Chapter 41: chapter 41

SRUTHI“What has got you frowning?” Jaya ma asks me.“It is nothing,” I lie. There are a lot of things in my life right now that have me frowning. For starters, Madhav has become very busy all of a sudden. It is been a week since that attack on me. I still have no idea what happened to Madhav to turn him into a cold-hearted killer. My brother bluntly refused to tell me any details about Madhav’s past. He said something about friendship code and bullshit.His exact words were, ‘I am not in the place to disclose any information about his past. No matter how hard you try, I won’t be able to give the answers you seek. Madhav is the only person who can you give that. Ask him and he will tell you.’“He wouldn’t. We are not in that kind of relationship where we are comfortable with sharing each other’s past,” I argued back.“Then form that kind of relationship with him, Sruthi. He is your husband. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you agreed to marry Madhav. He may seem rough and violent on the outside but he has a good heart.”I sighed, “Vikram, you are telling me to embrace a killer.”“No, I am telling you to embrace a man who needs some warmth in his life. He had a shitty past. It was terrible than what we went through.”The conversation with my brother only ignited my curiosity even more. What could be more terrible than watching your parents get murdered? I want to ask Madhav directly about his past. I am sure that he won’t answer my question but it is worth a try. But, he is very busy. He rarely comes home. Even when he does it is late at night. I know that this isn’t the wedding season and there would be no rush in his jewellery shop. That could only mean he is out for his other work. I want to talk with him but I can’t seem to gather the courage to face him. I was harsh towards him that day. No matter how angry I was with him, I shouldn’t have yelled at him like that. He was just doing his task of protecting me. “You know, sometimes, it is better to have an honest conversation rather than brooding over like this,” Jaya Ma says.“What are you talking about?” I ask trying to act like I don’t understand her.“I am talking about the fact that you and Madhav are acting like two silly kids who fought and have no idea how to talk to each other again,” she says with a chuckle.“No, we aren’t,” I reply.“Sure, you are,” she says. “Do you think that I can’t see the looks of longing you both throw each other when the other is not looking?”My face wrinkles, “Looks of longing?”“You know what that means. You both have some unresolved tension between you. Resolve it soon,” she lets out a nostalgic sigh, “There is nothing more intense than a make-up session after a fight. The frustration and anger on him will add more to the intense moment.”Her words make an image pop up in my mind where Madhav is gazing at me with a longing look filled with heat and desire. I shake my head to clear that image. Holy Hell! I am not supposed to be thinking about Madhav in that way. I don’t want to complicate our already complex relationship. The door opens and the very man we are talking about enters the house.Maybe it was the fact that we were talking behind his back but my cheeks flush red and I couldn’t seem to remove my eyes away from the table. Jaya Ma leans near and whispers, “Anyway, woman, now is the right time. Talk with him. If he keeps arguing, then shut him up with a kiss, I am sure you will be the winner of whatever argument you are having.” My eyes widen, “Jaya Ma!” I whisper yell as she tries to stifle her giggles but fails fabulously to do so because Madhav’s attention is on her all of a sudden. I glance up at him to find him watching Jaya with a curious look on his face. I take that moment to see him properly for the first time in a few days. He is in a red shirt and blue jeans. His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows revealing his strong forearms. He looks tensed and his hair is all ruffled and untamed suggesting that he ran his hand through it. But his eyes are a brilliant shade of grey shining with a sharp focus and alertness.“What has got you giggling like a school girl, Jaya ma?” he asks pulling out the chair in front of me. I wait for him to look at me but he is utterly focused on Jaya Ma. Well great! There is no way I am going to have any talk with him today. My heart pounds faster. Every instinct in my body commands me to run to my room and hide. I am about to get up and walk away when a hand lands on my shoulder. I throw Jaya Ma a glare and she grins cheekily at me. “You asked me what is making me giggling, right? It is you and your wife. You both are acting all silly,” she laughs with a shake of her head and then adds with a wicked grin directed at me, “It seems like Sruthi wants to have a conversation with you but the poor child has no idea how to approach you.”WHAT THE HELL? I glare at Jaya Ma who gives me another one of her cheeky grins. A clearing of my throat makes me focus on Madhav again, who is—Holy Heavens! His whole focus is on me now. Everything around me fades as I hold the cool grey eyes that reflect the stormy clouds. His gaze is piercing and penetrating. I feel bare before his gaze. “Then I will have it with her Jaya Ma, if you will give us some privacy,” Madhav answers in a low voice. Goosebumps erupt throughout my skin. Why does his husky voice make my stomach dip low?“Sure, sure,” says Jaya Ma in a cheerful tone. “My work for the day is over. I will get going. Just make sure to lock the house.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥