Chapter 7: I Am Her Husband

Mitra's POV:

Dheer asked me to leave him alone. Few things hurt without our consent. My heart got attracted to him without my permission. While I am falling for him, he is trying sincerely to avoid me. I am watching TV but changing channels continuously as my mind is unstable.

I heard Dheer's footsteps. He came and sat beside me, switching off the TV.

"I am sorry, Mitra," Dheer said, closing his eyes.

I started changing the channels again to show my anger.

"Mitra, please stop it," Dheer said and switched off the TV again.

"What? Is there any rule in your home that I shouldn't watch the TV? "

"Tomorrow, we are going shopping," Dheer said.

"What?"

"If you like, let's go for a shopping tomorrow," Dheer said.

"Compensation for shouting at me, right?"

Dheer smiled.

"Mitra, I thought you are only a good journalist, but these days I am seeing a new person in you."

I didn't respond to his words. The next day, I got ready and packed my luggage, noticed by Dheer.

"Mitra, I have apologized to you. Why are you leaving our house?" Dheer said.

"I am going to my village, Dheer. I need peace of mind."

"Whom do you have there? I heard that you lost your parents in your childhood."

"There is no need to share my personal details with you. I am not a criminal obliged to answer you," I said.

"When will you be back?"

"Why are you asking me all this? I am the last person for whom you care?"

Dheer took the luggage from my hand and held my wrist to take me to the car.

"Get in. I will drop you at the bus stop."

I got into the car. Dheer dropped me at the bus stop and kept the luggage on the bus.

"Water bottle."

Dheer gave a water bottle and apples to me. He got down from the bus and brought chips packets to me. I took them, but I didn't look at him. Dheer sat beside me.

"What are you doing?"

"Is your permission necessary for me to travel on this bus?" Dheer said.

I turned the other side but noticed him smiling. He took the ticket to the same village where I took the ticket.

"What about your duty?" I asked.

"For the first time, I realized that there is something more important than my duty."

I forgot to blink for a few seconds listening to Dheer. Is it Dheer who said those words?

We reached my village and got down from the bus.

"Where are we going now?"

"I don't know where you will go, but I am going to my home," I said.

"Okay, then come, let's go back. That's where your home is!" Dheer said.

I called an auto, and we both got into it. I went to the house. Aunty and uncle welcomed us heartfully. They are the parents of the person whom I married in my childhood. They treat me as their daughter. They know about my marriage with Dheer. We went to the room, and Dheer laid on the bed.

"Mitra, bring me a coffee," Dheer said.

Who is he to order me? I mind the least. By the way, I am not his wife to prepare coffee for him.

"I asked for coffee."

"There are no servants here to follow your orders," I said.

"I didn't order. I asked for coffee from my..."

I expected him to complete the sentence by saying his wife. However, he disappointed me as usual.

"Let it be. I lost interest to sip a coffee," Dheer said and went for a shower.

I went to the kitchen to talk with aunty. We prepared lunch, and aunty asked me to call Dheer for lunch.

"Dheer, lunch is ready," I said.

"I am not hungry," Dheer said, earnestly.

"Please, don't say that. We can talk about all these at our home. Please, don't hurt aunty and uncle," I requested him.

"Then you should do whatever I say," Dheer smirked and raised his eyebrow.

"I won't. You had hurt me."

"I won't come for lunch," Dheer said.

"I will do whatever you say," I said, and Dheer came for lunch.

I never do what others say. I do what I like. Especially I decided to do everything opposite to what you say, Mr. Dheer. I cursed him in my mind.

"Mitra, why don't you both visit our temple? In our village, every newlywed visit that temple to make their bonding stronger," aunty said.

I don't think Dheer will agree. He wants this bond to end soon. So, I decided to say No.

"Aunty, we will go some other time," I said to which Dheer glared at me.

Why is he angry at me now?

"Mitra, think once again. You know well if the newlywed couple didn't visit the temple as soon as possible, they will face many problems," aunty said.

"We will visit the temple today, aunty," Dheer said.

I went to the room after our lunch, and Dheer looked at me with anger.

"What?"

"Why did you refuse to go to the temple?"

"Because we both have no intention of making this bond a permanent one," I said.

"We are going to the temple in the evening. Be ready," Dheer said, and I nodded.

In the evening, Dheer came to the temple with me. He kept vermilion on my forehead as per the ritual. The priest asked me to tie a sacred thread around him. I looked at him as mom said he hated such things. But, he presented his hand so I could tie the string to his wrist. I knotted it around him. The prayer was completed, and we sat in the temple as I wanted to stay for some time.

"Mitra, who are aunty and uncle? How are they related to you?" Dheer said.

What should I say? If I say that they are the parents of my ex-husband, how would Dheer react? What if he leaves me?

"Hey Mitra, when did you come to our village? How are you?" My friend asked, seeing me in the temple.

"I am fine," I said.

Dheer stood beside me.

"Who is he?" my friend said.

"He...is…" I stopped searching for an answer, unable to predict his reaction if I introduce him as my husband.

"I am her husband," Dheer said, and I looked at him. Dheer smiled and held my hand.

For some time, I went into an unknown trance hearing his words. Did he mean it? Did he accept me as his wife?