Chapter 10

Rishi drove away from Vimal’s home and he saw Aadhi was back to her cheer self and sitting cross leged munching on the chocolate she got from her brother.

Rishi: Which is your true color ? The act that you were showing before your father or the way you behave and torture me ?

Aadhi stopped munching on the chocolate and seemed to be lost in thoughts for a while. Rishi continued driving as if he was not bothered if she replied his question.

Aadhi: What do you think Rishu ? Which one do you find to be the real Aadhi ?

Rishi: Without any doubt both are fake

Aadhi: Rishu, why do you even question if you knew the answer to your question ? Will you talk to uncle and aunt about rejoining college.

Rishi did not reply and when they arrived home, Vaani called them to join for dinner.

Rishi: I have neglected business for too many days and I can’t delay anymore so I will be getting back to my business from tomorrow.

Aadhi stopped eating and looked at him with a shocked face.

Aadhi Mv: Liar Rishu, all the while in Goa you were only taking care of your business.

Rishi: Let her too start going to college and she can use one of our car.

Grandpa: You are right Rishi but a small change in the plan. Once you both get back to business and college the time you spend together will get reduced so make sure you drop her to college in the morning and our driver will pick up her in the evening.

Rishi: Grandpa, our timings are different so let her use one of our car. Definitely I can’t do it. I will be very busy with the upcoming projects.

Aadhi: Its ok grandpa, I will manage. Lets not disturb his work. I will join tomorrow and like he said I will use one of the car.

Grandpa: Tomorrow is your first day so let him drop you tomorrow atleast. Couldn’t you do this for your wife Rishi ?

Rishi clenched his fist under the table and bobed his head. They returned to their room and Aadhi arranged her college books and started writing her assignments which she got to know from her friends from college.

Rishi too worked for a while before he slept. Aadhi stayed awake late night and managed to complete few of the assignments. Rishi woke up and saw his room was no more the neat and tidy one. Her notebooks, pen, sketches were scattered on the teapoy, the comforter she was using to cover her was on the floor and she was sleeping snuggling into the couch. Her petite figure fit perfectly in it.

He made his bed and left to his gym. He returned to the room and saw the time was already 5. He entered the washroom and got ready for his day. The time was close to 5.40 a.m when he saw her still asleep.

Rishi: Look at the one joining the college and sleeping like a log.

He walked out and hearing the sound of the door being closed Aadhi woke up and her eyes were alomost out of her socket when she saw the time. She looked around for Rishi  and knowing he must have left after getting ready she rushed to the bathroom and in a record time she got ready in a cotton salwar and rushed down to the pooja room and later to the kitchen.

Vani stood with a not so good expression and Aadhi knew it was not a very good impression.

Aadhi: I m so sorry aunty, I stayed awake last night to complete my assignments so couldn’t wake up early.

Vaani: Its ok Aadhi, wake up at 4 and you are the daughter in law of this home so you will do the pooja everyday. Rishi has the habit of returning home late so you will stay awake and serve him dinner. He is your responsibility now and you will take care of all his needs. I don’t expect anything else from you.

Aadhi: Sure aunty, I will never disappoint. I will take care of him.

Vani: Good, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask Rishi and if he is busy come to me. We will take care of you just like we treated Manjari. Now you are married so stay away from boys in the college. I know you are a very calm and polite girl still it is my duty to advice you. Don’t get into unwanted troubles and focus only on your studies. Balance your life and studies.

Aadhi: Ok aunty.

Vani: Now go and continue with your assignments. Your one month is not yet completed to start your work in the kitchen.

Aadhi bobed her head and returned to her room. She folded the comforter and arranged the books in her bag and found more cash in her college bag. She smiled knowing Vimal would have placed it for her. She moved to the balcony to comb her hair and sat on the swing thinking about Vani’s words.

Aadhi Mv: Why do I feel like its a alarm when she said that she will let me work in the kitchen after a month ? Could it be like I will be made the permanent cook of this home ? I can take care of Rishi only if he would let me and I don’t mind cooking and thank god I learnt cooking in the three weeks time before marriage. But will I be able to manage my studies and everything at home ? God, please don’t make my life your entertainment. Please.

Aadhi: Whatever awaits, let me relax for a month I m given now to rest.

She got ready and with her college bag she arrived in the dining. She looked at Rishi who was dressed in a three piece suit just like she saw him the first time in her college when he visited for a guest lecture. Her lips curved into a smile and she quickly finished her breakfast as she didn’t want him to wait for her and spoil his mood the first of his office after their marriage.

She bade bye to everyone and got in the back seat with Rishi next to her. All the way to the college she waited patiently for him to wish her and when the car stopped before the college she got down as slow as possible waiting for him to speak a word to her. Whe he didn’t speak a word she knocked on the window of his side and Rishi rolled it down.

Aadhi: Rishu, all the very best for you first day after our wedding. Have a wonderful day. Don’t forget to have lunch on time, I will have mine on time and I have driver’s number and will reach home safe after college hours. Bye Rishu.

She waved her hands but Rishi informed the driver to start to his office without replying to her. She stood watching the car disappear from her sight and turned to step inside but stopped on seeing her friends Chaitra and Malini who were standing shocked.

Malini: Aadhi, Why are you standing at our college entrance when we thought you will be enjoying your honeymoon in Swizz or Paris ?

Chaitra: Yeah  I m shocked too. Why did your hotty, crushy baby, Rishu let you to college ?

Aadhi: Come on girls, education is very important so everything can wait. My Rishu too wanted me to focus on my studies. He is a CEO and his wife should be educated too.

Malini: All the girls were drooling over him Aadhi. Everyone will be jealous of you now.

Aadhi: Really did everyone watch my Rishu ? I should ward off the evils for him tonight when he returns from office. Now lets get back to class.

Together they returned to the class and Aadh continued to boast about Rishi the whole day. On the other hand Rishi plopped on his seat and closed his eyes in relaxation. Sudhir passed him a coffee with a smile.

Sudhir: Sir, I could have managed few more days. You could have stayed home or gone abroad for honeymoon. Madam seem to be very nice, I m so happy for you.

Rishi: SHUT UP Sudhir, what do you know about her ? You haven’t seen the real her. You remembe we saw a girl on the day we saw Manjari with Vimal ?

Sudhir: I wouldn’t forget that day sir. Its good you didn’t get to meet the girl later. You cancelled the deal because of her.

Rishi: Good, if you let her to talk with Aadhira then you will assume they are twins. Both are annoying brats.

Sudhir looked shocked and stayed mum watching Rishi sipping his coffee.

Sudhir: God, give patience to that poor girl

Rishi: Did you say something ?

Sudhir: No sir, I m just praying god to help you with more patience. She is your wife now and I think you should try to understand her and get into some sort of understanding so that you both can live in peace.

Rishi: A man with sane mind will not talk to her Sudhir. Now enough of her and let me be in peace here so get back to work.

At evening Aadhi returned home and made coffee for her and one for grandpa who was walking in the garden.

Grandpa: How was your day Aadhi ?

Aadhi: It was good grandpa. I have a lot to catch up but I will manage. Are you not bored at home all day ?

Grandpa: I worked a lot in my life and now its time to rest. I m enjoying walking, sleeping watching some good movies, reading books. Ok, now go rest or focus on your studies.

Aadhi returned to her room and started writing her assignments and reading her missed lessons. At 8 she was tired and decided to finish her dinner as she was hungry. She arrived at the dining and saw Raghavan, Vani and grandpa were having dinner.

Vani: Aadhi, if you are too hungry some your dinner or wait for Rishi and both of you can have together. Having dinner together will strengthen your bond. He will be happy that his wife was waiting for him to have dinner with.

Aadhi bobed her head and made her way to the porch waiting for Rishi. Everyone returned to their room and Aadhi sat watching a movie in the living. At 11 Rishi entered inside and Aadhi rose to her feet in excitement.

Aadhi: Rishu, you are back ? God, I was waiting for you. Go refresh and I will set plates for us.

Rishi: You don’t have to do that. I can do it on my own or call mom to serve me.

Aadhi: Ohoo Rishu, it was aunty who said I should stay awake and have dinner with you. Please Rishu, I m so hungry and Im starving since the time  I returned from college. You shall start threatening and scolding me after dinner please.

Rishi walked away and Aadhi rushed to the dining and set the plates and saw it was chappathi, curd and vegetables for dinner.

Aadhi: No curry or something ? This Chappathi would taste heaven with some spicy curry.

Rishi sat in his place and served himself. Aadhi watched him eat it without any compliant.

Aadhi: Rishu, don’t you think a curry would taste better than vegetables and curd ?

Rishi: We eat healthy food at night.

Aadhi: Curry can also be healthy Rishu. Will you tell the maid to cook some curry for me from tomorrow or I will cook for us if uncle and aunty are health conscious.

Rishi: I don’t interfere in kitchen matters. Talk to mom if you don’t like the food. By the way I don’t think you would have raised your voice in concern if this dinner was served at your parents home ?

Aadhi Mv: he is right, I have been a coward in my home so how could I expect something to be changed in a place I have moved in just few days back.

Aadhi: You are right Rishu, I should not complaint. No problem I will eat this so tell me how was your day ?

Rishi: You should know the answer how it would have been when you weren’t around me the whole day ?

Aadhi: Rishu, did you miss me so much ? Oh my god, really.

Rishi: Don’t be full of yourself.

Aadhi: Rishu, my friends were teasing me that I joined college so soon instead of going abroad for honeymoon, otherwise my day was too good. I managed to complete most of my missed assignments and lessons. I was so tired and felt so hungry but you were so late. Please Rishu, return home early, aunty said we should have dinner together.

Rishi: Its not like you don’t know a way to cheat on her and have your dinner so don’t bother if I return late. Now shut up and let me eat in peace. Don’t you ever feel tired of talking nonstop ? Atleast consider if the person really wanted to hear you.

Aadhi: One day you will yearn to hear my voice Rishu.

Rishi: When the sun rises in the west.

They completed the dinner and as soon as they were in the room Aadhi laid on the couch and watched Rishi sitting leaning on the headboard with a book in his hand.

Aadhi: Good night Rishu.

She dozed off watching him. In the morning she woke to her alarm and rushed to the washroom to get ready. She quickly wore a salwar and left the room to complete the pooja. Vani was impressed and smiled on seeing Aadhi do the pooja early in the morning. With a coffee Aadhi returned to her room.

Rishi returned from the gym and saw Aadhi crying and wiping her tears with a tissue paper in her hand.