"Will you marry me, Sudha?" asked Vinod, understandably nervous.
"Oh.. er... this is so sudden. I wasn't expecting this at all... Vinod, I love you, and I think I am ready to take the plunge. Yes, Vinod, I will!" replied a pleasantly surprised Sudha.
Vinod was tall, lean and with very tough features wherein Sudha had a beautiful and an innocent face. Sudha grew up in a middle class family with good family values. Vinod had nobody except his sister, Neelam. His parents had died in a car accident when he was quite young.
Today, after a year of courtship, Vinod had popped the question to Sudha and Sudha was caught off-guard, but she always knew he was the man with whom she saw her future. In few months, Vinod and Sudha were to get married. Sudha had not got a chance to know Neelam. She thought she would acquaint herself to her sister-in-law after her marriage.
Neelam was already forty and not married. She was lean and tall like her brother and also had the similar tough features, unlike other girls. 'Perhaps that was the reason why she never got a proposal,' thought Sudha. It was not just her looks - her nature and attitude towards everything in life was negative.
Finally the wedding took place - a court marriage, and the reception was also a small event, only for close friends and family
On the first night of the wedding, Sudha like most brides, was a bit nervous. She was waiting for her husband to arrive when suddenly she heard Vinod and Neelam. She got up, walked to the door and slowly peeped out. She saw the two in an heated argument. As soon as she saw Vinod walk towards their room, she closed the door and got back to her bed. He walked in furiously and laid down straight on the bed facing his back towards her. "I am tired, let's sleep," said Vinod. Sudha was confused, thinking as to what had happened. She wanted to ask Vinod, but before she could even say a word, Vinod was fast asleep. Sudha kept thinking about the incident for the rest of the night.
Next morning Sudha woke up late and immediately went to the breakfast table where Neelam and Vinod were already seated. She greeted both of them and sat down.
"Why have you dressed formally... are you going somewhere?" Sudha asked Vinod.
"To office. And before you start, let me tell you. I have some urgent work to finish... will come home late. So you have your dinner and sleep," explained Vinod.
"But this is the first day after our wedding and you are supposed to be on leave," argued Sudha.
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