Episode 10

Archie waited anxiously outside the house, peering this way and that. A mere 10 minutes past, Kaivan had texted her, signaling his imminent arrival, yet there had been no sign of her husband so far.

Sighing heavily, Archie fought the dreariness of solitude; her parents had ventured out to stock up on household essentials, leaving her alone.

"Uncle Kaivan is taking a while," Archie muttered to herself.

No sooner had she spoken than the sound of an approaching car rolled into earshot, pulling into her parents' driveway.

Recognizing Kaivan's vehicle, Archie rose from her perch and made her way toward it.

Out stepped Kaivan. "Why are you outside?" he inquired.

"Waiting for you. There's nobody home. Mom and Dad went to the supermarket," replied Archie.

Kaivan nodded, moving to Archie's side, where he gallantly opened the car door for her.

"Then let's head home," he suggested, inviting Archie into the car.

Archie climbed in, while Kaivan lingered to stow her bags in the trunk.

Having secured the luggage, Kaivan reentered the vehicle and drove off, leaving his in-laws' residence behind.

During the drive, silence reigned as Archie and Kaivan each kept their own counsel, eyes fixed straight ahead.

A red light eventually forced the car to a halt. Kaivan seized the opportunity, glancing over at his wife.

"Have you eaten, Archie?" he asked, his face impassive.

Surprised by her husband's question, Archie turned to him, shaking her head in response.

"Not yet, Uncle. I thought about eating, but couldn't muster the enthusiasm," she admitted.

Without another word, Kaivan steered the car toward a sizable restaurant.

"Uncle?" questioned Archie.

"When you say you haven't eaten, did you think I'd just ignore that? Get out, let's eat," Kaivan said, exiting the car first.

A confused Archie quickly followed, standing beside Kaivan as they entered the restaurant together.

Kaivan chose a corner seat, out of preference for privacy over the bustling crowd. As a business owner, he was accustomed to drawing many an inquisitive gaze, but outside his professional sphere, he had no taste for it.

"What would you like to order?" he asked Archie.

"I'd like chicken soto and apple juice, Uncle," Archie answered after perusing the menu.

Kaivan regarded Archie, then signaled the waiter, poised with pen in hand.

"Two chicken sotos and two apple juices," Kaivan directed the waiter.

"Right away, please wait," the waiter responded and departed from their table.

Archie looked puzzled. "The same order, Uncle?"

"Not really. It's just a usual choice for me when dining out," Kaivan explained.

Archie smiled meaningfully. "Even if we're not well-acquainted, at least we share the same taste in food, Uncle," she remarked.

"Who says we're not acquainted? I know you," Kaivan said, casting a mysterious look towards Archie.

"What I mean is more deeply, Uncle. We've merely exchanged greetings so far, not real conversation," Archie clarified.

Kaivan stayed silent, shifting attention to his phone, disregarding Archie's gaze.

"Uncle, were you working today?" she ventured.

Archie closed her eyes, instantly regretting her question, aware she shouldn't have asked.

"Yes, what else," Kaivan replied, short and disinterested.

"Why? Do you think I was doing something else?" he probed.

"No, Uncle. It's not my place to pry into your private matters," Archie responded swiftly.

"Why?" Kaivan frowned, puzzled by Archie's comment.

"Because we do not share love, we're strangers. People usually dislike outsiders meddling in their personal affairs," Archie explained, slightly confused by her own logic.

"Strangers? No, Archie. You are my wife; we are not strangers," Kaivan contradicted.

"Uncle, that's not what I mean. Our marriage began without love, which tends to complicate things," Archie tried to articulate her point.

"I dislike your reference to us as strangers. Yesterday, I married you, meaning you are now my wife," Kaivan stated calmly, unfazed.

Archie nodded hastily, realizing her mistake. From the start, her words had been misplaced.

Kaivan was right; they were no strangers but lawfully wedded, in the eyes of both law and faith.

"I'm sorry, Uncle," whispered Archie, bowing her head.

Kaivan remained absorbed in his phone, fingers deftly moving as if composing a message - perhaps.

"Tomorrow, my sister has invited us to dinner at her place," Kaivan announced out of the blue.

"Aunt Risa?" queried Archie.

"I mean, Aunt Risa?" she quickly corrected herself, noticing Kaivan's altered expression.

"Yes," he responded curtly.

"I'll accompany you, Uncle. If you wish it, then so do I," Archie explained.

Again, Kaivan fell silent, preoccupied with his phone. Whatever Kaivan was engrossed with, Archie knew better than to be nosy or to interrogate further.