Krisha splashed water on her face and wiped her tears. His words rang in her mind.
Stop behaving like a child. Child. Child. Child
It was clear. He did think of her as a child and he wanted her to stop behaving like one. Obviously, no one would want a child for a wife.
"Stupid Krisha. Start behaving like a matured woman. He doesn't like when you behave like a child. You're not a child. You-you don't have to ramble about everything to him like a child. He already has his own problems to deal with. Tu apni bhi unke upar daal degi toh kaise chalega. From today, you'll behave maturely."
She explained herself and went out. She gave him a weak smile and he looked at her with an apologetic expression.
"Soye nhi aap abhi tak?"
She asked in a soft tone and he sighed. He held his hand out and called her forward.
"Idhar aao."
She did as told and he made her sit beside him. He pulled her in his arms and whispered apologies in her ears.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all that. I was just frustrated from work and wo frustration tumhare upar nikal gaya. I'm sorry Krisha. Please forgive me."
She nodded and smiled but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Child. She didn't have to behave like one.
The next day when Aakash reached home and entered his room, Krisha greeted him with a smile. Not her usual grin.
"Hi. How was your day?"
She asked and he frowned at her tone. She was usually so excited about this.
"Good."
He answered knowing what the followup question will be. 'What good? Kya kya hua aaj ye bataiye na.' He chuckled mentally but she just smiled and nodded.
"Kuch khaayenge aap?"
He shook his head and nodded again.
"Fresh ho jaaiye. Thak gye honge."
Aakash was confused. Was she not fine? Maybe she was waiting for him to freshen up before she asked him about his day and told him about hers. Funny how he'd started looking forward to it.
When he came out of the washroom he saw her already laid down on the bed. He kept looking at her lying there with a frown.
'Kya hua? Sona nhi hai kya?"
Aakash shook his head and laid down beside her. He kept looking at her.
"Krisha?"
She hummed but didn't look his way.
"Tabiyat thik hai na tumhari?"
She hummed again and he got quiet not knowing what to say next. When her behaviour continued for five more days he finally decided to ask her what was wrong.
She had even stopped being excited for their upcoming trip to Bali. It felt like her soul got exchanged with someone else.
He entered his room and saw her sprawled on the bed scrolling through her phone. A smile formed on his face seeing her casually laid posture. Maybe he was overthinking.
But the moment her gaze fell on him, she sat straighter and adjusted the pallu of her saree.
"Aap jaldi aa gye aaj?"
What was the sudden change in her body language.
"Haan. Aaj jyada kaam nhi tha toh I thought ghar hi chalte hai."
He replied and waited for her to ask about his day.
"Oh! Kaisa raha aaj ka din?"
He smiled at her question but replied.
"Not so good. Okayish!"
All these he had been replying with a 'Good', maybe that's why she didn't ask further. But now she has to. But she just nodded and said.
"Tgak gye honge, fresh ho jaaiye, mai khaana laga deti hu."
Aakash frowned and asked.
"Umm-how was your day?"
"Wahi same. Just followed my usual routine."
She replied and he sighed.
"Phir bhi. Kuch toh kia hoga na. Nhi toh tell me about your usual day only."
"Aap thak gye honge. Fresh ho jaaiye."
She said and started going out only to be stopped by his hold on her wrist. She turned to look at him with a questioning look.
"What's wrong? Why are you behaving so detached and uninterested?"
"When did I -"
"Ek hafta hone ko aaya hai and you've not asked me about what I did all day like you used to. You've stopped telling me about yours. You've stopped being excited about small things and even stopped showing your interest in our Bali trip. Kya baat hai?"
Krisha looked away. So he did notice that she started behaving more maturely and stopped asking questions like a child and showing excitement like a baby.
"Is it -is it about last week? Krisha, I am sorry I said all that. I didn't mean any of it. I was just angry and pissed at my co-worker aur wo saara gussa tumhare upar nikal gaya. I shouldn't have done that. But please talk to me."
She looked at him with tears glistening her eyes and said.
"Nashe aur gusse mai insaan wahi bolta hai jo uske mann mai hota hai."
She opened her mouth to say more but her throat constricted with emotions and she shut it back again gulping her tears down.
"No! Say it! Talk to me please."
He pleaded and she looked at him with an accusatory glare.
"I wanted a husband who would understand and support my choice of not doing a job and being a housewife. But aapne mujhe taunt kia ki mai aapki baatein nhi samajh paaungi because I don't work and can't relate to anything."
Aakash closed his eyes feeling like the biggest jerk.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean that. I really didn't. And I do support you not working and doing whatever you wish to. Mujhe farak nhi padta iss cheez se ki tum working ho ya nhi. I just care about whether you're happy or not. And if you're happy, I don't care about anything else. And I'm sorry for making you feel that it's the other way around. Forgive me please."
She looked into his eyes and saw only sincerity and genuinity. She nodded and whispered an okay. When she started going out again, he pulled her back in a way that she landed on his lap sideways.
Her eyes widened and she gasped.
"Y-ye kya kr rhe hai aap?"
Involuntarily a blush coated her cheeks. She'd never sat on his lap before. And his hand on her bare waist was not helping her situation either.
"There's something more right? You're still not the same anymore."
Krisha bit her lip thinking about his comment of her behaving like a child.
"Aur kuch nhi hai. I'm just trying to behave like an adult. I promise I'm trying to get rid of my childish behaviour. Aapke phir kabhi nhi lagega ki aapne ek bache se shaadi kri hai."
She said and he frowned.
"When did I -"
He stopped remembering his comment and sighed.
"You know what? Apologies are not enough now. Tum na mujhe kheench kar ek thappad lagao."
He said and held her hands near his cheeks. She pulled them back with a gasp and said.
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