The sun went down a little as they completed their discussion regarding Hidden, immediately after which she jumped to question him.

"Now tell me, what am I to you?" He said she was domineering and then without giving her any clarity over the issue, he shifted to the topic of Hidden. Can't he do one thing after another? She had been patiently waiting all this while to finally ask him.

When he looked at her face, she was staring at him with a lot of intensity. He did not know since when she was doing that. "I... I don't know..." He meant to say that she made him speechless.

"What don't you know? It's a fact and you just have to acknowledge it." Her face was deadpanned. Since when did he not know that she was his wife?

"Can we take things... a little slowly?" He knew she was trying to act good towards him. But this level of interest from her was so new, he once again felt she was putting on an act. He'd need some time to get used to it. He felt she was bothering herself too much about him. It was, after all, something he was not used to.

She breathed out a sigh. He was rubbing his neck and his ears were slightly red. Ah, she understood now. Just because she was his wife, was she going to jump on him and force him? But as she remembered many instances from the past, it seemed she did jump on him more times than he kissed her first. Was that the reason she was seen as dominating? But wasn't it just right that the woman initiated such things? After all, only she knew if she was on her period. She was saving them both some awkwardness, which could have been caused if the man initiated it on the wrong night. She thought about it for a while.

However, what was of utmost importance was that he did not like her current behaviour. She came up with a solution. She had to be subtle with him. She could do that.

Suddenly two birds caught her attention. They were chirping and circling over the brighter treetops of the late afternoon.

"Look at them," she said.

"Hm."

"What are they doing?" Her eyebrows jumped at him.

"What?"

"They're flirting. One is chasing the other and the other one just wants to be chased after. Or else, it would have flown to another tree."

Ramit pursed his lips. Was she trying to say that he was playing hard to get? He loosened his grip on her hand. He felt sad. Why couldn't she value him a little more?

When she felt their hands detach, she gripped him properly and said, "It's a joke! Fine! Only this for now, huh?" She nodded at their hands. She thought he'd laugh like usual. Flirting was the most subtle way she could think of and it came naturally to her. It was just that she never had the chance to use this certain artful skill. Who knew he'd not give her a chance? She had to be more careful. Forget about any progress, she could not let any distance grow between them.

"..." He rubbed his neck. How did he choose such a woman? She had a strong grip! She was a narcissist! She made him so flustered.

∼•∽

An hour after they reached the office, Geetha got a call from her mother-in-law when she was telling Veeru how he should not just think about getting his salary but also contribute as much as he could.

"Maa."

The call was a surprise to her. Only three days ago she visited her and brought back her potted plant. Ramit had seen it but did not say anything. For someone as soft and kind as him, he had quite the ego, she thought.

"Come home tonight."

"Fine. Is anything the matter?"

"Nothing. Just for dinner."

"We'll be there by 7, maa."

When she told the matter to Ramit, he frowned. Something did not sit well with him. It was not a clear premonition that he felt sometimes, but an almost imperceptible uneasiness.

∼•∽

It was evening by the time they reached his parent's house. Soon after Ria also came. Ashish was busy apparently.

Ramit's father had a serious face. They all sat in the living room while dinner was already placed on the dining table.

"Your great granddad called. He wants us all to spend Sankranthi with him, in the village." Ramit's father had asked his grandpa to come and live with them so many times, but he did not agree. He was not ready to leave the home which he had shared with his late wife and late children. They visited him for Ugadi every year. This time the visit was preponed and it made him sigh constantly. He did not want to go, really.

Ramit looked at Geetha. They had a lot to do at the company. However, Geetha felt it was no problem. After all, her second day at work was completed successfully. Her career at Hidden should be smooth. She was ready to hit the road that very night.

"Should we start packing? We still have some things in the room." Geetha stood up. Right after, she caught her father-in-law scowling at her with unusual intensity. She quickly looked at Ramit. He did not look sad or pitiful. She did not know what her father-in-law was mad at her about this time.

"There's a lot to do at the office."

"What's there to do now? You have to talk to the other protectors about all those ideas and decide which to go with, They're all remote. Just connect online." Ramit cringed when he heard her actually call them by that fancy name.

"Tsk. Stop jumping around and sit down!" Her mother-in-law said.

Geetha sat down beside Ramit without a word. When she looked up, she consciously avoided her mother-in-law's eyes. Yet, she could not avoid hearing her words. "Pregnant women must be more careful. Look at you! How long are you going to run around? You are already five months pregnant!"

On the side, Ria had a confused expression. Why did she feel like her place in this house had been taken up by the woman her brother wanted to divorce? Moreover, the woman she always thought was cool had turned so goofy and a little silly. She seemed to have loosened up completely. She gave her brother a look. Did their differences resolve already? But, look at her father. He did not seem to acknowledge Geetha's presence at all. He spoke without looking at her and then he glared at her. Things did not match up at all! She should ask someone later.

"There is only one PHC near the village. That too in the nearby town. You both say you are fine but," she said before focusing on Ramit, "you are still on medication and you!" She looked at Geetha. She did not know what to say to her. Ever since she found out how Geetha kept everything to herself, going so far as not speaking to her parents, she was very concerned. Thinking back, she never heard a single complaint from her. During the few days she stayed over, she had caught her crying outside the house. When she asked her if everything was alright, she told her it was. Had she not witnessed, she would not have doubted her words.

"Just in case something happens, we will have to rush to the city to go to the hospital." Back in that foriegn country, the red skinned doctor with white hair told her that Geetha was a strong lady for being able to cope so well given the traumatic situation she'd been through. She was worried some repercussions might occur.

"Speak," Ramit's father, Rahul said to the rest and dialled up his granddad. He just did not want to go to the old man and fulfil his wish. Just not yet.

Geetha stood up to take the phone. "If he says I should come, I should come, right?"

Her mother-in-law caught her ear before her hands took the phone. "Doctors say not to do such stunts during this time! When was the last time you went to check up, huh? Last time you came you said you'd go the next day? Did you?"

"Maa..." Ramit stood up to help his wife's now red ear.

"She didn't go, did she? You're 2 days late." Geetha rubbed her ear. She had to protect them from her mother-in-law. She just hated that she had to wait at the hospital even when she booked an appointment.

"I'll definitely go before we visit pardada-ji."

Her mother-in-law clicked her tongue. Look at her dreaming to come along!

Ria and Rahul had already walked to the dining area, because of the scuffle that went on in the living room. Ria was speaking to her pardada. "What about di? She's five months pregnant now. Maa is worried about the hospital... just to be on the safe side."

"Hm... I'll be happy if she also comes. But... it's up to you. Ria... this may be the last time I can spend some time with all of you... Bring Ashish also for me. Bhagwan called me," her great grandfather said with an aged voice.

Ria was stunned. They were on loud speaker and she looked at her father. He nodded, confirming the old man's words. She did not ask anything further. "Yes... Yes pardada. We'll come soon!"

When the call ended, she hugged her father. "Others don't have to know about it," he told her. She nodded and went back to the living area after having a quick discussion with her father.

"Nothing will happen, maa. If anything happens, we can go to the PHC. Brother, di, let's go."

Ramit was still reluctant. For one, his heart did not seem to settle down. He agreed in the end seeing Geetha's zeal.

∼•∽

After dinner, Ramit was on the phone with Veeru on the terrace. Ria came into his view. She waved at him, asking to finish his call first.

When he was done, he said, "Hmm. I had to settle some things at the office. What is it?"

"Di and maa are solving puzzles in the newspaper."

"Are they?"

"Yeah. When did she become so close to maa? She was not like that before."

Ramit did not know what to say. The way she was being so nice towards his mother than her own was a mystery. Who would do crosswords with her mother-in-law while asking her husband to speak, no deal, with her own mother whenever she called? He bowed his head and covered his eyes as he softly sighed. "I don't know, Ria. If you find out something, tell me."

"Yeah. Are you two fine now?"

"I don't know..."

"Yeah, you don't know anything." All through their childhood he said that phrase way too much. Ask her brother what flavour of cake he'd like for his birthday and the answer was that he didn't know. Ask him if the blue shirt or brown one he liked more and the answer was the same.

When she met Geetha again after school, when her brother's marriage was arranged, she thought she was the perfect fit for him. She grew up to be decisive enough for the both of them. There was never the question of not knowing in her case. Then, her brother laughed at little things almost all the time. But Geetha, as far as she knew, enjoyed all the little jokes but it took some tickling by her brother to really get her to laugh. She would not laugh at people's jokes even if it was just to give them face. But her brother would come to the rescue and engage them so as to not offend them.

How did she know? Well, she had firsthand experience. When they were newly married and staying with them, her sister-in-law had stared at her as if she was a lunatic as she watched a comedy show albeit giving her own opinions amid her uncontrollable laughter. She felt so awkward she stopped laughing until her brother had joined them.

Ramit scoffed at his sister, who seemed to be intrigued by the intricate design on her dupatta.

"What? I didn't say anything wrong. How are things between you two now?"

"I don't know... She says anything."

"Yeah? Like what?"

Ramit felt embarrassed thinking back to a few hours earlier. Just then, he heard a crow cawing. Suddenly feeling exposed, he closed his eyes shut. It was already night. Why were the birds still active at this hour? "Nothing. Let's talk about you. How are you?"

"Mine is just a dramaless life, brother, unlike yours. Are you still thinking about the divorce?"

"I should!"

Ria frowned. What kind of an answer was that? "I thought you would not know," she taunted him.

"Goodnight!" Ramit said, shutting her down.

"Brother! Goodnight!" She shouted when he was about to leave. She turned around and left first. She had to be the one to end any conversation with her brother!

Ramit stayed on the terrace and after a while Geetha came. "Maa asked to stay over."

He nodded when he saw her staring at him. "Stop staring at me like that."

"Come. Let's go and sleep."

He silently walked inside and to their room. Geetha followed behind him. After a few steps, he turned around and sighed at her. "Don't walk so close..."

"Fine."

From then on she fell a few steps behind and walked at the same speed as him obediently.

Once both of them were inside, she asked him, "What are you thinking?"

He scoffed at her. He did that too many times recently.

In reaction, she pursed her lips. "I'm sorry."

He was confused. "Why?"

"Should I list everything?" She gave him a pleasing smile. It was going to be a long list. "I'm sorry for everything." Right now they stood in the same places as they had when he threw the paper clips at her.

The words 'it's okay,' came to his mouth directly from his heart, but he held them back. "I don't feel good about going to pardada," he said instead.

Geetha raised her eyebrows as her lips parted. Why did he always talk about everything at once? To tire her single chip brain out? She told herself to be careful so as to not upset him.

"Why?" she asked, walking to him.

"I don't know. I have an odd feeling. I don't feel good about going." He dreaded something. Maybe an accident, he thought. He never had such a strong intuition before. Even on the night Geetha and he were attacked, he felt a slight fear the whole day, but his mind was occupied with her. However, that inkling was nowhere near what he felt now.

"I feel odd too. But I feel we should visit him soon. I feel we should go." What she felt was an unknown urgency.

Ramit looked at her seriously. Geetha pursed her lips.

He said, "Let's not talk about it now. It's night time."

Then he said, "Let's not talk about it at all, okay?"

She blinked her eyes in assurance and nodded.

"Sleep here. I want to sleep on that side," he said shortly after.

Once they lay on the bed, she said again, "Sorry."

Once again, he acted dead.

After a few moments, she said, "How come the moment I apologise you fall asleep?" She bent over him and pecked his cheek. "I said I'm sorry." Seeing no response from him in the next 2 minutes, her eyelids drooped. Well, situation selective silent treatment was still better than acting mute. She pressed her lips together and dragged them out into a smile and lay down, turned towards him, with that face.

In a quiet moment when she was about to drift into her slumber, his eyelashes quivered and she caught it. It frustrated her to no end and their quiver found a way to her lips. Close to crying, she clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut. Every kind of silent treatment, if it was between spouses, should be awarded capital punishment!

∼•∽