The Ideal NRI Couple mistake

2. Neil

As we reached the airport, I couldn't wait to get back to Singapore. The work which waited for me was momentous but looking at Ishani made me a bit sad. She surely would take time to adjust. I am going to try surely but the problem is simple, I will have to work and work hard at it. My father had already taken Singapore as a failed attempt, even though his business proposal was accepted years ago. A sub standard office and a great place to stay made it a great place for him to work a few weeks each year. A few months back, I stumbled into it and I was trying hard to flourish it before the country kicked us out.

At the immigration people gave us weird looks, if you have ever travelled from Delhi you would know why. It's easy to make out the honeymooning Punjabi couples. Loud clothes, Ishani's blingy dress up did not help, lots of jewellery which my wife of one week was always loaded with, too much luggage, check Ishani's monster bags and the need to stick together. I wanted her to look normal like she did for the past 15 years. The officials gave us a go ahead and Ishani looked ready to cry. Honestly this was looking like a weird kidnap scenario in my head. "Ishani would you like to change your clothes?"

She looked at me and shrugged, "I look weird? I told your mother but she wanted me to look presentable to the relatives," she made air quotes that shut me up. She looked like an over dressed diva. "Ish I meant comfortable for the flight." "I can change," and she walked to the first washroom she saw. I waited and waited. Just as I was about to message her about grabbing coffee for both of us she came out. Dressed in a velvet tracksuit in blood red colour to add to the monstrosity it had golden stones all over! "Ish?" "You like me now Mr husband?" She smiled, the first genuine non teary smile. I smiled back. Maybe I was being too judgemental.

"Coffee?" I asked and started waking towards Starbucks. "Yes a cold coffee, I will meet you there," she pointed to the smoking room. I sighed, "okay." Her smoking started as, "I'm so cool" phase and I was patiently waiting for her to quit. I grabbed the coffees and went into the smoking room. There she stood in her red attire and matching hand luggage. Most men staring at her. Indian men, the foreigners were busy. "Ish coffee." I handed her a hot caffe latte, "this is hot Neil." "Ishani you always catch a cold with cold coffee." I smiled back because I knew. We Indians have a habit of reaching airports especially for international flights as early as two hours, lest we miss the plane.

After standing in the smoke filled room we went ahead to check out some duty free shopping. Duty free is another reason we go early. By the time we boarded the plane Ishani had brought two matching his and her neck pillows, chocolates, two books, a pen drive because it was cute, a nailpaint because it was something called an opi she couldn't stop gushing about. I was on the phone and let her indulge lest she pout and feel sad. The next few months were charted out for us and if things worked out, so was our life.

And then we decided that champagne was a great idea which sitting in the business class for the first time is a novelty for most people. After about 5 glasses each we were discussing what all Ishani wanted to do in Singapore. "Neil I want to stay at universal studios, go for a cruise, maybe a week in Thailand because its near and lots of casino each weekend." I gulped my glass quicker, because I knew most of this was bit going to happen. I could fit in a day off but would still be need to be near work no matter what. I was determined to make this work and my marriage too. Ishani would have to adjust a bit.

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