"Huh! What a day! Kids, don't stay awake for much longer. Specially you Riddhi. Every day I can see your laptop light till much late." Mrs. Gupta herded them away like school children after dinner and Minerva's parents had left.

"I am thirty plus for god sake Ma!" Riddhi scowled but did leave the dining hall.

Dhritiman had already left and Minerva fussing over her father-in-law for his regular medicines.

"Minu.. didn't you hear me? Go to your room. You already had a hectic day. Your baba is not a child; he can take his own medicines." She scolded her daughter-in-law.

"But ma.. he forgot to take one tablet yesterday!" Minerva exclaimed. Her mother-in-law looked at her husband in horror!

Mr.Gupta gulped. "Well, in that case.." Mrs. Gupta started, looking at her husband with narrowed eyes, "Let him miss his medicines. He is not yet that old, that he will forget such important things. He never forgets to buy his cigarettes. So, if he forgets to take his medicines, let him suffer." With that she left the hall too, leaving the father-daughter –in-law duo awestruck.

"Tor sasuri ta baddo nishthur. Ektuo bhalobashe na amaye.." Mr. Gupta pouted, but spread his palm for his beloved daughter-in-law to hand him the tablets. ( TERI SAAS BHT HI CRUEL HAI. ZARA SA BHI PYAAR NHI KRTI MUJHE./ YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW IS JUST SO CRUEL! DOESN'T LOVE ME AT ALL.)

Minerva smiled at his antics. Hopefully Dhriti has slept off by now. Already he was pretty drowsy during supper. It's fine to go now. Smiling at her father-in-law, she said, "I agree with ma regarding cigarette. You should not.. baba."

"Are.. what guarantee is there that I would be 100% fine even if I don't smoke? Chill, I have it under control." He answered with pride. She rolled her eyes.

"Still....-its late, go to room didn't you hear what your sasuri said?"

"You love to tease her right? You know she hates being called sasuri and prefers ma!"

He just grinned. "Baba, please don't smoke once I am gone." He grinned again.

Minerva was sure he would smoke right now. In fact that's why he was urging her to leave. But somehow she failed to be stern. "baba...- "good night." Minerva rolled her eyes again and left.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why the hell she is taking these long? God.. Dhritiman paced to and fro waiting for his wife. Just then she entered. He almost jumped at her.

"What took you so long?" Minerva was about to fall with this sudden movement, somehow she balanced herself. "Why aren't you asleep yet? You are about to fall off the table during supper."

Dhritiman looked away. And it took exactly two seconds for her to realise it was act! "Youuu-"You saw the bill? How can such plain dishes cost that much? Riddhi.. I tell you! It was all a set up to make a hole in my pocket."

She stared at him for a while, and then asked, "And you took that long to realise? Of course it was! How did you become IPS? It was just so obvious. And right too. He worked so hard today. Leaving his work, he came rushing. He deserved to be treated lavishly. Had I done something like this for my brother, I would have dragged him to expensive restaurant or squeezed an expensive gift." Her eyes gleamed!

"Exactly! You did too. And didn't ask anything in return."

"He is your brother, Dhritiman Gupta." She crossed her arms.

"And you are my wife!"

That came out abruptly! She raised her brow. Dhriti gulped and went on...
"I mean, you are wife, so aren't you angry that I spent so much on just a supper... Tiya fussed so much when I took Ridhhi to introduce him to her. I had paid. And she was furious because Riddhi didn't ask to split the bill."

Minerva raised another brow. Dhriti slouched. What the hell is wrong with him today? Saying all the wrong things in the wrong time! You better shut up Dhritiman Gupta.

"Well.. for one thing..- Minerva looked pretty sternly at him- I am not Tiya. So, I wouldn't react the same way she does in a situation."

"I am sorry Minu.. I will not take her name anymore. I didn't mean to...-"It's okay Dhriti. The only thing I ask is not to compare me with her."

He nodded.

"I know, such a long relationship, she is bound to come in our conversation, and I will not prohibit it. But you have to thoughtful about it. And try to move on. That's all I can ask."

He nodded vigorously. How can she be so understanding! "Don't you want something too?"

"As in gift?" Minerva smiled amusingly. "What has gotten into you? you were cribbing over the restaurant bill, and now you want to gift me something?"

"Yessss... I mean yes. Last night we discussed right? That we will maintain this camaraderie when we go to Kolkata too. And while living there, I didn't do a single thing for your comfort. As a husband, that's a shame. I-

"There is nothing to ashamed of! Come on, which century are you living in?" She settled on the bed with a pillow on her lap. She couldn't believe her husband was speaking like this! "Come on Dhriti! As husband wife, we have our duties towards each other, very true. But neither of us were ready for this.. And you went to through such a situation! I know, once everything falls into the right places, we will look after each other and our comfort like any normal couple will." She reassured him.

"Why not start with a gift? Please.. You saved my life Minu.. I was lost- "the doctors saved your life."

"I wasn't speaking of that. I was speaking of being the silent supporter at my worst time, taking care of me like that.."

"Oh"

"Yes, oh, exactly." Dhriti smiled this time. They went silent for a while, both waiting for the other to speak. But none did.

Finally, which felt like an eternity, Dhritiman spoke again, "Tomorrow I will going to Tiya's house for one last time." He looked at her as if measuring her expressions. She tried to seem cool, but was disturbed with the idea. Reading her thoughts correctly he smiled. "To warn her and her parents about what inspector Pillai told us. That if she creates another nuisance here, or Kolkata or anywhere I will be working, he will extend his help. And I will seriously file a defamation suit of high amount."

Minerva listened carefully and weighed the possibilities. "Is it really necessary?"

He took her hands in his, and softly quipped, "It is. I am wrong about her on certain points, but still I know her. Today she was angry, so she hardly thought of the consequences. I know how to drill them into her head."

"Can I come with you?" She bit her lips, fearing he won't take her.

"I would rather not." Unclasping their hands, he cupped her cheek, "Please understand, this must not be about you, or she will hold a grudge against. She must know she is the only to be blamed, and she has to face whatever she is facing. Get me?"

Minerva nodded, though she didn't like the idea.

"So tell me, what would you like?"

"Not again Dhriti..-"Please.. I insist."

Sudden light sparked in her eyes.. "Well... in that case, I was saving for a beautiful bracelet."

With the mention of diamond, Dhritiman's enthusiasm about gifting her dimmed a little. She saw his expression, smiled mischievously and continued, "This bracelet has a beautiful topaz butterfly set in little diamonds. Obviously they are all.. I don't know the term... you know the while you shaping large stones, several chips of the stone come out as waste, well they are not waste at all. They are shaped into a bit less expensive stones. But still.. bound in gold or platinum or even silver, the jewelleries cost expensive enough." She paused to read him.

He was lost! So lost, that he didn't even notice she had stopped.

"What's the price of this bracelet?" His tone said he was much anxious of knowing.

"Really Dhriti? Firstly you wanted to gift me something, and now you want to know the price!" her voiced dripped sadness.

"No no. Please.. I was just.." she burst out laughing. She failed to keep up the act.

"You silly! I was joking." She kept laughing, her eyes sparkling with happiness, but he just smiled, looking at her happy laughing face.

N.B: Hello! So, how is the chapter? Do you like it? I am worried about the scene of Minerva and her father-in-law might seem unnecessary. If you feel so,do tell. And coming to the jwellery part, I myslef don't know the term, but there is this concept. Hope those who are little interested in jwellery and gem stones, you would know. While shaping the stone, the chips that fall  away are reused. And are much of less price. I hope my descriptions were understandable. 

So, do drop your views in the comment section, and vote for this chapter too. Waiting for your views.

Thank you

All my love <3