R I T I K A

"Welcome, ma papa." I welcomed them and made them sit on the sofa.

"Namaste, Ma papa." Advik softly greeted them and touched their feet, taking the blessing from them.

"Stay blessed, beta." 

"So, how's everything going?" My dad asked, looking between us.

I smiled," Everything's good, Papa."

He nodded and looked at Advik," How's your work going?" 

Advik glanced at me and cleared his throat, "It's going good."

My dad nodded.

"Let me bring tea for you all," I said while standing up.

"Ritika, you sit and talk. They have come from far; let me do that work." He uttered while holding my wrist.

I looked at my parents, and their eyes were already judging," No, I will do it-"

"It's okay, I will." He spoke and went to the kitchen.

"Ritika, how could you let him prepare the dinner?" My mother chirped in, her voice annoyed.

Why was she getting annoyed when my own husband did not have the problem? For years, women were expected to serve the food whenever the guests came - no matter who and now, he is serving food, undoing the patriarchy, my own mother is having a problem? 

Shame filled me, but I ignored the sting in my heart.

"Ma, he is willingly doing it. Let him. And tell me how you are both?" I diverted the topic.

"But-" 

Before my mother could bring back that topic, my father replied, eyeing my mother," We are good, beta."

I nodded.

"Ma, papa have it." Advik came into sight while holding the tea and biscuits.

"Ji, beta."

He glanced at me and softly smiled, and sat beside me, bringing the warmth again with him.

"Advik, beta."

"Hnji, ma?"

"We were thinking of taking Ritika with us for the weekends, it's been a long time."

He looked at me, giving me a confusing look that said- What should I reply? I smiled at his face, which was looking so adorable.

"Oh acha," and then he turned towards me," You wanna go?"

I nodded, smiling a little, and that was enough for him," Sure, papa. If Ritika wants to go, why would I have any problem?"

My parents smiled and sipped the chai, made by my husband.

"Beta, pack your stuff then we will go." My dad looked at me.

"Ji, papa." I nodded.

***

"I am gonna miss you." he whined when I just finished packing.

"Awe, husband. Come here." I opened my arms to engulf him in my hug, and in seconds he was taking me in a bone-tight hug.

I chuckled, "I will be back in two days."

He broke the hug and looked at me," Come fast. Your husband is already missing you."

I smiled and pecked his lip last time and spoke," What should I do of you?"

"Take me with you." His lips were just over mine.

"Advi you know, you have a lot of work here, right? You can't be distracted."

"Yes, yes ma'am." He whined, pouting a little.

Before I could interlock our lips, my father's voice came, making me flinch, "Come beta, we are getting late."

"Ayi, papa." 

Advik laughed at my startled face, and I hit him on the chest," Advik!"

"yes, wifey?" Butterflies erupted in my stomach, hearing that name from him.

"I love you so much, hubby." I whispered before interlocking our lips.

***

AT RITIKA'S HOME

"Toh kesi hai teri sasu ma?" My mother asked while serving me the food, but a loneliness settled inside me.

Advik was eating alone?

"She is good, ma." I replied, trying my best not to feel the pang in my chest.

"Acha!"

"Aur bta?"

"Or sab thik, ma." She nodded though not fully satisfied with my answer, I know my mother needed some gossips, but I didn't have any and I was never interested in other's matter.

I sighed and took the bite of Kadhi and roti, my heart feeling with warmth at how delicious it was yet my heart was missing something or maybe someone.

As i finished the dinner and washed my plates and looked at the message Advik sent me.

A photo of plate which was of okra and roti and a caption down, "Food doesn't feel same, guess what? Your husband is missing you a lot."

I smiled and to lighten the mood, I replied," You made my favorite sabji? SO bad!"

"And your wife misses you more."

"Hee-hee!" his reply came soon, as if he was waiting for my reply.

I called him, he picked the call in one ring and I muttered, "Hello!"

"Hey," His soft voice entered my ears.

"So, how was your day?" I asked.

"After you left, I went to restaurant, and you won't believe what happened!"

"What?"  my heart throbbed in chest.

"A couple came!"

"What really?" I shouted excitedly.

"Yes, and They loved my food!" He spoke and I could feel his smile.

"Vo toh pasand aana hi tha- but advik you got your first customers! I am so happy, literally!"

"Yeah me too, Ritika."

"So now you believe nah leaving your job was for best?"

"Yes, maybe I do." He chuckled.

And we kept talking for another half hour until I heard my father's shouting. 

"Advik, I will talk to you tomorrow, good night."

"Good night, and I love you."

 I smiled and declined the call and made my way towards the room of my parents, and my father's voice entered my ears making me go still," He left his job. Teri hi glti hai yeh sab, agr tune yeh ristha ni dikati toh uska krte hi nhi nah!"

"But-" My mother pleaded.

"Kya? Usne apni job chod di nah? Ab kya meri beti ke tukdo pr palega?" He shouted, making me flinch and my heart dropped hearing his words, and I took a step back, not feeling myself.

Why was dad acting like that?

And it hurt.

Too much.

A/N

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