Ishqiya - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

S U H A N A
Fck! Fck! Fck
My soul left my body the moment I opened my eyes this morning. I wasn't an early riser but the fact that something was tickling my neck annoyed me to the extent that I had to open my eyes, and now I think it was my biggest mistake.
And the moment I turned my head slightly I felt a warm breath caressing my neck. It didn't take me twice to realise who it was. A muscular heavy hand on my waist holding me securely in his embrace, addictive intoxicating cologne, bulky body stick against me. I was cuddling, fcking cuddling with Neil for god's sake.
I lay rotted in my place not even moving an inch in bewilderment. Kal late raat ko baatein aur subah uthe cuddle-tein.Wahh! bete,mawj kardi![Translation: Yesterday we talked late at night and now cuddling in the morning.]
My breath rose and I felt blood rushing to my cheeks. Butterflies somersaulted in my tummy and I felt jiggly all over and it made me feel beautiful. Hayyee!!
I craned my neck down slightly and saw him in deep slumber. High cheekbones, his lips parted a little, thick and long eyelashes fanning his cheeks, he looked peaceful. My hands itched to caress his hair and after contemplating with my mind I finally ran a hand through his silky soft luscious locks, and a big smile formed on my lips when I felt the soft texture of my fingertips. He's not perfect, but he's all I want!
He moved a bit in his sleep and I quickly withdrew my hand back, he groaned in annoyance and whined slowly tightening his hold on my waist and making me bite my lips. Everyone around us was sleeping as it was still early in the morning while here I was wide awake and smiling like a ghost while cuddling my crush. Hayo Rabba! [Translation: oh god]
I didn't realise when I sought comfort in his embrace and drifted off to a peaceful sleep once again which felt like heaven. Sari duniya se mulakatein ek taraf, aur tere paas rhna aur tujhe niharna ek taraf!
[Translation: Meetings with the whole world are on one side, and being near you and admiring you is on the other side!]
But when I woke up it was hell again. My lady version of Hitler was standing in front of me, hands on either side of her waist and glaring lasers at me. Abb kya kar diya maine? [Translation: what did I do now?]
"Abhi uth bhi ja, kumbhkaran ki behen, subah ke das baj rhe hai", Mummy seethed in anger, snatching the blanket from me. I instantly shivered when the cold December air hit my body making goosebumps erupt on my hands. Neil neh itne pyaar se mujh per dala hoga aur yeh kis tarah isse khich rhi hai!
[Translation: Get up now, Kumbhakaran's sister, it's ten o'clock in the morning.
: Neil must have so lovingly covered me with the comforter and she's pulling at it so harshly without any remorse]
"Sone do na mummy, chutti hi toh hai!", I whined still feeling sleepy, my teeth chattering when I spoke.
[Translation:Let me sleep Mom, it's a holiday after all!]
I lay on the mattress in a foetus position trying to shield myself from the cold but my mother didn't seem to pity me as she continued to fold the blanket. I roamed my eyes around trying to find someone but all I was greeted with was an empty mattress and bed. Bloody traitors
"Yaar Mummy aap bhi na", I whimpered, pouting sadly giving her my most innocent eyes yet all in vain as she ignored me and continued her work.
[Translation: Mom, please]
"Bhul mat maine hi paida Kiya hai tujhe. Pata nhi kaisi defective awlad paida kar li toh hamne,tere papa! Ek kaam thik se nhi karte", she went on ranting while I just ignored her and proceeded towards the washroom rubbing my eyes, trying to get rid of the remnants of sleep from them. Mothers can be zhalil sometimes, no not sometimes but every time in the matter of sleep!
[Translation:Don't forget that I have birthed you. I don't know what kind of defective child we have created, your father! doesn't do one thing properly]
Dead! Dead is all I felt as I sat on the living room couch yawning for the I don't remember how much time. Chai! Chai! Chai! Bhaiyaji thodi chai pila do!
[Translation:Tea Tea Tea, someone, give me some tea!]
Chai! The first thing my body demands or most likely desires in the morning as soon as I wake up. The only thing I could function with throughout the day. But now I could already feel my day being shitty as hell as I felt a headache coming. I massaged my forehead trying to get rid of the pain. My body felt numb and my bones felt wobbly as if all the energy had been drained from them. The reason for my cranky mood is no cup of tea in the morning. Mujhe sacchi aisi feeling aa rhi hai, kaun hu mai? Kaha hu mai? Kyu hu mai? Kaha se aai hu? Yeh kaunsi jagah hai?
[Translation:I really feel like, who am I? Where am I? Why am I? Where did I come from? Which place is this?]
I clicked my tongue in irritation when I didn't find anyone from my gang. Kaha mar gye yeh sab
[translation: where did everyone go?]
The moment I thought I was feeling at ease Jay decided to have his entry through the front door. A pack of lays in his hand as he munched on them lazily, some crumbs on his shirt as well as near his lips. Gross! Jaanwar kahika
[Translation: gross! Just like an animal]
"What happened?", he questioned sitting beside me on the couch. "I feel like a headache", I replied
"Since when?", he inquired, stuffing a handful of chips in his nasty mouth. I tried grabbing some but that bitch moved the packet away from my reach. kutta [translation: dog!]
"From the moment you walked inside the door", I answered smiling sarcastically at him. He first made an O face but when he realised the hidden meaning behind those words he glared at me slapping my arm to which I pinched his wrist. Both of us winced in agony but before we could counter attack Masi emerged out of nowhere.
"Stop fighting like junglis kids, go get ready the guests are arriving", she informed us before vanishing from our sight
"Ab kaun aa raha hai?", I asked Jay with a frown
[Translation: now who's coming?]
"Mujhe nhi pata, per Mai toh Jaa Raha hu station se unko pickup karne, ghar per rhe kar at least kaam toh nhi karne padenge", Jay quickly ate all the remaining chips and ran towards the door
[Translation:I don't know, I am going to pick them up from the station, so I won't have to do any work by staying at home.]
"Eh mai bhi aa rhi hu, ruk ja zara", I yelled at him. I quickly clinched my dupatta in a firm hold which was discarded on the couch and followed behind him swiftly but on reaching out I found none.
[Translation: I'm also coming, wait a moment]
My feet halted and I felt everything around me freeze. There stood Neil, dressed in a black polo t-shirt and faded denim jeans, he had his glasses rested perfectly on his high nose bridge as he leaned on the car busy conversing with someone. The sun cast a beautiful glow on his well-sculptured face, making him look more handsome and delicious. Har cheez apne waqt pe acchi lagti hai! Aur ek yeh ladka hai jo har waqt accha lagta hai!
[Translation:Everything looks good in its own time! And there's this guy who looks good all the time!]
He seemed to feel someone's gaze on him and he suddenly turned towards me catching me off-guard. I quickly averted my eyes and looked everywhere but him. I gulped when he started walking towards me and I clinched my dupatta in a tight fist. I wish my dil was wearing a life jacket because mainu ishq Neil ka le dubaa!
[Translation: I wish my heart was wearing a life jacket because it seems like I'm drowning in Neil's love]
"Chalein?", he asked smiling down at me softly and I felt my heart beating so loudly. I licked my chapt lips and slowly nodded. He opened the car door for me to sit inside, and our fingers brushed ever so softly that I felt a shiver run down my spine. I don't know where we were going but I'd even walk through hell if it's Neil beside my side.
[Translation: let's go?]
We were midway between our journey about whose destination I wasn't aware of as slow soft melodies played on the stereo.
"Raasta bata sakti ho?", he questioned changing the gear. I turned my head towards him and I swear I felt hot and bothered, his veiny arm gripped the steering wheel as he continued to drive with a single hand, this other hand on the gear. His black t-shirt fitted him perfectly making his biceps bulge out. His hair covered his forehead and he bit on his lips slowly, concentrating on the road ahead. I was a mess! A Hot and bothered mess, carving for more.
[Translation: Can you tell me the way?]
"Kaha ka?", I asked again trying to get rid of the unholy thoughts clouding my brain. [Translation: to where?]
"Tumhare Dil ka!", he answered back turning his head towards me with a smirk making my cheeks red. He took in my flustered appearance and chuckled a little which sounded music to my ears. He is like the kun faya kun song and his smile is like the sajra savera part
[Translation: the way to your heart!]
Suddenly the car came to a halt and I stared outside breaking our eye contact. We were at the railway station, I looked at him in confusion.
"Someone from Dadi's family is arriving so we are here to receive them", he cleared my doubt to which I made an O face
He parked the car and we stepped down. The Sun was up yet it wasn't too much sunlight because of the chilly weather, I cursed myself for not carrying my sweater or jacket along with me. I rubbed my arms and hands to produce heat when I felt a tug at my dupatta.
I turned back and saw Neil beside me with the end corner of my dupatta in his hold.
"Jakar andar baitho", he commanded while I stood there puzzled. "Kyu?", I asked
[Translation: go and sit inside.
:why?]
"Dikh nhi raha hai, kitni thand hai. Jacket ya sweater toh tumne laya nhi hai. Itni thand meh jamne se accha tum car meh ruko, mai guest ko le aaunga", he opened the passenger seat door and tucked me inside.
[Translation: Can't you see how cold it is? You haven't brought a jacket or sweater. It would be better if you wait in the car rather than freeze in this cold, I will bring the guest.]
He leaned more and my eyes widened. His breath fanned my face and his musky scent filled my nostrils coating my cheeks in scarlet. His face was so close to me, so close that we could even lock our lips. We were so close, twice in a single day.
After some time he withdrew himself and stood straight closing the door behind him. And that's when I realised that what he was doing, he was actually setting the car heater's temperature according to my preference. He stared at me through the window while I looked down at my lap in embarrassment. Pagal ladki!
[Translation: crazy girl]
I sat in the car for nearly 10 minutes while randomly surfing through my phone when I saw Neil arriving with an elderly woman, a lady of my mom's age and a young girl of Jia's age. He went and kept their luggage in the trunk and all of them sat in the car.
It was dead silent in the car during the whole car ride, it was dead silent I mean pin-drop silence much to my annoyance because I can never remain silent. I hated it to my guts, either I wanted music or I wanted to talk even if I blabbered rubbish.
Soon we reached back home. I quickly sprinted out of the car as if my tail was on fire not even caring to help the guests either. Once inside I saw the rest of the gang chilling and eating popcorn and it didn't take me twice to realise that it was all their plan. They tricked me into going with Neil. I glared at all of them as they passed me teasing glances, with puffed cheeks and flared nostrils I stormed and walked towards the room where we slept last night. I quickly grabbed my sweater and walked downstairs with bouncy steps.
We were all very chilling around and doing absolutely nothing when Jia came downstairs with a grim look.
"Kya hua tujhe? Tera muh kyu sada hua hai?”, I asked ruffling her hair
[Translation: what happened to you? You seemed to have a foul mood]
But before she could answer anything the lady guest similar to my mummy's age came and sat on the vacant seat. Her face had an ugly scowl and she bladdered gibberish under her breath. Jia particularly blazed laser beams at her making all of us confused.
"Beta maine toh tumhari bhalai ke liye hi kaha tha", the said aunty decided to confront the elephant in the room
[Translation: child! I said this only for your good.]
"Koi baat nhi aunty, vaise bhi mere Mumma Papa neh sikhaya hai ki bado se lihaaz se baat karni chahiye", Jia affirmed forcing an extra sweet smile
[Translation: No problem aunty, anyway my parents have taught me that I should talk to elders with respect]
"beta agar itni hi teekhi zaban hogi na toh shaadi hone se rahi tumhari", she taunted her tone so offensive but before we could come up with a convincing comeback,
[Translation: if you have such a sharp tongue then you won't be able to get married.]
"Fir aapki kaise hue?", Jay commented, emerging out from the dining area with an apple in his hands as he took a bite and sat on the armrest of the sofa on which Keshav sat. Yeh Hui na baat! That's my boy!
[Translation: then how did you get Married?]
The aunty walked away scoffing at all of us and vanished from our sight.
"Mujhe vho aunty bilkul nhi pasand, so narcissistic", Jia said scrunching her nose
[Translation: I just don't like that aunt, so narcissistic]
"Tu tension na le, just chill maar aur vaise bhi tujhe kaunsa Puri zindagi guzarni hai unke saath", I consoled her foul mood and she wrapped herself around me like a Koala. Both siblings are the same! Gonner for cuddles! Bas chipakne ko chahiye.
[Translation: Don't take tension, just chill, and anyway you do not want to spend the rest of your whole life with her, do you?
:they feel the need to stick to everyone]
"Aye dur haat vaha se, bhai ki property hai vho, kaccha chaba jayenge tujhe", Jay swatted her arms away from me making everyone burst into a fit of laughter leaving me flustered again.
[Translation: aye, move away from her, she's bhai's property. He'll eat you alive if he sees you like this]
It was the evening but not dusk yet and all of us were getting ready for the farm. Dadi instructed us to get back with fresh vegetables for the night's supper and all of us were overexcited. I changed into a pair of jeans and a comfy sweater along with a pair of Converse.
"Gadi kaunsi le?", Keshav asked jumbling through the stake of keys
[Translation: which car should we take?]
"Paidal chalte hai", I said trying to tie my shoelaces, keyword trying, when I felt someone crouching in front of me.
[Translation: let's walk]
My fingers were swatted away from the shoelaces as Neil sat on his knees and did the work instead. My breathing hitched and I was baffled on my place. Suddenly he looked up and smiled at me. He tucked the stray strand of my hair behind my ear and stood up patting my head. His smile was like a warm breeze during chilling winters, it filled my insides with warmth and peace.
We all started moving towards the farm and to my luck or by the planning and plotting of others I and Neil walk side by side on the narrow road. The setting sun, cool breeze, beautiful scenery and our fingers softly brushing against each other having a conversation of their own, making the atmosphere more romantic. Suddenly Neil caught my wrist and intertwined our fingers, his warm muscular hand covering most of my small cold once, his fingers were huge as compared to mine yet they made me feel safe and secure.
I looked up at him because of the huge height difference, my cheeks coated with blush. He was obvious about the moment we were sharing as I noticed a secretive yet small smile on his lips as he looked ahead and I admired him. Kind of a pretty boy, isn't he?
On reaching the farm much to my disdain we had to separate and engage in collecting veggies but it was interesting and fun, to be honest. I cursed my hair as they kept bothering me. Since my hands were covered with mud, when I tried moving my hair away the mud smeared on my cheek. I clicked my tongue but continued pulling the carrots from the soil.
"Tamatar", I was busy with my work completely focusing on the task at hand when I heard Neil calling for me. He bounced towards me with excited steps, his enthusiasm evident in his demeanour. He looked so carefree and a ball of sunshine.
"here", he stood in front of me and carefully tucked the wildflower in my hair, his own hair covered with flicks of random grass.
"You... You have the prettiest smile I have ever seen, after mumma", I smiled, softly touching the flower beautiful tucked in my hair too scared to ruin its delicate petals when he complimented me making my smile grow
"Can I say something too?", I asked staring deeply into his eyes when he hummed slowly caressing my cheeks trying to get rid of the remnants of mud from there.
"This smile only exists when I am with you", I confessed leaning into his touch making him grin at me
He ruffled my hair, messing with them and ran away. "aye!", I yelled and ran after him, cashing him around the field when I heard a camera click. It didn't take me twice to realise that it was Jia and Priya clicking our pictures, well it was worth it since it would be a memory to cherish.
I was tired, tired to the bones. I felt like I myself had a hard day at the field as I stretched awkwardly trying to ease my sore muscles. I knew I was loudly comical but my body pained like tons of heavy vehicles had been run over me. Sigh!
"Yeh lo!", I was startled by a sudden voice when I was busy yawning. My mouth opened wide giving tough competition to the hippo himself
[Translation: here, take this]
"Yeh kya hai?", I questioned absent-mindedly staring at Neil with Bambi's eyes. I knew I looked like a fool right now but it doesn't matter, the man had seen me in more weirder situations than now.
[Translation: what is this?]
"Dikhai nhi de raha hai? Chai hai", he sassed forwarding the cup towards my face as if thrusting it directly in my mouth. I tilted my head in confusion at him. Hayo rabban! Mai marjawan itni care!
[Translation: can't you see? It's tea
: oh God! I'm whipped, so much care]
"Pichle aadhe ghante meh 20,20 baar haiwan ke saman muh faad chuki ho, mujhe pata hai chai ke bina tumhara Banta nhi hai, so take this", he held my hand and kept the cup of blazing hot tea in my hand and I just sat there gaping like a fish. This man and his mood swings, hamare kitne bhi moments kyu na ho jaye yeh mujhe sochne per majboor kar deta hai ki mai isse pasand hu ya nhi! Ek taraf care bhi aur dusri taraf nakhre bhi!
[Translation: since the last half an hour you have yawned 20, like 20 times like a lunatic. I know you can't function with tea in your system so have it.
:This man and his mood swings, no matter how many moments we have, it forces me to think whether he likes me or not! On one side he cares and on the other side he throws tantrums!]
"Abhi itna bhi maat laal ho, ki mujhe lagne lage ki tumhe mujhse pyaar ho gaya hai", his tone turned teasing when he noticed my ears turning hot. He knew that his slightest of attention makes me red like a tomato and he always uses this to tease me about it. Bastard! Per kaisa bhi hai banda Mera hai!
[Translation: Now stop turning so red that I start feeling that you have fallen in love with me.
: bastard! But no matter how he is, he's still mine]
He isn't my boyfriend, but he is still mine. Toh share karne ka koi mauka hi nhi banta!