Marrying my Opposite

35- Stupid but not Cruel

Raghav's POV:

Dinner was a lovely affair. It had been so many days since I tasted the food made by Dad. Mom was an excellent cook but Dad's cooking- It was a pure bliss.

After having dinner, we all sat in the living room, talking about random things we missed in each others lives and what not. Rishi and I were sitting on the floor while Mom, Dad, Tanya and Trisha were up on the couch. We were just laughing at the tale, Mom told us about the few naughty children in her class; when Rishi stood up all of a sudden.

"Silence, silence. I have an announcement to make". He clapped his hands twice when we took a few more seconds to shut up.

"Thank you", he said, as the room finally went silent, before continuing his speech.

"I was going to make this announcement tomorrow along with Nikhil. But I can't handle the excitement. Plus most of us are already here", Rishi started speaking, with happiness clear on his face.

We all looked at him with curiosity, waiting for him to continue. But the dramatic person, he was, Rishi took his sweet time.

Picking out a couch pillow, Trisha threw it at Rishi's face. "Tell us fast, my curiosity is rising with every second".

I laughed seeing the scene. The pillow had hit directly on his face.

Rishi gave her a tight lipped smile, looking annoyed at her. Although, it didn't take long for him to come back to his cheerfulness as he cheekily replied to Trisha, "Curiosity killed the cat". And then sat back to his original place.

"And satisfaction brought it back", came Samar's voice.

We all looked towards the door and sure enough, it was Samar who came with a bag full of ice creams.

Mom stood up to take the bag from him and went to kitchen, probably to bring ice cream in the bowls. Samar came and sat beside me on the floor, after greeting everybody.

"Samar, that's unfair", Rishi cribbed.

"What? Why? I thought I brought everyone's favourite ice cream flavour", Samar asked, looking genuinely confused.

"I am not talking about that. Ice cream is perfect. But it's not fair that you always take Trisha's side", Rishi explained as he pouted like a small angry kid.

"Of course, he would take my side. After all, he is my husband", Trisha spoke with a look of pride.

"Congratulations Samar. You got a key to live your life peacefully", Dad commented, making us laugh and Trisha whine.

"True. I always follow this mantra: Happy Wife- Happy Life", Samar responded with a cheeky grin.

Now it was Trisha's turn to pout. "Everyone has teamed up against me".

"Aww". Tanya gave Trisha a side hug, "Don't worry bestie, I will be always on your side".

"You are my true best friend. I love you", Trisha told to Tanya, before making a face at all of us.

"Okay okay, end your salty fight with this sweet ice cream", Mom sang, before handing us each our bowl of happiness.

"Rishi, now stop eating footage and tell us the announcement", Dad ordered as Rishi just kept eating ice cream, faking obliviousness.

Rishi grinned like a mad man, before standing up again. Clinking the spoon to glass bowl, instead of a glass, Rishi started speaking, "So the news is that Nikhil and I have finalized the wedding venue".

"Ooohoooo", we all cheered in unison.

"Which place is it?" Trisha asked excitedly, forgetting their fight.

"We chose the Havelock Islands in Andaman and Nicobar as our wedding venue", Rishi informed, looking so happy.

"I have heard that it is a beautiful place", Samar said while we replied in affirmation as he couldn't see us nod.

I saw that Tanya was opening her mouth to say something, so I stood up. Going near her, I whispered in a stern voice, "Don't you dare comment about his blindness and hurt him again".

                           ★★★★★

Tanya's POV:

"Excuse me?" I asked in disbelief, shocked by his words.

Others stopped their conversation and turned to look at us as they heard my loud words.

"It's nothing. I just asked her to come with me and fill up the second serving of ice cream for all of us", Raghav lied, making an excuse.

Everyone believed him and handed us their bowls happily.

We walked towards the kitchen and placed the bowls on the counter. Once, I was sure that they couldn't hear us, I turned to look at him.

"What was that? What did you mean out there?" I asked angrily.

What did he think of himself. First he muttered nonsensical words and now he was shrugging nonchalantly.

"It isn't the first time when you have hurt him by your words. You have always been insensitive to his blindness", he finally responded after I asked him again.

"Wh...I..neve...". I wasn't able to speak clearly as I started choking, because of crying.

Had I been really insensitive to Samar? I couldn't remember ever having any ill intentions against him.

"Hey, hey, sssh. Please don't cry", Raghav tried to pacify me, looking alarmed by my reactions.

"Wh..when?" I asked admist my cries.

"First stop crying", he asserted.

"No, please tell me", I requested.

"There are many such instances but I will tell you the one I remember clearly.

"When Sia got lost ten years ago and we all were going to try and search for her. You casually asked Samar to go home as he was blind and would be of no help. Funnily enough, Samar was the one who found Sia. And even if he couldn't, saying this to his face was really hurtful.

"Many a times, in the passing, you have made him feel a little lesser than us".

If possible, I cried even more. "It...it wasn't my intention, I swear. I may be stupid and careless but I am not cruel", I tried, hoping that Raghav would believe me, while cursing myself for my stupidity.

"I know you are not cruel. I am sorry for accusing you. I was trying to protect Samar's feelings but instead, I hurt yours. I am so sorry", he apologized continuously as I couldn't stop sobbing and hugged me tightly to calm me down.

But his hug had another effect. Instead of calming down, I went stiff. This closeness, it wasn't something, I was habitual to.

I got nervous because of this hug, even though it didn't even last a second. Raghav broke the hug the moment he felt me going stiff.

This close promixity was new for both of us. We both didn't know what to say, so just gave each other awkward smiles and moved to fill the bowls silently.