Running dreams.

Signals

Meera." I turned. "Yes?"

"Who was that man you were talking to?" I frowned. "What man?"

"At the restaurant."

"Oh." I laughed. "Nikhil's friend." "What were you talking about?" "Nothing." "What do you mean, nothing?" I looked at him. "College." "College?" "Yes."

He stared at me. Then his expression softened. "Why didn't you tell me?" "I thought you knew." "I didn't."

I stepped closer. "Aarav." He looked at me and said, "I trust you."

"Then why are you angry?" "I'm not angry." "You are." He sighed.

"Meera, I just don't like other men getting too comfortable around my wife." I blinked. "I wasn't doing anything." "I know." He pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry." His voice was low. "I've had a bad day." I rested my cheek against his chest. "Again?" He laughed softly. "Again." I smiled. He kissed my hair. "I love you." "I love you too." And that should have been the end of it. But something had changed. Perhaps not in him. In me.

The next morning, Aarav brought me tea. He placed it beside the bed. "I made this." I looked at him suspiciously. "You made tea?" "Yes." "Are you dying?" He laughed. "Drink it." I did. It was terrible. I made a face. He burst out laughing. "You are horrible."

"You drank it." "Because I love you." He smiled. "I knew it." Then he kissed my forehead. The previous night's argument became another thing we did not discuss.

The college admission deadline came closer. So did the bills. Aarav began working longer hours. Sometimes he returned after midnight. Sometimes he didn't come home until morning. I waited. I tried not to worry. When I asked, he said there was extra work. When I asked again, he became irritated. "Meera, do you think I enjoy being away from home?" "No." "Then stop asking." "I was only worried." "I know." He rubbed his forehead. "Sorry." He apologized. That made it harder to be angry.

The college admission deadline came closer. So did the bills. Aarav began working longer hours. Sometimes he returned after midnight. Sometimes he didn't come home until morning. I waited. I tried not to worry. When I asked, he said there was extra work. When I asked again, he became irritated. "Meera, do you think I enjoy being away from home?" "No." "Then stop asking." "I was only worried." "I know." He rubbed his forehead. "Sorry." He apologized. That made it harder to be angry.

Two days later, the college called. The deadline was approaching. I had to pay the first installment. I found Aarav in the sitting room. "Aarav." He was reading something. "Hmm?" "The college called." He didn't look up.

"They said I need to pay before Friday." Silence. Then: "I told you I'll handle it." "I know." "Then why are you bringing it up?" "I wasn't trying to pressure you." He put the paper down.