Finally at home – he thought…

Enough with the run-away business – now no more running away – a peaceful life with his beautiful bride finally! He looked at her with the corner of his eyes while unlocking the door. Her face was not visible now, as her head was lowered.

Oh! How badly he wanted to see her face now – right at this very moment. He wanted to read her mind through her eyes as he always does… He wanted to feel the same excitement, or peace or love or … He did not know what exactly he was feeling – actually it was a flood of emotions he thought. He knew she was deliberately doing this to him – she always does. Whenever she feels something very special, she hides her face from him – as if she enjoys when he feels like this. He gulped down the big sigh which was almost inevitable! Tit for tat – he thought, now this time he would not allow her to guess his feelings!

In the meantime the door got opened (as we all know, no door would take this much of time to open!) –

"Abhijeet – Kya soch rahe ho? Andar nahi chaloge?" – Tarika's voice pulled him back from his pool of thoughts.

He looked at her – now her face was directly in front of him – her sparling eyes met his deep browns… A moment melted…

They both entered the house almost unknowingly, Abhijeet turned around to close the door – but before he could say or even think he felt a hot touch on his lips! God! It was not at all a gentle smooth one – he could feel the heat…

His hands automatically came up and held her eve more tightly. Their eyes were closed but they could feel each other's bright face filled with so much of emotion – Abhijeet felt her delicate fingers inside his hair – even at that sensuous moment her gentle caressing soothed him…

They finally broke apart after several miutes –

"Tarika!" at last he was able to exclaim. His hands were still around her waist holding her tightly near himself!

Tarika: (looking at him) Ummmmmm?

Abhijeet: (smiling) what was it?

Tarika: (a little pink gathered in her cheeks) A Welcome Home present, kya kehte ho?

Abhijeet: Whoa! (Pulling her even more closely) waisey yeh welcome home ka present to mujhe dena chahiye tha, nahi? (Pecked her cheek) Chaliye –ab aap ko humare ghar dikhate hai –

Tarika nodded in agreement. She was still well protected in his arms – she wanted to feel each and every drop of warmth of his presence… Who says reality is full of pain and tears! Rather to her reality is nothing but a collection of moments – moments like this…

"So yeh raha humara hall cum drawing cum dining room" – she came into reality with his charming voice.

Tarika: haan Abhi – mujhe pata hai – main pehli baar thodi ayi hun –

Abhijeet: Are you sure?

Traika got his point! Yah – its true that she came here many times even before – but every time then as a friend or as a colleague – she always came to Abhijeet's house – not in Her Home (Do not consider the half an hour visit of this house just after their marriage)!

Abhijeet: Aur yeh raha kitchen –

Tarika: (laughing) Yaar – ab tum mujhe yeh kitchen at least naa hi dikhao to behtar hai – ab pichle 5 saalon mein at least iss kitchen ka naksha to mujhe pata chal chukka hai –

Abhijeet lowered his head with a cute shy smile! Did she ever noticed how cute he could be before!

Tarika: Abhi – tum aise haste rahogey na, to bohot problem ho jayega –

Abhijeet: (confused) Matlab?

Tarika: (Pulled his cheek) you're too cute to resist – (naughty smirk)

Abhijeet: Aaj mood kuch zyada romantic nahi ho raha hai madam ka!

Tarika: (making herself comfortable in the sofa) Aa ha! Indeed! Sangat ka asar –

Abhijeet: Acha? Thik hai – (sitting very close to her) to baki ka sair baad mein karein?

Tarika flung her hands around his neck – and nodded softly.

Abhijeet smiled and gently started caressing her hair.

Abhijeet: (softly) Kya baat hai Tarika? Hmmm?

Tarika shockingly looked at him –

Abhijeet: Tumhe itna to main samjhta hun…. Tum kuch kehna chahti ho – kuch feel kar rahi ho – wo bata do Tarika –

Tarika's eyes started to welling up –

Tarika: (almost like a monologue) Pata hai Abhijeet, jab se hum bureau se laute hai, ek ajeeb sa dard ho raha hai, meri parents kyu nahi samajhte ki meri sari khushiyaan sirf aur sirf tum mein hai? Tumhe pata hai, main tumse kyun kaha ki hum bureau to zaroor jayenge par mera ghar nahi? Kyun ki Mummy ne kahi thi main tumhare saath kabhi khush nahi reh paungi!

Abhijeet: But Tarika – who maa hai tumhari – unhe haq hai tuhari fiqr karne ka –

Tarika: Abhi please – bolne do mujhe – main manti hun ki unhe haq hai – par kya unhe yeh haq nahi ki wo mere khushi ki bhi parwa karein! Yeh soche ke mai kis mein khush reh paungi! Aur ek insaan ka asli parichay to unka aaj mein hai – uski honesty, love for people, dedication kya yeh sab qualities kuch bhi nahi? Kya samaj apni beti ki jeevan se zyada important hota hai?

Abhijeet: Phir bhi Tarika – unka chinta bhi to jayaz hai –

Tarika: (strongly) Nahi Abhi – bas iss baat pe mujhe kabhi insist mat karna- (teary deep tone) Tum kya ho, kaisa ho – yeh lekar main kisi se bhi behes karke humare iss rishtey ko insult nahi karungi – (hugging him tightly) just be with me Abhi, please?

Abhijeet: (kissing her forehead) I won't force you about anything… tum khush rehna – mere liye utna hi kaafi hai – (in a jovial tone to lighten the mood) Ab baki ka ghar bhi dekh le? Warna tumhare paas zyada time nahi aise "private tour" ke liye!

Tarika: (confused) Tum kahi jaa rahe ho?

Abhijeet: Nahi – main to kahin nahi jaa raha hun – par wo darwaza tod personality kabhi bhi "darwaza todke" na sahi, par kholke zaroor aa jayega!

Tarika burst into laughter!

Tarika: Abhijeet! Tum bhi na!

Abhijeet: (mock serious tone) Arre – tumhe Mazak lag raha hai kya? Sach mein! Wo room dekho – bedroom ke opposite mei – wo kiska room pata hai?

Tarika simply nodded as NO – as she never went that side of the house before…

Abhijeet: (pulling her by her wrist) Chalo, dikhata hun –

Abhijeet took her in front of thet door – it was locked, and there was a note pasted on it –

NO ENTRY

WITHOUT PERMISSION

DANGER!

This time Tarika started laughing hysterically.

Tarika: (still laughing) Daya ne sach mein ye note lagaya! God!

Abhijeet: Aur wo pata hai kyu? Taki janab jab soye "koi" usse disturb na karein! Pata nahi, wo khud ka ghar ka rent khamkha kyu bharta hai!

Tarika: (smiling) jo bhi ho – wo hai bohot pyara –

Abhijeet: haan – wo to hai- (now turning towards their room) aur yeh hai –

Tarika: Pata hai – pehle bhi aa chuki hun – (meaningfully) andar chalein?

Just whn they were about to enter the room the doorbell rang.

Abhijeet made a "lo ho gaya" face. Tarika smile while running to open the door.

As soon as she opened the door she found Daya stood there smiling broadly.

Daya: Kya yaar! Shaadi kar li matlab dost ko bhul gayi kya? Aur wo janab ka bhi pata nahi –

Tarika: Dayaaa -

Daya: Kya Daya – kab se bell baja raha hun – par kisi ka koi pata hi nahi – (naughtily) romance mein itnaaa busy –

Tarika: (even more naughtily) Haan haan – ab agar koi romantic time pe bell bajayega – to thoda bhugatna bhi to padega –

Daya laughed.

Daya: Chalo yaar – andar to aane do –

So they began their new journey – something definitely changed – but there are few things which never change actually…

Life flows in its own way, it shows us both happiness and pain – but as it is said that – life is not only about the "happy ending" or "sad ending" – it's all about the journey altogether.

A/N: My story ends here only – as the new couple is not new any more – and this story was only about the "wedding"…

But "their story" does not end here… they continued their journey of life with more love and joy.

With Love,

AbhiRikaFan