Roopa’s Mysterious Trip

Preetam PoV:

Roopa looked at me, disconnecting the call. She tried to talk to me, but I ignored her. I lay on the bed calmly to avoid a lousy argument.

"Preetam, please try to understand, I didn't mean to hurt you," Roopa said, sitting beside me.

"Leave it, Roopa. Do whatever you want. If you want to stay with me, you can stay. If not, you can leave anytime. If you want to come back after your best friend's marriage, you are welcome. Otherwise, that's up to you," I said seriously.

"Preetam, I am sorry!"

"Why are you apologising to me? Who am I to you? You made your point clear to me. Everything and everyone are more important for you than me," I said, closing my eyes.

"No Preetam, I didn't mean it. You are misunderstanding me," Roopa said.

"If I misunderstand you, I wouldn't have allowed you into our home. I wouldn't treat you with love. I am not misunderstanding you. I am just unable to understand you," I said, looking into her eyes.

As her husband, I didn't think it's wrong to expect her to be faithful to me.

"Preetam, ok, I will tell you something. I am not attending any friend's marriage. I am going on some important work. That's why I said I must go. If it's just a marriage, I would have obeyed you. I never have any intention of disrespecting you. I am sorry, Preetam."

"Look, I am not bothered about the reason or your trip to Vizag. I don't want you to go anywhere until our problems resolved. If you respect me, stay back cancelling your trip. That's it," I said making my point clear to her.

"I have no other option than going to Vizag. It's crucial for me to go," Roopa said thoughtfully.

"It's your wish. But please don't bluff, saying you love me and respect me. Actions speak more than the words," I said.

"Preetam, I really respect you, but..." Roopa tried to say something, but I ignored her.

I slept on the couch covering myself with a blanket.

"Preetam, why are you hurting yourself by sleeping on the couch?" Roopa asked me.

"It's my fate to get always hurt as I married a girl who hates me."

"I love you, Preetam. My dear husband, please sleep in the bed. You will suffer from a neck sprain by sleeping on the couch," Roopa said, sitting on her knees on the floor before me and caressing my hairs with her hands.

Her touch had magic. It calmed my anger and gave me a serene feeling. Her looks, words and behaviour made my heart feel her love for me. But, what was she hiding from me?

"Don't touch, stay away from me," I yelled at Roopa.

"Preetam, why are you that angry with me?" Roopa asked very unabatingly.

I didn't understand how she can tolerate everything and deals with everyone patiently? Whatever, I should break her patience to make her reveal the truth.

"Ok, I will sleep in the bed, but... " I paused with a grin.

"But?" Roopa asked me to complete the sentence.

"You should sleep on the couch," I ordered.

"I am okay with it," Roopa agreed without leaving any room for an argument.

I got up from the sofa. Roopa set the bed for me and slept on the couch. I rested on the bed.

I observed her turning this side and that side on the couch. I looked at her face. Why my heart melted so quickly in the case of Roopa? If I had anger at someone, I wouldn't forgive them for a long time. But, in the case of Roopa, I had forgiven her within no time. I couldn't see her being uncomfortable. I lifted her in my arms to bring her to bed. Roopa immediately encircled her arms around my neck and kissed on my cheek. I threw her on the bed rudely. However, I knew that it wouldn't hurt her because it had a soft mattress.

"Aah, you were rude," Roopa said, pouting.

"I wish I could be ruder to you," I said and slept in the bed turning another side.

"Mr Husband, please forgive me for this one time."

"Enough, Roopa. Stop your drama. I hate this kind of acts. Why are you playing with me? You know what. When you are behaving like this and trying to seduce me, my trust in you is fading and getting a doubt on your character," I said, looking everywhere but not Roopa.

I couldn't talk like that seeing her because I trust her. Sorry Roopa, I didn't mean it. I spoke in this way to make you burst out and reveal the truth to me. Roopa gave a fake smile hiding her tears in her eyes, which were noticed by me.

"Thank you, Preetam. Till now everyone but you doubted me and my character for the note which I didn't keep. Now, you also doubted me. Preetam, tell me one thing. I tried to get close to my husband, but not with any other guy. Of course, I seduced you to cool your temper and moreover, you are my husband. How can you say that my actions are creating doubt in me? What wrong did I do? If it's wrong to be close to my husband, then you are also wrong as you romanced with me in the office," Roopa said increasing my anger.

"It's you who kissed me first, not me. I never took advantage of you," I said.

"Good night! Whatever I say you are not in a position to listen to me now," Roopa said and slept calmly.

Next day we didn't talk to each other. She got ready and packed her luggage.

"Preetam, can you drop me at the railway station?"

"When you know where and when to go, you might also know how to go there. Why should I waste my time on you?" I said and left for the office.

I sat in my office. I remembered the last day where Roopa was with me. Why did she behave like that? Why can't she understand me? I felt to go to the railway station. She would be away from me for a week, and I couldn't see her for seven days. I would miss her. I saw the time, and I knew the timings of the train to Vizag. I went to the station and searched for her. I saw her while she was getting onto the train. She sat in a seat near the window. I saw her, but she didn't notice me. I observed her wiping her tears. I guessed that she was thinking about me, and crying for my harsh behaviour? I thought to go near Roopa but no, I shouldn't. Roopa refused my words. Didn't she respect me? After all, I am her husband. She should value me and my words.

She called me in the evening, but I ignored her calls. I opened my whatsapp and saw her message.

"I am sorry Preetam. Your behaviour was hurting me a lot. I love you Preetam. I love you since the day we got engaged. I heard your conversation with your friends and parents about marriage and dowry. I understood your opinions. I loved your thoughts.

When you tried to ask my consent for this marriage, I understood that you value my opinion. In many arranged marriages, parents, in-laws or bridegroom, never try to know the bride's opinion. They treat a girl as a non-living thing who should just come to mandap and bend her head to get the knot tied. No one needs her opinion. But you were different. You always valued me and my opinion. As I loved you, within no time, I moved closer to you. I thought a wife could be close to the husband, but I didn't know even my closeness with you creates doubt about me. You told it's upto me to return to you or not. I will return to you after a week. Even if you are angry with me, I am ready to bear it for your love. Good night, my dear sweet husband. I love you, take care."

I smiled reading her message. I love you my beloved, mysterious wife. I didn't reply to her word. She called me many times in these seven days, and I ignored her every call. I didn't react to her messages. Seven days passed by so hard without her and with the pain that she got hurt with my unresponsiveness. I went home and opened my room door. With the fragrance in my room, I understood that Roopa was back. But I didn't find her anywhere. I was about to go to the balcony to search for her, but she came from the restroom.

Roopa looked at me. Our eyes met, and I couldn't act anymore. I went to her and hugged her tight. She hugged me back and mumbled something.

"What?" I asked.

"I miss you, Mr Husband," Roopa said.

"Really? Did you understand how much I missed you all those days when you went off leaving me?"

"I too missed you even at that time. So, I knew the feeling very well," Roopa said.

"Why didn't you receive my call when you were in the US when you missed me that much?"

"Please Preetam, leave the past. Now I promise you that I never go against you. I won't refuse any of your words. I won't hurt you again. Please don't stop talking to me," Roopa said with tears.

I wiped her tears. I couldn't bear her tears. Love is a feeling where two souls become one. Love is a divine emotion that makes a person forget all the sins and forgive the beloved.

"I am sorry for talking rudely. I didn't mean it. I never asked you not to go anywhere or to listen to my every word. I just told you not to go anywhere because I wanted you to make my parents accept you. After that, I never ask you not to go anywhere. Please Roopa, for a few days listen to me and try to convince my parents."

Roopa smiled and held my hand to kiss them.

"I will do that. I will do anything to convince aunt and uncle."

"Don't argue with them, do whatever they say. Be patient with mom and dad, and please don't mind if they say anything with anger," I requested Roopa, and she nodded.

"My dear sweet wife, what you told that night is true. Yes, I am your husband. You have all rights to me. You can seduce me, love me, take advantage of me and can do anything to me," I whispered the last words near her ear, winking to change her mood.

She opened her mouth wide and blushed hard. She hugged me to hide her blushing face in my chest. I think I should talk to her and make arrangements for the first night soon. Roopa made it hard for me to control myself. However, I wouldn't trouble her, if she needs time because I love her. I embraced her in my arms, assuring her a very happy life with me, though sometimes she needs to bear my anger for her mysterious and confusing behaviour.