating me! I hate you!", she brooded against his neck again. A soft chuckle, fell in from his lips; that were already on her head, kissing her hair.

"I love you!"

"I shouldn't have come to you, when you called me."

"Yes! Yes. You shouldn't have." He echoed.

"Amey! I've works to do after eating. Please.", as she obliged, they heard a ding from the door; sharply.

"Baby! Go, look who's at the door!!",he said, still playing his game.

"I won't!"

"You've to.", he smirked again.

"I won't go. You're teasing me, cheating me.", still staying in his arms, in the same way.

She said, and they heard the door bell's ring again.

"See! Someone's at the doorstep. You're making them, wait. Go and come; and then we will cook.", he came to good terms.

"Seriously?", she asked for assurance. Because She cannot believe in what he said. He would just shrug it off and say that he didn't even talk that. With that he unbuckled his hands, around her waist and she strode to the door.

In a few minutes, all he heard was a loud wail.

"Ameynnn!", It was a happy wail, Indeed. He chuckled hearing her, wailing in joy.

"Amey! This is why you've been sitting without taking your ass off the floor! ", she outcried in joy, with her mouth wide open leaving out a smile; as she carried in the boxes of pizzas, in her hand. He chortled, certifying what she said.

"Thank you!", she screeched again, placing the pizzas neatly on the table and jumping to him, to hug him. She wrapped her hands around his neck; and he placed his hand to soothe her back. She was over excited now. In few minutes, she came back from him and moved to the table.

Amey, stood seeing her doing things.

Meghna, meandered to the refrigerator to bring out the bottle of coke; that she'd saved for that night. She slotted the lid, and gushed it off to the flip-flopped glasses. Amey, poised admiring her. In a line, she fascinated him a lot.

As she finished, thronging the coke in to the glasses , she saw him with joyful glint evident in her eyes. She signaled him to come there to eat, with her lips still spread wide.

He chuckled and went to the table. She was all happy now. He never failed to surprise her. Buyig pizzas wasn't a big surprise, but it was something that made her happy. From day one, he had always been giving surprises to her,making her happ .With that, they ate up the pizzas happily; with a combat for the last piece of it. Finally, on settling down, with a partition of the last piece; they ate it.

Meghna had now, bursted out into a stamped out wail.

His blue eyes, that would run a shiver through her spine, when stared; The touch that would make all of her nerves and veins, boogie in joy; his smirk that made her realize that she even knows how to blush; all the above; the hair raising effect that she would've to go through; if he comes abreast her! All of these had a huge effect on her.

Tears weren't stopping their activity of doing free fall. Neither did her hands flew up to rub them. She let her tears flow down, washing her face; making her nose and cheeks go red; due to the tormenting wail.

She'd never apprehended that she would have to go through this, in her life. She didn't fall for him, easily. It all took a whole of six months, to agree herself that she was in love with her husband. And now, she felt all lost. A great dilemma was racking her brain. Parting from him was making her feel weaker and insecure! For a minute, she had to doubt herself that If what she was going through was love~ Losing oneself to the other, willingly.

As she stayed, furling up with the pillows; she heard her phone buzzing. She took the phone to her hands, and to much of a shock was what the caller ID gave her.

It was that name, that would make her go crazy!

AMEY!!

She couldn't believe her eyes! Was it really happening? She got up from the stance and straightened up herself. She wheezed heavily, eying the phone's screen wearily. Her hands took a hop to her phone, helplessly!

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