"I haven't cooked tonight, have some water and sleep tight," I said.
Yes, I have been busy for a few days, and we didn't talk anything but about daily food and laundry. Srishiv dropped his job and we both are young to be in this marriage relationship.
"Humm," he said and left the living room, I know what exactly he would be thinking right now, it's the second time I didn't cook dinner this week, but both of us never talk about it. I was sitting in the balcony swing chair, greeneries and the dim yellow light in the living room soothed my soul. It's been 3 months since we got married, an arranged marriage.
I sipped the last few drops of coffee that I made and was looking at the streets, a little breeze was caressing my hair. I was missing my mom, she used to call me every night since we got married, and I didn't get any calls for 2 months, cause she was no more.
I tied my hair into a bun, and wiped the two drops of tears and went to the kitchen.
The sink was filled with utensils, I didn't wash the vessels for the past 2 days.
I played Joel Adams 'Please don't go song and started to wash the dishes.
I did everything and now working on the last dry pan with sauces sticking on it,
I cleaned it thinking about my days before my marriage, nothing was new, I was this same silent girl yearning for love as always. I used to write poems, but I didn't write any in these 3 months.
I took a shower and slept beside Srishiv, he was facing the other side of the room and was using his phone. I took my phone, scrolled the feeds and nothing was fresh the same old content. Switching off my phone I asked Srishiv, "Are you hungry, can I make something?" He turned and said "Oh, thanks Aashi. Good night."
We slept.
I woke up the next morning and stretched a bit sitting on the bed, and made my hair.
I saw a cup of coffee and a sticky note on the side table, "Good morning Aashi, Thanks for asking if I was hungry yesterday night. I'm going to meet Mr Gopi regarding my job."
I was happy that he finally took a step for a new change, the coffee was cold yet I drank it and took a shower and went to my office. I work in Dell Mnc, Bangalore.
Working in Bangalore has been my dream since I was a teenager. The day was fine, I checked all the mails and mini tasks. And had my lunch in the cafeteria. And reached home by 7 pm.
I did yoga and took a bath, Srishiv was not yet home. I was not looking for him, but he is like my roommate now. I cook well, my mom used to teach me new recipes every weekend. I boiled some rice and chopped some Raw bananas, I know he loves fries so I fried and made Raw banana chips salt and spicy. He came home at 10 pm, he was looking tired when I opened the door, his tuck inned shirts were out and the tie was loose and his hair was messed up but his drowsy eyes were faking a sparkle when I welcomed him in. Once stepping in with a little smile he went to the room and refreshed and came out with a blue shirt and grey knit shorts, both are my favourite colours.
We usually eat in the living room, sitting on the floor, I arranged all the plates and bowls.
"Hi Aashi, how was your day?" he asked, skimming through the food and glass of water. I know he is starving.
"Was nice, how was yours, any good news?"
"Wow, you made Rice and dal with fries!"
I served him, and after 4-5 bites he told, "Mr Gopi is genuine, we met his colleagues and they will inform me in a while."
"Oh that's nice, I'm happy for you." He ate and went to the room, I had some rice and boiled some milk for both of us and went to our room. "Thanks for the coffee in the morning," I said sitting on the bed. He smiled and took a cup and was back on to the magazines.
I was listening to some music, "Do you want the lights on, I finished reading," he said.
"No turn it off"
I was picturing my life and was listening to songs for an hour, still, I didn't feel sleepy.
I turned left, still, my eyes were closed and I nodded my head and tapped my fingers on the bed alternatively and I was singing silently, I love music.
After some time I opened my eyes slowly, Srishiv was staring at me all the while.
He twinkled a smile when I looked at him,
"You have a beautiful voice."
I smiled at him and turned to the other side, it was different, the way he saw me.
I took my headphones and was laying simply doing nothing, after a few minutes I turned to the left, he was looking at the ceiling, "Good night Srishiv" I told.
"Hey, Aashi do you like me?" he asked in a reflex.
"Why are you asking, yes I do like you," he blinked and said, "Good night Aashi" turning to the other side. That was insane, I think he had asked me without realizing it was not his dream.
We both were trying to sleep but we couldn't that night, it was 12:34 am and I knew he was wide awake. I got up and sat on the bed, he followed me, "I can't sleep Aashu."
"Even I can't Sri," we both were sitting still for a few minutes.
"It's been 3 months Aashi, and we don't know anything about each other," he said.
"Yes, but Sir you have been outside the whole day, aren't you tired?" I asked.
"Yes I'm but I couldn't sleep, can we talk?" he asked.
I nodded my head, "So, Aashi I know you miss aunty, and I know you don't have any close friends." I was surprised that he knew this much about me.
We were talking for 2 hours, all my childhood stories, my school projects, my high school proposals. I felt our hesitations were vanishing gradually, we laughed a lot and came to a point of silence again. I was looking at him in the eyes, he was looking at me too,
We both were all smiles, "Aashu, I'm wondering how much you talk, late-night talks are indeed awesome."
"Haha, yes I haven't talked with anyone at this time, firstly I haven't shared a lot with anyone else."
It was relaxing, I never saw this lovely Srishiv before. When we started talking we both were sitting in the middle of the bed with pillows on our lap, and now we both are lying on the bed with pillows in between our thighs, facing each other, and of course we forgot the space between us, we were so close for the first time.
He was gazing at me with full adoration, after 3 minutes of staring he told "Good night Aashu sleep well," in a husky voice holding my hands.
"Good night Sri," I said firming his grip.