Married To A Stranger

Sreesha Pov:

“Sir?” the word slipped involuntarily.

Everyone stilled in their places including Tej.

“I never thought I would see you again sir. You don’t know me, but I know you.” I said beaming at sir. There are a Whirlpool of emotions passed in his eyes but one of them was… fear?

“Y-You k-know m-me?” Sir stuttered, I frowned. Why is he stuttering like he has seen a ghost?

But I didn’t use more makeup to look like one!

“How do you know him di?” Tej asked in a puzzled tone.

“Yeah, he was the reason to complete my education Tej. He was the sponsor that I told you about” I said excitedly. He was confused and then sent a look of accusation to dad. Why is he glaring at dad like that?

“It is supposed to be a secret” sir mumbled.

“It was. But I was always curious to know the person who was paying for my studies, so, I literally begged the peon for information about you but all he said was it’s confidential. So I kinda umm paid him to know about your meeting with the principal, I got to know your meeting area and followed my Principal to the parking lot where you’re waiting for him. He met you there and you gave him the cheque. But I didn’t get to know your name or anything. You have a very great heart to help all the poor students in our college” I said admiring his nature.

No one uttered a word, not even Niya and then I realized my babble. Tej looked almost… disappointed? Who does that to a guest? No wonder Mrs. Sharma said I don’t fit into these rich people. Now I failed as a daughter-in-law too. My father and mother were always right.

I’m just a failure.

I don’t fit into any role in life.

I failed as a daughter for not listening to my parents. I failed as a wife for not taking care of my husband’s needs. I failed as a daughter-in-law today for babbling in front of a guest nonetheless Karthik’s uncle and Tej’s Boss. He is a guest and should be treated with respect.

And here I was standing in front of him while talking my heart out.

Mom should’ve trained me in these kinds of things. She must be embarrassed with my behavior. All are looking at me like I was some alien. Tears started forming in my eyes. I shouldn’t allow anyone to see them.

“I-I’m sorry sir,” I said and rushed into the kitchen.

He must be thinking I’m some mental case. Karthik must be humiliated by my lack of manners. He must be regretting marrying me.

‘Who told you to open your big mouth dumbo!’ Yeah, now this good for nothing brain also scolding me. It’s her work to make me understand the situation but here it is, accusing me of its fault.

“Sree” Karthik called me in a very soft voice.

Is he not mad at me?

“Sweetheart, why are you crying? Look at me” he said cupping my face with his hands. A sob escaped from my lips. He sighed and hugged me tightly.

“Tell me why did you run away like that? What is bothering you?” He asked planting a kiss on my head resting his chin there.

“I-I’m so-sorry K-Karthik. I didn’t mean to hu-humiliate you. When I saw h-him I just remembered him again a-and babble all those things. H-He must be th-thinking I’m some m-mental case. I-I don’t know how t-to b-behave in front of r-rich p-people. Mrs. Sh-Sharma is right, I don’t d-deserve to be y-your wife” I rambled again.

“Look at me Sree,” he said sternly, but I didn’t dare to look at him. I must look like a raccoon now. Instead, I looked at the place where I’ve been crying. There is mascara everywhere on his shirt. I gasped.

“I’m sorry Karthik, I didn’t mean to spoil your shirt. Why do I have to be this stupid? I’d never do something right in my life. That is why my parents always call me a failure. That is why they don’t have anything to do with me after our marriage. They might be thinking a weight lifted from their shoulders because a failure like me left their lives. They might be happy after I left. I’m now a burden to you. Please don’t send me out of your life Karthik” he stilled for all the time I kept ranting about my parents. This is the first time I talked about them openly.

He hugged me even more tightly than before and wiped my eyes with his thumbs. He cupped my cheeks again and placed his lips on mine. It was slow and completely different like he wanted to convey something while I moved mine along with his. I tugged his hair and pressed him more into me to pour my every insecurity into that kiss. I don’t care if anyone walks in on us. I need this. It’s like he was assuring me something. Does that something might be our future?

Maybe, maybe not. But he’s mine for now.

He’ll be mine forever, right?

I love you Karthik.

There I admit it. I love him. I love him so much that I can’t live if he ever wants to leave me. He is like my oxygen now.

‘From when you started concentrating on science? Last time I checked you hate it.’

Not again!

“Never think I’ll leave you. Do you think that low of me? Forget what your parents said and do, Sree because they’re all lies. Do you think I’ll be humiliated by the way you acted over there? Do you think that he will think something bad about your behavior? Let’s go and ask him if he feels bad if anything it was amusing to hear your babble” he said winking.

“I don’t want to go Karthik. Tell him I was sorry for my behavior” I said shaking my head like a kid.

“Why are you behaving like a kid Sreesha? You said nothing wrong. You told everyone about his good deeds. But paying peon for information and spoiling my shirt are crimes though, but I can punish you for that later” he said the last part seriously.

Punishment?

Oh, that?

“Come with me,” he said dragging me into the hall where everyone is sitting with a frown on their face.

“I’m sorry for running away,” I said looking at my feet.

“Am I that scary?” Karthik’s uncle said. I gasped shaking my head vigorously.

“Stop it, uncle. She’d been crying thinking you must have thought about her as some mental case for her ramble” Karthik said half-seriously, half teasingly.

I jabbed him in his ribs to which he winced.

“Woman, that is domestic violence” he yelped making everyone laugh.

“Welcome to the club son,” dad said faking a concerned face.

“What do you mean by that? He must have done something stupid, so she just jabbed him, it is not even nearly violent. If you want, I can send her to some self-defense classes so she can take care of my son” mom said smirking emphasizing the words take care.

“Mom, don’t you dare influence her than you already have” Karthik tried to warn but it comes out like a request to which she rolled her eyes.

“Aunty, teach me all those things to me instead of her. I would love to use them on my to-be- husband” Niya said excitedly. All the gents in home looked at her like she had grown another head.

“Poor Ved” Tej said shaking his head.

“Remind me not to bring my future wife anywhere near your mom” Tej whispered to Karthik which didn’t go unnoticed by mom. She walked near to us with a sickly-sweet smile and held Tej’s ears between her fingers. I winced looking at his painful expression.

“What are you saying, young man? Please repeat it. I can’t hear properly the first time” she said twisting his ear more.

“Nothing aunty, please leave me,” Tej said painfully.

“Who is this aunty here?” She demanded. Tej and I looked at her puzzled.

“Call me mom you idiot. If Sreesha is calling me mom, then you should call me the same” she said leaving his ear.

“I can?” He asked hopefully.

“Yes,” she said cheerfully.

“Mom,” he said like testing the sound. He smiled like a kid who got his favorite candy.

“Mom,” he said again.

“Yes?” Mom said smiling.

“I’ll bring my future wife to you. Teach her whatever you want” he said hugging her tightly with tearful eyes. This is what we’d been craving for all these years. A finger traced my cheek wiping the tear that escaped unknowingly. My Karthik. I smiled and leaned into his touch.

“Enough of this drama lets go and have dinner,” she said wiping Tej’s tears. It was always me who used to wipe his tears, but we have a mom to do that now.

After dinner, sir came near me with a warm smile. I don’t know why but I felt secure when he’s around me like I felt when I was near Tej.

“Can I talk to you alone?” sir said smiling warmly. I nodded and took him to the garden.

“I’m really sorry for my behavior sir,” I said looking at my feet feeling ashamed.

“I think I didn’t introduce myself properly I’m Jayanth Thakur, Karthik’s Uncle that means you can call me uncle too. You’re like a daughter to me dear. Trust me I didn’t feel offended I was just shocked that you talked to me. I’ve been asking Karthik to introduce me to you, the only girl who has the power to make Karthik smile other than his parents and friends. Now I understand why this family and Tej loves you so much” He said smiling.

“I can call you uncle?” I mumbled.

“Yes,” he said smiling.

“Thank you so much for helping me uncle,” I said, an unknown emotion passed through his eyes which he covered quickly.

“My pleasure dear,” he said leading me back to the dining room. After dinner Niya left to attend a call. When sir-umm uncle and Tej were ready to leave, he called me near him. When I reach him, he held my hand and placed a gift box on my palm.

“I didn’t get a chance to attend your marriage dear, think it is my gift for your wedding.” I glanced at mom not knowing whether to accept it or not, she nodded positively. “Open it and see if you like it” he added nervously.

I opened it eagerly. Don’t judge me, I’m fond of gifts okay?

I gasped when I look at the gift. It is a diamond necklace. Tej frowned again and his eyes went wide for a second like he just realized something.

A diamond necklace. Who will the hell gift diamond to a no one? Mom is not even his own sister. Then why?

“Do you like it dear?” He asked nervously. I nodded not trusting my voice.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Good. It belongs to you” he mumbled only for me to listen. He left after bidding goodbye along with Tej.