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Roshni stared at him, and their eyes locked for a few minutes.
“I can see myself gaining so much weight with all this wonderful cooking you would do, Roshni.” He paused abruptly, not to sadden her, he continued, “Roshni, I am so enjoying this food and all these rituals with you. It is so beautiful to celebrate all these festivals with family.”
He meant it; she was his wife, his family! He thanked her and served himself more kheer and enjoyed every bit of it thoroughly. She was not aware that this was his favorite dish.
They explored each other and understood each other…a wonderful growing experience for them both.
After lunch Deepak asked Roshni to rest while he cleaned up the kitchen. Roshni held her foot frequently and massaged it. She probably was in a lot of pain with all the standing she did in the morning. Slowly limping again, she walked to her room and changed into a comfortable salwar kameez. After changing, she came to the family room and rested on the sofa, massaging her foot again. She was exhausted. She rested her head on the sofa’s back rest, with her right hand over her forehead.
Deepak noticed this and sat by her side on the sofa. He slowly pulled her foot onto his lap and, without saying a word, started to massage her foot as she lay there with her right arm over her eyes.
Startled, she sat up. “Deepak, what are you doing?” She began to pull her leg from his lap.
Deepak held her foot in the same position. “I know you have a throbbing pain, Roshni. Let me massage it; you’ll feel better.”
“No.” She pulled her foot away and forced herself to stand up, and in doing so, she lost her balance. “Aaaaaoooo,” she yelled. She feared a major injury if she fell again!
She was terrified and shut her eyes tight. When she opened them, Deepak was holding her, and she clung to his shirt. His swift movement prevented her from crashing to the floor. They remained in each other’s arms for a few minutes, feeling the warmth and safety in their embrace.
A few minutes later, Roshni pulled her head away from his chest and looked at him, and he stared down at her. Love and care were very much visible in Deepak’s eyes, and deep passion for him in Roshni’s eyes.
“Thank you, Deepak,” she said and tried to free herself from him while he held her.
“No worries, Roshni, are you okay?” he asked.
Roshni gestured and pulled away from him, and he supported her until she gained some balance and control.
“Please don’t do all this, Deepak,” she requested.
“What did I do? I was just massaging your foot because I know you were in pain,” he said very innocently.
“I’m not used to all this pampering, Deepak. Please don’t spoil me,” she said.
Deepak pulled her towards him and very lovingly said, “Roshni, isn’t this what a husband-wife relationship is about? To be there for each other when they need each other, so why do you feel I am pampering you?”
“Because I’m not used to this type of treatment. Only Babuji would pamper me, but…b-being pampered by others, I’m not used to this, please.”
She wanted to move away from him, but he brought her closer to him by placing his arm around her shoulder.
“Roshni, you need help and support at this time, and I am providing that help; moreover, it is my duty as your husband to take care of you too! So there is no question of pampering or spoiling you.”
Roshni closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply. “Deepak, please try to understand. I am very grateful to you for taking care of me, but all that you’ve been doing since y
ou came here is too much. Please don’t do all this. I will not be able to repay you.”
Deepak was agonized to hear this. “What nonsense are you saying? Do you think I’m doing all this expecting something from you? You must be crazy, Roshni,” he said in an angry tone.
What Roshni had said caused him more distress than she expected. She saw the tremendous love and affection he had for her. “Deepak, I know you’re not expecting anything. I know you came here for me, but please try to understand. After all that I went through since our marriage, it’s not easy for me to forget everything. Those memories come back to me very often and disturb me. I…I am so troubled sometimes; I feel like running away from them. I just don’t want to go back there, and…please…”
She started crying, covering her face with her hands.
Deepak was very touched by this. Finally she at least said something to him, and he was relieved. There was more hope for this relationship than he had thought; he just needed to continue what he was doing and one day she would accept him.
He came close to her and pulled her to him. “Roshni, I know the pain you’re going through. I can read your expressions. Old memories are haunting you, and somewhere they are blocking you from expressing yourself. Take your time but be assured that I am here for you anytime. You may not consider me your husband yet, but at least you can treat me as a good friend and open up when you need to. You have taught me more lessons than I could imagine, all good lessons to make me a better human, and I am very grateful for that.” He paused. “Let me continue to do what I am doing. All I want to do is to be there for you and take care of you,” he said, and he meant it.
Roshni glanced at his face and, without a word, slowly walked away to their room. Deepak got back to the sofa to work while Roshni tried to relax but was unable to – her past haunted her. She’d seen enough of Deepak in this trip that her impressions of him changed. Enough evidence was available that he loved her immensely and he was here to spend time with her. He was very regretful for what he’d said, and he’d asked for forgiveness several times, and…unaware to her, she also started loving him, but her ego was strong, and she was not ready to accept her love for him.
As a matter of fact, the day she was shown his picture by Babuji, she submitted herself to him mentally, and since then her feelings for him had not changed, although he’d humiliate and saddened her. Only now did those feelings strengthen after seeing his ‘real’ self.
