After the meeting with Prof. Acharya, we all went to our respective works. He asked us to update the shift roster by the end of this week and also asked Natasha mam to add us to the group chat for the residents working under him.

Sighing I sat at my table and started my thesis work. Just then I received a text from him.

We will be shifting to home tomorrow. Pack everything. I will pick you at eight in the evening.

My shift will end at tomorrow noon and his shift will end by evening seven.

This is it. I can't run away now. And we are not even on talking terms. I want to make amends. I don't want to fight him anymore. He has done so much for me. He doesn't have to marry me. Care hospitals would have lost a big amount, but not enough to go bankrupt whereas my family would have gone bankrupt and my dad could have gone to jail. He did this marriage for my family and for his family. He also defended me from our parents.

And in turn, I did not even consider him going through a rough time because of Sharanya and made things more difficult for him with the divorce decision. He just accepted without any tantrum. I should apologize at least for that. Not to mention, we have to work literally together in every case. I don't want us to be wary of each other.

The next day, I packed everything after my shift and waited for him. If he will come here to pick me up, everyone in the hostel will see. I didn't think about it before. So I texted him explaining the situation and that I will be waiting in the apartment as I have the spare key. Sid is also in the hospital. So I carried the luggage by myself and went to his apartment in a cab.

There are still two hours for him to arrive. So I switched on the TV and sat on the couch. Did he pack everything?

I went to his room and saw that his clothes are all packed but his books are not. So, I did the packing and then went to the kitchen to check whether there are any groceries. There are some pulses, rice, and flour which I bought. I packed them in jute handbags to take to his home as they will expire in a month.

I then checked the fridge to clear it.

God.

This guy cannot survive alone.

The fridge has two types of vegetables and fruits.

Fresh and rotten.

He didn't even clear the rotten fruits but bought fresh ones which were not even opened.

I checked the label on them. He bought them three days back and still didn't eat.

Seriously. He should not be permitted to live alone.

It is a waste of natural resources.

I packed fresh fruits in one handbag and transferred the rotten ones to the dustbin. The fridge smells of all the rotten juices of vegetables and fruits. I started cleaning the fridge.

By the time I am halfway done with the fridge, the main door opened and he came. He gawked at me and then saw the rotten ones in the dustbin and you can immediately see his face flushing into a tomato red color.

"Umm...I forgot about them", he said sheepishly.

"I am sorry sir. I just checked to take any leftovers home and I couldn't stop myself to clean. I shouldn't have snooped"

"No no....you did the right thing. Who knows when we will come back? I will ask mom to send house help tomorrow to clean the apartment. You can leave it"

"It's okay sir. I will be done in another fifteen minutes. I already packed your books. You go and check whether everything is packed and get freshen up in the meantime. We will leave once it's done" this came out as an order before I can comprehend.

God. Why am I bossing him in his own house after meddling around?

He gave me a strange look and said okay and left to his room before I can apologize.

That day when I understood that she will never stay in this relationship, I promised myself that I will stay away from her. I don't want another heartbreak. And I was successful at that till today. And I am back to square one. How will I survive one year with her?

When I saw her today cleaning the mess I made in the house, I couldn't help myself drawn to her. She must have thought that I am an unhygienic person. These types of things never happened with Sharanya. She too is just like me. She never bothered about cleaning. I always looked cool in front of her. But with Ananya, I look like a dirty and lazy person.

Why is it that I felt very good when she is bossing me just now? I was simply ogling at her. There is a strange warmth in my heart when she told me what to do.

By the time I packed my stuff and came back she is spraying an air freshener to remove the rotten smell. Is there an air freshener in the house?

She even cleared the trash. She is like a wonder woman. One could never imagine that she would be such a homely person.

It took three rounds for both of us to shift the entire luggage including groceries and vegetables. Once we started, we sat in a comfortable silence; at least for me. She might be feeling uncomfortable with me.

"Sir?" she called me timidly.

"Yes?"

"I...." she hesitated.

I glanced at her. It looks like she wanted to ask something.

"Do you need anything?" I asked her.

"Umm...I... can we...uhhh....talk?" she asked me bashfully.

"Yeah....Go on"

"I...I am sorry for all the trouble. I am sorry that I took the decision to get a divorce by myself without consulting you. I promise it won't happen again, I will discuss with you regarding this marriage before taking any decision. We are in this together. So we have to make decisions together. I am sorry I behaved like that with you"

She is looking at her hands in her lap.

"It's okay. I understand where you come from. If I were in your place, I might have done the same for my sibling. You just took me by surprise that day in the lawyer's office. You are right, we are in this together and we will take decisions together from now. If you have any problem with me, just tell me and I will work on it" I told her softly.

She looked at me with a strange expression.

"Yes sir"

If my mom listens to her calling me sir she will throw a fit. Should I take this opportunity and ask her to start calling me by my name?

No Arjun. Don't push it. Who knows with what she might stab you now if you make her uncomfortable.

My subconscious warned me. Guess I am still suffering from PTSD because of the stabbing.

*************