Chapter 45: chapter 45

CHAPTER-18GOWRIWe still have roughly half an hour to reach our hometown and I am nervous. As the time nears I have second doubts about my acting skills. Most of the time in family, I maintain a poker face but I am not sure if that will be helpful now. If my parents or MIL finds out that we both are acting then I am sure as hell they will do everything to unite us. Which we both don't want. So, the best thing is to make them believe that we are happy until the last minute till we get a divorce.“Love, why are you nervous?” Shiva asks looking at my knees that are bouncing up and down. My nervous trait and I am surprised Shiva knows it.I voice my fears to him and he gives a low whistle. “Don't think about getting caught if you don't want to. For three days, just believe that this marriage will last forever and we are meant to be together till our last breath. Besides, we have to be intimate at times.”My heart skips a beat at the last sentence. “Intimately in the sense?” I ask though I know the answer to it.“Like hand-holding, hug, kiss-”Hand Holding- Totally fineHug- OkayBUTKiss- Nope. Not going to happen.My stomach drops as I get visuals of Shiva kissing me. I will be honest, I have never kissed anyone and have never given a thought to it. I look at Shiva and unconsciously my eyes go to his lips. What would be like to have his lips against mine?HOLY FREAK! STOP! Stop Fantasizing About Him. I shake my head and meet his eyes but his gaze is locked on my lips. He meets my eyes and I am surprised by the intensity in his eyes. He gives me small smile before turning his focus on the road.Was he also thinking about kissing me?🍀🍀🍀🍀We reach our hometown by six-thirty in the evening. I tell Shiva directions to the tailor’s shop. We stop before a shop filled with fabrics and a mannequin dressed in a saree. “Is this tailor invited to the reception?” Shiva asks killing the car engine.“Yeah,” I tell unbuckling my seatbelt.“Okay then,” Shiva says.Before I can understand what that ‘okay’ means he is already out of his car and opens the door for me.“Shiv-” I open my mouth but he places a finger on my lips. “Shhh. Time to test our acting skills,” he tells in a soft tone.“I don't get you,” I tell as he removes his finger from my lips.“You are not sure about your acting skills, right? We will test it out here. More like a rehearsal before the main drama.”“But-”“This tailor is a third person to you. She doesn't know anything personal about you well–except for your body size. So, she will the perfect audience for the trial.”He has a point. It is true the tailor doesn't know a lot about me and this is a good chance for us. I finally nod my head in consent. Shiva gives me a relieved smile. “Okay, love, come on, we will get your blouse,” he tells lacing our fingers together. I blush and lead the way to the shop. I remove my slippers and enter. Shiva follows suit. The tailor Ramya is a forty-year-old woman and she has been my tailor since my childhood. “Hello, aunty,” I greet the woman who is having a measuring tape hanging on her shoulder with a pair of scissors in her hand ready to cut a piece of clothing. She looks up and smiles warmly at me.“The bride is here,” she tells smiling. Her smile morphs into confusion when she sees behind me.“This is Shiva. My husband,” I do the introduction.  “Shiva, this is Ramya aunty. My tailor since childhood.”“Nice to meet you,” Shiva tells flashing a wide smile. The woman’s smile stretches from ear to ear as she takes in Shiva and replies, “You both make a good pair.”“My blouse,” I ask her. She motions me inside an inner room. I tell Shiva to wait and go to the room. She rummages through a wooden cupboard and then takes out a bag.“Your mom told me that you haven’t gained your weight, so I stitched with your old measurements. Try it on and see,” she tells handing me over the bag. I take out the blouse that is heavily designed. I stare at it in awe. The blouse is amazing. I give her a nod and go to the small space which acts as a dressing room in the shop and try it on. I look at the mirror and wow, the blouse fits me perfectly. The sleeve comes till my elbow and the blouse covers my back totally. “It is perfect,” I tell coming out of the room after trying it out.“I thought so. You haven’t gained weight like most women. So, what does your husband do?”“He is a CEO of a company.”“You mean the head?”I nod.“The fee for this blouse is eight thousand.”“That is expensive,” I tell.“Ah! Come on, look at the design work. Isn't it lovely? That is why it is costly,” she tells taking the blouse to the front roomInstead of giving the blouse to me, she hands it over to Shiva and says, “That would be eight thousand.”Oh no! I am the one who is going to pay for the blouse. Shiva doesn’t miss a beat when he says, “Do you have a POS machine? I don’t have cash, only a card.”Woah! That was amazing. He actually sounds like he is going to pay.“Yeah, we have it,” Ramya tells it and goes to the cash counter while I go near Shiva. “I will pay you back later,” I mutter under my breath. But Shiva shakes his head and moves to the counter with the same smile.“Don’t you think the cost of the blouse is too much?” Ramya asks Shiva.“Honestly, I don’t anything about women’s fashion or dresses. So, I don’t know. But if Gowri likes the blouse then I will pay for it,” Shiva tells with a sweet smile that sure makes Ramya swoon. Then turning to me he asks, “Love, do you like the blouse?”Ramya is not the only one who is swooning now. “Yeah,” I reply in a daze.🍀🍀🍀🍀“So, how was the acting?” Shiva asks when we are back in the car.“Yeah, we nailed it there,” I tell.He grins and says, “Are you confident enough now?”“Yep,” I say buckling my seatbelt. “Tell me your account number. I will transfer the money back.”“Not until we get back to Chennai. Now, you are my wife and I have no problem spending money on you. In the same way, you should have no problem letting me spend for you.”I open my mouth to protest but he turns up the radio volume drowning my protest.🍀🍀🍀🍀