Lunch went uneventful other than the those few minutes, when uncle asked Dhritiman about his favourite dish from Minerva's cooking. He had managed to say pasta, because that was the only dish he had ever eaten that was made by Minerva. Her father had sighed and said, she was never very good at cooking meals, only good at baking and some snacks. Whereas cooking a proper meal is a necessity, and everyone should know.

Thank god! At least she was not good at something. Dhritman couldn't understand why felt relieved knowing so. Laying on the bed he looked around. He was resting in Minerva's bedroom, alone. She was busy with her mother cleaning and arranging the leftover food after lunch, while her father took care of cleaning the dining table. And Ridhi, had left in the same speed he had arrived. Had his brother no shame? He literally came here just to eat! Idiot.

Dhritiman looked around. This looked like a room for teenager with brightly painted walls, pink and purple as base, green and yellow curtains and cushions, and the red and blue painted furniture. Colours clashed like anything. Isn't she a fashion designer? How can she have a weird taste in colours? It's just so hard to believe.

His eyes went to the wall with framed photographs. Baby Minerva was smiling. He smiled back. She wasn't those very very cute chubby babies. But very adorable! Next was a family photograph with her in her father's lap. Then two photos of perhaps her grandparents on both sides. Her school photographs followed. Next was her graduating day photograph. 

His breath stuck. He hadn't seen much of her in the age between 12-13 to 26-27! She looked like a diva. Well, she obviously looks beautiful now, but work pressure, adulating everything leaves a mark on your face and shape. You don't realise that unless you see that person in her peak beauty. Well, Dhritiman knows very well that she takes care of herself. But yet, last evening he had seen some fine lines around her eyes. And she is barely twenty-nine.. thirty? Realisation dawned upon him, he didn't know his wife's age! Wow, how more foolish and ignorant can you be Dhritiman Gupta! He berated himself. Ni, no. I know. Let me calculate. At 16 she gave her secondary exam (10th) ; at 18, senior secondary (12th) ; then graduation for three years... or... Fashion designing is 3 years program or 4? Did she do masters after that? Oh, by the way, which year did she appear for her board exams? Fuck it! I have to guess my wife's age like this! He grumped giving up.

Setting his eyes on the next photograph, he felt a bit awkward. The frame held a big photo of six people. Six people he knew. Minerva's family, and his, without him. With the mothers sitting on chairs, their fathers standing behind them, and Minerva n Ridhdi sitting cross-legged on the lawn in front of their mothers. Why the hell he is not in this photo? Minerva looks... He narrowed his eyes as he looked at his brother. Ridhhi's left eyebrow was slashed, and his right hand was tattooed. Riddhi had met an accident in final year of his college and two years after graduating, he had got tattooed. My god, this photo must be at max five years old. And then suddenly he remembered. Riddhi was a few months older than Minerva. And he was around three years. So she was... twenty-nine plus. That is thirty running! Damn! Finally! But his relief was short lived. Why the hell wasn't he in this photo?

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"Baba brought you here! Oh no!" Dhritman turned as his wife spoke. He almost smiled at her expression. But he noticed what she said. She did not want him here. In her room.

"I am sorry.. The room..."

"Oh no. I am sorry." Minerva interrupted. "This room is hideous!"

She is accepting this? Strange! But this didn't look as hideous as she was saying!

"It's just too colourful." He heard himself saying.

"Oh no. You don't need to console me. This room is hideous. And I don't know what my parents achieve in keeping the room this way. I have grown up for god sake!" She said in a go.

Dhritman raised a brow. Wasn't she using 'oh no' too much? And what is this about growing up and keeping the room 'this way'?

Reading him, she sighed. "Well, I had just learnt about rainbow then. I used to say my favourite colour is rainbow, and colour all the walls in the house." She paused looking up at him. He seemed amused, and urged her to continue.

"And then one day, when I came back from school, I saw this room being cleaned. With new furniture, kept outside. Guess what? I was going to have my own room. What more a seven year old could want? And surprises followed. You know what she said?" Minerva picked up a wooden scale came closer to him. He blinked and stepped back. She didn't notice. Raising the scale she started, "Minerva Gupta, if you want this room to be decorated with your choice, you will have to stop using your crayons on the walls. Do you agree?" She was acting like Auntie! Good god! Her tilt of head, her posture, her expressions ... she was good at mimicking too.

"And obviously what a seven year old could want? I chose those colours, those curtains, those colours for furniture! And I thought I was so smart at interior decorating! Huh! And then... Ma never changed these decorations. Year after year, came the same curtains, the walls painted with same colour. Do you know why?"

Dhritiman shook his head.

"This reminds her of my childhood. And she says, she will never change it. And Baba agrees with her! Nothing I can do to change her decision!" with that she fell back on the bed!

Dhritman kept looking at her in... he didn't know, but the something very new and very different.

N.B: Hello! How are you all? Here I am with another chapter. I know I am going too slow. I am just trying to give Dhriti a chance to know Minerva. For that, he needs these details. So, how did you find this chapter? Is it too boring? 

Friends, I want to know one more thing. Do you want high drama? Or a soft drama? The story has reached half way, and now I can't decide the temperament. So tell me how you prefer it. I will write what most people will want.

ANd last, please please vote for this chapter. Pretty please. And write your views in the comment section. I am eager to hear you all.

Thank you

LOVE LOVE LOVE <3