REYANSH KAPOOR

DECEMBER 2023 

Replying to all the emails is so hectic. The first day of December is really hectic for me but at the same time I am happy too. All the family members were sitting in the living room because Ruhi was finally going to come home  after 3 years. 

After some minutes I received a text from my driver indicating that Ruhi had arrived at the airport. I kept my laptop aside and walked towards the kitchen. I have loved to cook for Ruhi ever since we were small. 

"Kunwar Sa hum banate hai na Ruhi bitiya ke liye khana." (Prince, I'll make food for Ruhi.) "Nahi kaka, humein karne dijiye." (No kaka, let me do it.) I wore the apron and started cooking. 

In no time her favourite gajar ka halwa was ready to be eaten so I served it in a small bowl. I cleaned the kitchen and walked towards the living room. 

"Bhaiya." She said in her high pitched voice and ran towards me. "C'mon let me hug you." She whined and started stomping her feet on the ground just like a baby. I kept the bowl on the table and she hugged me. "I missed you so much na, like so much. These 3 years felt like 3 decades without you , and-and." She stuttered and everybody laughed at her. 

"And, I'm sorry, I won't ever fight with you because I know that you mean a lot to me " She stopped and I felt something wet on my shoulder. "I love you so much bhaiya." She said between her little sobs and all our relatives laughed . 

After a while she was done showing all her love to me , and looked towards the halwa which was probably cold by now because we had made it wait for so long. 

"Garam kar doge please?" (Can you heat it up please?) She said and I smiled. I hummed and ordered Kaka to heat it again so that she could enjoy it. 

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"So you're telling me that we are going to meet Bhabhi?" She said and I nodded. 

"KISI NE MUJHE BATAYA BHI NAHI NA?" She said and tried to show as if she was surprised but I knew she was just pretending because I clearly told her everything. 

"It's an arranged marriage na Ruhi, that's why." Kaki said and Ruhi looked towards me with a smirk on her face. "Oh, so is she good ?" She asked and looked towards Maa. "The purest soul." Maa said and everybody giggled. I got a call from Ansh and I excused myself.

"Excuse me everyone, this call is important." I said and climbed upstairs. 

"Reyansh, we need to go shopping." Ansh said and I looked at the time. 

"Aaj toh nahi ho sakega, maybe kal." (I won't be able to go today, maybe tomorrow.) I said as I was hella busy this evening. My lady needed time. 

"Kyun, aaj tu Kahan Jaa raha hai?" (Why, where are you going today?) Ansh asked suspiciously. 

"To meet your bhabhi." I said and he gasped. "Bro, you're getting married?" He asked and I hummed. "Soon." I said but I was soon bombarded with more questions and I started explaining the whole thing to him. 

"God dammit bro, you got your love too. " He said and I chuckled. I heard a knock on the door. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." I said and he hummed. I heard the knock again. "Come in." I said in my authoritative voice and I saw my butterfly entering the room. 

"Come in." She said mimicking my voice and we both looked at each other for a few seconds and burst out laughing. 

"Arranged marriage huh?" She said as we were holding our stomachs after a good laugh. "Well it had to be something." I said and she shook her head and asked in a serious mode. 

"You mean, she doesn't know this yet?" I shook my head. "Not at all." I said and I saw a. 

"Bhai, that's unfair, you're betraying her trust." She said and I nodded. 

"There will be a right time for revealing that too,  Ruhi." I said and she gave me a faithful smile. "I trust you Bhai." She said and I hugged her. 

"Now go get ready." I said and she nodded. "Wait, I have something for you." I said and she looked up. "Kya?" (What?) She asked and I smiled walking towards my wardrobe. "Kya hai? Kya hai?" (What is it? what is it?) She said as she was following me. 

I picked up a pair of trousers and she looked at me confused. "What is this bhai?" She asked and I showed her the embroidery done on the trousers. "Ye aapne Kiya?" (You did this?) She asked and I nodded. "Maa ne madad ki thi hamari." (Maa helped me with this.) I said and she smiled. 

I had embroidered a part near the left pocket of the white wide pants. A beautiful butterfly which was sitting on a flower. I was sick when I did this. Maa had to help me as I was new to this all but I learned and did it on my own. 

"This is so pretty bhai, bhabhi is so lucky to have you." She said and lowered my gaze. She doesn't even know that I do this all. "Have you made something for Bhabhi too?" She asked and I shook my head. 

"Unhe toh kuch aur milega." (She will get something else.) I said  while smirking and Ruhi giggled. "Pervert." She said and left my room. 

Pervert for Surbhi Raghuvanshi. 

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"Bhaiya, what if Bhabhi thinks I'm weird?" Ruhi says as she was trying to fix her hair. 

"She won't Ruhi, now shush." I said and she immediately placed a finger on her lips. I rang the bell and in no time the door opened revealing Arana. 

"Oh my god jiju, thank god aap pahunch gaye cause didi is so nervous to meet your sister. " (Oh my god jiju, thank god you reached cause didi is so nervous to meet your sister. ) She said and joined her hands together. "Namastey." (Greetings) She said to Ruhi and Ruhi smiled and replied politely. Arana gave us some space to walk in and closed the door. 

I saw Abhishek who was cleaning the dining table. "Ho gya Abhishek?" (Is it done Abhishek?) I heard Surbhi's voice. "Ji didi, sab ho gya." (Yes didi, everything is done.) Abhishek said and went inside the kitchen. 

"Where is bhabhi ?" Ruhi asked and I pointed towards the kitchen. "She is cooking." I said and made an 'O' with her lips. 

"She knows how to cook?" Ruhi asked and I nodded. "Toh aapka kya kaam?" (Then what is your work?) She said and I lightly slapped her head. 

"Kyun mar rahe hai aap meri nanad ko?" (Why are you hitting my sister-in-law?) I heard Surbhi but her voice did not sound melodious but it sounded strict. 

I looked towards the entrance of the kitchen and I saw her. She was wearing a white saree, which had black flowers and leaves printed on it and its borders were black. She was wearing a black blouse and her hair was tied in a low bun. 

Ruhi went towards her and was about to bow down to touch her feet out of respect but Surbhi stopped her. 

"Arana jaisi hai aap mere liye, aur Arana ye toh kabhi bhi nhi karegi." (You are like Arana to me, and Arana would never do this.)  She said pointing towards her feet, which gave everybody a clear view that she was trying to say that Arana would never touch her feet. I heard Ruhi's small and soft giggles and then she hugged Surbhi. 

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"Bhabhi, khana bahut hi acha bana tha." (Bhabhi, the food tasted so good.) Ruhi said and Surbhi smiled. "Thank you Ruhi, you can talk to Arana." Surbhi said and Ruhi nodded while leaving the dining area. 

I saw Surbhi picking up the dishes and the leftover food and stood up to help her. "Arey rehne dijiye." (Arey leave it.) Surbhi said and I looked up and my gaze met hers. Those pretty eyes were looking into mine and nothing could be more soothing than staring at her all day. The chain of my thoughts were stopped when she snapped her fingers right in front of my eyes. 

"Meine kaha aap baith jaiye." (I told you to sit down.) She said and I shook my head. "I'll help you with all of this." I said and she refused. We continued arguing but now, Surbhi was really getting on my nerves. I simply wanted to help her with the dishes but this stubborn girl. 

"Humne jo keh diya vo hum karenge, aap rok nahi sakti humein."  (I will do what I said, you cannot stop me.) I said and my voice sounded deep and strict. All I wanted to do was help her with the burden of chores. 

"Humein aap ki baat nahi sun ni hai Reyansh." (I don't want to listen to you, Reyansh.) She said and my eyes softened. She called me by my name for the first time but this was out of frustration. 

She was standing near the dining table and I was standing on the opposite side so I walked towards her. My legs were long so I stood in front of her, just within a few seconds. I leaned in and she started leaning backwards because of fear. 

We were in an inappropriate position. Her back was resting against the table while her eyes were tightly shut. The bowl in her hand was about to fall so I took it from her hands and kept it aside. 

"Opinion nhi manga aapka, bata rahe hai ki madad karenge kyunki aap ko itna saara kaam karte hue nahi dekh sakte hum." (I did not ask for your opinion, I'm telling you that I'll help you because I cannot see you doing so much work.) I said and leaned closer. 

"Dar toh aap aise rahi hai jaise hum koi rakshas hai." ( You are getting scared of me, as if I'm a demon.) I said and she slowly opened her eyes. "Hai aap rakshas." ( You are a demon.) She said and I let out a deep chuckle. 

"Aap darpook hai mohtarma." ( You are a coward madam.) I said and her expressions changed. Now she was frowning. "Ahn? "She said and I nodded. She took hold of my collar and pulled me towards her. Just when I thought that we were about to kiss she whispered in my ears. 

"Hamare aas paas hone se na, aapko kuch kuch hota hai Kunwar Sa, humein nahi." ( You are the one who feels something when I'm around Kunwar Sa, not me.) She said and pecked my cheeks. 

I brought my hands closer to her waist and pulled her toward me. Now we both were standing near the table. 

"Jhoot kam bolein aap humse, pehle kiss aapne expect ki thi, humne nahi Kunwar Sa ki hone wali biwi." ( You should lie less to me, you were the one who expected a kiss , not me, Kunwar Sa's soon to be wife.) I said and she hid her face in my chest. 

"Koi dekh lega hamein."( Someone will see us.) She said and I chuckled. "Woh?" (They?) I said and pointed towards the living room and we saw Abhishek and Arana enjoying their own couple moment. "Ya woh?" (Or her?) I said and pointed towards the lawn outside where Ruhi was talking to somebody on the phone. 

She looked up towards me and let out a few cute giggles. I tilted my head downwards to look at her and she looked up. I saw the same stubborn strand of her hair falling out of her bun and I tucked it behind her ear.

"आपसे मिलकर ऐसा लगा, जैसे नयी जिंदगी मिल गई है हमें, पर,

आपको छूकर ऐसा लगा कि हम ही हम नहीं रहे। 

"Aapse milkar Aisa laga, jaise nayi zindagi mil gayi hai humein, par, 

Aapko chu kar Aisa laga ki hum hi hum nhi rahe." 

After meeting you, it felt as if I had got a new life, but,

After touching you, I felt as if I was no longer myself."

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Bye!