Nishtha
"Good Morning Kumbhakaran!" I heard Aditi yell as she opened the curtains, forcing the sunlight right onto my face.
"Oh God. Aditi!" I whined, getting my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, "Good morning."
"Wake up!" She said, "It's time to work."
"It's 5am Aditi!" I said.
"I know, but time is money!" She replied.
I groaned and stretched and then got up.
Lazily, I went into the washroom, did my bathroom business and then took a warm shower and came out, dressed in a formal pant and shirt. I did my makeup slightly and came outside, where Aditi was getting her breakfast ready.
"I'm sorry for just barging in yesterday." I said, as I sat down with my chai.
Aditi laughed, "bro, you've been doing that since you were 7, why are you apologizing!"
"I don't know!" I said, "I shouldn't have shown up at like 10pm."
"You can show up 2am, I'd still open the door. If not then you have my extra key. Just come."
I laughed.
After the embarrassment yesterday, I didn't want to go to Yuvaan, nor his house. I was way too pissed to go back there. So, I dropped Aai Baba back home and then came straight to Aditi's place. Priya was at a family trip else she would have joined as well. Today, I needed to go back to his house - I didn't want to.
I knew he doesn't like me, but he allowed his lovely Bua to disrespect my Aai Baba, and then he claims that he loves them and respects them. Only his money respects them, and the more we get involved in their money, the more we treated the way we did yesterday.
"Okay! I'll leave now." I said, getting up.
"Okay! See you!" Aditi said and I hugged her and then left the house and booked a cab.
But, before I could confirm the ride, I heard a honk. I walked closer to the white car which was honking and was greeted by a familiar face.
Deepak.
"Deepak? What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Ma'am, Yuvaan Sir told me to take you to work today." He replied.
"What? How does he know where I am?"
"I think he just guessed, or he must have asked your parents."
"Listen, do you have anything else for today, Deepak? Any work?"
"No ma'am, I'll drop you then wait till you're done and then drop you home."
I smiled, "No need. You go home, to your home, and take rest."
"But ma'am?"
"Bola na! I'll go to work on my own, don't worry about. Besides I need to go somewhere else first and then work, so I'll go."
"I can drop you anywhere ma'am."
"I know you can, but I'll go, you go home. If Sir asks, tell him I said so."
"Are you sure ma'am?"
"Yes! And for the last time, it's Nishtha, not Ma'am."
"Okay Maâ I mean, Nishtha." He said.
I waved him a goodbye as he left and then confirmed my booking for the cab.
How did Yuvaan know where I was?
Did he ask Aai?
I got into the cab and headed towards Yuvaan's penthouse. My laptop and all work related stuff was there. I quickly went upstairs and went into my room and got my bag and came back down. I was about to leave when Jeena Aunty stopped me, "Nishtha?"
"Hi Aunty." I said, looking back.
"How come you're coming from the front door? Weren't you home at night?"
"No. I wasn't. I stayed the night at my friend's house."
"Oh. You have been there for the last 2/3 days."
"Yes."
"Beta... is everything okay?"
"Yes. All is fine."
"I really hope so. Do you want to wait for Yuvaan? He would be waking up soon."
"No, it's only 6am. He won't wake up before 7:30, plus I need to get to work."
She smiled and I greeted her and then walked away.
I got into the cab as it arrived and headed towards the bank. Once I reached, I entered and directly went to the accounts section.
"Hi. I want to know the procedure for monthly savings."
"Sure ma'am." The lady worked on the computer for 2 mins and then continued, "So, is there a specific cause for savings? That might make it easier to know."
"I need to repay a loan, so..."
"I see, okay so your account currently has about 3.4cr. From this, you can transfer 30,40 or 45% into savings, and then you can accumulate it and we can set your account details in a way that a certain amount of the money you earn will be atomically deposited into your savings."
"I see. Okay. Can you do that now?"
"Sure ma'am, how much would you like to put into the savings account?"
"Put 45% of the existing one, and then set the system so that 30% of what I get gets sent to the savings account."
"Sure ma'am." She did as I said and I thanked her and then headed out.
Then, I booked a cab and went to work. Once I reached, I quickly went into my cabin and started to work. I've missed out on a lot since the marriage and the trip and I needed to compensate for it. So, for the next 4 hours, I was working extremely hard. Insanely. Eventually, by 11am, I had made up for most of the time I had not given and was on par for the work I was supposed to do.
"Nishtha?" I heard my colleague Siya's voice, "Can I come in?"
"Of course you can, why do you ask?"
She came in and sat, "Firstly congratulations on your wedding. I found out who it was with through Rupert Sir."
"Oh, of course."
"Not many people get to marry their college crush, it's cute."
I chuckled. She has no idea.
"Anyway, what brings you here?" I asked.
"Oh right! There is an international conference for Data Science in next week and I was hoping you could come with me?"
"With you? Meaning?"
"Well, I'm the one hosting it."
"Oh wow! How come?"
"So, IBM is hosting it, and I've been put in charge of handling the Mumbai office and selecting who goes. We have to take you - you are a star here."
"What are the dates and stuff?"
"So, I've emailed you everything, check it out. It's going to be an all expenses paid trip from 1st September to the 15th September. We start in Milan, then we go to France, and then London, then Birmingham and finally Chicago."
Chicago. I missed Chicago.
"I'm in. I'll just clear my schedule for it first and then you can book tickets."
"Don't worry about that, that'll be done for you, we just needed your confirmation."
"Who else is coming?"
"We thought of asking your friend Priya Sharma, the consultant in YuBM."
"Oh! Nice! She's an asset." I chirped.
"Perfect! I'll take your leave now and I'll send you the booked tickets!"
"Sure! Thanks!" She smiled and left the room.
I rested my back against the chair and smiled. This is exactly what I needed. A trip with a friend, that too it's work.
Shouldn't you have asked at home first?
Asked who? Yuvaan, no need.
He's your husband.
On paper.
I brushed my double sided thoughts and then went back to work.
I finished work at around 3pm and decided to head home, even though I was dreading it. I didn't want to enter into that house again but I had no choice. It was still my place of residence until this contract ends. I sighed and gathered my stuff and then booked a cab and reached home.
Upon entering, I was greeted with silence.
Where was everyone?
"Jeena Aunty?" I asked, and she came out.
"Nishtha! Welcome back!" She chirped, "You go and freshen up, I'll make chai."
I smiled, "Sure!" I started going up the stairs and then I stopped her, "Aunty!"
"Yeah?"
"Make 2 cups."
"But there's only you at home right now?"
"No, there's two people. You and me!" I smiled and went upstairs.
I changed into shorts and a loose top and then came downstairs where my chai was ready. I told Aunty to sit beside me and I asked her which movie she'd want to watch. She chose one and I put it on and we started watching it.
"You're so sweet Nishtha!" She said.
"As are you Masi!" I chirped.
"How is work?" She asked.
"Oooh!" I paused the movie and turned to her, "I have some good news! I'm going for an international trip in a week!"
"What? Wow!"
"Yes! It's this Data Science conference and I have been asked to attend by my company. One of my friends is coming too!"
"That's wonderful. Does Yuvaan know?"
"Umm, no." I said, looking away.
"Why not?"
"We haven't had the chance to talk."
"Nishu.... Come on, give this marriage a chance, don't be so ziddi."
I turned to her, I was angry but I know that she isn't aware of half the things that happened so I had no rights to be angry, "Masi, you don't know what all happened yesterday and before that so it's very easy to say this but... it's not easy to act on it."
"You're right." She sighed.
"Anyway, come let's watch." I said and played the movie again.
We watched the movie till around 5:30, till we heard the door open and Yuvaan entered. I saw him stare at his phone while entering and I looked away. The man doesn't even care that he hasn't seen me since yesterday.
What did you expect Nishtha? That runs about trying to locate you. In your dreams.
"Jeena Masi!" Yuvaan said, "Please can you make a little more for dinner today? My friends are coming over."
"Okay dear!" She smiled and said. Then she got up and looked at me, "Chalo I'll get started, you carry on."
"I'll also help." I said and got up.
"Okay!" She said.
"I'll just get my phone from upstairs." I said and went upstairs.
I reached my room and was going to get my phone when I heard Yuvaan's footsteps. I wanted to leave but he had already entered.
I looked at him and suddenly the flashbacks of yesterday, the disrespect my parents felt, his silence as his Bua said everything.... It all came back, and I was, once again, angry.
"Nishtha... I wanted to talk to you." He said.
"I'm not in the mood." I said and tried to walk away but he held my hand and pinned me against the wall behind the door.
"Nishu, listen." He said, it felt desperate.
"I'm not interested in listening to you." I tried to speak, "Please let go off me."
"I'm not leaving you until you listen."
God, please help me.
His hand traced up my arm and he used it to cup my face. I looked at him, his eyes didn't scream anger, they screamed something else.
What was it?
"Let go Yuvaan."
"How is your health, Nishtha?"
"What?"
"How are you feeling? Are you taking your medicines on time? Are you visiting the doctor on time for everything?"
What's wrong with him?
"I am. Why?"
"When was your last appointment?"
"Why do you care?"
"I... I want to know. Can you tell?"
"It was 2 weeks ago."
"When is your next one?"
"Haven't booked it yet."
"Can I... come with you for your next one?"
What? No. He can't. He'll find out about my panic attacks and my partial.... Depression.
"What? No!" I exclaimed.
"Why?"
"Because it's my personal business."
"You're my wife. What personal business do you possibly have?"
I chuckled, "this time I guess I need to remind you Mr Nanda, we have a contract marriage, which clearly states that we stay out of each other's business. I'm just following the contract, as per your will."
I pushed him away and walked away.
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