Durga | ✓

46. Happy Anniversary

'Durga' has reached 10k views and this extra chapter is to celebrate this milestone. This chapter is simply not enough to tell you thank you and how I am feeling at this moment. But this is a small token of gratitude to you, the wonderful readers for choosing this book and supporting me. Hope you'll like it.

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2017...

Rudra rubbed his eyes and yawned. He saw other side of bed empty. "Kanna, where are you?"

On getting no answer from her, he sat up. He threw the duvet aside and walked towards the kitchen. A familiar smell hit his nostrils but he decided that he won't let his temptation win. She wasn't there, too.

She must be outside.

Rudra opened the door to see Durga making rangoli. Leaning to the door frame, he stood there mesmerized looking at the strand that had escaped from her messy braid. She got up to see the final look of her rangoli. Satisfied, she kept the box containing white powder in one of the shelves. From the corner of her eyes, she had seen Rudra standing.

"Why are you spying on me?"

He looked at her, surprised. "Spying? Why should I spy on my wife?"

"I am your wife in the house. But I have equal rights on 'Discovering India's Heritage'. What if I may sell it?"

Rudra smiled. "You won't do that."

She walked to him. "Why?"

"That's because I trust you."

It was Durga's turn to smile. She knew how much he trusted and loved her but she wanted to hear from him. It boosted her confidence. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him.

She placed both her palms on his chest; looked at him, shyly with tinge of horror. Rudra grinned broadly as this was her expression when they had consummated for the first time after their marriage. She looked around and fiercely whispered, "For God's sake, look where are we standing. We are standing out of the house."

"Let them see. They'll come to know how much I love you."

"You're shameles-"

"Happy anniversary, Durga."

"Happy anniversary, Rudra."

Durga freed herself from his grip and went into the house. Closing the door, Rudra jogged behind her. "Why are you angry now?"

"I am not angry; I wanted to surprise you with this."

She held a small glass bowl that had his favourite sweet, gulab jamun. He nearly shouted, "Gulab jamuns! Give to m-"

"Before you devour all of them, at least go and brush your teeth. Do you have any manners or not?"

She kept the bowl on the kitchen counter and covered with a small steel plate. Rudra looked at her, amused. "What if I eat it without your knowledge?"

"Just like you trust me, I trust you too."

He was amused. She sat on the sofa to read the newspaper. As she unfolded the newspaper, the front page read a small article.

Mysuru boy wins the 'Trailblazer Entrepreneur' of the year

Mysuru boy, Rudra Shetty won the 'Trailblazer Entrepreneur' of the year. His company, Discovering India's Heritage, is a small company with fifty employees. The company writes articles in digital and paperback media on Indian history.

Rudra and his wife, Durga are this unique company's bosses. Both hold gold medals from their universities in respective years. Staunch believers in feminism, they make sure male and female employees get equal salaries.

While most of the startup companies are based in Bengaluru, he decided to take a risk and start in his hometown. Recently the company celebrated it's tenth anniversary with simple party as they were busy with their project that was supposed to feature in National Geographic Magazine.

Their detailed article on Nadi Astrology stunned many historians and spiked the purchase of books to make the 'Bestseller of Month'. Rudra dedicated this award to his wife and employees.

"Durga, where's my tie?"

She folded the newspaper. "It's in the second drawer of the wardrobe. Wait, I'll come."

She walked towards their room. Rudra stood in front of the mirror wearing red shirt and charcoal black slacks. She shook her head and sighed. "Who wears tie for this attire?"

"You don't wear a tie?"

"No. But you can wear your black tuxedo."

Rudra thought and nodded. "This is the reason why I call you my better half."

"I am not your better half or stronger half or weaker half. I am your half. We have to still eat our breakfast. Hurry up."

Rudra slowly took out his tuxedo. She is right. I am not her better half. Neither is she my better half. I am her half. She is my half. I complete her. She completes me. We complete each other. Even after ten years of our marriage, I can't stop falling in love with her.

"Rudra, come fast, we'll be late."

Her voice broke his reverie. Quickly wearing his tuxedo, he combed his hair. He ran towards the kitchen and started gulping his idlis with coconut chutney. She placed his bowl of sweet next to the dish.

"According to our ancestors, we should eat the sweet at the end of the meal as it aids in digestion."

"Even I have studied it so don't try to lecture me. I placed the bowl next to your plate. You can eat whenever you want."

She got up and took her plate to kitchen. Rudra sighed. She quickly washed her plate. He kept his plate and bowl next to the basin and left. Durga smiled to herself.

It was because of his insistence and support that I completed my studies. I am officially an archaeologist. He understood my feelings and decided to stay in Durga Nilaya. He healed my broken soul. Without him, I have no reason to exist.

She dried her hands and rushed to the room to take her bag. She saw Rudra looking at his wedding dress. "Rudra, what are you doing?"

He quickly hid it. "Nothing, we will leave for office."

She nodded and smiled. She was about to close the door when Rudra placed his cheek on her neck. She could feel his stubble and heard him whisper, "I forgot to say, you're looking ravishing in this red coloured saree."

"Pervert," said Durga. Rudra looked at her with fake anger. "I am not talking to you."

Smiling broadly, she locked the house. "Your fake anger won't allow me to take my words back but I can make small correction. You're not pervert. You are my pervert."

Rudra grinned widely and hugged her from back. "I love you, kanna."

"I love you too."