Emotional Damage

Anjali hurriedly guzzled the breakfast without caring she was standing by the door. She was hungry, though.

Meanwhile, Parth didnot miss the envious looks Nirali was directing towards his wife. Although her dressing sense is a little weird, and her behaviour is quite annoying, Parth doesn't mind as long as she is within her limits concerning Anjali. Sometimes, she bugs him, but except for that, she has not created a problem. Also, he enjoys the jealousy Anjali refuses but bursts open like a volcano whenever he gets attention from a woman when they go out.

Although Parth wanted to put up a fight with Nirali for pushing Anjali, she prepared breakfast, and unfortunately, it was Anjali's favourite. With a sigh, he looked at Nirali.

"How are your studies going?" Parth toned down his voice, bringing Nirali's attention to the present.

Surprised by his voice, Nirali answered in a stutter. "G_ood. I am studying well."

"Did you get the results of this semester?" The last time he met her father, he complained about the single-digit marks she scored in the previous semester. He asked if he could recommend a good tuition master. Parth was surprised one needed tuition.

Nirali stiffened. "I_I not yet. I will probably get it by the end of this month. I have a class in the morning. I need to leave." She left, informing Anjali that she would collect the box in the evening. Nirali was petrified when Parth brought up her studies. The last thing she wanted was for Parth to know about the single-digit marks she scored. God forbid him from knowing. There is no more embarrassment than this.

Niral was three years younger than Parth. When Parth got into a reputed medical college on merit, Nirali decided she would pursue medicine. After her tenth standard, she picked science as her major, although her father was against it, very well knowing about her studious brain. Her father had to use all his influence to make her pass twelfth, though it was on a second attempt. Right after she got the results, Nirali tortured her father to get a medical seat in Parth's college. He still whines about the money sacks he had poured into the Dean's pocket, yet her marks have never met double digits.

"Why did she leave all of a sudden?" Anjali asked. She was certain Nirali would complain to her mother about how she bullied her precious daughter.

"I don't know..." Parth shrugged, bringing Anjali inside. "Let's move. You are getting late to the office."

"She has come prepared. Did you see her dress?" Anjali snorted, washing her hands. "Was she beautiful?" She glanced at Parth dubiously, trying to read his thoughts through his expressions. She poked his arm, but there was no response. His eyes set on the boiling milk, feigning ignorance. Either he didnot listen or turned deaf. The latter irked Anjali.

"Parth!!" Anjali screamed out of frustration.

"Hmmm." Parth hummed, adding Horlicks into the glass. Enjoying his wife's jealousy is more satisfactory than torturing criminals.

Anjali tiptoed and pulled Parth's hair. "I am going to the office alone. Don't come after me." Before Anjali walked a couple of steps, Parth's firm hand yanked her waist. Turning her, he pulled her into his embrace.

Poking her nose, he searched her eyes. "Don't you know how lovely you look when you are jealous? There never was, and there never will be another like you. happy?"

"I am not jealous." His sweet words toned her anger by a little. "Just wanted to tell you the dress was very bright."

Parth chuckled, watching the evident pout on her face. "Instead of worrying about these pesky flies." He stirred the milk and passed it to Anjali. "Drink this up, and increase your stamina. Your energy is draining by the second round itself."

"Literally, it's your fault, idiot."

Anjali sulked, seeing the glass of milk. "I don't want to drink, Parth. Please...no..today." For the past three days, the smell has been nauseating. She was on the brink of throwing up.

"Your father complained you lost weight because I am not feeding you properly. Aren't you ashamed that he humiliated your husband?"

Emotional damage! Anjali muttered under her breath. Parth went on and on, talking about how he pledged to increase her weight in three months. Tired of his brags, Anjali closed her eyes and gulped down the entire content in one go.

"Aww!!" Anjali's face looked like she had tasted the first drop of lemon in the morning.

"Good girl!" Parth patted her head in appreciation. "Let's go. I will drop you at the office."

Parth was contemplating going by car or bullet. Anjali pointed her finger at the car, clearing his doubt. Hugging him tightly and enjoying the bright morning as her husband rides the bullet was the best feeling for Anjali,

but for some reason, her stomach was doing somersaults.

Did I eat too many dosas?

As the car drove, zooming past the roads, Parth's thoughts wavered over his conversation with his father-in-law he had yesterday.

Why does he want me to drop the case? Parth always looked up to his father-in-law's calm composure, but he seemed to be definitely angered. It might be an age-old case, but that is something he can't abandon, not after knowing some truths about it. There has to be something he knows that he is not revealing. After all, he is close to his family.

Anjali had no idea what was running in Parth's mind. From the time she stepped into the car, her head started spinning. She looked outside the window to distract her mind, but nothing was helping out. Sweat formed on her forehead as her heart rate rose up and down. She gave up when she couldn't hold it any longer. She grabbed Parth's arm tightly, pushing all her pain onto his hand.

"What happe_" Parth's words pushed back into his throat as he turned and looked into her sweat-dripping face. His heart froze as the car screeched to a loud halt.