Mr. And Mrs. Bhalla

15

It's been a long time since that night. When I told everything to dadi, she legitally pulled my ears and ordered me to apologize to Ishita. I know my reaction wasn't legit, and I did wrong to her. This is what I was most scared of, my anger.

For the person who hasn't yelled when he should have, I have started shouting as my coping mechanism. That's why I am going for therapy. My past shouldn't affect my present.

It's good that we weren't living in our apartment. Otherwise, the things would have gone the other way. Of course, dadi would have handled the situation, but what surprised me was how Mrs. Bhalla took the stand for Ishita. Never in the past had she said even a single thing to me.

She came to my room that night while Ishita was with dadi. It was her to whom Ishita told her heart out. It's really surprising. The way she took the stand for Ishita, I was myself amazed. But I really had hurt my precious soul.

The next day, even Simmi confronted me and gave me a good lecture for how to be a good husband and how I must treat her bhabhi.

Had Ishita not intervened, then Simmi would have surely gone on saying stuff, which could be turned into a podcast, titled as, 'How to act in your marriage?'

I was thinking of all such things, and then Mihir came to my cabin and informed me, "All the bookings are done. These are the printouts of the tickets." He gave me the tickets. After checking them, I affirmed.

"Thank you, yaar."

"There is no need to say that. In fact, I am thankful to you that you are finally taking bhabhi for the honeymoon."

I glared at him.

We didn't have such a bond between us for going for trips. Now I know that she is comfortable with me.

"It's just a staycation."

He shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "Workaholic ass can't even go for his honeymoon."

"I heard you."

"You were supposed to." He retorted back. "Come on, bhai, you have worked your ass off for your entire life. At least take a little bit of rest and enjoy with bhabhi."

"It's not about my work. Hers as well. I am not interfering in her work life. That's why I am taking her out this weekend."

"You know you are her boss. You can approve her leaves."

"I can, but I can't."

"Huh! What do you mean?"

"She won't appreciate it. Ishita has strictly asked me not to interfere in her professional life. And I respect her this decision."

He smiled.

"What?"

"Finally, you are respecting someone's decision. Hamari baat ko kabhi nhi mani aapne. Biwi aatein hai, joru ke gulaam bann gye."

"So what? Adhering to my wife's decision doesn't makes me Joru ka Gulaam. Instead, it makes me a good husband who respects his wife."

"And love? What about it bhai?"

"I don't know yet. I won't deny the fact that I like her, but love isn't in the picture yet. Moreover, I don't know whether she even likes me or not?"

"Looking at you guys, obviously you both are into each other."

"It might look so because we are married, and both of us respect our relationship. Neither of us wanted to marry each other. She has her own insecurities. I know that she is hiding something from me. I am just waiting her to trust me enough, to open her heart. About me, I wouldn't have married her to be just married. Both of us are learning and adapting each other's lifestyle. That's why we both are taking it slow."