Four | Gain And Loss

I wouldn't really talk about my marriage reception because it was boring! All I did was walk hand in hand with her the whole evening and tell people thank you for their wishes.

Maybe I would have enjoyed my reception if I had any other girl with me, but with her, life is extremely irritating!

She'd glance up at me every once in a while, holding my hand slightly tighter. It felt like a punishment, but I was helpless.

Soon I was back in the so called our room with her.

" The evening was great, isn't it? ", she said enthusiastically.

"Oh really? I don't think so because I had to walk around with the person I hate.", I replied straight on her face.

She made a disgusted face as she got up from the bed. I wonder at times if getting up from the bed with a disgusted face is all she can do. Nevermind, I laid down on 'my' bed because it wasn't ours, definitely not. Sharing my bed with her was clearly not on my bucket list.

I had just started to doze off when

she said abruptly,

"Where am I sleeping? "

I exhaled sharply.

I replied in a very irritated voice,

"On my head! Girl, will you not even let me sleep?!"

" Oh I would if you ruin my sleep, Neil!"

" Sleep anywhere you feel like except on my bed! "

" Will yo-", before she could complete her Saviour, my mom walked in.

I don't understand how.. How is it that my mom knows the perfect moment to enter and save her beloved daughter - in - law!

" Neil! For God's sake let the Girl sleep.", she said looking sympathetically at Akansha.

I don't understand, I have done the great sacrifice of marrying Ms. Goenka and instead of giving me my due credits I'm being made to do everything I don't want to! Why?!

Seeing no other way I moved towards a side of the bed leaving the other side empty for her.

" Good boy. ", my mom said looking happily at me and then her.

" Okay, I had to tell both of you something. Both of you are leaving for Calcutta tomorrow, alright? ", she said.

" No. Wait, what?! Who is leaving for Calcutta? Why on earth are we even leaving? Mom what are you talking about?", I said totally confused, falling from the sky.

"Cool down, Neil. I'll explain. ", my mom begun.

" Actually Mr. Goenka, your father in law, has opened a branch for his business at Calcutta. As it is the only office of the Goenka Industries in India he wants his daughter, Akansha to manage it and improve the business in India. And you being his son in law must accompany your wife. ", she said.

" Mom! ", I said," Both if you knew it and you are telling me now! What is my life? Some kind of kindergarten story play, random things are happening without any context! ", I said totally frustrated with my life.

"It's okay. Now stop complaining and go to sleep. Your bags are packed already. ", saying so mom left as Akansha came and laid down beside me turning off the lamp.

" Good night Neil. ", she said, her tone had softened down.

I couldn't say an angry good night though but I managed to say a soft one (trying very hard to sound offhand).

So after the trauma of marrying her, I was actually going to visit her Country with her, by her and for her.

That's the democracy that matters, you know.

'What a life!', I thought as I shut my eyes still wondering what kind of luck was I having, good or bad?

Good because I was going to India (the country I always wanted to visit because I love yellow taxis and something they call panipuri.

Bad because I was going there because of my Detested Wife, it's a different story that for the world she is a dream.

Nevertheless we'll soon know if this deal of a marriage will be of gain or loss to me.

To her, I knew it was loss.

I glanced at her.

She turned towards me, in her sleep.

She looked peaceful.

I drew in a deep breath as I finally shut mine.

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