Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

forty-three

43. Chalo kahi door chalte hai (Let's go somewhere far away)

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"So I heard your leave request was approved?" Pari asked me at the end of the day on our way to the ground floor. I pressed the G button, nodding at her with a smile. I can't wait to go home and tell Priya the good news, along with the surprise I've planned for us. She's going to love it. "And what are the plans for your honeymoon? Last I heard it was Bali, but you must have cancelled the booking considering your leave request wasn't approved?" She inquired curiously.

I nodded with a sigh.

That was the first time I had seen Priya so disappointed and sad. Watching her smile of hope fall had my heart clenching in my chest. Yet, that did not stop me from treating her badly.

No, this can't do.

She has been so accommodating, so adjusting, and all I've given her is a cold shoulder for the last month. While things between us have gotten better over the course of last week, she still acts around me way too carefully, choosing her words as though she weighs them in her head before speaking out her thoughts. I don't want her walking on eggshells around me. I don't want to be the kind of husband who makes it hard for his wife to speak her mind, who oppresses her. I know I'm pretty stubborn sometimes, but I'm still willing to hear her side.

"Adi?" Pari touched my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I realised we had already reached the ground floor. "Sorry," I chuckled sheepishly, stepping aside to let her out first. She smiled and walked out, waiting for me to follow her. We headed to the exit together.

"I asked you something?" She reminded me with a smile.

"Right," I chuckled. "Well, this time it's Europe."

She gasped, a hand flying to cup her mouth. "Wow!" She exclaimed. "Priya must be over the moon."

I shrugged. "She doesn't know yet. It's a surprise."

"I'm sure she'll love it." Pari nodded in reassurance.

She will.

She looked quite excited about the Europe package. It costs a fortune, but maybe it's time I stop fretting over the money constantly. Marriage comes with responsibilities and responsibilities are expensive. If she wants to go to Europe for the honeymoon, I'll take her.

Also, the money she transferred to my account this morning to confirm the booking and arrangements was quite a lot, it helped me cement my decision.

"Oh, isn't that her car?" Pari stopped short upon exiting the doors. At her words, I did too, my eyes darting to where she was looking. I smiled as the door to the familiar Range Rover opened and my wife stepped out gracefully.

What a fucking Queen.

"See you tomorrow!" I said to Pari, too impatient to wait for her response as I made my way toward Priya. She closed the door and turned in time for me to put my arms around her for a hug. She gasped, chuckling softly before her arms slowly reciprocated, locking around my torso. "Hey!" I pulled away to grin down at her.

She smiled back. "Hi," a soft timbre, just like her eyes that gazed up at me warmly. "What do they make you do?" She tsked, picking off the lint from my shoulder before reaching to fix my hair. "I send my husband to the office like he is ready to take over the world and these people send him home looking like this?" She sighed helplessly as I chuckled.

"Why? Do I look that bad?"

"Yes!" She frowned, caressing the creases on my shirt. "Do you know I spend fifteen minutes to make sure there's not even a tiny crease on your shirt?" She shook her head.