Keerthi pinched her lips thin. She couldn’t say anything to that.
Her husband openly admitted aloud his imperfection and asked her to understand.
She knew he was only human. Each had their set of imperfections. Her husband had his, just like she had hers’.
They had to accept the others’ imperfections and move on. This was something she had to do for him.
“Okay. Can you try something too, if I ask?”, Keerthi started out carefully.
Vikram smiled,”Of course.”
“Can you please not say I like have arguments and berate me everytime I cry?”
Vikram stared at his wife, he didn’t know his words hurt her that much,”I apologise. I will try not to”, he promised.
Keerthi smiled, feeling lighter.
At these moments, her heart swelled with an unknown emotion for her husband. He truly was one of a kind, not a regular man.
He had apologized to her and promised he will try harder, just like she did, looking past each other’s imperfections and still lovi-. No, liking the other same.
Her heart fluttered, she was scared to give a name to the emotion as she shyly smiled at her husband.
“If you don’t like something I say or if you find it too hurtful, I’d rather you say it to me when the both of us cool down than you keeping it within yourself and feeling bad. Okay?”
Keerthi’s respect for her husband doubled. Did he really blurt out any random thing that came to his mind without meaning it? Though it made no sense, she was willing to try it for her husband. And for herself.
“Yes. I will”, she promised.”But don’t scold me when I am already crying”, she said playfully, a smile on her lips.
Vikram turned serious,”It’s not my intention to make you cry harder. I just don’t like it when you cry. Know that I don’t say anything to hurt you intentionally.”
“I know now”Keerthi smiled.
“Good”, Vikram smiled,”Why didn’t you say it earlier?”
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Keerthi”, Vikram sighed,”We are partners in this. There’s nothing wrong in saying you don’t like something if you don’t.”
“I know.. but at that time you were–“, Keerthi stopped, referring to him kissing her.
“So what if we were ? You are my wife. It’s not just the physical aspect that comes into play. Emotional factors are important too.”
“But I thought you didn’t care at the time”, Keerthi said, looking down.
Vikram glared at his wife,”What kind of man do you take me for? ”
“I–”
“Keerthi, if all I wanted was sex from you, I could have taken it long ago. I wouldn’t have waited for you to be ready. It’s upsetting you think of me like that.”
“No. I am Sorry. You misunderstand.”
“What else should I understand then?”
“I agree I thought that’s what you wanted, when you didn’t bother to say anything when we came home. But think of it from my point of view. We had an argument, at least I thought we did. So what do you expect me to think when you suddenly started getting affectionate out of nowhere.”
“Look Keerthi. I am saying it once and for all. I am not denying it. I want you”, Vikram started out,”But though I want you in that aspect, emotional connection means more to me than physical attachment. Believe it or not. I didn’t think you were upset. I would have had a talk with you then. It’s disappointing that you think if me that I want you when I am turned on, irrespective of our equation. I will try to pacify you if you are upset with me, and I will expect the same from you. Granted, some days, I may not be in the mood to pacify you even when you are sad. But I assure you, even on those days, I am not going to take advantage that you are my wife and sleep with you when you are not into it as much as I am.”
Keerthi blinked back tears as she smiled.
Although her husband lowkey scolded her, she felt nice,”I am Sorry for thinking that way.”
Vikram took a deep breath,”I want you in every aspect Keerthi, not just the physical. Don’t think I only want you when I need some. And I am not the kind of man to touch you when you don’t want it.”
“I am really Sorry Vikram. Please. I.. I am Sorry”, Keerthi said.
“It’s okay”, Vikram said, turning around.
“Don’t be mad at me. Please.”
“I am not. I am just.. thinking, you know. So everytime we made out, did you kiss me back because you wanted it too or just because you thought I wanted it?”
Keerthi flushed at her husband’s words, though she felt shy, she knew she had to give an answer to clear the air,”I wanted it too”, she mumbled.
Keerthi looked at her husband. He looked troubled.
Throwing some of her inhibitions away she replied,”I am Sorry for thinking that way. Forgive me. Please don’t think that way. I hug you or kiss you back because I like it too. This is only the first time that I had such a thought. And I promise I won’t think this way again.”
Vikram nodded, giving his wife a small smile,”So you like our kisses?”, he teased.
“Vikram”, Keerthi flushed.
She leaned in, closing her eyes when she saw her husband eye her lips. Their lips met midway, softly brushing against the other teasingly, skimming against each other as though they were almost shy to intrude into the other.
I love you.