Vikram was surprised to see everyone in the living room, chatting away when he had arrived from work.
He greeted his parents, slapped the back of his brother’s head and gave his wife a smile.
“Make me a coffee, yeah?”, Vikram said, looking between his wife and mother.
Keerthi smiled, walking into the kitchen as her husband went upstairs to freshen up.
Vikram freshened up, taking his laptop and charger with him as he sat on the couch. He wanted to spend some time with his family.
Though he probably wouldn’t contribute to the conversation, he wanted to be in their presence.
Work had kept him busy the past few days.
“You still gonna work?”, Vihan quirked a brow at his brother.
“Yeah”, Vikram said as he sipped on his coffee, listening to his family talk about random things while he worked.
“Shit”, Vikram cursed.
“What happened?”, Sakshi asked.
“The wifi is weak, connecting and disconnecting multiple times.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll just come in some time”, Vikram made way to the study.
The Rathores resumed conversation, keeping themselves busy for the next hour.
Vikram descended just at dinner time.
“Work done?”, Vihan queried. He barely saw his brother these days, their timings mismatching.
“Not yet. Will continue after dinner. Hungry”, Vikram answered.
Vihan shrugged, making way to the dining.
“Is it important?”, Keerthi turned to her husband.
“Keerthi”, Vikram chided his wife softly,” I wouldn’t do it at home if it wasn’t necessary”, as he walked behind his brother, unaware of their silent spectator.
Vikram had disappeared after dinner again, leaving the others to themselves. Keerthi sighed, calling it a night after some time.
Vikram glanced at the clock in the study, shutting his laptop, One twenty.
He rubbed his eyes, making way to his room, sleep inviting him the second his body hit the bed.
**
Keerthi decided to have a talk with her husband. She missed him. She barely saw him the last few days. He was so busy with work.
They didn’t even kiss that much the last few days. The most she got was a peck. She felt her lips curve up, her thoughts amusing her.
She sipped on her orange juice, awaiting her husband’s arrival
Vikram collapsed on the couch, tired, throwing his head upwards, as he closed his eyes. He hummed in pleasure when he felt a hand in his hair, softly massaging his scalp.
Keerthi walked into the living room to find her husband, taking slow steps towards him as she gazed at him. She slipped a hand into his hair, involuntarily rubbing his scalp.
Vikram opened his eyes to his wife, taking her hand in his and placed a kiss on the back of it, replacing it back into his hair.
Keerthi’s cheeks heated up at her husband’s gesture,”Do you want anything to eat?”
Vikram pulled his wife’s head down, placing his hand on the back of her neck , bending her towards him , as he gave her a quick kiss, holding her lips captive in his, as he nibbled on them for a moment.
“Vikram!”, Keerthi exclaimed, mortified when her husband released her, allowing her to stand.
Vikram laughed,”Can you get me a glass of water?”, he answered his wife’s question.
“Sure”, Keerthi smiled, blushing all the way she went into the kitchen.
Vikram hummed to himself when the door to their room opened, his wife holding a glass of water in her hands.
“Couldn’t wait till I get you water?”
“Our room’s not that far”, Vikram teased.
Keerthi rolled her eyes, handing the glass of water to her husband.
She frowned when she saw her husband. He didn’t finish changing.
He was combing his hair with his formal shirt and track pants on.
He looked funny.
“Why are you still in you shirt?”
“Want me to take it off?”, Vikram flirted.
Keerthi laughed nervously, she dug that trap herself.
She smirked outwardly though, walking towards her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“What if my answer is in positive?”
Vikram’s throat dried. He didn’t expect that comeback.
He pulled his wife flush against him,”You could do the honours.”
Keerthi blushed, she was only joking.
“Stop pulling my leg.”
“There’s nothing wrong in wanting to undress your husband”, Vikram continued to tease.
“Vikram!”, Keerthi shrieked.
Vikram wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist, pressing his lips to hers. He held a chunk of her hair, deepening the kiss when he heard his mobile ring.
Vikram pulled away, irritated, as he answered his call,”Yes. I will join in a few moments”, Vikram snapped. He had a conference call.
“You have a meeting?”
“Yeah”, Vikram logged into his laptop.
Keerthi pressed her lips thin. He didn’t even eat, before he started working again.
She didn’t say anything though, scared her husband will snap. She knew meetings were a touchy subject for Vikram.
She walked out of the room when Vikram began his meeting.
She passed her time for a bit. Helping her mother in law, talking to her mother on phone, thinking.
Keerthi was getting irritated as time passed. Her husband still didn’t come downstairs, and it was more than two hours she let him be.
She took deep breaths, walking towards her room. She wanted to make a huge banner and stick it on her forehead.
I want attention.
“Is your call still going on?”
“No. I am working”, Vikram didn’t lift his head up.
“Continue after dinner”, Keerthi wanted to eat with her husband. Her parents in law and Vihan had already eaten and gone to bed. It was after ten in the night.
“Yeah. Just a minute.”
Keerthi glared at her husband. Was he seriously going to work after dinner? She was so angry.
She was setting their dinner when Vikram took a seat, surprised to find two plates.
“You didn’t have dinner?”, Vikram felt happy.
Though the gesture was tiny, it made him feel pleasant, his wife wanting to dine with him.
“No. Was Waiting for someone”, Keerthi grumbled.
Vikram assessed his wife,”You could have eaten if you were hungry?”
Keerthi pressed her lips thin. She didn’t want to have an argument while eating.”It’s alright”, she said, serving her husband.
Vikram caught his wife’s free hand, pressing a kiss on her palm, silently thanking her. He didn’t take things for granted.
His wife waiting for him for dinner and serving him meant something to him.
He was not the type of man that took gender roles seriously.
He believed they were equals.
If his wife did something for him which she wasn’t forced to or meant to do, he wanted to find a way to appreciate it, and make sure she knew it, that he didn’t take them for granted.
Keerthi blushed, the unexpected affection throwing her off, her anger momentarily forgotten.
She cleared her throat, having her food.
Vikram liked the silence he felt when they ate. It was difficult to be comfortable with someone without speaking anything to fill the silence. He was glad he reached that stage with his wife.
He squeezed his wife’s hand, swallowing down the three words he wanted to say, gulping down the food along with it.