"Ng se nasa di ijjat yawde. Akhoigi ijjat su manghan dei hotnariniba ngse, haan?"
(You don't have any dignity. And you sought to bring our honor down too isn't it?)
"Nupa su kari nupa koiriba. Hanuba ama. Namaido ekai khangdro ng? You are dating a man who is double your age. He is using you can't you see? Or are you letting him use you? Ng di yam heirammi na, yam yangammi. Punna ka leidana, dugi mathak ta oidaba su ngangiba? Nupa dusu lamjashara ama. Kadaidei lakino adu ada keim su khangde"
(And the man you dated also came out to be an old man. Don't you feel a bit of shame?You have been so clever. You were really ahead of us. You even lived together with him and had the audacity to lie to us? And that too with an orphan. With no proper identity. No background, no family)
"Keisu leitaba lamjasara duga ng leiminarini ne?"
(You lived with that good for nothing orphan?)
"Chaukhattabi. Nakhon do wanghat lakkanu. Nathak ki ahan da dumaina ngangbra. Ng se kamaina eiegi echa oina poklei no khangde. Eiese kari pap tawrudana lai sina ng pirakino khangde"
(Worthless piece of shit. Don't you dare raise your voice. Do you speak to your elder like that? I don't know how did i gave birth to you. I wonder what have I done so bad that God gave me you)
"I-its paining"
"Haaaah" Thabal sat up immediately, panting heavily. A blanket covered her body. She was sweating, hence swatted the blanket away.
The words haunted her, the scenes were repeatedly coming infront of her. She palmed her face with her shaky hands. God! What the hell is this?
She looked around to see the familiar room, the room that brought her comfort. Utmost comfort. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. So she didn't get caught.
She looked at the nightstand to see few medicines kept, and a bowl of water with a cloth resting near them. She palmed her forehead to see if she suffered from fever. Maybe she really did, because there was still slight traces of heat on her forehead.
Suddenly the flashbacks of the scene hit her. Her running away, stumbling and falling. Managing to escape hardly. Hiding in the cold rain. And Vikram finally finding her. And then everything went blank.
Of course she had to catch cold with the amount of hours she was soaked with rain. She looked around when she saw no traces of Vikram. She stood up slowly, her body slightly aching. A sore ache tingling her body.
She winched slightly yet walked out of the door.
"V-vikram" she sighed at her own voice. Even she couldn't hear it properly. How would he even hear. She tried again, this time clearing her throat. Calling him a little louder.
"Vikram" and Vikram immediately ran out of the kitchen. His eyes filled with worry. But as soon as he saw her trying to walk down the stairs, his eyes widened in shock.
"THE FUCK! THABAL! Stay where you are" he yelled making her flinch from his loud voice. He immediately ran up to her and reached her in a blur of movement, his hands gripping her shoulders with a firm yet desperate tenderness. He didn't wait for her to respond, he simply scooped her up into his arms, his heart hammering against his chest as if it were trying to break through his ribs to reach hers.
"Do you fucking want to kill me?" he rasped, his voice a jagged mixture of fury and absolute terror.
"The doctor said you have a high fever and your ankle is severely sprained. And you're trying to walk? On that leg?" He asked, slight anger glinting in his eyes. Thabal watched him intently and then circled her arms around his neck, leaning her head against the nape of his neck.
"I am okay now. I feel better" she whispered. Vikram didn't answer back, he carried her back into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him. He laid her down on the bed as if she were made of the finest, most fragile glass, immediately pulling the blanket back over her frame.
"Don't move. Just stay still" he commanded, though his voice was now softer.
"Why did you walk out hm? Tabiyat kharab hai toh rest karna hai na. Tumhe mujhe tadapta dekhna pasand hai? Hm?" He whispered huskily, tracing her cheek gently. Thabal immediately shook her head at it, lowering her lashes.
Vikram lowered his head and placed a kiss on her lips.
"Tumhe kuch bhi hojata haina. Toh meri jaan nikal jati hai. Please take care of yourself. Don't be careless. Please. For me" he begged, placing another kiss on the tip of her nose. Thabal released a shaky sigh and looked at him, eyes filled with love and something emotional.
"Bura sapna dekh liya tha. I wanted you" she whispered. Vikram froze, his hand gently rest on her cheek. He felt his jaw twitched. A gush of immense anger flooding in him.
"Forget what they said" he hissed, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous one. He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand, kissing her knuckles.
"They will never get the chance to speak to you like that again. They will never raise a hand on you again. I have made sure of it" he said in such a tone that it made her shiver at the intensity of his voice. She wanted to ask him what did he plan for them, but just decided to keep quiet.
Because somehow she felt that whatever coming up for them was, they deserve it.
Vikram leaned in and caressed her slightly bruised cheek. Thabal closed her eyes at it. Flinching slightly, but visible. Vikram tightened his jaw at it.
"Dard ho raha hai?" He asked gently to which she shook her head in no.
"Body pain ho raha hai?" He asked to which she nodded slowly.
"Umm. Thoda sa. Pura body dard kar raha hai" she whispered softly. Vikram didn't said anything for a moment. He continued caressing her cheek softly, as if trying to soothe her pain.
He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. Releasing a heavy breath. A sigh mix of exhaustion, guilt, anger, helplessness and frustration. All of them mixing up.
"Babu" he called softly, making her hum in return.
"I am sorry" he whispered gently making her frown in return. She pulled back and looked at him with confusion.
"Aap sorry kyu bol rahe ho?" She asked him cupping his face. Vikram released a sigh before resting his face against her palm.
"Mein kyu hoon? To protect you and take care of you. I am there to protect you from any danger. But i failed. I had just a single work to do, but-" Thabal covered his mouth with her palm and shook her head.
"Don't blame yourself Vikram. You protected me. You always did" she said softly and kissed his forehead. Vikram stared at her, intently. An unfamiliar feeling surging inside him. Mixed with guilt.
He gently removed her hand and caught it in his hand. He slowly brought it towards his face and placed it on his cheek.
"I swear Chand. I won't let anything happen to you. I will protect you with all my life" he whispered hoarsely, while caressing her cheek gently.
"I know. I know that. I knew you will come. I waited, but pata nahi kya hogaya tha mujhe. I just ran away from there hearing that mama arranged a boy for me to meet" she sighed softly and looked at him. And regretted saying that immediately, because the look in Vikram's eyes was so intense that Thabal felt her heart skipped a bit in fear.
"So they planned a meet-up for you with that boy?" He asked slowly, his voice lowering dangerously. Thabal hummed in return, gulping at his tone. He sound so dangerous right now. Thabal felt like running away in fear.
"Over my fucking dead body. I will fucking tear everyone who dares to snatch you away from me. Madarch-" before he could complete Thabal quickly pressed her palm on his lips, muffling his curse.
"Shh. Calm down. Jyada gali galoch mat karo aap" she shut him up softly. Vikram looked at her for a moment before looking away. As if calming down instantly by her gaze.
"I can't bear the thought of you with anyone other than me. Call me crazy but. Maan karta hai jaan se mardu, uss har insaan ko jo tumhare pass aane ki koshish karta hai. Jo tumhe hurt karta hai" he hissed with frustration. This time looking at her. Thabal couldn't speak anything. She just gulped in return.
"I am so fucking possessive of the thought of anyone even looking at you. Mere samne galti se bhi kabhi dekhe tumhe toh aankhein nikal dunga unn chutiyo ki" he gritted his teeth and Thabal couldn't help but smile slightly.
Jalkudka kahika. She thought internally.
"I love you so much baby. So damn much. My love for you is so intense. It's overloaded. Sambhal nahi pawogi tum" he brought her face near to him more and leaned his forehead against his. Thabal smiled at it. Genuinely, after the traumatic event.
"I will carry it. I will carry every overloaded love of yours. Aapka possesiveness bhi. Aapka gussa bhi. Aapka dukh bhi. Aapki khushi bhi. Aur aapka pyaar bhi" she muttered so softly and gently, it hit hard to Vikram.
He felt a gush of overwhelming feeling inside him. A feeling of showing his overwhelming affection. God, how could he not fall for her more? How?
How could she be so perfect?
"Pata nahi kya kiya tha jo tum payi mujhe" he whispered under his breath, which she happened to hear it too. Thabal kept mum, just enjoying the moment.
She closed her eyes, the flashbacks of horror replaced by his warmth and soothing breathing. His scent filled her nose, calming her down.
Just then Vikram pulled back and stood up, making her eyes fly open quickly. She looked at him with a questioning gaze. Vikram caressed her cheek with a smile.
"Abhi aajaunga babu. Kitchen ja raha hoon. I made something to eat for you. Let me bring it" he said and was about to leave when Thabal caught his hand in hers. Vikram stopped and turned back confusingly.
"Kya huwa baby?" He asked her gently. Thabal just looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Mat jao na pleaseeee. Stay with me" she pleaded with a slight whine, taking away his heart. His heart softened at her antics. It was so fucking cute, how could he not?
"Mein aajaunga chand. I promise. Just two minutes and I will come back to you" he assured but she shook her head stubbornly.
"Nahi nahi nahi. Pleaseee Vikrammm" she dragged her words, scrunching her nose cutely. Vikram sighed in defeat.
He said nothing, just spreaded her arms wide for her. Thabal without wasting any time leaped towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and encircled her legs on his waist.
Vikram placed his left hand on her lower waist to secure her properly and walked out of the room. His footsteps echoed against the hall.
Thabal still clinged against him like a koala. Vikram walked inside the kitchen and arranged the plates and the food. He gathered the food on the plates and arranged it properly while still carrying his world in his arms.
"Aacha smell hai" she suddenly muttered making him chuckle.
"Hmm of course. Meine jo banaya hai" he teased her making her bury her face more in his neck.
Vikram took the plates from the counter and walked out. He climbed up the stairs carefully not to drop anyone one of them he was carrying and walked towards their room.
As he entered, he walked past the bed and went towards the balcony. Thabal furrowed her brows at it. She quickly pulled away from his neck and looked at him with confusion lacing her eyes.
"Kidhar ja rahe ho aap?" She asked him.
"Your favourite place" he responded. And Thabal turned at it. Her eyes sparkled as she saw the swing, her brows raised slightly in amusement.
"Hum idhar khayenge?" She asked, delight lacing her voice. Vikram smiled slightly and nodded.
Thabal felt the cool after rain air hit her face, smelling of wet grass and rain. Vikram sat on the swing slowly, few cushions laying carelessly nearby.
He kept her on his side and picked up the plates. Thabal saw it carefully now. It was prawn curry with chutney at the corner of the plate. A smile reached her lips as she stared at it.
"Oh my God! Yeh aapne banaya?" She chuckled out softly, Vikram hummed in return. Taking the spoon and mixing the curry and the rice. He scooped it up and brought it to her lips.
Thabal opened her mouth and took the morsel. Immediately moaning at the taste.
"Bohot aacha haii" she beamed and chewed it.
"Yeh sachmein aapne banaya? Itna aacha banate kaise ho?" She squinted her eyes, as if doubting him. Vikram chuckled and nodded.
"Tum kaho toh sikha dunga mein. But fees chahiye mujhe" he looked at her playfully, making her raise her brows.
"Kitna?" She asked with a slight smile.
"Not in rupees. I want 100 kisses each hours" he smirked, making her gasp in surprise. And in that moment, Vikram put another morsel inside her slightly open mouth.
"Well if you don't want, it's fine. Sikho na sikho, i am stealing kisses from you every second" he flicked her nose playfully and then pecked her lips, making her nose scrunch up.
"Aap bhi na. Kahi bhi kabhi bhi shuru hojate ho" she huffed and looked away, trying to hide her red cheeks and ears. Vikram chuckled looking at her. He leaned closer.
"Abhi meine kaha shuru kiya hai. Shuru kiya toh ase nahi rehte-" Thabal quickly slap her palm on his mouth, shutting him up.
"Itna chirate kyu ho mujhe" she fake glared, making him smile. He placed a kiss on her palm.
He raised his hand and wiped the corner of her mouth gently. Thabal looked at him silently. Vikram fed her another spoonful, his eyes never leaving hers as the playful mood settled into something quieter, something more intimate.
The swing swayed gently, the rhythm soothing away all the distress. Thabal closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace. The sun was about to set. The orange sunlight fell upon the two, covering them.
"It's so nice here" she whispered slowly. Vikram didn't said anything, just continued feeding her.
"I never thought i will fall in love with Nashik" she smiled slowly and said.
"Mujhe laga mein apne safe place se kabhi niklungi hi nahi. You know, i was an introvert. Introvert ki bhi maa thi mein. Abhi bhi hoon. It's just that, aap ke saath and un dono ke saath mera asa side nikal jata hai. Jo i don't even know kidhar se aagaya" she chuckled and opened her eyes to look at him, only to see him looking at her intently.
"I never thought Nashik will become my safe place. My peace. Never in my dreams. And sabse jyada i didn't expect that i will fall in love. That too with a police officer. Woh bhi someone so completely different from me" she let out a laugh at it, cheeks blooming with red hue. Vikram smiled at it.
"Mein toh idhar padhne aayi thi bas. Aapne hi pata nahi kya kala jadoo kardiya. Fhasa diya mujhe apne jaal pe" she glared at him playfully making him laugh softly.
"Kya karta. Tumhari aankhein mujhe ase khich layi ki mein pagal sa hogaya. Reh nahi pa raha tha tumhare bina" he winked at her, making her giggle at his flirts.
"Bas bas" she swayed her hands infront of him, taking another spoon of the food.
After a second of silence, she started again.
"You know Vikram" she started softly.
"You must be wondering na. Mein kabhi apne parents ke baare mein kyu nahi bolti. I talked about my sister, my grandparents. But never my parents. Not once" she slowly looked in front, watching the dazzling sunset.
"Mera mere parents ke saath kuch banta nahi hai. Bachpan se hi. Jab mein 10 saal ki thi, tabse sab badal gaya. Uske aage mujhe thoda bohot pyaar milta bhi tha. Although not more than my sister. But I did get. Par 10 hote hi all the love vanished as if mera limit udhar tak hi tha" she sighed quietly. Vikram looked at her and listened carefully, not interrupting her.
"Mein hamesha sochti thi, shayad mujh mein hi kuch kami hai. Bhala koi maa baap apne bacho se kyu pyaar nahi karega. Meine hi kuch kiya hoga, isliye shayad they don't love me. Toh mein kya karti thi, hamesha padhai karti thi. Top aane ke liye. Aa bhi jati thi, but i never got acknowledged for it. Chiche was an average student. Yet when she passed her matriculation with 83%, pure mohalle ko bulake feast rakha. Lekin mein jab 95% layi. Kisine mujhe ek badhai tak nahi di" she smiled bitterly, remembering the memory.
"My grandpa. He died when i was in class 8. I always thought it was my fault, that my parents don't love me enough. But ekdin i heard my mother and my grandpa talking" Thabal paused for a second, as if the memory itself haunted her. Vikram slowly held her hand and caressed it, as if providing her silent comfort.
"Mein tuition se jaldi aagayi thi. My mother and my grandpa were shouting and arguing. Mein dar gayi thi. I was about to stop them. But then hearing them speak something stopped me" She leaned her head against his shoulder and continued.
"I- I was unloved because I was an unplanned child. My parents thought they couldn't conceive after years of marriage. They adopted my sister after thinking deeply. Sab aacha chal raha tha. Mere parents bohot khush the. But unki khushi todhne mein aagayi" she scoffed with a bitter smile.
"My grandparents didn't let them abort me. Mein aa toh gayi iss duniya mein. Lekin mere mama ko bas ek hi dar tha. That i will overshadow my sister. As i am the real blood of them. Toh mama ne mujhe neglect karna start kardiya. She started giving chiche more attention. So that she doesn't feel left out. Papa loved me. Until 10. Mama ne shayad kuch-kuch boldiya. Tabse he started acting cold too" she sighed, her fingers tracing a pattern on Vikram's arm.
"Yaad hai? I once told you that we shouldn't meet again? Uss din mama ne call kiya tha subah. She warned me not to fall in love and stuff, not to lure boys and bla bla. And aur bhi bohot kuch bola that effected me a lot. That very moment i knew you weren't just someone i could disregard when i can't have you. Toh meine socha jyada aage badhne se aacha idhar hi sab khatam kar dena thik hai. But it effected me more. I didn't realised, but i was so attached to you. Ussi wakt se shayad mein aapko pasand karne lag gayi" she smiled at it.
"Mein jo idhar medical parne aayi hoon. Ladh jagharke aayi hoon. 3 4 thappad aur padhe. Because I broke their family lineage. Mere pupu lawyer the. Papa bhi the. He is retired now. Chiche bhi hai. Aur baki uncle and aunties bhi hai" she revealed.
"You know. Mein sochti thi mere grandparents, why did they even stop my parents from aborting me. Agar mein paida hi nahi hoti, toh sab thik hota. Mein jo unke life pe bojh banke aayi hoon, nahi aati. But jab aapse mili. Laga, shayad I was born to meet you. To be loved by you. To be cared by you" this time she looked at him and stared at his eyes.
"After 2 months of us meeting and talking. Meine socha shayad you were sent by my grandparents. To love me and take care of me in their absence" she smiled. Vikram set the plate down beside him. He turned her fully toward him, his large hands cupping her face so he could look directly into her eyes.
"They are bigger fools than I thought. To have a treasure like you and treat it like a shadow. That's their greatest sin" he looked at her so deeply that it made her want to fall unto his arms.
She slowly moved up and sat sideways across his lap, her weight putting a familiar pressure against his thighs. He pulled her closer while she tucked her head into the hollow of his neck, disappearing into his embrace.
Vikram placed a possesive hand over her waist, as if shielding her from the room, his chin resting atop her hair while she curled into his chest.
"I don't want to be loved by anyone Vikram. I just want to be loved my you. Mujhe bas aap chahiye. Aur koi nahi. I can't live without you. I want you and only you" she muttered, clinging unto him more. Hugging him even closer.
Vikram ran his hand on her waist gently. His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron fist. Hearing her recount her life, the feeling of being unwanted, the bitter silence after her achievements, and the cold neglect she faced just for existing, filled him with a rage he could barely contain.
How can anyone ignore her? How can anyone not love her?
"I am yours baby. Completely and utterly yours. In every way you want. Sirf tumhara hoon mein. Tumhara hi hak hai mujhpe. Pyaar karna hai, gussa karna hai, marna hai. Bas tumhare liye hoon" he husked out, kissing on her hair.
Thabal kissed the skin of his neck. She placed few sloppy kisses over it. Responding in her own way.
"I haven't told this to anyone. I have never seen chiche as someone who isn't related with me. Although she is adopted, i never saw her as one. I never wanted to upset her by making her know this. Toh meine kisiko nahi bola yeh baat" she revealed, making him hum in response.
"Vikram" she called out softly, making him hum in return.
"Bolo chand" he whispered huskily.
"I don't want to go there anymore. I-i just want to be with you" she said and tightened her grip on him.
Vikram patted her waist in response.
"You think i will let them take you away from me, hm? I don't share. And i can definitely not share you. I will fucking slash everyone out before they even think of taking you away" he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.
Thabal looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with immense love. Looking at him, staying in his arms, felt like washing away all the old wounds. She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the corner of his jaw.
"I love you, Vikram" she breathed against his skin.
"I love you, more than my own life" he responded, his voice a low rumble. He began to sway the swing again, very slowly, as the last sliver of the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
"Vikram" she called softly.
"Hmm?" Vikram hummed.
"Would you still love me if I become an ant?" She asked, making the corner of his lips twitched.
"Hmm. I will. I will love every version of you. Even if you become a worm" he answered, making her giggle out genuinely. The sound felt like music to his ears.
Vikram smiled, a real, soft smile that he only ever showed her. He kissed the top of her head and held her closer as the first stars began to peek through the Nashik sky.
_________🌸__________
Hope you liked it
Stay safe sweeties🦋🌻
Write a comment ...