Enigmatic Love

Chapter-2

A Normal Day Of Their Life Goes Like This..

Arguments!

Banters!

Embarrassment!

And.. Care!

Third person's pov..

~ pookale sattru oyivedungal.. aval vandhuvittaal.. Aval vandhuvittaal..

Hey I endraal athu azhagu endraal andha I-galin I aval thana.. Hey I endraal athu kadavul endraal andha kadavulin thugal aval thaana ~

Song played in the player to which a sweet humming was heard from the kitchen. The euphonic hum attracted a heart towards its own like a flower attract a butterfly. The feet followed the hum which lead towards the kitchen like they had their own mind.

Stepping inside the kitchen, his body stiffened seeing the lady in the parrot green coloured saree was humming the beautiful lyrics while stirring something in the pan. His body automatically leaned over the doorframe with his head slightly tilted looking at the beauty.

A beautiful morning indeed..

Her black long curls had been put into a messy bun with some hair falling over her face which caressed her cheeks slightly. Her saree at a messy position with the end struck at her waist which didn't leave a chance revealing her milky waist to his sight. The tingling sound of the anklets which were adorning her beautiful feet were making the best tune to his ears.

His eyelashes clapped rhythmically appreciating the most beautiful creation of the God gifted for him to save, care, love and cherish all life long.

His poetry come to the halt when he heard a shrieking sound.

"Ouch!" was the shriek which left her mouth grabbed him towards her by collar. He stepped forward and his hands slipped towards hers from behind to look after it.

He looked into her hand which was slightly red due to the burn she just caused to it. Yeah.. she had burnt her hand while turning the chapati with her hand. He slowly caressed it slightly while turning towards her face. His eyes met hers.. her teary ones.. her tears!

His anger went to its peak seeing her tears. He hate it! He hate tears! Hers.. especially!

"Stupid woman! Can't you use any tongs to do that?" The yell was enough to make her already shivering body to flinch.

"I couldn't find them. It's already time for your brothers to go to their school, college and work. So I thought to do it by hands and I've already done that many times. But today I was a little careless.." she mumbled and he left a sharp breathe looking away.

"Wipe those ugly tears of yours and stand aside.." he said while moving back.

She was confused but then wiped her tears. She looked at him rolling his sleeves of his Black-shirt up. Her hopes followed his veiny hand while it grabbed hers and pulled her to a corner. She stood there looking at his actions while he walked toward the kitchen counter.

Her eyes recorded his actions keenly as he washed his hands and started to cook the chapati with his own hand. Her eyes widened as realization dawned up on her head.

He doesn't know how to cook! What if he burns his hand? God..

"Ayee.. No!" Her shriek startled him as he gazed at her who was gripping her hand.

"I'll manage!" She said with a small smile that her husband tried to help her but he pushed her slightly.

"Shut up! I don't want my brothers to cry saying that I'm not helping you," he said turning towards the stove.

She stood there silently.

How did the topic of his brothers come between? So.. he didn't do that wholeheartedly but only for the sake of his brothers.

Married for his brothers.

I'm here to take care of his brothers.

Living under same roof for their brothers.

Then what for ourselves? Only fights, scoldings and beatings which he gives? I don't complain it but still.. its been two years.

I've changed myself for him but he didn't try it for once. Change in the sense adjusting with the partner. He adjusts but still something is empty within us.

Her chain of thoughts were broken when she heard him wince. She tried to reach him and push him but he locked her both hands with his one free hand and worked with the other.

"Look.. you yourself burnt your hand," she whined while struggling to take her hands away.

"It happens.. nobody can be expert in first try," he said without looking at her concentrating on the food he's making.

"Yes. So do I. So I'll do the rest. You can leave," she said firmly while pushing his hand of hers. He looked at her amused and she gulped.

Sometimes the fiesty self of my wife peeps out.. and I can never complain that.

"What?"

"Get out of the kitchen!"

"Kmowing what you speak right now?" He asked Stepping towards her as she moved back. Her heart started to beat like drums. Her back collided with the kitchen counter. His hands trapped her inbetween him and the counter. She hissed at the proximity.

His eyes didn't moved away from hers and she tried hard to break the eye contact which can never happen with his captivating ones. Never in this birth.

"I..I definitely do!"

"Really?" He asked closing the gap slowly as he inched towards her.

"Ouch! My poor innocent baby eyes!" Someone shrieked making them startled. He turned to the entrance to see Keshav, one of his cunning brothers smirking. But he didn't move off her. And tried to push him but he stood still.

"You don't fit in that phrase," Guru spoke and his wife succeeded pushing him with a flushed face.

"Anna! You broke my heart," Keshav said and Guru gave him a bored look and left the kitchen while glancing at her for the last time then glaring at his not-so-innocent brother.

As soon as he left, Keshav jumped on the countertop near her and she was startled.

"Monkey!" She yelled slapping his arm and he laughed while stealing one of the carrots which she was washing to cut.

"Haha! Anni.. what was the thing which I just saw?"

"What you saw?"

"Anna and you!" He said while hinting the scene but she looked at him carelessly.

"What your Anna and me?"

"What Anni.. can't you understand? I'm hinting you!" He said with a frown while taking a bite in his carrot.

"You just disturbed the moment and asking me?" She said with her right eyebrow raised. He was shocked and then slapped his own forehead.

"Yeah Anni.. I'm sorry"

"But leave it. I know your brother. He only leave empty threats!" She said and she heard him laughing. She glared at him.

"But Anni.. you have to try hard I think," he said nodding at his own sentence.

"I know that. You have college today. You better get out before I smack you with this!" she said raising the large slotted turner while he jumped down and ran out laughing.

She smiled. She then remembered her husband and blushed.

*********

"Bro.. shall we leav-" Shiva's sentence stopped at the middle looking at his brother standing infront of the dressing table with his comb.

Guru turned to him.

"Bro.. You're not ready yet?"

"Wait for 5 mins!" He excused and Shiva nodded while landing on the couch. He started to surf

Guru got ready in his Black-shirt and White Dhoti. Shiva smiled looking at his brother's evergreen traditional style. Guru turned to Shiva hinting that he's ready.

Guru entered the puja room ( prayer room) and stood in front of lord Shiva with his head down and hands joined. He then lit the camphor in the puja plate and prayed while placing some flowers at the lord's feet. He closed his eyes and prayed.. for his brothers and sister.

As Shiva joined him too, both entered the dining hall while discussing about their rivals and saw Nandini serving everyone. Guru's eyes followed her actions while Shiva smiled inside.

Hope atleast this year Anni will get the complete love of my brother. She's yearning for it.

They both sat down in the mat along with their siblings. Nandini placed the breakfast for Shiva first and lastly to Guru with whom her eyes locked for umpteenth time this day. She smiled inside.

They both broke it when they heard the youngest brother Sanjh crying.

"What happened, Sanjh?" She asked running to him to which he complained that Deva hit him.

"Deva!" She glared at him to which he gave her a pathetic look.

"Is it manly of you to hit a small kid?" She asked and he nodded no.

"Anni, Listen to me. He was throwing the vegetables out of his plate deliberately," Deva said. Nandini looked at Sanjh and he was crying.

"For that you'll beat him?"

"Sorry Anni.. but I first warned him but he didn't listen!"

"You don't need to be sorry Deva! It was his mistake to do that and you corrected him. Now stop bantering over it!" Guru said looking at Nandini who frowned hearing him.

'Spoiling them so much! He's making everyone violent just like himself!', she muttered under her breathe not knowing everyone heard her.

Everyone laughed and her eyes widened hearing them.

Did I just spoke it out aloud?

"Yes, Anni! And Anna heard it too!" Deva whispered while laughing a she turned to Guru who glared at her. She smiled sheepishly and ran into the kitchen to save herself from him.

Guru looked at her rushing into the kitchen and then at Sanjh who was still weeping. He silently ate but he glanced at Sanjh time to time.

He knows he should've supported the little kid but if he does.. then Sanjh never obey the others. Wasting food will be never a thing that everyone in the house will do in this lifetime nor at the next.

He once saw all his brothers crying for food out of hunger. He used to beg everyone in the village to spare them some food. But now, they are living with abundant food by God's grace. He never wanted his brothers to think of food as granted. Each grain of food has their name written in it. It's written that the grain should reach the right person.

He stood up and walked towards the kitchen after finishing his food. He was his hands in the sink and saw his wife looking at him, more like glaring at him. He chuckled knowing that she must be cursing him badly.

"You shouldn't have spoke harshly to the kid!" She frowned.

He walked toward her and pulled the end of her saree pallu to wipe his wet hands as she looked at him in disbelief.

Never in this life will her words affect him? Atleast a little? Atleast at a micro level?

No!

"I don't like anyone wasting food"

"But he's a kid-"

He grabbed her hair and pulled her dangerously closer to him to which her eyes met his closer as she shivered.

"Wife.. you're talking a bit too much today. Better control your tongue," he said and she closed her eyes nodding.

He left her and the kitchen. She followed him outside. She saw Sanjh still crying and Guru walking towards him.

"Will you stop crying within today?" Guru asked crouching down to the kid's level. He nodded no to which Guru chuckled.

"Your Anni is giving boost everyday to disobey me?" He asked glancing at his wife who looked at him in disbelief.

"Don't talk bad about Anni!" The kid protested for his sister-in-law.

"So much protective?" Guru asked proudly while caressing the kid's hair. He had a smile on his lips which wasn't usual.

Deep inside he only knows how he's breaking looking at the every tears of the kid. Every tear his siblings shed costs his life. His entire life.

He wiped Sanjh's tears.

"Food should never be wasted. I know Sanjh is a good boy and Guru is Sanjh's favourite. Sanjh will obey him. Won't he?" Guru asked with a smile and Sanjh looked at him for a brief second before sparing a small smile.

Sanjh hugged Guru tightly and he lifted the kid in his arms as he stood up. Sanjh placed his head on his shoulder while placing his little arms around his brother's neck. Guru smiled at that and turned to Nandini with a winning smile.

He won his brother's heart. That's that biggest achievement in his entire life atleast for today. Nandini smiled at them as she saw them walking out.

But then she questioned herself.

How blessed is she to live in this Family built by her husband?

She's been rich from childhood with all money.. but not been this rich with love. Now she is!

"Anni! lunch!"

She turned to see the siblings waiting for her to bring their lunch boxes as they had to leave before time. She facepalmed herself for being this distracted.

What will she do when she melts with her husband's actions? Was her fault that she got such an attractive personality as her partner

"Wait a minute!" She said sprinting inside the kitchen and the siblings laughed at her antics.

She's such a clumsy one.

*********

Later at evening, she came out of the kitchen to call them all for dinner. She frowned seeing them quarreling. She was already sore of doing so much work but now, these guys are quarreling. She must be responsibile enough to make them calm down.

She was about to go but then someone pulled her back.

"Anni.. I'll look after them! You rest!" Said Mantra which made Nandini more scared.

"Thaaye! (mother) please No! I don't want them to bleed!" Nandini said to which Mantra glared at her.

"I attack enemies. Not my own brothers until I'm calm!"

"Thats that problem.. you lose your sanity soon. Then who'll save them?" Nandini asked and she glared at her.

"Anni! Trust me! I'll try to be calm," Mantra promised and Nandini nodded.

Meanwhile, I'll look for him.

Mantra walked to the Living room whole rolling the sleeves of her shirt up while gritting her teeth. Are they kids still?

While Nandini walked towards their room. She saw the room door shut which wasn't usual. She twisted the knob and opened the door to see something to her horror. Her eyes widened which slowly welled up with fresh tears. Her hands felt numb. Her heart constricted looking at the sight...