The Rakshabandhan Gift

Kriti was sitting alone in her bedroom entangling the Rakhi with her finger constantly lost in thoughts but awake enough to hold her tears. It was her first Rakshabandhan after marriage. As she got up to keep the Rakhi safely in her almirah beneath the shelf cover, her phone buzzed twice.
It was Bhaiya's message
"Bachcha! Can I come to your house today?"
She couldn't hold her tears anymore and swiped the message right from the notification to avoid the seen status. Just then, she got a call from the drawing room.
"Ready Kittu?" that was her husband, Kanishk.
"Hmmm... Coming." she replied in least words to avoid her heavy throat from being detected and quickly dried her tears and wore a smile on her face.
As they were about to sit in the car, Kanishk exclaimed, "Oops my wallet. I forgot it in. Just a second." and rushed in. He came out fifteen minutes later. Kanishk was too careless to remember where he kept his wallet and had to spent good chunk of time searching it.
"Did you go to the bank to withdraw your wallet?" Kriti asked with a frown.
"Nature's call dear. Sorry." he said with an apologizing smile just to avoid being scolded again for his carelessness. And they started.
Kanishk was on the driving seat and Kriti was again lost in her thoughts. They were going to Kanishk's sisters' homes. After all it was Rakshabandhan. But wasn't it for both of them, Kriti and Kanishk?
"Can I call Bhaiya home tomorrow morning?" this was what she had asked Kanishk yesterday to which he had replied, "But dear, we won't be at home all day. I have many sisters, you know?" His face was beaming with pride.
"Can't we hurry up a little, saving few minutes at each one's place?" she had given a wise option.
"I have got just one day for my sisters and you want me to cut down on that too. I am sorry." here he was rude.
She did not dare to speak further. Just in her heart she thought, "True!! We really get just one day in a year."
While celebrating the festival with her sister-in-laws, she tried her best to be jolly because it wasn't their fault at all. She exchanged jokes with them, hugged them and showed them love. They deserved it all, especially the youngest one, Sweetie. She was a companion rather. Kriti could never fake off her feelings before Sweetie but today she was successful in doing so, may be because Sweetie was so lost into her brother that she hardly had a proper interaction with Kriti.
As her sister-in-laws had husbands who also had sisters, they too had to celebrate the festival .Thus, the visit to each one's house was close to completion in just 3 hrs. Kriti became happy. Now, she will be home in time and then call bhaiya. Thinking this as she sat into the car, she was shocked to see the earrings' box on the dashboard. Those were the earrings Kanishk had bought for Sweetie as gift.
"You didn't give it to her?" she enquired.
"She did not accept.... Said it's cheap. She wants something expensive. She has told me the shop from where to buy. We shall first go to that shop." he announced.
"Why did she behave like that? Never had Sweetie done something as such before. And this gift was the costliest among all." Kriti thought, but did not utter a word. Her chances to meet Bhaiya had all vanished. It will take at least 3 hours in Bhaiya's journey and then it'll grow dark. No use calling him. She once again turned charmless.
They had been driving for too long and Kriti's patience was boiling by now.
"Are we going to Golconda to fetch Kohinoor for her?" she said in a somewhat loud voice.
Kanishk did not react. Few minutes later, he said, "Can you do me a favour?"
She did not respond.
"Hey Kittuuu!!! I'm asking you." he pressed.
"What?" she replied in a harsh tone.
"Please open Google maps in my phone and the first location in the search history. I don't know the way hereafter. Tell me where to turn."
She briskly picked the phone and with utter annoyance opened the history of the app. She was stunned. Speechless. Her eyes full of wobbling tears of love. It was Bhaiya's address. Oh! Yes it indeed was. She looked at Kanishk who was still focused on his driving. After a long silence he mischievously said without even turning his face towards her, "Now, will you please tell me or just keep looking at me like this?"
"I wanna hug you, right now." she spoke like a kid.
"No...no.... Stay away.... I am driving." he shouted. She approached. "I say stay away." he shouted again but with no result.
After she sat down back he reprimanded though sweetly, "You will get us killed some day." And both laughed.
Parking his car just outside Bhaiya's home, Kanishk called him on phone.
Bhaiya, who was desperately waiting for Kriti's reply was extremely delighted to see his call.
"Hello Kanishk! How are you dear?" he said.
"I'm fine bhaiya. Kriti isn't well so I am coming to give you her Rakhi." he replied. Kriti tried to snatch the phone but her short height caused hindrance.
"She hasn't come?" he asked in a dim voice.
Kanishk quickly held the phone with his shoulder close to his ear and shutting Kriti's mouth with his hands said, "No Bhaiya. I am coming alone." Kriti looked at him with fiery eyes, but smiling from within.
"Where have you reached?" he asked.
"Just before the gigantic gate of your house."  Kanishk said.
"Just coming. Wait." Bhaiya was quick enough to cross the big lawn faster than any of his helpers would do, to open the gate. He couldn't wait anymore for the Rakhi.
Kriti stood behind Kanishk when Bhaiya came. He opened the gate and said, "Come in dear."
"First take your Rakhi bhaiya." Kanishk replied bringing Kriti forward.
Bhaiya was speechless, as much as was Kriti when she saw the location on google map. She ran and hugged Bhaiya. That was an overwhelming moment. They went in talking emotionally and lovingly but Kanishk stayed behind. He was scribbling something on phone.
"What now Mister?" asked Kriti.
He showed her his phone. He was video calling Sweetie. She picked it up and could see Kriti and Bhaiya, with their shining eyes.
"Here's the gift you asked for betu. How expensive do you think it is?" Kanishk proudly asked Sweetie.
"Priceless." she replied, "Thank you my sweetest Kiku bhaiya. Love you my loveliest Kittu Bhabhi."
"Love you too babu." Kriti was extremely overwhelmed to know this but then suddenly added in a complaining tone, "Why didn't you take the earrings? It was I who, selected it for you."
"I took them bhabhi. Look." Sweetie replied showing her ears flaunting the earrings and added with a cunning yet cute smile, "I just returned the case it was in. I just wanted you to meet your bhaiya so planned....."
"Enough. Now don't take all the credits and love. I had already planned to call Bhaiya in the evening." shouted Kanishk from behind.
"Yes, but isn't there something known as
Shubh Muhurta. Do you know bhaiya?" she shouted back to irritate him, but abruptly exclaimed, "Bhabhi come on. Go. Tie Rakhi first. Conversation only after that."
"Yes. But I haven't brought his rakhi. I knew nothing of this surprise." Kriti sadly stated.
"Bhaiya has. Come on Kiku Bhaiya. Take out the wallet you forgot in the morning." Sweetie said to Kanishk with a wink.
"Yup. Sure. Here it is. God knows how you ladies keep things! It took me 15 minutes to find it." Kanishk murmured.
And thus they went in. As Kriti held Bhaiya's hand tying Rakhi a drop of tear fell over his wrist. Bhaiya held her chin softly and lifted her face up.
"I am very sorry. I saw your message in the Notifications but still didn't reply." and she broke into a cry.
Bhaiya held her face and his hand like that of a child, wiped her tears softly and said, "You don't need to be sorry bachcha. I understand there can't be an absence of reply without a reason. Now, you are here. Isn't it? Forget what all happened. Just live the moment. I just have a few minutes with my little angel for now after which she will return home again. Let me inhale these moments with the fragrance of love and happiness and not tears." Well, he himself was in tears by now.
"Why few minutes? My plan remains the same. Evening meeting. You are coming with us. Not only you but also Bhabhi. And I am not going to hear any excuse. And and I won't let you return in the night." Kanishk declared.
"Now?" Bhaiya exclaimed in a slight denial mode.
"Please come bhaiya. Have a dinner made by me tonight at least. Today I shall prepare it." Kriti requested.
"Leave it Bhaiya. Don't come. Believe me. This girl doesn't make food. She makes poison." Kanishk mischievously intervened. Kriti threw at him the bolster from the sofa.
Bhaiya laughed and asked Bhabhi, "What do you say?"
Bhabhi turned to Kanishk and asked, "What should I wear a Saari or a salwar-suit?"  This made her reply clear.
Kanishk grinned. Kriti too was happy.
"Okay", said Bhaiya and asked one of the helpers to take the car out of garage. And then turning to Kanishk he said, "Give me just 30 minutes. I'll read my Namaz and be back to move with you two."
"Sure." Kanishk replied.
That day, Kriti felt immensely blessed to be surrounded by such great, loving and and priceless people.