Published on 25th March 2021.

________________________

♡ Those eyes, they shine

Like the stars in the sky

Those lips, when they smile

All that's wrong, feels so right ♡

– R I S H A B H –

"Oh, okay. Just give me a minute." I said and disconnected the call. Walking out to my car, I unzipped her purse and searched for the pad.

Finding no pad in the purse, I zipped it and kept it back. Why did she say that it's in purse when it isn't?

Suddenly, my gaze went towards a large pack of diapers. Diaper? Who in our house wears diaper?

Pulling the pack towards my side, I checked it which turned out to be sanitary napkins. Oh, pads. Now I found it.

And I thought that these are diapers!

Tearing the pack, I pulled a packet of pad out and closed the car. Walking inside the hall, I paced towards the ladies washroom and was about to enter inside but stopped after seeing the female sign.

Stepping one of my feet inside, I peeked inside and saw not a single sign of life.

Is Shruti here?

Slowly stepping inside, I called her name. "Shruti."

Hearing a door opening, I turned back and saw a hand coming out. I was hundred percent sure, it belonged to Shruti! I kept the pad on her palm and waited till she closed the door.

Smiling on the good deed of helping my wife I did, I was about to walk out but stopped after hearing a scream. I turned back and saw a lady standing just out of one of the toilets, looking at me with shock.

Have I grown two horns on my head?

"Pervert!" She shouted and I couldn't say anything. She was right in her own way. It was me who was standing in the female washroom. What other intention could someone think of?

Quickly running out, I leaned on the wall and took a deep breathe. Wow! Now I got the title of a pervert!

"Thank you." I heard Shruti's voice and turned towards her.

"My pleasure. Let's go." I said and we walked back to the theatre.

As the movie ended, I started driving the car while Shruti slept off in the first few seconds of ride. While driving, I couldn't help but steal glances from her.

As she breathed evenly, the slow and steady rise of her chest was nothing but a torture for me. I wanted to kiss her, but could I? Wouldn't it be called as taking advantage when she's asleep?

When I kissed her a few hours ago, it was nothing but a bliss. I really couldn't control myself after being so close to her! Although she never responded, she didn't push me away too.

That was enough for me.

Could I kiss her for once?

No!

Quickly turning my gaze to the front, I focused myself on driving.

If the situation goes like this, it would cause an accident!

As we reached home, I stopped the car and called her to wake her up. "Shruti." But she didn't wake up from her sleep. "Shruti..."

After making the plans to carry her inside, I leaned towards her seat to unbuckle her belt but paused after seeing her face. She puckered her lips out, as if she wanted to kiss someone.

Was she dreaming about kissing?

Me?

Was she kissing me?

After seeing her lips protruding out, I couldn't help but lean towards her.

Kissing her in this state would be termed as taking advantage!

But she's my wife!

So I did the only reasonable thing possible, that's waking her up. "Shruti!" But she was hell bent on not breaking her slumber.

Not able to control the sensations built in my body because of her, I moved close to her and kissed her neck lightly. She stirred in sleep and opened her eyes, which were widened after seeing me. Ofcourse. I was sitting too close to her!

She leaned back on her seat and I moved back on mine. "I tried waking you up but... let's go. We've already reached." I tried reasoning, but only I knew how true it was.

"Where's everyone?" She asked as soon as we entered inside.

"I told you, they usually travel and stay out on weekends." I said. Being the first one to enter our room, she went inside the closet and then to use the bathroom.

I sat on the couch and waited for my turn to use the bathroom. Seeing the knob of door moving, I stood up and walked towards the bathroom. As the door opened, I paced inside and collided with her.

Shit!

"I'm sorry. I should've been slower." I said and she nodded. Pacing inside, I used the toilet to vent all my frustrations and walked out after changing my clothes.

Seeing her sleeping on her side, I too went inside the sheets. Moving close to her, I slid my arms around her waist and found her returning the hug.

I'm glad she has no problem in hugging me.

If not in woken state, then atleast while sleeping.

We've came this far in the second week of our marriage!

As I felt her stirring in sleep, something striked my mind. Does she also feel pain in periods too?

For ma, it was never pain but just mood swings. And for Radhika, she experienced both of them, but just in the initial years.

Was it same for Shruti too?

Should I ask her?

No. What if she thinks that I'm invading her personal space?

Does she also experience headache? I remember how Radhika turned the house upside-down and ma used to give her head massage.

Not having a chance to ask her, I moved my hand to the back of her head and held it carefully. Moving my fingers in her scalp, I started rubbing it lightly until I felt myself falling into sleep.

✨

While seeing a wonderful dream, I felt a familiar voice calling my name, irritating me. "Just sleep and let me sleep too." I mumbled in frustration.

"Rishabh!" Hearing the voice again, I opened my eyes and saw Shruti in her angry form.

"What's the matter?"

"Your leg." She directed her eyes towards my leg which was over her. "You need to back your leg. I want to use the toilet." She said and I instantly pulled it back. Getting up from the bed, she quickly walked to the bathroom and closed the door.

What if I crushed her under my weight?

But I have a normal weight.

But then, she's ofcourse lighter than me.

She's able to walk properly. And that's what's important!

As it was Sunday, I closed my eyes and slipped into sleep again.

✨

When I woke up again, I saw the bed beside me empty. Shruti had already woken up! Leaving the bed, I checked the time.

Ten twenty!

Ofcourse!

I slept too late yesterday.

But wasn't it same with Shruti?

How come she's awake?

Running into the bathroom, I used the toilet and came out after taking a quick shower. Walking out, I searched for Shruti and finally found her in the kitchen.

What is she doing in kitchen?

Obviously, cooking!

Slowly stepping in the kitchen, I walked towards her and slithered my arms around her waist. "Rish-"

"Hmm..."

"I need to cook breakfast."

"Okay. I'm not stopping you." I said and she sighed.

"Can you please..."

"Please what?"

"Please pull your arms back. I can't cook like this." She said and I smiled. Was my touch really affecting her? "Rishabh!"

"Okay." I said and pulled them back. "What are you cooking?" I asked, moving beside her.

"Breakfast." She said and I frowned. Was she in the mood of joking? But that was a bad joke!

"Okay, let me help you." I said and she looked at me with shock. "What?"

"You know how to cook?"

And I'm doomed!

If I say no, then it will be a great embarrassment.

And I can't say yes because I don't know how to cook. I can just make instant noodles!

"Rishabh?"

"Yes. I'll help you. Just instruct me what I need to do." I said and she nodded. Passing the bowl filled with flour towards my side, she asked me to knead it.

Kneading dough isn't a hard thing.

Pouring a little amount of water in flour, I dipped my fingers in it and started moving them.

"Add a little more water." She suggested and I nodded. Adding more water to the moist flour, I again indulged my fingers in the work.

But the flour looked a bit too wet.

Leave it!

"What are you doing?" I heard Shruti shouting and turned towards her. "Why did you pour a whole bottle of water in it?"

"Whole bottle? But I just-"

"Go. Leave the kitchen!"

"I'm sorry... Let me help you in chopping vegetables."

"You! Are you sure you can do it?" She asked asked and I nodded.

After a lot of instructions and headaches, we finally ended up making our breakfast. That's the reason ma always forced me to learn cooking! And I always denied it, saying that studies and work is more important.

I take my words back.

Everything is important in life.

We sat together to eat our breakfast and took the first bite. As I bit the first morsel, the taste felt a little different. "Why does it feel undercooked?"

"Because you didn't cut it in the right proportion. Each vegetable has different amount of water in it. Some take less time to cook, while some take more. It's your fault, now bear with it." She said in an uninterested tone.

I know it's all my fault.

But then, I can't blame her for her mood. She's going through her periods. And I've already seen how ma and Radhika react in those days. Compared to them, Shruti's mood till now isn't that extreme!

Finishing all my food, I kept my plate in the sink and washed my hands. Seeing her sitting on the couch, I walked towards her and sat beside her. I saw her busy in phone and leaned towards her, only to see her busy in chatting with her friend.

"Umm... Shruti." I cleared my throat and called her. She turned towards me and raised her brow in question.

I've called her to talk to me but what reason should I give?

"Would you like to watch a movie?" I muttered as I had nothing to say.

"But we saw one last night."

Last night, we did other things too.

But she won't talk about that.

I know.

"There's no harm in watching one again." I said and she nodded. Starting a romantic-thriller movie, I leaned back on the couch and slowly slid my arms around her shoulders.

She flinched and tried to go away but I held her tightly and calmly made her lean towards my side.

Why can't she just be close to me in sober state?

Is sleep the key factor in our relationship?

I think so.

Slowly taking her hands in mine, I rubbed them lightly while watching the movie.

As a kissing scene approached, I looked towards her who was already gazing me. She was about to turn her face to the screen but I held it and turned her head towards mine.

Seeing her gulping down her saliva, I felt different sensations evoking in my body.

Slowly leaning my face towards her, I grazed my lips with hers and gave them a peck. Sucking her upper lip lightly, I moved my hand down to her waist to move her closer to me.

The moment was going all good...

Until something interrupted us.

As we heard the sound of siren from the movie, we pulled back. "I... need to... use the bathroom." She excused and ran away to our room.

I want to kill the timings of this movie.

But it was me who chose the thriller genre!

If the sound didn't came, she would've responded to the kiss in a few more moments. But this unexpected thing happened!

Switching the TV of the living room off, I walked back to our room and sat on the bed. Picking the remote of the TV of our room, I switched it on and searched for another movie.

As she came out of the bathroom, I switched a romantic movie on. She was frightened to see me sitting here, leaving the living room.

She sat on the other side of bed, maintaining a large distance from me. I'm not untouchable, am I?

Moving close to her, I again slithered my arms around her back and held her in my arms. But strangely, she didn't back away this time.

Sigh!

Holding her hands in mine, I patted them with my thumb.

As half an hour went by in watching the movie with her in my arms, I felt her breathing evenly. Slowly gazing towards her face, I saw her sleeping soundly.

She's already asleep!

And I'm busy watching the movie for nothing.

Switching the TV off, I made her lie on the bed and attained the same position as her. As I felt her fingers touching me, I lifted my arms up and saw her hands slithering around me.

I guess I need to sleep again just after waking up for three hours.