Ashutosh:
"True Love never fades," I said, and Rudrani looked into my eyes.
"Ashu, Will I ever be able to give an heir to you? I am feeling comfortable in your love and hug, but I am ready to go further than this. I am spoiling your life along with mine, I am sorry."
"Rudrani, only when you think to the extremes, you become more upset. Our life is never complicated, but our unlimited wants make our life difficult. I love you and married you. Now my priority is to keep you happy forever. If you are unable to accept me forever, we can adopt a child. It's not an issue for me. If you talk about needs, I am sure if our heart is satisfied, we can control the needs of our body. Just keep all your worries aside and focus on your goal. Your success makes me happy," I said kissing her forehead.
Rudrani silently nodded, and I fed her the lunch. Later we resumed our studies, and I explained her few topics. However, I was careful not to write anything on paper while explaining her. I told her to write while I explain to hide my handwriting. Rudrani is sharp and can easily recognize my handwriting. I didn't want her to find out that I am her pen friend until I know what her opinion of him was.
I really want to know her opinion about her pen friend. Rudrani never shared about her pen friend. My friends visited me in the evening. I went to the living room asking Rudrani to study, but she said she wanted to join us. My friends looked at her but didn't speak anything recalling her reaction the last time.
"Hi everyone, I am sorry for being rude to you all the last time. I was stressed a bit that day, and I was wrong to you," Rudrani tried to explain.
"It's ok, Rudrani. No problem," Tina said.
"Yes, we can understand. It happens sometimes," Ahmed said, and Artika too smiled.
"I will bring coffee for you all," Rudrani said and brought coffee for them. They were talking to her, and I noticed her coming out of her worry zone.
I already talked to my friends, and we planned to make her feel that she is not alone. I didn't reveal her past but just told she is in trauma because of that acid attack.
"Ashu, it's boring. Let's divert our mind from this exam tension. Plan something man," Ahmed said.
"Shall we play rapid fire, it would be interesting," Tina said.
"You guys play it, I will prepare the dinner for you all," Rudrani said getting up from the sofa but Tina stopped her.
"We want you too to join us," Tina said, and Rudrani agreed.
"Okay, let's start with Rudrani as she joined our group just today and ten questions will be asked," Artika said, and we agreed.
"Okay, let's start," Ahmed said.
"What's your first impression on Ashu? Just in one word" Artika asked.
I knew the answer.
"Pervert," Rudrani said, and everyone opened their mouth wide.
"But sister, Ashu respects girls a lot, and he never misbehaved with anyone till now," Ahmed said.
"I realized later," Rudrani said looking at me. I smiled and held her hand.
"Whom do you love the most in your life?" Tina asked to Rudrani.
"Obviously our Ashu," Artika said.
"My friend," Rudrani replied.
Friend? Is it Sanjay or pen friend?
"Who is the most annoying person in your life?"
"Ashu," she said to which I was shocked.
Am I that annoying? The only one who said I am a pervert and annoying, Great.
Rudrani looked at me as if she was trying to understand my mood. I just smiled at her having no plan to hurt her.
"The only person whom you didn't want to miss in your life?" Tina asked.
"My Friend," was Rudrani's immediate reply.
"The one thing which you want to change from your past," I asked.
"Our marriage," Rudrani said making me almost angry.
"The time you want to erase from your life," Artika asked.
"When Ashu yelled at me and made me feel in secured. I want to erase those few days of pain from my life," Rudrani answered closing her eyes controlling the tears that were about to come from her eyes even now if she remembers that incident.
All her previous answers stunned me, but this answer surprised me to know how that incident affected her. Rudrani was upset recalling the days where our hearts moved away from one another though we stayed together under the single roof. Noticing the presence of a person is quite common, but the absence of a person can be felt only when they matter to us. I embraced my love into a side hug, and unintentionally my eyes fell on Artika who was burning with jealousy. I have nothing to do with her jealous, so I held my wife carefully in my hug assuring Rudrani that situation would never arise in our life one more time.
"Who is that first person to whom you were ever grateful to?" Ahmed asked this time.
"My friend!"
"What was the incident that you never want to forget and feel blessed about it?" Tina asked.
"Getting a letter from my friend when all my dreams were shattered," Rudrani said.
So, I guess Rudrani was speaking about pen friend but not about Sanjay. It's a small relief for now.
"What is your biggest dream in your life?" I asked.
"To become the best cardiothoracic surgeon," Rudrani replied.
"Wow, that's great yet tough. Even Ashu has a goal of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon," Ahmed said.
"Rudrani, I will ask the last question. If you have to choose only one person in your life between Ashu and your so-called friend, whom will you choose?"
Rudrani looked at me without replying.
"I mean if they both were in some danger, then God appeared before you and gave you a chance to keep one person alive from Ashu and your friend, who was that one person you choose?" Artika changed her question.
Damn it! Why does this girl want to make Rudrani struggle?
"Enough, it's time to wind up the game. Let's have dinner first. Rudrani, come let's prepare dinner for all of us," I said.
"It's last question Ashu, let's wait till your beloved wife answers," Artika said.
"I said it's enough and....." Before I complete my words, I heard Rudrani's words.
"I choose to keep my friend alive," Rudrani answered and left the room without even looking at me.