Chapter 11

AADHI

I started pacing anxiously inside my room. I couldn't think properly.

All I could think of were all the ways that everything could go wrong when he came.

What if Mom finds out something is wrong between us by the way we are acting toward each other? Which would only confirm the doubt that she had already

What if he behaves like that day again in front of my parents? It would destroy them to see their daughter married to such a man. What if...

Oh my God, I am going crazy right now!

What if he is bluffing? Maybe he won't come. It's such a long journey here by bus and I don't think he would come here leaving all the work in his office.

He has a car, dumbass,my mind retorted.

Whenever I had an existential crisis, I used to write everything down. I had a journal. I didn't write every day, only when I was sad or in a state where I couldn't think clearly.

My mind was not working properly, as if I was about to take an exam.

I hadn't written since after my marriage. So I started writing everything that came to my mind at that moment.

I didn't know how long I had been writing when I heard the doorbell ring. My hand stopped. My heart was beating faster, almost like arrhythmia.

My mouth was dry, and all I could think about was if Abhi was outside.

I slowly descended, as people do in horror movies, keeping a straight face. I prayed to all the gods that I have known. I said these words like a mantra.

Please don't be him... Please don't be him...

But I don't know where my luck was on that day. I could see a beautiful pair of eyes looking at me from the doorway. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

Even though I was anxious and scared as hell, I couldn't take my eyes off his.

Suddenly, I heard Sia screeching.

Oh my God, where the hell did she come from?

I didn't even notice that she was the one who opened the door.

By now, everyone was gathered there after hearing Sia's outburst. Mom and Dad were surprised that he came.

"She said you were busy," Mom said.

"I was, but I felt guilty about sending her alone here, so I came to get her and greet you personally." His words were as sweet to my ears as sugar-coated candy.

Everyone was smiling, appreciating what he said. But only I knew about the difference between his true self and how he behaves to other people.

They invited him inside. Mom offered him to stay with us since it was already evening and we could both leave the next day. He agreed.

Now I felt like I was hanging on a rope above the fire. I didn't know when I would fall and burn.

I decided to do everything carefully and not provoke him so that nothing goes wrong until we leave tomorrow.

Oh God, please help me!

All the while I just kept smiling at him whenever my mom and dad or Sia or Ria looked at me so that they wouldn't doubt our relationship. But I didn't talk about a single thing.

"Please go freshen up in Aadhi's room. I will prepare dinner for everyone," my mom informed him.

He nodded and turned to look at me.

Oh God, what now?

"Aadhi, will you please show me your room?" he asked innocently.

"Um... It's upstairs... First one on the left." I just told him the way because I didn't want to go with him anywhere.

"I think it's better if you come with me so that I won't get lost." He was smirking.

I looked around to see everyone was looking at me expectedly and my mom was signaling me to go with him.

I knew he was doing this on purpose. There were only two rooms upstairs and which part of that first one on the left didn't his brain understand?

Unbelievable.

Glaring at him, I said, "Okay," and started walking toward my room. He followed me.

When we reached my room's threshold, I showed him in. "This is the one. Make yourself comfortable."

Then I tried to turn and go back, but he pulled my hand, pushed me inside the room, and locked the door inside.

I was shocked.What the hell is he doing?I looked at him accusingly.

Part of me wanted to yell at him to let me go but part of me was horrified, wondering what he was going to do.

He is not the same person who entered this house. He looked as furious as when I saw him that night.

I was so afraid that he was going to yell and everyone would hear. I couldn't stop the tears that were forming in my eyes.

I don't know when I become so weak like this. He was standing there like a monster who was going to burn me with the fire in his eyes.

I couldn't look into his eyes anymore. I looked down to hide my tears. I don't know what came into his mind when he spoke, his voice was a lot calmer than he looked.

"Why did you run away, Aadhi?"

I looked up to see him. The tears that were formed before started running down. He looked kind of sad, not angry anymore.

"Why didn't you reply to my text?"

I wanted to answer him, but I couldn't. I felt like something was stuck inside my throat.

"I just wanted to talk to you, okay? I won't do anything like that...ever," he said.

I just nodded okay.

"Won't you ask what it is about?" he asked. I didn't say anything. I just looked at him questioningly.

"Okay, fine. I will get to the point. I am sorry. I am sorry for what happened that day," he admitted.

I looked at him surprised not knowing what to say.

He continued, "I don't know why but I keep showing you my bad side. I don't know why I am getting angry around you.

I mean I know, but...let's talk that about later." He was blabbering. That was cute. "For now I just want to apologize for everything I did to hurt you.

I was not behaving like a good husband, and I was not being a good friend.

I don't know what to say to convince you but the past two days I was going crazy. All I can think about is the hurt in your eyes. I will never hurt you again, Aadhi.

I promise. Can we be friends again?" He finished his speech and looked at me, expecting an answer.

I was convinced... Hell, I was impressed, but I didn't want to forgive him that easily. At least, I didn't want him to know that I had forgiven him already.

So I said, "Please don't do anything like that in front of my parents. You can hurt me in any way when we go to your home."

The tears that were already in my eyes and my choked voice made me look like that I was afraid of him. After saying that I left the room, leaving him alone.

I wiped my tears before going down.

Mom was working in the kitchen. Dad was helping her. Ria and Sia were sitting at the table talking with each other. I joined them.

"You have been gone for about twenty minutes," Sia said.

"So?" I didn't get what the problem was.

"So, I am asking, why did it take twenty minutes for you to just show your room."

Still, I didn't get it. What was the problem? I looked at her questioningly while drinking water.

"Sia...seriously?" Ria exclaimed. She always knew what Sia was thinking.

I was looking at both of them, confused.

"Was it a quickie?" Sia asked me, winking.

"What the hell is a quick... Oh my God, Sia... How could you even think like that?" I choked on my water.

"How could who think like what?" he asked, walking toward us and smiling.

I was stunned to see him coming toward us in this embarrassing situation. I didn't know what to say. Thankfully, Ria came to my rescue.

"We were just asking her if she showed you the room, that's it," Ria said anxiously, looking at me for help in case he asked any more questions.

"Oh," was his only answer, but he was looking down, trying to hide his smile.

Did he hear that? Nope... Not possible.I sighed in relief.

Mom informed me that dinner was ready. Everyone asked something about him. Thank God he was answering everyone patiently.

I was quiet, only answering questions that were directed at me. But Sia was abnormally silent. I looked at her wondering what was wrong with her.

She looked like she was thinking, but what about?

She would look at my husband and then get that pensive look again.

What is she even thinking about? Or is she planning something? Oh God...

After dinner, everyone decided to go to bed.

It was time to decide where he would sleep. The obvious answer was in my room with me, but I didn't want to be with him, so I decided to stay with the twins.

"I will stay with you two." The fact that I didn't ask permission informed them that something was wrong.

All three turned to look at me with a weird expression.

"What?" I asked.

"You should stay with him," Ria said.

"I just want to spend my last night here with you girls. Moreover, I sleep with him daily." I shrugged.

Again they gave that weird look. Sia is trying not to laugh.

What did I say? Oh my God...

"Umm... I didn't mean to say it like that... You know... I sleep in the same bed with... You know what I was saying, and shut up, Sia... I know what's going on in that dirty mind of yours."

She was trying not to laugh at me, even Ria was holding her laughter. After a minute the three burst out laughing.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and started walking toward the stairs.

"Hold on, Aadhi. Let's watch a movie before going to bed," Sia called out to me.

"You should join us too," she invited him.

He looked at me hesitantly, not sure what to say.

"Yeah, join us. It will be fun," I said and moved away from there without giving him a second look.

I sat on the right side of the couch opposite the TV. He came and sat near me carefully at a safe distance, without touching me. Ria sat on another small couch.

Sia was trying to decide what to play. She turned to him and asked, "Do you have anything in mind?"

I looked at him in anticipation, wondering what movie he would suggest.

"I am not a movie person. So I will watch whatever you play. It doesn't matter."

"Ooookkkaaayyy."

"Maybe I will playTwilight. It's Aadhi's favourite," she said, winking at me.

I loveTwilight. At least the first and the second one. But she didn't have to say that to him. He doesn't care about my favourites.

She played the movie and sat beside him. I noticed that their shoulders and the sides of their legs were touching, but I shrugged it off.

It's just normal. don't think too much,my mind said.

I was so into the movie that I didn't notice that he moved closer to me.

Now our legs and shoulders were touching. I turned to look at him. He looked uncomfortable. He was too stiff.

I didn't understand what was going on, so I turned my attention to the movie again.

After some time, he grabbed my wrist subtly so that no one would notice. I turned to ask him what was going on and saw Sia lying on his shoulder.

What the hell?

He looked at me uncomfortably, signalling me to do something. While I was thinking about what to do, her hands started running on his thighs.

That's it!

I was fuming with anger now.What the hell does she think she is doing?

I stood up immediately and turned on the lights. Ria looked at me puzzled and turned to look at them, agape.

But Sia didn't even flinch, even after I switched on the light and everyone was looking at her.

She took her time to take her hands and head off him, still smiling. After that, he sighed in relief and said, "I think I will take my leave now." He went to my room without glancing back.

Even now, she was sitting there as if nothing happened. I didn't want to argue with her, so I rushed to their room. I started making my bed on the floor because I was the plus one.

Ria followed me. She stood there watching me. Sia entered the room. That was when I exploded.

"What the hell were you doing?"

She didn't answer. She just looked at me smiling.

"You are jealous," she said simply.

Has she gone mad? Of course, I am. He is my husband, goddamnit!

What the hell are you thinking, Aadhi? Are you jealous? I asked myself.

"Are you mad, Sia? Of course, she would be. He is her husband. What were you thinking?" Ria yelled at her.

"I was just testing him." She just shrugged like it was nothing.

I didn't want to talk to her then. The more she talked, the more furious I got. So I just made myself comfortable on my bed and tried to sleep.

"Okay, fine." She gave up.

"I know something is wrong between you two."

After hearing that, I turned to look at her in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Ria asked.

"Don't you see there is no chemistry between them? They are not behaving like a couple."

"No. We are just acting decently in front of others," I lied.

"Yeah, whatever you say...,"—she rolled her eyes—"I just wanted to see if he is giving in to distractions."

"What do you mean?" Now I was intrigued.

"He could have not warned you and enjoyed my attention. You and Ria didn't have any idea what was going on.

But he didn't. He was too uncomfortable when I touched him, and he warned you about it. So now I know," she admitted.

"You know what?" I retorted.

"I know that he won't cheat on you," she said approvingly.

I glared at her but on the inside, it made me happy to hear that.

"Okay. But did you think it through? For God's sake, he is not a stranger, Sia. He is family.

What do you think he will think of you, and how he will treat you when he meets you the next time?" I asked her.

"I don't care. As long as he is good to you."

It made me smile thinking about how protective she was acting toward me.

"You should apologize to him for your behaviour first thing in the morning."

"No, I will not," she protested.

"Yes, you will. Now go to sleep." She rolled her eyes and went to bed.

I couldn't sleep thinking about all the things that happened today. I took my phone and decided to text an apology on behalf of Sia.

Aadhi

I am sorry for what Sia did. She was just teasing you. Please don't take it wrongly. She is not that type of girl

Abhi

It's okay babe.15

Babe?

Abhi

Sorry typo. I meant to say It's okay Aadhi.

I smiled at that message.

Abhi

I didn't take that wrong. I think she is just a naughty girl. 😉

It made me smile wider.

Aadhi

Thank you. You are so nice to think of her like that. Good night.

Abhi

Goodnight Aadhi. ❤️