Vikram woke up to find his wife towel drying her hair. How she managed to look so pretty when she was drying her hair,he didn't know.
He was puzzled at the direction of his thoughts when he just woke up. He averted his gaze though, clenching his jaw,when he recollected the previous day's events.
"What?", Keerthi barked, thinking he was looking at her,but in reality Vikram was looking behind her,after he everted his gaze.
"What?",Vikram raised an eyebrow.
Keerthi gave him a blank look.
"Look,I just woke up. Take your new drama elsewhere."
Keerthi gaped at Vikram,his bluntness quickly raising her temper.
"I am not doing any drama. You were the one staring shamelessly."
"I merely glanced at you for a moment. There's a difference. And why would I even stare at you", Vikram gave her a hard stare.
Keerthi merely glared at him in disbelief.
"Look, it's too early for arguments. And frankly,I can't deal with you right now. Save it for later,yeah?", Vikram casually said as he shut the bathroom door.
Keerthi was fuming in anger. She could swear she felt him looking at her.
She didn't know why Vikram was behaving that way. She just said a word. She shrugged to herself, determined to not let him spoil her mood.
"Why don't you sleep Keerthi?You always wake up so early. And it's a Sunday",Sakshi mildly scolded when she saw Keerthi.
Keerthi smiled at her mother in law,her favourite person in the house,"I woke up early Mom. And I wanted to help."
Sakshi shook her head,as she let Keerthi help.
"So,I have some work. I am going out for some time", Vikram announced after devouring his breakfast.
"It's a Sunday", Vihan said in a dry tone.
Vikram shrugged,"I have to go finalise the plan for the site and sign."
"You could do it tomorrow", Vihan pointed out.
"It's urgent",Vikram lied through his teeth, relieved that neither his father nor his brother were involved in his business deals.
Vikram hurried away, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. Truth was, he didn't want to be home. But then, he really did have work. He only lied about it being urgent.
He sighed in relief as he sat in his car and sped off.
"Mom,I was thinking of going to get my car today", Keerthi informed her mother in law after some time.
"Oh. You could have just gone with Vikram",Sakshi said.
"Um. I think he has some work. It's alright", Keerthi forced a smile.
"Are you sure?Our driver can go pick your car if you want to."
"It's fine. I anyway wanted to get some other stuff too", Keerthi replied.
"Okay then", Sakshi smiled.
Keerthi instantly felt calm as she saw the gates of her home,her heart at peace.
"Hi Ma",she hugged her mom.
Amritha Verma was surprised,"What brings you here?"
"Thanks", Keerthi rolled her eyes smiling,"I can't come to my own house now."
"Didn't Vikram come with you?", Amritha was suspicious about her arrival.
They just met yesterday in her reception.
"No", Keerthi shrugged, praying her relief was unheard in her voice,"He had some urgent work."
"Oh."
"Yeah", Keerthi grinned.
"Dad not at home?", Keerthi questioned quietly after some time.
"No. He just went out. He said he'll be late."
"Okay", Keerthi was unprepared for the disappointment she felt.
Though she hated her father for ill treating her mother,she loved him for the father he was, though he had blackmailed her into the marriage.
She wondered if that made her a bad daughter to her mother.
"Yeah. Do you want to eat something?"
"Yeah. Make me a coffee first", Keerthi flung her legs over the sofa, feeling at home after a long time.
"Keerthi",Amritha scolds,"It's almost noon,and you want coffee now?"
"Ma,just make it already", Keerthi rolled her eyes as she flipped the channels on the TV.
Amritha Verma was walking into the kitchen when she heard her daughter scream.
"Make Biryani and Prawns Curry for lunch,and yeah Butter Chicken too."
Amritha shook her head in disbelief. Though she was amused with Keerthi's demands,she missed it too.
She made a quick work in the kitchen, wanting to spend time with her daughter.
Keerthi relished the time she spent in her home,just enough to get her through the next few days.
*****************************************
Vikram sighed tiredly,walking into his room after greeting his Dad in the living room. He freshened up quickly, changing into comfortable clothes as he glances around the room.
"Oh. When did you come?", Sakshi queried when she saw Vikram on the couch.
"Just a few minutes back."
"Do you want to eat something?", Sakshi queried.
"Yes Mom. I am hungry", Vikram scrolled through his phone.
Sakshi smiled, getting Vikram a fresh fruit salad as she laid it in front of him.
Vikram had his salad, looking around,as he searched for his wife, unknowingly.
"What happened?", Sakshi asked.
"Nothing", Vikram shook his head.
"When is Bhabhi coming ?", Vihan asked, looking around,as he walked into the living from his room.
Vikram hated that he waited for an answer, though he wanted to replace the when with where.
"She said she'll be back at around 6", Sakshi glanced at the time.
Five forty.
But,where did she go? Vikram wondered.
Vihan nodded.
Vikram was getting annoyed, that he didn't know the whereabouts of his wife when everyone else knew. He wasn't a conventional husband. It wasn't like he wanted her minute to minute whereabouts. But it was embarrassing to ask other people about where his wife was.
Keerthi walked in, trying to minimize the bounce in her step, her mood elevated given she met her mother.
"Oh,you are back", Sakshi smiled.
Vikram merely glanced at his wife,not acknowledging her,as he mildly clenched his jaw. He was mad at his wife,but at the same time he didn't want to make an issue in front of everyone.