Preetam’s Care for Roopa

Preetam PoV:

I didn't understand what to say. I left Roopa and tried to go out of the room feeling guilty. Roopa held my hand.

"Sit, Preetam!" Roopa said firmly.

"I have some work," I said, trying to escape from Roopa's wrath.

"I asked you to sit," Roopa said in an ordering way which I never heard from her till now. She never speaks in that way to me. I felt inferior before her. However, I was unclear whether it is her commanding tone or the feeling of guilt which made me think so.

I sat calmly beside Roopa. Roopa took my hand in her hands. She kissed my hand.

"Preetam, I can understand that you are angry with me. It's completely fine, and I expected it. But, please show it on my face. Don't make your character the other way. I am sure you too hate the way you behaved with me," Roopa said slowly and softly.

"Preetam, I love you. I am ready to give up anything for you, but not my job. Just imagine. What will you do if I ask you to quit your business and find a government job or something like that? Please Preetam, let's stop pointing mistakes of one another from the past. If we go on pointing out mistakes, there will be no end to it, and everything seems wrong. So, let's stop analysing and start accepting each other as we are," Roopa said, and I removed her hands over my hand.

"Enough, I am not in a position to be lectured by you," I said rudely and went to the balcony.

I remembered my action, and I felt guilty. I did wrong. I was in my thoughts, and my mobile rang. It was from an unknown number.

"Hello, who is this?" I asked with irritation.

"Is it Mr Preetam?" Someone asked from the other side.

"Yes!" I answered.

"Preetam, I am Nanda Kishore speaking. I am Roopa's teammate. We were unable to reach Roopa. We have something important to tell her. Can you please help me to reach Roopa?"

Am I a receptionist to pass her calls? Anger at Roopa made me think in that way. However, I decided to give the call to Roopa. What if it's something important?


"Roopa!" I called her seriously.

Roopa came to me.

"Call for you!" I said without looking at her.

"Who? Is it aunty or uncle?" Roopa asked excitedly.

"Someone more important to you than them," I said sarcastically giving the mobile to her.

"Hello!" Roopa said.

"Nandu," Roopa said and gave an angry look to me for saying Nandu is more important to her than her in-laws.

"I will talk later," Roopa said, trying to cut the call.

I didn't know what Nandu told about to her on the call.

"I already informed that I am on leave for a week. Can't you people manage at least for a week? What will you guys do if I die? Please don't call me for five more days, please," Roopa shouted at Nandu and disconnected the call.

I pitied Nandu for becoming a victim of Roopa's anger. My mind mocked me: Think about yourself, Mr Preetam.

Roopa gave my mobile to me and went inside the room. I looked at her. She held her head and sat silently. I noticed Roopa's tears. I went near to her.

"Roopa," I said slowly sitting beside her.

"What? Is there anything else to scold me? When did I say that Nandu, shut, that Nanda Kishore is important to me? You are my husband and how can you say that he is more important to me than you? Are you mad?" She yelled at me crying.

Why did I use that word?

I didn't doubt her or her character. Unnecessarily I had hurt her with my senseless words. I cupped her face and wiped her tears.

"I am sorry, Roopa. I didn't mean it. Anyways, I didn't say he was more important to you than me. I said he was more important to you than my mom and dad. Do you think I will let that fellow live if he is more important to you than me? He would have died by now in my hands if I have such doubt," I said, and Roopa glared at my poor joke.

Roopa is angry. How to convince her? I can be angry only when Roopa is normal. I can't be mad with Roopa if she is sad, unwell or angry.

I pulled her towards me and kissed on the corner of her lips. It's her sensitive spot that melts her. Roopa tried to push me. I held her tight and took her onto my lap. I hugged her from behind kissing both her cheeks alternately.

"I am sorry, sweetheart," I said.

Roopa didn't reply. I kissed her back. God, help me to convince her! I fixed a deal with the God offering him a coconut if Roopa gets convinced.

"Please baby. I didn't mean to say that. I know you love me. I too love you. I am angry with your job, but not with you. Sorry, sweety," I said making her sit on the bed.

Roopa moved away from me. Tough nut to crack was the word suitable for my girl.

"Roopa, I am sorry!" I chanted the sorry as if it's a mantra (recited while praying to God).

"I am leaving for home," Roopa declared combing her hair.

"No!" I shouted, and Roopa looked at me.

"What is this, Roopa? Even after saying sorry, you are upsetting my plans. Please, Roopa, stay back," I requested her.

"Are you coming or shall I go alone to home?" Roopa said as if my request meant nothing for her.

"What the fuck?" I said out of irritation and Roopa gave a serious look to me.

I used the word which shouldn't be used in front of girls, at least before the girl we love. Because it damages the image, we had in their opinion.

"Sorry, sorry!" I said as if it's my buzzword.

"Do you use such words?" She asked as if I did sin by using the F-word.

"Boys use that word often, even girls too these days. Anyways, leave it. Now tell me that you are not going anywhere," I said.

"Why should I?" Roopa asked, folding her hands and giving her marked IPS look to me.

"Because I didn't want you to go, please Roopa," I said finally joining my hands before her giving up my stupid male ego.

At last, my technique worked, and Roopa smiled. I thanked God for helping me in making her anger fade away. Suddenly, Roopa held her stomach.

"Roopa, what happened?" I said, worrying about her.

"I will just come," Roopa whispered and rushed to the washroom.

I didn't understand what was wrong with her.

"Preetam, please give me the car keys," Roopa said.

"But why? I mean you just agreed not to leave me," I said confusedly.

"Will you stop your stupid questions? Give me your car keys, I will be back soon," Roopa said hurting me.

Why is she behaving weird today?

Getting irritated about everything. Most of the time Roopa remains cool, but today I observed her becoming angry easily. I looked at her for some time trying to guess the reason behind her weird behaviour, and something flashed into my mind.

"Roopa, are you... I mean.. Did you get the natural gift of God given only to women?" I asked, and Roopa gave a confused look.

I didn't know why I felt uncomfortable to ask her the question directly.

"Are you in your menstrual cycle?" I asked directly this time.

Roopa nodded, feeling embarrassed. I understood her uneasiness to say that to me as our families teach that a girl should never discuss this girl thing with any boy either it is a father, brother or husband. This makes the boy never know the problems that a girl face during her menstrual and sees it as if it's an unimportant issue. Men get irritated at the girl without understanding her mood swings caused because of hormonal changes, during that period.

"Fine! I understand why you want to go out. You take a rest. I will bring what you want," I said and went out without waiting for her response.

I came within thirty minutes, though I tried to arrive earlier than that. Staying at that resort was quite peaceful, but we couldn't get anything here as it's far away from the city. I gave her the sanitary pads, Dettol and tablets.

"You take a shower, I will change the bed sheet," I said, seeing drops of blood at the place where she sat till now.

Roopa nodded and went off. She came after completing a shower. I changed the bed sheet and set everything for her to take a rest.

"Roopa, take those tablets only if your cramps are unbearable. Don't use for less pain," I said, and Roopa again nodded as if she forgot to speak. I hate when Roopa nods instead of verbal communication.

I sat beside her and held her hand.

"Sweetheart, why are you feeling embarrassed? Perhaps, at your parental home, you might have discussed this with your mom. But after marriage, obviously you should discuss your any problem with your husband, right?" I said, but Roopa didn't reply as if it was her mistake and was guilty of that.

"Come on, Roopa darling! Why are you still embarrassed? Do you know why I said it's a natural gift given by God only to the women?" I asked to make the conversation light.

"No!" Roopa replied.

"Because menstrual cycle is related to women's fertility. God gave the boon to give birth to a person, only to a woman. This is how a baby develops in the womb, and this blood forms the foetus. Now tell me isn't it a God's special gift to the women? If a man expected an heir and excited to have a baby, then he must respect menstrual cycle and help the wife to overcome their mood swings and other physical issues during this period," I said, and then Roopa smiled leaving her embarrassment.

"I never thought about it in this way, Preetam. I felt so bad and irritated thinking it's a curse to the women, which makes women weak and their situation horrible," Roopa said pursing her lips. I gave a kiss on her forehead.

"It's a blessing baby, and you are my blessing," I said it this time, and Roopa blushed.

"I love you!" Roopa said sleeping on my lap.

"Did you forgive me for slipping my tongue and acting?"

"Yes! You are not bad. You hated my profession, but not me. I will wait till you accept my profession along with me," Roopa said, and I noticed her clutching her stomach.

"I will just come to Roopa, you sleep on the bed," I said and went to the kitchen.

I browsed YouTube to watch videos on remedies to control menstrual cramps. I found one solution which had comments saying it's worked well. So I prepared that herbal drink for Roopa.

"Roopa, drink this. Your stomach ache will go off," I said giving her.

Roopa drank it and then, she lay down on the bed.

"It's cured!" Roopa said after half an hour.

"How did you make it?" Roopa asked.

"Just one cup of water, two spoons of fennel seeds, coriander seeds and cumin seeds each. I boiled water along with these ingredients until water remained up to a half cup. Then added 1/4th spoon of fresh butter to that boiled water after filtering," I explained the recipe of the herbal drink.

We had lunch, and I asked her to sleep cancelling all programs for three days. After all, her health is more important than my happiness. I realised it the moment I saw her unconscious in bed due to my negligence and irrational anger. I decided never to repeat it.

After some time, Roopa moved her legs restlessly.

"Roopa, are you ok?" I asked.

"Legs are aching badly," Roopa said with a dull face.

I started pressing her legs and feet by keeping them on my lap.

"Preetam!" Roopa shouted out of fear and shock.

"Sleep, it's okay. After all, you are My Queen, and it's my responsibility to take care of you," I said.

Roopa smiled and took a rest. Three days, I tried my best to make her feel comfortable. I didn't touch her, to romance, though I cuddled her to make her feel loved and to take care of her. I gave her a friendly hug and a light kiss when she was stressed and need someone to comfort her, but only with her consent. Remaining time, I maintained the distance for her comfort.

I kept my feelings and anger in control to not hurt her in any way. I made her take maximum rest and gave herbal drinks made with natural ingredients to cure her cramps. I didn't allow her to depend on the painkillers which might spoil her health later, though offers instant relief. Slowly Roopa left feeling uneasy and started opening up herself about her problems during these three days.