"When you wake up holding your heartbeats in your embrace, is definitely the best morning ever.."

~•~•~•~•~

It was an usual morning in Panchghani. The middle aged roly - poly milkman, humming a Marathi tune to the half asleep town, rode his bicycle carrying drums of milk, through the lonesome hilly allies, nodding occasionally at the movers and packers at the gates of farms, whom he knew by faces. The sun rays piercing through the morning fog, reducing the chill of the milkman's body, little birds chirping in the trees and flying over the heads alone or in flocks led him to the most beautiful and mysterious manor. He was never much lucky to see the owner, but he heard that he was an young man, and an artist. He rolled out his lower lip, exactly how much money can be made by painting??

He always got terrifying and mysterious vibes from the whole place. It was beautiful, but gloomy and ghostly, more like a haunted house, radiating sadness and loneliness. The whole place seemed devoid of any human being except when he was attended at the gate by the head of the servants. He knew it because, even if he was in black suit like other servants, everybody called him sir. He looked too boyish to be able to control the whole house's chores.

'Wait.', the milkman halted at his tracks.

Taking out a note of thousand, he offered it to the milkman, 'our master got married, get some sweets for you.'

'Thank you sir! My best wishes for your master and mistress!', the milkman grinned widely, actually the people here were good. They always gave him tips during all annual celebrations. Just, they didn't like mingling with neighborhood.

He hopped out, and Dandi sighed harshly closing the door. We also wish that our best wishes can finally bring happiness to master's life..

*****

Nobody can sleep while being watched. So couldn't Omkara. Opening his eyes, he met with a pair of big hazel orbs looking back at him, and there was fear? in them. The enchanting eyes blinked to be covered under thick, luscious curtain of lashes, breaking his trance, and he remembered their epic marriage. Concentrating at her hair, he saw his blood, turned into a blackish red streak, dry.

His heartbeat skyrocketed when he felt how near she was to his. Her delicate body was wrapped ever so tightly in his muscles, her tiny palms wrapped unsuccessfully on his biceps, their legs entangled.. Seemingly a typical happy aftermath morning.

The mere sight of her looking up at him from his chest like the little girl he used to adore, made his heart flutter again in the strange happy pain. He lowered his lips to her forehead, kissing her there lovingly.

She blinked rapidly. He was acting strangely from the last night. He hadn't spoken to her except barking orders. She shuddered at the memory when she was compelled to strip, that was a hard blow on her dignity. Tears pooled at once in her large eyes.

She is crying, his eyebrows twitched in concern, why? He bent again, his lips lightly dabbed over her closed eyelids, wiping away her tears. Freeing her from his hold he stood up, and entered the attached bath, leaving Gauri to contemplate the whole series of incidents from last night.

Coming out, he saw Gauri, still sitting on the floor, like a statue, her eyes emotionless like a those of a fish and hands fidgeting with the end of her flimsy lacy silk nightwear.

He pressed his lips and cleared his throat. Startled, she looked up at him, a towel around his hip, droplets of water dripping down from his locks, through his rippling muscles, dissolving into each other. Looking down at her lap quickly she stood up. Taking another towel from his hand, she rushed in the bathroom, slamming the door close behind, without glancing at him for twice.

After taking a cool bath, she came out to collide with Bhavya.

'Good morning Mrs. Oberoi', Bhavya teased, but soon clamped her mouth shut after receiving a glare from Gauri.

'Ohkay, okay, get ready soon, its your pehli rasoi today. Master is waiting for a full course breakfast of your hands', she took out a simple yet elegant saree, rhinestones etched on rose gold chiffon and a Chinese collared blouse embedded with rhinestones.

Wearing the clothes and a pair of matching earrings, she descended to the kitchen. She had to cook for just two of them. Looking around the kitchen, she stepped before the giant refrigerator. The appointed cook came up,

'Do you need any helping hand missus?'

'No. Thank you.', she replied politely with a soft smile and started rummaging through the tightly packed shelves of the refrigerator, looking for ingredients.

*****

Omkara was tapping his fingertips on the glass top of the dining table and glancing at the wall clock. It was fifteen minutes more to wait for the breakfast. He was remembering when his father visited, she made different types of fries.. What would she make today?? He wondered.

A light click on the floor made him snap out of his musing. She stood there holding a tray and wait. What the smell was of?? Arabiata?

She silently placed the tray and left to bring to other trays. Before opening the lids, she announced,

'Pasta Arabiata', she opened the lid of the largest tray, revealing the delicious Italian gift.

'Strawberry crush for drink', she removed the cloth over two glasses of pink beverage, decorated with straws and pieces of fresh strawberries.

'And, chocolate hazelnut mousse as dessert', she removed another cloth to reveal two wine glasses filled with froths of different shades of brown, garnished with chocolate cigars and crushed almond.

'Hmm', he acknowledged.

She served them for two and they finished their breakfast in silence. He just got up and left for an exhibition, without even glancing at her, complementing or commenting on her culinary thus far set.

She pressed her lips in a thin line and flared her nostrils while starting at his retreating figure.

'Sadu! Akdu! Jatadhari! Hippie!!', she stormed in her room. And, just then her mobile buzzed. Taking the phone hastily, she stared at the caller ID with a frown. It read,

Rudy😎

Some khichdi is brewing up.. 🤔🤔

After these hectic days of continuous violence and nasty surprises, I guess you deserved a clam and cute chapter. But look at devil me, I couldn't help myself to put a twist at the end.. 😅😅

Can anybody explain me why is my Omki behaving so strange lately? Has he taken maun vrat?? Maybe..🤔

Happy reading!
With love,
Sarani.