Published on 11th March 2021.

__________________________

– S H R U T I –

I turned to the other side while sleeping on the bed. My body was aching a lot due to sleeping in the same position for hours.

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Rishabh's face. Okay. This was expected as we share the same bed.

But, the proximity was something new. I remember what he said yesterday. Does he really want to give a fresh start to our relationship? Well, as per what I heard, he said so.

Yesterday, when I was busy stirring the kheer, he came from nowhere and hugged me. I mean I was shocked, literally! How could you expect a man to hug you when you haven't even held hands?

He's not a man.

I mean, he's my husband.

And on the bed, when he kept his arm on my waist, my heart was beating crazily. Just a minute more and it would have came out.

My gaze went towards him and I saw him sleeping soundly while holding my waist tightly. His head was just two inches away from mine and I could feel his breathe on my cheekbones.

And now I know why my body was aching.

I have a habit of sleeping alone. I just can't sleep peacefully beside anyone. Even in sleep, I would think about staying rigid without moving much. I'm just scared about crumbling the person beside me.

And, the same happened last night. Even though he's comfortable in sharing the bed with me, I am not. I just can't go and hug him when we barely know each other.

I admit that I liked him in childhood, and even now too, but it just sounds too strange. We can't be lovers before knowing each other properly. And for reaching that stage, we need to be friends first. Best friends to be particular!

I tried to pull his hand up to get out of his hold, but instead of letting me go, he snuggled more onto me. "What are you doing? Just sleep. Don't move much." He said and I took a sharp breath. Never had I have been so close to him!

I felt something poking my thighs and looked down to inspect the site. Seeing his erection touching my thighs, I closed my eyes.

But wait, boners are common for boys who are in their early twenties.

Isn't he already twenty nine?

But twenty nine isn't too old.

Why am I even worried about male anatomy?

I tried to pull myself from his hold, and this time I was successful in doing so. Slowly slithering off the bed, I drank a glass of water and ran towards the bathroom. Emptying my bladder, I did the morning chores and took a quick bath.

As I walked out after wearing my dress, my head collided with a wall and I knew that it wasn't a wall. It was Rishabh. This happens unlimited times in a day.

"Does it pain?" He asked and I nodded in negative. "Did you get a good sleep last night?" He asked and I could say nothing. What did he mean by that?

"Huh?"

"I mean, were you comfortable last night?"

Comfortable?

Mentally I was.

But physically, my back and arms ache a lot.

"Yes." I said and he smiled.

"Will you-"

"I need to go out." I said and ran out to the living room. I stopped on my steps and took a deep breathe.

Why does it always happen when I'm with him?

"Shruti, you're up? This early?" Ma asked, pulling me out of my dream world.

"Yes. I wanted to help you."

"But I don't need any help. Everything is done. Go and relax." She said and I looked at her with disbelief. Are mother-in-laws really like this? Are they really so sweet? "What happened? Go." She said and pushed me back to my room.

Do I really have to face him?

I mean, it's not that I don't want to see him.

It's just that, it feels so awkward when we do nothing but stare each other.

Huh!

"Shruti! I forgot my towel. Can you pass it to me?" I heard his voice which bought me back to this world.

He's asking for towel?

Which means he's naked!

Do I really have to face him now?

Will something happen today?

Why do I always have perverted thoughts about him??

Yuck!

"Shruti?"

"Coming!" I shouted and ran towards the balcony to pick his towel. Gripping his towel, I walked inside and knocked the bathroom door. The door opened at the slowest pace and he snatched the towel from my hand, while hiding behind the door.

And I thought...

Nevermind.

My thoughts are all perverted these days!

I walked towards the drawers to bring some files to work upon. Khali dimaag, shaitaan ka! (An idle mind is the devil's workshop!)

After checking the details of a few files, I checked the time again. As it was about the time for breakfast, I ran inside the closet to pick my purse.

And it happened again...

My head collided with his chin.

Second time today!

I looked to my front and saw his bare chest. And it was the hottest site I had ever seen. His body is just perfect! The amount of muscles in his body is just perfect. His broad and cozy chest is just perfect. The way his shoulders meet his neck is just perfect.

Why is he so perfect?

"Although I'm ready to stay here for the show, but I need to go for work too. So may I?" He asked and I mentally face-palmed myself.

I am an official idiot!

I am an official idiot!

I am an official idiot!

"I'll go. I just came here to take my purse." I said and stepped away from him. Pacing towards my cupboard, I pulled my purse out and felt two arms slithering around my waist.

"Shruti, I'm not much good in conveying my feelings through words. But I can assure you, I would never let you down." He said and settled his chin over my shoulder blade. "Trust me when I say this. And, I really want to give us a chance, like I said yesterday."

Why does he speak so sweetly all the time?

It seems as if I'm the bread and he's trying to spread butter on me with his melodious words!

I stepped back a little and felt something touching my feet. I looked down and saw a light coloured towel near our feet.

Was that his towel?

Which means that he's wearing nothing now!

Oh my goodness!!!

Feeling his arms going off my waist, I stepped forward and widened my eyes. "I... I've seen nothing. You can rest assured. I'll go out." I closed my eyes and ran out to our room.

Taking a deep breath, I paced out and went inside the kitchen to have a glass of chilled water.

"Shruti, breakfast is ready. Don't drink much water." Ma said while entering the kitchen. I kept the bottle back in fridge and patted my mouth with the back of my hand. "Carry this plate to the dining area." She said and went out. I nodded and carried the plate out.

While sitting around the dining table, I heard some footsteps coming in our direction. I looked back and saw Rishabh walking towards us. He pulled the seat beside me and sat there.

"You need something?" He asked and I widened my eyes.

Why was I gawking at him all this time?

That too after what happened few minutes ago in closet!

Such a stupid I am!

"No." I said and turned towards my food. Quickly digging everything inside my stomach, I stood up and washed my hands.

"Let's go." He said. I was about to give my answer but he interrupted in between. "And, don't deny."

"I'm not denying. Let's go." I said and walked towards his car while carrying my purse. Sitting on the passenger seat, I pulled my phone out while he started the car.

"Shruti, when did you decide that you want to be a lawyer?"

"I never had a deep thought about that. It's just that I, Aditi and Parth decided to go through same stream in school and then the same career choice." I said and he nodded. As we reached my firm, he stopped the car. "Here you go." He said and I stepped out.

"Bye."

"Bye." He smiled and I responded him with the same. As I walked in, I saw him driving away.

Thank God he didn't talk about the towel incident!

Sigh.

Scanning my ID, I walked inside and saw Aditi shouting over Parth.

Can't they resolve everything and live on good terms?

I guess not.

Aditi is Aditi. She's adamant.

While Parth is Parth! He is same too. And he can't stop flirting with her!

✨

"Shruti, can you please switch the lights off?" I heard Rishabh saying while I was busy reading a document in my laptop.

"It would just take five minutes." I said. It was actually a lie! In reality, it would take almost fifteen minutes.

When we say two minutes, in reality it means ten minutes! Same goes for me too. I've been doing this all my life.

"Okay, I'm waiting for the lights to go off." He said and closed his eyes. As the time went by, I completed reading almost two thirds of it. "Shruti, it had already been seven minutes. What explanation do you have now?"

"I need to give some time to my work too. If I don't, then I'll become unemployed." I said while glancing at my laptop for the last time.

"Rest is important too. You can't lose your health because of your work." He said and I just shook my head. Closing my laptop, I quickly used the bathroom and lied on my side of bed.

Okay, I admit that sleep is important too.

Also, we can share the same bed.

But, had I ever thought in my teenage that we'll sleep together on a bed?

No, never.

I never had a thought of us marrying, yet alone sleeping together!

But now we're lying on the same bed, as husband and wife, and that's the truth.

If it's a dream, I hope it never breaks.

"Why are you sleeping at the edge?" Rishabh asked, pulling me towards his side.

"I just-"

"You could've fallen down the bed while sleeping."

"I never faced a situation like that." I argued while facing him.

"What if it happened today? I mean everything has it's first time." He said.

First time?

Everything has it's first time...

Where is my mind going to?

I'm seriously a stupid!

"Shruti? Where are you lost?"

"Oh!"

"Huh? I didn't say anything." He said and I pressed my eyes in irritation.

I am the official stupid of this planet!

No.

The universe!

"I'm feeling sleepy." I said and was about to turn to the other side when he pulled me towards him.

"But I think you're tired. Just take a deep breath and close your eyes." He said. Following his words, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Opening my eyes, my view came across his neck.

As he gulped, I saw his Adam's apple moving.

Can I declare it as the hottest sight?

Maybe.

It's the best day I'd ever had.

I can declare today as the best of my life!

Having no energy left to keep my eyelids up, I closed my eyes. I drifted into sleep, feeling his hand patting my back.