Chapter 12: Chapter 12

*Mridula Pov*

“It is getting late. Why don’t you go and have your dinner?” I asked, turning towards Dileep, who is getting down from the bed.

“You will not eat with us again today?” He asked frowning.

“Save a seat for me beside you for tomorrow’s breakfast.” I replied, smiling and he grinned before walking away from me and reached his brother.

“How are you Bhai?” he asked Tajwar.

“I need to freshen up.” That’s all Tajwar replied, hearing which Dileep sighed before walking away.

“He really cares for you. Not only him, but everyone cares for you, Tajwar.” I said before he could say anything else when he opened his mouth.

“I don’t think they do. Now, what was he doing here in my room?” he asked, moving towards the cupboard before removing the tie.

“He was here to apologize, and it was my mistake as I shifted back into this room.” I replied, getting down and hoped he will feel a little something about seeing me in someone else’s arms but all he is irritated was for having Dileep in this room.

“I thought you were going to step out of this relation when you said I am right in the morning. What changed your mind?” he asked, folding his arms.

“That’s not what I meant! Like you said I got cheated, and that’s all. I can’t do anything to change it except letting the matter go. So, I decided to forget about it and continue the life like before.” I replied, and he frowned before shaking his head.

“If you want, you can leave me.” I offered to which he snorted before walking inside the washroom.

I shook my head and left the room to bring the food and saw Aunty standing near the table. I nodded at her slightly before arranging the food for both of us and moved to climb the stairs.

“Mridula! I didn’t mean those words.” She slowly mumbled, making me stop in my tracks.

“But I really want him to return to the normal world.” she added before I could say anything.

“I will try so that I can repay the kindness you showed upon me and my parents.” I mumbled holding the tray tightly.

“You can talk with them, but don’t say anything about this.” she said, and I shook my head.

“Mom asked me not to call her when I called her to inform the good marks I got in the tenth standard. I listen to her words without a miss, and she asked me to be grateful for your help which I will be.” I said before climbing the stairs on my stupidity for forgetting all these and thought myself as her family.

“What happened?” I heard a voice and glanced up from the plate to see him sitting before me, but my eyes widened looking at his bare chest.

“Why are you not wearing a shirt?” I asked him frowning.

“I usually don’t wear one in my room, but had to after returning from the hospital and then with you staying here to hide my wounds. However, now that you saw them, I don’t care about it. If you feel disgusted, then you can go anywhere you want.” He replied shrugging.

“Why would anyone feel disgust? Don’t they have brains?” I asked him frowning more.

“Are you saying that I don’t have brains?” he asked back.

“When did I say that?” I asked him in a confused tone.

“I feel them disgusted, so does that mean I don’t have a brain?” he explained to which I immediately shook my head.

“You shouldn’t feel like that at all. Appearance doesn’t matter right?” I asked, to which he again snorted before taking a bite of the food.

“So, you forgave them?” he suddenly asked, breaking the silence after we finished our food.

“Yes!” I replied, leaving the room and returned to see him pacing near the bed.

“You shouldn’t forgive them and then you had to leave me.” he ordered stopping before me when I moved to step toward the bed.

“I can’t leave, but you can if you want to.” I offered again and he just shook his head.

“Look, if I do that, then I will be sent to the hospital.” He said in a calm tone.

“Ok! Aunty wanted me to marry you so that you will go back to normal. Why don’t you become normal so that she will never threaten you?” I asked, standing there for a few minutes understanding he wants this relation to end with no reluctance.

“You are right!” he exclaimed with a small smile, and I actually frowned at him.

“I am normal now.” He added and this time I frowned more.

“Ok! How?” I asked him to which he smirked before staring at me.

“Tomorrow I will come downstairs for breakfast with them. If I do that for a few days, then she will back off and then we can separate.” He replied and I really wished he was not that enthusiastic.

“Ok!” I mumbled moving away before lying on the bed while he followed my suit.

“Are you sure?” I asked, staring at him, and he nodded like he is doing from the morning whenever I am asking the question.

“Am I looking normal?” he asked when we moved near to the door.

“You are tensed!” I replied, looking at the way he couldn’t stay in one place for even a second.

“It’s ok!” I mumbled before moving near him and circled my arms around his neck.

Before he could say something, I hugged him lightly for a few minutes, even though he is not returning it but also not pushing me away.

“Are you ready?” I asked, moving back while he just stared at me for a few seconds before nodding.

“Good morning!” I greeted all of them when we reached the dining area while they didn’t even see us.

“What the…” Aahil mumbled when all turned towards us and saw Tajwar.

I jerked my hand a little making Tajwar come out of the silence, and he slowly said, “Good morning!”

“Where is Dileep?” I asked Aahil when I saw his seat empty, and everyone is still staring at us in shock.

“He got an important call, so he left.” Aahil replied, staring at Tajwar, who is sitting to his left while I started serving them.

“How are you, Tajwar?” Uncle asked slowly.

“I am fine, Dad.” He replied normally or tried to say normally when I can actually see him holding the glass tightly in his hands.

“I am really hungry!” he added before concentrating on the food while Aunty stared at him, frowning and then at me to which I immediately looked away.

“I think I am getting late for office. Mridula, can you bring my lunch?” he asked to which I nodded and got up packing his carriage and followed him while everyone sat in silence.

“It went well.” I mumbled when he stayed silent, even after we reached his car, and I am still holding his carriage.

“It felt like I am sitting on a stove.” he commented before turning around to stare at me.

“Thanks for doing this for me.” He added taking the carriage from me.

“Even I will get to live my life normally right.” I joked, but he just shook his head opening the door.

“Come home early to have dinner with your family.” I added, and he nodded before driving away.

“What are you two up to?” Aunty asked when I entered the house.

“I don’t understand!” I replied frowning.

“Do you think I will believe him to be changed by just being here for one time and that too for five minutes?” she asked shaking her head.

“I don’t know! He decided to come and sit with all of you.” I replied, looking straight because this is not a lie.

“We will see.” she said before walking away while I sighed in relief.

“Did anyone say anything about today morning?” he asked when he returned early and walked directly to the room with me following him from the living room.

“No!” I replied, not wanting to tell him what Aunty said and make him angrier at her.

“Ok! We will go downstairs after I freshen up.” He said, nodding and walked inside.

Am I really helping him with all this? I thought, shaking my head not believing that I am doing this stupid thing in the first place.

“Let’s go!” He said confidently unlike morning, and I nodded, following him, but stopped when he stopped near the end of the staircase.

“Do you know, Bhai joined us for breakfast?” I heard Aahil talking, and I glanced a little to see Dileep present at the table.

“I am not in the mood for some jokes, Bhai.” He said, waving off and I wish I can hit his head sensing Tajwar tensing beside me.

“No! I think he may join us even now. He returned home early.” Aahil added and Dileep actually laughed.

“Why are you laughing? He can change like that. He is not alone anymore, and Mridula is there to make sure he does all this.” Aunty said, glaring at him, and I wish I can slap my forehead right now.

“Why should she be the caretaker for him? She is still young and should enjoy her life but not have any duty.” Dileep said glaring back.

“She is his wife.” Aunty stated.

“She is his forced wife and must be getting mentally beaten between you and him. Don’t think that she is alone, Mom.” Dileep said, raising his voice, and I moved to stop him but Tajwar shook his head.

“Your brother is not some monster.” Aunty said shouting back.

“Are you sure? He didn’t talk with any one of us for the past two years and now married to some innocent girl. I fear for her, and I feel guilty for being a part in the deceiving.” he shouted back and I thought, that’s it.

“Dileep!” I shouted, hearing which everyone turned to glance at my side and paled.

“Bhai!” Dileep started saying, but Tajwar glared at each one of them before turning around and started climbing the stairs.

“Are you happy now?” Aunty asked, glaring at Dileep, but he is looking at me.

I don’t know whether to feel blessed for having a best friend like him or angry for thinking bad about his brother. In the end, I shook my head and turned to go near Tajwar not knowing what is he even thinking.

“Tajwar!” I mumbled entering the room to see him moving around the room literally fuming.

“What are you doing here? I am going to cause you harm, right?” he asked with sarcasm dripping in his each word.

“He doesn’t mean them.” I whispered to which he laughed harshly while I moved near to him after closing the door not wanting any of them to hear his words.

“Leave the room before I hurt you.” He said thought gritted teeth.

“I know you will not hurt me. Calm down and forget his words.” I said in a low tone.

“Do you think I am some disabled person who doesn’t know how to live and need you? I don’t need anyone and definitely not you.” He said glaring at me.

“I know!” I whispered nodding, and his glare increased.

“You are not my caretaker and don’t you dare to act like one.” He stated pointing his finger.

“I am your wife and just acting like one.” I said, placing my hand on his which he jerked away but didn’t move back.

“I know you are angry listening to Dileep, but he just gets lost and doesn’t care what he is saying if he starts. He just means well and not bad. Don’t be mad at him. He really loves you and try to return to them.” I continued to babble while he just stared at me like he is not listening to any word I am uttering at all.

“Yes! You are my wife.” He said before holding my face and crashed his lips to mine, and I stood still when all this happened in a mere second.

“Act like my wife, Mridula.” he whispered, and I felt the goose bumps on my back.

“Ok!” I whispered back before returning the kiss, which just made my toes curl and lost into it forgetting everything around me except him.