The next day Priya woke up inhaling her favorite fragrance. She scanned the room and rushed to the dressing table at the sight of the roses. She smiled at her sleeping husband while caressing the flowers.
Why did he put them back? Is he not upset with me anymore?
Though she hadn't expect him to get back to his normal selves so soon after the stunt she pulled last night, she was relieved.
She spent the night thinking about her plan she came up with within minutes fearing Mahendra. She realised whatever be her intentions being hard on him all of sudden will only hurt him. She needed to think on this more, maybe talk to someone and seek help.
****
"Mr. Kapoor, what is this?" she shouted at him after stepping into the room, spotting a wet towel on their bed. Ram remained least bothered and continued to check his hair in the mirror. She went to him with the towel and repeated herself.
He glanced her and the towel and replied, confused. "Towel!?"
"It's a wet towel," she scolded him.
He dropped the hair brush and turned to her. "I know the towel is wet, but it was on my side of the bed. Besides after I leave Tarun will clear all the mess. Also turn off the geyser like old times so don't bother," he smiled, then tossed the towel on his side of the bed and left the room.
She observed the bed carefully. His clothes along with towel were spread on his side of the bed.
He is still upset.
She noticed some suits on one of the single sofas near the table while other one empty. One side tables flooded with his medicines tray, tissues, charger, few chips packets whilst the other one clear. Their wedding photo he got framed was kept of the piles of his files and papers at one corner of the study table while her books on the other. It seemed like he was drawing a line between them.
Her heart sank.
Shouldn't she be happy, afterall this is was she had planned for?
"Arey, Bhabhi." Tarun dropped the suitcase at the door and rushed to her. "Please don't this. Sir has strictly ordered me to not let you do any of his work. I am sorry."
She handed him the shirt she began to fold absently. She tried to smile, then indulged herself into talking with Tarun as a distraction from what he told. She enquired if he was going on leave referring to the suitcase.
"No," he answered. His boss asked him to pack all his belongings from her closet.
Tarun's response pricked her heart. When she moved in, they had discussed about the distribution of the space. Since she didn't have much stuff, he agreed to keep back his belongings in the empty shelves of her cupboard.
She nodded ending the conversation abruptly and walked out of the room. The invisible line between them was growing wider, suffocating her. She arrived to a empty hall. Like she thought, he had left without having breakfast or offering her lift.
****
"Priya.." he patted on her shoulder softly.
She blinked her eyes and straightened up at sight of him. She fell asleep on the table while waiting for her husband. She asked him to freshen up while she serves the food.
"It's 2am. I already had my dinner. Twice," he chuckled. He told her to not wait for him henceforth cause he'll mostly return late and have dinner out.
Tears sprang to her eyes. Having food together was their thing and he said it's not possible anymore. To add, he didn't even enquire if she had dinner or not and left the table. Suddenly he stopped on the stairs giving her hope. No matter what happens, her Mr. Kapoor will never prioritise any fight over her. Just like the time he bandaged her hand despite their fight.
"Please don't send tiffin to my office. I had it today because I didn't want to waste the food. Don't do it again," he smiled weakly and walked away again.
She plopped on the chair letting out the tears. This was not her Mr. Kapoor.
She stayed there alone sobbing, trying to manage to her emotions and process this new Mr. Kapoor. She checked the time — forty-five minutes since he arrived — and left for her room hoping he had slept already. That she was not hsd to face him again.
To her shock, her husband was still awake. He was lazily lying on the bed watching some movie on his laptop, laughing. She stared at him angrily. Agreed, he was mad at her but that doesn't mean he can do whatever he want. Not at the cost of his health.
'I nag way too much... You live your life your way..'
Suddenly she remembered her words. Helpless, she stomped off to the other side of the bed.
****
The next morning, she visited their room thrice and each time Ram was asleep.
Obviously! He spent the sleeping time to watch movies.
Though he hadn't slept well at night, he'll stress out even more if misses any of his meetings. She handed Tarun croissants and coffee and asked him to wake up his sir.
He returned with the tray. "Sir woke up and asked me to order burger."
"Did you—"
"No," he denied defensively. "I didn't tell him you prepared this. In fact, he asked me to order even before I could offer this."
He is doing this intentionally.
"And Bhabhi, he didn't take his BP medicines last night," Tarun added.
That's it! Priya turned off the stove, banged the spatula on the kitchen counter and rushed to him.
****
"Jeez! Relax roomie..." He handed her a glass of water. "I forgot meds last night, no big deal."
"Why are you doing this?" she questioned.
"What? I did nothing," he replied and turned away.
She caught his hand. "Accha. The partition, the food, not letting me do anything, staying up late at night, not taking medicines. Just nothing. Mr. Kapoor, why are you being so distant?"
"Kamaal hain, Priya! Husband bano toh problem, roommmate bano toh problem," he laughed off.
Finally he spoke about the fight. Now she need to make him understand how unreasonable his behaviour is and convince him to stop all this.
"I know you're upset—"
"Upset?" he interrupted. "Why do you think I'm upset when I'm doing exactly what you said, roomie?"
She kept staring at him. Him addressing her as 'roomie' hurt her badly. Maybe this is how he feels about her 'Mr. Kapoor'.
"You called our marriage legal, not real, incomplete. You said it's either couple or not and there's nothing in-between are still worry for me like a wife," he continued, his tone serious this time. "I suggest you to think properly what you want and decide for yourself once and for all."
He left his hand from hers, hung the towel on his shoulder and disappeared into the bathroom.
YOU ARE READING
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain | ✓
FanfictionBALH2 Re-imagined: Ram and Priya, two lonely and broken individuals, devoid of affection, agree to a compromise for their families. Will their marriage remain merely a compromise, or will they find love in each other, which they've been yearning for...
