Relationship Status - It's complicated

Chapter 31 - You are with me

Shiv

I put the phone away after talking to Anjali and grabbed the packet that Harshit had handed me after I came home from Anjali's parents home. The wedding photographer had dropped off a few copies before the big 'digital launch' according to him. I took out all the pictures and silently began gazing at them. AN-JA-LI! Anjali ! My pretty pretty bride! 

She was laughing whole heartedly in one picture. I imagined she was either with Pooja or her kids. It was a candid shot from her mehendi and she looked absolutely beautiful. I put the photo aside and flipped through the others. There was another candid shot of me and Anjali where she was carefully was putting the ring on my finger but I was not looking at the finger but I was fondly gazing at her. I chuckled, it was a great shot! I was sure this picture was going to be the talk of me and Anjali in all the years to come. 

I put this picture aside as well and flipped through the remaining. There was another very formal shot of me and Anjali along with our close family and then one just of me and Anjali sitting on the throne like sofa. I really looked big and so it was time to return to gym. Overall, the pictures were lovely! We had been Shiv and Anjali then and now were together just like the henna design on her hands - ShivAnjali. 

She was sweet, simple, innocent and most importantly, she had trusted me. Trusted me to heal her wounds and stepped into my world with the promise of being my companion. Consummating with her was not a problem, it came naturally but I was slowly getting worried for the feeling of 'love'. May be because, to me love had only meant one person or my definition of love was one person. I felt for Anjali, I felt like protecting her with all my might and I felt like making sure she was happy. I even felt like she had every right over me as a wife. But, I didn't feel 'love' yet. Maybe, my definition of love had to be changed.

Involuntarily, I let out a huge sigh and thought to myself that whatever the case be, I was going to give this my one hundred percent. Anjali is my wife, my companion and I am her husband. Love was bound to happen.  

I then walked over to Harshit's room and found him buried in some papers on his table with him occasionally scratching his jaw. "Little brother, when are you going to gym tomorrow?" 

He looked up at me and chuckled, "So honeymoon made you realize that I am your little brother? " 

I rolled my eyes at him, "Oh shut up! What is with these new clothes and new avatar of yours for the night? I got married and it seems you went shopping! " He had clearly been wearing new PJs with a new shirt. He always wore shorts that ended up at his knees. 

"Papa and I both bought new PJs and night shirts. We realized some of our clothes were not decent enough for us to be infront of Bhabhi, well mine to be precise. Anyways, I will be leaving at 6:30 AM sharp for gym tomorrow morning. Will you join?" 

I nodded at the maturity of my brother. My mind although went back to thinking once more about Anjali and about the morning when she had seen me shirtless and had been all shy! I smiled, "I will come with you. I also need to catch up on everything that I missed out at work with you."  

"Sure, Bhai." 

********

My whole body felt sore after the gym session. A break of almost 3 weeks meant I was worse than before in every activity from warm up to core exercise. My limbs hurt while Harshit kept talking about how some of the deliveries were missed and some were delayed because of incessant rains for two days in Mumbai. 

Return to office after the break was also overwhelming. Nearly everybody had met me one by one and congratulated on my wedding and everyone had also requested to meet Bhabhi ji soon. That's when my gaze flickered to my phone. I had sent Anjali a good luck message in the morning and requested her to call me when she got a chance.