Sona's POV:

"The rumors about you..are they true??"

The second those words spit out of my mouth his grip on the glass tightened...

Will he break the glass on my head??

My heart began beating in my mouth as my palms started sweating like water...

Idiot I told you not to dare...

He muted the TV and silence engulfed the living room but it sounded more like a haunting graveyard to me...

His grip on the glass was intensifying as his jaws were clenched too and I was scared that the glass would break and he would get hurt...

Already his knuckles aren't healed yet...

I gulped hard and thought of escaping but something kept me glued to the spot

A small part of me was yearning for an answer from him and was bestowing the strength to survive his reaction...

Looking at his cold figure I waited for him to say what I wanted to hear from him and rubbed my palms together wiping off my sweat and after a long-dead silence his hand left the glass and kept it on the table

He is going to answer...

My heart palpitations boosted up its gear as it was scared to survive the moment where he would say 'yes the rumors are true'

His elbows rested on his knees as his fingers linked together and his eyes met mine...

The corner of his eyes and eyebrows looked very gentle but as I always fall into his mysterious black orbs I tried to peep down into his soul but in the depth of his eyes there was a hidden emotion that I couldn't decipher

Looking straight and deep into my eyes with his red ones that were buried in the shadow of some unknown darkness yet shimmering in a painful light he announced in that fierce voice

"It's up to you...to trust ME or those rumors"

I will trust you

I so wanted to assure his broken soul but couldn't as those words were buried deep down in my heart and without bothering about my answer he increased the volume and I simply walked to the kitchen in defeat...

After about 10 minutes I came back with  a plate filled with food and placed it on the table where my omelet was left untouched

I thought he would eat it...

I moved the plate close to him but his eyes fixed on the naked men fighting like animals while my poor ones were fixed on the omelet

Eat it or else your baby egg might grow into a mommy chicken

What if he thinks of me as a hungry hyena...from the morning I am having food without doing any work

I'll have water and sleep...

I kept fidgeting my fingers and waited for him to finish the food but he was so drowned in the fights that he didn't even take a morsel...

Eat until it is hot...

I opened my mouth to say it but closed it as I couldn't gather the courage to order the drunk beast...

And all of sudden he stood on his feet and before I could react anything he rushed into the kitchen...

I got everything...

What else does he need...

Maybe some spicy snacks for his drink that he must have stored in the containers...

Observing the glass I made a self conclusion and was waiting for him to come back with the result but to my shock, he came back with another plate  and I instantly explained "I am not hungry"

And ignoring my words as if ignoring a buzzing sound of a bedbug he placed the plate on my lap and I explained again "I am really not hungry"

His eyes made a slight movement asking me to hold the plate from falling down my lap....

As my trembling fingers held the plate    half of the food from his plate was transferred into mine with that untouched omelet too and his voice mumbled softly "Eat properly"

I was so overwhelmed to speak anything at that moment

My heart felt extremely warm at his gesture

The first time we had food together...

Though the room was filled with violent sounds the invisible serene air between us was composed by the peaceful pounds of my heart

At that moment I had no fears no tears

It was only a simple yet beautiful feeling that I am unable to put in words...

Later I cleaned the dishes and came back to the living room and saw him leaving and quickly yelled at his back "where are you going??"

He didn't turn back but balled his fingers in a fist and ignoring his silence I suggested as soft as I could "It's late...you must rest" and as my voice reached him his fingers that were fisted were now slowly relaxed...

I expected him to be silent as he always prefers but suddenly he burst out with a series of nonstop words "I am going out for a walk...you don't have to wait for me...you don't have to worry about me just lock the bedroom door and sleep"

And he disappeared into the darkness of the world

How mean of you Akdu...

I was just concerned...

Can't you answer politely...

Consider yourself fortunate enough that he at least responded...

Sighing in defeat I barged into the bedroom and laying on the mat I relaxed on it...

My fingers began stroking the forehead as my mind was too tired thinking and wanted sleep to engulf me as soon as possible but his cold answers and warm gestures made it even more complicated...

You don't have to worry about me...

Those words tugged my face down in disappointment but in no time a sweet little smile crinkled my lips as his pleasant voice filled in my heart...

Eat properly...

It was only Maa who used to say those words to me and now it's him who is taking care of me as if I was a baby...

And as his voice lingered in me my fingers made their way to my neck and began playing with the nuptial chain...

Eat properly...

I felt my cheeks flushing with a soft pink feeling of a beautiful emotion...

I was feeling somewhat new...

And I liked the new me...

All pink and smiling in my lips like a rose...

I tossed to the right and pouted at the photo of my caring husband

Very bad Mr beast...

You can take care of me...

And I can't...

You are bad...

But...

You are a little cute too...

Good night Angry Bird...

And unlike last night the soft buds of trust evoked in my heart and the lullaby of his little words put me to a peaceful slumber...

****
The next day I woke up a little early and getting ready I rushed out of the room and as usual he was busy with his dumbles..

Don't look at him...

Don't look at him...

Ranting to myself I hung my head down and ran into the kitchen...

Firstly I enlightened the lamp and incense sticks in the temple as Arun Sir asked me to do it every day

Help me to build up trust for my husband

I prayed and made myself busy with the breakfast and lunch arrangements...

After kneading the dough and cutting the veggies I made tea and upma and was about to rush out with the same but then he entered the frame as fresh as a newborn leaf in his tracks...

He looked at the tray in my hand and his brows frowned while I muttered "Breakfast"

"Look last night I made it clear to you so you are not supposed to do anything for me...understood??"

His words were as sharp as a knife slashing the genuine concern of my poor heart...

He is too stubborn

But I know how to tame such stubborn babies...

"Sorry but yesterday you made breakfast for me and I wanted to pay you back your help or else I won't be able to eat wholeheartedly"

The lines on his forehead instantly calmed as his face turned a little worrisome but his words were still blunt as he walked to the fridge...

"I don't have the habit of eating the breakfast alone"

And with the water bottle, he walked out while I served tea and upma for myself and followed him as I was left with no other option...

We silently finished the breakfast and picking up the plates I mumbled "You get ready till then I'll make the lunch box" and this time without any argument he glued his eyes to the TV and just said "I eat 6 chapatis"

I hummed in response and tucked the veil into my waist to finish the work...

I was done with the lunch but wasn't getting a suitable box that can store the entire food and I had to call him

"Aaho aika na"

(It's the way of addressing the husband in Marathi as in English we say 'listen dear')

As I was still searching the box I heard him at my back "Hmm??" and without twirling I explained "I am not getting the lunch box"

And all of sudden I felt his hand brushing my shoulder and forwarding it to the shelf opposite me and picking up a small box he moved away from me while I was still in a daze feeling that little moment of ours that lasted only for a tiny miny second

Don't get into the dreamland...pack the food go...

But before I could do that he had already packed the lunch box but not completely...

Some curry and 2 chapatis were still in the utensils...

He said he eats 6

I opened my mouth to ask but then his voice stopped me "I am in no mood to eat 6 chapatis" and shifting his gaze to me he some like warned "And I don't like wasting food"

I nodded bowing my head while he added "And there is no need to wear a saree...You can wear whatever you are comfortable with"

And the storm calmed as he left the house

********

Like the bird opening its wings and flying high in the sky the time too flew with its own wings creating a normal routine for us...

Morning I be busy in the kitchen while he plays with the dumbles and plants...

I thought dumbles are his crush but plants came out of the syllabus as his first love

He treats them with so much love and care...

He cleans them and waters them every day...

And he is a cleanliness freak too...

He himself sweeps and wipes the whole house in the morning

And the things should be kept in his place

He never likes covering his upper body when he is at home...

At night sometimes he cooks an omelet or else gets some stuff like bhajis and all and post-dinner he goes out for a walk

And what shall I say about his drinking and smoking...

He does it daily but to a certain limit...I had never seen him lose his senses and create a scene

He drinks he eats and then sleeps...

As simple as that

But I had nothing to do all the time...

I lost my job because of the sudden uninformed leaves and I wasn't sure about him permitting me to search for a new job within the early days of marriage

Then I would read all day...

He has a good collection of books...

Every day I would get a new book on the shelf and would spend the whole day drowning in it

Sometimes I would help the neighborhood kids with their homework too

And those kids are mini kaccha badams.

Kaku's grandkids...

Their mother Manu Tai and I haven't had a good talk yet as she is a nurse and is busy all the time but she thanked me once for helping her kids..

And sometimes I use phone too

Ohh..did I tell you about my new phone

No...

Sorry, I forgot...

Angry Bird got me a new smartphone

Flashback:

It was ticking 11 and he wasn't back yet...

I was urge of crying as I had no one around me to help me with my worries...

What if he drinks and drives...

Is he safe...

Did he go somewhere else...

Various questions and worries surrounded me but I composed myself and waited for him sitting at the door

And then Kaku came to me saying "Arjun's bike got a repair so he'll be late...he asked me to be with you till he comes back"

She kept talking to me but I wasn't at peace...

After around half an hour he appeared in front of my eyes and that's when I breathed peacefully

And the next day itself he got me a phone so that he could contact me in such situations

Flashback ends:

The relationship between Arjun and me is neither warm nor cold...
neither distant nor near...

But we definitely shared some moments in silence...

Whenever our eyes met they would exchange many unsaid words and caring gestures as there was nothing to talk about at ordinary times...

And what else I should say...

Though his history and my experience are two different poles of a magnet they never came along with each other

And all the experiences in my life have taught me that people in society don't care about our feelings and suffering in our lives...

No matter how good we are they come forward with various reasons suspecting our intentions and tag us with good names...

No matter whether we help them or do not help them...no matter we often talk to them or do not talk to them they will taunt us...blame us and even hate us as if they own us and our lives...

They are not going to change...

And I don't believe their words...

I only believe that though you are not good to others you must be good to your family and that's what my husband does...

The moon was shining bright and I was waiting for him...

My thoughts broke when I heard the bike sound and as usual, our eyes greeted each other and in no time we finished our routine and he was about to leave for his walk but I stopped him

"I want to talk to you"

He hummed and got back to his seat...

Rubbing my palms together I blurted out what I had in my heart for a week "Can I search for a new job??"

*******

How will Arjun react??

Liking his Akdu mode??