After that conversation, we sat silently throughout the drive to his home. I am feeling apprehensive to go there. I am sure his family would be mad at me and hate me and not mention, it is going to be uncomfortable living with a bunch of new members.

When we entered his home only Amit dadu is in the living room reading a book. I went and touched his feet and greeted him. He smiled at both of us and asked the house-help to shift our luggage into Arjun Sir's room. He told us that his parents were still in the hospital for the evening clinic and they would be reaching anytime now and Kavya went to Bengaluru for a conference. She is pursuing MBA in hospital administration because she hates blood and she wants to be on the administrative side of the hospitals.

Slowly Arjun sir and Dadu started discussing other hospital branches and some business terms which seemed like alien language to me. I just sat there silently.

"We never sat and talked after meeting again Pinky. You were always busy with work. How is working in the hospital?" Dadu asked me after some time.

He didn't make me feel uncomfortable. It was as if that incident never happened. Even I am feeling at ease after some time and we two started discussing my work and Arjun sir too joined the conversation occasionally.

"Is Arjun difficult to work with? How is he as a boss?" he asked me smiling.

I looked at Arjun sir and he whined at dadu, "Please dadu and stop this. I am a great boss"

Dadu laughed at him and told "She has to tell that, not you" and both of them looked at me expectantly.

I shifted in my seat, "Uhh...he is..."

"Arey, Bachey a gaye!!" I was interrupted by his mom. (Oh, the children came!!)

I breathed a sigh and stood up immediately to greet his parents. His mom came directly to me with a big smile on her face and hugged me.

"Sorry beta, we tried to come earlier. But couldn't. There were a lot of patients today in the evening clinic" she explained to me and went to kiss Arjun sir.

"It's okay mom" he assured her.

We then greeted his dad. He hugged and kissed me on the forehead, but just slightly punched Arjun Sir on his arm.

"Guys, let's eat first. I am starving. We can talk while eating. Otherwise, I will die" he said dramatically and his mom went to the kitchen to ask the house-help to serve dinner.

"I already ate. And I am going to sleep. You guys carry on" Amit dadu left to his room for the night.

"He has acidity beta. So he will eat early. Generally, Kavya will be with him. But she went for a conference" his dad explained to me.

"Ohh" I nodded at him.

Dinner was a casual affair. No one brought up our marriage or divorce. They are just trying to make me feel comfortable around them by not mentioning it. We mostly discussed hospitals and some cases.

Lakshmi aunty and I completed our dinner, but, Varun uncle and Arjun sir are still eating. More like talking not eating.

"Come beta, they will talk like this forever. I will show you your room", his mom asked me.

I followed her silently.

"You don't have to be so stiff around us sweetheart. This is your home regardless of your marriage with Golu. You and Sharanya are my daughters no matter what happens and you should feel the same too" she told me softly.

"I am sorry aunty. I shouldn't have lied to you" I apologized to her.

"No beta, I can understand your situation. I just want all three of you to be happy. Let's move forward instead of looking back and we will cross the bridges when we reach them. No need to ponder"

"This is your room. All your things are here and I have kept extra towels and brushes and whatever you might need. Do you have work tomorrow?" She asked me.

"Yes, aunty. My shift starts at seven in the evening" I told her.

"Then we will talk tomorrow. I will be at home. You must be tired. Go and sleep" she kissed me and left.

I took a deep breath and opened the door and entered his room. The door opens to a small passage which has a door on my right. I opened it to find a walk-in closet that is half empty with my luggage and a bathroom. I closed it and went back into the passage which leads to the bedroom. There is a window on my left with a seating bench and a dressing table occupying the remaining wall. And to my right side, there is a study area with lots of books occupying a portion of the wall, and the other half is covered with all different Lego figurines and some car figurines.

Boys and their toys.

I went to the washroom and changed into my nightwear. Just a comfy t-shirt and track pants. He still didn't come back. Good. I should sleep before he comes to make it less awkward.

My heart started beating loudly as I realized that there is no couch. There are just two two-seater sofas with a center table and since they are occupying the remaining open space in the room, there is no place to sleep on the floor too. I think I should give the credit to his mom.

Just then the door opened and he entered. We just froze seeing each other and just stood there as statues.

Should I turn around and go to the bed to sleep?

No. It would be rude to not even acknowledge him in his own room.

So how should I acknowledge him?

Should I nod? Wave? Or just smile?

Various thoughts were going through my head. Before I can do anything he cleared his throat "I will go change and come" and then rushed to the closet.

I let out a large sigh. He said that he will change and come, so should I wait?

Will it be okay if I first go and sleep on the bed?

What if he misunderstands?

God!!

Am I thinking too much?

What should I do?

Ananya, you are being too unreasonable. Don't think too much. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and went to browse his book collection. I immediately forgot the situation and got immersed in them. There are so many books on neurosurgery and other topics. There are also general books. I was stunned to see that there are many books among which are some are banned in India. I mean there are books like Nine hours to Rama, Satanic Verses. There are also so many books regarding to the history of India. I immediately took satanic verses and started browsing it.

I didn't even realize when he came and stood by my side.

"Oh, you should read this. It's good"

I was startled and the book slipped from my hands but he caught it.

"I am sorry I startled you" he smiled apologetically.

"I was just looking, sir. How did you get this book, I thought it was banned?" I explained.

"My cousin lives in London. He gifted it to me. I was just curious about the controversy. It's a good read" he told me.

I nodded at him and looked at him. This is the first time I am seeing him wear a t-shirt or have I seen him? I don't remember. But this is the first time I am observing him. I didn't know that he is such a fit person. I mean he always scrubs or shirts that are covered by the white coats, so I never observed him. You should see his biceps.

Ananya!! Get a grip on yourself. I immediately turned my head and my gaze fell on a lego 8880 supercar.

I immediately smiled and turned to him excitedly, "You still have this car?"

He looked at it and smiled, "Of course, it is a rare lego set and you gave it to me. I should thank you. You don't find it anywhere now. They stopped production"

That was the car I gave to him after stabbing him and he still got it.

"Then you should thank my dad. He was the one who selected it" I told him embarrassedly. I forgot that I stabbed him. Why is this happening to me, god?

"Then I will thank him when I meet him next time" he smiled.

He then turned towards the room and observed it.

"I guess my mom changed the furniture. There used to be a couch. No problem. I will sleep on the window seat. You can take the bed" he told me and went to the window.

"Sir?" I stopped him before he settled there. I don't even know why I did that.

"You won't fit there and moreover you will get body pains if you sleep there. Good posture in sleep is very important for us otherwise it will affect surgeries. We both can use the bed." I told him.

"Umm...it's okay Ananya. I can manage" he hesitated looking at the bed.

"Sir, I am comfortable with you sleeping on the same bed. You can't possibly sleep there for an entire year" 

"Yeah. You are right. I will get an extra blanket from the wardrobe" he went inside to get it.

What did I just do?

Before I can ponder more on that he came back empty-handed.

"Umm....guess my mom removed extra blankets. I am sorry" he told me nervously.

"It's okay sir. We will manage with this one", I told him boldly.

Where am I getting this courage?

We both took the bed and thankfully the blanket is big enough that there is someplace between us. We both turned our backs opposite to each other and didn't move an inch.

We both stayed like that for at least more than one hour and I don't remember when sleep consumed me. 

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