Chapter 8 THE FIRST MORNING WITH HIM

Morning

Roshni woke up early in the morning as she always did. The last night hadn't left her mind. She took deep breaths and got up. The chirping of birds, the mild sunlight, the fresh winds were just something she couldn't afford to miss. She opened the curtains letting fresh air into the room and inhaled deeply to take in the welcoming feeling, the warmth.

She turned to see him open his eyes due to the disturbing sunrays falling on his face. "Good morning." She said politely even after his behaviour last night. She was confused about when he returned home but she didn't want to talk about it or even remember it.

All he said was "Hm" lazily.

She made a face. 'Khadoos. (Arrogant.) This is what I don't like about him. Couldn't he say it with a smile.' She thought.

" you're up so early." He asked.

"I always get up at this time." She said walking towards the closet and took out the track suit.

"Going somewhere?" He asked getting up.

'Does he think I'm going to attend some marriage party wearing tracksuit.' She said to herself.

"I'm going for a morning Walk."

He looked at her from head to toe, "I don't think you need to lose more weight." He said raising an eyebrow in a taunting tone.

"Weight? Where did that come from? Listen... I don't exercise because I have any problem with my body OK. I exercise because I love it and want to keep it healthy and free of diseases. So, aren't you coming?" She asked with uncertainty.

"Actually, none of us are going for a walk. Now go and prepare my breakfast." He said in the same rude tone as before.

She knew there was no winning with him so she just went to the wardrobe to change and walked towards the kitchen.

'Couldn't he just say it a little politely?' She thought to herself. There was not a single servant in the kitchen and also the whole house seemed quiet. 'Dad must have left for office.' She assumed.

She prepared the breakfast and walked towards the room and placed the tray in front of him. He was still working on his laptop. "Breakfast." She spoke. He glanced towards her and the tray and said, "you prepared it right?"

"Yes. I didn't see any servants in the kitchen and around the house. Don't know what must have happened." She was in deep thought.

"Yes sweetheart, that's because I sent all of them on a month's leave."

Sweetheart. Leave. My God, his actions and his mood swings. Don't know what's going on in that head of his.

She gasped. She was clearly shocked. "W... why? I... I mean who'll do the household chores then." She asked even though she had pretty much guessed the answer.

He smirked. "Is it that hard to guess. Obviously, you. And you have to get it done before I come back from the office. I don't like lazy people. So, Get started with the cleaning, then laundry, then dishes, then go for cooking and then..." He looked around the room as if searching for more work he could throw at her. "Those files you see," he said pointing towards a large stack of files, "do their proofreading also."

"It'll take so much time." She murmured slowly.

"No dear. We have the dishwasher, washing machine, laptop and all the facilities." He reasoned.

"I... I can't. I mean, I have no problem with doing household chores but I've to reach hospital."

"Are you forgetting Mrs. Malhotra that you are the wife of a billionaire. you don't need to work." He said getting angry.

"I don't work for money Mr. Malhotra. I do that because I love helping people. It gives me happiness and peace of mind. And apart from that I didn't waste years of my life becoming a doctor so that I can sit home and do your kitchen and laundry." She said equally irritated.

"OK. you can go to the hospital once you're done with those files and other chores. Did I stop you?" He said smirking because he knew it was impossible to complete everything before evening at least.

"Ok I'm leaving." He said and walked towards the washroom. Within 15 minutes, he got ready and left for office.

Roshni still stood there in shock.

'Dad. What a mess you have put me in.' She thought.

'OK. Now Roshni let's get started.' She convinced herself that it won't be that difficult.

She spent the whole day doing household chores, washing clothes, pressing them, cleaning the house, preparing dinner and after that she sat to proofread those documents in the lounge but she was so tired that her eyes refused to stay open.

By that time, it was 7 in the evening. She heaved a tired sigh. She was sad not because she had to do the whole household chores but because she couldn't go to the hospital that day.

Just then the phone rang. It was her secretary, Shweta.

"Hello Di?"

"Ha Shweta."

"Di where are you? you told me yesterday that you would come to the hospital today. So, I gave the patients today's appointment. They arrived and waited and waited. But you didn't come. Is everything alright?" Shweta was hell worried.

Roshni didn't want to embarrass herself by saying what her husband did to her. She just said, "calm down Shweta. I... I'm fine Shweta. It's all OK. And I'll be back in a few days. Till then, don't give any appointments to any patients OK. They must get themselves treated by other doctors rather than waiting for me and spoiling their health more."

"OK Di. As you wish." Shweta said, but her worry didn't fade away.

"Everything done?" She heard a strong voice from beside. He was standing there smirking and his hands were folded on His chest.

'Couldn't he at least ask if I'm okay? But no. All he is concerned is his work.' She thought.

He walked towards her and got seated on the chair in front of her. Without looking at him, she said, "Ya. Your house is cleaned, the dinner is cooked, your clothes are washed and pressed, and remaining proofreading of your documents will be complete in 15-20 minutes."

He looked at her with wonder, "You did all this all alone?"

"Who else? And don't be so surprised, I'm not used to rely on servants for anything and everything. I can do all this without complaining." She mocked.

"OK Then. That's great. I'm going to sleep. Good night."

"But dinner?"

"Oh ya. I forgot to tell you. I had dinner outside so you can throw that dinner you made or whatever, and those clothes you washed, throw them too, I don't wear the same set of clothes twice and the documents you're proofreading since hours, um... They are just scrap. They are expired contracts with done payments and I don't need them anymore." He said calmly and waited for the information to sink in.

Roshni just glared at him with her mouth hanging open. She felt like crying. How could he waste her hard work like that?

'Such a monster.' She thought.

"Yes, that I AM." He spoke.

"Did I say that loudly?" She asked putting a hand on her mouth.

"Yes, you did." He said angrily and got up from his seat and walked towards her. He sat beside her on the sofa, came close to her face and said in a husky, rude tone, "Get used to all this. After what you did, this is going to be your life from now on."

She looked at him confused. "Oh, come on. Now don't pretend all innocent like you don't understand what I mean." He said with venom in his voice. "If you along with my dad, wouldn't have played that drama in the party, now, we would have been apart in our own homes, Happy and satisfied"

"Wait. Did I hear it correct? You are blaming me for all this?" She asked looking into his eyes.

"Yes." he said.

"But as far as I remember, it was you who came to my house and asked me to marry you just to save a damned deal." She retorted.

"Because you left me no option. you had an option. In fact, too many options, but for you, that business project was more important than somebody's life. Don't forget that."

"Listen you -"

"I'm too tired. We can continue this tomorrow morning." She said getting up. "We have all our lives to irritate each other."

" 'All our lives.' We'll see that Roshni. How long you can take this." He said after she had left.

She walked to the room and saw the room was a complete mess. There wasn't a single spot where there was nothing. His clothes, shoes, socks, files, papers everything was scattered all over. She couldn't stand so much dirt.

'He did this purposely.' She said angrily.

"Come here you." She yelled. He coolly came and stood at the door folding his hands on his chest. "What happened?" He asked.

"You tell me. I had cleaned this room." She said pointing towards the mess.

"Oh, I was searching for a file." He said coolly.

She gave him a disgusted look and quickly went to cleaning the room. Within 20 minutes, the room was back to normal. "Impressive I must say." He said still on the door.

She didn't pay attention and walked to her side.

"Wait." He spoke.

"Now what?" She asked completely frustrated.

"I have some work and don't want any disturbance."

"So?"

"Go and sleep on the couch."

"What. Why?"

"Like I said I don't want any disturbance."

"So, you admit that I am attractive enough to disturb you." She said in a taunting tone.

"What. No. When did I say that."

"Then prove it. Prove that my presence doesn't affect you at all by letting me sleep here."

He huffed and went to his side, opened the laptop and started working.

Roshni went to her side to sleep but her mind wasn't at peace.

'It's just one day to our marriage and I'm so sad. Will I be able to carry this relationship all my life? Will I be able to do all this, bear all this, forever? His harsh attitude, the way he looks at me, his hurting words and pretty much everything else.' She sighed and fell asleep with those thoughts.

After some time, he heard a strange sound. He was startled and looked around for the source. Mrs. Roshni Malhotra was snoring. He was irked. "And the nerve she has to say that she is attractive. Which girl snores so much?" He spoke.

He said and closing his laptop drifted to sleep.