Meeting Mitra

Roopa PoV:

I opened my eyes and looked around. It was a new place. I was on a bed, and I didn't see anyone there.

Where am I? What is this place? I asked myself.

"How are you?" Someone said, and I turned my head to look back.

"Shivani, how are you?" Said Mitra.

I got shocked looking at him.

"What baby, why are you shocked? It's me, your Mitra," Mitra said and sat beside me on the bed.

I moved away from Mitra as he tried to hug me from the side.

"Hey! Why are you uncomfortable?" Mitra asked me.

Mitra leaned towards me keeping a hand on the other side of the bed. He leaned towards me where I lay down on the bed. His face was close to my face. He moved my hairs and tugged behind my ears. I prayed to God to save me.

"How are you, baby? I saw you while fainting at the airport. I held you and looked the card in your hand stating my name and your name. I understood that you are my Shivani," Mitra said.

"I.. Am.. Fine... " I said.

"Good!" Mitra said and moved away from me. I took a deep breath.

"Have it, Shivani," Mitra said, giving me lunch and juice.

I had it. Mitra got a call, and he went out. He came to me again.

"Shivani, I am going out. I will be back tomorrow. You take a rest."

What does he mean? Does he say I should stay here today? I thought.

I couldn't stay there at Mitra's home. Preetam was worried from the morning about me as I was unwell. He would get tensed if I didn't go home by evening.

"Mitra, I will go to my hostel," I said.

"Why? You can take a rest here. You are not well. How can I leave you alone in the hostel knowing you are sick? Here maids will take care of you every minute," Mitra said.

"No! I can't stay here when you are away. Please drop me at my hostel," I said.

"Ok, fine, I will drop you."

"It's ok; I think you are going on some important work. You carry on. I can go," I said.

"No! Nothing is important to me than you, Shivani. I can't let you go alone when you are ill. I will drop you, that's it," Mitra said, and I agreed.

We started in his car from there. I showed him one of my friend's hostel. He dropped me there, and I went to my friend's room to avoid his doubt about me. After some time, I went to my home. By the time I went, I saw Preetam in the house.

"Preetam, why did you come so early to home today?" I asked.

"Where is your mobile, Roopa? I called you many times. Why did you switch it off?" Preetam shouted at me.

"I am sorry, Preetam. I had some work," I said.

"Preetam, what is that? Roopa is an IB officer. She can't stay in touch with us when she is at work. Stop shouting at her, don't be angry with her," aunty said.

"No, mom! I am not angry with Roopa. I am worried about her. In the morning, she is not well. I felt something wrong with her in the afternoon. I called her many times, but her mobile was switched off. As she is ill, tension took over me. I left all my works and came home," Preetam said.

"I am sorry, Preetam. It was my mistake," I requested him.

"It's okay, Roopa. However, from the next time give me a message when you are busy saying not to call you. I don't like to disturb you when you are at work. But, your health tensed me," Preetam said, cupping my face.

"Sure!" I said, and Preetam smiled, leaving his anger.

"Roopa, did you have your food or skipped doing work? How are you now?" Aunty asked.

"I am fine, aunty. I had lunch."

"Call me mom, not aunty. Roopa, I am sorry for being rude to you on the Mothers Day. Where is my saree which you bought for me for Mothers Day?"

I was surprised to listen to those words from aunty. I hugged aunty with happiness. That day was a memorable one for me.

"Aunty, sorry mom. Please don't be sorry to your daughter. I am sorry for hurting you, mom. I didn't know the past, and I planned that surprise. I will bring the saree now itself," I said and went to the room.

I gave saree to mom.

"I will wear it on my birthday; it's wonderful," mom said.

"Roopa, tomorrow is mom's birthday," Preetam said.

My smile vanished.

I didn't understand how to spend with my family tomorrow. I needed to meet Mitra as a part of my new mission.

"Roopa, if you have any work tomorrow you can happily go. We will wait for you till you come back. There is no celebration without you. But, no celebration is more important than your work which is to protect our nation," mom said.

Her words surprised me. With my patience and love, I won a good family who supports me. I was damn sure I would succeed in the mission. The strength of any person increases when his/her family understands and supports them.

Men or women fail in career or life, not because of a lack of technical skills or management skills, but mostly when their family doesn't understand them. When a boy or girl forced to study the course which they don't like, they fail in the career. When they are forced to marry a person they don't want or at the wrong age, they fail in life. I hope one day every parent and in law realises this.

"Mom, I will try maximum to come home by the party time," I said.

"No worries, Roopa! Focus on your mission. We can understand you," I turned to see who was that.

It was my uncle or dad from that day. He came just then from the office.

"Roopa, we told we remembered Swecha. But it doesn't mean we compared you with her. We love Swecha as she is my sister's daughter. But we love and admire you more than her because you came from a different family, but mingled with us easily and forgave us though we were harsh in the past. We love you, Roopa. You are our daughter, forget the past and please forgive us for making you depressed," dad said.

My eyes filled with tears. I felt the time to stop there at that moment.

"Dad, please don't say sorry to your daughter. I am happy to know you all accepted me as I am."

They smiled. In the night, we had dinner together. I felt happy for becoming a part of my family finally. Till that day I felt only Preetam was with me. But, from then my entire family was with me. I hoped my dad to understand me one day as my in-laws did. I remembered my maternal family from whom I hid my profession for a long time.

Later Preetam and I were in our room. We lay in bed, and Preetam held my hand. He kissed me.

"Are you happy, sweety?" Preetam asked me.

"Yes, but why did you tell that I got hurt thinking that mom and dad compared me with Swecha? Mom and dad might have felt bad about me," I said.

"Sweetheart, we are a family. We need to clear our misunderstandings through discussing and opening up. If we keep misunderstandings in our mind, we will miss the relationships, and our loved ones will be distanced from us. My dear love, I don't like hiding things from the family. We should be free and true to our family," Preetam said.

I was frightened imagining what would happen if Preetam knows about my action as Mitra's lover.

"Come out of your thoughts, and please give me my wife. I want to have her," Preetam said, kissing me on my neck.

I smiled and nodded. Preetam kissed my forehead, cheeks, eyes, lips and neck.

"You look fantastic. On our first night, we both didn't feel it. I am in anger, and you are in confusion. So, now let's feel it as our first night, which would be a memory for both of us," Preetam said.

I lowered my eyes, feeling flushed.

"Look at me, sweetheart. Don't ever look down. I want you never to look down because you are right in everything and sweet every time."

Preetam said and kissed my lips.

"These strawberries are sweet. I should say they are the best in this universe," Preetam said slowly touching my lips with his forefinger.

I smiled with his words and love. He buried his head under my neck and started kissing. He breathed deeply.

"This natural fragrance is making me mad for you," Preetam said.

"I love you!" I said, kissing his forehead.

Preetam undressed himself and me. I closed my eyes with shy. He kissed my cheek.

"Blushing? You look more cute when you melt in my touch," Preetam said and kissed my neck.

Then he made me all his again. His soft kisses and touch showed his immense love for me. I felt the difference of our first night and this night. I was scared of Preetam thinking he may be rude every time. But, I loved his care for me, lovely words and love. He was loving to me this time. That was a sweet memory for me. He left me giving one more kiss on my forehead.

I hugged Preetam smiling. The smile didn't fade in my face this time as his words took me into a trance and I forgot the pain. Preetam embraced me in his arms.

"So how is your first experience of acting as Mitra's lover?" Preetam asked me.

I looked at him shocked and gulped.

God, is his love going to turn into anger? Will he scold me now? were the questions that appeared on my mind.

No one can bear knowing that his wife is acting as someone's girlfriend. Even I couldn't take it easy if Preetam acts like someone's boyfriend. I didn't know how to convince Preetam. Tears formed in my eyes and sweat occupied my forehead.