Five Weeks by Shruti Omar (any book recommendations .txt) 📕

"Did you guys kissed?"

"Huh? What? When did I say that?"

"I said did you kiss him?" he asked in a low, gravelly voice.

"Out of everything, this is the only thing you heard." She scowled, "I said that even if we do, that’s not going to –“

“So, you turned into a whore for him, Anahita.” Mukund snarled, making her numb and she lost her equilibrium, “Mukund…what are you saying?”

 “Don’t you dare to put forward an excuse. Tell me, how far have you both gone? Kissing each other, sleeping together and fucking….”

“Shut up, Mukund!” She affronted him, tears bouncing in her eyes and she bit on her knuckles.

“Why should I? I didn't think you could be so desperate to open your legs to anyone. One week and you kissed him, what about next four weeks? You would be shagging…” his words scorched her and the last thread of her sanity broke. She screeched in burning wrath, “Fuck off, Mukund. I hate you, cunt. You are spineless, gutless pieces of bat shit. Don’t show me your face ever because if you do, I will kill you with my bare hands.”

She cut the call, face planting on the bed. Her eyes rained on the pillow and she bit her lips, making them bleed.

*****

"Hey mom, yeah we reached safely." Yuvraaj said as soon as Mrs. Prakash received the call and he plopped on the tuffet, rubbing his face with other hand, tired of the eventful day.

"Are you guys not together?" His eyes snapped open and his face got spasms as he heard the most unexpected question at oddly timing.

"Yea, we are. Why would you ask so?" He asked, measuring his words. In the back of his mind, the plan was ready to wring Anahita's delicate neck if she spoke a single word about them to his mother.

"Because Anu already called me to inform that you've been reached safely, checked in the hotel and had the dinner. Why would you tell me the same thing again?"

He screwed his face and denuded the topic afar from it, "Mom, I actually called to ask if you want some perfumes. Sardinia has some good collections of perfumes."

"Yuvraaj?" He winced slightly, aware that he had been caught up. He was see-through for his mom. Lying was a given here.

"Mom, I thought she forgot, so I called being the responsible one." He tackled the situation, purporting it with a new context.

Mrs. Prakash laughed heartily and fondled him, "It is not like that Yuvi. You underestimate her. She is very responsible and obedient. Cut her some slacks and enjoy the time with her, don't be the despotic and try to understand her." He calmly heard her mother's opinion about the girl who was definitely opposite as portrayed.

"She is not like other girls Yuvi. If you will try to oppress her, she will become more rebellious and would challenge to the extent it becomes difficult to breathe." This was the point he agreed with his mother. At times he had witnessed it, so he let her continue, "But if you will try to be considerate to her and would let her rule her decisions, she will come around in blink."

Yuvraaj was impressed with the way his mother had deciphered his wife. Quiet amusingly, he gained interest in the topic and listened attentively.

"She is one of a kind. The strong one and completely compatible for you. Even if she is hurt, even if she is not stable, she won't let it out, she won't show her weakness. You need to be more observant to know her, more penetrable to gnaw her outer walls. The one thing that is admirable about her is her tenacity. She won't waver from her decisions, no matter how hard they, she loves to be a free bird. Hence, do not try to holdback her, try to embolden her. This is the key of successful marriage life, Yuvraaj, if one partner turns out be high at times, there's no wrong in being low hand sometimes."

"How'd you possibly know her so well mom?" Aghast, Yuvraaj couldn't help but query, his interest was piqued by his mom. How could she know Anahita so well?

"When she was born, I had this sudden instinctive rush to make her my daughter but it was not possible, so I rendered this thought to your dad about your marriage with her." His mom recited the story he had heard thousand times with great interest.

"Since Sushant bhau (brother) was admirable of you, he immediately fell in with the idea and we fated you both together, deciding that we will get you married when you both are ready."

However, this time the story stroked some unknown gist. Yuvraaj could feel and assess the amount of pressure Anahita might have to tolerate because of their elders' obsession of getting them married. Where he was probably enjoying life along with studying in Australia, she was being grilled among their enthusiastic parents and their intemperate anticipations.

"Though I wanted her as my Sunbai, I had to make sure that she is compatible to you and she really has grown up smart and beautiful. Then I was sure, she is perfect to you and I deciphered her to make good relations with her. After all, I have to make sure that my son doesn't grill between us." His mom chuckled, making his own lips curved.

"Now when I have Anu as my sunbai, mala fakta majhya potajachi ichcha aahe. (I am just longing for my grandchildren)" His mom teased him and being an unapologetic hoodlum, Yuvraaj guffawed, "Aai, majha patni barobar mi majhya vivahita jeevenancha anand lutuya, ani nantara Ami tumhala jitke natvande hwe, titke deyu. Ataa apli asha sodun deyu naka. (Mom, let me enjoy my married life with my wife and then, we will give you as many grandchildren as you want. Hence, don't keep your hopes up for now)"

"Nirlajja. (Shameless)," His mother gasped and he rose his feet grinning, “Alright. I will hang up now, mom. Good night. Take care."

"Good night and don't trouble my Sunbai." His mother said and they cut the call. Talking to his mother, Yuvraaj ruminated about the scenario from Anahita's perspective and tried to cost out the plight.