New Innings

Part 19

Dhritiman stumbled to the nearby bench. Is Tiya right? No. Minerva can't be like this. My Minu can never be so selfish. And if it really mattered to her, she would have told me that on the first day only! Her care, concern nothing can be false! And again, why would Minerva do so much for me? What have I given to her, other than ignorance? Gosh, even after Tiya's betrayal I was cribbing for her instead of making things easy for Minu. Yet Minu has always been so caring towards him. But why? Why? Why?

"You fine Dhriti?" his trance broke with her words. Dhriti blinked several times before turning to her.

"You met Tiya!" She exclaimed. Dhriti was surprised. Is he that readable? Just about three months of living together and it took her just a few seconds to guess it!

"Hi.." No, he couldn't give away right now. Tiya deliberately put poison in his mind. And it wouldn't take long to for Minerva to guess what he has been suspecting! Not after all she did for him.

"You met Tiya!" She repeated. And again Dhriti was surprised. Why is she reacting like this? Does that mean, she has started liking him... Or may be she is jealous. But she has shown sign of any fondness toward him in these three months. All she did was out of duty. But feelings do change, right? Look at him. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would fight with Tiya for Minerva. But then again had he ever thought that Tiya could be this mean! So yes, may be Minerva... I will have to know this! Decided Dhriti. The only thing he didn't want to know was why Minerva's change of heart is so important to him.

"You.. You look like you are accusing me? Wasn't it the main reason for us to come here? To meet Tiya?" There I said it. Dhritiman huffed saying. At last for the first time in all these months he was able to speak some coherent words without stumbling and blinking.

Minerva gestured him to move and sat by him. Dhritiman couldn't help but take a measure of the gap between them. Oh, what a pretty sight it was! A couple sitting on a bench by the lake, softly chatting, the man turning completely towards the lady to talk! It is needless to say the man found his lady much more pretty and interesting than the beautiful lake the bazaar holds.

Tiya clenched her fists. It was his favourite spot. He always brought her here. But they hardly spoke anything while they sat here. "Let's feel the silence for a while and admire the beauty in front of us. Tiya, you wouldn't understand how privileged we are to have such a pretty place so near to our homes. In Kolkata, people take drives to visit such lakes." Never had she been able to take his attention off from the surrounding and discuss anything. But look at him today! Dhiti wasn't just talking but sitting facing towards that girl! Just look at the way he is moving his head and hands. What's so much special about the girl that he changed so much! I couldn't do it in seven years and now in just matter of few months... Unable to take anymore, she stamped her feet and left.

"Miner...-"Shh!" Minerva craned her neck and looked around. No, no one is here. But her ears are sharp. She distinctly heard footsteps rushing away. "You heard someone?" Really? Now that the ice have finally started melting, she is bothered about people passing by! "Minerva.. this is the market lake. Obviously people will be here. What we were talking about...-"No, I felt like someone was keeping an eye on us, and that man left just now! You get those feeling right? Come on, you are the police. You should have such inklings more than me." Minerva shook her head frustratingly.

And before they both knew, her hands was in his, pulling her, making her sit. "This is our locality. People here know about the circumstances we got married in. Hell, ma must have invited most of them in my reception, which never took place. And suddenly they get to hear about another wedding taking place in a matter of days, that too, to the daughter of the family friend. They ought to be curious. I don't know, I would have been too, if it was someone else's wedding."

"You are right..." Minerva sighed.

"So, can we continue? Given that, we can't have this conversation at home?" Dhritiman tried once more.

"But why do we have to hide it from our parents? They obviously know that our marriage isn't normal.- Minerva stood fixated on her point. And then suddenly realisation dawned upon her. "Or is it, do you want to hide this Tiya thing from them? Oh god." She covered her face with palms and leaned back.

"But it was you who told me about Tiya's arrival, and if I wanted I could talk to her." Dhritiman reasoned.

"Dhriti, once and for all, listen to me very carefully. I understand what you went through when your ex girlfriend fled from the wedding. It wasn't a good decision to get us married, but that happened. And I respect my vows. Since the day we married, I did exactly what you wanted me to. Not to cross your path, not to try to be close to you in anyway, not to bother you. But I think, I performed the duty of a wife pretty nicely, under your given terms. And I didn't once try to practise my right. And here is why I am reacting. I know you would want to talk to her. But I expect you will do so in my knowing. After all this, I don't deserve to be kept in the dark about this. After this is my marriage at stake too. When you talk to her, I expect you will inform me before that. Not like today, when you want to talk to her, you send me to the hosiery store, and you yourself go to the drug store. When it was me who needed meds and it was you who needed pyjamas. I guess, you saw her suddenly at the drug store and then...." her voice was lost.

What the hell was she talking about? Where on earth did this come to her mind? That he pushed her off to the hosiery store, so that he could talk to Tiya. Hell, he hadn't even noticed her( Tiya)!

"I hope, next time you will be honest to me." With that, she got up and left.

"Mina... wait. Mina" And he rushed after her.

As Dhritiman reached the tree about ten feet from the bench, he stamped on something. Mina.. he looked at his wife who was headed towards the parking lot. And then he looked down. Moving his feet, he saw the shiny pieces. Taking a bigger piece in hand he switched on the flash light of his phone. A golden jhoomka. Not real, a gold plated one His police eyes had taught him enough to know the difference. But there is a uncanny feeling too. It seemed so familiar. Where had he seen it... Tiya! Understanding struck him like a thunder. Minerva has been so right! Tiya was hiding here listening to their conversation. Bloody hell!  He ran after him wife again!

He didn't even realise, that instead of putting the jhoomka piece in his pocket, he threw it away.

N.B: Hello.. I am back. I am very very very sorry to keep you guys waitnng for so long. And I don't have much justified excuses for it. I thought of giving a recap but then, I got lazy again. Hope you like this chapter.. Ans those who are new, please do read the previous chapters for better understanding. Though after reading the chapters I found I have made some major mistakes, I will correct them very soon. 

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Thank you.

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