"rajveer sir..... I ve got this flat in noida.. And i ll preferably shift tonight..... Yaa its far away but manageable....." you go on blurting as you approach in the hallway as you find him filling a glass of water in kitchen......
Just as you turn your gaze up you get another shock of your life....
" maa.... Aap yaahan..... Aap to u.s me the na... "
You are partially terrified and part worried.....
"actually..... Kuch issues ki wajah se visa reject ho gaya.... Reapply karne me time lagega.... To socha apne baccho ke sath thoda time spend kar lun..."
"bilkul sahi kiya maa aapne...isi bahane hame bhi aap ke saath time spend karne ka mauka mil jaega... Aap mujhe thodi der pehle bata deti to me khud aapko airport se pick kar leta... Orderlie ko bhejne ke bajaye...."
You stare at him wide eyed.... Your own mother prefers to inform him over you.... About her arrival.... Now that's ironical.....
" Maa aap... Aap mujhe bhi to bata sakti thi...." You pout in disappointment...
" Beta tumne apni priorities pehle se decide kar li he.... Jammu base par tum mahino tak hame bina contact kiye reh leti thi.... To mene socha.... Ke ab pata nai shayad busy hogi.."..... Her words bite through your skin and you receive hot and cold glares from him as well.... That look of how disappointed he is....... Yaa you are a lousy daughter..... And you had drifted far apart from your family after naveen's demise ...... And perhaps..... You agreeing to marry him was the only thing that had made things normal between you and your mother.... See he comes to be a saviour here as well......
"khair koi baat nai.... Ab aa gai hu to apne beti aur damad ke saath reh lungi kuch din..."
"Maa aap yahan se kahi nai jaegi... Bacchon je hote hue kaun shaks u. S. Jane ki baaten karta he.... Aap hamare saath hi rahengi that's final..." .
Your eyes well up at his words.... He had always tried to fill in the gap created by naveen's absence in their life.... Something that you failed to do
"rajveer beta.... Ye sab baaten baad me karte he.... Pehle tum batao... Ye zyada pareshaan to nahi karti tumhe...." you stare at your mother wide eyed.....
He stares at you mischievously..... "haan pareshaan to karti he..... But koi baat nai......"
And you suddenly realize the cunning plan.... Now that your mother is here.... You 'll have to keep on this facade of being happily married to him.... For god knows how long .....
Well played..... And there you were getting all starry eyed and emotional.... About his gesture...... How can a person be so manipulative......
You glare at him not being able to decide what to say......
"beta tum dono jake freshen up ho jao.... Fir aaram se chai peete hue baat karte he..... Your mother chirped excitedly and you could not blame her..... She had suffered enormously in past years..... And now she is finally hoping that her family is complete in at least some way ...... She sees reflection of naveen in rajveer sir.....
You headed towards your room.... Just when the servant intruded..... Are madam aap ka saaman major sahab ke room me shift karwa diya kal hi.....

You glare at him until he adds .....
"wo saab ne subah kaha tha..."
Your mother was observing you from near..... And you couldn't help but add...
"wo maa.... Me parso hi aai hun wapas..... Jammu se ..."
And smile reassuring her that everything is normal between you... But you cringe inwardly.....as this was a complete stalemate.....
He had schemed brilliantly..... And you are trapped.... No wonder he is a brilliant stratergist....
You enter the room... And already find your belongings neatly arranged in a wardrobe next to his..... There was a cozy and intimate feeling that crept inside you.... Like you belong here ..... He had given you permission to glance in his personal space..... Something which is so unlike him.... And you couldn't shove down the feeling of comfort and warmth spread inside you as you inhale his fragrance..... Wait... Its his cologne..... You close your eyes and sigh.... And your gaze shifts towards him.... Standing there.... Freshly bathed ..... Towel hanging around his neck..... All you can think about his muscular body and intoxicating cologne... And he smirks..... Naughtily....
"so.... I am glad you finally gave in on the idea of shifting...."
"i didn't give in to anything.... Infact . Ma ka visa issue hote hi me yahan se chali jaungi..."....
"suit yourself.... But life is unpredictable .....and for the time being you are stuck with me ..... In this bedroom..... And technically you will be.... Every single day and night from now ....."
He hovers around you near the bathroom door.... Trapping you underneath his arms... Which were both on the door of the bathroom.. And you couldn't help but let out a sigh..... While your chest heaves... As you couldn't dare shifting your gaze up to look at him....
"you are not playing fair.... Involving my mother in this was completely off limits "
"well.... I told you earlier... That nothing's fair in a war ..... And"..... He huskily nuzzles your ear whispering.....
"i think its about time you get ready...."
"for what...." you form the question with utmost difficulty as his breath is fanning on your neck melting your insides.... And his fingers running slowly on your arms ..... All along its length.... He is torturing you.... He is evil.....
"well don't you want to pay back for all the big ass favours i did you till date.... For i am quite eager to know exactly how and when you will repay them... But for now" ....lets start with....
He aims at your lips... And you close your eyes in anxiety and anticipation..... You open your eyes to find him grinning at you.... Mischievously..... "lets not rush it...."
He smiles... And you are fuming by now .... He turns his back towards you and you gulp some air....
"which side of bed do you prefer by the way...."
You stand there jaw dropped..... At his question.... What has gotten into him.... You shake your head still looking in his direction.....
"maa app bethiye me kar deta hun..."
He tries to convince maa.... To let him brew the supper.....
"beta is ladki ko bhi kuch sikha do.." ... Isse aaj tak ek anda bhi nai ubala gaya..... Me to nahi sikha pai.... Shayad tum training de pao.... Your cheeks are puffed and you groan as you watch them working in kitchen....
"mujhe cooking aati he okay..." you wail... And they end up laughing..." Kya aati he.... Maggi..... Ya paani ubaalna... Beta use cooking nai kehte "
Your mother is no less than him.... You smell a conspiracy..... They have all teamed up against you... "raaj beta iske haath ka khana aaj tak naaven ke alawa kisi ke galr se nahi utar paya ...." she added laughing.... And you ended up chucking too
"aap fikr kyu karti he maa.... Abhi to bohot kuch sikhana baaki he.... Nai cadet singh...."
Your mother glares in amusement.... "tum log ab bhi ek dusre ko ese bulate ho...."
"nai maa wo aadat si pad gai he...."
Both of you say in unison.... And this adds up all the more to her delight....
Atleast she is happy..... And if you would admit.... You are a bit happy too... After such a long time......