Silver Lining | Grooms #3

IX. Married, To You

The whole drive, Esha was eerily quiet. She had only spoken two words when giving her name to the realtor to introduce herself. All while the property was shown to them, she was quiet. During the morning drive to the location, Nikhil assumed it was early in the morning and she may not be a morning person so she didn't want to talk. While at the property, he assumed she was just taking in the place and thinking.

He only started to think something was wrong when he asked where she'd like to get lunch before they drove to the next and last site for the trip.

"Anywhere is fine." She had answered. Anywhere was obviously not fine for her.

Since Panera Bread was close, he drove there since she didn't say anything more after that. Entering the place, she didn't go to join the line. She went to one of the online ordering machines and started picking. Not understanding what was wrong with her, he followed her to the next free machine and placed his order as well, taking a number to place on their table as well as a cup for drink.

She found a place to sit while he went to get a drink from the drink machine. When he returned, she was on her phone.

He sat in silence for a few seconds, looking at her and trying to figure it out. "Are you okay?" He finally caved and asked.

"Not used to so much traveling." She answered, lying a bit. She was tired and exhausted, but that wasn't the real reason she had shut off. He could tell that.

He placed his arms on the table, "Okay, that's a bullshit lie." He called her out on it.

Her eyes snapped up to his, "You don't know me as well as you think to know whether or not that is a lie."

With the look that crossed his face, it was evident he was surprised at her tone. She had snapped at him before. He had heard her snap at others before. But, this was different. This tone was cold and distant.

He cautiously asked, "Did I do something wrong?" still too confused by her behavior.

She spoke sarcastically, "No, ofcourse not. The great Nikhil Khanna can't do anything wrong, can he?" When he opened his mouth to question it, she continued, not giving him a chance. "Just leave me alone, okay? Before I say something I shouldn't."

He didn't want to leave her alone, because obviously something was bothering her, and he wanted her to share. He wanted to know what it was.

Their food came, and Nikhil eyed what she'd ordered. Half a sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. "Is that all you're eating?" He questioned before he could stop himself.

She didn't answer or even look at him while pulling the plate slightly closer to her end of the table before lifting the sandwich and taking a bite.

Bothered by her silence, he picked up the spoon for the tomato bisque he'd gotten along with his sandwich. He kept on hoping she'd talk to him the rest of the day, but she didn't. He couldn't understand another thing: how a person who talked all the time could go silent for the whole day.

She had occasionally been texting, but it didn't count. She wasn't verbally saying anything, after all.

This was not how he had thought their trip would end. He had hoped to be friendlier to her by the end of the trip. He had hoped it would help him decide when to tell her.

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When they landed in Portland a bit after midnight, and were exiting the airport, he offered. "I'll give you a ride home."

"I'll take a cab." She answered, defying.

He objected, "It's the middle of the night, Esha. I'm not going to let you take a cab at this hour. It's not safe."