Enigmatic Love

Chapter-1

A Big Family - Welcome!

Third person's pov..

The tune echoed around the whole room. The melancholic ringtone grabbed the attention of a 8-year-old as his ears wiggled while he was writing something in his notebook.

"Anni!!!" He called for someone to attend the call before the ring goes off but unfortunately he got no response. The ring went off eventually. But within seconds it started to ring again.

He sighed and jumped off the bed. He took his baby's two towards the nightstand and unplugged the mobile from the charger.

"H-U-S-B-A-N-D" He spelled the word which appeared on the mobile screen.

"Hus-band.. Ohh.. Husband!!" He finally caught the word but the ring went off. He frowned.

Then the sound of the room door's knob twisting grabbed his attention. He turned towards the door with the mobile in his hands to see a woman in her late twenties standing with her hands on her hip and the fakeglare she threw mustn't be left unnoticed.

"Sanjh! Just now I plugged charger and you unplugged it already? Playing video games for two hours wasn't enough for you? Wait.. I'll complain to your Anna when he return home!" She said with a frown and the poor little Sanjh pouted.

"You hurted poor Sanjh, Anni!"

"Aww.. may I know how?"

"I was not playingggg!! Phone ring-" before he could complete, the mobile started vibrating and the ringtone echoed in the room.

She went towards him and grabbed the mobile. Looking at the screen written 'Husband calling....' she hastily swiped the green button to answer the call with her shaky hands.

"H..hello.."

"What took you so long? I've been trying to your mobile thrice," she heard her cold voice and her eyes widened.

Thrice? s**t! I'm done..

"S..sorry.. I.. I.. was.. wasn't-"

"Have you payed the water and electricity bills?"

"What? No.." she said and then slapped her forehead with her palm.

"Didn't I ask you? Were you that busy that you forgot"

"I'm sorry.. it slipped off my mind"

"Well it will not anymore if my hand slip on your cheeks for a tight slap," his voice made her grin like an i***t.

Although his words were a threaten.. she knew he says it for instance. It's not like he never beats but alteast not without reasons.

"Sorry.. I'll pay it today"

"Okay"

That's all? He went away for two months now. I missed him so much but he didn't?

"Hmm" she said sadly.

"Then.."

"Then?" Her hopes flew hight until she heard his voice.

"How are everyone? I missed them so much.." Her hopes crushed.

Again about his brothers only. He didn't miss her. Why would he? She was always a 'broken taperecord' for him.

"All good" she said with a smile which didn't reach her eyes. The only thing which occupied her eyes were tears which were threatening to fall.

"Okay.. then"

"Then?"

Nothing about me? Finr.. When will he return? should I ask him?

"Ask Shiva to pick me up from the railway station by 7 this evening," he informed and her eyes widened as her heart dilated with happiness.

"You're coming today?" She shrieked and palmer her mouth as it was so bit louder. Not just a bit though.

"Yeah.."

"I'll inform him," she said controlling her excitement as she doesn't want to embarrass herself by behaving like a love-sick teenager.

He disconnected the call and she plugged in the charge onto the mobile. The snile didn't leave her face.

"Who was that, Anni?" Sanjh asked as he noticed her grinning like an i***t since she answered the call.

"Your Anna only"

"What? It was written 'hus-band' but not 'Anna'?'' he asked outsmarted. She looked at him as if he's an alien. He frowned.

"He's my husband"

"But he's my Anna"

"He's not my Anna.. so why would I save him like that?"

"But he's my Anna. So you should save him as Anna!" He huffed being stubborn.

"No. I shouldn't"

"Yes. you should" She knelt down and grabbed his both shoulders softly pulling him into her arms.

My stubborn kiddo.. The most stubborn li'l brother of My.. 'Mr. Stubborn' husband.

"When you become big like your brother, you buy a mobile and save him however you like but spare me for God's sake," she said ruffling his hair and he frowned. But then nodded smilingly as she kissed his left cheek.

He showed his other cheek which she gladly kissed too. He grinned.

"Okay! Now complete your homework. I'll start preparing dinner. You're brother is returning tonight" she said and he was surprised.

"Really? Anni!!!"

She nodded and he hugged her giggling. She laughed at his cute antics.

********

The train 12679 arrived at the Coimbatore Junction. The passengers started to effuse out of the train and one such passenger was him who was looking for someone. As he noticed the person waving at him, he nodded the person and walked forward.

"I missed you so much, bro!" The person hugged him and he patted his back.

"Its not like I missed you so much but yeah I did a little," he said and the other person frowned.

"You're so mean to me"

"Only I can be, Sidhdh!" He said patting Sidhdh's shoulder and he smiled at him.

"Bro, how are you?" Asked another person.

"You see, Shiva, I'm all good"

"No.. you're not good. You need some rest. Let's go!" Shiva told and the three left.

It was your Pindrop silence during the whole drive which made Sidhdh and Shiva irked. They shared a glance and then at their elder brother who was at the back, looking into his mobile.

"Hmm.. bro!" It was Sidhdh.

"Yeah"

"Did you missed us all?" Sidhdh asked hopefully while crossing his fingers.

"Why would I?"

"Bro!!" Sidhdh whined and he let out a laugh. Shiva glared at him.

"Okay.. yeah! I missed y'all"

"All?"

"Ofcourse all"

"Anni?" Shiva asked this time looking through the rear view mirror and found him holding his mobile tightly.

They both smirked as he was looking nervous and changed. His strong aura turns weak whenever he was reminded of her. Her! His wife!

"Answer?"

He coughed.

"Yeah I did missed her.... food. The food I has there was completely tasteless," he said and again looked into the mobile. Shiva continued driving with an irritated face.

Sidhdh slapped himself for asking that. Then.. who can change him after all he's Guru Prabhakar.

But one person can. The person can make him stand strong as well as fall weak. The only person who loves him more than themselves after his siblings. The only person who cares for him without asking anything in return. The only person who can make him nervous by being nervous themselves.

A smile broke on his lips thinking about her. His eyes and heart both longed to see her. Yeah.. he missed her. He missed her the most. Her nonsensical behavior and childish tantrums where what made him feel alive.

Her eyes.. always spoke him the best advise and truth.

The car halted infront of a big house. He stepped out of the car and not a second ahead, he was embraced by seventeen people. He smiled at them.

"We missed you, Anna!"

"I missed y'all too. Hope you didn't bothered Shiva too much. Or did you?" He asked snd they all looked at him with a mischievous glint in their eyes. Guru laughed out knowing this look.

"They roasted me so much for two f-cking months"

"Watch your mouth!" Guru said and Shiva zipped his mouth.

"Let's go inside!"

Everyone left him as he walked forward. His eyes scanned for the certain someone and then landed there, where that someone was standing with tears near the maindoor. His eyes lingered there for a few minutes and his heart warmed seeing her tears.

It's not like he like to see her crying. He hates to see her in tears. But today it's indifferent indeed.

She missed me.. too!

Everyone settled in the hall area. Some sat in the couches and some sat down. Guru was pulled between themselves.

"Let me refresh! I want to talk to y'all. And.. Pranav, I especially want to see your progress card," he said making the 17-year-old jump as he got startled. He looked at Shiva who just shrugged.

This Shiva must've told to Anna.. my God! I'm dead.

Guru smiled looking at his sister, Mantra still hugging him tightly. He patted her head as she sobbed.

"Can anyone click a picture of this wonderful sight? Mantra being affectionate towards her brother which isn't usual. And her cries.. we can't see that often. C'mon.." he said as Mantra pushed him wiping her tears.

"I missed you so much but you're making fun of me."

"Oh.. oh.. sorry my dear sister" he mocked and trued to hug her back but she pushed her.

"Get off! Go snd refresh!" She said in her usual bossy tone and he smiled looking at her walking.

She's as bold as him. The female version of himself. He surely pity the one whose gonna get her.

"Bro.. look at her attitude. You're the reason for this," Shiva said while shaking his head.

"And I'm proud of her", Guru said with his head held high and chest puffed with happiness. Shiva looking at him in disbelief.

"C'mon bro.. you must be getting her ready for marriage. Not for any war!" Shiva told and Guru looked at him with a smug smile.

"What if I'm already doing the latter"

********

The melancholic sound of the anklets filled the room. He exited the bathroom and entered the room wearing a T and trousers with a towel around his shoulders. Water dripping down his hair which he wiped off with the towel around his shoulders.

His eyes fell on the someone who was unpacking is suitcase. She took the bundle of unwashed clothes and placed them inside the clothe bin.

A strong smell filled her nostrils abd she gasped. It was the smell of his cologne. She she turned to see him standing behind and her breathe struck. A red tint was painted on her pale cheeks. Her breathing got uneven. She turned towards him.

Her eyes met with the one which was already looking into hers. His hands reached behind her and she batted her eyes not understanding his behavior.

Blush crept along her cheeks. His eyes never left her's for once. He bent a little forward towards her amd she bent backwards towards the table.

His cheek slightly brushed with hers. She clutched her saree tightly with her eyes closed as it is very much foreign. She felt the warmth going away and opened her eyes. His hands retreated with a shirt from the table she was leaning in. She was confused.

Shirt?

Shit! He was taking a shirt? Here.. I'm imagining something romantic from my husband?

She felt embarrassed to stand infront of him further.

It was all his mistake to take a shirt like that. He should've asked me to move. Arghhh!! To embarrassing!

"I..I'll g..go and serve dinner to everyone.."

He nodded as she ran away in a swift motion and a littlest of a smile appeared in his lips. He knew whatever he did and never regretted it.

She ran out of the room and reached the kitchen to take twenty-one plates, tumblers and cups. She walked towards the sink and placed it in. She started to rinse it all while reminiscing him closer to her. His cheeks brushing hers..

The blush looked permanent as it wasn't leaving her cheeks for once. Her cheeks got flared on the constant burning rush of blood towards it.

The simple moment placed a seat in her heart which was playing background music to the already melancholic moment.

*Ahem *Ahem

She heard a coughing sound and turned to see one of her lovely Brothers-in-law, Raju and her only sister-in-law Mantra standing at the door leaning towards it. She knew what comes next.

"Blushing so much?" Asked Mantra wiggling her eyebrows. She was shocked but acted as if she didn't heard her. She took the plates in her hands.

"Bring the tumblers while coming.." she said and left the kitchen to escape from falling prey to their speech.

She kept the plates one by one and looked for everyone who were busy in their own work.

The three youngest siblings were shouting and playing in the hall. The four teenagers were watching writing their homework. The three siblings who got unfortunately admitted in a prestigious university were watching football match and fighting for their favourite team to win while muching snacks during dinner time.

The doctor, the IT staff, the professor and the lawyer siblings were doing their works. The two jobless siblings were watching some funny movie in their mobile and laughing like some maniac. The police sibling wasn't present at home. The one who don't-know-what-his-job, a.k.a Shiva was looking after the kids who were fighting.

She huffed while strucking the pallu around her waist. She cleared her throat and took a deep breathe. Raju and Mantra laughed knowing what comes next.

Attendance time!

"Prem! Pranav! Sanjh! Aadhi! Kavin! Madhav! Raghu! Keshav! Sidhdh! Atharv! Jeeva! Charan! Gowtham! Tamizh! Rakshan! Raju! Ashok! Deva! Mantra! And Shiva!!! Come and have dinner. Theb.. I'm not repeating!!" She yelled from the top of her lungs and breathed heavily. She looked at them in disbelief as they didn't budged.

Its not appropriate to call those buffaloes by names! I think i must've already entered into action.

She looked for something and then Raju gave her a stick.. broomstick. She smiled at him and he smiled sheepishly. She then glared at the kiddos.

She entered into the hall and everyone looked at her in horror.

"Anni.. sorry.."

They all tried but was that enough? She was calling not one or two but freaking twenty bufaloes. She's even a human too. She started to struck the broom at them as they all shuffled from their places and ran inside the dining hall settling themselves on the mat to have dinner.

She wiped the sweat and turned to see her husband standing at a distance, leaning over the pillar watching the whole scene of his brothers getting beaten up by his wife with a broom.

He usually dont welcome a scene of his brothers beaten up their ass-off but his wife had casted some blackmagic already that today, he loved the scene of his brothers beaten up by his always-not-so-cool wife.

She ran away to serve them especially to hide herself from the scrutinizing gaze of her husband who just returned after two-months of longing.