Chapter 40: chapter 40

GOWRIThe whole room goes silent. It is not a pin drop silence but feather drop silence. I could hear the wild pounding of my heart. Everyone starts looking around for the voice that was not only loud but authoritative and commanding.Being on the stage, I spot the source of the voice and my heart skips a beat. Relief and dread both rush through me in an unusual combination. Shiva.He is standing at the entrance of the hall. His shoulders tense and his face is furious. He is angry. No strike that. Furious and raged. His nostrils flare as he fixes everyone with a death glare. He slowly enters the room and walks past everyone and heads straight to me.Though most of the people in the room are elder than him, they respect him and are afraid of his glare because few shrink back. I feel like a little girl getting caught by her parents for letting out a secret. I am afraid he is angry at me for this message. I seriously have no idea who took the pics of us. I very badly want to tell him that I have no idea how everyone here found out about my marital status. I can only guess it is the work of Jay because he was the only one who knew it.The whole room watches as Shiva climbs the stage coming near me. I am still a statute. Not sure how to act or what to do. He stops when we both have two feet of distance between us. The closeness only confirms the people's suspicion.Expecting an angered and hateful look, I meet his gaze. His hard and angered look turns into something soft and concerned when he locks his gaze with me. His eyes travel down my whole body to know if I am physically injured. “Are you okay?” he asks in a soft and gentle tone. But since I am having a mic in my hand and the mic is on, the whole room hears him. I see people flinch and give me disgusted looks.Honestly, I don't understand why he is asking me that question. Shouldn't he be refuting the people of their accusations by telling them that the photos were photoshopped or something like that?Yes, I am fine. That is what I wanted to tell him. But somehow when it comes to Shiva and especially when he is holding my gaze, my mouth doesn't know how to lie.“No,” my voice cracks in the unshed tears. Shiva blinks and the soft look disappears bringing out his anger again. He turns and glares at the people.He takes a few deep breaths calming himself before getting the mic from me. Then he scans the crowd with a cold and angered look. The look only intensifies when it lands on Jay who has gone to the far corner of the and is trying to hide.“So, this message,” Shiva says into the mic his voice harsh like how he used it to me on our wedding day, “concerns me and Gowri. But why do you question only her? If you want any answers, you can ask me. I am more than obliged to humour you.”The crowd murmurs about it and finally a brave soul steps forward and asks, “Do you know that Gowri is married?”I expect Shiva to deny the knowledge of the fact but he says, “Yes,” totally surprising me and shocking the school staff.DAMN IT! Why is he complicating things?A confusion ripples out among the staff and another asks, “Aren't disgusted or ashamed  to be together with her?”I hold my breath and watch Shiva in anticipation of how he will answer the question. As if sensing my panic, he turns to me and gives an easy smile that says, ‘Don't worry. I have got it under control.’Then turning back to the staff members, he says in a slow but firm and confident tone, “No. I never felt or will never feel ashamed or disgusted to be together with her because I am her husband.”HOLY HEAVENS! He didn't just confess to a room of people the truth.I stare at him in astonishment. The whole hall gasps in shock. My world comes to be a slow-motion all of a sudden. But Shiva doesn't stop there. He puts his arm on my shoulder and pulls me close to his body so that my whole right side body is touching his left. A slow smile spreads on his face as he declares loudly, “Let me reintroduce her,” he tells motioning to me, “to you all. Gowri is my wife.” My heart flutters but he continues, “She is Mrs. Shiva. Yes, as the message claims she is married. To me. We both had a proper arranged marriage. We performed a hell lot of rituals and became husband and wife.”My heart fills with joy. I never thought a day would when he would acknowledge me as his wife. If I had been alone, I would have  yelled back, ‘Yes, I am Mrs. Shiva.’  “What is the proof that you are telling the truth and not trying to save both your dignity?” the woman in her late fifties whose name is Shanta asks.Shiva takes his phone out swipes through a few times and hands it over to the lady. She inspects it and then waves it at everyone.OH MY GOD! I could feel my insides going mushy as I realize what photo it is. It is the photo taken on our wedding day. I never expected him to have that photo with him. All the hatred I have for him burns away with gratefulness and other emotion I couldn't name.Shiva gets the phone and swipes it again a few times. Then he holds it up and says, “Here is the copy of the marriage certificate.”The phone passes around people. Many nod their head seeming satisfied with the certificate.“So, do you all have a problem if I go down on my knees for my wife? Or if I serve her? Or if I offer free rides to her?”Some shake their heads no. Shiva continues, “Good. Know your limits and she will definitely stay where I am. So, I think the matter is cleared here.”“But why did both hide your marriage?” someone asks. I tense beside Shiva. He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze.  That reassures me that the situation is under his control.“I don't want my personal life and professional life to cross each other. Besides, if you all had known that Gowri is my wife, I thought it would make things awkward and difficult for her. So, I made her promise to not reveal her marital status to anyone and she is the dutiful and lovely wife,” he pauses and gives me an adoring look, “and has kept the promise even when she knows that people are defaming her. Now, I want every one of you who called her names and accused her to come and apologize to her.”“Sorry, Gowri,” Shantha madam is the first to apologize. “I should have asked you about it in private instead of making a drama here.”I nod my head. Everyone except Jay comes forward to apologize. I feel myself getting guilty. But  Shiva leans closer to my ear. His breath tickles my ear and he whispers, “You don't have to feel guilty.”HOLY HELL! How can he read my thoughts? He is the first person who is immune to the mental walls that I create.Shiva's hand is still draped on my shoulder and his fingers are drawing small circles on my shoulder blade. He acts like this is normal. But I can't. My heart pounds wildly. Being this close to him, I can smell his cologne that is making me feel heady and light. I like how his arm is protectively on my shoulder. “The one who sent the message in the group will have to meet me in the office in ten minutes,” Shiva says in a hard tone meaning he is all business. The whole crowd turns towards one person and gives him pity looks.I am not in the least surprised at that person's behaviour. Because, yeah you guessed it right. It is Jay who shared that message in the chat.Jay stamps his foot in anger and walks away. A low murmuring goes through the staff members. Shiva removes his arm from my shoulder and slowly turns me around so that we are facing each other. He turns off the mic in his hand and places it on the side. Then he takes my hands in his and holds my eyes searching them.“Are you okay? If you don't want to carry on the session then you don't have to,” he tells in a soft tone.I shake my head, “No, I have to start the session. This is my job.”“Are you sure?”I nod.“Okay, then. I will wait for you in the office.”“You are not going to listen?” I ask trying not to be disappointed.“As much as I love to, I have few things to take care of,” he tells shaking his head to the entrance.I nod my head in understanding, “Okay.”He smiles at me before letting go of my hands and walking down the stage. I turn around and it is only then I observe that the room has gone silent. My cheeks turn red as I realise that everyone in the room had witnessed our interaction. I look at the audience and many staffs are giving me encouraging looks. That is enough to get me started on mysession.🍀🍀🍀🍀