𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖗𝖎𝖒𝖘𝖔𝖓 𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖓. (COMPLETED)
41. 𝓗𝖚𝖘𝖇𝖆𝖓𝖉.
41. Husband.
Siya ~
" Arjun....Arjunnn!" I shook his arm, still half asleep but the loud banging on the door had annoyed me.
Arjun, on the other hand, was asleep.
" What is it Siya? Does something hurt?" I heard his voice and fell him checking me but I slapped his arm away.
"Someone's banging on the door." I grumbled, my annoyance evident. I momentarily buried my face under the duvet, then peeked out to glance at him.
With a swift motion, he threw off the duvet and sat up, the morning light painting his tousled hair in soft hues.
Arjun's initial suspicion melted into a gentle smile as he scooped them up in one swift, effortless motion in both his arms. They giggled, while their tiny hands eagerly tugged at his unruly hair, turning his already messy locks into a delightful disarray and I couldn't help but laugh.
" These are your culprits." Arjun chuckled, settling in with Jahanavi and Kritik nestled in his embrace. With a mischievous glint in their eyes, they sprang from his arms, bounding toward me, unleashing giggles that bubbled up within me.
" My two little monkeys." I chuckled, holding them both in my arms, ready to unleash my tickle attack. Janu erupted into fits of laughter, squirming and wriggling but Kritik, as expected, remained unfazed by my attempts.
" Bui, you know you cannot tickle me." He giggled regardless while Janu was a laughing mess.
" But I also know that I can stop giving you those candies." I sang and his eyes mirrored betrayal and he jumped on me even more.
" Okay you two, enough. You badi maa and Bui respectively is still a bit broken, let's not break her more." Ranaji said before dragging Janu and Kritik back into his arms and I sat up, giving him a glare.
The kids laughed hearing him.
" Not funny!" I protested in mock seriousness and they made weird faces at me, which I dutifully returned and then, all of a sudden, Varun came to my mind.
Where was he? I am sure as hell that Arjun hasn't forgiven Vani and Amar but that little kid was nowhere at fault here. I had to talk to Arjun about him, seeing the right time.
" Okay okay okay kids, well, since this man sitting right in front of us all has refused to grant us the ride of his royal jet, we suppose a trip is due now, isn't it?" I asked, grabbing my kids away from his hold and pointed at Arjun, giving him a grin.
" Phufaji has his own plane?" Kritik gasped in shock before squirming out of my arms and with a swift movement, sitting in front of Arjun with his puppy eyes, this restless kid hates staying near me!
Janu is my princess.
" Phufaji, can I please ask you something?" Kritik asked Ranaji who dragged him in his arms after saying a yes.
" We both will first take a ride together and let the others join later, how does that sound?" He asked him but all Kritik did was pout.
" No Phufaji, I want to fly that plane, please?" He asked again and this time, Janu and I laughed so hard at my little monkey.
" As you command, Chote Thakursa." Ranaji replied jokingly but when I saw his face, I could see that he was not kidding.
What the hell?
" Why don't you kids tell everyone that Ranaji is taking us all for a family vacation to Kashmir and we leave in the evening?" I asked them and they straight up jumped out of the bed and ran off, screaming their throats off in excitement.
" You cannot be serious Arjun. Tell me you were kidding about letting Kritik fly the plane." I started to panic and he had a small smile playing on his lips.
" I don't make false promises, love." He replied, dragging me in his arms and I tried to wiggle free in an attempt to make him see sense.
" He is a kid." I deadpanned but that didn't get me any reaction.
" Ranaji!! What are you even thinking!" I exclaimed but all he did was laugh.
" Calm down, Little Flower. Of course he will not fly the plane. But he can be a monitored co-pilot for fifteen minutes while the plane is in auto-pilot mode." He said, rubbing circles on my back in a possible attempt to calm me down but his touch sent shivers down my spine and I tried to put some distance between us, but all in vain.
" Do you have to try and get away from me even now when you have told me that you love me?" His voice remained steady, an attempt to coax me into reason, yet it only intensified the warmth creeping up my cheeks.
With a flutter in my chest, I turned to face him, closing the space between us. Gently, almost hesitantly, I brushed my lips against his but my lips quivered and I pulled back just as immediately.
Something between us had changed after last night. I could feel it inside me.
I wanted to scream and tell the world how much I loved him and this only made me giddy.
When it comes to fighting or arguing with me, there's none fiercer than Siya. But when it comes to kissing her own husband, I wonder where she hides." He teased, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips, his eyes sparkling with affectionate amusement but just as he was about to lean in for a kiss, I kept my hand on his lips, blushing.
" In case you missed it, husband, we are flying to Kashmir today for a family vacation and I need to get done with a lot." I spoke, a smile gracing my lips as I rose from the bed. However, before I could step away, he caught my wrist, halting my departure, and moved to stand before me, wearing an enigmatic expression I couldn't quite place.
" What did you just say?" He asked, his eyes narrowing as he pulled my body into his chest, circling his arm around my waist while his other hand gently cradled the back of my head, bringing our faces inches apart.
" Umm....wha....huh?" I stammered, not from the proximity but from the intense way he was gazing at me, sending a flurry of thoughts scattering in my mind.
" Kashmir.....I said that we're all going to Kashmir today!" I somehow gathered myself and replied this time.
" What did you just call me Little one?" His gaze bore into me, more intense than before making me scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. What had I said to evoke that response?
It took me a beat longer to register that I'd referred to him as husband and my eyes instinctively darted away as I fought off the blush creeping up my cheeks. Goodness, what was wrong with me?
" What?" I stubbornly avoided meeting his gaze, but he gently hooked his index finger under my chin, coaxing my face upward with a subtle curve of his lips.
" You know what." He replied and I feigned unawareness but stood rooted in his arms.
He leaned in closer, his warm breath grazing my ear as he whispered, "You cannot play innocent with me, Wife." His voice held a teasing tone that sent shivers down my spine, leaving me unable to move, caught in the intensity of his gaze.
Before he could say another word, this was a knock on the door and I immediately wiggled free out of his arms in embarrassment as I found our entire families standing outside the already open door.
No one said a word for two seconds. Then mom walked in, the others following.
" What are the kids going on about Kashmir?" She asked and my eyes lit up!
" Oh yeah mom we all are going to Kashmir for a vacation! How great is that?" I exclaimed, bubbling with excitement, and enveloped her in a hug. She returned the embrace, laughing along with me.
" But beta you are still not completely recovered." Mumma came next to me.
" Yes Siya, you need rest." Dad agreed.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Trust me, only a vacation can fix this," I insisted, pointing towards me, vigorously shaking my head in defiance of their protests, while my brothers supported my idea.
" Why are you all even trying? She is not going to budge, just pack." Arjun, on my side this time, told everyone, sighing and I smiled.
" See papa, I told you, didn't I? I get what I want." I said, shrugging and went to him as he took embraced me in his arms.
" You are Siya." He agreed and I nodded in enthusiasm.
" I am." I replied and the others just laughed.
"Okay, I'll handle the hotel bookings," declared Rohit bhai, with Cockroach nodding in agreement.
" I'll sort out the itinerary," offered Samarth bhai, taking charge of that task.
" We'll take care of packing," chimed in Hansika bhabhi, and they dispersed, each claiming their responsibilities.
Then I went to freshen up.
" Mom," I called out as she and dad were making way towards the dining room. They both halted, turning around to face me as I caught up with them.
" What is it Siya?" She asked with a hint of concern in her eyes.
"Where's Varun?" I inquired, noticing a sudden shift in her expression—blank and uneasy—while Dad appeared uncomfortable with my question as well.
" Siya... beta....he's just a child. We... we couldn't let him go. His parents aren't capable of taking care of him anymore and..." Mom's words faltered as she began to fidget nervously. I interrupted her, sensing the difficulty she was going through.
" Of course mom. I know Arjun isn't really going to forgive them and this is Varun's home too. Is is member of this family, no matter what. He has nothing to do with the deeds of his parents and I am so glad that you did not let him go. Can I please see him? I want to talk to him." I requested, but despite my words, I could sense her hesitation.
She did seem unsure but nodded in agreement. Dad did too.
" Trust me, I am not going to hurt him." I said and their eyes widened.
" Of course we know that Siya. It's just that he isn't in a very safe space within his mind at the moment. He has not spoken a word to us." Dad replied and my heart sank.
" I am going to try dad." I reassured him and he nodded, directing me towards his room.
Entering Varun's room, I found him sitting on the edge of his bed, lost in thought. I approached him slowly, trying not to startle him.
" Hey, Varun. It's Siya," I said softly, taking a seat beside him. He looked up, his eyes showing a mixture of apprehension and fear.
" It's okay, you don't have to be scared of me. I promise." I said, turning a bit towards him but he still looked weary of me.
" Hey, I know things might feel confusing right now, but I want you to know that this is your home too. We're all here for you, and we care about you," I spoke gently, hoping to break through the barrier he had built around himself.
Varun remained silent, but his eyes seemed to soften a bit.
" I know it feels scary to not be around mum and dad. You know, when I was your age, I had a tough time too. But you know what helped me? Knowing that there are people who care about you and want to help. And guess what? That's all of us here, I swear." I finished, recalling my time at the hostel in Jaipur.
His voice trembled as he spoke, barely above a whisper, "I... I know what Mum did to you." His words hung in the air, laden with the weight of the truth he had stumbled upon.
" What your mum did to me has nothing to do with you, beta. You have nothing to worry about." I reassured him, trying to maintain a comforting tone.
I leaned in a bit closer, trying to ease any discomfort he might have felt in bringing it up. "If there's anything you want to talk about or if you have any questions, I'm here. You can ask me anything, alright?"
Varun hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting as if he was considering whether to speak further. Finally, he whispered, "Did it hurt you?"
I felt a pang in my chest, realising the weight of his concern.
" Okay Varun, so I have a secret and I can only share this secret with my friends. So only if you agree to be my friend, I would tell it to you!" I grinned, trying to lift the mood, extending my hand for a playful handshake.
Varun's eyes widened with curiosity, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and shook my hand, a hint of excitement in his expression.
" Okay, you got yourself a deal!" I grinned.
" Wh...what is the secret?" He asked, curiously.
" That I am wonder woman! I don't get hurt." I whispered to him and he looked at me like he trusted me and for the first time ever, I honestly felt something I never have ever.
I cannot describe it but I sure as hell can never forget it either and I wanted to pull him into a hug but I didn't want to scare him off.
" If you are Wonder Woman, then can you please help me meet my mum and dad? I just want to see them once, please?" He asked, his eyes watering and something inside me broke seeing his tears.
This kid did not deserve any of what he was going through.
" I promise, Varun. But you'll have to give me two promises in turn." I asked, looking at him expectantly.
All he did was nod in agreement.
I reassured him, "You need to know that we've got your back, no matter what. If anything's bothering you, you can talk to any of us, including me, alright?" I extended my hand towards him, hoping to offer support.
He remained silent but placed his hand on mine, nodding in agreement once more.
" Good boy." I gave him a smile.
" Second thing, I want you to know that your mum and dad may not be around for a long time beta but you will never think of yourself as you don't belong here. This Palace is your home as much as it is mine, it is your home more than it is mine in fact and you will not let anyone tell you anything otherwise. Do you promise?" I asked him, looking at him expectedly.
This time, he gently squeezed his hand which was in mine and I gave him a smile.
" Good. Now tell me Varun, what is your favourite colour?" I asked him and poor little him looked confused with such a random shift in the topic.
" Blue." He replied and I shrieked.
" Mine too!" I exclaimed.
" Bu...but why?" He asked and I gave him a smile.
" Because I need to shop a few things for you. We all are going to Kashmir!" I told him but his face immediately fell.
" I cannot go anywhere without mum and dad." He declared, looking away, taking his hand away from mine.
" Well your chachi, chachu, Daadisa, Daadusa, Janu, Ranaji and I cannot go without you Varun! You must have gone on so many vacations with mum and dad but what about us?" I honestly had no idea if I was doing the right thing, saying all this but I was simply at a point of no return at the moment.
" I...I have never gone anywhere with them." He whispered.
" It's okay Varun, trust me. It is going to be a lot fun. I promise." I reassured him.
" But mum and dad?" He asked again, rubbing his eyes and this time, I went to kneel in front of him.
" Well baby, you see, sometimes people do bad things, right?" I asked him and he nodded slowly.
" Your mum and dad did a bad thing this time." Was all I could say.
" Are they bad people?" He asked, his eyes on me and I immediately found myself shaking my head in a no.
" No. They are not bad people Varun. But teachers punish students who don't follow the rules, don't they?" I said, trying to make him understand.
" Yes"
" Just like that, mum and dad didn't follow rules this time and that is why they are being punished. That is fair, right?" I questioned again.
" Fair." He replied after thinking for a minute.
" Do you understand me beta?" I spoke again.
" I understand." He replied, getting up from the bed and I went back on my feet.
" Can you please take me to Daadisa and Daadusa? I was not a good boy. I don't talk to them when they come here to see me." He said and I gave offered him my hand to hold which he hesitantly took.
" Come on, champ." I replied as we walked out of the room and towards Mom and dad's.
" You are such a brave little guy." I bent down on my knees again and ruffled his hair just a little bit as we were at their door.
I was just about to get in when I saw Arjun walking towards us and Varun immediately hid behind me, clutching onto my kurti immediately.
" Varun?" I tried to turn back but he didn't let me.
" Arjun, why is he hiding from you? Did you do something?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, confused.
Arjun shook his head in a negative and then tried peeking behind me but Varun looked extremely scared.
" Champ, your Daadisa and Daadusa are right inside. Why don't you go and meet them? I will come and get you in half an hour? Also, ask Daadusa about that little secret about the ice-cream okay?" I gave him a wink and with a very tiny smile on his lips, he ran inside the room.
" We need to talk." I addressed Arjun.
" After you." He said, extending his hand ahead to let me walk first and he followed behind.
As we got back to our room, I turned towards him.
" Please let Vani and Amar go Arjun. I forgive them please. Varun needs his parents." I said just as soon as he closed the door behind us.
" No." His eyes, once warm, now held a tempestuous glare, a turmoil of emotions that refused to yield to my entreaty.
" Arjun....you have no idea..." I started again but he cut me off.
" The brilliant parents you are advocating for at this moment Siya are the ones who hadn't met their child for the past six months for planning and plotting the usurp of this Kingdom." He replied curtly, his words dripping with disdain.
" I can't say I am shocked but think about him Ranaji, he is eight years old, all alone here among a family he had never met until last week. He is so lonely." I pleaded, attempting to reason with him, but his expressions remained unmoved.
" Listen to me Arjun...." I tried once again and this time too, he cut me off.
" I need you to have your breakfast before you take your medicines." He said, changing the topic and I rolled my eyes and walked towards the trolly of breakfast.
" I was still not done talking about that." I turned to face him again.
" But I am done talking about it and this is the end of it." He declared, his tone carrying an air of absolute authority, as though he were dismissing me.
" Arjun you will have to listen to me!" I moved the plate away which he was holding in front of me and demanded his attention again but all he did was keep the plate on the nightstand.
" Eat this." He said before walking out of our bedroom, leaving me utterly mad!
How dare he walk out on me while I still had something to say to him!?
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