Keerthi was in her room, freshening up, as she hummed to herself. She wore a red top and a black track pant, moisturizing her skin as she rubbed circles on her feet as she sat on the edge of the bath tub, delaying getting out of the room as she recollected her mother in law’s words.
“Vikram was looking for you. Talk to him, yeah?”
The words were simple, not really that fear worthy that she had to hide in the washroom.
But she was in no mood to talk to her husband.
Every conversation with him lead to an argument. And she had a brilliant day, she wanted it to remain the same.
She glanced at her phone by the sink, nine twenty.
Keerthi sighed, as she reluctantly got up. She had spent almost thirty five minutes in the washroom. She silently prayed Vikram had slept, or was out.
Vikram was miffed with his wife, no doubt. The recent events urging him to yell at her, having done with her. He had so much pent up frustration on her, which he knew would be disastrous when it finally came out.
But he was determined to not make that day today. He didn’t want to argue with his wife over where she went and why she didn’t find it necessary to intimate the same to him.
She should be responsible. She herself should see why it wasn’t right to not inform him. Granted, she had informed his mother. But it wasn’t nice to not know. She should have maturity to deal with things. If she didn’t find it necessary to inform him, that spoke volumes about how much she valued their relationship. She didn’t. It was simple.
He knew Keerthi didn’t commit a sin that he was coming to such conclusions. But the recent events were tipping him off the edge.
He sighed, diverting his attention to his work as he checked his e-mails.
Keerthi timidly walked out of the washroom, to find her husband typing away on his laptop.
“H.. Hi”, She stuttered.
Vikram stared at her.
“Hi”, he said eventually.
Keerthi waited. For the first word, first movement. Anticipating the worst, though she had no idea what she had done.
When Vikram found her standing for longer than necessary, he lifted his head up.
“Do you want something?”
“Um. No.”
Vikram raised his eyebrow.
Keerthi was confused. Didn’t he want to talk?
Vikram ignored her, getting back to his work as he let her stand there and stare at whatever she wanted.
Keerthi awkwardly stood for another minute , deciding it was best she slept.
Her legs took her to her side of the bed, unfolding her duvet, as she got in.
Though Vikram looked like he didn’t want to talk, she was confused. Why would her mother in law say it then. Had he asked for her while she wasn’t at home?
Keerthi’s eyes widened.
Shit.
She had not told him that she was going home today. Was that why he was looking for her?
She turned to get side, finding him still engrossed in his work. He particularly didn’t look mad at her, but she decided it would be better if she told, defense was the best form of offense, after all.
“I had been home, to my mother’s place”, Keerthi blurted out.
Vikram’s concentration broke upon hearing his wife. He wondered why she told him now, though.
Vikram nodded, merely glancing at her.
“Are you mad at me?”, Keerthi asked, unable to take the tense silence.
Vikram sighed. He wished his wife would shut up. He wasn’t exactly in a very talkative mood.
When Vikram didn’t reply , Keerthi got up, sitting up on her side.
“Vik.. Vikram”, she whispered, terrified.
“What Keerthi?”, Vikram grumbled, annoyed.
Ugly visions of her father hitting her mother clouded Keerthi’s mind, just because they had gone to the supermarket to get Keerthi’s favorite ice cream, without her father’s permission. Keerthi was twelve then.
She shut her eyes, terrified if the scene would repeat, replacing her mother with Keerthi.
“I.. I–“Keerthi stuttered, unable to let words past her throat.
“For God’s sake, why are you crying?”, Vikram was getting irritated.
Keerthi trembled in her spot, worst scenarios running in her head.
Vikram closed his eyes, reining his temper. Though he was mad at her, he wasn’t a monster. He didn’t derive pleasure seeing her cry. It was the opposite. He hated seeing women cry.
He tried to be gentle.
“Keerthi, please stop crying. Did something happen?”he queried softly, wiping her tear stained cheeks with his thumb.
Keerthi flinched when Vikram’s hand cupped her face, expecting the worst, as she shut her eyes tightly.
Though Vikram was on the verge of losing it, he remained calm. He promised to try.
“Keerthi, look at me”, he ordered softly.
“I.. I am Sorry”, Keerthi whimpered.
“What are you Sorry for?”Vikram frowned.
“I.. It just slipped out of my mind to inform you. It wa.. wasn’t intentional”, Keerthi rambled on.
Vikram frowned in confusion, understanding setting in after some time. He guessed she was talking about going to her parents’ place.
“About going to your parents’ place?”
Keerthi nodded timidly.
“I.. I promise I won’t do it again.”
Vikram sighed.
“Keerthi”, Vikram started out gently, as he held Keerthi’s trembling hand in his,”It’s alright. I don’t mind you going anywhere. What’s there to cry in it? Just inform me your whereabouts. I am not saying this out of control, it’s worry and responsibility.”
Keerthi sighed in relief,”So , you are not mad at me?”
Vikram wanted to deny, but truth was, he wasn’t angry. He was just upset.
“I am not mad at you. But I would like it if you inform me if you have plans. Is that too much to ask?”
“It’s not. I am Sorry I didn’t think about it.”
“It’s alright”, Vikram felt lighter after the conversation.
It was only when it was quite for more than a minute that they realised they still held hands.
Keerthi’s cheeks burned as she looked at their intertwined hands, she looked away shyly.
Though she found the touch uncomfortable, it felt oddly warm and intimate. Something she could get used to.
Vikram grinned at his wife’s blushing face, shaking his head to himself. He was tempted to make a remark, but knew they weren’t at that stage yet.
He squeezed her hand, making Keerthi look at him, as he let go of her hand.
He wiped the remnant of tears on her jaw with the back of his knuckles, making Keerthi’s breath hitch, her pink cheeks flaming even more as she looked down.
She didn’t know what was wrong with her, why was she not asking him to get away?
Vikram found his wife too adorable, the redness on her cheeks filling him with delight. He just had a mad urge to touch his wife, though he didn’t know why.
As he brushed her cheek, he thought of how he wasn’t mad at her anymore. It surprised him. What a gentle touch could do. But he knew his wife being receptive had more to do with it.
“Good night”, he brushed the hair out of her face, tucking a strand behind her ear.
“Good night”, Keerthi’s voice merely a whisper.
Keerthi was in a shock. Had all that really happened. Her reaction shocked her the most. The fact that she was uncomfortable, but somehow found his touch warm and soothing. Accepting.
She was warming up to him, slowly but surely.
She grinned goofily.
Maybe this marriage thing won’t be all that bad, after all.