" Kya main andar aau?"
Purvi asked as she stood on the door step of Kalpana.
" Arey beta, puch kyu rahi ho? Aao na." Kalpana smiled.
Purvi entered inside and extended a small bowl to her.
" Suji ka halwa banaya hai, socha aap ko khila du. Aap ne itni help jo ki hai aaj hamari." Purvi smiled.
Kalpana reached out for a spoon from the metal rack of utensils.
" Actually ekdm simple banaya hai. Bas dudh, suji aur shakkar daali hai. Dry fruits ya phir khoya nahi dala hai." Purvi told a little hesitant.
" Tumhare toh haathon mein hi swaad hai, beta. Dry fruits aur khoya ki koyi zarurat nahi hai." Kalpana assured her in regards of the taste.
Next Purvi stopped at the south indian residence. She knocked before Madhavi and Murthi acknowledged her presence.
" Ayyo Purvi?" Madhvi smiled, looking up from the book she read.
" Can I come in for a minute, aunty?" Purvi asked..
" Most welcome, Kanna." Murthi was quick to reply.
" Uncle, aunty aap dono ke liye halwa laayi hu. Kha ke batana haan kaisa laga. Actually I'm still learning to cook." Purvi admitted shyly.
" I see. Hum bhi tum ko ek din Payssam bana ke taste karata hai. You will love it." Madhavi stated, enthusiastically.
" Payssam?" Purvi questioned.
" Woh humara south indian sweet dish hai." Murthi cleared her confusion.
" Oh. Pakka khilana." Purvi nodded.
" Ab main chalti hu. Kavin ghar pe wait kar raha hoga."
The girl took their leave as she returned her home.
" Such a sweet child na, Madhu?" Murthi glanced at his wife.
" Ekdm correct bola tum, inippu pen sweet girl." Madhvi smiled warmly.
Purvi was on her way back to home when she saw a woman in her late thirties, unlocking the door of her room. Being civil, Purvi thought of introducing herself to the newly found neighbour.
" Hello, Main Purvi hu. Aaj hi yaha aayi hu rehne."
" Toh? Main kya karu?" The lady tossed her warm greetings right in the bin.
To say that Purvi wasn't surprised by her snide remark would be false. Who on earth greets like that? Still, being the bigger person that Purvi was, she continued.
" Aap halwa khayengi? Main laau?" She asked.
" Mujhe meetha pasand nahi." The neighbour replied.
" Haan. Woh toh dikh hi raha hai." Purvi chuckled to herself.
" Kuch kaha tum ne?"
Purvi shoook her head in no before the lady went inside slamming the door quiet hard.
" Ajeeb hai." Purvi mumbled.
" Woh Resham didi hai."
Purvi saw a young girl approaching her with a backpack hanging low from her shoulder.
" Oh by the way, I'm Noor." The girl introduced herself.
" Hello Noor, I'm Purvi. Aaj hi aye hain hum yaha rehne." Purvi answered back, warmly.
" Oh, I See. Lekin hum matlab?" Noor asked.
" Matlab main aur mere husband." Purvi answered.
" Tum married ho? Congrats yaar!" Noor smiled warmly at her.
" Haha. Tum se mil ke bohot accha laga, Noor. Ek dost mil gayi mujhe." Purvi voiced her joy..
" Mujhe bhi. Waise yaha sab acche hain. Daadi, Murthi uncle aur Madhu aunty, bas inn Resham didi ko chod ke." Noor made a face at the last name.
"Resham didi? Kyu?" Purvi asked.
" Woh toh main baad mein fursat se bataungi tumhe. Filhaal toh abhi abhi college ttrip se aayi hu. Jaake bas so jaungi." A yawn escaped her mouth.
" Haan. Aur agar kuch chahiye ho toh mujhe batana haan." Purvi told her.
" Dude, yeh toh mujhe tumhe kehna chahiye." Noor joked.
" Jao jaake aram karo. Lekin tumhara khana?" Purvi asked.
" Don't worry, friends ke sath bahar hi dinner kiya hai." Noor assured her before heading to her room.
Purvi returned to her home only to see her husband serving the food for both of them. She smiled before closing the door behind her.
" Arey wah, abhi tak hamari shaadi ko ek mahina bhi nahi hua aur tum abhi se meri itni seva kar rahe ho?" Purvi teased as she sat next to him.
" Kya karu? Murthi uncle ne mujhe alert jo kar diya. Abhi seva nahi karunga toh budhape mein tum meri taraf dekhogi bhi nahi."
Kavin's reply threw his wife in immense laughter. He smiled seeing her laughing her heart out, at the same time the fact that his Purvi was so graceful, so positive about everything yet so simple, amazed him. He married this girl, brighter than the moon. As vibrant as a butterfly and yet so serene like the nature.
Damn he was head over heels for her.
" Bohot has liya ab khana khao." Kavin told her, shy over the limit.
" Wapas kehna jara? Murthi uncle ne kya kaha?" Purvi teased him.
" Kuch nahi." He felt embarrased.
" Aise kaise kuch nahi? Woh kya kaha tha tum ne? Budhape mein-"
" Purvi.."
The newly married couple had their dinner with Purvi constantly making fun of Kavin. He did feel like he making a fool of himself in front of Purvi, but eventually he was fine even with being the fool as long as his Purvi was smiling.
After finishing with all the chores, Purvi made the bed for both of them. Kavin was off to take a small walk. Purvi placed a mat over the floor and covered it with a warm bedsheet, pillows were placed neatly over along with a single blanket. She changed into a comfortable cotton dress as Kavin returned home.
" Purvi?" He called her before locking the door.
" Aayi." She replied, sliding the curtain aside that separated kitchen and rest of the room.
"Ice cream?" Kavin offered her a cornetto ice cream, making her smile wide.
" Thank you so much." She gladly took the ice cream.
Both of them settled down on the mat before unwrapping the cones.
" Kal ek do interviews ke liye jaane wala hu. Subeh time pe utha dena ha please." Kavin told her.
" Bilkul. Main bhi jaane wali hu. Kuch banks mein vacancy hai, wahan kaam bann sakta hai mera." She smiled.
" Bann sakta hai nahi, bann hi jayega. Tum itni intelligent ho, Purvi. Tumhare rejection ke chances bohot rare hai." The husband stated, proudly.
" Tumhe yaad hai, college mein jab placement shuru thi tab main kitni nervous thi interview se pehle?" She chuckled to the memory.
" Aur main kitna relaxed tha." Kavin boasted.
" Isiliye select nahi hue the." Purvi laughed, nudging him.
" Excuse me? Ab unn logo ko apne company mein ekdm serious employees hi chahiye the toh meri kya galti? Waise bhi uss wakt mujhe job karne ki jarurat nahi thi." Kavin explained.
" Lekin abhi hai. Hum dono ko job ki bohot jarurat hai, toh kal acche se interview dena, samjhe?"
Kavin wrapped an arm around his lover before leaning to her side.
" Hamesha mujhe lecture deti rehti ho." He mumbled.
" Kya kare, tumhe hamesha sambhalne ki jarurat padti hai. Bacche jo ho." Purvi placed a tender hand over his cheeks.
Their faces being just inches apart, Purvi glanced at her husband who was too indulged in the proximity they shared. The cones were kept aside to melt without being bothered about them as Purvi closed the petty distance between them as she kissed him soft on his lips.
What started as a soft, tender gesture of love took no time to become passionate as Kavin's hands found their own ways to explore Purvi's body. Purvi was more willing to let it go further than Kavin. All she knew that time was to express her love to her the man she loved so truly.
Her hand ran from his nape as she pulled him closer to herself, Kavin allowed her to tower him before he pulled off her duppata to keep it aside. His lips left a trail of soft kisses over her neck which she didn't mind at all.
The girl was so willing to engage her husband in herself and make him litreally crazy for her, that she took hold of his hand and guided it to her back, where the zip of her dress was.
Surprisingly, Kavin's kisses stopped the very moment he felt her intentions of him unzipping her dress. He immediately drew his hand away from her back.
" Kya hua?" Purvi's eyes depicted confusion with a hint of sadness.
" Yaha se aagey hum abhi nahi jaa sakte." Kavin told her, calm as an ocean.
" Kyu? n-nahi jaa sakte? Koyi problem hai hamare beech?" Purvi was so vulnerable.
" Nahi nahi. Waisi koyi baat nahi hai, Purvi. Tum please galat matt samjho." Kavin assured her before cupping her face.
" Toh phir?" She questioned.
Kavin exhaled faintly before holding both of her hands in his.
" Dekho Purvi, main bhi yeh karna chahta hu. Lekin yeh wakt aur halaat dono sahi nahi hai iss sab ke liye. Mujhe tumhe hamare apne ghar mein le jaana hai. Acche se settle hona hai. Ek baar woh ho jaye, phir main tumhe bilkul nahi tokunga." He explained.
Purvi took a moment to let everything sink in before smiling understandingly. Kavin handed her the almost molten ice cream as they spoke about random things.
Finally, both of them laid down with the blanket over them. Purvi's back faced Kavin as she changed side. Kavin could still feel the little disappointment of not getting what she wanted hidden in Purvi's heart.
Purvi felt a hand snaking over her waist as her husband hugged her from behind, leaving no distance between them.
" Maine yeh toh nahi kaha ki hum kiss nahi kar sakte." He whispered in her ear.
A small chuckle left her mouth before she rolled over to get on top of him as they started kissing each other all over again.
One thing was clear in Purvi's mind, that she married the right man.
Next morning, Purvi woke on top of a shirtless Kavin, wrapped in his arms. She checked the time in her phone and decided to start her day. She separated herself from him before tying her messed up hair in a bun. Straightening her clothes, she left Kavin sleeping and headed to washroom.
" Purvi, meri shirt select kar do na."
Kavin called out from washroom, Purvi smiled and turned off the gas stove before reaching out to cupboard. She went through some of his shirts and then finally picked up a sky blue shirt for him.
He came out of the washroom wearing formal grey pants and a white baniyan while drying his wet hair with the towel.
" Yeh dekho, aaj yeh shirt pehno tum." Purvi handed him the shirt.
" Nice. Tumhara selection hamesha kamal ka hota hai." Kavin complimented.
" Pata hai. Ghumo."
Kavin turned around as Purvi helped him with the shirt. He folded the sleeves while she buttoned his shirt.
" Accha Kavin.. " Purvi mumbled.
" Hmm?" He asked.
" Dekhte hai aaj pehle kisko job milti hain." Purvi smiled under breath.
" Accha?" He raised an eye brow.
" Haan. Kyu? Darr gaye?" She teased.
" Darta toh main kisi se nahi hu. I'm in. Bas kahi tum matt haar jaana." Kavin was quick to reply.
" Haan haan. dekh lenge."
" Waise tum kab jaa rahi ho interview ke liye?" He questioned.
" Main tumhare baad nikalungi. Mera time bara baje ka hai na." Purvi answered, bringing out some breads from kitchen.
Kavin stood in front of the mirror and started doing his hair.
" Chalo aa karo." Purvi told him as she fed him some jam coated breads while he got ready.
" Bas bas, Purvi. Pet bhar gaya." Kavin said, as he grabbed his bag.
" Very good. Accha hua maine hi tumhe khila diya, warna jaldi jaldi mein tum bhuke pet hi chale jaate."
" Haan. Accha ab main chalta hu."
" Arey Ruko Ruko..."
Purvi jogged out of the kitchen carrying a bowl.
" Dahi shakkar khate jao."
Purvi offered him a spoonful of sweet yougurt and kissed gently on his cheek.
" All the best, Kavin." She wished.
" All the best to you too, Purvi." He wished her back with a sweet kiss as well.
.
.
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A/N : That was some major editing! GENTLEMAN'S PROMISE HAS BEEN UPDATED, CHECK IT OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!
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