Chapter 43: chapter 43

CHAPTER-17GOWRIThe next few days pass quickly. I start counselling in another school and Shiva is back in his company. The only time we see each other is during coffee time in the morning. We have an unspoken agreement that the one who comes to the kitchen first will make coffee for the other. Those five minutes when we drink the coffee we have a simple conversation. Then again we carry on with our lives. “Good morning,” Shiva greets me on Wednesday morning.“Morning,” I say handing him his cup of coffee. He gets it with a grin. I try not to stare at him when he drinks it but to no avail. I love watching him devour my cup of coffee. He takes a sniff of the coffee and sighs in pleasure. That sight makes butterflies flutter in my stomach. A grin spreads on my face as I take my cup of coffee. “How many days have you applied for leave?” he asks.“Three.”“All packed for the journey?” I nod.“We will start in the afternoon. I have a meeting in the morning. Is that okay for you?”“Totally fine.”“Right from the moment, we get into the car  till we return we have to act as a newly married couple.”“Okay.”🍀🍀🍀🍀“Ready for the journey?” Shiva asks as I come out of my room with my travel bag. He is in a T-shirt and jeans and looks like a college student rather than a CEO of a company. Wait! No Don't Think But DAMN HE IS ATTRACTIVE.“Yeah,” I reply a little nervous and excited. I avert my gaze away from him. He gets my bags from me and heads to the car while I do a routine check of the house.  I check every room excluding his because yeah, we still don't enter the other's room. I double-check the kitchen and the stove and all electrical appliances before closing the door to lock it.I have been in this house for two and a half months and will be away from it for only three and a half-day but I could already feel the longing of my room's pink walls. The bed and all. I love this house and I am not sure how I will be able to leave it after nine and a half months.I insert the key and lock the house and walk to the car that Shiva has parked outside. The sun is high in the sky and we have six hours to travel. Today is Thursday and the reception is on Saturday. Since this is the first time I am returning to my hometown after our marriage we will stay tonight at my mother’s house and then tomorrow morning go to Savitri aunty’s house.Alright, Gowri. Time to unleash the superstar in you.“Ok, Love, shall we start?” asks Shiva as I sit in the car.I put my pinky finger inside my ear and shake it. Did I hear him wrong? Love? Did really he address me? I give him a funny look.“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks starting the car.“Did you just call me ‘Love’?”He smiles and says, “Yes, I called you Love and will call you like that. Gowri is a big name and too old-fashioned.” “My name is old-fashioned?” I ask narrowing my eyes at him.“Yes, Love,” he tells grinning. “What about your name?” “Ahh! Shiva is a modern name,” he tells getting on the main road.I am about to argue when my phone rings. My mother is calling.“Hello ma,” I say.“Gowri, when will you reach here?” she asks. Her voice is eager and I could feel my enthusiasm increase as the time ticks. I am going to meet my parents after a long time. Sure, I speak with them on phone daily but that is not equivalent to meeting them in flesh.“By evening,” I reply doing the calculation in my head.“Oh. While you are on the way here, can you stop at the tailor, you know the regular tailor we go to? For your reception blouse,” my mother asks. My mother selected my reception saree and blouse because if I have a chance I would just go to the reception in a T-shirt and pyjama pants. But yeah, I know that is not an option so I let my mother select the saree and honestly she has a greater fashion sense than me. “One second,” I tell to my mother and turn to Shiva. “Shiva?”“Tell me, darling,” he tells with an amused smile. WAIT. What The Hell Happened To This Man? “Can we stop in between at a tailor’s shop for my reception blouse?”“Your wish is my command dear,” he tells. UGH. We will deal with the nicknames later. Shaking my head I return to my call.“Ma, sure we will drop by,” I tell.“Gowri, is Shiva really that sweet with you? Oh my God. It is not even three months and he is already listening to you. Lucky for you. I just wish your da-”I know where this is going. “Ma, I will call you back.”“Yeah, bye,” she tells and hangs off.I turn towards Shiva narrowing my eyes at him. He is driving the car slowly and is enjoying the drive.“Ok, now explain what was that?” I ask in my stern tone so that he knows I am all business.“What do you mean honey?” he asks feigning innocence.“You know exactly what I mean.”“You don’t like my nicknames?” he asks in a mock sad tone.“Shiva,” I tell gritting my teeth and glaring at him. I hope my voice is intimating but Shiva laughs. I sigh and turn away to look out the window. I don't like him calling me with a nickname. Because no one has ever called me with one. Because the short version of my name is ‘Gow’ which is equivalent to ‘Cow’. If I had been stout and chubby that would be apt for me but I am thin and tall and the nickname doesn't suit me.But Shiva using a nickname feels intimate.  No one bothered to give me a nickname and it tugs my heart gently. I don't want us to get intimate because it will make it difficult when we leave. “Gowri,” he calls after a few seconds. His voice is soft and a little apologetic. I don’t turn around. I keep looking out the window like I am not interested. “I am just doing my role as your husband. Having a nickname will sell our lie easily.”I sigh again. He is right. We are married and we have to act like that, not like two strangers or friends. It would arise suspicion. “Alright, I understand. But don’t use nicknames,” I tell knowing full well that he will not listen to me.“Ok, Love,” he tells. I scowl at him but he just laughs.🍀🍀🍀🍀