Chapter 12: 11

Vrishali delicately applied each brushstroke to the paper, focused and determined to avoid any mistakes this time. Her eyes wandered over the scattered sheets on the floor, each a vibrant testament to her creativity. The colours, some still wet and glistening, beckoned for attention. She knew she needed to carefully dry them before moving on, ensuring her artistic vision could develop without any mishaps.

She started attending classes at a local university. At the same time, she is trying to attend online classes at her university. The semester is going to end in two weeks, and she needs to submit her work through FedEx.

There was a knock on the door, but she didn't look up, knowing who it would be. It was likely someone from the kitchen staff asking when she would like her evening tea. Padmanabh entered the room, and his gaze immediately fell on Vrishali, who was working on something on the floor.

"I will come down to have my tea after an hour. Thank you. . ." Padmanabh cleared his throat. Vrishali stopped what she was doing and looked up to see Padmanabh. His presence took her aback.

This was the first time he had ever crossed the threshold into her room, a space that felt both intimate and unfamiliar. They typically gathered in the lively atmosphere of the dining area or at the sunlit breakfast table, but here, the air was different—more personal. Padmanabh took a moment to truly observe her.

Her hair, a tangled mess, was casually gathered into a loose bun, with a few rebellious strands escaping to frame her face. She wore soft cotton shorts that swayed gently as she moved, paired with a simple maroon t-shirt that complimented her without any pretension. The sight was both comforting and disarming. After studying her for a while, he reluctantly broke his gaze, shifting his eyes away as a wave of shyness washed over him.

She opened and closed her mouth, not knowing how to pronounce him. Thankfully, Padmanabh broke the silence.

"Are you busy?"

"I'm just finishing it off," Vrishali replied, looking up at him. He was looking at her work, so she took the chance to check him out. He was wearing a simple white kurta and pyjamas. He had been busy throughout the week and they hardly had a conversation.

"I'm going out to have a cup of tea. Would you like to join me? " Vrishali smiled brightly and stood up.

"Love to, give me some time. I will wash this off and change my clothes." She walked towards her bathroom. Without meaning to, Padmanabh's gaze wandered to her back and legs. He blinked, taking in the smooth contours of her form, the way the light danced across her skin, accentuating the gentle curves of her silhouette. Each detail captivated him, drawing his attention deeper into the moment.

He looked away when she turned around, "have a sit. I might take a bit of time."

Vrishali bit her lip to control her smile as she noticed him checking her out again. It was amusing; whenever she turned around, he quickly looked away. In the meantime, Padmanabh admired her work. He hadn't spent any time with her for days. Her college had started, and he was occupied with his new project.

Vrishali washed up her face and hands before quickly pulling the yoga pants on and grabbing a new loose t-shirt. She brushed her hair before stepping out in a pair of slippers.

"I'm ready, " she announced. Padmanabh was reviewing her work, his hands clasped behind his back. Padmanabh gave a nod and followed her out. Now her messy ponytail and neck caught his attention. He shook his head and stared at the view ahead of her head. Vrishali's is short compared to his height.

"How was the project?" Vrishali asked as they got settled in the car.

"It went well. We are preparing to renovate the rooms at the current Amal Palace, which will function as a hotel."

"That's good." Padmanabh drove to the usual place where they had chai(tea).

She animatedly shared stories about her classes and the vibrant new friends she had made, her eyes sparkling with excitement as Padmanabh listened intently, hanging on her every word. In the bustling world of college, very few people were aware of her marriage.

"They are confused about why I married an Indian man, given that I was raised in New York."

"What was your answer?" Padmanabh asked cautiously wanting to know the answer. Vrishali smiled, shaking her head.

"Why should I tell you?" She asked him teasingly.

"Because I asked."

"I'm not going to tell you." Padmanabh shook his head as she smiled at him.

"Your cousins are coming tomorrow?"

"Yes! I miss them so much. They're going to be there by early morning. You are going to be there, right?" She was hoping he would say yes.

Padmanabh shook his head, noticing the smile fade from her face. He truly wished he could be there to meet her cousins and see the bond they shared. However, he had to attend a meeting with his mother, which he couldn't postpone or miss.

"Is it okay if we use the main kitchen? I mean if we are using it— It's going to be mayhem."

"As I mentioned earlier, you don't need to ask me. This is your home too. You can create chaos or bring chaos."

"You should pay a visit to your grandparents." Padmanabh didn't understand why she didn't go to her grandparent's place to visit everyone.

"Yeah, I was actually planning to meet them, but Dada and dadi aren't here. They went to a relative's house to attend a wedding." She stared at the underbags underneath Padmanabh's eyes. He must've skipped sleep.

"Are you not sleeping on time?" She had all her attention on Padmanabh.

Padmanabh glanced at her before shifting his attention to the road. He took a U-turn. "No, had to do late hours at the office to work on some important files."

"Oh, are you always like this?" Padmanabh frowned, his brows in confusion.

"Pardon?"

"I mean do you always stay up late in your office working on those files and other work?"

"Most of the time, Papa can't work overtime, and I need to look after his work and also Ma's. I have to go through her schedule every day and arrange her meetings. So yes," he answered.

"Why would you arrange your mom's meetings and review her schedule? I mean, she has an assistant, right?" Vrishali asked in confusion.

Padmanabh smiled, "Ma has an assistant, but she is a politician. You don't know what is going to happen whenever she steps out. I can't be irresponsible when it comes to Ma. To make sure she is going to be safe, I arrange her meetings and look after her schedule," Padmanabh said.

Padmanabh felt a wave of surprise wash over him as he noticed how effortlessly the conversation was unfolding between them. There were times when he would sit silently, not uttering a single word, content to remain a passive observer. He often found solace in listening, allowing others to take the spotlight while he absorbed their stories and laughter. However, this habit also left him with a lingering sense of discomfort. The thought of participating in a dialogue made his palms sweat and his heart race, as he grappled with feelings of awkwardness and anxiety.

He had always existed within the confines of a tight-knit circle of friends, which provided him with a sense of comfort and security. This small group was all he needed, and he appreciated the familiarity of their interactions. However, with Vrishali, he felt a compelling urge to step outside that safe haven and take the initiative to spark conversations. It wasn't that he shied away from talking to her; quite the opposite—he found himself eagerly anticipating every opportunity to connect with her. Their interactions were infused with a unique chemistry, a warmth that made each moment spent together feel effortless. They had cultivated a shared sense of ease in each other's presence, allowing their budding friendship to flourish naturally.

He is willing to work through his awkwardness and know about Vrishali. He is willing to make it work between them. He will make their marriage work even though he is sure it will take years.

"You must be tired by the end of the day."

When she stalked him before their wedding day. She never understood why he never stepped out of his office or had a life outside with his friends. He was never seen attending events or parties. She now understands what kind of responsibilities he has. She felt bad, but she wasn't going to voice it out.

"Everyone gets tired at the end of the day; everyone has responsibilities to take care of." Vrishali nodded as she was about to step out. Padmanabh placed his hand on Vrishali's, which was warm compared to her cold hands. He immediately removed his hand when Vrishali stared at it.

"We will stay in the car; it is not a good idea to be out," Padmanabh said when he saw people before anyone could recognise them.

"Okay," Vrishali agreed, looking at the people. They ended up making a call and ordering their tea and snacks. While he was on the phone, Vrishali decided to click a snap of him and send it to Hailey. When she was about to click— Padmanabh faced her and all the colour left her face. She quickly looked away, and Padmanabh looked ahead.

Vrishali groaned in her head and tried not to look at him. There were times Padmanabh caught her clicking pictures of him. They sat silently, with Vrishali looking out the window and Padmanabh tapping his fingers against his thigh.

After a while, the tea and snacks were brought. "Hmm, this tastes yum!" Vrishali said, taking a bite of the kachori. Padmanabh nodded in agreement.

"Dada ji was saying that we will go to Tirupati at the month-end."

"Tirupati? Why?" Vrishali asked, confused. She heard about Tirupati before. She had a few friends from a Telugu background in New York.

"As a newly wedded couple, it would be good to seek blessings from the Lord. It's not yet decided if you're comfortable with the plan, but we will finalize it."

"That's perfect. I would love to visit Tirupati with everyone," Vrishali said. Vrishali reflected that this would be her first long journey with her husband and in-laws. They hadn't even gone on a honeymoon yet. Padmanabh believed a honeymoon was unnecessary, so he cancelled it.

"How we will be going?"

"By flight, we will be staying there for a week."

"A week?"

"Hmm, we will be performing Satya Narayan puja and visiting other pilgrimages in Tamil Nadu."

"You have been to Tirupati before?"

"When Didi got married, we visited Tirupati after their wedding. We went to places, and it's a beautiful city. I visit once a year." As they drove back home, Vrishali thought about the upcoming trip to Tirupati and how things would be. She was walking ahead while Padmanabh was behind her.

"Vrishali. . ."

"Yes?" Vrishali turned around and looked at Padmanabh.

"Let's have dinner together," Padmanabh said. Since moving here, they had never shared dinner together. They had breakfast together twice, but the thought of Vrishali eating alone bothered him. He tried to finish everything at the office and head home, but Vrishali preferred to have dinner by six in the evening. He couldn't possibly leave office before six.

"Sure, I will be there by 6:30 p.m." Padmanabh nodded. Vrishali smiled before going to her room and closing the door behind her. Padmanabh stood in the hallway for a few seconds before going to his room.

Vrishali smiled as she looked at the photos she had taken of her husband. "Husband is hot," she said out loud. He always seemed to wear a serious expression.

*

"Pass the chips," Manav yelled, looking at Riddi. "Get yours."

"Don't throw the trash on the floor," Vrishali scolds, looking at Aadi. They all agreed to watch a movie once they were done recording the interior of the house.

"I wish to have a house like this," Nandini said in a dreamy voice as she looked around.

"Should I call Alok? Better—I will send the video and tell him to build a home for you," Hardik said. Nandini rolled her eyes and threw a popcorn at him. "That's a better idea!"

"Shut up," Nandini replied. "What? Alok is head over heels for you. He can build you any house you like." Hardik responded in a matter of fact.

"Even I love this place," Manav said.  "True," Riddi agreed.

Hardik wrapped his arm around Vrishali and kissed her forehead brotherly. "How is it over here? How is he treating you?"

"It's good over here, but I miss Mum, Dad, and New York. It's isn't that bad. . . And, he is a good man."

"Are you two spending time together? I have seen him before, but we don't know how the man is behind closed doors. We are just worried about you. You don't have to hide anything from us." Hardik took a deep breath. "If he isn't treating you well— I will take you away from here this moment." Vrishali smiled, looking at his seriousness. She placed her hand on his and patted it.

"Don't worry about me. He isn't a bad person, nor is he unkind towards me. He is genuinely soft-spoken, and we have a good time together. Our conversations are genuine and flow easily. We're trying to establish a foundation and get to know each other better. Rest assured, there's nothing to be concerned about."

"Are you comfortable here?" Nandini asked.

"I feel at ease in my home environment. However, if I'm completely honest, my college experience leaves much to be desired! Adjusting to this new setting has been quite a challenge for me. My previous university was filled with energy and creativity, bustling with diverse activities and inspiring interactions. Perhaps the absence of that vibrant community makes this transition so difficult, especially since I was surrounded by classmates from all corners of the globe, each bringing their unique perspectives and cultures."

"Understandable," Riddi said, and everyone agreed.

"How did you apply to the university over here?" Manav asked.

"Oh, I wasn't the one who applied. Padmanabh got me a file containing the details of all the fashion universities. I selected INIFD. He did everything on my behalf."

"Waah, should I ask jija ji(brother-in-law) to get me into my dream college?" Manav asks. Everyone shared a look before ending up laughing.

"Who? You?— You ran away when he was standing with Ajitesh bhaiyya. Stand before him without getting scared, then ask about the college," Riddi taunted Manav.

He threw a pillow at her face. "Yeah. . .Yeah. . . he was scared to talk with him." Aadi pulled

"Hahaha, Vrishali's husband is intimidating and scary," Manav tried to justify.

"Hey, my husband isn't scary. Yeah, he is intimating, but he is a kind person," Vrishali said, looking at Manav. Nandini and Riddi looked at each other before a sly smile played on their lips.

"My husband?" they all teased her. Vrishali's cheeks heated, but she rolled her eyes, not wanting them to know.

"Come on, I'm married to him. If I don't call him 'My husband', who would?"

Padmanabh paused in his tracks, his gaze lowering to the polished floor as the weight of Vrishali's words sank in. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips when he heard her affectionately refer to him as "my husband." The sensation was both exhilarating and foreign; he had never been in a romantic relationship before, and the intimacy of her words stirred something warm and hopeful within him.

After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he squared his shoulders, feeling a newfound confidence, and stepped into the theatre room, the excitement of the moment transforming his usual hesitation into a sense of promise. Vrishali's eyes widened when she saw Padmanabh walking into the room. He is wearing a black kurtha shirt. Everyone sat up straight, seeing Padmanabh.

"Kamma gani," Padmanabh greeted Vrishali's cousins, his hands joined together as he said a namaste.

"Gani kamma," they replied with hands joined. Hardik and everyone else stood up from their seats, leaving Vrishali like an odd one out, still sitting with a packet of chips. Padmanabh eyes meet Vrishali's. Looking at him with wide eyes, she looked like a cartoon.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to join you all early."

"It's fine, you don't have to be sorry jiju sa," Hardik said. Aadi paused the movie.

"Please, have a seat," Padmanabh said. Sitting beside Manav, who is looking at Vrishali with wide eyes.

"Kaiso ho app sab?"(how are you all?) Padmanabh questioned.

"Hum sab tik Hain, app kaise ho?"( We all are good, how are you) Aadi answered.

"I'm good," Padmanabh replied. He can feel Manav's nervousness. Vrishali and Nandhini shared a look before laughing.

"Manav, breath. . ." Vrishali pointed out.

"Oh yeah. . ."

"Manav breath," Aadi said, laughing. Unsure of what was unfolding around him, Padmanabh turned his gaze toward Vrishali, who met his eyes with an intensity that made time seem to pause. A gentle smile broke across his face, and in response, she returned the smile, warmth radiating from her expression. As their eyes held each other's, a soothing sense of calm enveloped her, washing over her like a soft breeze in an otherwise chaotic moment.

*

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