“Do you want some coffee?”
Vikram looked up from the newspaper he was reading to see his wife standing awkwardly in front of him.
“Yeah. Please”, he answered distractedly, busy reading the sports column.
“Okay”, Keerthi muttered as she made way into the Kitchen.
She saw her father-in -law enter just as she was passing by. Though she was reluctant, Keerthi found it necessary to ask him too if he wanted coffee, out of courtesy.
Vinod smiled at Keerthi,”No Keerthi, I don’t drink coffee. Acid problems”, he chuckled, making Keerthi smile too.
“Oh. Okay”, Keerthi gave her father in law a small smile as he patted her head and joined her husband.
Keerthi badly wanted coffee. But she didn’t know if she could make it just like that. She thought it was disrespectful. Making it for Vikram was one thing, making it for herself was a different thing altogether. She groaned, as she started making Vikram’s coffee.
“Here”, she grumbled softly, as she placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of Vikram.
“Thanks.”
“Hrmph”, Keerthi grunted, irritated and sad that she had to make coffee but not drink it.
Vikram glanced at his wife, assessing his wife’s mood, but let her be.
Keerthi knew she could just go in and make it, but she found it too disrespectful herself.
She decided she would go out to get some a while later , for a few days until she felt comfortable making coffee herself.
It wasn’t even a big deal, but Keerthi was irritated.
She needed Coffee. Period.
She was one of those people who were coffee dependent.
She sighed in jealousy as she saw Vikram sip, her irritation suddenly directed towards him.
“Your dresses are ready for today’s reception , right?”Sakshi asked the both of them, as she served breakfast.
Keerthi and Vikram uttered a “Yes mom” and “Yeah.”
All of a sudden Keerthi got a brilliant idea.
“I have to alter the blouse a bit. I’ll get it done after breakfast.”
Vikram gave her a funny look, the alteration facility was there in the boutique on the same day, but remained quiet.
“Oh. Is it? We can send the driver. He’ll get it done. Just give him another dress of yours for measurement. You will be tired today anyway. No point straining yourself in the morning too.”
“No mom”Keerthi blurted out,”I mean, it’s fine. It won’t take that much time.”
“Okay then”, Sakshi smiled.
It was when she was on the stairs that she heard someone.
“Hmm… Where is it? Where is my chocolate pastry?”, she heard Vihan hum to himself making Keerthi freeze.
Shit.
She was about to go back to the kitchen when she heard Vikram.
“Oh. I ate it yesterday”, Vikram said casually.
“What?”, Vihan was pissed off.
“Yeah, was hungry. So”, Vikram shrugged.
Keerthi silently heard the brothers, guilty.
“Don’t touch my food”, Vihan snaps at Vikram making him guffaw.
Keerthi shook her head, as she made way to her room, a smile gracing her lips at how Vikram didn’t rat her out.
Keerthi was deep in thought when Vikram entered their room.
“Can I borrow your car for sometime?”, Keerthi blurted out when she saw Vikram leaving, since her car was still at home and she was vehicle-less at the moment
“Yeah. About that, does your blouse really need alteration?”, Vikram ignored her question.
“Umm.. Yeah”, Keerthi averted her eyes.
Her reason seemed stupid even to her.
“Where do you have to go?”, Vikram probed.
“Somewhere”, Keerthi snapped, regretting it the moment she saw Vikram’s face.
Vikram was pissed off. His wife couldn’t answer a single question straight.
He shrugged, about to leave the room.
If she wasn’t answering him, he wouldn’t lend her his car.
“Okay fine. Wait”, Keerthi groaned.
“Well?”
“I just wanted coffee”, Keerthi covered her face with her hand. The reason seemed too childish when she said it out loud.
Vikram looked at his wife in disbelief.
And then, he started to laughing.
Keerthi uncovered her face, glaring at Vikram.
“Don’t laugh. Coffee is a touchy subject for me.”
“Why didn’t you make for yourself when you made one for me?”, Vikram grinned.
Keerthi’s face fell, as she looked down, awkwardly fidgeting with he fingers,”Um.. I felt weird.”
“Keerthi”, Vikram sighed, her insecurities were over the top,”You can make coffee , or whatever you want. You can be free and comfortable. Okay?”
“I know. It’s just new. So.”
“It’s alright. I get it. Come on. Let’s go.”
“You want to come with me?”, Keerthi was surprised.
“Why not?”, Vikram shrugged, trying to ease her worries.
“Let’s go”, Keerthi smiled.
***************************
Keerthi arched her back, straining her hands as she looked into the mirror, concentrating hard on the task at hand.
“Did I get fat in two days?”, Keerthi wondered out loud, cursing herself , as she focussed on pulling the zipper of her blouse down.
“Ugghh”, she screamed frustrated when she still couldn’t after some time when she heard a bang on the door.
“How long are you going to be in there! Come out”, Vikram said from outside as he banged on the bathroom door.
“It will take some time. You can wait or change outside if you want”, Keerthi screamed from inside, frustrated.
“I need to take a shower. So you better come out in five minutes.”
Keerthi sighed in irritation, folding her dupatta and placing it on her left side where the zipper was undone, thereby hiding it from view.
She walked out with a pissed off look.
“Finally”, Vikram rolled his eyes as he shut the bathroom door behind him.
“Come on, come on”Keerthi tried zipping her blouse.
“Are you guys ready yet?”, Sakshi knocked on their door.
Keerthi thanked heavens for sending a saviour as she quickly opened the door.
“Mom”, Keerthi started in a hurry without giving Sakshi a chance to speak, scared that Vikram might come out any moment,”Can you please zip this up for me.”
Sakshi obliged, gazing at her daughter in law as though she was the prettiest bride.
“You look really good Keerthi”, Sakshi smiled.
“Thanks mom”, Keerthi blushed.
She wasn’t even ready yet. She just had her lehenga on. She still had to do her jewellery and face.
“Get ready quickly, yeah?”Sakshi said as she walked out after Keerthi let her know Vikram was in the shower.