New Innings

Part 41

The flight to Kolkata has been quiet uneventful. Only Dhritiman seemed confused at some point, when he wanted to hold his wife's hand, but he was confused if  hecould hold as a friend or not. Then he saw a couple leaning on each other, sleeping. Could friends do that? Minerva would mind? But she had leaned on the window before he could decide.

As they sat in the cab, Dhritiman asked the driver if he could wait in the bazaar for a few minutes. Minerva looked at him with questioning eyes. The urge to become the best husband to her had been too much.

"We weren't there for seven days. We need to buy groceries, vegetables and everything" He smiled confidently. Minerva looked at him shock. "Why are you looking like that? I am very domesticated..-"No you are not." "Minu-"Dhriti- in last three and half months you didn't go the market for once. And .." She couldn't continue as the corner of his lips went downwards. She suddenly felt the urge to pull his cheeks, he looked just so cute, but resisted herself. Then Dhriti jerked up again, "But we do need to buy gro- "Sir, should I turn towards the market?" The driver asked. "No bhaiya, please follow the address." Minerva said quickly before her husband could say anything.

"I can't believe you lead a bachelor life of five years and yet don't know the basics of household." Minerva exasperated.

"Ofcourse I know" Dhritiman jumped in his defence. "That's why I was asking to go to the market."

Minerva couldn't help but smile. He looked so childish right now. "Who managed the house till now?"

"Of course Kamala Masi."

Minerva shook her head, smiling.

"What?"

She shook her head again.

"What?????"

Minerva gave a hearty laughter in response, and Dhritiman scowled.

"You need to learn the basics of household maintenance Dhriti. No, don't say you know. Because you clearly don't. In fact, according to me you have barely any idea of running a home. Giving a lump sum amount to the housekeeper doesn't mean running the house."

"Housekeeper....?"

This time she rolled her eyes. Kamla Masi did everything a housekeeper does, but yet was termed 'household help' even 'maid'!

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Soon they reached their home or rather their flat.

Minerva looked up at the high rise. This was homecoming. Last time, when she came here, the emotions were different. The situation was as tensed as it could be. There prevailed a pin drop silence, as if a little sound, and hell would break loose. Dhriti kept vibrating in anger.

But today..

Today Dhritiman was smiling ear to ear. Singing a tune totally out of tune. What changed? For her, she wasn't feeling that huge difference. Only she wasn't holding her breath anymore. Is that a progress? God knows. But why is Dhriti so cheery?

Shaking her head, she went towards the lobby.

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"Why are you carrying your luggage Minu?" Dhriti came sprinting behind her into the lift.

She felt like clubbing his head. "Dhriti!" she glared at him.

"What? I am your husband?"

She would have really hit him, if her hands weren't engaged! So she chose to ignore her husband and turned her back to him.

What did I do wrong? Aren't husbands supposed to do these things? Going to the market, buying supplies, carrying wife's bags? Why is she reacting like that? Dhrtiman was really confused.

As they went to their flat, his eyes caught the nameplates on their door. Better to say, one nameplate and other a chart paper pasted on a cardboard. Its needless to say, which had which name on it! Amazing, all these months he didn't mind it, but today it looked so.... he will have to change it!

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"Dhriti, I left the eggs and butter with our neighbour. So, as soon as you change, go get them." Minerva said, as they entered their flat.

Dhritiman looked around their home now. Spotless! It didn't seem like they were not here for seven days. How come? Every time he returned from home, the flat would be a mess with dirt and cobwebs, with damp smell!

It didn't take much for his wife to read him, "I informed Kamala Masi yesterday about our arrival. She complained me about how you never informed her before hand, and there would always be a hell lot to do when you returned. So when I iformed her, she came today, cleaned and aired. "

Ahh! I see that now. How smart of Minu! "So, you told her to shop for groceries too? That's why..What? Why are you rolling your eyes?"

Miner bit her tongue! Trust him to observe every move! Shaking her head for the nth time in the day, she finally spelled out, "Dhriti.. why are you after the groceries? Look, we, or most of us go by monthly supplies of our staples. Like rice, wheat, pulses, salt, oil, spices! Snacks and tea leaves even! And potatoes, onions , ginger, garlic, these can easily stay for more than a week without rotting! So we have everything. Till tomorrow's breakfast. Tomorrow is Sunday, I will buy the veggies tomorrow. You know right? Sunday market?"

Dhriti looked at his wife amazed. How does she do this? Designing dresses for movie heroines, and now handling potatoes and onions. Wonderful! Unconsciously he started to smile.

Minerva was already set with her work. But her husband was still standing, smiling ear to ear like an idiot, dreaming of something. Once again she felt like hitting him. But again, she resisted.

"Just freshen up and change Dhriti. And get me those damned eggs and butter."

He came out of his trance and blinked several times. But the chivalric Dhritiman Gupta was back again. "Why you? I will going to the market. I will buy vegetables."

"We need to buy fishes too. Do you know what is what? Can you separate one from other?

He visibly paled. He didn't know fishes by their names, nor he knew about choosing fresh ones! Damn, when baba used to pull him to the market, he never went! Serves you right! Had he known this day would come...

"As I already guessed." Minerva sighed.

"But I can learn. Promise."

Just shut up and freshen up Minerva. Its useless totally useless to talk to him. God knows what has gotten into him.

"Eggs, Dhriti."

"Yes yes! So, tomorrow we will be going together to the market for shopping?" his eyes pleaded.

Though Minerva rolled her eyes again, she nodded. Anything to quieten him right now.

N.B: Hello! Sorry for being so late and coming with this little chapter. Actually I could not think of anything. So, did you like it? I know, its a bit cringy. But I promise to make better. 

So please share your views with me. And give me your love. And don't forget to vote.

Thank you

All my love <3