Chapter 23

Rishi looked at Aadhira who shook her head and tried to walk out of the kitchen but Rishi stood before her stopping her from leaving.

Rishi: I m serious Aadhira, let me know what should I do to prove that I really mean to give us a chance. Please Aadhira…

Aadhi: Rishi, once I really wanted to give us a chance and I felt you were close to me despite the hatred you showered me but today you wanted to give us a chance and you are standing close to me yet you are far from me….so far that I m scared of stepping into the path to reach you… and I don’t think either you will reach me so its better we carry on with how we are now.

Rishi: No, we are not that far Aadhira, I m just at the distance of receiving a slap from you for hurting you, I m only at the distance of your eyes to see that I really want a chance. I fucking hate this Aadhira, I hate myself for hurting you. We have just started and we have a long journey ahead. I watched your favourite cartoon movies and I remember the quote of snow white,  Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. I will earn for my chance, just let me in and fill my world with sunshine.

Aadhi: I would have, if you had felt all these for the Aadhi you met first, the real Aadhi. The one before you is a hallucination you wanted to see. May be you like me now because this is what you wanted in a girl, in your wife but I m not this. I wanted someone to like me on seeing the real me not just because of some guilt or pity. Now I can pretend life long to be this obedient girl just like I was doing with my dad and mom so lets not disturb each other or if you want or tired of seeing me around you then I m ready for divorce too. You may find someone who is not fake to live with you for the rest of your life.

Rishi: What the fuck are you talking about ? Divorce ? Don’t you remember once we spoke about this ? I said I will never divorce you, you hear me ? I will never divorce you.

Aadhi: Fine and lets continue the way we are now but be ready to face your family when they start pestering for a grandchild. I will always be ready to sign any paper to let you to move on in your life.

Rishi: That is not going to happen Aadhira. If you wanted to continue to live the way we are now then do it but I will never stop trying until you are ready to give us a chance. I truly mean it Aadhira, I really mean it. I will never stop, please Aadhira.

Before Aadhi could reply him her mobile rang with a call from his grandpa, and she answered the call and turned on the speaker.

Grandpa: Aadhi, I need a help from you.

Aadhi: Grandpa, you should be ordering me to get any work done. I will do anything for you.

Grandpa: Rishi’s cousin Shruthi will be staying with you for a week or two. She is in Chennai for some work and her work place is close to penthouse so will it be ok for you to let her stay for a week or two ?

Aadhi: Why will I have any problem grandpa ? Ofcourse she can stay as long as she wants.

Rishi: Grandpa, she could stay with you, mom and dad, why here ? I can book a room for her. I don’t think it would be appropriate.

Grandpa: Rishi, should I remind you that she is your cousin ? We all wanted her to stay with us but she insisted on staying in a place close to her work place. Its just a week or two. I don’t want her to stay in a hotel.

Rishi Mv: God, have you sworn to give me only torubles in my life ? Here I m dying for a second chance from my little wife and even before I could fix things between us you are planning another problem for me ?

Grandpa: Rishi, I m waiting to hear from you.

Rishi: Whatever you wish grandpa.

Aadhi cut the call and returned to the kitchen to continue cooking. Rishi followed her and leaned on the refrigerator.

Rishi: She is very close to my mom, dad and grandpa. We cannot live in two rooms if she is gonna stay here.

Aadhi stopped cooking and looked at Rishi bewildered.

Rishi: She will never hesitate to do the honours of spreading the news of us living in separate rooms. I will make space for your things in the wardrobe.

Aadhi: Thank You, I will stay invisible to your eyes.

Rishi: We cannot be strangers infront of her. I have done enough blunders for this life by not respecting and giving a chance to our relationship but not anymore. You are my wife and I m your husband but I will never take advantage of the situation. At the same time, my words stand strong that I will never stop trying to earn a chance.

He turned to leave and craned his head to look at Aadhi who stood holding her head. Rishi rushed to his room and quickly made space in his wardrobe for Aadhi’s things. He couldn’t control the smile on his face.

Rishi: Two weeks Rishi, its gonna be the best as well as the worst days of your life. All the best to convince your little wife.

He entered the washroom and made space for her toiletries.

Rishi: Hello my dear bathroom, you are blessed once again to be filled with the fragrance of Rose and vanilla.

He returned to the room and stopped abruptly on seeing the couch.

Rishi: You are my first and foremost enemy now but I will spare you for some days. This time I won’t let her use you. I m sure she will never agree to share the bed with me so I will take the couch. I don’t want her to go through any pain or sacrifice anything, not anymore.

He heard a knock on the door and immediately opened it. Aadhi stood holding her trolley and he moved out giving way for her to enter.

Rishi: You don’t have to knock to enter Aadhira, this is your room too and it was you who decided to stay in a different room. Ofcourse it was because of me and I m truly sorry for that. Did you think of my words that we need to be a normal husband and wife before Shruthi ?

Aadhi stopped but did not spare a glance at him.

Aadhi: Isn’t it a custom of your family that PDA is not allowed ? Husband and wife behave like they are just acquaintance so it shouldn’t be a problem for us and me staying in the same room doesn’t change anything.

Rishi: That part we shall discuss. I have cleared the space in the wardrobes for your things.

Aadhi: No thanks, I m comfortable with using my things from the trolley. I have lived the way for quite some time.

Rishi hung his head in shame and Aadhi moved her trolley one by one to the closet and placed them in a corner. She entered the bathroom and placed her toiletries away from his and a separate foldable laundry bag for her dirty clothes.

Rishi was in the living giving her space to settle to her wish. Latha cleaned the guest room for Shruthi and two hour later she arrived with 3 big trolleys which the driver helped her carry to the penthouse.

Rishi and Aadhi smiled at her and Shruthi plopped on the couch throwing her handbag beside.

Shruthi: Hi Rishi, how are you ? I never got to see you after your wedding and I missed you a lot.

Rishi: What is the work that you got to do in Chennai ?

Shruthi: I m working for a new customer and he wanted me to work in his office and design the new summer collections this year.

Rishi: Aadhira, Shruthi is a fashion designer and now she is top most designer and lead of in the company she works.

Shruthi: Yes Aadhi and Rishi is a big fan of my fashion sense. I will show you my collections later.

Aadhi Mv: Oh, another fashion guru to eat my brain.

Aadhi: So nice of you and I would love to see your collections. Let me show your room, also let me know your plans and  I will have your food prepared on time.

Shruthi: I will be joining from tomorrow so I will rest today. And don’t worry I will help you in cooking.

Aadhi: Its ok, you are our guest and its our duty to take care of you. Anyhow I cook for us so it will not be a problem to just increase the quantity.

Rishi: Aadhira, I will take my leave and call me if you need anything.

Shruthi: Rishi, you call her Aadhira ? Seriously no nick names ?

Rishi: Everyone call her Aadhi and I don’t want to be one among others and call her Aadhi and we do have nicknames but that lies a secret between us. Am I right Aadhira ?

Aadhi smiled at him and followed him to send off. Rishi stopped by the door and turned to her.

Rishi: I have your number on top of my priority list Aadhira and I really meant you to call me if you need something. Take care my little wifey.

Aadhi shut the door and guided Shruthi to the guest room. Later she started cooking lunch for her and Shruthi entered the kitchen dressed in a shorts and a tank top.

Shruthi: Aadhi, let me help you in cooking. I will be bored of doing nothing.

Aadhi: You will start working from tomorrow so rest for today.

Shruthi sat on the kitchen counter and munched on a carrot and watched Aadhi cook.

Shruthi: So how is your life Aadhi ? Rishi is an extremely introvert guy and never talk to anyone. You won’t believe me but he won’t even talk to Manjari but I’m exception from everyone. He is very sweet that no one gets to see his real self.

Aadhi: I know Shruthi.

Aadhi Mv: Did she think that I m really dumb to not know what she is trying to do ? That grumpy uncle didn’t want her here in the first place and agreed only for his grandpa and here she thinks he really likes her stay here. Let her live in the bubble and her sweet Rishi is alone enough to burst it.

After lunch Shruthi slept for the rest of the day and Aadhi felt grateful for that. At night she placed the dinner on the table and Rishi entered with a smile on his face directed towards Aadhi. He quickly got changed and arrived to the dining and heard footsteps behind him.

Rishi looked at Aadhi and pat the seat next to him. Aadhi didn’t want Shruthi to have any doubts of their relationship so he sat next to Rishi which curved his lips into a smile.

Shruthi: Hi Rishi, how was your day ?

Rishi looked at Aadhi who was busy serving the food in their plates.

Rishi Mv: I never once answered this question when Aadhira asked me so how could I answer Shruthi ?

Rishi pretended of answering a call and spoke for a while ignoring her question. Later he placed his mobile on the table and poured water into Aadhi’s glass.

Rishi: How was your day Aadhira ? Did you get any calls from the college for the application you sent ?

Aadhi: Yes, they wanted me to visit the day after tomorrow with my certificates. I informed grandpa and he was happy.

Rishi: Good then, I will drive you to the college and lets get done with all the admission procedures.

Aadhi: Its ok, I will manage, you carry on with your works. I will let you know once I m done or I will call you if I need your help.

Shruthi: You guys are so formal.

Aadhi: We have a place to be what we mean to each other and that is our bed room. We both aren’t fan of PDA. Am I right Rishi ?

Rishi: Anything and everything you say is right Aadhira.

Aadhira returned to bedroom after she was done with her works and saw Rishi on the couch with a pillow and a comforter.

Aadhi: Why are you on the couch ? Please get back to your bed.

Rishi: Aadhira, I know you won’t be comfortable in a sharing a bed with me even with setting boundaries so let me sleep here. I have been so cruel to you but not anymore. I don’t want you to suffer anymore so please sleep on the bed.

Aadhi: Be practical, do you think you would fit in that couch ? I don’t want you to go through any pain because of me so please get back to your bed or I don’t mind sleeping in the balcony.

Rishi gave up and moved to the bed. Aadhi sat on the couch with a note and Rishi watched her writing something until late night. He couldn’t sleep or stop the smile on seeing her right before his eyes. On seeing her sleep he drifted into his deep slumber with hopes things would take a positive turn.

Early morning Rishi woke up startled on hearing the music blast from the living. He raised his fist in air and jumped down throwing the comforter away.

Rishi: Finally, fire cracker is back.

He rushed to the living to see the sight he was yearning for but stood froze and the smile vanished instantly at the sight before him.