"You can come inside." Abhiveera said, without looking at Ira and continued reading his book.
Ira flinched when she heard his voice. She slowly opened the door hesitantly and stepped in.
"I am sorry grandfather, i shouldn't have peeked inside. I was passing by here so i heard some voice and out of curiosity, i made the mistake of peeping inside." She said, apologizing for her mistake.
"Why are you apologizing? I am not angry." Abhiveera said in calm voice and looked up.
"Really?"
"Yes. I am not angry at all."
She smiled in relief "You are very kind grandfather."
Abhiveera chuckled "Thanks for the praise. Come and sit here." He pointed towards the chair next to him.
Ira walked towards him and sat down on the chair.
"Did you like the poetry I was reading?"
She quickly nod "Yes, it was interesting. I couldn't hear properly. But it was interesting." She replied with a big smile.
Abhiveera looked at her with soft eyes. He was feeling like he know her from such a long time. Everything about her is so familiar. Her face, her voice, her behaviour everything is like he used to see from decades.
"Grandfather, would you read it again for me?" She requested, showing her puppy eyes and sweet smile.
He came out of his thoughts and replied "Huh....ah yes yes. Why not? I think you liked it so much."
She nod in response, waiting for him to read it again.
Abhiveera shifted his gaze back to book and started to read it again.
Ira was listening to him carefully.
"Vo phul banna chahta hu
Jo tere gajre me saje
Vo kangan banna chahta hu
Jo tere chude me jache
Vo tara banna chahta hu
Jo tere aasman me chamke
Vo nazara banna chahta hu
Jo teri ankhon me base
Banna chahta hu vo aaftab
Jo tere dil ko roshan kare.
Vo manjil banu
Jise pane ke liye teri bahen tarsen.
Vo chahat banna chahta hu
Jo tere dil me base
Vo zid banna chahta hu
Jo tere gurur pe chade"
Abhiveera looked at her, she was looking interested. A smile appeared on his face when he saw her smiling face. He continued reading it, heart filled with happiness. He was feeling like his whole world is right infront of him.
"Vo taaj banna chahta hu
Jo tere sir pe saje
Vo sapna banu
Jise dekhne ke liye teri nazrein barsen
Vo jakhm banu
Jise sanjoye tu puri jindagi.
Vo khvayish banu
Jispe lutaye tu puri jindagi
Vo dard banu
Jis se marne ko bhi mane tu apni bandagi"
"What's going on here?" Ashwant asked as he entered in library with Raksheet.
Abhiveera stopped reading and looked at him.
Ira turned her eyey at her right, just to find her husband and father-in-law standing there, watching them.
When she looked at Raksheet, he winked at her, making her heart flutter. She quickly looked away to avoid the eye contact with her naughty husband who won't leave any chance to flirt with her. Even if they are infront of their parents!
'Shameless!' she said in her mind.
She stood up and joined her hands to greet Ashwant.
Ashwant just smiled in response. "Father, were you reading the poetry?" He asked surprised as he stepped towards them.
Raksheet followed him and stood next to Ira.
"Yes." Abhiveera replied.
"I didn't saw you writting poetry from such a long time. Last time when you wrote it.... it's been more than 10 years!" He said in surprise when he realized how long it had been.
"Yes. It's been more than 10 years. But it feels like i just used to do it yesterday." Abhiveera said, sliding his hand on the paper on the book. Recalling all the memories when he used to make poetry.
"I still remember the poetry you used to read." Ashwant said, looking arround the library with soft eyes.
Abhiveera and Ashwant were reliving their old memories when Raksheet got an apportunity to flirt with his wife.
He extended his hand towards Ira's and tried to hold it but she quickly pulled her hand away. But Raksheet is not one who give up easily. He again tried to reach her hand but instead of her hand, he got a slap on his hand from her.
"Stop it!" She whispered to him.
Raksheet rubbed his hand dramatically. acting like he felt pain when she slapped his hand.
She rolled her eyes at him and ignored his spoiled behaviour.
"You know what Ira.." Ashwant turned towards Ira.
Ira and Raksheet quickly fixed themselves.
"Father used to make poetry for someone special, when he thinks of that person. I think he was reading that poetry when we entered in library. Am i right father?" He asked to Abhiveera.
Abhiveera slowly nod. He turned his gaze to Ira.
"Who is that special person grandfather? Is she grandmother?" Ira asked in curiosity. The only special person in Abhiveera's life could be his wife, Neisha. Then why Ashwant is calling her someone special instead of calling her by her name?
Abhiveera smiled sadly and looked at his son as if he is asking him to answer Ira's question.
Raksheet was quiet too after hearing Ira's question.
"There is someone more special than mother." Ashwant replied with a smile to not make Ira feel wierd. But it's indeed wierd. Who could be someone more special than Neisha for Abhiveera? And Ashwant don't have any problem with it? There is someone more special for his father than his mother, how can a son be fine with it?
Ira forced herself to smile even if she didn't wanted. 'What's going on? Does grandmother know about it?' she thought, feeling bad for Neisha.
She looked at Raksheet, thinking if he dared to do something like this, she will kill him.
Raksheet looked at her and found her glaring at him. A shiver ran down his spine. He tried to look away to avoid her dark glare but he can still sense it.
'What happened to her? Why is she glaring at me like this? What did i do?' Raksheet thaught. He can still feel Ira glaring at him.
To escape from this situation, he tried to take his father's help "Father, we should go to office now. We have important work to do, remember?"
"Yes, i totally forgot about it. Let's go." Ashwant replied. "We should leave now. See you later." He said to Ira and Abhiveera before leaving. He then turned around and walked out with Raksheet.
"I should leave too." Ira said to Abhiveera and left library.
The whole day Ira was thinking about that special person of Abhiveera. Who it could be? His lover or someone else? He don't have second wife, then who is that person?
She didn't met any men of kumar family all day, not even Raksheet. They were busy so they didn't came for lunch and dinner. She had her lunch and dinner with Avanya and Neisha.
She was gazing at her grandmother again and again, concern filled in her eyes. Neisha love Abhiveera so much then how he could have someone more special than her?
Feeling Ira's gaze on herself, Neisha asked her if she want to say something but Ira just passed a smile and changed the topic. She didn't wanted Neisha to know anything about it. If she comes to know about it, she will be hurt.
Ira was trying hard not to think bad things about Abhiveera. He is a nice person. There is no taint on his character. Anyways, it's normal for a king to have several wives and lovers. May be he didn't married to that special person because he didn't wanted to hurt Neisha's feelings. And if Ira is guessing right, Abhiveera care for Neisha. For her happiness, he sacrificed his love.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't noticed when Raksheet entered in chamber. He closed the door and went towards her. He sat down next to her, observing her expressions carefully. It looks like she is thinking about something serious.
He didn't wanted to see her dark glare again that he saw in library. So he decided not to disturb her and lay down quietly. He wanted to fall asleep as fast as he can so that he don't have to face her.
Ira looked beside her and found her husband lying next to her. Without saying anything to her, he went to sleep? How? What happened to him today? He often can't sleep without finding different ways to tease and flirt with her. So what happened today?
"When did you came?" She asked.
Raksheet flinched on his place as he heard her voice. He slowly turned around and saw his wife looking at him with a questioning look. Don't know why but he is feeling scared of her today. As if she will eat him up when she is angry.
He smiled awkwardly while sitting up. "Few minutes ago." He replied, trying not to look scared "You were in deep thoughts so i didn't disturbed you." He completed.
As Ira remembered what she was thinking, her eyes became sharp. She looked at Raksheet, scaring him even more.
Seeing her eyes darken, Raksheet widened his eyes in worry 'What did i do now?' he thought. 'I didn't even teased her today, then why she is looking angry on me?'
He decided to ask the reason of her anger. At least he has the right to know what is his mistake.
He mustered up his courage and finally asked.
"What happened? Why are you glaring at me since morning? Huh? Did i do something wrong? Are you angry on me?"
********
What do you think? Who is this someone special? 🤔