Ishqiya - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

N E I L
"This smile only exists when I am with you", she confessed leaning into my touch when I was busy admiring her. Hayyee,kitni soni kudi hai
[Translation: so beautiful she is]
I felt my neck burning and I was sure the tip of my ears would have been red with her remark. I grinned at her to avoid her witnessing me in this flustered state and ruffled her luscious locks messing with them and then running away. Mai kabse shramane lag gaya? Yeh toh tamatar ka kaam hai na!
[Translation: since when did I start blushing? This is the work of Tamatar, isn't it?]
"aye!", she yelled and ran after me, 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. Our giggles echoed in the open field filling my heart with bliss.
After reaching back I quickly freshened up and dressed in grey joggers and a black polo t-shirt. I had a whole collection of them because my lady love likes them. I know she admires me or mostly oggles over me when she sees me in this so I always use it for my advantage. She likes me in black but I would love her in absolutely nothing. *Cough* *cough*
Descending the stairs I noticed her laying on the couch in the living area. The other cousins of mine weren't anywhere near her and this was my opportunity to have a moment with her. Usse annoy karna hi toh meri ultimate love language hai.
[Translation:Annoying her is my ultimate love language.]
I halted in my steps when I saw her yawning loudly, in a very comical position. And then it clicked to me, maharani-ji aaj late uthi thi aur subah se chai pi hi nhi hogi, ek toh late utha aur aalas bhi pura! Kya hi hoga iss kudi ka! Mere alawa kaun hi zhel payega iss.
[Translation: The queen bee had woken up late this morning and hadn't had her daily dose of tea. First, wake up late and then laze around. What will happen to this girl? Who else will tolerate her except me]
I swiftly walked towards the kitchen to prepare tea for her. I made sure to make it especially according to her liking. Milk tea with a bit less sugar, strong ginger, cardamom and some cinnamon powder. Cinnamon for my cinnamon roll.
"Yeh lo!", she was startled by my presence as she was busy opening her mouth wide. Let's see if she will open it wide just the same when she'll go down on-*cough* *cough*
[Translation: here, take this]
"Yeh kya hai?", she questioned her innocent eyes staring at me making me swoon over how cute she looked right now
[Translation: what is this?]
"Dikhai nhi de raha hai? Chai hai", I answered thrusting in her- I mean thrusting the cup in her hands. She tilted her head sideways in confusion while I was busy scolding my not-so-holy mind for my not-so-godly thoughts.
[Translation: can't you see? It's tea]
"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", I stated and I bit my tongue for my tone when I felt her pouting with a slight frown. Thoda softly pesh nhi aa sakta. I chided myself.
[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.
: can't you behave a bit softly]
"Abhi itna bhi maat laal ho, ki mujhe lagne lage ki tumhe mujhse pyaar ho gaya hai", I thought she would throw a tantrum but a red hue covered her cheeks and without wasting a single second I teased her. It was fun to see her all flustered because she would get riled up so easily, no doubt Jay never misses an opportunity to do so.
[Translation: Now stop turning so red that I start feeling that you have fallen in love with me.]
It was during dinner when I noticed her foul mood. I leaned towards Keshav and whispered in his ear, "isse kya hua?"
[Translation: what happened to her]
"I don't know", he shrugged and we continued our meal
My mind ran over thousands of possibilities of what might be the reason for her sadness but alas I couldn't pinpoint any. Bas itna hi janta hai tu apni tamatar ko Neil? *Sigh*
[Translation: this is all you know about your tamatar Neil?]
In dazed I walked inside the bedroom and saw everyone sitting on the mattress on the floor, the new edition being the new guest. She was similar to Jia's age so it didn't take her long to mingle with everyone.
"Yaar Suha tu tension na le sab thik hoga, kya matlab vho aa rhi hai toh tu udas hai, tujhe kha nhi na jayegi vho", Sushant spoke as he kept a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hands off! Hands off! No Neil, bhai hi hai uska, itna chalta hai!
[Translation:Suha, don't take tension, everything will be fine, what do you mean, she is coming, so you are sad, she will not eat you.
:Hands off! Hands off! No, Neil, he is her brother, that's how it goes!]
"yaar Shanti, mujhe vho aurat pasand nhi, hamesha aa kar kalesh kar deti hai. Maine nhi jana kal usse station receive karna. Hey, bhagwan kaash unki kal train hi miss ho jaye", my little tamatar answered and in the end joined her hands dramatically offering a silent prayer. Sushant scrunched his nose in distaste after being referred to as Shanti, a nickname she had for him. By God! Yeh kudi aur iske drama!
[Translation:Shanti, I don't like that woman, she always makes me feel bad. I won't go to the station to receive her. Hey god please miss her tomorrow's train
: by God! This girl and her drama]
I raised a questioning eyebrow towards Keshav who explained to me the whole fiasco. Well, the lady they were talking about was Yug's real masi. His mother's younger sister. The same lady's marriage in which we first met and kudi Mera Dil le gyi thi!
[Translation: where she stole my heart]
She disliked her to her guts. I thought it was childish at first but after two or three instances I have seen my tamatar being treated indifferently. She would always pick up on her and leave no chance to bring her down or humiliate her in front of everyone. She was a sweet lady for everyone but when it came to my tamatar she would change her colours so quickly than a camelon itself. Bitch
Soon everyone dozed off to sleep not before bitching about the arriving guests tomorrow. I noticed her sleeping with a pillow tugged tightly in her embrace as if her life depended on it. Such a cuddler she was, soon I'll replace the pillow, dekh Lena.
[Translation: Such a cuddler she was, soon I'll replace the pillow, just wait]
The next morning was really busy. The whole house was filled with hustle and bustle since it was the day of the family reunion. The always late risers were wide awake and freshly ready helping in everything much to everyone's surprise. Abhi inhe kaun bataye, ghar ki ladli ka mood subah se kharab hai aur agar kisne kuch bola toh yeh uska muh todne se phele ek baar bhi nhi sochegi.
[Translation:Who will tell them now, the darling of the house has been in a bad mood since morning and if anyone says anything, she will not even think twice before breaking his face.]
"Neil! Beta idhar aana", it was Mom who called from inside the kitchen and that's when I realised that my parents were here as well. Bhai mai apne pyaar ke chakkar mein bhul hi Gaya ki mere bhi maa baap hai yaha per!
[Translation: Neil, child come here.
:in the pursuit of my love, I forgot that I too have parents here!]
"Ji Mumma?", I asked stepping inside the kitchen. She forwarded towards me a cup of tea along with some crackers, "ja yeh papaji ko de aa apne aur puch lena aur kisi cheez ki zarurat hai kya?", I nodded and walked towards the open lawn where he sat basking in the Sun reading a newspaper
[Translation: yes, mom!
:Go give this to Papaji and ask if you need anything else?]
"Papaji chai", I kept the tea cup on the nearest table and proceeded to walk away when he stopped me.
[Translation: Dad, tea!]
"Have a seat", his voice was dead serious making me gulp in fear. Seriously papaji was deadly. I didn't know what was coming next as I sat down on the seat opposite to him waiting for the next blow.
"What do you think about Suhana?", he questioned making me stare at him in a daze
"Huh?", I looked at him flabbergasted by his question
"Do I need to repeat myself?", he raised an eyebrow at me as he picked up the cup and took a sip of the tea.
"Pyaar karta hu usse", I replied, I knew it was no use to lie in front of him. He was my father after all he knew me inside and out.
[Translation: I love her]
"aur?"
[Translation: and?]
"Shaadi karna chahta hu usse", I added and he nodded his head twice as if thinking seriously, he had a distant look on his face as if lost in deep thoughts.
[Translation: I want to marry her]
"Shaadi karke rakhoge kaha usse?", his question left me baffled at his tone
[Translation: after marriage where will she stay]
My father was a true businessman and he proved it to me today. We were rich, really rich which made people think that I was born with a golden spoon m but how wrong they were. I never had it easy since my teenage years. I would get everything I wanted only at an expense. I would have to work super hard and excel in academics to go on a family vacation or even buy a small remote-controlled car.
The car I drive today, I bought it with my salary since I have been working under him from the age of 18. I needed experience and he gave it to me all. No doubt I was responsible and doing well in my field now. He had raised me to what I am today and I hold no grudge against him for his strict behaviour.
But I was perplexed by his question today.
"I don't approve of your relationship until and unless you prove yourself worthy enough of Suhana, Neil", he started deeply at me, in my eyes, directly peeping into my soul and I knew he was challenging me, to prove myself, to prove my worth.
"I'll join the Mumbai's project", I declared with firmness in my tone even though I was breaking within. Going to Mumbai meant being away from my love for more than 3 years because the project was big, they were working on an underground tunnel and I was supposed to supervise if I took upon the project. But it was important, important for us.
"You can go now", he stated and busied himself in reading the newspaper again
I bit my lips preventing myself from speaking something and stood on my feet walking away but was halted again by his voice, "I am proud of your decision, son"
A warm feeling of happiness spread inside me. My father was proud of me, finally. He never said those words, only on rare occasions and now that he said them I knew what I had to do.
I walked inside the house and grabbed the car keys. I searched for tamatar and found her busy dusting the sofa covers.
I caught hold of her wrist and partially dragged her along with me. She stared shocked at me as if I had grown two heads but u cared less.
I made her sit inside the passenger seat and jogged towards the other side. I ignited the engine and from the rearview mirror saw Papaji staring at me with a smile.
The engine roared to life and we crossed the entrance.
"Ham kaha ja rhe hai?", she questioned and I sat mum focusing on the road
[Translation: where are we going?]
"Neil~", she whined with an irritated frown marking her face. God! My name sounds so fucking hot from her mouth, how will it sound when I rammed inside of h- fck! I stepped on the break hurriedly at my horny thoughts.
The car halted with a screech making her body lean forward. "careful", I kept a hand before her, making sure not to touch her uncomfortablely and to avoid her getting hurt.
She gazed at me surprised and sat properly.
"Don't step down okay? I'll be back in just a minute", I said as if explaining to a child to which she bobbed her head slowly
I stepped down from the car and hurried towards the shop, talking the packet I thanked the shopkeeper and paying the bill walked back.
Soon we reached the destination and both of us stepped out of the car. Tamatar squealed in delight as soon as she noticed the surroundings making me chuckle at her enthusiasm. We were near the cliff. I remember her adding a story on her Instagram of how much she enjoyed mountains and her dream was to get proposed near a cliff. Well, we are going to make that true.
I walked towards the back seat where I kept the packet and ran back towards where she stood.
"Tamatar", I called out going on my knees for her. She turned around and stared down at me surprised, her eyes pooling with various emotions. "Neil?", her voice was that of a confused soul
"I know this may sound lame but I want to confess it today, letting everything out", I spoke breathing heavily as my heart thudded against its cage. What if she rejected me? No no no! Think positive.
"I love you, I love you a lot, Suhana. Will you be my Ras Malai? Because I want to spend Ras-of-ma lai-fe with you", I confessed forwarding the bowl of ras malai towards her direction. It was her favourite sweet and I know as cheesy as the pickup line sounded she was a goner for romance, a complete hopeless romantic. The lines were that I had stolen from one of her Instagram stories, and took it upon myself to complete all of her fantasies.
"Per mujhe ras malai se jyada gulab jamun pasand hai", she sniffed and took hold of the bowl making me stare at her in shock. Bhai! Yeh ladki yaar
[Translation: but I like gulab jamun more than ras malai
: God!, this girl]
I stood up on my feet and looked at her amused. Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes and slowly escaped as she blinked her lashes. My eyes widened and I stepped closer cupping her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, so sorry tamatar, mujhe laga tumhein ras malai pasand hai. Please you can reject me but please don't cry", my voice was filled with horror as I kept blabbering God knows what and I wiped her wet cheeks
[Translation:I'm sorry, so sorry tamatar, I thought you liked Rasmalai. Please you can reject me but please don't cry]
"Why would I reject you when I also love you, pagal", she confessed
"Huh?", it took me a minute to register her words and then I grinned like a fool pecking her forehead
"God I'm so happy", I squealed and gathered her in my arms squeezing her in my embrace as I kept chanting a chorus of I love yous. She fitted just right as if she belonged here forever.
"I love you too", her voice came out muffled as her face was pressed into my chest.
I moved a bit away, keeping her still in my hold and our eyes connected in deep eye contact. Here's filled with curiosity, admiration and affection while mine is filled with love and only love.
My gaze descended towards her lips and I liked my own chapped once. She seemed to understand my advances and blinked softly giving me a green signal.
And I didn't miss a single second in descending my lips on her. God! Her lips, my lips? Apocalypse!
Her strawberry lip balm tasted so sweet as I kissed her softly, moulding her lips with mine. I pulled away when I noticed her breathless. Her lips looked a bit swollen and her eyes were dazed.
She gazed at me stupefy and did a double take by leaning towards me. She stood on her tip tones and placed her lips on mine. She took both of my lips in hers sucking them tenderly and I so wanted to ruin her innocence.
She was so gentle with her actions while here I was dying and craving for more as she addicted my senses and drove me crazy. Not able to hold it back I sucked on her upper lip while she worked on my lower once.
My hands found her waist as I held onto it tightly while she was busy scraping my nape intoxicating my senses. I roamed my hands on her waist and then her back as she arched her body. Suddenly I felt her tongue touch mine and that was it as I turned the kiss more ferocious.
This.
This is the only thing that matters.
This moment. These lips. This strong body pressed against me and her soft tender hands found a way to bring me closer and I know I want so much more of her, I want all of her, the same way she wants me. I desire, her, I carve for us, I am hungry for her. I want to feel the beauty of our love with the tips of my fingers and the palms of my hands and every fibre and bone in my being.
I want it all, I want all of it. I want us, only us, today, tomorrow and forever.