In the Lives of Mr. & Mrs. Saxena Sequel to ‘The Love Game’ Season 3 Episode 10 Season Finale

 

What an open conversation can do can never be done in silence.

2am

Prantik and Jahnvi were laying in bed and discussing nothings together. He was finally telling her how difficult it was to reach the position at work he was at today.

Jahn, it takes discipline and focus. I was so embroiled with work the whole of last year since Raylon nominated me as the next in line for partnership at the firm in the succession planning at work that I was entirely consumed with work. I thought my personal life is set. My wife’s there for me and we’re all set to plan a baby. What you thought as me ignoring you, honestly I was planning the next stage in our life.

I’ll tell you what happened to me without you paying attention – The uncertainty of survival came back. I was distraught without you when you escaped to Arizona without telling me. I didn’t know life without you. So when you brought up the stability issue, I thought I was lost without you again. It’s this emptiness I have without you. I don’t hate stability, but I can’t imagine moving on without you.

That’s the reason I fled a few years ago. I just got the feeling that we were too attached. You’re so vulnerable without me babe. I was scared about our future. I needed to know that you’re going to man up when time comes, if, God forbid, you ever have to do without me.

Okay Prantik, I have now, this minute, completely understood that I am secured with you. But I need to know to be independently happy without you too. I’m going to focus on the regularity in our marriage, even if it means without you. The thing is, if this hadn’t happened with us, I would forever be holding onto you for stability. I need to bring stability in my life without you. That’s not through wayward ways of stimulation through Tinder or smoking.

Yes, and you also need to know that I will leave you enough to be comfortable for the rest of your life so feel safe and know that boo is forever going to be with you. If not on earth then my spirit will forever guide you.

Yes love. Okay now goodnight, gotta wake up early and guide Neetu to make enchiladas for lunch.

Lol, sure babe, I’ll be stuck grabbing a sandwhich from the canteen or something but I know this is your normal – To transform Neetu into a Michelin star chef! You both get on Youtube and turn the kitchen into a hotel.

Ya boo ya that’s my normal in the mornings when you’re at work.

With that they fell into deep slumber together wrapped in each other’s arms.

9am

Prantik was on his side of the bed, sleeping without a care in the world!

Boo wake up, you gotta head to work.

Jahnvi literally had to shake Prantik off the bed.

Jahnvi had woken up early, showered and prepared breakfast for all three. Even Neetu was chilling in her room.

After 20 minutes, Prantik got out of the shower and saw Jahn from across the room, instructing Neetu to get groceries.

All was normal in the Saxena household again.

He hurried towards breakfast, didn’t want to be late again. He asked Jahn what was there for breakfast, she served him idlis and sambhar and then he teased her, “You’ve made Neetu a nervous wreck, go with her to the mall na you lazy bum.”

Jahnvi was sitting from across Prantik at the dining table and she put her feet up on the chair and stuck her tongue out.

Babe, nobody taught you to respect your husband na? Whatever man, I am gone. Meet me at Sim’s at 10 tonight.

With that Prnatik left for work happily after kissing Jahn good day.

12:30 pm

Jahnvi was busy writing the first draft of her book in her study when Neetu knocked. “Yes Neetu?”

“Madam the courier boy needs your signature, you’ve got a parcel.” Neetu said to her favorite at home.

Jahnvi signed to accept the parcel and opened it. Then she remembered that Prantik had asked her to watch out for the mail last night. Excited, she opened it and read the note attached to the gift.

“This is from our future Kid’s education fund. Request you to wear it on repeat.” – Love, Mr. Saxena.

Jahnvi laughed and unwrapped the present. It was the ruby she’d asked Prantik to buy her! She carefully wore the necklace and sent a picture to Prantik.

He said, “You’re beautiful! Wear it tonight. Gotta go, on call with a client.”

Jahnvi returned to her study and continued to write the first draft to her book based on the tenets of success.

She later packed away the necklace in their locker and swore she’d call this ruby a heritage piece and save it for either her daughter or daughter-in-law.

“Time to grow up,” Jahnvi said to herself satisfied with her life as God would want it.

Like this and every day more than today, Mr. & Mrs. Saxena lived happily ever after!

Note: As the author of this terrific love story, I hate to end it here but how I wish I am struck with an idea to continue 'The Love Game' forever! 

 

 

 

 

In the Lives of Mr. & Mrs. Saxena Sequel to The Love Game Season 3 Episode: 5

 

After three days

Sid: Hi

Jahnvi: Hey

Sid: What’s happening?

Jahnvi: Just chilling. Smoking a cigarette. No one’s at home so I can sneak one right now.

Sid: I see. Your profile says you’re married. Why are you on Tinder?

Jahnvi: Yes, I am married. But something happened a few weeks ago and then I don’t know, I just got back on Tinder and have been chatting with random people ever since.

Sid: Does your husband know you’re on Tinder?

Jahnvi: No way. I don’t want to hurt him. Besides, he wouldn’t care even if he knew. He’s always busy since a year or more.

Sid: Why? Why do you think he won’t care if he comes to know you’re on Tinder? Doesn’t he love you?

Jahnvi: He does. We love each other a lot. But he has become very monotonous. It’s just work, eat, sleep for him. He doesn’t spend time with me anymore.

Sid: I see. So are you here to have a fling or an affair or something?

Jahnvi: Lol! No way! Just to chat randomly, throughout the day, with people that don’t know me. You see, when that happens, it’s another level of excitement in talking to them. And you don’t even need to include them in any way in your life so there’s no question of commitment or stability.

Sid: Acha. Do you love your husband?

Jahnvi: Yes. He’s my boo forever. It’s just that I’m going through a certain change in life right now after my husband said I hate stability. Honestly, it had never occurred to me that I hate stability. But after he mentioned it as a matter of fact in an argument, something strange happened to me and now I am here. I was just missing my husband lately. All I wanted was to have him for me but he’s always busy so ya.

Sid: Get it. Cool, so have you finished smoking?

Jahnvi: Yea. You seem to be very interested in my marital life by the way ha Sid.

Sid: Lol! Anyway, gotta go. Cacha later.

Prantik had completely panicked after finding out his wife was on Tinder! He thought she was cheating on him. But he couldn’t understand why! He decided to find out. It was a risk, but he had to do this. He made a fake profile with the name Sid on Tinder, paid gold membership for it and found Jahnvi on his list. He swiped right immediately. He then just waited for the match to happen. He wouldn’t be able to do much if Jahnvi didn’t swipe right on him. But he got lucky that day in the evening.

Prantik was in office. It had been two weeks since his argument with his wife and he was rendered literally useless with work. Thank God, he was at a position in office to schedule meetings when he felt like. Most of the days, he’d just think about what Jahnvi must be doing on Tinder, who she must be talking to and what!

So when he got a notification from Tinder that Jahnvi and Sid was a match, he clapped his hands and decided to find out what his wife had been thinking. What the hell was going on in her head! After this conversation with her, he just wanted to die. All she wanted was his time! And he had completely neglected her because of work.  Jahn didn’t want to cheat on him or anything, she didn’t even know she was in a state of shock, she just didn’t want to come to terms with the term ‘Stability’ and so she was distracting herself from reality by chatting randomly on Tinder. But, she had started smoking again! “Okay Prantik, this is serious! Jahn can’t go back!” Prantik said out loud behind closed doors of his cabin.

Jahnvi on the other hand was still in her night robe, lighting another cigarette, listening to music, swiping right on another potential match. Resting in bed, she was now completely over the fact that she was wasting days without writing or doing anything productive for that matter. This Tinder chatting was helping her cope with the fact that Prantik wasn’t spending time with her. And then she typed a “Hi” to a match who was interested in hiking.

Neetu had returned back from the market and honestly she was very worried about the lady of the house. She tentatively knocked her madam’s door. Neetu had seen what was happening between her boss and madam lately and she was concerned. Besides, madam didn’t seem like her usual self. “Yes Neetu?” “Madam, What to cook today?” “Anything you like. Okay now bye.” Neetu then called her boss. “Saab madam kamre se bhar hi nahi nikli hain aaj. I am worried. Khaana toh woh roz recommend karti hain but aaj kal jo mujhe pakaana ho.”

Prantik answered Neetu’s call immediately and heard what she had to say. He then said, “Madam ko disturb mat karna. Thanks Neetu.”

Prantik then called Dr. Tripti. After a few rings Dr. replied. She said, “Hi Prantik. How is Jahnvi now?”

Prantik, “Umm Dr. that’s why I called. You told me a few days ago to call you the next day after our conversation on Jahn’s suggestive shock state but I was really disturbed by the turn of events overnight that I wasn’t in a state of mind to call you.”

Dr. Tripti, “What happened?”

Prantik: She got back on Tinder. I made a fake profile and talked to her. She is basically hiding behind Tinder to face reality. Besides, this began when I wasn’t able to spend time with her. Now she’s just in our room all day and chatting to escape me, us. And Dr, she has started smoking again.

Dr Tripti: Prantik, hear me out – Jahnvi is in a state of shock. She is repeating the same lifestyle she had without you. She finds peace in being lost right now. Please spend time with her and confront her about how you both feel. If that happens, she will come back. But that won’t be a permanent solution since you have work commitments for life and there will be days even months you again won’t be able to spend time with her. She somehow needs to understand on her own, with your love and care that you’re there for her and this is a successful marriage and yes, stability is sometimes monotonous. She needs to understand that external excitement is temporary.

Prantik felt completely dejected but said, “Roger that Doc. Thank you.”

It was 6 pm. Prantik promptly left work on time and at 8:30pm he was home. He was low but managed to put up a high spirit when Neetu answered the door. She motioned to him that madam was in the bedroom. He smiled and walked towards their room. He knocked. “Yes Neetu?” “Jahn open up, it’s me.”

Jahnvi flew from the bed and ran to unlatch the door. She was genuinely happy to have her husband home so early. Happily, still in her night robe, she said, “Boo you’re home early! Isn’t that awesome?”

Prantik took Jahn in his arms and they both fell on the bed. Sitting on top of her husband she nuzzled him in the neck. Prantik was getting turned on. “Now’s not the time,” Prantik thought sadly and turned sideways. Jahn fell on her right ride and with one hand supporting her head, faced him. He said, “Babe, about the vacation, we’re having one this year. Don’t worry about anything. I was just getting back at you the other day.” Jahnvi thought of her plan, ready to execute in two months and said evasively, “Umm cool.”

She then shifted on her side of the bed and was on her phone again. She messaged Sid. Prantik’s phone buzzed that minute. He grabbed the phone and sitting on the same bed as his wife, resting his head on the head stand, he replied, “Hi. What’s up Jahnvi.”

Jahnvi felt a little strange that minute talking to this guy called Sid. She noticed boo who was, she was sure, planning his work schedule for the next day on his phone calendar. A little assured, she messaged Sid back, “Nothing much. Getting bored.”

Prantik looked at Jahnvi and then replied, “ Oh okay, what do you wanna do?”

Jahnvi: I will do something in two months. Until then I’ll just chill I guess.

Now Prantik panicked again. He replied, “Oh really what’s on your mind?”

Jahnvi: I am running away to the US to write a book without telling my husband. Serves him right!

Prantik laughed out loud. Jahnvi looked at him suspiciously. After all she knew Prantik and he was capable of a lot of Jhols. But it didn’t occur to her that her husband was Sid so she continued to chat with him.

Sid: Oh so you’re gonna be gone for how long?

Jahnvi: A year or six months mostly. Depends, I need to be by myself and take a vacation without boo so ya. I need to know if we work out even with my absence in his busy life.

Prantik wanted to reach her side of the bed and grab her and kiss her so bad. His Jahn was such a kid! But she was getting worried about his wife’s escape to the US without telling him. How would Jahn stay alone? Was her trip well planned? Had she booked a safe AirBNB for herself?

Sid: That sounds like an adventure. Have fun!

With that Prantik logged out and thought out loud, “What goes around comes around.” He deserted Jahn a few years ago and now she was going to desert him. He would call their travel agent and get all the details about Jahn’s travel plans from him tomorrow. He had to make sure his wife's adventure was well planned and most of all safe. 

He got up from the bed and said lovingly, “Jahn, it’s just 10 pm, you wanna go out to dinner right now?”

Jahnvi jumped from the bed happily and said, “Yes boo, yes! Sushi okay?” Jahn then hung onto Prantik in his arms and stared at him with pure love before she got dressed to have a night out with boo after so long!

‘In the Lives of Mr. & Mrs. Saxena’, Sequel to ‘The Love Game’, Season 3: Episode 2

 "You know, sometimes the greatest relationships fail because of lack of communication." 

“What the hell just happened?” Prantik, standing dumbfounded in the middle of his living room, scratched his head and wondered out loud. “What’s going on in Jahn’s head?” He sat on the sofa, the pale purple fluffy sofa that Jahn had picked out when they were decorating their dream home, dad had gifted them, after marriage.

Life was so good with Jahn. She was the perfect wife and lately he felt like they were growing together. Sure, he was busier than ever with work but he had goals for his family. “Gotta work hard man.” Prantik said aloud and went back in the room to Jahn. He thought on the way that maybe if was just Jahn’s one of those off moods because lately, she couldn’t write again.

“Jahn, the Ac is on 18 degrees.” Jahnvi was laying in bed, coverlet right upto her chin and reading a book. Funnily the remote of the AC was firmly held in her hand.

“This is the temperature I actually like. I often feel like I’m sleeping in the desert with you with 22 degrees.” Jahnvi said off handedly.

Prantik reached over to Jahn and bent sideways to face her and saw her lovingly. His wife was funny sometimes. “Jahn I need the remote, it’s too cold.” He reached to grab the remote but Jahnvi snatched it back. Prantik actually laughed. There was this instant where both of them stared at each other but Jahn being Jahn was a brat so she didn’t give him the remote.

He went over to his side of the bed and picked up his pillows and blanket and went to the guest room to sleep that night. He didn’t notice that Jahnvi was teary eyed again. Jahnvi didn’t tell him she couldn’t sleep without feeling him next to her.

Sleeping in the guest room, Prantik felt like a librarian because the room doubled as Jahn’s book collective. There was literally no place for more books in the house! He resignedly settled on the guest bed, next to Jahn’s Love seat and laid down with the AC on 22 degrees.

He wondered again, “What did I do to Jahn? What happened that she was so pissed off? Fuck! For all he knew everything was going so smoothly in their lives. His work was great and he and Jahnvi were like the perfect couple. His seniors at work admired them both so much. Prantik for his maturity and Jahnvi for her witty responses. “Why are you upset with me babe?” Prantik asked aloud. “Why at this stage when we’re ready to start a family?” Prantik felt perplexed but Prantik being Prantik (The boy at heart) he just calculated the figures he needed to make until year end for his future kid’s education fund and then he drifted off to sleep.

Come morning, Prantik snuck into their bedroom to see his Jahn soundly asleep with the temperature on bloody well 22 degrees! He shook his head and giggled a little, then changed into his shorts and sleeveless vest to go for an early morning run. He needed to introspect the situation with his wife.

Jahnvi woke up feeling heavy hearted. She found Prantik had already left for work. It was 10 am. Last night, for the first time in their five years of marriage, Prantik and she had slept separately. Today, she felt disoriented. She put on her robe and went into the kitchen. She asked Neetu to prepare her some Chinese herbal tea while she sat in the living room rummaging the papers.

After a shot of some Chinese tea, she felt better and then realized that whatever the roadblock with her husband, she should not have fought him last night for the stupid AC remote. She thought maybe she should just tell him tonight how she felt out of sync with him lately over a nice dinner she’d prepare for them. Mind made up, she reached over to her cell phone and speed dialed Prantik.

Tring, tring, tring…

“Hello..Jahn..I’m…” Prantik was about to apologize to Jahn cluelessly because he couldn’t do another night in the guest room when his secretary interrupted him. “Sir, we have an emergency with Raghav’s testing of the new app. We need you to run a test check yourself.”

“Hi boo. Listen I was wondering if you could come…” Jahnvi’s voice trailed off as she heard his secretary through the phone.

“Damnit! Jahn, listen, whatever you want, just mail me, I’ll get it for you okay? Love you, bye.” And Prantik rushed on the floor and started working on the latest app development his colleague was working on for a week. The app delivery was due tomorrow so he couldn’t take a chance.

“Mail me!” Her husband’s distant words rang loud in her ears! She held the phone close to her heart and sank deeper into the couch. She started crying. Now she had to reach her own husband through mail?!

“Madam, aap ke liye ek aur chai?” Neetu came to Jahnvi and softly asker her boss lady to issue some comfort to her.

Jahnvi opened her eyes and smiled at Neetu. “Nai, theek hai Neetu. Aaj kya banaogi?”

Jahnvi went into the bedroom and closed it shut. She sank into the soft mattress on their bed and just laid there for the rest of the morning.

She decided she needed to call Sim and ask her if she was overreacting with her situation with Prantik.

“Hey Sim, catching you at the wrong time?” Jahnvi asked hopeful that her dear friend was not busy at that minute. Sim and Roy made a great working pair, churning out originals after originals in their designs.

“Mrs. Jahnvi Prantik Saxena and my darling spoilt friend, what’s up baby? I’m free right now. Anything urgent?” Sim asked a little concerned since last Sunday.

“Sim it’s just that, Prantik and I, I think we’ve reached stagnancy of sorts. I don’t know if we’ve hit a roadblock or something but it doesn’t feel right somehow. He isn’t my boo anymore. He’s all suit up and head down working all the time since a year now.” Jahnvi confessed to her friend.

“Oh God Jahn, it’s going to be okay. I’ll talk to him okay? Now cheer up my love and come meet me at the boutique. We’ll spend the day together. I’ll order some nice desi Chinese. What say?” Sim asked lovingly.

“Ya Sim Ya, that’s a great idea. I’ll just change into something more appropriate and come see you. You’ll make me feel better. You’re my Santa!” Jahnvi smiled through the phone. Hung up and went to change her clothes.

Sim, Roy and Jahnvi spent the day together, laughing and pulling each other’s leg all day. Little did Jahnvi know that although Prantik was working the whole day, his mind was on his Jahn.

While joking with Sim, she actually mailed Prantik. She wrote, “Babe, get me a ruby necklace. Add a string of diamonds to go with it. Thanks, that’ll be all.” Jahnvi laughed out loud thinking he wouldn’t actually pay any attention to her mail but guess what?

Prantik read the mail and while working on the testing of the app he went online and picked out a neat Ruby for his girl. It would be delivered by the end of the week the mail from Forevermark said.

Satisfied that he had satisfied his wife, he happily worked 15 hours that day. He returned home to see Jahnvi waiting for him as usual.

“Babe get me dinner, I’m starving.” Prantik took a seat at the dining table and loosened his tie.

Jahnvi uncertainly served him but didn’t know if she should start a conversation they left off on the phone in the morning. She ate with him silently. She expected him to ask her what she wanted to say to him but he didn’t ask her. Jahnvi got upset. Again. “Why was her husband so clueless?!”

Prantik was a little ticked off at dinner. He just thought that Jahnvi was acting too weird. He didn’t make any of it and just went into the bedroom to sleep.

“So Boo about our mid-year break as usual, where are we going this year?” Jahnvi asked hoping to start a light conversation with her husband.

This time Prantik snapped. “No vacation this year babe. You made sure of that. Happy “homydays” Jahn!”