Aakash was stunned to hear every word Vishnu spoke about his married life with Hema. He had never seen a married couple who had an arranged marriage be so much in love. He was seeing a completely different version of what life could be, even in an arranged marriage.
“About my parents?” Vishnu said and excused himself to the kitchen. He returned with two glasses of juice and handed one to Aakash.
“I would have chosen beer, but Hema strictly warned me not to spoil you,” he said with a chuckle.
” Coming back to your question. Our parents wanted us to live with them. You won’t believe it, but my family is a joint family. No doubt it would be bliss to be surrounded by cousins and all the uncles and aunts but there is also another side which most people refuse to see or simply deny. There might be some families as exceptions where everyone is treated the same but I have seen something different. The elders in my family would teach their daughters to have control over their husbands but they would create chaos when the daughters-in-law tried the same. So my brothers lived a robotic life. They don’t speak to their wives in front of the elders, they don’t decide anything for themselves. Their wives would have to approach the elders even for their personal needs. The family was completely controlled,” Vishnu said.
Aakash was totally shocked since the same thing was happening at his home too, though he had never let Meenakshi approach his parents for her needs.
“I’m shocked actually. How did you end up living separately?” Aakash asked, very curious and placed the juice glass on the table.
“My best friend from college was from a middle-class background like us, but his family was the total opposite. His parents were like best friends to him. One day I met a woman in his house and she was treated like a princess. I thought she was their daughter but later, I was shocked to know she was my friend’s sister-in-law. His parents treated her just like they treated their son. They would tease their son and daughter-in-law playfully. The couple wouldn’t feel embarrassed to hold hands or sit next to each other in front of everyone, which i had never seen at my home. I wanted a life like that, so I decided I would move out with my wife after marriage. In fact, my parents wanted Hema to stay with them while I worked here in Chennai but what is the use of marrying if I leave my wife with them? So I stood my ground and settled here. I will never regret this decision. Bro, life is bliss,” Vishnu said dreamily.
Aakash smiled, though a question still lingered in his mind.
Before Aakash could speak, Vishnu jumped out of his seat and knocked on the guest bedroom door. Hema opened it and glared at him for interrupting her time with Meenakshi.
“Stop glaring, wifey. I just wanted to ask if you want some juice or a cooling beer,” Vishnu said and immediately Hema knocked his head before shutting the door.
Vishnu returned to his seat and Aakash was smiling at what had just happened.
“She pretends to glare, but deep down she loves it when I interrupt her. And I do that to show that she is on my mind all the time. She is my priority,” Vishnu said, sipping his juice.
“So tell me, how is your life?” Vishnu asked casually.
Aakash smiled. He wasn’t a person who would open up to someone at the very first meeting, but Vishnu was completely different from the people he had met in his life. The comfort and the ease with which Vishnu made him feel light-hearted slowly made him open up.
“Life is pure bliss. I never knew marriage would change my life. No, actually it’s not the marriage but its Meena who changed my life. She embraced me like a breeze and suddenly everything looks beautiful to me. Of course we face problems with my family, but we are managing. I just want to give her everything I can,” Aakash said.
Vishnu noticed the warmth in his words as Aakash spoke about Meenakshi and nodded his head.
In the room, Meenakshi was standing by the window while Hema was sitting on the bed with a pillow on her lap.
“Aakash seems to be very kind, Meenu. Why not confess the truth that you had been working before marriage? I’m sure he would understand and even allow you to join the school again,” Hema said.
Meenakshi sat next to her and took an exaggerated breath.
“It’s not as easy as you think, Hema. It would be difficult to manage both home and school at the same time. Aakash will lose his peace in the process of bridging things between me and his family,” Meenakshi said but Hema only glared at her.
“Stop thinking about that ungrateful family. There are three women other than you and I’m sure they can take care of themselves. You just focus on yourself and Aakash. Do you think his income alone would be enough to run the family, especially once you have kids? Don’t you want to help him with everything he is doing alone? Sure, they would make a ruckus, but what if your mother-in-law starts supporting you since you earn for the family? Also, it won’t be fair if Aakash gets to know from others that you had been working,” Hema said thoughtfully.
Meenakshi felt she was right. Aakash was carrying the weight of the family all alone and she wanted to support him.
“You are right. Things might be difficult in the beginning, but we will get used to it,” Meenakshi replied.
They walked out of the room and heard laughter from the kitchen. They saw Vishnu and Aakash preparing tea while chatting about something.
“What is happening here? We thought you both would be sulking in two different corners or be busy with your mobiles,” Hema said and received a cup of tea from her husband.
“I was worried that someday you might ditch me for Meenakshi, so I thought why not have Aakash on my side. I will have Aakash for myself. You see, a wise man’s thought,” Vishnu said and Hema once again knocked on his head.
Aakash gave a cup to Meenakshi and stood by her side, the smile never left his lips. Hema and Vishnu exchanged a knowing look.
Later, Aakash and Meenakshi took their leave and instead of driving home, he took her to the beach and they sat next to each other. Aakash slowly held her hand and interlaced their fingers.
“I brought you here to talk. I know a lot about your likes and dislikes in general but you never talked about what you like when it comes to us being cozy. I mean, you said that you love it when I touch and tease you. Now ignore the people around us and answer my question. Do you love it when I hold your hand and touchy in public ?” Aakash asked.
Meenakshi laid her head on his shoulder with a smile. “I love it, Aakash but I don’t feel comfortable under the watch of people. Atleast not with the family ” she replied.
Aakash raised their joined hands and shocked her by kissing her knuckles.
“Stop thinking about others, Meena. This is our life and we should live it for ourselves. Lavanya isn’t a child and I’m sure she knows everything about intimacy. It’s all over TV, social media and movies. So she wouldn’t get spoiled just because of us. I think Rajesh and Sharmi are doing the right thing in this matter. They live for themselves,” Aakash said and Meenakshi raised her head and smiled at him.
She got reminded of Hema’s words and felt it was the right time to reveal about her job.
“Aakash, even I wanted to discuss something with you. There is something you need to know about me,” she said.
He was curious to listen, but before she could continue they heard some boys squealing and laughing loudly. They turned towards them and Meenakshi was shocked to see her students. The students noticed her too and immediately rushed to her.
“Hello mam, how are you? Congratulations on your wedding. We all miss you a lot, mam,” said one boy.
Aakash was totally confused and he looked at his wife and then at the boys.
“There is a new teacher now but she isn’t as good as you. Do you plan to come back, mam?” asked another boy.
Aakash was now shocked and surprised. He looked at Meenakshi who was gulping and smiling awkwardly at the boys.
“I haven’t thought about it, but you guys should focus on your studies. Every teacher has their own style, but she will make sure you are all getting along. Don’t spend too long outside since your exam dates are already announced. Go home and focus on your lessons. All the best,” she said.
The boys thanked Meenaksh and took their leave and Meenakshi turned to Aakash, who looked disappointed.
“I’m sorry, Aakash. This is what I wanted to discuss with you. I was working as a teacher for grade 11 and 12 students. My mother thought your family might reject me if they knew I was working, so she made me quit my job,” she said.
Aakash who was still shocked on the revelation shook his head.
“I thought you trusted me just like I trusted you. I shared everything about me, including the incident that made my life a trauma, yet you didn’t feel like sharing something so important about yourself? Or did I not give you the comfort and confidence that I would understand you as a husband and a friend? I thought… I thought… we were… we were good friends with no secrets. Seems like I’m wrong,” he whispered the last line painfully and stepped back as his chest heaved.
“Let’s go home,” he said and walked ahead.
Meenakshi followed him, trying to catch his attention, but he didn’t talk to her. He just walked slowly so she could keep up with him.
“Aakash, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to keep this a secret. I didn’t want any drama at our home. I didn’t want you to lose your peace because of what could happen if I start working. It won’t be easy for us and I was about to confess now, but just a few seconds earlier and you had to know from those boys,” she whispered and held his hand.
Aakash removed her hand and started the bike. Meenakshi wiped her tears and sat behind him. She didn’t hold him since he was upset but Aakash accelerated the bike without moving it. Meenakshi took the cue and held his shoulder firmly. Only then did Aakash start driving.
They did not speak a word until they arrived home.
Meenakshi prepared dinner while Aakash was in their room, feeling hurt that she hadn’t trusted him enough to share about her past work. Meenakshi called him for dinner and he silently followed her but the moment he saw his family, he hid everything and pulled a chair for Meenakshi to sit beside him.
“I will eat later,” she said in a gentle voice and was about to serve but he stopped her.
“Sit, Meena. How many times do you want me to say that you should have food with me ?” he said and pulled her to sit beside him.
Whatever happened, he wouldn’t let her down in front of anyone, not even his own family. Whatever happened between them would remain behind the closed doors of their room.
After dinner, Meenakshi hurried to finish the chores and return to the room. She could handle anything but his silence towards her.
She entered the room and saw Aakash working on his laptop. She removed her saree to change into a nighty and noticed he wasn’t looking at her. Usually he would tease her and wouldn’t avert his gaze until she finished changing, or he would even stop her from wearing clothes and start his playful romance.
She wore the nighty and stood behind him. She wound her arms around him from behind and Aakash froze for a second before removing her hands.
“I didn’t want just physical closeness from you, Meena. I wanted the whole of you as my wife, your strength, your weakness, your comfort, your likes and dislikes. I wanted to be your home just like you are to me. I hate myself that I failed to be the person you could trust and open up to completely. Go sleep, I have some work,” he said and continued working.
“I’m sorry, Aakash. Please forgive me. Please don’t doubt your place in my life. You are my home and I could endure anything but your ignorance,” she whispered and lay on the bed watching him.
In the morning, Meenakshi woke up and saw Aakash sleeping on his side with his back facing her. A silent tear rolled down her eyes. She quickly got ready and walked out of the room.
Once she finished cooking, she entered the room looking for Aakash and froze at the sight before her.
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A/N:
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