A/N: This chapter has been written in Tarika's point of view. Neutral point of view has been separately mentioned. And here comes the twist…don't kill me guys : P
I sat at our usual spot in the café beside the bureau. Sipping his favourite black tea, I realized that I started liking it too.
As I watched his silhouette go towards the forensic lab, I suddenly became conscious of my appearance. My fingers first adjusted my skirt and then, inadvertently, my hand moved towards my stomach.
I look fat…will he notice right away?
My hands then move to my hair. It was very unusual of me, but I had my hair undone. I hated the curly locks flying everywhere but well… I've been keeping it untied for months now.
It's because he likes my hair this way. My eyes fixed on him, I felt my heart race.
I had been preparing myself for this day for 3 months now. But still, I felt a strange nervousness when I saw him. I suddenly felt so dizzy that I wished he would hold me.
But maybe he would never do that now….
I was about to see him after six months – it felt like ages. A part of me wanted to run to him and hug him….but that was impossible. Another part of me wanted to go away from the café.
I didn't know how I would face him. I didn't want to face him.
I bent my head a little, subconsciously, to watch him take the stairs to the lab. And all of a sudden, my mind was full of images.
FLASHBACK :
It had been almost 3 months and Abhijeet hadn't returned yet. It was hard without him – especially when I didn't have much to do in the lab.
Shreya and Purvi tried their best to keep me happy – but the heart just wouldn't listen. That evening, I was missing him so much that I was wearing his shirt. Smelling like him, I went in front of the mirror.
I laughed at my own reflection, wondering how Abhijeet could find me cute in his shirts. It was too long and too loose for me. If he were here, he would hug me from the back and rest his chin on my shoulder. And then he would make some comment along the lines of how picture perfect we look.
I couldn't wait for him to come back. I had so much to tell him, so much to hear from him – we had to make up for all the time we had lost. He better came to see me as soon as he returned! Well, I had no doubts about that one – he always came to see me first, before even changing. I then thought about what he would be wearing when he came back – would it be formals or casuals? Would his hair be messy or combed? Would he arrive in the morning or in the evening? Would he hug me first or would I surprise him with a hug before that? Would he kiss me on the forehead or just fondle my hair?
Uh… the wait was too long. I wanted to wrap myself around him. I wanted to feel safe and secure in that embrace of his. I wanted to hold him tight and never let go.
Before I regained myself from the daydream, I watched a man behind me in the mirror.
And somehow, I knew it – it was the same man who had kidnapped me.
"Kya chahte ho?" I said, turning around.
"Chahte toh bahot kuch hain," he smirked at me.
Oh that loathsome, despicable smirk. As I watched his hungry eyes looking at my legs, I felt extremely uneasy.
The look in those eyes was unmistakable – hungry as though he had been starving for years. While he stepped towards me, I stepped back, feeling contempt for myself.
"Dur raho mujhse!" I shouted.
FLASHBACK OVER
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I couldn't think more about that day…or the days after that. Only I knew how I had been living… all these days.
Neutral point of view:
Abhijeet reached the forensic lab, skipping 2 steps at a time. It had been so many months since he saw her – he couldn't wait to pull her into a loving hug. But it would be difficult with that old doctor there. He would have to hang around near the lab till Dr. Salunkhe went away. But even in his presence, he could at least talk to her.
"Arrey Abhijeet," the doctor said, while his eyes scanned the lab, "Tum aa gaye?"
"Ji doctor sahab…aap akele hi?"
"Haan wo," Dr. Salunkhe didn't seem to be in a mood to tease him, "Tarika leave pe hai."
"Acha acha…toh mein chalta hu doctor sahab."
He wanted to go home as early as possible. But doctor sahab held him by the shoulder and stopped him. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"wo…wo darasal p-pregnancy leave…"
"Kya…!"
His face lit up. The unexpected had never been so joy-giving.
So she was carrying a baby – their baby?
Oh why didn't he know this earlier? So she was 6 months pregnant?
She would be in a delicate stage. Good she applied for leave.
Now that he was here, she didn't have to worry about a thing. So that was why doctor Salunkhe wasn't teasing him…because he now was becoming the father of Tarika's child.
There was so much to do… a room had to be made – for the baby.
They had to buy clothes….but would it be a boy or a girl?
Well, he didn't care – a few extra clothes wouldn't hurt anyone, right? What would the name be? He had to discuss that with Tarika of course.
But wait, she was happy, right? He needed to see her.
They needed to…get married. Finally get married!
He had always thought of getting married to his girlfriend but never did he imagine that he would get married to his pregnant girlfriend. He imagined her – wearing a red lehenga, with bangles, mehendi and bridal make-up. She would look just like an angel. They would exchange garlands and circle the fire. He would apply vermilion on her forehead – which she would carry, everyday!
She would be his, only his. Not that she wasn't his already but their relationship would have a name – a symbol, their baby, the symbol of their love.
He needed to speak to a pandit…yes he needed to, as soon as possible. But first, he needed to speak to her.
Feeling doctor Salunkhe's constant gaze on him, he felt his cheeks flush.
"Abhijeet jaisa tum soch rahe ho waise nahi hai."
"M-matlab?"
"Tarika 3 months pregnant hai"
So… that's it for today.
Please do review : )