The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 31

The moment he sat down on the chair, Nishant saw a well-laid out table with almost of all his favourite vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. He looked at Aparna and gestured her to sit down.

“Would you tell what’s all this?” he asked looking at her with adoration.

“Well, there’s Hyderabad Mutton Biryani and Shahi Chicken Korma in non-veg. Then, this is Tadka Dal, Shahi Malai Kofta and hand-made chapattis. There’s also a special dish for you right at the end,” she said looking pleased to see his happy surprised expression.

She got up from her chair and served him first with dal, kofta and a chapatti. Spooning some for her, she was about to get up for the lime juice when Lakshman came with jug and poured it in their individual glasses.

“You have outdone yourself today, Lakshman. I never really knew you could cook all this,” Nishant said smiling at him.

Smiling sheepishly, Lakshman first looked at Aparna and then at Nishant.

“Bhaiya, I am not the chef today. Didi has done everything.”

Nishant flicked his gaze with amazement at Aparna, who was looking everywhere other than at him. Leaning against the chair, he kept on looking at this wonderful person and felt moved by her loving gesture.

“Look at me.”

She raised her eyelids and he was lost. He didn’t need any proof that she loved him. Everything in her eyes said it all. Not able to control it anymore, he clutched her hand in his and squeezed it tightly.

Aparna felt the warmth of his palm all the way to her toes. She tore off a piece of chapatti and took some of the kofta, and offered him the morsel.

Nishant did not know what to do for it was the first time somebody had actually gone to this extent for him. Uncontrollably, he took the morsel in his mouth and different flavours exploded in his mouth. But, he only felt one thing: Aparna’s fingertips touching his lips. The taste of her skin mingled with the aroma of the food she had prepared engulfed his senses.

“How’s it?” she asked biting her lip.

Too choked up to speak, he just nodded, and then said clearing his throat, “It’s really good.”

Silently they started to eat and finally, Nishant leaned against the chair after one hour, too full to even speak. All during the meal, he had only managed to utter not more than two or three words as he was busy savouring the delights she had presented. After a long time, his stomach was full but his craving to eat more was not satisfied.

Aparna looked at him and felt happy. Even though his eyes were closed, but the contented smile on his lips was enough to tell her that she hadn’t failed in her attempts. She was still looking at his smiling face when a small knock on the terrace door interrupted her reverie.

Nishant opened his eyes and saw her talking with Lakshman. Now, what is she up to?

“Aparna?”

“Close your eyes,” she commanded.

Nishant couldn’t help but smile. Slowly, he got up from the chair and stood behind her.

Aparna peaked behind and saw him standing with closed eyes. Taking the bowl from the tray, she came and stood in front of him.

“Open your mouth.”

He did as commanded and felt something cold on a spoon entering his mouth. But, as the taste of his favourite sweet dish spread through, his eyes opened wide.

“Meethi Dahi (sweet curd)!” he said with joy.

Aparna nodded and laughed hard as he took the bowl from her.

“Mmmmmm!” he exclaimed as finished spoon after spoon.

Suddenly turning towards her, he enquired, “How did you know all these were my favourites?”

“Just the way you came to know that rajnigandhas were my favourite flowers.”

“I called up Madhu,” Nishant said smiling sheepishly.

“And I checked with Dhruv.”

Realising their own efforts, they both erupted with uncontrollable laughter.

Once they were finished with dessert, they waited for Lakshman to clear the table. The moment he was gone, Nishant dragged her towards him.

“I don’t think thank you is going to be enough for what you have done. But, I will still say it. Thank you so much for all this. Nobody has ever done anything like this before.”

Aparna looked at him strangely not quite understanding what he meant. He had a huge family, all of whom loved him. Then?

“You must be wondering why I am saying this?” he said letting her go.

When Aparna did not reply, he turned away from her and walked towards the boundary of the terrace.

“I am told that when I was born, I looked exactly like my dad when he was born: so much so that my Dadu (grandfather) couldn’t resist staying away from me. Gradually, he took over my upbringing. I always used to yearn for my mom to come and hug me as she did with my brother, but somehow, that never happened. Even dad kept his distance.”

Nishant turned towards her and shook his head as he narrated his childhood days. It was either dadu or the maid who was with him to take care of his daily needs. He had never really stayed in his mom and dad’s house. It had always been his grandfather’s place in Chattarpur for him.

When he was a child he had loved it but gradually as he grew up, he had started to feel lonely. The only time he had felt good was when in school. Dhruv had been his friend since kindergarten so; he had shared everything with him. And, then came the ill-fated year when he lost the one and only person he loved the most.

Closing his eyes, he remembered the day his grandfather had passed away when he was only fourteen. Lonely and heartbroken, he had wanted to turn towards his parents but hadn’t.

“Mom and dad had tried to take me home but by that time I had become used to fending for myself. I somehow managed to convince my dad to enrol me in a boarding school. The only painful part was leaving Dhruv. But after sometime he also convinced his dad and got into the same school. We went to college together and that’s where I met Siddharth, and became good friends. Then, Siddharth and I went to study management and Dhruv completed his law degree.”

Aparna looked at him and saw a lonely boy growing up craving for love and attention but getting none. She wanted to hug him tight but resisted as she understood that this was the first time Nishant was opening his heart.

“I sold the Chattarpur property when I was in college and bought my own apartment. Dad actually had protested, which I never really understood why, but gave in later.”

Sighing, he again turned towards her and said in a rueful tone, “So, that’s all about me. Now, you know everything about me.”

Aparna bit her lip and went to him.

“I am sorry.”

Nishant looked at her with surprise and then realised why she was apologising. Smiling he cupped her face in his palms and said, “Don’t say sorry. You have done nothing wrong. You know I have never actually wanted anything for myself. But, you are the first. I want you for myself. I need you for me.”

Aparna just listened to him and did not know what to say. For the first time she felt powerful and that scared her a lot. As she remembered his tears and anguish she trembled with fear.

“I don’t want anything to hurt you,” she said closing her arms around him.

“There’s nothing that can hurt me other than you. You have become so important to me that you and only you have that power.”

“Then, don’t make me that important,” she said looking up at him.

Nishant smiled and rubbed his thumb against her cheek.

“I can’t do that. It’s not in my control.”

She was about to let go of him and refute his statement when he put his fingers on her lips.

“Just promise me that you will always believe that I love you and I am with you, no matter what. You will not keep secrets from me. We will tell each other everything no matter how hard the truth is.”  

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