Married To A Stranger

Karthik Pov:

She gasped looking into the bag. Her eyes went wide and her skin paled? What the hell is in that stupid bag?

“Sree, are you okay?” I asked shaking her a little.

“Please tell me you’re not the one who packed them,” she asked with… embarrassment?

“No, it’s

not me” she sighed in relief, “I think it was Anju. I remember Veni saying to inform you that it’s not her who packed your bags. Why? Is there any problem?” I asked, trying to reach the bag.

“N-No. It’s nothing! Just some unnecessary stuff. Umm, can I get one of your shirts, so I can change” she said almost pleading.

“Didn’t you find anything in that bag? It’s not like I don’t like my shirt on you, I was just curious” I said scratching my neck.

“Umm I- I did. B-but umm I… I c-can’t wear t-them” she stuttered.

“Let me see,” I said taking the bag from her hands. She tried to put on a fight but gave up thinking I won’t leave the topic. I was just curious to know why she looks so flushed.

Uh-huh. A see-through Nightdress?

I sighed.

She definitely won’t be comfortable in them. I gave her a reassuring smile and dragged her to my bag and told her to wear anything.

“I’m sorry” she said in a small voice frowning.

“Sorry?” She nodded.

“I’m sorry for disappointing you. I’m not comfortable with those dresses. I-I will wear them i-if you want me to” she mumbled, tear glistened eyes.

“What are you talking about Sree? I-” she cutoff me saying ” I-I k-know, e-every man wa-wants to see th-their wife l-like they wished. I s-swear K-Karthik, i-if I’m c-comfortable with wearing th-those th-things I would’ve t-try them on. Pl-please d-don’t be mad at m-me” she said stuttering and sniffing.

God! She’s crying now. I shouldn’t have shown my disappointment.

You’re such a stupid Karthik! You made our beautiful wife cry.

I sighed cupping tear-stricken face, wiping her tears with my thumbs. “Sree, who asked you to wear them when you’re not comfortable? Hmm? I can assure you; I don’t have any idea about that bag until now. So, I’m not disappointed or anything… and before you think otherwise, I’m not saying I don’t want to see you in them. God knows I do. But anything that makes you uncomfortable makes me uncomfortable too. You’re my other half Sree, my life and my soulmate if you believe in them. Even if you are wearing something hideous, I would still find you sexy in them. So, don’t think about these silly things and change into one of my shirts” I said handing her my shirt, placing a small kiss on her forehead.

I just want to strangle Anju for making my wife cry. I just want to torture her so-called parents for filling her brain with all those insecurities. Tomorrow, we need to leave this heaven and go back to our home. Before going back to home, I decided to surprise her. I already made an appointment with someone. I just want to see how happy she would feel when I reveal this to her.

A tap on my shoulder dragged me to the real world, where my wife was looking like a seductress in my shirt and some shorts. I almost laughed when I found her red cheeks with a mixture of embarrassment and shyness.

She’s adorable.

Okay, maybe a mixture of every word which complements her beauty?

She cleared her throat “Don’t laugh okay?”

“Laugh? Why would I laugh at my beautiful wife?” I said taking her into my arms burying my head in the crook of her neck “Didn’t I tell you; you will be sexier in anything you wear?” I added huskily pestering open mouth kisses on her neck.

“Do wear my shirt when we’re alone in the home, I like it this way” nibbling her ear making her gasp.

“I love you” she said in between her heavy breaths making me still at my place. I still can’t believe she loves me. This is all new in a good way… actually in a great way.

I cupped her face and whisper “Tell me again”

“I love you Karthik” she whispered her eyes half-closed.

“Again”

“I love you dumbo” she said with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“God! I love you” I said before kissing her. When I pulled back, she mumbled “God loves you back” seriously.

It took a moment to understand what she said. When I did, I started tickling her making her plead for forgiveness. This night, these memories, these feelings. I don’t know what to say other than to pray to God asking him to keep this happiness in our lives forever.

Sreesha Pov:

Next day we reached the hotel around 10 am. Karthik literally dragged me out of the bad saying he has a surprise planned for me. Who would have thought this momma’s boy can be this demanding? We had brunch and headed to god knows where.

“Karthik, tell me already” I whined.

“Somewhere,” he said stifling a laugh.

“Where is this ‘somewhere’?” I asked gritting my teeth.

“Like an hour away, get some sleep. You didn’t sleep well last night” he mumbled.

“And whose fault is that” I asked narrowing my eyes at him.

“As if you don’t like it,” he said smirking.

“I. AM. NOT. TALKING. ABOUT. THAT” I said gritting my teeth.

“You’re not?” He said feigning innocence.

“No. I’m talking about YOU waking me up early” I said emphasizing you.

“Oh! But I thought our time together” he said feigning a hurt look.

“Karthik” almost in a warning tone.

“Wifey” he said lovingly making all my annoyance disappear in the thin air. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye blushing hard. If only he knew the effect that word has on me.

“Don’t give me that look, Sree” he said groaning. I blinked.

What look?

“What look?” I asked him, furrowing my eyebrows.

“That I-want-to-kiss-you-right-now look.” He said grumbling.

“Then why don’t you?” I said teasing him a little.

Did I really have that kind of look a while ago?

“Sree” he whined like a kid, I love it, when I make him helpless like this “we don’t have much time” he added taking my hand into his, kissing my palm.

“Get some sleep, I’ll wake you when we reach there” he said smoothly, which sounded like a lullaby.

“Hey sleepyhead, wake up ” someone started shaking me.

“Can’t a girl sleep peacefully?” I mumbled before opening my eyes.

“You can sleep tomorrow, now it’s time for your surprise,” he said dragging me into someone’s house.

“Whose house is this, Karthik?” I asked him, looking around. It’s not some mansion type, it’s cosy, homely yet there are hints of a bachelor pad.

“Morning sir, Mr. MM is in an important meeting right now. Why don’t you have a look at the gallery-like you requested?” A teenage boy said.

Mr MM? It sounds familiar.

“And you are?” Karthik was back to his cold voice. I sighed.

“I’m Dhanush, Mr. MM’s student and Personal Assistant,” he said forwarding his hand.

“Mr. MM as in the Artist?” I asked Karthik confused.

“Yes. I saw you admiring the painting in our hotel and the look on your face told me what you want” he said smirking snaking his arm around my waist “A portrait of us” he added smirking.

How can he read me like an open book? I thought, grumbling.

I don’t why, but that boy Dhanush was looking at me weirdly. I was about to ask him but Karthik beat me to it.

“Stop ogling at my wife kid,” Karthik said in a cold voice.

“S-sorry s-sir. I-its just I-I s-saw ma-madam’s p-paintings i-in m-my s-sir’s personal ch-chamber” he said stuttering. My eyes went wide for what he said.

My paintings?

Here?

No way!

Could it be?

Him?

“My wife’s paintings? Where? Show me” he threatened the kid.

“S-sir, he w-won’t al-allow anyone in that chamber o-other than me Sir,” Dhanush said like he was about to pass out.

“Now” Karthik demanded. The kid has no other way than to lead us to ‘the chamber’. The second he opened the doors my breath hitched making it impossible to breathe.

There are a series of painting of me, the old me.

The old Sreesha.

My college memories.

The paintings of me, when I was 18.

“How many times do I have to warn you not to allow any visitors in my personal chamber Dhanush?” A voice boomed behind us making me still at my place. The same voice which I thought would never hear again.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Shut Up sree, it’s not him. You’re just hallucinating.

“Sorry sir, this chamber is not for Visitors, I’m afraid you have to leave,” the voice said again. Karthik was also still at his place. He was no longer angry but confused.

Not him.

Not him.

Please god, not him.

“Sir, I’m asking you-” the man was right before me now.

“Siri” his voice was a mere whisper now.

The only person who calls me Siri was standing in front of me shocked just like me.

Manoj!

Karthik’s grip tightened on my waist.