Chapter 46: chapter 46

SHIVA“To the left and then the fourth house,” directs Gowri.I park before the said house and kill the engine. The drama is going to start. Why do I feel like this is an important moment for us? Why do I feel like everything is going to change from here on out? I sigh and look at Gowri who is nervously playing with her handkerchief.I know I should not probably think about this now but I can't stop turning over the fact that she is cute in the Kurtha and Plazzo pants. Yep, I finally learned the name of that loose-fitting pants. All men out there it is called Plazzo pants and sometimes women get royally pissed off if you call it loose pants. So, unless you want your woman to stave you to death don't call it loose pants. Ok, fun aside. Now, time to get serious.I take her hand in mine. Her hand is small and it fits perfectly inside my palm. I lace our fingers together and tell her, “We are in this together. You and me. We will pull this off.”She stares at our linked hands for a few seconds before giving me a confident smile and saying, “We will.”I don't want to let her hand go. I may sound like a cheesy romantic. Maybe I am but I love holding her hand. Her fingers are long and I notice she isn't wearing any ring.  Finally, I let go of her hand and I notice with satisfaction that her face is disappointed when I unlace my fingers from hers.We both get down the car and I let her lead the way. This moment feels surreal. A year ago, I would not have believed that I would be married. Let alone stand at my in-laws' house. I take our luggage and channel my inner actor and walk to the house. Gowri rings the doorbell and we wait in anticipation. Though she tries to keep her expression neutral, I could see the excitement in her. The door opens and WOAH!What I expected was a warm welcome for Gowri. Because this is her first time back after our marriage. I expected my in-laws to crush her in bear hugs and tears but I didn't expect the formal aarti welcome with just ‘how-are-yous’ exchanged. There is excitement on the face of both the daughter and the parents but they are trying not to show it to the other. Alright! I Am Missing Something Huge Here. “Welcome Shiva,” says my father-in-law in a polite tone.I give him a polite smile, “Hello uncle.”My MIL gives me a beaming smile and says, “Welcome home.”Ok, now, honestly I am freaking out inside. Because these people are in-laws and I have no idea how to converse with them. I know my family is close with Gowri but if anything there is still ice between Gowri's family and me. I think it is time to break the ice.I enter the house followed by Gowri. My in-laws' house is small and has traces of a we-have-lived-here-for-years vibe. It is messy and cultured in an adorable way. My mother's house was bought three years ago and is still new. My house is still sterile and clean with me only the inhabitant for the past four years but this house feels different. I never thought unfolded clothes piled on a chair and faded-coloured walls would be beautiful until today.My MIL and Gowri disappear into the kitchen leaving me with my FIL. He is studying me with interest and I am suddenly nervous. The kind of nervousness you have when you make a terrible mistake and get caught with the teacher but the teacher being super annoyed doesn't let you off the hook easily and takes you to the principal room. The principal gives you an assessing look thinking about how they could punish you so that you will never repeat the mistake. That is exactly how my principal–no, sorry, my FIL is looking at me.Ok. Calm down. He is my father-in-law. What am I supposed to say to him? He will not eat you alive. Come on Shiva, speak something. Speak. The thing you do by opening your mouth and sound comes. Say something. Anything. Finally, I nod towards the TV and ask, “IPL match?”My FIL's face beams and I realise I have hit the mark. That one question gets started our conversation.🍀🍀🍀🍀GOWRI“So, how is married life?” my mother asks in a whispered voice when we are alone in the kitchen. Shiva and my father are in the hall. “It is not like you are speaking to me after three months. You only spoke to me yesterday night. Why this question now?”“You know I want to see your face reaction to check if your lying or telling the truth,” she tells.I want to laugh at that because if she can decipher my facial expressions then she would have stopped fighting with my father a long time ago. “Marriage life is okay,” I tell nonchalantly.“Okay?” my mother asks raising her brows. I shrug. How do you expect me to tell her that it is fantastic and peaceful when I am living like a single woman.“Is Shiva rude to you? Or gentle?”That I can answer.“He is the gentlest man I have ever met in my life.”“It is already two months and so tell me has it happened?”“What?” I ask blinking at her. She comes close to me and whispers.“But you told us we weren't allowed to sleep in a room together until our wedding night. Then how can that happen?” I point out. The last thing I want to do now is to have this talk with my mother. But unfortunately, I can't escape it.“I told you that you mustn't sleep together only for the first month of your wedding. Didn't Savitri tell Shiva that the ban on you both sleeping in the same room has lifted?”She definitely would have told Shiva. But Shiva would not have told me that.“Yeah, she told,” I lie trying to retract my words so my mother wouldn't know there is some distance between me and Shiva.“Then?”“Nothing. I was surprised that you didn't prepare a grand wedding night when the ban was lifted,” I tell but only after the words leave my mouth do I realise how that sounded. It pretty much sounded like I was suggesting my mother prepare a wedding night. Sure enough, my mother mistakes it in the wrong way as usual, “Yes, I should have done that. How stupid of me. Don't worry we will do that soon.”DAMN IT! Me and my stupid mouth. What have I gotten myself into?🍀🍀🍀🍀SHIVA“It is a six,” I am screaming with my FIL. My face that huge grin and I feel the highs of my favourite team scoring the runs. Seriously, I have watched cricket matches in past but have never enjoyed it like this. It is been only one hour since we arrived and I already like my FIL who is crazy about cricket and knows about every iconic match and its details. It only took me that one question about the cricket match to break the ice.“You know, Shiva, you are a pretty good company to watch the match. We should watch the next world cup together,” he says. “Of course, uncle,” I say meaning it. “What have you done to him pa?” asks Gowri a hand on her hip and glaring at her father. “We are just watching a match,” her father protests but she doesn't tone down her glare. He looks at me for support. “Yeah, Love, it's just a match and I am enjoying it,” I tell coming to her father’s defence.“Shiva, don’t let this man spoil you,” tells my MIL coming out of the kitchen. “He knows nothing other than cricket.”“And she knows nothing other than complaining,” counters my FIL. My MIL opens her mouth but Gowri cuts her off, “Ok, enough. I am hungry. Let’s eat.”🍀🍀🍀🍀“How does Gowri cook? You like her cooking?” asks my MIL.“Shiva you are lucky, you get to taste her coffee daily but all I get here is coffee powder in hot water,” complains my FIL.My MIL glares at him but before she could say something I interrupt, “Gowri is amazing with her cooking skills and uncle you are right her coffee is my favourite.”“So, where have you planned to go for your honeymoon? It is been already three months you know,” my FIL asks.“I have been planning it for the last month but never had the chance to ask Gowri,” I lie and turn to my wife, “Love, do you have a passport?”“Yeah,” she replies searching my face.“We are going to the States for our honeymoon,” I lie again.“Aww,” gushes my MIL, “ At least my daughter will have a fantastic honeymoon. Unlike me who went to next town for honeymoon.”My FIL glares at her and retorts, “Well, be happy that I even took you for that.”Then just like that, they start arguing about things I don’t understand. I look at Gowri. Her eyes are focused on her plate and her hand is shaking. ‘They had a love marriage that turned into a disaster. ’Her words come back to me and I understand how big a disaster it is. She gets ups suddenly making the chair scrap the floor and that gets her parents' attention. She levels them with a glare and I suddenly doubt who is parent and child here. Both her parents turn red in embarrassment and utter something about this is usual and nothing to worry about. But the damage is done already. Gowri goes to the kitchen and I follow her inside. She takes a few deep breaths. “Hey, you okay?” I ask.She nods but refuses to meet my eyes.🍀🍀🍀🍀