Her Husband

Deepika has always been fond of movies. In fact, one must say she quite enjoyed the fact that her name was the exact same as one of her favourite actresses Deepika Padukone. Unfortunately, she could never really enjoy movies as much as she wanted to. Reason? Her 'beloved' father. Note the sarcasm. 

It was not that he was a bad father, he never really raised his hands on her, and that was good enough, she had decided. But she never really knew what an affectionate hug from a father meant, what some words of appreciation and love meant. 

Deepika was a year old when her mother passed away. Since then, since she could actually remember, it had always been her father and her. She led a sheltered life, not that it was really her choice. Homeschooled all her life, and her only getaways were her studies, books and a few movies she got to watch with her tutor. Those few moments of screen time got her addicted to the dreamy world. 

The one time she requested her father to let her see a movie, all she got in return was a dismissive look full of disgust. She knew it. Though her father never really said it aloud, she knew that he could not bear seeing her mother in her. She reminded him too much of his dead wife.

Today as she stood in the room of an unfamiliar stranger, her newly-wed husband, she recalled what led her to this destiny. Might be she was never meant to be cherished, loved or even acknowledged as a person. 

"Deepika", her dad called out to her. Just a cold shout, nothing more. 

"Yes, papa", Deepika asked as the obedient child she was.

"Today's your 21st birthday.", he declared. 

A faint hope bloomed within her heart, for it had been the first time in years that he had even acknowledged her birthday.

'Might be papa wants to wish me. Will he let me see a movie today?', she thought giddily.

"I want you to marry a boy I have chosen.", he declared, yet again. 

And then, the tiny beam which had dared to illuminate her life, even if for a matter of a few moments simply dissipated into oblivion. 

No wishes, no glances, not even a nod, just a declaration, a judgement, ruling her out of his life, just when she turned old enough to marry. 

She cursed herself today for liking movies so much. After all, her life had turned into a sorry excuse for a tragic movie. Dead mother, cold father, perhaps, an even colder husband and as always for all, the unwanted her. She gulped down the lump in her throat and blinked away her tears. 

"Yes papa.", she obliged and moved away. 

A creak of the door interrupted her trail down memory lane. She saw him enter the room, her husband of a few hours. She had never seen him before, he was a stranger, but then wasn't her dad also a stranger who just coexisted in her home before? 

Home? She chuckled to herself at the foreign feelings the word brought to her mind. 

He did not spare her a single glance and entered the closet. She smiled sadly glancing at his silhouette. 

'Here we are again. Back to square one. So much for loving movies, my life has become one now. But at least, those have a happy ending.', she thought to herself bitterly. 

A few days went on with Deepika just existing yet again, this time, however, with a lot more freedom. She liked it here. At least, she could sit in front of the TV the whole day, watch movies endlessly, and have a good meal, she had to admit he was a good cook and have a decent sleep. 

'What more could a girl want?', she thought. 

'Love, perhaps.', her subconscious chimed in. 

She shook her head at the disrupting thoughts. 

As she sat in front of the TV today, an English movie playing on the screen which had her really hooked, she saw her husband entering the living room. She glanced at him, and for the first time, their eyes got caught up in a stare. She looked away first, scared of maintaining the stare and glanced back to her movie. His gaze followed hers. 

He was the Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind playing. He was amazed, it was his favourite movie. 

"That's my favourite movie", he whispered still looking at the screen. She gasped. Even if indirectly, that was the first time he even acknowledged her presence. 

"I am seeing it for the first time", she admitted tentatively, wary of his reaction. 

"Seriously?", he questioned perplexed and amused at the same time.

"Oh, you will so love it.", he smiled at her faintly. 

Deepika stared at him wide-eyed. He was speaking with her, with HER. 

"What?", he raised an eyebrow, not able to comprehend her reaction. 

"Sorry.", she shook her head. 

"Would you like to join me?", she dared to invite him to watch the movie.

"Sure, if it would not disturb you.", he stated.

She just eyed the empty seat on the couch alongside.

"Do you also like movies?", she questioned after a few minutes. She already felt that it had been her lucky day with him speaking with her. At least someone does, she thought. 

He turned to look at her with a blank face, "Why the sudden talks?"

She got scared of his reaction and rambled, "I am so sorry. You wanted to watch the movie and I am ruining your time with my talks, sorry. I will just leave."

His eyes widened looking at the few tears that had already escaped her glassy eyes. He had never expected this reaction of hers, not even in his wildest dreams. She was not at all what he had thought she would be. A spoilt brat of a rich dad. 

She was shy, scared and he added to her fear. He wondered what had made her this way.

He was an orphan before Deepika's dad adopted him and took care of his education and helped him become the successful lawyer that he is today. Though he had stayed in the orphanage itself until it was allowed, this man helped him stand up on his feet. That man was cold, but he was grateful for the education he received, and for his career. And so, when he asked for the favour of marrying his only daughter, he could not refuse. He obliged. 

He had decided upon Deepika being a spoilt girl and was surprised to not see her demanding even a single thing post their marriage. Leave alone demanding, she did not speak a single word. He thought of that as her arrogance, but looking at the scared little girl today, he was confused. 

Just when she got up to leave, he held her wrist and said, "Do not be sorry. I was just curious. Please sit here and watch the movie."

She gazed at him with her still teary eyes and whispered, "but, I am disturbing you."

He felt immensely sorry for the scared girl in front of him.

"No, you aren't. Now sit down. We have come to the most interesting part, see. I also how a lot of other movies you will enjoy for sure.", he consoled her in a gentle voice. 

Hearing these words, Deepika's face lit up, she flashed him a beam and sat down. 

"Thank you, I love movies so much.", she beamed gratefully looking at the screen. 

'Who exactly is this girl? I need to figure out her, my wife.', his lips curled upwards with the thought of her being his wife. 

'Such a wonderful soul. I need to cherish her.', he kept glancing at her with a soft smile. 

Deepika could feel his gaze and that gentle smile. She felt relieved. For the first time in her life, someone had made her smile and that too alongside her favourite thing, 'movies'. Also, she had made someone smile, and not just anyone. It was her husband, she thought giddily. She felt happy, truly happy with him.