-S H R E E      P R A S A D-

It's good to be in the RK mansion again. We just returned from our honeymoon and I yawn again for the gazillionth time as I step into our room. It was almost sunset when we landed and now the sky is dark. I haven't slept properly in a while. The honeymoon as well as the photoshoot was amazing, and equally tiring.

We left for Bali for the photoshoot the next day after the reception. Madhav had booked business class seats and this was my first time flying in business class. It was such a luxury and spacious unlike economy. Madhav ordered sushi for us as soon as we boarded, he recommended I tried it, and I did, only to find myself vomiting my guts out the very next minute in the washroom.

I was feeling unwell throughout the whole nine hours flight, and Madhav was clearly worried. Don't worry chellam, you didn't get me pregnant. We checked into the hotel an hour after we landed in Bali, after twilight. We were tired, especially me, after having vomited for a total of a dozen times and I had a splitting headache too. Madhav got a bubbly bath drawn for us. In the tub, I sat with my back against his chest, eyes closed, while he placed soft kisses on my neck and my shoulder blades, turning me on subsequently. 

He carried me to the bed a few minutes later and we engaged in foreplay for so long before he finally made love to me. It was an hour, or maybe two hours past midnight when I drifted off to sleep, but I was woken up before sunrise to prepare for the photoshoot at the Seminyak beach.

The photoshoot extended for the whole day, and we travelled to several locations in Bali that day. We visited the Uluwatu Temple, Lake Bratan, Gitgit Waterfall, Tegallalang Rice Terrace the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. There was a twilight shoot by the seashore that night too and it dragged around till midnight. When we reached the hotel, it was half past midnight and I drifted off to sleep immediately. 

I was freaking woken up again around 4AM to go on a sun rise hike. I refused but Madhav insisted, playing that innocent puppy facing. I swore and got prepared. I eagerly waited till we returned to the hotel to get more sleep. When we did, we showered together and as I was about to sleep, he tells me that he booked a table at an elite restaurant for lunch. We resumed the photoshoot after lunch and the whole night was spent packing our belongings as we were to leave for Maldives tomorrow at morning. I was glad this photoshoot was finally over; I can finally rest and catch up with that long-lost sleep.

Fate was not on my side. Madhav could not contain himself during our stay at the hotel in Maldives.  We spent the whole stay in Maldives, in our room, naked, in each other's arms, savoruing each other's bodies; kissing endlessly; making love, protected to be specific, and this time without any restrictions or inhibitions. 

We even made love in the small jacuzzi in our hotel room, it was hot, literally. He gifted me all the love bites he promised, and did everything he promised to do to me. We did go out but that was only to have our meals at the dining arena or either to take a dip in the pool. I am madly in love with this man, his intense gaze alone is enough to get me aroused and blushing.

I look at myself in the mirror in our room at the RK mansion. My head is aching so terribly, and I almost fell had I not held onto the dressing table. There are so much of dark circles under my eyes along with red scars are on my neck, my shoulders and my wrists. I had to wear a scarf to hide them. Madhav had ordered a few collared blouses for me from Demure and Burberry, which I am thankful for. How would I go to work with these hickeys on my arms and necks? It implies strongly that we have been engaging ourselves in so much sex. 

I notice him walk into the room with our luggage, he keeps them aside, and locks the door. He's wearing a crisp white shirt and a pair of black jeans. I close my eyes as I feel him wrap his arms around my waist, his lips find their way to my neck where he resumes to work on a bruised spot. I can feel the vein in my head start to pulse, and I feebly held his arm for support.

* * * * *

A doctor was called after Shree had fainted in Madhav's arms. He had made her lie on their bed. Yashoda, who was the only one in the house had come rushing when she heard Madhav yell out Shree's name. Shree was brought into consciousness a few minutes after the doctor arrived.

"She's alright, Mr. Ramakrishna." The young doctor said as she kept the stethoscope into her bag. Madhav was on the side of the bed holding Shree's hand. "It's obvious that she hasn't had some sleep in a while. I recommend she takes some rest. A long undisturbed sleep for eight hours would do. I'll write down a few tablets, make sure she has them before she goes to sleep."

"Doctor, she's not-" Yashoda asked as she looked at the young doctor. "You know?"

"No. She's not pregnant." She said writing a medical prescription. "She's exhausted, that's all. Take care of her though and she'd be fine."

Yashoda nodded and followed the doctor outside.

"You gave me a fright, Shree. For a second I assumed the worst had happened." Madhav said as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I wish I knew how tired you have become in the past few days; this is somewhat my fault-"

"Or rather entirely-" she whispered. He smiled as kissed her lips before walking into the bathroom. He came out in a few minutes and scooped Shree into his arms, carrying her in his arms.

She smiled and buried her face on his crisp white shirt as he walked into the bathroom. He slowly made her stand near the shower cubicle. His hands went to the buttons on her shirt and he slowly started undoing the buttons. In one fluid motion he peeled away her jeans and her underwear leaving her in her bra. Shree's breath hitched as he wrapped his arms around her to unhook her bra. He smelt of a decent mixture of perspiration and aftershave. His beard, which he decided to grow temporarily, was teasing scratching against her skin.

Shree blushed as he peeled the bra off her breasts. Her cheeks became red as she looked at the red marks and the imprints of his teeth on her tender skin. She looked up at him and he was busy unbraiding her plait. He runs his fingers through her silky hair when he frees her tresses from the intertwined locks. He rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt as he walked into the cubicle and started to adjust the shower controls.

"Come, Shree." He asked offering her his hand and she softly walked into the cubicle. "I've arranged you a nice refreshing shower, I'll keep you some pajamas to wear on the bed and make you something healthy to eat." He kissed her lips chastely before walking out.

Shree wraps herself in her towel after relaxing in the shower for long enough. She wakes into the bedroom and notices a pair of black Ralph Lauren pajamas laid out for her. She walks towards the big wooden wardrobe and pulls out his black tee-shirt along with a pair of shorts with draw strings. She changes into it and sits on the bed. His shirt was big enough for her and the sleeves reached till her elbows and the shorts were big enough but she was happy there were draw strings so it could fit her. She sighed in relief.

Madhav walks in a few minutes later with a silver tray. On the tray was a ceramic plate of chapati and gravy, a glass of milk, a banana and some almonds.

"I see you didn't like the clothes I laid out for you." He says as he walks to her and keeps the tray on the bedside table.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to wear something free and-"

"It's alright, I like you dressed in my clothes." He says as he sits beside her with ceramic plate. He dunked the chapatti piece onto the gravy and offered it to her. "Eat, now."

"No, you don't have to feed-"

"Shut up!" he said, "Let me do this!" She leaned to him and ate it.

He tore a piece of chapatti and repeated the process and offered it to her, who timidly accepted it. He noticed a bit of the gravy fall on the left side of her lower lip. He touched his lower lip and pointed at her. She touched the right side of her lower lip with her hand.

"Closer!" he instructed.

Shree moved to her right cheek, when she noticed him sigh. He leaned closer when Shree's heart started to beat audibly in her ears. He extended his free hand and gently brushed his thumb with her rosy lip, causing her to breath in quick successions, almost panting. He smiled and sat back on the bed wiping his left hand on the serviette he had brought with him and offered another piece of chapatti to her and she took it.

Shree was smiling as she made her eat the whole chapati. "You don't eat properly, Shree." He complained as he finished feeding her the chapatis he brought for her. "I've noticed several times, at work, in your mother's house and even at the restaurants I've taken you to. You never finish your meals properly."

"But I just ate all these like a good girl!" She pouted as she sat cross legged. "Maybe it's because you fed me all this food! You should do this more often, what do you think?"

"I will." He said and stood up, keeping the plate on the tray. "If you drink this milk and eat this banana by the time I return after washing my hands."

He was pleased to see eating the almonds, he noticed empty glass and the banana peel on the tray when he came back after rinsing his hands. He sat at the foot of the bed and saw her holding the framed picture of his mother and sister that was always on the bedside table. The picture was the same as the one on Madhav's desk at the office. A young and beautiful woman wearing a purple and grey sari, her hair long and thick hair was neatly braided to a side. She was seated on a park bench with two children by her side. One was a little girl who was wearing a yellow frock: Devakshi and a little boy, wearing a khaki coloured shorts and a blue tee shirt: Madhav.

"How did they die, Madhav?" Shree asks looking at the bright faces of Rukmini and Devakshi. Shree has read how Rukmini died due to depression but what made her wonder was the reason of Devakshi's death.

Madhav never spoke of how Devakshi died, so did RK and Yashoda. They took it to themselves as a confidential secret. All she knew was that Devakshi died when she was twenty years old. She had seen pictures of Devakshi as a young and attractive adult in Madhav's phone and tucked in the furthest corners of the wooden wardrobe.

She imagined the life that would have been if they hadn't died. Devakshi would have been married and Madhav would have had two little nieces-or nephews idolizing him. Rukmini would have been exuberant with the addition of Shree into the family, or would she be miffed that Madhav chose a simple middle-class girl for a wife?

"You don't need to know all that." He said sitting at the foot of the bed. He snatched the picture frame from her hands and kept it by his side. He pulled her feet onto his lap. "Lie down. I'm going to do what my Amma used to do every night to make me fall asleep."

Shree lied down and Madhav started to gently press at the sole of her feet with his thumbs, as he softly blew air in between her toes. Shree sighs in contented as she rests her head on the feathery soft pillow with her eyes closed. "She used to do this every night; you know, and she used to sing a beautiful lullaby and tell me such wonderful stories and-"

"Will you sing and tell me a song too? Because I'd really like to hear you sing something." Shree asks opening her eyes and looking at him. "I mean your mom is a famous playback singer, I've heard she has sung with SB Balasubramanium, Jagjit Singh, Asha Bhosle and so many people. Surely you must have inherited some of her talent. I'm not saying you don't have any musical talents, you can at least sing a few lines for me, maybe, so I know you got it in you!"

"I am a talented musician, Mrs. Madhav Ramakrishna, and I don't need to prove it to anyone." He says softly and massages her foot. "She knew how to play all the classical instruments. She taught me how to sing and to play the miruthangam."

"You can?" Shree asks yawning. "Why don't you play for me once? Not to prove anything but just to entertain your eager and enthusiastic wife, maybe?"

"We'll see about that! I haven't played or sung in decades, you know!" he says and pulls at her toe, making her squeal. He stands up and covers her with the blanket. "Now, shut up and sleep or I'll sell all your makeup."

"Aren't you coming to sleep?"

"Not yet, love. It not even half past six. Apparently, we're returning back to work tomorrow." He says dimming the lights. "There's something urgent Mr. RK wants to discuss something with me as soon as he returns. I'll join you when I'm done, and I expect you to be in a deep sleep when I return, understood?"

She smiles. "Goodnight, Madhav!"

"Goodnight, chellam." He says kissing her forehead.

-S H R E E      P R A S A D-

When I woke up Madhav's side of the bed was neat and crisp- he didn't come to sleep last night. It's almost 7 and I quickly rush off into the bathroom to get ready for work. Today will be my first day at work after the wedding- first day at work as Mrs. Shree Madhav Ramakrishna.

I pick a simple blue shirt with a collar and long sleeves to go with my black tailored pants. My hair is braided into a simple plait and I tuck my mangalsutra inside my shirt. I smile looking at myself in the mirror. Oh, my mata, I'm going to be the talk of the whole company! I blush and do my makeup when I see the door open.

Madhav walks in, dressed in a grey shirt and matching pants. Do wear some bright shirts, chellam! He's wearing a black tie and if I'm not wrong, he's wearing the cufflinks which I gifted him during our wedding night. He looks gray- literally, as if burdened by something.

"Slept well?" he asks as he comes towards me and I nod. He reaches for his hairbrush responding, "Uhm-uhm that's good! Looks like you-you are r-r-ready to go to work!"

I nod and look at him. It's not his grumpy work face, he looks disturbed; troubled.

"Shree, I have to tell you something!" he confesses and holds my hand. My heartbeat increases and I don't know why. "Me and Mr. RK, we-we were talking last night and we-we-decided that-"

I look into his eyes and he forgets whatever he was trying to say, which is highly unlikely of him.

"Shree, I want to tell you that-you-you-"

He is interrupted this time as Mr. RK walks into our room. He's wearing a white shirt and gray pants. The little strands of hair were combed to cover the bald spot on his head. I notice an envelope in his hand. He stops and his eyes go to me. He is stunned and then looks at Madhav. "I see you haven't told Shree what we discussed last night, son. I should have broken this to her, myself. It was my fault to entrust you with this job."

Madhav glares at him. He looks angered, and was it because RK sir didn't trust him or because he called Madhav 'son'? Whatever it maybe it's serious and it involves me.

He hands me the letter. "Shree, this is for you. Read it, out loud."

A letter for me? I open the envelop and unfold the paper within, reading it out loud.

"Dear Ms. S. S. Prasad! We take this opportunity to acknowledge all your hard work and commitment as the secretary of RKGOC's deputy CEO. However, we regret to inform you that the management and the board of directors, owing to unavoidable circumstances, has decided to terminate your employment contract-"

I stop and I feel my heart would leap out of my chest. My heartbeat is erratic, and my palm is sweating as I read on "to-to-to terminate your employment contract and-and- to-to dismiss you from the working force of the company."

I read the sentence again and look at Madhav, then turn. "Why am I fired?" He doesn't say anything. "What wrong have I done to get fired! Answer me, Madhav!"

"Shree, you have done nothing wrong- it's just that-" RK says.

"THEN WHY THE FUCK AM I FIRED?" I yell at him and he looks at me taken aback. I realize that tears have started pooling in my eyes.

"You should ask that from your boss, Mr. Madhav Ramakrishna!" RK says crossing his arms. "Afterall, it was he who requested me to dismiss you. I suggest you and your boss sit down and discuss this."

WHAT? Did he just say Madhav asked him to have me fired? I turn to Madhav as RK walks out of the room. "Madhav, please tell me that's not true."

"It is, Shree." He says and I freeze for a minute, unable to speak no further. "I requested Mr. RK to consider dismissing you."

"But why?" I am still in shock, unable to understand why he's doing all this. "Why am I being fired? What is the reason for my sudden dismissal?"

I refresh my memory to see what I have done to get myself fired. Is it because I didn't stapler the paperwork properly? Or because I forgot his morning coffee? I can't decide which. He is too silent, and I hold his shirt in my fist.

"GODDAMIT, WHY THE FUCK AM I FIRED?" I scream as I feel tears roll down my cheek.

"Because of our marriage!" Madhav said holding my face in his hands. I loosen the grip on his shirt and his sighs straightening the spot the crumpled area of his shirt. "It's just that I don't want you to work as my secretary. It's going to be difficult to coordinate with you for work related matters, while you remain my wife!"

"That's a baseless reason, Madhav!" I exclaim. "You can't dismiss me because I got married to you! That's ridiculous!"

"It's not ridiculous, Shree." He says solemnly. "It's difficult for me to see you as an employee and as my wife. It's distracting, especially after everything that happened between us after this marriage. The marriage just changed our equation, I can't see you as anything but my beloved wife."

"This is your fault!" I whip at him, and he looks at me stunned. I feel so angry and my blood is boiling. "Why didn't you tell me about this-this-this stupid and unjustified discomfort, beforehand? You waited until a week after our marriage to tell me this, when you could have told me before the engagement! God, if I had known I wouldn't have fallen in love with you, let alone agree to marry you!"

He holds my arm in a tight grip. I push him away and go to sit down on the bed. He walks to me and sits by my side. I get up and try to walk away, when he holds my hand and turns me to him.

"You can't do this to me, Madhav! I have a family to support! Who's going to pay for Devi's education and Amma's medicines?" I realize my anger has doused and I am sobbing right now. "I promised to take care of them!"

"I will take care of them!" he says fondling my cheeks as he kisses away my tears. "They are my family too. I am earning more than enough for the two of us, we can support your mother and Devi along with an army of kids with all the money I earn."

"You know what? Dismiss me! I don't want to be the secretary at your lame ass company! I'll find a job elsewhere, where I won't be dismissed for such stupid reasons!"

"I don't want you to work anymore, Shree!" he says, and I freeze down to each nerve of my body. "Be it at RKGOC or anywhere else."

"What do you have against women working after marriage?" I snapped. "What do all you men of this country have against women working after marriage? Do you'll still believe in your wives being stationed at the kitchen and locked within a cage of four walls?"

"Shree, chellam, I have nothing against married women working, it's just that I don't want you to work." He says pressing his nose to mine, and he pulls me closer to him. "I want you to stay at home, like a good girl and take it easy, instead of toiling hard at a nine to five job. You are my beautiful, precious and innocent flower. I don't want to see you wilt and crumble as you work hard."

I shake my head, refusing to listen to all his justifications. "I want to work, Madhav. I can't stay at home all day, it's not something I studied hard for! It's not something I dreamt of! I dreamt of an independent life where I earn money to support my needs and my family's! I won't stay at home, Madhav! What am I supposed to do in this big house all day?"

"You are free to do anything you want!" He says soothingly placing my hands on his shoulders. "I'll give you access to my Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar accounts. You can binge watch series all day. You can read the books in Amma's old room, you can learn something- or order something online- I'll give you my credit card-"

I shake my head, in the verge of breaking into tears.

"I'll try to come early so I can take you out for the evening. This time, I'll let you pick the restaurant." He says and kisses me, his hands holding my waist.

I shake my head again, pulling away from his kiss. I finally let the tears flow. I sit on the bed wiping my eyes.

"My word is final, Shree. You are never to work." He says sternly and walks away.

He walk out of our room and descends down the staircase. I get up and march to the door of our room, with all my strength and might I yell. "BLOODY SCREW YOU, MADHAV GODAMMIT RAMAKRISHNA! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!"

As I turn, I see Yashoda and she looks impressed and not taken aback. I apologize and rush back into room when I hear her.

"I understand your situation, dear."

I turn to her. This is the first time she is talking with me, after the brief conversation after my welcoming ceremony. Madhav had banned her from coming anywhere near me, let alone talk with me.

"I used to be a psychologist. I treated your father-in-law, before we got married." She was a what- that's impressive! And did she just say she treated RK sir? But why did he need to consult a psychologist? "But after the wedding he told me to stop working-"

"So, did you really?"

"Yes, dear. I left my job and stayed at home." Yashoda said. "It was boring for a few months and then I had Shyaam, after which I had a real reason to keep myself busy."

"I don't want to do the same." I say shaking my head and she smiles.

"I don't want you to either!" she whispers and hugs me. "I came across your CV in Radha's desk and I believe the primary school nearby would love to have you as their new English teacher."

I look at her surprised.

"The Principal of that school used to be my classmate and I can ask her to consider you for the vacancy." Yashoda says. "Also, Madhav will never know because he will be returning home hours after school closes."

"But how do I leave from home-"

"You can tell him that you're accompanying me to the mandhir! I'll drop you on the way at the school. Walk-in-interviews are happening right now, I insist you go for it.-" I hug her mid-sentence and she pats my head.

* * * * *

Madhav opens the passenger door of his Audi as we walk out of the Chinese restaurant we just ate at. I get into the car and straight the folds of the silky high-collared red frock I am wearing. As I buckle my seatbelt, I hear my phone vibrate in my purse.

It's a message from Yashoda Ma.

"They were impressed with you. Congratulations, you are selected! They want you to start next week."

I can't stop smiling.

"What happened?" Madhav asks as he gets into the driver's seat.

"Nothing, just a meme I saw on Facebook." I lie.

He nods and starts the car. We were silent as he drove all the way home. It was almost midnight when we arrive at the RK mansion. Raghu, the security guy opens the gate and runs to open the garage door.

"Don't get down!" he says as he holds my hand. "I'll park the car in the garage, and then we can go into the house together."

Fine! He drives into the garage where he parks the car beside RK's SUV.

"Don't get down yet!" He says and gets down, closing the door behind him; walks across to open the door for me. Thank you, but I could have done this by myself!

He closes my door and holds my hand, as we walk out the garage.

"Shree!" he says and holds my arm as I walk into our bedroom.

I gasp and turn to him.

"I heard what you yelled in the morning." He starts.

"Yes, I did, and I wanted you to hear it." I say crossing my arms.

"Did you really mean every word?" he asks concerned. "Even the 'I hate you' part?"

"Madhav, you know I wouldn't mean that." I say as I free my hand from his grip and move to the dressing table.

"Are you sure?" he asks closing the door. "Because you were nonchalant when I got home, and you barely spoke during dinner. I was worried you-"

"I was angry at you this morning!" I exclaim as I remove my bracelet and slam it on the dresser. "I say weird stuff when I get mad."

"Are you still angry with me?" he asks wrapping his arms around my waist.

Darling, I am not mad at you. I'm glad you fired me. 

I got the job of a teacher and I wouldn't have if you hadn't fired me. Somehow my appointment as an English teacher made me forget about my sudden dismissal. I was working as his secretary since the pay was more. Now I get to pursue my dream job as a teacher and my family is being looked after by you.

I shake my head. He rests his nose against my neck, breathing in relief. I close my eyes as his beard pricks my neck. "I love you, Shree." He whispers and starts pressing kisses up my neck and towards my jaw.

He turns me to face him. I wrap my arms around his neck, resting my head against his chest, thus reducing the gap between us. His heart is beating, and I can hear it through the grey shirt he has been wearing since morning.

I sigh as I feel his hands move to the back of my frock. "I love you too." I whisper as he unzips my dress.

To be continued....

Keep the votes and the comments flowing! 

Also let me know what you think of the following through your comments 

Why do you think Madhav doesn't want Shree to work?

Would Rukmini (Madhav's dead mother) have accepted Shree as her daughter in law if she was alive?

Madhav can play the miruthangam! What other hidden talent should he have?

Will Madhav find out about Shree's job? 

If yes then how will he react?

Glossary

Chellam- Darling

Miruthangam- a percussion instrument from India. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble

Khaki- brownish yellow colour

Chappathi- is an unleavened flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent and staple in India

Announcement

It's Dedication Time! As a way of returning your unwavering love and support to the story, I have decided to dedicate ALL the chapters of this book to each reader.

1: A question will be asked at the end of each chapter, regarding the story and/or the characters.

2: One person will be selected from all those who have provide the correct answer.

3: The lucky winner gets one chapter of this book dedicated to him/her. This process will happen repeatedly until all/most of the readers, active and silent, have chapters dedicated to them.

PREVIOUS WEEK'S QUESTION: When is Madhav's birthday?

Answer: 22nd June

Winner: @gopiks108

This week's question: What is Shree's middle name?

Submit your answers with inline comments. May the correct and most accurate answer win!