Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"To be content with life - or to live merrily, rather - all that is required is that we bestow on all things as we grow."

My mind spun and I held the ropes of my robe tightly, "What do you mean?"

"First say sorry." He imitated me and I had this strong urge of punching his face.

"Why?" I protested and he came too close, like almost a foot space left between us.

"You made me late in the morning. You stupidly threw my files in the storeroom." He reminded, looking into my eyes and then his gaze slowly tilted southwards, resting just above my cleavage.

"Pervert!" I groaned, tightening the lapses, looking away and he shook his head like reprimanding himself.

"Listen, I just want you to feed this in your little brain that never, never touch my files, alright?" He poked my forehead.

"Why?"

"What? Why?" He arched his one eyebrow and I twitched my lips. "I will do it again if you even think of hurting me."

"I apologized for that." He defended.

"Say sorry again."

"I'm not going to say that and" He smirked. "Do you realize you are not in a position to demand anything, ma'am."

I glared him and opened my mouth but again someone knocked. I gulped in anxiety and looked at him but he's in no mood to back away.

"Bhabhi, you there?" Paridhi asked from the other side and before I could answer, he jumped in.

"Yes Pari. She's right before my eyes." His teasing gaze never left my face and I flushed.

"Oh Okay! We are going to Rajvi aunt's home. Bye!" She informed and left.

"Abhimanyu, give me the keys!!" I stretched my palm and he gripping my palm pulled me closer, I was shocked would be an understatement.

He yelled on me last I checked and, now he was all pulling and touching me. That too, when I was, when I was just in a bathrobe for the love of mankind.

"Don't repeat that again and..." He tucked my hair behind ear and blew on my face, making me close my eyes. "...get ready we are going out."

I jerk opened my eyes to see him flaunting his contagious smile, it was completely unbelievable.

"Where?"

"Dinner. You said you want to dine out."

"And you're taking me out?" I couldn't help but ask and he chuckled, "Don't tell me you have changed your mind. I've reserved a table in Hotel Marine."

"No...no...Why will I reject?" I grinned to myself. "But are you sure, we are going. See, if-"

"I am seeing more than enough." He quoted equivoque and I groaned. "I mean, don't joke with me otherwise next time -"

"What?" He gripped my waist, sending chills down my spine. His breath fanned my face and his staggering height dwarfed me. "What you will do?"

"I...I..." I stuttered like a buffoon. "I will get ready."

He smiled softly, before patting my cheek and blinked his eyes. "Fast."

"Phew!" I breathed a sigh as he moved out.

I opened the cupboard, took out my clothes and strolled inside the bathroom again. My stupid face was all red and warm.

Get a grip on you Butu! It's just a dinner.

ESV nodded, 'Yup, the first one after marriage with your husband for the first time'.

***

I couldn't believe that we really were going to have dinner until he stopped the car before Hotel Marine, one of the lascivious hotels of Jaipur.

"Come!" He, like a gentleman, opened the door for me and clasped my hand in his. It was a first. He made a little progress finally.

"There's a reservation under the name Mr. &Mrs. Chauhan." Abhimanyu said to the manager and he led us the way to a private dining area.

"We'll order after a while." Abhimanyu said to the waiter as he came to give menu card.

"So...you liked the place?" He turned his full attention to me and I nodded, still astonished, did my words affect him so much that he was spending a good amount??

"How was your meeting?" I asked, nonchalantly and he threw a casual shrug, sipping water. "It was good. How was your day?"

"It was...boring. My boss wasn't present so I had basically pending works, that's It."

"Shall we order?" He asked, passing me the card and I skimmed through the list. "Mushroom pea gravy, brown rice, Cashew Cheese balls. That's it."

He called the waiter, placed the order along with Chapatti and butter and I took the time to adore him. This was what I wanted; a caring, loving husband. Deep inside I knew, he was a good man but the way things were going, I ought to think otherwise.

"Hey!" He snapped his fingers before me and I blushed. Shay! His teasing smirk was clearly saying that I'd been caught red handed.

"Um...do you usually apologize like this? Take out on a dinner?" I tried to divert his mind and he rubbed his chin. "I don't make mistakes generally plus who said I have taken you out as apology?"

"Then?"

"You wanted to dine out." He simply answered and I rolled my eyes. "Really? What about that when you wanted to take me out on lunch? I didn't ask then."

"Oh that! I said so that you'll stop mopping around." His tone casual and remarks pointed, that just made me annoyed. "So you are saying you were not at fault?"

"I never said that. I am really sorry and I apologized sincerely that time but taking you out was never in plan." He confessed and I thought to cave in.

"So, now will you tell me why the sudden change?" He asked and I licked my lips nervously. "I thought we can move over the fights and start fresh."

"I am sorry, I spoke too much that day but it was all in anger. I meant nothing."

I looked at him through my lashes. "Not even the part where you said you give a shit about me and this marriage?"

He fussed his gaze with mine, pulling me deep into them. "No, I didn't mean that." A slow smile crept on my lips.

"Just so you know, don't do that again." I warned him, muttering and the food arrived. He chuckled while waiter placed the dishes on table. "I wasn't planning so."

We'd our dinner silently; he was back to his self; snobby and cocky. He told me about his friends and asked about mine. So, basically, after three weeks of my marriage, I finally had a Normal discourse with him.

"Next Saturday my friends have planned to throw a party for us." He apprised me. "I was wondering if that's okay with you."

Realization drowned in me. So, this dinner was schemed to cajole for coming along with him.

"Oh!" I put the fork down. "So this dinner is all about that." My smile dropped, how could I think he would not con me?

"What? No!" He sounded aghast, "Why the hell do you always misinterpret my actions?"

I kept mum as I didn't know what to say, he had given me no reason to trust him. Not a single one.

"I didn't bring you here to get your assent. You can still say a no to the party; I have not given approval to them. I have no intentions of imposing my decisions on you." He was annoyed and after that, he didn't say anything.

"I am sorry." I apologized, sighing. "Don't mind." I, then, amended my words. "Actually do mind. You confuse me a lot, one moment you yell on me, another moment you go out of your way for apologizing. One moment you act all sweet, the other moment you ignore me. I don't know what to think."

Yes, I am confused. Too confused.

He just stared me, unblinkingly and I avoided looking at him.

"You are right. I've given you no reasons to trust me." He raked his fingers through his hair, "I am very non-descriptive. Introvert, you can call me. I'm trying, you know, I am really trying to give this marriage a chance."

"Sorry to interrupt, but it doesn't look like." I rolled my eyes, who he is kidding to? If yelling and fighting is a part of being normal, I think I'm abnormal then!!

His lips slightly curved, minutely "Yes because you're being weird. Strangely, I liked your attitude when you yelled on me that day." I raised my eyebrows at him to which he added. "But I don't want you to do that again" he resumed. "So I was saying I liked that attitude but after coming back from your home, you just changed and it started getting on my nerve."

"You didn't like when I behaved well?" Confusion evident on my face and he exhaled. "No, I mean you were behaving like a robot. You are not my servant to ask permission about everything you do. You have your own life and live it like the way you want. There's no need of asking my permission, you can seek opinion but not permit."

ESV tipped her chin, 'Do you want to revise your opinion about him babe? I think he's going to be henpecked way'.

I was surprised. Never have I ever thought a dinner could change so many things; and the change had to start from me. If I'd known that good food will emerged out his real emotions, I would've ordered food from Hotel Rajwada on my wedding night.

"So you yelled on me because of it?" I confirmed and he shook his head. "No, you misplaced my Gurugram project file and I had to work on that to get investors."

Oh ho! That's why he was sour.

"One last question?" I measured the air around by my fingers. "Why have you brought me here?"

"Because I felt we need to talk and you were not even looking at me. I'd no option but to take you out." He came clean.

"Okay, since we've cleared all misunderstandings. So are we good now?" He raised his eyebrows and I licked my lips, nervously. "Yes and thanks for the dinner."

"Pleasure is all mine!"

***

"You want some ice cream?" He asked, stopping the car near parlor and I grinned. "Of course!"

"Um...you wait, I'll go and get. Which flavor?" He quipped, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Caramel blooper!"

"Alright!"

He came back with my flavor and the regular chocolate, suited him actually! He was bitter sweet as chocolate. I engorged my nectarine, moaning while he licked the crème decently.

Oh come on! You aren't human if you don't lick the ice cream messily.

"You've got mousse there!" He pointed and I fixed my gaze of nose and licked my lips, asking if it's gone. He nodded but his face showed how much new it was for him.

"Phew! I am so tired." I sighed as he parked the car in garage. He chuckled as I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out, stretching my limbs, "Each and every nerve is cracking."

"Yes, you really did a lot of work. Eating and sitting! It consumes so much energy." He commented, dripping sarcasm cockily and I made face, see! He will never change.

"Hey Shree!" I stopped in my tracks as he called my name and raised my eyebrows, questionably "I need to work, so can you please make coffee for me?"

No, a big no.

"Alright! I will just get fresh." I acquiesced, bolting inside bathroom, rinsed my face and sprinted downstairs to make coffee for him.

My mind flashed the farrago slides of our conversation and a silly smile formed on my face. Funnily, my trick worked; he was indeed pissed off by my behavior and that led to this. Though his yelling on me was never a part of my plan but if it is the outcome, I wouldn't mind that.

I poured coffee in a cup and ascended the stairs that led to our bedroom; he was working on his study table. I silently tiptoed near him and placed the cup on the desk, his eyes darted on me and he conversed with a heart-stealing smile, "Thank you! Needed it, badly. You can go sleep."

"I was going to."

"Good night!"

"Night to you too, thank you!" I bid and crawled on the bed, pulling the blanket over me silently.

This was the best day....

Abhimanyu's Perspective

"Hello?"

"Sup?" Bharat chirped.

"Tallying the margin. It's commendable, 4.6% straight. I was thinking to open a branch in Udaipur as well. There are a few companies I'm having a great interest in. What do you think?"

"It's good. I was planning to take care of Hyderabad project. So that's way you'll be free for concentrating upon Udaipur branch." He suggested and I scratched my forehead, leaning back. "I was wondering should I head to Hyderabad for remaining work. So that you'll be having a clear way to start with."

"Yes, that's okay with me. I will prepare the presentation of framework for there."

"Okay!" I closed the files and removed my spectacles, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "So, why did you call?"

"Ah! I just forgot. I called you up to know if you guys are coming this Saturday for the party or not." He confirmed.

"Not possible; actually I've not asked her about it and I am leaving for Gurugram this Saturday. So why don't we plan this party next Saturday?" I refused.

"Don't you think you should be taking a break for some days? I mean it's just been one month of your marriage and you're working your ass off." He laughed and I joined him, "It's not about me only. Shree have her backlogged work as well. She hardly has time and I've seen that she's very tired after coming home. Saturday is the only leave and I want her to rest."

"So much of care, I see!" He exclaimed, wryly.

"She's my wife." I apprised him and he snorted, "Whom you don't accept."

"That was past and I buried it in past only. Now, we're okay. I sorted our problems." I retorted.

"Is this the reason why you're denying for the party, so that you can have some mushy moments with her? Or wait, are you already sleeping with her?" He punctuated with a nasty chuckle.

"Shut up, you leech. Even if I were sleeping with her, I wouldn't discuss it with you." I repulsed, feeling the caricatures profaning my psyche.

"Nah! I told you I've to go Gurugram on Saturday and meanwhile her work will be on track. So it's good for both of us." I explained and meanwhile I heard a shriek from the bathroom.

"I will call you back." I cut the call and knocked on the bathroom door, "Shree? Are you alright?"

No reply.

I knocked again, "Are you okay? Answer something or else I am breaking the door."