Chapter 6

Rishi and Aadhi were seated in the back seat of the car and Rishi was looking outside. Aadhi was waiting for him to spare a look at her. She coughed a little and Rishi clenched his fist knowing well she was attempting to gain his attention. The driver passed a water bottle to her since she was coughing frequently. She thanked him and gulped some water huffing at her grumpy husband who was hell bent on having his gze fixed on the road.

Aadhi Mv: Wait for us to reach home and I will show you who I am. Who am I now ? Wow, I m Aadhira Rishikesh. Aww Rishu is my husband now.

She giggled and covered it with a cough once again. They arrived at his home and he stepped out without looking at her. Aadhira held her saree and quickly followed him. They were stopped at the entrance by his mother and made the ritual to welcome the newly wed in the home.

Rishi was about slip away but his grandpa stood next to him blocking his way. He gestured him to be seated in the living and Rishi sat on the couch with Aadhira next to him.

Rishi Mv: Thank god, she has some sense to sit with some space between us.

His happiness was short lived when his grandpa sat next to him and pushed him a little which made Rishi sit close to Aadhi. Their arms were touching and Aadhi became a blushing mess to the effect of his touch.

Vani invited them to the pooja room and Aadhi ignited the lamp first and later they were called for the post wedding rituals. A pot was placed and Vani dropped a ring in it.

Vani: 3 chance and whover wins will get a reward from your grandpa.

Rishi: Let her take the reward mom, I m tired and need some rest so please let me go.

Grandpa: Rishi, some rituals are carried out for some reason so do as you are said. No excuses.

Rishi did not dare to look at his grandpa and put his hand in the pot to pick the ring. On seeing him Aadhira was quick to join him in the game. Their fingers touched every now and then in the process of searching the ring and everytime their fingers touched he glared at her.

Aadhira smirked and pinched his finger to which he was about to pull his hand out but Aadhira pulled out first and showed the ring. The next time he picked the ring but Aadhi caught his fingers not letting him to pull out his hand. Rishi closed his palm with the ring and pulled out winning the second chance.

The third time Aadhi was lucky to get the ring immeditely but she pretended to search for it. Thier arms were in touch constantly and their face was so close, Aadhi inhaled his cologne and when she saw a frown on his face she guessed he might be confused on the missing ring so she put the ring in his finger and pulled out her empty hand. Rishi showed the ring and left to his room denying for any other ritual.

In his room he removed the garland and threw it on the couch, next was his shirt. He entered the washroom for a bath and got changed into his track pant and T shirt.

Vani guided Aadhi to a guest room where her luggage was placed temporarily. Aadhi quickly got changed into a simple saree and plopped on the bed feeling relieved from all the weight of the saree and jewels she was wearing. Vani let her rest and served the food in room.

Rishi was losing his peace with each passing minute. Everyone including Aadhi were called for a family dinner.

Aadhi: Aunty, I will serve the food. Please sit down.

Rishi Mv: Wow, what an acting ? Who is here to serve her the OSCARS ?

Vani: Not today Aadhi, you are the new bride and you are not allowed to do any work for atleast a month. Later I will let you do the work, now sit next to Rishi and finish your dinner.

Aadhi smiled at her before she got seated next to Rishi, who looking at his plate and she  was looking at him from her peripheral view. Raghavan cleared his throat and Vani called Rishi who was so interested in the food on his plate.

Vani: Rishi, stay out of your room for while. We have decorators to arrange your room for your wedding night.

Rishi choked on the food and Aadhi who got worried on seeing him rose to her feet and pat his head slowly. Rishi flinched to her touch and moved his head avoiding her. Aadhi passed him water before she returned to her seat. Everyone was happy to see her care for him except for one person.

Rishi was pacing in the lawn frustrated over the fact that he has to share his room with Aadhi for the rest of his life. Vani took Aadhi to a room and helped her get ready in a beautiful peach see through  saree and adorned her hair with flowers. Aadhi felt shy on seeing herself in the mirror.

An hour later Rishi was informed to get back to his room and as soon as he stepped inside he felt as if the entire flower market was shifted to his room. His bed was filled with rose petals and scented candles were placed on the floor. To match the ambience the lights were switched off except for the night lamps.

He was about to clear of the flowers from the bed when the door opened and Aadhira stepped in. For a moment he froze on seeing her but quickly his inner demon took over. All the anger surfaced on seeing her, he stormed to her and held her elbow gritting his teeth. Aadhi hissed in pain to his hold and looked at his face, his jaws were clenched.

Rishi: What did you think ? That I will accept you, a brat as my wife ? Get in your head that I will never accept someone like you, as my wife.

He let go of her hand and stood before her with his hands in pocket but his face held the same expression.

Rishi: Look, you will stay in this room like an invisible person to me. There are rules that you will follow. I want my room to be neat and tidy so keep your things out of my sight. I don’t like noises so make sure you never open your mouth and dare you to pull any stunts then you will see the worst of me. I don’t like sharing my space so keep your luggage in the closet without disturbing my way to the washroom. What happens and what I said and say will stay in this room. Understood ?

Aadhira took a while to realize what just happened. She gulped and blinked at him before she raised her little finger at him. Rishi made a disgusting face and looked away pointing to the way to the washroom.

Aadhira: I meant, I have 1 question before I agree to follow your rules. Why did you agree to marry me if you didn’t want someone like me as your wife ?

Rishi: I never agreed. It was my parents and grandfather, they forced me into this and I had to accept because Manjari chose your brother.

Aadhira: Ok, understood and I will never talk about anything that happens in the room and I hope you will do the same. Now good night Rishu, I will go get changed.

She removed the flower from her hair and thew it on the floor walking towards the closet where her luggage had been placed. Rishi looked at the flower on the floor and shut his eyes on hearing the thud sound of the door being closed.

Rishi: I knew she will never listen to anything I say. I just knew it, dammit.

Aadhi placed her luggages in a corner and picked a night dress to change. In the room Rishi carefully removed the flowers from the bed and disposed in the trash can. He cleaned his hands with a wipe and turned to finally relax for the day but stood shocked on seeing Aadhi on the bed dressed in a bunny pjs and she was hugging a bunny plush.

Rishi: What the fuck are you doing ? Get down from my bed you brat. Don’t ever touch my things here.

Aadhi: I m so tired Rishu, please lets sleep now. Good night.

Rishi: Stop calling me that.

Aadhi: What should I call you then ? hubby ? darling ? baby  or honey ?

Rishi: Shut up. you don’t have to call me. Didn’t I say that you will stay invisible to me here ? Now either get down on your own or I will throw you out of this room.

With a pout Aadhi got down and laid on the couch. She watched him lay on the bed and a chuckle escaped her lips on seeing him very neatly pulling the comforter to his chest. Rishi closed his eyes but he felt her eyes on him constantly. Aadhi proped on her elbows and looked at him with a smile.

Rishi: Stop staring at me girl.

He turned to the other side to avoid her gaze on him. Aadhi passed an air kiss in his direction and decided to sleep since she was tired after a long day. In the middle of the night she woke shivering to the chillness in the room. She entered the closet looking for a duvet but she got reminded of his words and picked two saree from her luggage and returned to the couch and saw him sound asleep.

Rishi woke up to his usual time at 4 and gasped in fear on seeing a mummy on the couch. He turned on the light and saw it was Aadhira who was sleeping with sarees rolled around her body like a mummy except her face and her hands that was holding the plush.

Rishi: What a fantastic morning ? Madam has blessed me with the sight of a mummy in the morning. God knows what else will I witness every other morning. He made his bed and walked out to the gym.

Aadhira woke up to her alarm at 5 and quickly rushed to the washroom but fell on her face forgetting that she had draped the saree around her body. Rishi who just entered watched her clumpsy state. Aadhi quickly rolled on the floor to undrape the saree and collecting the saree she dumped them on the couch and rushed to the washroom.

Rishi: Stop right there you.

Aadhi shut her eyes and stopped on hearing his thunderous voice. She turned around and saw him glaring at her and his eyes casting towards the sarees on the couch.

Rishi: Clean the mess and this is my time to bath so stay out of the closet until I m ready.

Aadhi: Rishu, its nature call. I will be out in a minute please Rishu.

She pleaded with him and before he could reply she rushed into the closet and shut the door behind her. Rishi paced in the room waiting for Aadhi who had not returned even after 15 minutes. Finally the door opened and she walked out dressed in a saree and her hair tied in towel.

Rishi: YOU… do you know something called being truthful ? You were suppose to come out in a minute but you took whole 15 minutes and my god you got ready in 15 minutes ?

Aadhi: Good morning Rishu, its my first day and I don’t want anyone to think bad of me so let me complete the pooja and then we shall the discusion, please.

She blew a kiss to him and walked out leaving him shocked with her actions. Rishi picked a towel and entered the washroom and closed his eyes as a wave of fresh fragrance of rose and almond hit his nostrils. He opened his eyes and saw her body wash, lotion and moisturizer placed next to his items. He removed his T shirt and was about to drop it in the laundry bag but stopped on seeing her dress and the red lace bra that peeked from below her top caught his attention. His ears turned red and quickly placed his clothes on the counter and entered the cubicle to finish his bath.