Married To A Stranger

Sreesha pov:

I’ve been listening to Karthik’s heartbeat while trying hard not to draw circles on his broad chest with my fingers. He looks so peaceful while sleeping almost like an infant.

I wonder how he looked when he was a child. Did he chew his thumb like Tej, when he was still 5? Was he cute? Or chubby?

He stirred in his sleep. However, he might be, he must have been a very cute kid. I stopped myself from pinching his cheeks.

I couldn’t help a blush that was creeping on my cheeks by the way our bodies entangled to each other. His hand was on my waist holding it almost possessively while his other hand is under my head as a pillow.

Do I have to rise just yet? I sighed in frustration. I don’t want to free myself from him. I want him to hold me forever just like this. I don’t need anything except for him.

But… I’m a woman. And I have a lot of work to do that includes pleasing my in-laws though they treat me like their daughter.

I untangled slowly, trying not to wake him. This is quite a task for me every day. In our 2 weeks’ time, I’ve never got out of bed without waking him in the process. When he wakes up, he would just smile the glacier melting smile and kiss my head saying, ‘Good morning’ and then sleep turning the other side.

He’s such a baby I tell you…

When I was almost celebrating my victory of mission ‘not waking up Karthik’, he slowly opened his eyes smiling a cheekily. I sighed.

I failed… Yet again.

“Good morning, Sree” he murmured holding my hand placing a lingering kiss on it.

“Good morning, you get some sleep. I’ll go and help mom” I said trying to free my hand from his.

“But I want to show you something first” he said getting down. “Just don’t turn around” he added holding my shoulders so I can only see him… and him alone.

I’m not complaining! I love watching him… if he knows, he’ll think I’m his stalker.

His very personal stalker, who has every right to stalk him 24/7.

He turned me slowly to our bed’s headboard. What is there to look… I stopped whatever running in my mind.

I was looking at one of the most memorable moments of my life… Our life. A wall-sized painting of me… of us… of our marriage.

In that painting, Karthik was applying Sindoor on my forehead and I was looking at him with a quizzical look yet a small smile playing on the curve of my lips.

Was I actually smiling at him, when he was applying Sindoor?

Didn’t my parents hold the ceremony against my wish?

Then how can I smile?

Was it the painters’ imagination or…?

“If it isn’t for that smile, I would have thought our union would be hopeless. You gave me hope, Sree. Hope to make our marriage work, to make u happy, and someday to make you fall in love with me” he said brushing his lips on my temple.

How can I be so lucky to have a guy like him as a husband?

He treats me like a queen.

He respects me as his mom.

He makes me happy with his every deed.

No… he’s my happiness.

Then what am I doing? Nothing. Nothing but enjoying the happiness he’s showering on me. I… I don’t deserve him. I’m a spoiled goods. I don’t deserve anyone and anything.

When he knows about my past, he would be hurt very badly.

What if I leave him?

I’ll just tell him that we’re not compatible and…

He back hugged me, making my eyes go wide.

“Stop thinking about your past life… and live now… with me beside you. I want to see you happy… and I’ll do anything to make you happy. Remember this, Sree.” he said turning me slowly to face him again. Cupping my cheeks, he wiped my tears away and stretched my lips asking me to smile.

I must have done some good deeds in my past life to deserve this man as a husband.

“They are happy tears… you make him happy. Sometimes I think… this is all just a dream and I’d wake up to my past life in my parents’ house” I said dropping my head to his chest.

“I will never allow you to that horrible place ever again. If you want to see Tej, he can come to our home or live with us permanently” he said like it was nothing.

If only he knew how much it means to me…

“Look around our room while I go fresh up, you will be happy all over again” grinning like a child he dashed into the restroom.

I gave myself a quick tour of his… our room. There were photos everywhere Our wedding photos, we sleep, I, on a couch frowning, our first date pictures. He captured everything.

“Do you like them?” he asked from behind.

When did he return?

“I love them. But… what about those empty photo frames?” I asked turning around to look into his eyes. I love watching his eyes. While he talks all innocently… Those eyes tell a whole other tales. Intimate tales.

“They are… For our future purposes,” he said scratching his head.

“Future purposes? Like our second date?”

“Not that… umm you know for our family… umm children?” he mumbled the last part looking everywhere but me.

Children?

Was he planning a family with me already?

Not yet. I… I need to tell him about everything before we take another step.

“Relax Sree, I’m not talking about now. I’m talking about our future. I… I can understand if you’re against kids. Just don’t be tense. We don’t have to have kids if you don’t want too… ”

“I want children… not just one but many. I want to love them with everything in me. Will… will I make a good mother to them? Can I give them all the love without gender inequality?”

“We, Sree. We will love them equally. And there will never be gender inequality… Ah maybe a little. I will be a little more protective and possessive about our little Sreeshas but other than that, I will not show any difference. I promise” he said showing his pinky finger.

He’s been talking to my hellion of a brother… no doubt. It was only our thing, the pinky promise.

I locked my pinky in his, sealing the deal.

I’ve no doubt in whatever he promised. He will keep his promise and I keep mine. I’ll try to be the wife he deserves.

“And I want more children too,” he said placing his forehead on mine.

“And I would be the happiest if you give me one as soon as possible. It can be quite boring in this big fat house with no one else but my husband to torture” just like that the spell he cast broken.

Leaning against our bedroom door is my mother-in-law with a smug smirk playing on her lips.

“Mother, hasn’t anyone told you that you have had the worst timing to make an appearance?” Karthik asked her in a sickly-sweet voice.

“I was told worst dear son. I’m enjoying my victory over you. I was not the one who said ‘Mother, marriage isn’t my thing’ or ‘mom, stop meddling in my personal life’ or ‘mom, please stop throwing potential bride photographs on me’. And here you are, it has been hardly half a month since your marriage and you’re planning a family without my consent. How rude of you? But being a kind-hearted woman, I am, permitting you to fill this house with more and more kids.” she said dramatically waving her hands in the air.

I blinked a few times to check if I was still in sleep.

Karthik merely rolled his eyes probably used to his mother’s antics.

“Where is dad? I wonder how he’s putting up with you all these years. He might have turned into a saint if he doesn’t love you so much” Karthik said looking past his mother’s shoulder where dad is standing with his hands folded watching the dramatics of mom.

“I wonder the same dear boy, if not for the love I have for you both, I’d been in Himalayas doing whatever saints do for peace of mind,” dad said rolling his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.

“Both? Who the hell is the other woman? And how dare you to keep this from me? I’m going to tear u part by part… ”

“I’m talking about our Karthik, wifey. I have had my hands full, from the day I tied a knot to you. How can I handle one more woman? No thank you” he said giving her a dramatic bow.

Karthik is watching them with a bored look on his face as if it happens every day. If it is, I pity him.

“Oh, our son Karthik? Yeah… I’d like to share your love with him. The things I do for family” she said shaking her head and nodded understandingly suddenly turning towards me “Sreesha, on another note, think before you pop children out, you will be expected to share your husband’s love with them. Who knows, they might love our children more than us.” she said nodding to herself.

“Mom… you know I love you. But don’t turn her into you. Dad and I only have enough patience to deal with you. Please no more” he said throwing his hands in the air.

“How could you say that to your mother, Karthik” she gasped dramatically.

“Mom! ” Karthik said impatiently.

“Karthik, why don’t you let the women talk and we go to my study. We have to pay attention to our main branch” dad said stressing the last words.

Is something wrong with his company?

“Now, shall I have my daughter to myself so I can give her a tour of her new home?” Mom said rolling her eyes. To which Karthik nodded, with a serious look on his face. Mom left giving us some privacy.