Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

[ 45 ] A Hundred Kisses ■

Rukmini is surprised to see the main door ajar at noon as she returns home. Murali is seated on one of the plastic chairs, deep in thought. She smiles at him nervously.

'I had some field work nearby,' he gets up as she enters the house slowly. 'I just came to freshen up. Where were you?'

She flusters a little and gestures that she had gone to the temple.

'Mandir?' he crosses his arms tersely. 'Which mandir?'

Rukmini delays her response, irritating him. 

'Don't lie to me, Rukmini!' he snaps. 'You went to your Kaki's house. Hain na?'

Rukmini looks caught. 

'Did you?' he asks again.

She nods, looking at the floor.

'Didn't I clearly tell you yesterday that you should not go to that place?'

Rukmini doesn't respond.

'DID I OR NOT?!' he thunders. It's a tone Rukmini has never heard before. She winces.

'Are you the only one with sisters in this world? And you can't live without each other! I've never them or their mother speaking nicely to you; even once,' He remarks unkindly. 'Did everyone welcome you with a silver plate and flowers there?'

Rukmini's eyes fill up. Nobody had spoken to her at the chawl. Her Kaki had rebuked that she had completely forgotten them after marriage and is living happily with her husband with no responsibilities. And also that she doesn't have the minimum courtesy to give some money to her maternal house. Police people get a lot of extra income, everyone knows that. Is it enough only if you live a nice life?

Rukmini had left the house in less than ten minutes, regretting not listening to Murali.

'When I tell you not to do something, you should not do it!' he says hotly.

Tears splurge out of Rukmini's eyes, infuriating him further.

'Haan, this one thing you know to do very well,' Murali throws up his hands. 'Stop crying. I said STOP CRYING!'

Rukmini steps back in fright, choking on her tears. He steps closer and looks at her gravely.

'Look, if you can respect your husband's words, stay here. Otherwise get out, samjhi?! Just get out!'

Rukmini's heart almost stops at this. Murali puts on the shoes and picks up his cap. Rukmini clutches his arm. He jerks away from her hold and storms out of the house. Rukmini stares at her empty hands and collapses to the floor, crying.

●●●

It has been two days since Amarnath and Gauri visited the roadside food stall near Marine Drive. Though she coughed twice at the intense spice levels, she had declared it was one of the best foods she'd ever had and a plate of Paani Puri, enjoying the view of the scenic view of Marine Drive. 

Why didn't she come to the court today? Or did I miss her? Amarnath thinks, lounging on his sofa at ten in the night, looking at the note she'd sent along with the chocolate-coated strawberries. Should I call her now? She said she usually doesn't sleep until eleven. He contemplates, finally gives in and rotates the phone dial, praying for Gauri to pick it up. But it is Mrs. Kalpana who picks up the phone.

'Hello, Ji mein Amarnath.' 

'Hello, beta. You wanted to talk to Gauri?'

'Ji ... she had told me she'll come to the high court today. But I didn't see her.'