Published on 25th February 2021.

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– S H R U T I –

From the amount of tiredness filled in my body, I could easily say that even ten hours of sleep wasn't enough for me.

Just when I opened my eyes, I saw Rishabh gazing me. I was about to stand up but before I could, he smiled and pressed his lips on mine.

Wait a minute!

I pinched myself and suddenly everything started to fade away. I opened my eyes and saw the bed empty.

So, it was a dream?

Ofcourse.

It's not that we had something between us in past.

Also, our courtship period was just of fourteen days. And in that too, five days were spent in wedding rituals.

Standing up, I checked the time— 9:30 am. Seriously? Why didn't anyone wake me up? But, from whom should I expect? That's not the main problem. The only thing I know is that I'm late.

Pacing towards the bathroom, I tried opening it but it was locked from inside. Was he using the bathroom?

Sitting on the bed, I took a glass and poured water in it. I sipped it slowly and walked inside the closet to select my clothes. As they were inside the suitcase, I had to do double work to see them.

And arranging them at this time would prove that I'm a stupid. It would be nothing but a waste of time.

I picked up my towel, underwear and a good-looking saree. Wearing a dark red saree is the best thing I could do on the first day. I remember mumma reminding me that a ton of guests would be here.

Sigh...

Just when I turned back to walk out, I collided with a wall. But I was never standing beside the wall. Rubbing my forehead, I looked up and saw Rishabh.

Okay, this was expected.

But seeing him only in a towel wasn't expected.

"You're alright?"

"I... I am... fine." I stuttered. Really? People are correct when they say that you can't talk to your crush without stammering.

Correction. Ex-crush.

But he was never my ex.

What is ex-crush?

"I need to change here. Can you..."

"I'll go to bathroom." I said and ran towards the bathroom door. Locking the door, I kept my clothes on the stand and paced towards the toilet. Doing my daily chores, I brushed my teeth and took a quick shower.

I am late!

Shit!!

Wearing the underskirt and blouse, I roughly wrapped the saree around me and walked inside the closet. Fitting the upper border inside my skirt, I wrapped it two times around me and threw the rest on my shoulder. I took the front part and started making pleats but it didn't come out to be good.

That's what I don't like!

Time is less and I need to be perfect.

I wore a saree yesterday but it was made up of another material. And the material I was wearing today was different, and was hard to handle.

And changing in another saree won't do anything good.

Why didn't I learn how to wear saree of every material?

Opening the roughly made pleats, I started pleating them again and sighed. I can't do this! But I need to!

"Are you ready?" Rishabh came inside and asked, making me startled. I nodded and started pleating them again. But nevertheless, I lost. "Do you need any help?"

There was nothing to be shy about.

I wasn't naked. Saree was draped all around me, hiding my modesty.

"I... I can't... It's really tiring." I sighed and he smiled sympathetically. Walking towards me, he took the part of saree and started pleating.

Men really know how to make pleats?

Handing the pleats to me, he bent down on his knees and straightened them till down. I took a pin and pinned them together. Creasing them altogether for the last time, he stood up and sighed.

"You know how to wear saree?"

"In childhood, Radhika and I used to help ma in pleating her saree."

I never got a situation like this.

Mumma rarely wore sarees. It was kept only for occasions.

And in that too, Akriti was the one who helped her. I was too young then.

"You're ready?"

Oh shit!

I need to wear makeup and jewellery!

"Just a minute." I said and ran out towards the dressing table. Changing my earrings into a bigger one, I did my makeup. As it wasn't good for a new bride to stay bare necked, I took a necklace and my mangalsutra, and wore them around my neck.

I looked at myself for the last time in mirror and sighed. I turned back and was about to step out but he held my hand.

I looked up and saw him gazing me. "You forgot something." He said and walked towards the dressing table. He picked up a tiny box and walked towards me.

Sindoor.

How can I forget this?

Taking a pinch of vermilion in his fingers, he filled my partition and stepped back.

Ek chutki sindoor ki keemat tum kya jano Ramesh Babu!

Oh God!

"This. We should go out. Ma is waiting for you." He said and I mentally banged my head on wall.

I am late.

What would others think about me?

"You don't need to think much. Everyone was tired and woke up late. As for ma, she's always the first one to wake up."

Can he hear thoughts?

Telepathy?

Is telepathy real?

"Let's go." He said and walked out. I followed him, eventually reaching in the hall. As soon as his mother saw me, she paced towards me.

Is she angry with me?

"Shruti, did you get a good sleep?" She asked and I nodded.

Good sleep? What did she really mean?

"Let's go. We need to go through some rituals before our breakfast."

✨

"So..... How is your marital life going on?" Aditi asked.

"Good. How should it be going?" I responded on the call while sitting in his balcony, which is now my balcony too.

"Pretty romantic. Between, did you like the gift I packed for you?"

"Gift?"

"That sexy lingerie. I bet it worked for the best."

"You packet it?"

"Ofcourse. Akriti di wasn't going to. Only I had the guts to do something like that."

"Are you in your senses? Atleast do something meaningful. What if someone else opened it before me?"

"It would've been better." Parth said.

"This was a group call? Who joined you?" Aditi asked being shocked.

"I joined him." I said.

"But why? He's such a-"

"Pain in ass?" Parth interrupted her in between and I laughed.

"Aditi, if you're forgetting something, he's our friend too. You both are same for me." I said.

"He's a man! And we're females. How are we same?" Aditi asked.

"Atleast, now you believe that I'm a man."

"You!"

"Okay! Stop it!"

"Well, how was your day?" Parth asked.

"Tiring! There were so many guests. I had to wear saree the whole day."

"I know." Aditi said.

"You know? Are you married?" Parth asked.

"Ofcourse not. I meant to say that I know the situation of guests." Aditi answered.

"Talk to each other. I'm tired and going to sleep." I said before cutting the call. Stepping inside the room, I closed to the door of balcony and saw Rishabh sitting on the bed with laptop on his lap.

What's the need to work late at night when he has his wife?

What am I even thinking?

Don't he find me attractive?

I mean, it's been three days we're married and we haven't even kissed!

Not even a kiss!

"Shruti, can you please pass me that blue file." He asked, breaking my thoughts. Taking the file in my hand, I walked towards him and kept it on the side-table. "Thank you."

Sitting on my side of bed, I took a book and started reading it. "Do you usually work late at night?"

"No. It's some emergency. By the way..... what's your favourite colour?"

"Huh?" Why did he ask this? What a timing! "Navy Blue."

"Mine is white." He said and continued his work. When did I even ask? Returning back to my book, I started reading it again. "What's your favourite dish?"

Is there a question round today?

"Chhole... Kulche." I said. Living in Delhi all my life, it has become a necessity. "And yours?"

"I think everything. I don't have a particular dish in mind." He said and I nodded.

Who in world doesn't have a favorite dish?

Diverting my mind to my book, I continued reading it.

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