CHAPTER : 20 Frustration
Later, Tulasi and Abhi had dinner at Abhi's house. Tulasi was busy sorting out her belongings, making adjustments. Abhi went to freshen up. While brushing his teeth, due to his restless, sleepless night, he had another vivid dream.
In this dream, Abhi was in the hall. He called out, "Tulasi!". Tulasi asked,
"What is it, Abhi?" and came closer to him.
"I did so much for you right, my love. I saved you from that guy! Look, I gave you such a nice home, I'm taking such good care of you, aren't I?".
"Yes, Abhi, you've helped me so much," Tulasi said, looking at him with gratitude.
"Then what will you give me in return, my sweet?" he asked, looking intently at her.
"What do you want, Abhi?" Tulasi asked, her eyes still on his.
Abhi's gaze dropped to Tulasi's lips, and he asked, "Will you give me your lips, my dearest?". Tulasi, a beautiful blush spreading across her cheeks, came closer and gently kissed Abhi.
Abhi, who was brushing his teeth, suddenly jolted awake, startling himself. "Again a dream? Am I dreaming even while a brushing ! Abhi? What stage have you reached, man?!" he thought, exasperated.
But then, a flicker of inspiration hit him. "Wait, I got a good idea from that!". He quickly finished brushing, freshened up, dressed neatly, and got completely ready. He changed four or five shirts, fussing over his appearance. He looked at himself in the mirror, critically. He applied cologne, struck a stylish pose, and entered the hall. Tulasi was completely absorbed in arranging books and searching book shelves. "What are you doing, Tulasi?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Even though Abhi stood there for a long time, Tulasi didn't even look at him. Without turning her head, she said, "one of my textbook is missing, Abhi, I can't find it!" and continued her frantic search.
Abhi, growing impatient, called out, "Tulasi!" his voice a little strained. Still caught up in the tension of not finding her book, she nevertheless came and stood in front of Abhi.
"Forget about the book for a moment. I need to talk to you about something a little more serious," he said.
"Tell me, Abhi, what is it?" she asked, her attention finally on him.
Wishing himself good luck, Abhi looked deep into Tulasi's eyes and asked, "Tulasi" he started with a sweet voice he could manage, " since you came here, have you faced any trouble, any difficulty at all?".
"No, Abhi, I haven't faced any trouble," Tulasi replied, genuinely.
"I brought you home, didn't I? Yes" he began, building his case.
"I gave you a nice bedroom, and I'm taking such good care of you, right? "
"Yes, Abhi, you're taking good care of me," Tulasi affirmed. "You don't scold me here, right? you gave me a nice bedroom and you stopped scolding me too." she agreed.
"I told you to do whatever you like, right? " he pressed on.
"Yes"
"you've even changed the furniture in the house, and I didn't say anything, right? "
"Yes, Abhi, you really didn't say anything," she conceded. "I even did Pooja (worship), and you didn't say anything." she confirmed.
"So are you happy with the way I treat you ?"
"Yes,Abhi.Truely.But why are you asking me all this?"
"Then, my sweet, what will you give me in return?" he asked, his voice laced with expectation.
Tulasi fell silent, deep in thought. Abhi smiled, a cunning glint in his eye. "What are you thinking, my dear?" he prompted.
Tulasi kept thinking for a long time, then finally said, "It's true, Abhi".
"You helped me a lot, Abhi," she said, finally breaking her silence. "You gave me such a nice bedroom! And even though I kept my belongings in the second bedroom, you didn't say a word. Its like iam using your two bedrooms.It's also a good, safe community with excellent security, isn't it?" she enumerated, her innocence still prevalent.
Abhi, his heart soaring with happiness that she was finally, slowly understanding his line of thought, pressed on, "Then what will you give me, my sweet?". Abhi looked at Tulasi with a hopeful, intense gaze, his eyes refusing to leave her lips.
Tulasi, completely blind to Abhi's silent yearning, continued to think aloud. "There are absolutely no problems here, Abhi. No water problems, nothing. Security is also really good". Abhi felt a pang of intense annoyance somewhere deep inside. "What in the world is she talking about?!" he wondered, utterly bewildered.
But Tulasi was in her own flow, completely missing his romantic cues. "Even if the current goes out, there's a generator. No water bills or anything, just maintenance, right? Yes, I gave the old owner 25,000. Should I give you 40 thousand?" she asked, with a surprising practicality.
"What are you talking about, Tulasi?!" Abhi exclaimed, his frustration bubbling up.
"I mean sharing, Abhi? Half me, half you? I'll give 40, and you take the rest? Is that what you mean, I should give 40,000 and you take the rest?! "Abhi felt cold water splashed on his face at her answer
"Tulasi, my love, I am not asking for money! "
"Then what do you want from me?"
Abhi's gaze remained fixed on her lips, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Oh, how do I deal with this scatterbrained girl, God?!" Abhi thought, his heart sinking, as he stared at her lips.
Tulasi finally noticed Abhi looking at her lips like that. "What?" she asked, genuinely confused, "Did I not wipe my mouth?Is it milk or? Is there still something there?" She innocently wiped her mouth with her hand more than twice.
Abhi just hit his head to wall with a frustrated groan. "What in the actual heck should I call you !? What did your father think while giving birth to you? how could he raise a dumb daughter like you, for crying out loud?! This is my karma, for you just had to come into my life!" he muttered to himself, before storming out of the house. Abhi was incredibly frustrated, beyond words. "How did I ever think I could make someone like this fall for me? After Meera Bai, this one is a whole other level! Oh my God, she's not even human! Does she not have any feelings at all?! Is she Robo 3.0?" he thought, utterly defeated, and marched off to the gym. He decided to channel all his immense frustration onto the equipment there.
The trainer, surprised, asked, "Sir, you've come after so many days?".
"Hey, I'm irritated, dude! Fuk off and leave me alone!" he yelled, his patience completely worn thin.
Abhi came back very late that day. By the time he arrived, Tulasi was already sleeping peacefully. "You sleep, you innocent devil," he thought, a mix of affection and frustration, "Just make sure I don't get any sleep, you total tormentor!" He went into his room and closed the door with a sigh. He couldn't fall asleep for a very long time. He lit a cigarette, hoping it would calm his racing mind. But still, only thoughts of Tulasi plagued him relentlessly. Before, there was always a simple, sweet romantic feeling associated with her. But today, along with that romantic feeling, there was a whirlwind of frustration, anger, irritation, utter sleeplessness, and profound exhaustion.
"This won't do, this definitely won't work," he thought, and with a desperate resolve, he took out an alcohol bottle. He didn't mix anything, just drank it straight down. After some time, the bottle was empty, and he slowly, heavily, slumped onto the bed. He hadn't slept for long . he had yet another vivid wet dream. He jolted awake again, covered in sweat. He came to the hall, hoping for some fresh air, a moment of respite. But again, she appeared to him, her image haunting every corner. "She's not going to leave me until I literally go crazy!" he thought, and once more, took another cold shower.
OMG Why is he keep remembering about her flawless skin, every curve, every detail, her kissable pout .how her lips formed the most tempting pout, daring him to steal a kiss.He went to the balcony and stood there, smoking a cigarette, a lonely figure in the dim light. Dawn broke, painting the sky with soft hues. Tulasi opened her door and came out. Seeing Abhi on the balcony, she was genuinely shocked. "What, Abhi, you're here? Did you wake up already?!" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
a bitter retort forming in his mind. "Why don't you ask if I even slept?!".
"What, you look so tired? You look like you've been completely drained. " she asked, her concern innocent, as she came closer to him.
"Don't you like what you see? "Looking at her concerned face, his hands are itching to caress her cheek and lean towards her, but he has to restrain himself. He turned his back to her, trying to hold himself from the temptation in front of him
" What's there to like or dislike. Its about health, Abhi.Are your unwell?" she pressed, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I actually thought I'd talk to you romantically, you know? Look at me, I should literally hit myself for even trying!" he thought in as his frustration boiling over, and he went into his room, slamming the door shut. He freshened up and came out again. By the time he reappeared, Tulasi was busy drying Her long, beautiful hair. That day, she had taken a head bath. It took a lot of time. Tulasi was struggling with her hair, those tangles still, without having eaten breakfast.
She was pulling one stubborn tangle out. "Why are you pulling your hair like that? " he asked, a gentle concern in his voice. "Doesn't it hurt?
"Yes, it does, but what am I supposed to do?" she replied, still yanking away her face, showing the pain and struggle.
"Don't pull it like that. I'll help you," he offered.
"What, you? Do you even know how to detangle hair? You don't know anything, how will you do it?" she asked, skeptically.
"Just tell me how, I'll try, " he insisted.
"No, Abhi, it's okay, really," she demurred.
"Hey, just tell me," he urged, stepping closer to her and gently taking her hair in his hands. "It's so incredibly silky," he thought, a pleasant surprise.
She told him a little, "Do it like this," instructing him gently. He then began to carefully separate her hair with his fingers, a delicate task.
His fingers, as they worked, occasionally brushed against her neck and shoulders. She felt a strange, tingling sensation. He was slowly, patiently, pulling out the tangles with his fingers. He was doing that work with such intense concentration, so seriously, that Tulasi couldn't help but smile to herself, finding his focused devotion endearing. But as Abhi's hands continued to touch her, that innocent smile vanished, and a delicate tremor started to run through her. His feather-like touches caused butterflies in her stomach to flutter wildly. Tulasi Control. Push him away.
"I'll take care of it, Abhi," she quickly announced, getting up abruptly and retreating to her room.
"Did I do it wrong?" he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"No, no, you tried really well, thank you," she said dismissively, almost too quickly, and then put on her clip to bind her hair. "I'll see about it at the hospital later. It's late. Come on, Abhi"
" You have breakfast," he urged.
"Not now, it's really late," she replied, ready to leave.
"What's the problem? Who would dare to question us? You eat," he stated.
Tulasi smiled sweetly and said, "It's not 'us' Abhi, it's 'you.' Who would dare say anything to you, Abhi? Can anyone even survive if they say anything to you?" she asked playfully.