Vikram didn’t go to bed the whole night.
Keerthi saw her husband sleeping on the couch when she woke up to an empty bed. She frowned at his behaviour. They had argued multiple times, but Vikram never resorted to such measures, Keerthi thought sadly.
She ran a hand through his hair, letting him sleep, as she made way to the washroom.
Vikram woke up to the bath running, wincing when he tried to move his neck. He got up, massaging his neck, as he sat on the couch, flinging his legs over the table in front of the couch.
He stood up when he heard the washroom door open.
He saw his wife exiting when he was near. They look at each other, each having so much to say but choosing not to.
Vikram clenches his jaw, looking away, as he slams the bathroom door shut making Keerthi jump in place.
Keerthi sighed, her husband was still in a mood.
She quietly looked around, heaving a sigh of relief when she found Vikram’s mobile.
She quietly took it , feeling like she was committing a sin, when only she wanted to give a missed call to her own mobile.
She didn’t have her husband’s number.
Keerthi’s face dropped when the mobile asked for face recognition or password.
Of course.
What else did she expect? She thought of asking him yesterday, as there were high chances she would be late from office today. But give their equation now, she didn’t think it was a clever idea.
Keerthi froze when she heard the bathroom door open, her senses momentarily blocked.
Vikram was surprised to find his wife handling his mobile when he came out, dressed for the day.
Keerthi shut her eyes. She didn’t want to start her day with a fight.
She was bewildered when she saw an outstretched palm in front of her.
Keerthi blushes, handing Vikram’s phone back to him.
“What is it?”, Vikram asked softly.
“I.. I just.. that”, Keerthi stammered nervously, unable to maintain eye contact, when her husband was looking at her blankly.
“I just wanted to give a missed call to my phone”, Keerthi looked down.
“What?”, Confusion was evident in Vikram’s tone as he eyed Keerthi’s phone in her left hand.
“I don’t have your number”, Keerthi explained.
Vikram nodded, as he asked for Keerthi’s number.
Keerthi jumped when her phone vibrated in her hand.
“Th.. Thanks”, Keerthi stuttered,”I might be a little late today. So wanted your number if I have to inform you. I know you worry.”
Vikram gave a slight nod, still miffed with her, as he walked out of the room, not looking back.
What was the mild warmth he felt though when she explained the reason for taking his number?
**
Keerthi sighed, as she took her laptop and made way to the main door, after bidding a bye to her mother in law.
She was impatiently tapping her foot on the tiles, waiting for Vikram to wear his shoes.
No. He wasn’t dropping her. She just wanted to say Bye.
Vikram ignored his wife as me made way to his car.
“Vikram”Keerthi called, making him halt in his tracks.
Keerthi walked ahead, directly standing in front of him.”Are you still angry with me?”, she asked quietly, hoping for a negative answer.
“I have a busy day today”, Vikram said in a clipped tone,”I have to leave.”
Keerthi didn’t understand the reason for her husband’s cold behaviour. She only knew she didn’t like it. She would give anything for him to be normal again.
“Vikram please”, Keerthi pleaded.
“Keerthi, this is neither the time nor the place to have this discussion. We can talk later”, Vikram said sternly.
Keerthi didn’t know why her husband’s words were hurting her so much.
“Okay”, Keerthi gave in,”Have a nice day at work”, she squeezed his hand, making way to her car.
Vikram stared at his wife’s back, warmth filling his chest at her behaviour. It almost made him feel bad for being a dick to her. But he wanted her to understand , to believe that he wasn’t a monster.
**
Keerthi clicked at her keyboard, her thoughts straying to her husband every now and then. She just didn’t get it. Why was he so mad at her?
She was getting frustrated, she wasn’t easy to be distracted while working, but good God, she wanted to pull her hair out.
She decided she would talk to him today, at any cost.
Saying so, she put thoughts of her husband away while she worked.
**
Keerthi peeked into her room, finding Vikram lazing on the couch, as he read the newspaper.
Vikram saw his wife enter, as she went to the dressing table, removing her bracelet and ear rings as he took his time to check her out.
She was wearing a tight blue blouse , her chest raising and falling with every breath she took, the fabric over her breasts stretching as she stood on her tip toes, hanging her belt onto the hanger, paired with a black skirt which came just below her knee, with just the right amount of tightness, not seeming like a prude and at the same time not seeming like she was trying anything. Vikram’s gaze fell on her ass, just controlling the urge to smoothen it for her when Keerthi did so unknowingly.
He quickly looked at the newspaper in his hand when he found his wife glancing his way. He shook his head to himself, thankful for the newspaper covering for him.
He was mad at her and he was checking her out?
Keerthi walked out of the washroom in her Pajamas. Vikram glanced at her, surprised at the disappointment he felt seeing his wife in her loose Pajamas.
He chuckled to himself silently, what did he expect?
“Hey”, Keerthi wished , as sat next to her husband.
“Hi”, Vikram glanced at her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. But something stopped him from touching his wife.
“Vikram”, Keerthi whined , having enough of his silent treatment.
“What Keerthi?”, Vikram asked, his voice turning hard upon remembering the previous day’s argument.
“What should I do for you to be normal?”, Keerthi sighed, exhausted. Fighting with him physically tiring.
“I am normal”, Vikram shrugged, pulling the hand his wife was holding away.
“Talk to me. Please”, she pleaded.
“Keerthi, I am busy right now”, Vikram turned his attention back to the newspaper.
“You are reading news”, Keerthi pointed out.
Vikram shrugged carelessly.
“Yo.. You said we can talk in the evening”, Keerthi said softly.
“I am not in the mood”, Vikram shrugged again. He was too tired to argue with his wife.
Keerthi sniffed, her eyes filled with tears.
“Yeah. Start crying now”, Vikram rolled his eyes, shifting his attention back to the newspaper.
“Why are you being like this?”, Keerthi cried, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“Keerthi”, Vikram warned.
“You won’t tell me what I did. You won’t accept an apology. What the fuck should I do then? Do you expect me to jump into your head and find your problem?”, Keerthi shouted, as she stood up.
“Stop shouting. And mind your language”, Vikram warned.
Keerthi sniffed her tears back, her husband was frustrating her, as she waited for him to say something.
“Fine. Go to hell”, Keerthi hissed,”I am not dying to talk to you either.”
Vikram glared at his wife, as he saw her get under the covers.
He shut his eyes when he heard his wife cry under her blanket, guilt filling him.
Did he overdo it?