The Ideal NRI Couple mistake

15 Ishani

I started loving the Singapore mornings, the sky is clearer than Delhi, the air had this salty smell promising the ocean was nearby and the weather was always humid yet perfect. Maybe I loved the mornings because whenever I headed out to the fitness centre it gave me a sense of freedom and purpose both of which I lacked after coming here. A month back I would have laughed the idea of cooking and now I was actually making and storing so much food my gigantic fridge was almost busting. Neil had an anger fit when he opened it last night and  I promised Neil that I wouldn't cook for a week so that we could consume all the food in there.

As I jogged to my new found fitness happy place I couldn't believe I was in love with exercising. I was never the fitness freak kinds and thanked God for the skinny figure I sported but after coming here I realised I was sheer skinny with no strength. I now had muscles on my arms and my stomach looked near perfect not the abs kinds but well toned flat. After an hour of gruesome workout, I planned on hitting the malls in the evening and maybe call Neil for a drink if I was in the mood.

I sighed as I entered our house. Neil had given me a credit card with a strict budget and as much as I wanted my renovations were not happening soon so I resorted to hanging a huge wedding picture with our parents to make this feel homely.

A shower later I realised that most of my clothes needed to be thrown. Many were too gaudy, from my new bride phase. Lots I had brought to wear at home or as I called them rough clothes. And many were ill-fitting scraps of clothing I shouldn't have wasted my money on. Feeling low I knew shopping was a must. I wore a cotton mini dress in powder blue the kinds I would feel comfortable in this heat. Pairing them with my red converse I called Neil and as usual he did not pick my call. I had starting going out without informing him, I was tired of sitting inside. And to make things worse I would pinch a few dollars from his wallet to keep my trips unaccountable. Well we all have our secrets and if this made my marriage better why not.

I called him again, calling him from the metro would mean questions. And all I did was explore the city have some coffee and rush home before Neil came.

I tired my hair in a tight bun and applied some mauve lipstick. The cosmetics and skin care here was crazy and amazing. I now had some egg white face mask, snail cream and even a bubble hair colour all brought for their novelty. My screen lit up with a message from Neil.

"Date tonight? Meet me at 7.30 sky bar?"

I think my heart skipped a beat. I couldn't wait for my carefree Neil to be back.

"Sure see you then. I will be shopping a bit beforehand"

I took my pill and threw it back in my navy MK bag. The one Neil liked to call a well as it was deep enough to hide my secrets hopefully.

I reached the mall and they still looked perfect. The malls at Orchid strret were a mix if high end stores and smaller designer labels. I decided to surprise Neil with the hottest dress I could find. It was a stunning red dress made of lace with a deep back. It highlighted my new found flat stomach and my back. But as I used his card, I felt low this was not what I expected myself to do. But then there weren't too many options.

Next I picked  some risque lingerie to brighten  up my dress, well for Neil  at least. I was excited for the evening and as I exited the store I bumped into a chest and next thing I knew there was warm coffee all over me!

"What the fuck!" I yelled and saw a muscular Indian guy I presumed was a tourist. "Couldn't you see where you are going, tourists I tell you, always spoiling places." He chuckled as I looked up to see the brightest green eyes I had ever seen. "I'm sorry" his husky voice had me swooning. I'm married I mentally told myself. I was irritated as my dress soaked making it light and well a bit transparent.  "I'm sorry and I'm not really a tourist. I'm Nishant" he smiled and gave me his handkerchief. I grew more irritated as I dabbed the dress and felt tears close in. "It's okay." I mumbled and rushed out.

Back home I cleaned my beautiful day dress and took a shower to start getting ready. I curled my hair like that day and wore heavy eye makeup keeping my lipstick subtle. I did not want to look to red-red after all my choda was there too.

Wearing gold stilettos I rushed to the Sky Bar. I reached there on time and checked my phone. There were two missed calls from Neil and a message "will be 20 mins late." As excited as I was, this day was becoming a bit of a downer. I say at the bar and started reading the menu only to pass time when the bartender tapped me. "Your drink madam. From him" he pointed at a man in a crisp suit. And I saw the hot coffee hurler smile as he approached me. "This is my small way of saying sorry" he smiled and his eyes twinkled. "I'm Nishant" he brought his hand forward and I shook hands with this beautiful specimen. "I'm Ishani. And I'm waiting for my husband." I kicked myself what an introduction. "He is a lucky guy I must say. You look beautiful. Cheers." He tipped his glass forward and clinked mine. The drink was refreshing and delicious it tasted of cinnamon, spices and all things sinful. Over the next half an hour Nishant told me how sorry he was for the mornings episode and brought me more drinks. Engrossed in an animated conversation about how influencer marketing worked I actually forgot that I was waiting for Neil. And then I spotted him slowly entering the place, scanning to look for me and scowl when he saw me.

Shit I knew what this looked like. I stood up and felt my drinks make me spinny. I held the bar and prayed I did not look as drink as I felt. Nishant saw something in my stance change and got up too. "Hey beautiful" Neil's husky voice made me see the stars. "Hey yourself." I turned to Nishant, "that's my husband Neil Singh and Neil that's Nishant who accidentally dropped coffee on me today." They both shook hands and talked work. Nishant was working with a bank that Neil dealt with.

I quietly sipped my drink to ease the situation. When Neil kept a hand on my back, "stop drinking Ish you are done." He picked up his glass of scotch and went to meet Neil's friends as I looked at him bewildered as the bartender kept another drink and a glass of scotch there. "Fuck" I breathed and drank mine. And as they all talked work Nishant got up for his smoke break and I got up too. "I'll join you!" I saw Neil's eyes darken but he continued his work discussion.

"Indian girl and smoking?" Nishant asked. "Fuck your presumptions, Nishant." He laughed and told me how his parents disapproved his German girlfriend saying she would drink. "I would be glad if you met them Ish they wouldn't move Kathy away." I smiled and flipped a birdie. The evening wasn't going as planned but we were making friends. "Let's go Ishani" Neil called from the back and said a curt goodbye to Nishant as we exchanged numbers.

The drive back home felt bad, I knew were in for a a massive showdown but if having a drink can be an issue Neil needed to grow up.