Part 1
was a warm Saturday morning. The sunlight fell directly on Naira's face as she shielded her eyes against the light and got up lazily. Only to be pulled back by her dear husband back; as she landed right on his chest.
"Stay with me for some more time; it's a weekend. No need to hurry up today" he told with his eyes closed as he held her tight.
"Karthik, too much you are. Just let me go na?" She told and kissed him on the cheek; waking him up completely. Surprised with her early morning gift, he left her for a second. Taking it as a chance, Naira giggled and ran to the bathroom.
She brushed her teeth and admired herself in the mirror, the thought of the previous night made her blush red. "Come on Naira, you are a sherni. Don't blush like this" she scolded herself; yet found herself blushing harder.
Laughing, she yanked the door open, but it was locked from the outside. "Karthik, open the door" She called out irritated with his early morning pranks, heard no response.
She banged the door from inside yet again "Mendak, enough of your early morning jokes. Now open the door" She yelled, yet it was not opened.
Naira began to get really angry now. She kept banging on the door. "Stupid Darling husband, open the door now" she demanded
A quarter of an hour passed and Karthik still did not open the door. Naira started to panic if something would be wrong with him. If he had been hurt or unwell
She started to really panic now and her breath was short as she kept banging the door. The door suddenly gave away and she opened it only to collide face to face with her husband.
She looked at him angrily, pushed him away and walked into the hall. The hall was decorated with pictures of both of them, and in all the corners her pictures were there. A picture of her laughing, a picture of her looking at him angrily, a picture of her crying during the wedding, a picture of her making faces.
"Happy 3rd month honey". Karthik told as he hugged her from behind." We have completed a quarter anniversary with today. I wanted to decorate more but you are not patient. What do I even do with you" He smirked, knacking her head as Naira continued to stare at the decoration.
"Oh Hello" He shouted and snapped his fingers.
Naira went straight into his arms "I love you Mendak" she whispered as he draped his hands around her securely. Naira stayed there with her head on his chest, which was her favourite place. Karthik kissed her on her hair.
They drew apart as he held her chin and looked into her eyes with all the love he had. Naira kissed him on the cheek, making him grin showing all his 32 teeth. He drew closer to her, however Naira pushed him away
"Brush your teeth stupid fellow; your mouth smells" She screamed and ran around the small hall with her husband chasing her.
An hour later, they both had a contented breakfast together. Naira got dressed up soon after breakfast, cue for Karthik to sulk.
"Why should you go there I don't understand" he told his fists closed in anger
"Karthik, we go through this argument every week. I am not asking you to come. I am going there. It is my duty." Naira retorted without looking at his face How much ever she loved him, she hated to see him angry and worse to be the reason for his anger.
"So do they talk to you if you go there" He asked fidgeting with his hands
"Yes why not" she replied slipping on into her sneakers
"Don't lie to me" he shouted. "I know that you are not even allowed inside. Mr.Goenka asked you not to step into the house and I am sure that would have been fed into his mind by his wife. Yet you go there every weekend, get insulted, cry on the way back, come home and hide your tears and lie to me. Do you think I will not know anything if you do not tell me? Don't try to act smart"
"I do not want you to get hurt. I promised your father and brother that I will not give you any kind of pain, yet if you want to take self- inflicted wounds upon yourself, I cannot help. I want you to live with self-respect" He told kicking the chair near him hard.
Naira caught his hand and said "Why do you see this as pain. They are family. We cannot live happily without their blessings."
"I do not need their blessings and they are not family. Only because you wanted them in the wedding, I was ok with them being present. Otherwise, I did not want to have anything to do with them" He yelled.
"Fine, I am not going today. If that is what giving you happiness" Naira snapped at him as she went inside the room and changed into her old clothes again
"What did you change for now? I wanted to take you out. It is a special day for us today" He came and told sheepishly in front of her.
"I am not in a mood" She retorted back
"Sorry wifey. I did not mean to scold you" Karthik apologised with puppy eyes and hands on his ears that Naira melted instantly.
"I love you angry young man" She said keeping her head on his shoulders. "But please do not stay angry with me for long. I cannot take it"
"Bas, no sentiments now. I have planned a whole day for us. Get ready and see what I have arranged for us" He said making her smile.
The calling bell rang. "Damn, someone has to disturb us now." He complained, walking to the door with her trailing behind him.
He opened the door and what he saw shook him to the core
"KEERTHI?" was all he could say as he could not take in what he saw in front of him.
__________________________________________________________________________
5