New Innings

Part 30

"I am sorry, I didn't want to tell mum about it. But she insisted, and I was quiet worked up. So..." Minerva tried explaining to her husband as they got back to their room.

Dhritiman was sitting on the coffee table, resting his head on his hands. What a day! First going to his in-laws, feeling like an utter outsider even when his brother is so at home there; knowing the unknown sides of his wife, then this evening which Tiya very successfully spoilt, then this! How much more a man can take? They have come back to their room more than ten minutes ago, but he still felt like he is caught in the storm.

He used to shut Riddhi down whenever he used to phone him and complain. But today suddenly everything is making sense. Tiya never really wanted to marry him. She didn't flee just on whim. That pattern of finding fault in everything and is so her. She did it to a level that people got annoyed and quit by themselves. This is so her. But never in his wildest dreams he had thought she would apply it in their relationship. And when that failed too, she fled. But the question is why? Why pretend and why the charade?

"Dhriti..." his trance broke with her poke.

"Still pondering?"

"Sorry?" he stared at her.

Minerva rolled her eyes at his response. It's no use talking to him right now, she got it. But still she had things to say to him. She gave him another tap. Dhritiman looked up. His eyes clouded with confusion. How come was she so cool about everything?

"I didn't want to tell ma. I hope you know, right?" She sounded so weird. Why is she even explaining? It doesn't really matter, if not for her, Savita Auntie would have definitely come over someday and tell all about it. Why 'would have'? He can easily count three days and Savita Auntie will be here!

He nodded understandably. "Why are you explaining Minu? In fact, it's me who should be giving all the explanations. I was so blind for Tiya I hardly saw anything else."

This time, Minerva nodded. Yeah, love does that to a person, she has heard that. But the irony is, she had always heard, she has always seen what people do in love, but never had any firsthand experience. And she was intelligent enough to know all that she sees and all that she hears can be very deceiving. She herself was stranger to the idea of being completely blind towards a person. Who can be that ignorant, not to feel the subtle changes? It may be that, Dhriti didn't stay here, and saw things in first person, that's why he never felt it. Yup, that should be the reason. Because otherwise, I have to agree with Riddhi, how the damn did he become police, that too an IPS! She concluded.

"It's very late, let' sleep." Dhritiman announced getting up and heading towards the bathroom.

"Oh! I almost forgot." Minerva chirped stopping him.

Dhritiman raised his brows. What now?

"Savita Auntie wanted to invite us for dinner tomorrow. I was not sure whether you would agree or not, so I managed to change it to evening tea. So...." Minerva hesitated.

What? Am I seeing right? Hesitation and Minerva? Suddenly all ill thoughts of the evening flew away and her behaviour caught his attention.

Dhritiman blinked his eyes and asked, "So... what Minu?"

"Well.. will you go?"

"Are you asking my per...rrmission?" he widened his eyes.

"Of course I'm- Are you teasing me?" Minerva suddenly realised.

"Me? No!" But he failed to hide his smile.

"You silly..." With that Minerva smacked his head.

"Ouuu!" Dhritiman rubbed the spot where she hit him. My my! He never thought she could hit me. Well, sometimes girls do that, to their brothers, boy friends.. but do they treat their husbands in the same way? His closest cousin used to hit him all the time, but Minerva? Wasn't she above all these? He had never seen her doing things that others do. Since childhood, she has been so different in every aspect from the other children in their neighbourhood. When everyone shrieked and yelled in the park playing, she used to be the only one to hop around singing rhymes. When everyone hated to be the denner in hide-n-seek and other such games, she loved to play the role. Seeing her always in a different light from others, he had never realised, in some ways she may be just like others. But how can that be? Look how cool she is right now! Can any other be this cool, seeing their husband's ex? Even when they went to Kolkata right after their marriage, he had expected her be either fighting for her right as his wife, or being sad like those tv serials ma sees. But no! She didn't care a dime. But even that's not true, she did take care of him! Oh god! I will surely go mad trying to solve this Minerva puzzle.

"Dhriti!"

"Aah.. what? Stop hitting me like that."

"I didn't hit you again. I shook you. Where the hell are you lost?"

"Ohho..."

"So, what' s your decision?" Minerva crossed her arms.

"About what?" He raised a brow.

"About tomorrow's tea invitation?" she rolled her eyes.

This time he couldn't hide the amusement. "You don't notify me about installing the ac, you don't notify me about not coming home for three days consecutively.. whoa! Don't look at me like that. I am not speaking of permission; I am speaking of the basic sense of informing your family, that wouldn't be back home... And now you are actually asking me that if we should go to Savita Auntie's house? What happened to you?"

"Seriously? Okay.. Firstly, I didn't ask you that whether should go or not. I KNOW WE SHOULD. But we are invited there as a couple. So we have to go there together. And secondly, you told me not to show my face to you. Remember? Also we didn't have that relation where I would feel I would have to inform you. Now don't digress the topic. So, what do you think? Would you go?"

Dhritiman frowned. What in the hell was he thinking when had said her those rude words. She was the one who saved his family form utter embarrassment. It must have been difficult for her also to marry the guy who was still loved his ex girlfriend, but was abandoned by her. And smiling in front everyone, showing others as happily married when everyone knew the real story. HE felt so ashamed. Why did she have to take the brunt of everything, when hasn't anything to do with the situation. No, she didn't deserve this. He would have to make up to her.

"Minu.." taking her hand he walked towards the bed. And then sat her down. Kneeling in front of her, he took hold of her hands again. Suddenly he realised, their hands fit to perfectly!

"Wha.. what are you do.. doing?" Minerva stammered.

He smiled. So even the most composed girl gets nervous!

He clasped their hands tight and started, "I am sorry for everything I did to you Minu. I am really sorry. I don't have any excuse for the misbehaviour I have put you through. I don't know how to make up for this, but can you give me chance? Make a truce? This.. I am teasing you, you are smacking me, this camaraderie , I don't want to lose it. Please let us take back this to Kolkata. I don't want that coldness in our flat anymore. I will try my best to a good friend. Please will you let me?"

Minerva blinked. What just happened? She opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't. She only could nod a yes.

Both didn't realise, when Dhritiman had placed their clasped palms on his chest. "Thank you." he whispered. 

N.B: Hello! I am hell late, and I am really very very sorry for it. it was mostly because I couldn't think how to take the story forward. Thus it took time. So, what do you feel about the chapter? Please please do tell me how it is... and do drop your thoughts about it. I a all ears. 

Please do vote for this chapter too.

Thank you

All my love <3