Rudrani PoV:
We returned home. I am arranging my stuff in wardrobe.
"May I help you love?" Ashutosh asked.
"No No, I can manage" I said.
"Sir, I want to ask you something" I asked in low voice.
He looked around.
"With whom are you talking sweet heart?"
"With you"
"Oh, I thought you are talking to someone else as you said sir"
"Sweet heart,usually my family and friends calls me as Ashu" he said
"But I can't sir" I said slowly.
"I remember you calling me as Ashu once in hospital. Please call me Ashu once again. I want to hear my name from your mouth, it sounds so good, please" he said
He kept his face as if he is requesting me. I rehearsaled his name in my mind.
"As.. Hu" I said in very low voice.
"Ashu not As.. Hu" he teased.
"Ashu" I said.
"Wow that sounds more beautiful than I expected" he said excitedly.
"From now, call me as Ashu" he said cupping my face and I nodded.
"Now tell me what you want to tell me?"
"Shall I continue my job in your hospital? Actually I want to work. I asked to mom and dad (Ashu's parents) in the morning but they told to take your permission saying you didn't want me to work" I said
"First of all it's our hospital. Second thing is never ask my permission for anything that you love to do. Informing me is enough. However, I didn't want you to work because I didn't want you to get stressed with your studies and job. If your reason for continuing job is just money and fees, I can assure you that everything will be taken care by me from now. So no worries. But still if you love to work and think you can manage both study and job without getting strained, it's all upto you" he said.
"Thank you. But the problem is not only my fees but my family too. I need to work because that salary helps my family. As a daughter, I have responsibility towards my family" I said.
"But they don't love you"
"But I love them"
"Fine, I will take care of that too. We will send some money every month to them though I don't think they deserve your love and concern"
"No Ashu" I said it suddenly and he smiled looking at me.
"Whenever you call my name, our conversation becomes more interesting my love" he said.
"I want to help my parents with my earnings, so I prefer to work"
"That's ok.But you have to quit the job whenever you feel you are getting strained due to job and study. I will take care of rest of the things" he said and I nodded.
He got a call and he went to balcony to talk. He returned after few minutes.
"Rudrani, friends are asking party for our marriage"
"Oh"
"Can you come with me to pub?" He asked in a low voice.
"What? Pub? I.. I.. Don't like" I said, almost shouted.
He came near to me and held my hands.
"My dear sweet heart, when I am there, you no need to scare for anything. But, if you are really uncomfortable and didn't like to come to pub, I am not going to force you" he said softly.
I don't know why but his behaviour and words are so sweet and loving. I felt happy for a moment thinking may be I am lucky to have him as my husband. But, immediately my conscience warned me to be careful as it's not safe to trust a person that easily.
"Ok, leave it. Come and sit on bed once. I brought a gift for you" he said.
I sat on bed.
"Keep your feet on bed"
I nodded and kept feet on bed. He held my foot and I got shocked.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Wait a minute my love" he said and took something from his pocket.
He opened his hand and kept anklets to my feet. They are very beautiful. Seeing them I understood that they are diamond anklets.
"Ashu, this is very expensive gift
"Ashu, this is very expensive gift. Please I can't take it" I said.
"Please accept these anklets as a token of my love for you. They are just as delicate and rare as you. You are beautiful in ways you can't imagine. You are very precious to me than anything in this world" he said and kissed my ankles which had beautiful anklets.
I closed my eyes with blush. I didn't know why but I love the way he is treating me as if I am so special. Few tear drops appeared in my eyes.
"Hey are you fine? I mean did I hurt you by any means?" He asked
"No, it's just, I don't know"
"It's ok. Do you prefer coffee?"
I nodded.
"I will bring for us"
"No no I will do it"
"Arey my dear love, why are you being as a typical wife who do everything by herself and treats husband as a king?"
Because that's what mom taught me.
"Look, I love you. I love you so much. I want to do everything for you. You are my princess" he said.
I smiled at his words. He brought coffee for us. We decided to go to hospital. He said he will drop me in hospital and will go to home as he had record work to complete. He dropped me at hospital.
"Sweet heart, your shift will be completed by 3 am, right?"
"Yes"
"Ok fine, I will come to pick you at that time. Don't come alone at that late hours"
"Usually I used wait till 6 am and then start to home. Please don't disturb your sleep for me. I will come after 6"
"How can I sleep without you baby?" He said huskily.
I gulped out of shock and he laughed at once making me pout.
"You look so cute whenever you blush. Don't worry, I am not of that kind who forces wife" he said.
"If you come at 6 am, you have to go to college by 9 am. So, you can't sleep. It's not good for health. I will pick you after the shift. Till then take care of my beautiful and innocent wife" he said and went off.
I was discussing a case with my senior when a courier came on my name. I was stunned because no one knows that I work here. There is a greeting card wishing me happy married life. Then I saw a letter with the same beautiful handwriting.
Hi friend,
Am happy that your problem got solved and now you got married. You must be very scared as the marriage took place in such circumstances all of a sudden. But I want to assure you that the one who tied the knot will see you as the apple of his eyes. So just give yourself and this marriage a chance. This is your new beginning and now don't think about your past. I know you will be happy than you were ever. All the best.
From,
Your Friend"
The messaged soothed me and gave me the feeling that whatever happens is always only for our good. I immersed myself in work and waited for Ashu after conpleting the shift. Slowly I felt sleepy and slept keeping my head on table by sitting in my chair. I felt someone calling me. I understood it's Ashu. I acted as if I am asleep.
"Hey sweety, wake up. Let's go home. You can sleep comfortably" he said.
I didn't open my eyes. In the next moment, he lifted me in his hands surprising me. He took me to car and kept me in seat very carefully. Then he drove to home. He again took me to home in his arms and placed me on bed. He removed my watch, chain and sandals. He covered me with a comforter. Sound of his foot steps indicated that he is going away. I held his wrist.
He looked at me smiling.
"Good night my love" he said.
"I didn't sleep" I said.
"I know but I loved it" he said making me blush.
"Sleep here" I said averting my gaze from him.
"You won't be comfortable, I will sleep in couch"
"No it's uncomfortable to sleep there. Sleep here, I trust you" I said.