Meenakshi entered the room and stood shocked at the scene before her.
Aakash was sleeping on the floor with his back facing the bed, on the other side of the room. She looked at the bed decorated with flowers and then at Aakash, who was lying on a mattress. Walking past him through the narrow space between the bed and where he lay, she placed the glass of milk on the table before sitting on the bed.
Aakash, who was awake but had his eyes closed, could sense her movements. Yet he refrained from turning to look at her, as his breath still felt unsteady.
Meenakshi continued to look at him and then at herself. She touched the fabric of her saree and the flowers pinned to her hair. Slowly, she walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror, her face, the sides of her full bosom. Then she touched her hip and closed her eyes.
“Did he too feel disgusted by my appearance? Is that why he is avoiding me? Did I mistake his silence for calmness? So this is it… I will have to force myself to live in a house where everyone avoids me. At least uncle wouldn’t change his nature,” she thought.
She returned to the room and sat on the bed.
“Don’t I deserve at least a hello to welcome me into his room, even if not into his life? He could have at least spoken his thoughts and made it clear that he doesn’t like me. Stupid Meenakshi… he has already made that clear by avoiding you,” she thought.
Pulling the sheet over herself, she lay down on the bed.
Aakash slowly opened his eyes. His heart ached for what he had done to his wife on the very first night of their life together. He cursed himself, his life for hurting the innocent soul in his room. A storm of thoughts clouded his mind and eventually, both souls fell asleep out of exhaustion.
Early in the morning, Meenakshi woke up at her usual time and noticed that Aakash was still sleeping. A deep frown rested on his forehead, as if he had rented that expression permanently.
Quietly, she opened her trolley and picked out a saree before entering the bathroom. A few minutes later, she stepped out dressed in a beautiful yellow saree and her hair wrapped in a towel.
She sat on the bed, unsure of what to do or whom to approach. After sitting there and thinking for nearly thirty minutes, she slowly opened the door and stepped out, making sure not to create any noise that might wake Aakash. Closing the door gently behind her, she saw her mother-in-law, Padma, entering the kitchen.
Meenakshi followed her into the kitchen. It looked much bigger than the kitchen back at her parent’s home.
“Good morning, aunty,” Meenakshi said.
Padma’s hands stilled for a moment. Without replying, she poured milk into a vessel and walked out to the hall, where she switched on the devotional songs as she did every morning.
“God… this is so embarrassing,” Meenakshi mumbled to herself.
She quickly moved to the stove and started preparing tea for everyone.
Padma returned to the kitchen and glared at Meenakshi when she saw the tea ready.
“I never told you to prepare tea, did I? Aakash and Rajesh like coffee. My husband doesn’t prefer sugar in his tea”, she said through gritted teeth and she poured another packet of milk into a different vessel.
“Sorry, aunty. I’ll take care of it next time,” Meenakshi replied softly. She then walked into the pooja room and looked at the photos of the gods and goddesses.
“You are everywhere, yet you don’t see my pain,” she whispered and closed her eyes for a seconds to offer her prayers as usual.
She applied sindoor on her forehead and then stood in the hall, fidgeting with the pallu of her saree. Just then, her father-in-law walked out of a room and smiled warmly when he saw her.
“Meenakshi, good morning. Why did you wake up so early? Come, sit down,” he said warmly.
Meenakshi felt relieved and sat down with a smile.
“I know it can be very difficult and even awkward to be in a new place but this is your home, Meenakshi. You have every right here, just like the rest of us. You don’t have to hesitate to ask for anything or to do anything. Feel comfortable. Some things might be challenging in your new life, but you have me as your father,” Balaram said.
“Thank you so much, mama ( uncle ),” Meenakshi replied with a smile and felt grateful that at least one person would treat her kindly.
Just then, Padma arrived and Meenakshi immediately rose to her feet. Padma placed a glass of tea in front of Balaram and was about to leave when he stopped her.
“Padma, where is the tea or coffee for Meenakshi?” he asked and Padma looked at him, no, she glared at him and then at Meenakshi.
“Didn’t you just say this is her home? Then why ask me when she can make tea or coffee for herself? There is a lot of tea she has already made, so she can have it all to herself,” Padma said before walking back to her room.
“Don’t take her words to heart, Meenakshi. Go and have some tea,” Balaram said gently.
Meenakshi nodded and entered the kitchen. She poured herself some tea and stood leaning against the counter, sipping it slowly.
Meanwhile, Padma knocked on the bedroom door. Aakash woke up startled and looked around. The bed was empty and Meenakshi was nowhere to be seen.
He quickly threw foled the bed sheet and stood up, adjusting his shirt and raked his fingers through his hair. He cleared the mattress from the floor and opened the door, not wanting to give anyone the wrong idea.
Padma smiled at Aakash and called him to come have coffee.
Aakash closed the door and entered the bathroom. There, he noticed Meenakshi’s toiletries placed neatly beside his own things. He quickly got ready for the day and stood in front of the mirror.
He was about to comb his hair the way he always did but then paused. Instead, he styled it the way he had during the wedding.
“Earlier, I didn’t want to attract any attention. But now I’m married, so there’s no need for the old hairstyle,” he murmured to himself. He then wore the new glass Varun had given him.
As he turned, his eyes fell on the bed. The decorations were still there but the bed had been neatly arranged.
Taking a long breath, Aakash stepped out of the room and looked around for Meenakshi but she was nowhere to be seen. He entered the kitchen and his breath hitched. Meenakshi and his mother were preparing breakfast together. She looked divine in the yellow saree and her curvy waist was slightly visible as she had tucked her pallu at her waist while working.
Hearing his footsteps both Meenakshi and Padma turned toward him. Padma immediately handed him a glass of coffee.
Meenakshi finished helping Padma and quietly returned to the room. She stood with her hands on her hips and huffed when she saw the decorations still in place.
Slowly, she began gathering the flowers and removed the ones that were stuck on the walls as well. After a while, she stepped out and saw Padma standing with Aakash.
“Aunty, I need a garbage bag to collect the flowers,” she said softly and Padma pointed toward where the bags were kept.
Meenakshi picked up a garbage bag and entered the room but she froze when she saw Aakash removing the flower strings tied to the temporary bedpost. She silently dumped the flowers into the bag while Aakash quietly helped her. Once it was full, he carried the bag outside.
“So he doesn’t talk to me but he would still help me?” Meenakshi murmured to herself and shook her head. She removed the towel wrapped around her hair and began drying it. After braiding her hair neatly, she stepped out of the room.
Just then, Rajesh and Lavanya stepped out of their respective room at the same time. Meenakshi smiled at them but they ignored and walked past her.
“Aakash, today you will go with Meenakshi and stay at her parent’s home for two or three days. Pack your things. You both will leave after breakfast,” Balaram said, placing the newspaper on the tea table.
Before Aakash could respond, Padma spoke.
“Aakash isn’t used to staying in new places. He doesn’t talk to strangers and he won’t feel comfortable. So drop this plan. Aakash is not going anywhere,” Padma said flatly.
Meenakshi felt her heart sink.
“Are you out of your mind? I was a stranger to your parents when we got married, but didn’t I come with you to your parent’s house? Meenakshi is new to our home and we expect her to adjust and fit into our family but our Aakash can’t stay for two or three days at his in-laws’ house? Stop being irrational.” Balaram asked sharply and he then looked at Aakash.
“I will go, Appa,” Aakash said before walking into his room.
Standing before the mirror, he spoke quietly to himself.
“Appa is right. It’s not fair that she is expected to fit into this new life all of a sudden. I couldn’t give her the life she deserves… but at least I can do this much.” he thought and just then, he was called for breakfast and he walked out of the room.
Later, Aakash and Meenakshi got into a cab and left for her parents home. Madhavan and Radha welcomed them warmly and Keerthy hugged Meenakshi before smiling at Aakash, which he returned politely.
“Feel comfortable, Aakash. This is your home too,” Madhavan said, while Radha handed him a glass of fresh juice.
“I’m so happy you are here, mama. We will enjoy a lot for the next three days. Can you stay a little longer?” Keerthy asked Aakash and he didn’t know what to say.
“Keerthy, he has some urgent work at the office, so we will be leaving tomorrow morning. We will come some other time,” Meenakshi said and everyone looked at them in surprise, even Aakash.
“Aakash, I thought you would stay for at least three days,” Madhavan said, sounding disappointed. Meenakshi looked at her father pleadingly and he simply smiled and patted her shoulder.
“Take Aakash to your room. Let him rest or get changed,” Madhavan said.
Meenakshi entered her room and Aakash followed her.
“I could have stayed,” Aakash said in a low and gentle voice.
Meenakshi turned to look at him, “You don’t have to do anything against your wishes or comfort. Get changed or rest if you want,” she said before walking out and closing the door behind her.
Aakash rubbed his palm over his face and sat on the chair beside the bed.
“God… why can’t you fix me ? I don’t want her to be hurt. She doesn’t deserve this. She is so understanding,” he muttered, looking around the room.
The room looked neat and tidy. He changed into a T-shirt and track pants before joining the family in the hall.
Meanwhile, Meenakshi was in the kitchen helping her mother prepare lunch.
“Your new home might feel uncomfortable and awkward since you are surrounded by new people, but this is your life now. Try to please them and most importantly, keep your relationship with Aakash smooth. You know how difficult it was to get you married, so don’t mess this up. Take care of him and be a good wife,” Radha said.
Meenakshi stopped chopping the onions.
“What if I face some problem there? Should I come to you and Appa or should I just endure it?” Meenakshi asked, already knowing what her mother’s answer would be.
“Is there any place where there are no problems? Is there any human who doesn’t face difficulties? You are mature enough to handle them. And before you do anything that might ruin your married life, think of your sister Keerthy. Your life might affect hers too,” Radha replied.
Meenakshi simply nodded, feeling how unwanted she was in both homes.
Radha called Aakash for lunch and he gasped when he saw the number of dishes served to him.
“I don’t eat this much,” he said and Madhavan patted his shoulder with a smile.
“You shouldn’t say that. This is only a trailer of what you will experience for the rest of your life. Meenakshi is an excellent cook and she never gets bored of cooking all our favorites,” Madhavan said and made Meenakshi sit beside Aakash.
Radha and Keerthy served lunch to the newlyweds.
Later, they all watched a movie together but Meenakshi soon fell asleep.
Aakash looked at her as she slept. She looked so innocent and pure to him. Her brows were thick, her cheeks chubby and her lips looked soft and perfectly shaped. A strand of hair fell across her face and disturbed her sleep.
He wanted to move it away gently but even that thought terrified him and his hands trembled.
Hours passed like years for Aakash.
After talking with Madhavan for a while about his office work he finally entered the room and saw Meenakshi sitting on the mattress on the floor.
“I will sleep on the floor,” he said quietly.
Meenakshi tied her hair into a bun and looked at him, “There is no need for that. You can take the bed,” she said before lying down and covering herself with the sheet.
But the sight of her tying her hair into a bun lingered in his mind and refused to leave his senses.
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A/N:
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1 comment
The chapter was extraordinary….