My Nepenthe

Chapter 43

Omkara looked away from his canvas to glance at his wife who was on the verge of biting her nails off. Books lay scattered all over the bed and the table beside it while she turned the pages of one, anxious and worried.

"Gauri," he called her and she hummed in response not shifting her focus.

He sighed and put his brush aside. Wiping his hands clean with a damp cloth, he stood up and walked towards her.

Gauri protested as her one hand was swatted away from her lips. The book in the other was taken, only to be closed and put aside on the study desk.

"Omkara ji, I have an exam tomorrow."

"For God sake, it is an admission test Gauri. I did not study for my boards so much as you are studying for this. You will be okay," he said as he cleared off the bed and began to arrange the books neatly into a pile on the side desk.

When he didn't get a retort, he looked at her and found her staring at him with worry. Completing the task at hand, he squatted beside her on the bed and gave a reassuring smile.

"You will not be there tomorrow," she said with a sad pout and his smile turned guilty.

"Sorry Gauri but I have work. You are the one who insisted me to take it up."

"Of course, how can I not? The theme is devotional and I want you to make paintings on my Shankar ji."

Omkara shrugged and she sighed.

"I know I told you I will be fine but now am scared that I will get nervous and spoil things."

"Shivaay will be there with you and they are not going to ask you to write on quantum theory or aeronautics on the first day. It will be just the basics and I know you will do good in it. Just calm down will you?"

"Bade bhaiyya said there will be an interview too," she mumbled as she scooted near to him and hugged him close placing her head on his chest.

Her husband embraced her and kissed her hair adjusting themselves into a comfortable posture, leaning against the headboard.

"The interview will not be held tomorrow. Let us take one step at a time."

"What if they ask questions in English, in the interview?" she asked.

"First think about the written test," he stressed again but she wouldn't listen.

"Answer me Omkara ji."

"They will not," he said though he wasn't sure himself.

"How would you know?" she asked again pouting at him.

"They are going to make you learn it Gauri. If you already know everything, what is the whole point?"

"If I fail in the test, will you be embarrassed about it? Bade bhaiyya is such a big person, a friend of the principal and if I don't pass..."

"I will not mind it and neither will Shivaay. Why do think so much?"

"I don't know. With all the negative questions going on in my head I was not able to concentrate earlier."

"I noticed it."

"Hmmm."

"Should I tell Shivaay to talk to the management and cancel the test? You can get through..."

"No Omkara ji, I want to write it," she said firmly and he sighed.

"What are you actually worried about? The test or our reaction to it?"

"Both."

"I just told you I will not mind any result."

"Easy for you to say. I will feel guilty right? Sab ke saamne apka apmaan hoga to..."