The King of Hearts

"Oh you play Cards?" she asked, curiously eyeing a pack of playing cards in his hands.

He was surprised at the momentary flicker of interest in her eyes.

"Yes. And I play pretty well." He said, "I don't think you can, can you?" He teased her, hoping the spark of interest in her eyes stayed a little longer.

"Of course I do, " she said, arms folded across her chest, with her nose in the air, "Dad taught me. I am really good."

Had he touched the right spot finally!

She was a mystery he hadn't been able to solve. To an outsider they were a perfect couple, just married- with a right amount of awkwardness and the beauty of the novelty. Of course they weren't in love, yet. There was something about her, something that made her unapproachable. She never talked much. It could easily pass off as her shyness, but he knew there was some transparent barrier that existed between them. Even when they made love, she seemed restrained, as if guarding a secret corner of her heart. He felt almost annoyed at her, when she went to sleep with her back at him coiling her body like a shell. She was being a dutiful wife all the time, no doubt- she smiled when she was supposed to, blushed when she was supposed to. However none of the emotions reached her steely eyes.

Today was the first day her face was lit up and he only wished he could strike some conversation before she shut herself down again.

"A game of Mendikot?" He challenged, brandishing the pack of Cards before her.
She hesitated but relented in the end.

With favourable Cards in his hand, he knew it would have been an easy victory. Nevertheless she showed him she did know the game really well. With each of her moves, he realised her mask of restraint was melting while she bit her lip thinking her next move, gave him a complacent smile after winning a turn, snorted at his poor deliveries, which quite unknown to her, were deliberate.

"Yesss!" she said triumphantly when she grabbed two cards of Ten in a single turn, tossing her hair back in the most boastful way.

"Oh." he acted stupid, faking disappointment.

"You are so poor at this! This is going to be the Kot on you, you see!" she smirked smugly.

He stole glances at her from above the cards he held in her hands.

The King of Hearts fell from his hands and landed upside down.
"You had this!" she said bewildered, picking up the card, "Then why did you..."

A look of sudden realisation replaced her joy before he could stop it.

"You were letting me win." she said suddenly getting up and starting to leave, "Why!"

Her face was contorted in anger or in pain- he couldn't tell.

He only stayed silent.

"Tell me why!" she demanded, her face flushed red.

"For THIS!" he lost his composure, "To see some emotion in you! Why are you so..." he searched for a word, "CLOSED!"

She stared at him in shock, opened her mouth to say something and closed it again.

"You think I don't understand!?? Please tell me if I am doing something wrong! Is something bothering you!? Just speak up! This isn't what I'd signed up for. I don't want a dutiful wife, I don't want a partner just to have sex with! You've made me helpless. I keep seeking chances to strike a conversation! I come to help you with the dishes every night after dinner to spend some good time with you! And you just leave to clean the living room or you suddenly remember you have to fold the clothes!" he blurted out without a thought and looked at her.

She was shaking slightly, looking away like a timid doe.

"God. I didn't mean to..." he said coming to his senses, exasperated, pulling at his hair in frustration, "I am sorry. I just hate not knowing you, sleeping next to you every night but not being able to figure out what's going on in your head! I could do better.. I promise. You can talk."

He made her sit down with her hands in his and stared at her, squeezing her palms gently.

She looked up at him, as if fighting a hard battle with herself, contemplating if she should go back to her shell.

The next second she started sobbing, resting her head on his shoulder. Not knowing what to do, he just put an arm around her who now shook like a banana tree in the strong wind.

"I am sorry," she spoke up, with her sentences punctuated with sobs, "I just... I had forgotten to trust. I am just scared of being unhappy again! I thought I could look after myself and I did not need anyone to... make me feel better. I didn't realise how unfair I was being to you... I can't do this. I don't want to be strong anymore... I don't want to be in control of my emotions anymore! I want to be able to vulnerable again... I want to take a chance again. I want to give us a chance...."

She made a little sense but he could see the complete picture now.

She was a broken woman and he had to be a restorer.

He put both of his arms around her while his shirt collar stained of her tears. For the first time, she had her arms around him. The King of Hearts was clutched in her fist.