Rejuvenating Love

12) Should she go for it?

The room accommodated two families including a lawyer who had handed over the papers to Kuhu already. So many people to support her yet a silence of loneliness killed her. Her sign on the papers would turn her world upside down. How could she sign it so hastily? She looked for the lawyer who wondered whom she's waiting for. "Mumma?",She called.

'Here I'm Kuhu,beside you as always.' Mrs. Rathore ensured her patting her shoulder.

"My children don't go for anything without their mother and our Kuhu being the elder one doesn't shut her eyelids to sleep without her mumma. Till date she fears the ghosts roaming around in her room.", Mr. Rathore tittered. Rajputs including Raghav and the lawyer burst into a huge laugh.

"You needn't worry. I'll give you a company in bed every nighttttt....." Raghav longed his sentences only to whisper it clear at her ears when their families were busy chortling on Mr. Rathore's joke. He c****d his head away immediately to steal the moment under everyone's sight.

The milky white face of Kuhu slowly transferred into a canvas sprinkled with primary red tinge. Should she fight? Defend herself ? With how many is she gonna do that? Even her papa left no choice before her, embarassing her by reciting her childish habits. And Raghav! She could only imagine her hands around his neck till his throat dried.

What made her so confident to sign the legal papers of marriage is still uncertain. It might be the cool atmosphere created around. She realised however bad the situation be she has now got two families to support her and to the cherry on top the two men : her papa and Raghav would only lighten her stress everytime.

Signing on the legal papers she sealed her promises towards a new family. Caressing her signature made her realise the new responsibilities she would have to take. Her mind registered she will have to accompany a person as her another part for lifelong. People say legal marriages are easy to go through with less commotion, quicker and more comfortable to finish the procedures of oath taking. Actually it isn't!

Less commotion? Do you think anything would've been more chaotic than that of her papa's joke and everyone's laughter? Could she sign the papers quickly and comfortably? No, its only after her mumma consoled her strained shoulders, her papa diverted her mind cracking blush-making jokes on her and Raghav played his part of mischievous play to bring her out of stress that she skipped the nervousness quota while signing her life to Raghav forever.

To conclude we can say the decision of marriage is never easy for the bride. Be it a Hindu marriage or a wedding at Church or a nikah at Masjid or a bond at a lawyers chamber, the essence of her anxiety is how well she'll be accountable to her partner and his family by taking the vows on the particular day of her wedding. Most importantly the bride's mind plays- Will the groom cooperate her while she nurtures his family? She doesn't ask for a solution everytime to her husband. No! Her husband isn't the lord of lords. How can he be a problem solver? She doesn't demand him to be messiahic either.

Just his witty playfulness is enough to reroute her mind from missing her family while staying with her in-laws. A mischievous act like that of Raghav today would swipe away her worries without her knowledge of 'when'.

Her part is done. Kuhu took the promise to be responsible for the well-being of him and his family. Now its Raghav's turn. Not even did he think once and he signed the papers. What did you expect of a man? They are known for thier detemined decisions in life. Its not like women aren't head-strong. But you know women are epitome of intuitions. Had Calpurnia's intuitions and dreams ceased Ceaser from visiting the Senate she wouldn't have seen him for the last time that day. Calpurnia was clairvoyant rather Caesar was strong-willed to address his men and hence was fetched by Brutus to the Senate.

Women suspect before doing but men do before they end with suspicions. Here Kuhu wondered if the marriage would really work before signing the alliance papers. Instead Raghav first of all got married; may be lateron he would wonder as to why he took such a major decision of his life without giving it a second thought. Or may be he could really see the prosperous perspective of this union 'cos all men don't have to face the consequences of their single-minded decisions like that of Julius Caesar.

Raghav handed over the papers to the lawyer who declared both of them as legally wedded husband and wife!

The previous day morning

"Kuhu, finish your work by 12 and have your lunch in time. I have informed Maria(head cook) to cook any indian dish for your meal. You get that?" Peeping into Kuhu's room Mrs. Rathore ordered her.

'I know it mumma. You don't need to sing me every detail. I'm a kid no more. Now go. You'll miss the beginning of the movie.' Kuhu pouted complaining before her mom.

"You sure? You aren't coming with us? If your papa can come out of his busy schedule, why can't you?" Her mom furrowed her eyebrows to enquire the reason for her excuse.

'The weather is too good to leave the bed, mumma. That's why I took a leave from office, just to lie the whole day in my comfy bed and work a little with my laptop if I get too bored.' Speaking to her momma she hugged her fluffy white pillows and fell into her bed covered with silky smooth bedcover from her sitting position.

"You and your fantasies for bed." Mrs. Rathore rolled her eyes to Kuhu's cravings for bed. "Take care." She was about to leave when Rohan stopped near the door and said," Ooye, Fatty let's go. I don't have time for your tantrums. Get up!"

'Sorry babes can't make it this time. I'll sleep.' The excitement at her face while speaking sleep was worth watching.

"I also want a nap. I don't know why mumma is taking me for the film forcefully." Rohan walked towards Kuhu's bed when his momma held his hand and dragged him out of Kuhu's room saying,"You aren't spared. The kids of your generation don't have time for their parents. I wonder if you'll take care of your papa and me during our old age or just throw us at some old age home."

"I won't throw anyone out of the house. Why would I do that? Didi I'm telling you we've got world's best mom in the 'emotional blackmailing' category. And mumma, if didi gets the liberty to make an excuse why not I? This is injustice. She gets what she wants everytime." Rohan stompped his feet and his sad face full of tantrums made Kuhu chuckle at the moment. Pulling out their tongues they made funny faces to each other and Rohan left with his mother.

'Bye' Kuhu turned herself to be a stomach sleeper and started with the powerpoint presentation with which she had to impress the Dubai investors.

In the drawing.

Raghav entered the drawing hurriedly. "Morning sir, ma'am is upstairs. Please take the seat. I'll inform her now", Maria welcomed Raghav but without stopping his steps Raghav strided upstairs towards Kuhu's room.

'You needn't worry. I'll go myself to her. I need to talk to her immediately. Got no time to wait.'

"But sire, ma'am may not like anyone into her room. It's better if you wait here. I would call her downstairs in no time. Our job is in risk. Please try to understand." Maria pleaded before Raghav but he had already been far up the stairs. Counting down like the timer Maria was sure of getting dismissed of her job anytime soon.

Hastened Raghav unbolted the door of Kuhu's room with no noise to find Kuhu lying graciously on bed.

Raghav's point of view

How can a girl be so simple yet so sexy? I wish I could freeze the hands of clock for this moment. It's not in everyone's everyday's fate to witness such an arresting serenity. Her long, dark, straight and shiny hair spread all over her bed around her sleeveless arms and her shimmery slender fingers tucked a strand behind her ears that tried to hinder her view disturbing her concentration from the laptop. Her glistening skin whitier than the silky sheets of bed is seriously driving me insane to the world of some erotic imaginations.

What if I'm allowed to run my fingers on her curvy lumber vertebrae and mark her territory especially when she's sleeping on her stomach firmly appressed to the mattress wearing an off-white bodycon dress clutching her skin tight till her mid-thighs. How dare the mattress hold her that way? How dare the pillow hug her so close? I will show them their places one day. Right now her long slender exposed legs appeal me to worship and climb on them to claim her.

"Hold your horses Raghav! You are not yet married.", I murmered to the senses of my uncontrolled desires. s**t! If I wait here a moment anymore I would lose the control over my manly instincts and possessiveness. And then on it would be difficult for me to stop. Only when I was about to turn and go, I perceived her c*****g her head this side and staring at me.

(Ignore the length of the dress. The sole purpose of the image is to bring the original view of Kuhu's position on bed.)

She looked at me but no response! Is she doing fine with her health? She said nothing to me? Not even a simple fight today? Ignoring me, right? Or....

On getting caught I walked towards her and said,"Kuhu, I've been here to talk to you. Something very important."

She stood up, ambled towards her dressing mirror and brushed her hair. Still no response? Has she gone blind? Deaf? Dumb? What the hell! Ignoring someone has a certain limit and she's crossing that. Or she appreciates my advances? Standing behind her infront of the mirror I looked into her eyes for a second or so.

Her room inside smelled the warmth of her body. So snug and safe. I missed being that close to her. I missed breathing her scent. This animated my whole day then back during the college days. This enlivened my life. All these days being a dead corpse and longing for her invigorated touch I drew my breathe perceiving her abstract presence only. Hugging her from back, with my nose dumped into the crook of her neck, I slithered my index finger on her bare arms and asked,"Should I take your silence as your acceptance?"