Part - 3

"Why Does Cupid Never Grow up? - Because It Symbolizes That Love Never Grows Old!

And Why Does He Throws Arrows To The Heart? - To Remind Us That True Love Hurts!"

Karthik's POV

It's been a month since we got married but still there is no change in our relationship. Mithra still finds it hard to accept our marriage. Well, I can't blame her though. If our marriage is a shock to me then it is a nightmare to her. I'm out of the shock long back but still she is having the nightmare. At times in night she wakes screaming that she don't want this marriage, she don't want to be a wife. I don't know how to feel about that, whether I should feel bad for her or for me or for us for being in this sorry state of mess? After crying in her sleep she goes back to a restless sleep leaving me watch her all night & when sleep took over me, I go back to my room to sleep alone, how much ever I hate staying away, well not far away just a room away, still I feel lonely but Mithra doesn't want us to share a room & I respect her decision.

I'm trying my best to make her understand things but at times she really behaves worse than a kid & can be so stubborn to see things in different light. I don't even expect her to do all the wifely duties to me. I just want her to accept this marriage & be happy living with me. I can't see my friend upset. If she ask time then I m ready to give all my life time but she is not ready to get her head around this. She even asked me not to take the words husband, wife, marriage & all.

My parents have enlarged & framed our marriage photo & sent it to us to hang in our new apartment but Mithra clearly told me not to hang that particular photo in the living room or anywhere else where she will see that photo often. She doesn't want any reminder of that fateful day but other photos of us two taken at various occasions right from our childhood have been hanged everywhere in the house, even in her room. I love our wedding photo so much so I have hanged it in my bed room wall & I just stare at it for hours till I get my sleep.

Morning I wake before her & make breakfast & also lunch for us & pack lunch box for office & keep some for her in the hot box which she will eat whenever she feels. Sometimes she helps me in cooking or chopping vegetables which I like. For dinner we rarely make food at home because I'll come home tired after work so I mostly take her out for dinner or we order pizzas or something from outside or she makes noodles or fried rice as she knows to cook only those two. Then we watch some movies, mostly horror movies as we both like to watch it in complete silence & in dark. Mithra is not like usual girls to get scared of dark or horror movies. She is a prankster who often loves to scare me & even I love to play pranks with her. If I have the mood I play guitar, music keeps me stress free & happy. Mithra loves to hear me play guitar & she sings for the tune I play, she is a pretty good singer. Of course I sing well too. Then we both resign to our respective rooms to sleep. This is our daily routine. Quite boring right?

Two weeks back, Manohar uncle underwent open heart surgery & by God's grace the operation went well & he is out of danger and now he is recovering well too. Even before taking him to the OR, he held my hands & made me promise him to look after his baby girl which I fully intended to do. Looking after Mithra & protecting her is not something new to me. I'm not doing this because I'm her husband now, I have done this even before, after all I am her first & best friend.

"Mithra? Are you okay?" I ask Mithra. She is curled on her bed on a Sunday which is so unlike her. She usually loves to annoy me asking me to take her to beach or shopping or for a long drive on Sundays as it's the only day I get for myself to relax.

"Yeah, Karthik" she replies in a meek voice.

"What's it, baby?" I walk into her room & sit beside her on bed. She didn't say a word but just shifts & lay her head on my lap.

"Missing home?" I ask softly caressing her head.

"We are at home only" she replies softly.

"I mean missing your parents? If you want I will take you to them" I suggest her. She shakes her head in negative. Then what's her problem? Why she is so silent & cooped up in her room?

"You have your monthly?" I ask her.

"What?" She sits up & looks at me shocked.

"Your periods?" I ask her again.

"Yes. First day. My back is aching badly." She says in a whisper. I guess she is embarrassed of talking this subject with me. But why should she? I am her husband for f**k's sake.

"You want hot bag massager to ease your back pain? I can get it for you from medical store" I ask.

"Um... I guess that will help me" she says shyly. Why she is hesitating to ask help from me, from her friend?

"Okay. I will get it now. You take rest. I will lock the door from outside & I will let myself in. You don't need to open the door." I peck a kiss on her head & walk out.

--0--

"Here" I hand her the hot bag massager after filling hot water into it. Not too hot as I know her skin is paper thin which will tolerate only mild heat. She takes it from my hand & adjust it at her back & sighs in relief.

"Better?"

"Yes. Thank you" she says holding my hand as I sit next to her caressing her head with my other hand.

"I will get you beetroot juice. It's good for health. Mainly at this time"

"How do you know all this?" She asks me.

"Know what?" I ask her back puzzled.

"This hot water massager, beetroot juice... As far as I know you never had a sister or a girlfriend. Do you discuss all these stuff with your friends Deepa & Ria?" She asks me.

"Um... Nisha used to tell me" I tell her hesitantly.

"Nisha?" She sits up & looks straight into my eyes.

"I was dating her when I was working in Singapore."

"Dating? You didn't tell me? Then what happened?" She asks me innocently as if she doesn't know anything.

"What happened?" I smirk at her raising my eye brow. "My dad called me back immediately & your dad gave your hand to me & we got married... That's what happened" I laugh. It's better to laugh than to cry.

"You love her?" Mithra asks me. Her eyes looking serious. Do I love Nisha? Nope. I am not saying this because I am now married to Mithra. I really didn't love her while we were dating. In fact we just started dating and I didn't feel anything special for her in that short time. I like spending time with her but that's all. I never yearned for her presence like I do for Mithra's. I always want Mithra close to me, right in front of my eyes.

"Nope. I don't love her. I never loved her" I only love you Mithra but I won't tell you that now & freak you out.

"Why?" She asks.

"What why?"

"Is it because of our marriage your love broke up?"

"I am telling you I didn't love her then how the hell our love can possibly break?" She is being stupid now. I don't want to discuss about Nisha to her. It's all over. Nothing to worry now & mess things which is already messed

"You have her picture?" Mithra won't leave this matter.

"Yeah" before she asks I take my mobile & show Nisha's picture to her as I know Mithra's next question will be asking me to show her photo.

"She is beautiful" Mithra whispers touching my mobile screen. Not more than you. I thought & caress Mithra's cheek.

"She is a local model in Singapore"

"She loves you?" Mithra asks me. Oh god! What's with this 'love' crap?

"Maybe" I shrug. "I don't know. As soon as our relationship started it ended too."

"Did you talk to her after coming back to India?" She probes further.

"Yeah. I did. Before our marriage I talked to her to tell that we are over" I tell her as I don't want to hide anything from Mithra. I neither wanted to hide anything from Nisha too. She deserves my honesty.

"What she told?"

"She was upset initially. Then she called me later & wished me for my marriage. She is a nice girl. Very understanding"

"Unlike me" Mithra whispers looking down at her knotted fingers.

"You are young & immature. You will grow up, baby" I smile at her.

"I am not the right one for you, Karthik." She starts sobbing. Oh please not again.

"It's not true. If we are not meant to be together then we won't be married now"

"Don't be stupid, Karthik. Just because we are married doesn't mean we are meant for each other. We will never work. It kills me to know that I came in between your love life. You would have led your life happily the way you like with your super hot & sexy girlfriend if it's not for my dad. I am so sorry Karthik. I am sorry for spoiling your life. Why oh why my dad has to mess both of our lives by getting us married?" She starts with her water works & soaks my shirt completely.

"Baby, please, I can't bear it when you cry. Please. You don't have to feel sorry for anything. It's destined in our fate. We should accept it & move on. I just ask you to give us some time. We will be fine." I console her but she cries in my arms till she is all drained. We stay in silence for a long time till my mobile rings.

"Sanjeev" Mithra says seeing Sanjeev's name on the screen & passes the phone to me.

"Tell me, Sanjeev" I get to the matter straight away as I am not in the mood to share any pleasantries.

"Yo! Dude! Wassup?" He asks in his usual jolly tone. Why won't he be? He is not into any forced marriage & holding a crying wife in his arms.

"Why you called me?" I ask irately.

"Come to Hotel Purple Orchid (HPO) right now!" Sanjeev ordered.

"What? Purple Orchid? I am not coming. You guys enjoy" I say & was about to cut the call. I am not interested in having fun with them tonight.

"Come on dude. Don't spoil the fun. We all are in party mood tonight so you & Mithra join us. We have a surprise for you two."

"Sanjeev, we are not coming" I say sternly.

"Karthik, let's go nah, please" Mithra asks me cutely.

"Hold on" I tell over the phone & cover the speaker of the phone.

"You sure? You have backache" I remind her.

"It's better now. I am getting bored so let's go see your friends" if she will come out of her bad mood by going out then I am willing to take her out.

"Okay. We are coming" I answer to Sanjeev. Mithra grins happily at me.

"Get ready" I ease her out from my hold & walk to my room to get dressed myself.

"I am ready" Mithra comes out of her room dressed in a very short shirt & skimpy top. The skirt is almost indecent. I don't want my wife to dress like this.

"That skirt is too short" I point to her great legs.

"So?"

"I want you to change... Put some jeans on. We are going night club. So I want you to be dressed little decent" I spell it out openly. She might be childish in nature but she is all grown up adult now & married too. She is mine, only mine. Her great legs are to my eyes only not for any other f**ker to see.

"It's nice only" she argues.

"I didn't say it's not. I just want you to wear jeans. At home I don't mind what you wear but outside I expect you to dress sensibly because you are my wife now. My family name & reputation is important to me." I made it clear to her.

"Okay fine" she says pissed & went back to her room to change.

--0--

"Yo, Bro!" Sanjeev yells the moment Mithra and I step into the roof top open bar at HPO

"Hi, little lady" Sanjeev pulls Mithra for a hug. Giggling Mithra hugs him. Soon we are surrounded by our friends. Man! Whole team is here but no reason for partying? Something fishy!

"So? What special? Why this sudden get together?" I ask no one in particular.

"Sanjeev & Deepa are going to get engaged this Sunday so a small party from their side" Ria says smiling.

"Oh wow. Congrats, man" I give him a hug while Mithra wishes Deeps & hugs her. They both are in love since our college days & finally they are gonna get engaged officially. Next will be Rahul & Ria. I was the only one without any college love & remained single for long & just started dating a girl but now I am here married to my childhood friend.

"So? When are you getting married?" I ask Sanjeev & Deepa.

"Marriage?" Both of them shriek in shock.

"What's the hurry? Marriage has time. May be after three years" Sanjeev says coolly. Yeah! What's the hurry? Let them enjoy their lives. I turn to see Mithra who has gone silent hearing the 'marriage' talk.

"Cheers to you both" I take a glass of white wine from the waiter & raise a toast for them.

"You drink?" Mithra asks wide eyed.

"Yeah. I am a social drinker. I hate getting drunk senselessly."

"When you started? You never told me?" She asks.

"I started drinking when I moved to Singapore. You never had come with me to any parties before so you don't know & I never get the chance to tell you before."

"Hmm... I don't like you drinking" she whispers.

"Why?"

"It's not good for health." Oh. She cares for me. No wonder. My baby girl always cares for me like I do for her.

"Oh come on. I am not drinking daily." No way I am gonna refrain from drinking. Right now I need a drink to keep my mind cool.

"What you want to drink?" I ask her.

"Orange juice" she says. Her voice is so low. She is upset again. How am I gonna handle her mood swings?

Soon we all are drinking & chatting. Slowly Sanjeev & Deeps made their escape to the dance floor to burn some calories. They both are dancing cozily forgetting the surrounding.

"Karthik, shall we dance?" Mithra asks.

"No Mithra. I am not interested. I just wanna drink"

"Karthik, don't drink too much" she warns

"Yeah. I know. We need to head back & I need to drive the car so I have got it under control"

"Okay." She says & sips her juice.

"Mithra, come let's throw some shape on the dance floor & rock, baby. Leave your husband, he is so boring" Ria comments & takes Mithra with her while I watch her walk to the dance floor.

I didn't tear my eyes off of Mithra. I watch her dance freely & happily. Suddenly someone sits in front of me, covering my vision.

"Nisha!"

"Hi, Karthik" she says sweetly & beams at me.

"Hi. What a surprise? When did you come from Singapore?" I ask her surprised seeing her tonight here.

"I am good. Just missing you so came to see you" she says coolly.

"You know I am married right?" I remind her.

"Of course I know but still I want to see you for myself & know that you are happy"

"I am happy" I smile at her.

"Oh really?" She eyes me suspiciously.

"Yes."

"Hello, you must be Nisha, right?" Mithra asks Nisha straight away without any preamble.

"Hi... um... yeah and you? Do we know each other?" Nisha asks back.

"This is Mithra Karthik" I say before Mithra could answer.

"Oh! Hello Mrs. Karthik" Nisha holds her hand for a shake.

"Mithra... Just Mithra" she takes her hand & they shake.

"Today only Karthik told me about you & see you are here." Mithra says with a smile. Why this girl is so enthusiastic seeing my ex-girlfriend?

"Talk of the devil & the devil is here right?" Nisha laughs.

"So you love my Karthik?" Mithra asks her. Shit!

"No. I don't love your Karthik..." uff... I sigh in relief but she drops the bomb soon "... I love my Karthik" God! Both are same.

"Just clearly tell me you love him or not" Mithra points her fingers at me.

"Yes..." Nisha agrees looking at me.

Please, Nisha!

"I... I loved him." she changed her sentence in past tense so that means she doesn't love me now right or she said that for me because I silently asked her not to hurt my wife? "But he is married now." Nisha is being reasonable. Good!

"You don't worry about our marriage. We both were forced into it. Just give me some time. I will convince my dad... I can talk to him now but just now he underwent a heart operation... once he gets completely recovered I will make him understand that we both are not happy with this marriage & soon we will get divorced. So I don't mind you dating with Karthik... Even now you both can just start your relationship back. I have no objection" Mithra rambled some nonsense.

"Karthik!"

"Karthik!"

Mithra and Nisha shouts in unison hearing the breaking sound of glass which I am holding in my hand so tightly till it breaks into pieces & the glass pieces pierced my skin & it starts bleeding but I didn't feel any pain. I feel so numb at my hand because the pain I feel in my heart is unbearable. I feel like someone has brutally plucked my heart out & spat it harshly with a hammer. My wife playing fucking Cupid to reunite my ex-sweetheart with me? Has she gone mad?

... To be continued!!!

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