Besides, she had no one else to ask. She rang his office, but n.o.body picked it.

A deep frown formed between her delicate eyes.

Oh, how could I forget? She smiled. Yes, that must be it.

Her mother-in-law!

She called her, "Mom, Is Viv there?"

"No, I haven"t seen him since days." His mom got furious.

"Why? Is he not home?"

It was past midnight. How can he leave his wife alone?

"Where will he be? He is not even answering the phone." What if something happens to him? The thought made her tremble. No, he must be all right.

"Ira, calm down. He must be at work or with his friends." She comforted her in a gentle voice.

"Friends!" So many years she had no idea who his friends were let alone have their number.

Vivan used to visit her mother-in-law on weekends, so she guessed he would be there. Since her pregnancy they spent those days together.

Tara called her and informed, "He is with his friends. You don"t wait for him. Sleep early."

She leaned on the sofa watching some movie. Shallow anxiety spread between her delicate eyes:

When her doorbell rank she prepared herself to berate him. Then she didn"t want to be a wife who nagged her husband. But he should at least call and inform me.

She opened the door and saw Vivan walking unsteadily, with his friend supporting him.

Ira had never seen him so drained. Usually, he will go to a local pub and have a beer or two. He never got drunk.

She let go of her anger when she saw him sway. She ran to help him and closed the door.

His eyes filled with a smile when he saw her. "My wife." He closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulders.

"Please, can you help me carry him to the bed?" Ira asked the man.

The bedroom was upstairs, and she couldn"t support the swaying man.

"No, I will sleep here. You can leave." He pointed to the sofa and declared. Vivan pushed Daksh and let his body fall on the couch.

"Thank You for bringing him." She said to the friend and sent him out.

Daksh couldn"t have predicted he would hear the words please and thank you from the woman. When he met her first time, she didn"t even look at him. If he retold the events, he saw today people would call him a liar.

She poured a gla.s.s of water, "Drink." Ira handed him with a sullen look on her face.

"Why?" she asked.

What"s the point of being angry now when he is not in his senses? You wake up tomorrow, see how I straighten you out. He should not come drunk home to a pregnant wife. We have to lay down the laws.

He fell on the sofa. She helped him take off his shoes and his socks.

"Go upstairs and sleep." Her eyes were serious.

"No, I sleep here. You sleep." His voice hoa.r.s.e laden with blame.

"Why?" she roared.

"That"s the rule," he said. Now, she was angry. She stood up, clenched her fist and went to her bedroom without looking back.

Since his marriage he would drink many times, every time he did he would have to sleep in the study. Ira would distance herself. She would care the least even if he got dead drunk.

"Ira..why do you care more about other people? Why?" he said in a hoa.r.s.e voice. He was like a wounded lion, roaring low.