5

"But it's really okay Mom", Keerthi tries convincing her mother in law.

"No beta. It's better you go. It's kind of a ritual. A small function will be held and there will be guests coming to bless your married life",Sakshi says

"But I already have a lot of new clothes , from the wedding shopping. I can just wear one of those", Keerthi says.

"Keerthi", Sakshi patiently explains,"It's a tradition that the bride wears the clothes given to her by her in laws. You and Vikram go for shopping , okay?"

"Okay", Keerthi relents.

"Good", Sakshi pats Keerthi's cheek, giving her a warm smile and leaves.

It was unknown to the duo that a third person was witnessing the conversation.

Vikram silently stood by the entrance, listening on the conversation between his mother and wife. He was confused. Didn't women love shopping? Why was his wife so different, in every aspect.

Or was her reluctance because she had to accompany him, he wondered. The thought made him mad. Granted, Vikram wasn't exactly behaving like an ideal husband material. But his wife didn't give him a chance to. She went out of her way to show how uncomfortable she was with him all the time. Though Vikram had no issues and he could wait, as there was no rush and he didn't excessively feel affectionate towards his wife, he didn't like the fact that she didn't even want to spend some together, to get to know each other better.

Vikram was just so mad.

He enters,making his presence known.

Keerthi glances at him.

Vikram collapses on the couch,sighing tiredly,as he closes his eyes after nodding at his mother.

"Do you want me to get you something to eat?", Keerthi forces herself to ask after sometime , since her mother in law was present and she didn't want her to think Keerthi didn't care, though in reality she really didn't.

Vikram merely glances at his wife,"Just get me a coffee". He makes his way upstairs to freshen up.

Keerthi nods, making her way into the kitchen, though her nod didn't go acknowledged.

Vikram grunted, as he pulled his T-shirt over his head. He was angry. But the reason seemed childish even to him. He was getting angry without even knowing the other side of the argument. Though his rational side criticised him for getting mad at his wife when she didn't do anything specifically, he couldn't listen to it.

He was mad at her. Period.

He really hoped she wouldn't converse with him, for her sake.

"Here",Keerthi mumbles, handing Vikram his coffee.

Vikram looks up from his phone, watching his wife with coffee mug in her hand. He took it from her, making sure he didn't touch her, as he deliberately grasped the end of the mug.

"Do you need anything else?", Keerthi finds herself question.

"Yes. Please leave me alone for sometime."

Keerthi gapes at him, having not expected such a reply, but she lets him be, not wanting to get into an argument in the living room, where other people could hear.

"You seem tired beta",Sakshi runs her hand over her son's head when she enters the living room, taking a seat next to him.

"Not really. But it was a busy day Ma",Vikram sighs,closing his eyes as he hums when his mother massages his head.

"Okay. There's a function on Thursday. A reception sort of thing. You need to get your clothes for that", Sakshi tells her son.

"Oh", Vikram acts dumb." There's still time. Can I do it later?"

He didn't really want to be around his wife for some reason.

"Are you really so tired?",Sakshi narrows her eyes.

"I am not,Mom",Vikram rolls his eyes,"I just don't feel like it right now".

"It's fine. You are home early today anyway. You might as well finish it. Take Keerthi along. She has to shop for herself too."

"Alright",Vikram didn't want to upset his mother just because he was pissed off with his wife,"Give me some time? We'll go after some time."

Sakshi rolls her eyes at her son,but nods anyway.

Her husband seemed to be in a mood, Keerthi noticed. But he spoke fine with his mother. Was the mood specifically reserved for her, she wondered. But she couldn't think why.

Vikram went back to his phone, ignoring his wife, though he could see her looking at him from his peripheral vision.

Keerthi walks into her room after some time, his behaviour confusing her as she starts to get ready reluctantly.

She was wearing a chain around her neck when she heard Vikram entering the room.She didn't acknowledge him, silently doing her work.

Vikram dresses up,only to still find his wife in front of the mirror.

"We are only going shopping,not to a wedding. Get ready quickly", Vikram rolls his eyes.

Keerthi hears him when she was applying lip balm. She stares at him,as she turns around.

"Excuse me?",She says offended.

"I don't have time for this nonsense. Let's leave if you are done."

"What on Earth is your problem?", Keerthi exclaimed.

"Don't raise your voice",Vikram says harshly.

Keerthi glares at him,angry and confused.

Why was he acting so hostile.

"Good. Let's move now."

Vikram walks out, Keerthi following shortly.

The ride to the mall was no less than a nightmare for Keerthi.There was just so much tension between them,Vikram pointedly glaring at the road ahead, while Keerthi sat immobile.

She hated to admit it, but she was so scared.

She sighed a breath of relief when they reached, getting out of the closed space she had to share with her husband. She silently hoped for his mood to improve on their way back.

Though Vikram wanted to part ways as soon as they reached the mall, so they could shop separately, he remembered his mother's words before he left.

"Keerthi might feel uncomfortable to get clothes. She might feel like she doesn't want to spend too much or that she is wasting money. Make her feel at ease, and get her whatever she wants."

He sighs,as he makes his way into the boutique with Keerthi. Though Keerthi didn't want Vikram to be there, she didn't say anything, scared he'll shout at her.

Vikram noticed Keerthi looking at simple ones. And the ones she probably liked, she would look at the price tag and frown.

He sighed, irritated. He didn't particularly like to shop too much. But this was a necessity.

"Can you make it quick?,"Vikram finally snaps after half an hour.

"Um. It may take some time. You can go shop for yourself by then",Keerthi suggests.

Vikram rolls his eyes,"The collection is fine. Just select something. Or do you want to go somewhere else?"

"No, it's fine"Keerthi looks down. They are all just too expensive.

She didn't say it out loud though.

Keerthi finally found one,a simple pink lehenga with silver work on it , with a baby blue dupatta.Her lips turned upside down though, when she saw the price.

38,599/-

But then , everything in the boutique was pricy.

Maybe she could look for a cheaper one,as she on moved from there.

"Didn't you like it?", Vikram examined the lehenga Keerthi was looking at. He found it decent.

"Um. It's good. But", Keerthi stopped

"But?",Vikram raised his eyebrows

"It's a bit expensive",Keerthi looked down

"That's fine", Vikram gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her.

"Okay. I'll try it on. And then we can bill it", Keerthi offers.

Vikram nods his head,moving out of there.

"I.. I can pay for half", Keerthi offers after a while,when they were at the billing counter.

"Don't be stupid. The whole point of me coming was because I could buy it", Vikram says as he makes the transaction.

Though there was no one around,Keerthi felt bad about Vikram scolding her. She just couldn't understand why he was so cross with her.

"You can go home if you want to. I will shop for myself and return",Vikram says casually,his hands in his pockets,after they exit the boutique.

Keerthi's lips thin, disappointed.

Sure she didn't like him as much,but she was fine with his company.

"Do you want me to leave?",she questions.

"Don't ask cross questions. I only told you could leave if you want to."

Though she was tempted to leave at the moment,given Vikram's behavior,she didn't want to. It would look bad in front of her in laws.

"It's fine. I'll join you."

They walk side by side as they enter the shop.

Keerthi stood by his side,as Vikram picked out a few clothes of his choice.

His fashion taste was good, Keerthi thought.

She was contemplating on what went wrong between them when Vikram entered the trial room.

She was still in her thoughts when they approached the billing counter.

It was only when she heard someone humming next to her that she snapped out of her thoughts. Keerthi turned towards her left,to see a guy probably in his late twenties humming to himself as he checked Keerthi out.

Keerthi felt uneasy. She quickly turned around, moving to Vikram's right.Vikram glanced at his wife,but didn't say anything.

Keerthi saw the guy leaning back trying to look at her.

Vikram noticed his wife's uneasiness.It was only when he followed her line of vision that he understood the problem. But he didn't want to create a scene. So he simply pulled her in front of him, obstructing the stranger's view.

Keerthi jumped when she felt Vikram wrap his arm around her wasit pulling her in front of him,away from the guy.Keerthi gazed at Vikram, as he nodded his head at her.

Though Vikram's arm around her felt new and uncomfortable,she felt safe at the moment.

"You should tell me when you have a problem,Keerthi", Vikram scolds as soon as they exit.

"Tell what?", Keerthi frowns.

"I shouldn't have to guess whenever you have an issue. It's just easier if you tell me yourself when someone is troubling you."

"Tell you what? That there's a guy staring at me and making me uncomfortable?"

"Yes. That's what."

Keerthi presses her lips into a thin line,visibly hurt.She didn't want to further the argument. They were already getting concerned looks from strangers.

Vikram sighs, scratching his forehead. "Do you want to eat something?",he offers a truce.

Keerthi glares at him,"No."

"Suit yourself", Vikram shrugs as he enters the food court.

Keerthi's frustration increased exponentially with every step she took.She just couldn't decipher her husband. He was multipolar. One moment,he was fine. He is spitting fire the other.

She dragged her legs his way.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?"Vikram asks,this time a little softly.

Keerthi was hungry. But she didn't want to slaughter her self respect by agreeing to eat now.

She forced herself to nod in negative.

Vikram shakes his head,annoyed with his stubborn wife. He went past her and occupied a seat ,as he comfortably munched on his food. He felt bad that this was the first time they had come out and he had shouted at her and most probably kept her hungry. He felt guilty, that he was about to make a scene in public,shouting at her.

Keerthi was angry,this time it was her glaring angrily at the roads on their way back home.