Distance Between Us

Chapter 9

It was Rakshabandan (festival of brother and sister) so, Rajesh Sheela and Janaki went to visit Sheela's parents house. Sujatha refused to join them and she has already tied rakhi to rajesh and disappeared for the day.

Raghu welcomed them all to his house and there was a feast of different varieties of food prepared by Devi and leela. Rajesh talked to Raghu and Suresh While Sheela and Janaki were with Devi as Sheela updated her married life details. Devi was happy that her daughter was having good marriage life. She got teary when Sheela told her Rajesh helps her in all of her chores of the house. Sheela hugged her mother and wiped her tears. Janaki blinked thrice and Devi ruffled her hair lovingly. Janaki blinked thrice again.

"She doesn't like you to mess her hair. She likes this hair style," Sheela said watching her with warm eyes.

Sheela tied rakhi to Suresh and received idol of Ganesh from him. They had dinner and left for their house.

Sheela heard noise of opening and closing of the door. She came to the kitchen to drink water and she was startled by the noise. It was sujatha and she took a relieved breath. Sujatha was hurrying to her room without looking at her.

"Sujatha did you had dinner."

There was no reply and then came loud sound of shutting of doors.

Rajesh came out of his room hearing the noise.

"What happened?"

"Don't know sujatha seemed disturbed," answered Sheela.

Rajesh sighed. he was worried about her as she was not answering his calls. It was already past ten.

"Don't worry. She will tell us in her own time if there is anything wrong. Let's sleep. Its already late."

But Sheela was not sure and was concerned for her. She also knew sujatha will not tell her anything. it has been three months since marriage and they have never become close. She has tried to at least talk to her but sujatha was always been closed off and talked only  to shout or taut her. Rajesh always defends Sheela and she has requested her husband to only interfere if necessary.

"OK," she said to her husband and went back to sleep.

Sheela was waiting outside of her office for her husband. She smiled seeing Rajesh coming on his bike. Her smile dropped seeing his face.

"What happed Rajesh? Why the irritated face?"

"Let's go home and we will discuss," Rajesh said without looking at her.

She frowned and got on the bike. The journey was quite. They would usually discuss their day on the way home.

Once they have reached home, Rajesh just went inside his room. Sheela thought he would say the reason for his bad mood but he did not say anything. They have become comfortable with each other in their relationship of three months, that they would share anything with each other.

She went inside their room and Rajesh has already changed his clothes and was sitting in the bed with his laptop.

She changed her clothes and stood near the bed so that he would talk. He ignored her. Not getting any response she went to kitchen and made pakodas and fed Janaki crushed pakodas so that she can swallow simply and gave sujatha some pakodas. Sujatha  ate and said,

"salt is not enough. You should add some more."

Janaki blinked thrice saying no and Sheela smiled and said,

"OK next time I will do that."

She went to her room again saw that Rajesh was in the same position when she left. But this time seeing her he closed his laptop and sat on the edge if the bed and made her sit next to him. Sheela showed him the plate of pakodas and he smiled and took the plate from her hands and started eating. She smiled seeing him. He liked pakodas. Rajesh also fed her as he knew she will not eat before serving everyone. They both completed the plate and kept it aside.