How to Woo Your Bride

23| Busted

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

- Epictetus

Chapter 23: Busted

   Riya chose to travel by bus this time. Traveling by car every day was too expensive. After paying for her ticket, she looked around the city, taking in it's beautiful scenic mountains. Soon enough it was time for her to get down. Checking her purse to make sure she has her credit card, she walked inside the store.

   Now, Riya has a bunch of clothes. Way too many, in fact. But she needed western clothes. One that she could wear to business meetings like the one she had with Tina. It didn't take much time to find a personal shopper. Riya worried about the small fee she would be charged but shrugged it off when she realized she wouldn't be shopping much. 

   The personal shopper was a really sweet young girl. She appeared to be Riya's age and had her best interests in mind. Every single dress she tried on suited her perfectly. After choosing five professional sets, three dresses, and two casuals, she proceeded to the men's section to buy Madhan a shirt or two. 

   After contemplating on two selections, she heard a woman's distinct laughter and a man's loud voice.

   Is that Madhan?

   Riya walked towards the source of the sound and found a beautiful woman laughing as Madhan was speaking to her. Riya felt hurt for a second but shrugged it off. She did reject his offer. Deciding to show her presence, she walked up to them, and said hi to the woman, while she just smiled at Madhan.

   "I came to shop for myself, but decided to get you a shirt or two. I selected these two, but can't seem to make up my mind. Here. Choose whichever one you want," Riya said, speaking directly to Madhan.

   Madhan took the shirts in shock. He was about to say thanks and offer her a ride back when Sheila stepped on his foot discretely.

   Madhan curtly nodded as he bit his lip to prevent himself from shouting in pain. Riya blinked away tears as she walked to the billing counter. The total charge came up to five hundred and seventy dollars. Determined more than ever to use her credit card, she ate up her guilt and billed away.

   The incident at Kohls affected her. She realized that Madhan had easily replaced her. She was now completely on her own. It wasn't that she suspected Madhan was cheating on her, but that he resorted to another woman just because she didn't help him. She totally did not see that coming.

   She called up Maria to ask her about driving lessons, cooking classes, and tailoring classes. For the next one month, she hung out with Maria, who guided her around the city during her off hours. She had her own car. She gifted Riya a driving lesson's book and gave her contact numbers to the various cooking and tailoring classes.

   Riya constantly read her driving manual and was trying out dishes she learned at her cooking classes. She never cooked for Madhan though. She wanted to master it before she routinely prepared his food. He never spoke to her, she ignored him. He would leave the house and come back home whenever he wanted. It was like the two just coexisted in the house.

   Riya finally got her learner's permit, in two weeks, and was practicing regularly to get her driver's license as soon as possible. She gave up on tailoring however, just a week into the class. For some reason she simply did not get it.

   When Riya was sure Madhan would not come for a long stretch of time, she invited Tina to her house, to discuss the design. She was sure Madhan would object, or be vary of the charges. 

   Finally, it was the third week of September. Madhan had a meeting to attend, and it was being conducted in New York. He left a note informing Riya that he would be back a week later.

   Riya fumed. How dare he just give me a note. Has he forgotten that I'm his wife? Hypocrite, she thought. She was not being very wifely at the moment. Deciding to make the best use of his absence, she requested Tina to start making changes to their house. Tina said it would take two weeks, but Riya requested her to do it in one week. 

   "I would like to surprise my husband," she had said, Surprise, yeah right. More like shock him, she thought.

   "Aww, that's so sweet. Alright then, you'll be my number one priority then," Tina said, clapping her hands with glee. She liked surprises.

   Riya took her Driver's license test during the middle of the week. She passed with flying colors, and aced both her theory exams. To celebrate, she decided to get her own car. That was the whole purpose of getting a license wasn't it?

   She called Maria excitedly to see if she could help choose a car with her. But she accidentally dialed Madhan instead. After Madhan picked up, she asked Maria if she was free now. It was only after she asked the question that she realized there was lots of noise at the background. It appeared to be like a club. Madhan said he was free, and moved to a quieter place. 

   Oh my gosh, she thought. She had called Madhan by accident. 

   "Wasn't it a meeting you were attending?" Riya asked, suspiciously. 

   "Yes. Do you have any other questions?" Madhan asked, quite rudely.

   Riya, annoyed by his behavior, hung up and called Maria, making sure it was her number she had dialed.

   Maria willingly obliged, and the two went to a car shop. Having not so many choices, she finally settled on a beautiful pink mustang. 

   She profusely thanked Maria for all the help she gave her.

   On walking to her house, she smiled as she took in her surroundings. It was the most beautiful thing ever. The couch was replaced with a Velvet blue. The photos were placed in the most appropriate places. All the lights were changed with designer light bulbs. The tube lights were now replaced with energy saving lights. The dining table was now made of glass, with beautiful crystals embedded in the chairs. The floors were renovated. There were no longer carpets, but marble tiling. It made her dusting work so much easier.

   Luckily for her, each apartment was allowed two cars. One was her husband's and the other for her's.

   Sighing blissfully, she sat down and drank a cup of juice.

   She was peaceful, till she heard the door getting unlocked.

   "WHAT THE HELL," Madhan shouted.

   He was waving his phone in the air.

   It was the credit card statement.

   Oh oh, Riya thought. 

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