Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“A woman can be demure, ladylike and the most prim and proper character, and still have a toughness and resiliency as apparent as a superhero style female character or a warrior or soldier type. It’s all about the story, the character, and the course of events.”

Shree’s Perspective

“Go fast and come fast.” Vidhi bhabhi grinned, hugging me. I pressed a tight smile and nodded my head.

“Shree, you’ve kept the gifts right?” Mom asked and I checked my bag to reassure her.

“Mom, we’re getting late.” Abhimanyu said, glancing at his watch. I made a face, how annoying he is!

I took elders’ blessings. As always Anshu Dada forbade me to touch his feet. I always wanted a brother like him. But, definitely not husband like Abhimanyu!!

“Will you move now?” He asked, pressing a tight smile just for his family, huh!! I walked past him and sat on the passenger seat, I was going my home today and away from this moron who was sitting next to me. He’s a total jerk, after our argument a day back, I didn’t see him much.

“You don’t need to come to my home.” I stated, looking outside. In next moment, I realized he’d parked the car in nearby parking allot and defused the engine. Confused, I turned to look at him and he looked straight at the road, blankly.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, drawing my eyebrows together.

“You asked me not to come to your home. So...” He trailed off, dryly. At that moment, imagine me with an axe in my hand and Abhimanyu lying on the altar, and I’m all set to draw it on him.

“I meant about the evening.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t come to pick me up, for I am staying for three days there.”

“Okay...” He chipped and infused the engine, driving me to my home while I kept twitching my face, looking outside and suddenly, it struck to me.

“And why did you stop the car there?” I questioned and well I had an idea but if my notion were true, I was going to curse him till the end of this world.

“I thought you are feeling suffocated with me in one car. So I thought you would love to go by public transport.” He rattled, casually and I started cursing him, inwardly.

May you choke in your food, may you suffer from dyspepsia, may you fell down from staircase, may you eat oily food that leads to high cholesterol.

“You don’t have any shame.” I stated, looking away and he scoffed. “I thought you have already certified me as twerp. So now no matter what I do, what I say, you will not believe me.”

“Being smart eh?” I scowled at him. “Let me tell you, this is not going to be the way you want. If you think you will get rid of me by spitting hogwash, you are wrong.”

He gave me an ‘explain-please’ look and I continued, “I am not going to end this marriage. Neither I am going to forgive you nor I will let you live peacefully. You have to give me everything. Every right. All of yours.”

Yeah, I was not going to give up easily, there’s no chance I would accept what he thwack, he had to be responsible towards me and he had to accept this relation.

“All of me?” He said, probably after gathering himself by the shock I’d just given him but the moment he opened his mouth, I died out of mortification.

Really a jerk!

“I didn’t mean that.” I muttered, looking away and turned to him. “And then you say you’re not a twerp.”

He laughed and unwillingly I metaphor it as the chiming of wind bells, soothing and loving. The next second I reprimanded myself but that didn’t change the fact that he had some affect on me.

“My mom has taught me to respect women. I am not impotent and I will not marry a girl for sex. Be it you or anyone. When I said you will have my loyalty, I meant it.” He propounded, looking straight. “I have no intentions of hurt-”

“But that’s what you are exactly doing. I am not able to understand where I put you off that you don’t want to give this relation a chance.” I mumbled, defeated. “How can I go with you knowing it’s a dead end.”

“I am not ready.”

“You could have told me this in Ooty.”

“You will never understand.”

“Because you never tried telling me.” I shouted.

“I wanted to but you never gave me any chance.”

“Huh? I didn’t give you any chance. Look who’s talking. You had several chances but you just never opened your mouth.”

“I came to tell you that yesterday and let’s not forget you accused me of infidelity, called me impotent and said that I married you for sex.”

“Will you stop chanting that word?”

“What? Sex?”

“Ugh! I don’t want to talk to you.”

“You wish.” He finished our chain of chat and drove silently, but the sickening silence started deafening me.

“Don’t you have music system in your car?”

“Is it just my notion or you’re really talking nonsense just to talk with me?” He looked at me, smirking.

“You could’ve answered directly about the question instead of drawing snide?” I twitched my lips.

“It’s Maruti Suzuki Ertiga I am driving with smart hybrid technology and ISG motor and it-”

“Why are you telling me this?” I was beginning to get pissed off, the way he explained features of his car. Yeah, I was not the car lover type. I just loved driving cars whatever I was able to get under my paws, technology mattered the least to me.

“Because if I have a smart version car, then why do you think it won’t have the music system?” He lopsided his lips, “And the recorder is just before your eyes.”

I mentally kicked myself in mortification, why did not I look around? Why did I get so involve in this conversation?

“I know.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Aren’t you talking too much? FYI, you don’t accept me as wife and I don’t see you as friend. So don’t talk to me.” I finished and after that he didn’t say anything. He just drove, gluing his eyes on the road.

“What did you want to tell me yesterday by the way?” My mouth popped with another question and his lips curved up slightly, “Nothing.”

I practically zipped up my mouth after that. I knew he must have been laughing at my interest of talking to him but I needed to be sure, so that he wouldn’t be in sour mood and my smart mom wouldn’t find out anything.

***

“Di!” Siya shrieked with joy and hugged me as soon as I set my foot inside my home.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” I hugged her back while mom and dad greeted Abhimanyu. He touched their feet.

“Maa!!” My eyes rained as I caged mom in a bone crushing hug and she laughed lightly, ruffling my hair.

“Missed me too much?”

“Yes so much,” I mumbled, “I’m not going back there ever again.”

My whole family laughed but I didn’t leave mom.

“Leave Butu! Let me meet my son in law.” I reluctantly left her and hugged my dad, while mom went gaga over that excuse of a man, Abhimanyu and he gracefully pulled up the facade.ESV frowned, ‘Your mother is so naive, he doesn’t know how cunning he is!’

My whole family had gathered up today to meet him and of course me. We had some rituals that meant to be performed here in my house. I am telling you, Indian wedding is not wedding. It is one month celebration of festival.

“Go son, get fresh.” Buadadi asked Abhimanyu and turned to me. “Show your room to him.”

“Is he going to stay in my room?”

“Of course, where will he stay else?” Charu bhabhi giggled and I rolled my eyes, gesturing him to follow me.

“I will get fresh first.” I announced the moment I stepped in my room and taking my clothes, I ambled inside the bathroom.

“Go!” I gestured him to go the moment I came out completely dressed and he looked at me, blankly.

“What?”

“I don’t have my clothes here.” He divulged and I pondered. “I will ask dad.”

I came out and asked dad for a spare pair of pajama and kurta. He handed me the clothes and I came to my room back. Mr. Hot jerk was leaning against the window that reminded me of my wedding night.

Don’t tell me, you are again going to divulge something destructive.

“Here!” I padded to him and he turned to me, diverting his attention and took the Kurta from me, “I will be down after getting fresh.”

“Hmm...” I hopped down to meet my family. It was more like escaping from his sight, no matter how much I pretended I was hurt and I would make sure that he knew it. ESV shook her Head, ‘Uh oh... So much, oily food. I believe your family wants to kill me by heart disease.’ as I picked the oil dripping puree.

“I am not eating this.” I made a face placing it back and someone extremely jerk chuckled beside me.

“Why?”

“What did you do, mom? Have you emptied the whole container while cooking?” I cupped my face, eyeing the rich gravies and oily purees.

“Ever heard a thing called ‘Gourmet’?” Siya smirked and I ignored her. “Mom, make me something light. Maggie, precisely.”

The whole table rumbled with laughter and Shikha aunt slapped my arm. “Grow up kiddo, you got married!”

ESV showed her tongue to her, ‘Thanks for telling me. I didn’t know.’

“Be quiet and eat.” Mom chided and turned to Abhimanyu, almost filling his plate with every dish. I pressed my lips tightly at the scenario.

He was trying his maximum to finish the served dishes but as soon as he finished, that would get refill by any of the member of my family and the expression he gave were priceless. That continued until he made a puppy face and requested mom to stop, since he had finished his dinner.

I am pretty sure; he will take an hour more than the regular toilet timings.

“Why are you going so early son? Stay the night here!” Dad professed when Abhimanyu stood up to go after lunch.

“No dad actually, I have a very important meeting lined up that I can’t miss.” He excused.

“Oh ho… Jij! Please stay. Can’t you give up on some bucks for your pretty half wife?” Siya pouted, looping her hand around his arm.

“Depends what my half wife will give to me.” He played along, much to my annoyance. Not the J-factor but the H-factor. I mean his angry and rude side was exclusively for me and he was cool with everyone else as I’d asked for his half of the property.

ESV plotted, ‘Babe, we can still do that. No prenuptial, remember?’

“Di!” Siya lightly pinched me. “Where are you lost? Jij is staying with us.”

“For the night.” Damn! I can’t get one moment, one single moment of peace.

“No!” She rolled her eyes. “For the evening. I mean, he will have dinner with us.” She turned to Abhimanyu, “Right jij?”

“Of course, HW.” He laughed, oh so they have become best friends now.

“HW?” Siya purred and he smirked. “Half wife.”

“Oh okay SJ.” She winked at him and he furrowed his eyebrows, “SJ?”

“Smart Jij!” She giggled and everyone laughed. I rolled my eyes at their drama. Yeah yeah laugh until you know the real devil.

“Come mom! I’ve so many things to catch up.” I held mom’s hand and led her to my room whereas Abhimanyu perched on the sofa with my cousins, aunts and of course, uncles. I placed my head on her lap and talked about everything. Mom recited some of happy moments during my wedding, asked about my in laws health and what not.

“Mom?” She hummed in response, stroking my hair.

“What has changed between us?”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean if I say I don’t want to go that home back, will you give me the crap of me being someone else responsibility and that house is mine?” I quested for the sake of testing waters.

“Are they not treating you good?” Mom became typical James bond type.

“No mom, they are very good people. I am just asking.”

“What you said is true Shree but that doesn’t mean you will not have my support. No matter how big you grow or how far you are, we will always be there.” Mom kissed my forehead.

“I love you mom.”

“I love you too, my little Butu.” I smiled when mom cooed me and some lachrymal discharge made its way by our eyes.

“Di what are you -uh oh, wait a minute are you both crying?” Siya narrowed her eyes and jumped on the bed beside me. “But, why?”

“No, we are not.” I wiped my tears and she rolled her eyes. “Liar! I saw you both-”

“Siya! Don’t trouble her and what are you doing here? Where’s Abhimanyu?” Mom queried.

“Oh jij has just left. He received an important call and he went.” She apprised and for a silly moment, I felt hurt why he didn’t inform me. Nonetheless, I knew I would be happier without him but still...

“Oh ho... Family reunion.” Rhea smiled, coming inside and greeted mom.

“I’ll send snacks for you girls.” Mom exited and within two minutes, Shankar brought snacks for us.

“You got time for me now?” I scowled and Rhea winked. “I thought to visit you a little late and then spend night here.”

“Cool idea” I chimed.

“Rhea Di, congratulations.” Siya snapped her fingers at Rhea. “My sources have informed me that you and Akshat bro are getting engaged.” And I narrowed my eyes, “Is that true?”

Rhea blushed and nodded.

ANOTHER STAB.

“Why everyone is hiding things from me?” I groaned and Siya eyed me, confused. “Who else have hidden things from you, Di?”

“Amm... nothing.” I turned to Rhea. “Now will you explain or should I wait for the engagement day.”

“Don’t be angry bird, Butu! It happened so quickly that-wait a minute how do you know about it Siya.” Rhea wiggled her eyebrows and Siya gave an ‘I-know-all’ look.

“Bhavna! The girl next your door is my classmate, you know.” She explained and we got the hint that her mother circulated the good news.

“Anyways when is it planned?” I asked.

“Not any time soon.” She shrugged off and with that I couldn’t realize when the sun disappeared and evening seeped in.

“Butu! Come down!” Mom called and we sprinted downstairs.