Published on 10th October 2021.

______________________________

♡ So, baby, pull me closer

In the back seat of your Rover

That I know you can't afford

Bite that tattoo on your shoulder ♡

– S H R U T I –

I switched the tap on and kept my leg under shower. As my skin neutralised with water's temperature, I forcefully dragged myself under the shower and closed my eyes while grinding my teeth. Although the room temperature was best for me, water flowing through the taps was too cold to go through.

Quickly going through the bath, I pulled my towel towards me and patted my body with it. I kept my hand on the area where my clothes were placed and strangely, found it empty.

God!

I took a deep breath and wrapped the towel around my body. I slowly opened the door half-way and saw Rishabh busy in his phone. "Rishabh." I called him out and he looked up.

"Hmm?"

"I forgot to bring my clothes. Can you find something for me in the bag?" I said and he nodded. Placing his phone on the bedside table, he got up and walked towards our bags. "A little faster?"

"I get it. But, why didn't you arrange them in the cupboard beforehand?"

"I'll do it later. You don't get to scold me just because you're older." I complained while peeking through the bathroom door and he turned towards me.

"Shruti!"

"Rishabh! Hurry." I sighed and watched him as he tried finding clothes from the mess I created inside my suitcase. Picking a pair of casuals he walked towards me and kept them on my hand which I had already forwarded out.

"Here you go. Wear it and don't catch cold." He said and I hummed before closing the door. After wearing my clothes I walked out and saw him doing something with my stuff. Going near him, I saw the correct scene.

He was arranging our clothes in the cupboard!

So caring...

"Rishabh?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm free and there's nothing much I have to do." He sighed and I sat beside him.

"Should I help you?"

"Ofcourse." He said and I pulled one of the bags towards me to clear everything out. After putting almost everything inside, my gaze went towards a black bag kept beneath my night clothes.

I never packed it.

Akriti!

Before I could check what the bag had, he picked it up and unzipped it. "Rishabh! Stop!" I shouted and placed my hand above the already opened area of bag.

"Why are you shouting?"

"Don't open it. What if there's something wrong? Let me see it first."

"Bomb? Illegal weapons? Drugs?" He asked and I immediately shook my head in negative. "What are you worrying for? Your husband is here for you. Relax." He said and I closed my eyes in irritation.

How can I even relax?

Akriti packed it.

And I know where her mind is!

It was my wrong that I let her in to help me in packing. Had I hit my head on the wall when she asked to provide help and I allowed her in?

As soon as I opened my eyes to check the condition, my gaze went towards the black lacy lingerie in his hand. I looked inside the bag and saw all the colours possible on this earth.

"I never knew you wear such things." He turned towards me and asked, hanging the straps of the piece of cloth between his fingers.

"These aren't mine."

"Your bags got exchanged on the airport?" He asked and before I could answer, he turned his gaze towards the cupboard. He touched one of my casuals and checked them, "As far as I remember, you wore this last Monday. Right?"

"Yes, I did. But-"

"But what? I won't be wearing them. These are your clothes and this bag is yours." He said while pointing towards the duffle bag. Before I could snatch the bag and keep it away, he pulled all the clothes out. At this point, the floor looked like a lingerie store.

I looked around the floor and came through all the colours I had ever seen. Blue. Red. Black. Pink. White. Purple. Orange. Yellow. Green. Grey.

There was a multicolour pair too!

Who in this world chooses a rainbow coloured lingerie?

Wait!

Where was my maroon?

She forgot to pack it?

How can I even think about such a thing?!

"So, are you planning to wear them?" He asked. Although I wanted to answer, I couldn't form any word. "I would love to see you in them. It's okay, only if you're comfortable. Remember one thing that you look good in everything you wear." I nodded and he pecked my head.

I hope I'm not looking like a tomato.

"So, who's going to arrange them inside?" He pointed towards the scattered clothes and asked. I immediately went forward and picked everything up as quickly I could.

Could anything get more embarrassing?

✨

I walked infront of the mirror and gazed my attire which was given by him. Although the white sundress was short, it wasn't too little to handle. I took a deep sigh and turned around, only to see him gazing me.

"Shall we head out?" He asked. I nodded and he held my hand before walking out.

"Where are we going?"

"Nothing special." I heard his voice and nodded. "Wait a minute." He halted on his steps and walked behind me. When I felt him tying something soft around my eyes, I held his hands.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to sell you." He said and I rolled my eyes. He tied the cloth behind my head and held my hands. "Let's go."

"I won't fall, will I?"

"You won't, trust me." I heard his deep voice and sighed as we walked to God knows where. One thing I know is that he finishes what he says and there's no need for me to worry when he's here. "Where do you think we're going?"

"Are you joking with me, Rishabh? How would I know?"

"Just a casual guess."

"Mountains."

"Very funny." He said as I stepped forward. "Stop. There's a step. You need to step down." I nodded and kept my leg down. After walking for eternity, I felt him stopping. "We're here."

"Finally!"

"Finally."

"Can you open this?" I asked, pointing towards the ribbon around my eyes. He answered in positive and I felt the cloth going off my eyes. As I opened my eyes, lights emitting from the candles reflected my eyes. "That's so-"

"Bad?" He asked while encircling his arms around my waist.

"What? No! It's so good. Did you prepare everything?"

"Umm... Yes. Did you like it?" He asked and I nodded.

"Ofcourse. I love it."

"Gladly." He whispered and kissed the nape of my neck. I gripped my dress tightly in my hold as the cold breeze struck my skin where his lips were a second ago. He walked towards a set of table and pulled a chair out. I immediately walked towards him and sat on the seat while he sat opposite to me. "So, shall we start our dinner?"

"Dinner? It's seven."

"It's good to eat early."

"Says the man who never eats before nine!" I taunted and he smiled sarcastically. "Well, let's start." I said and took the first bite. "It's good."

"I know." He shook his head while eating his food and held my left hand with his bare one. "Let's play a game." He said and I hummed, "Everyone gets to ask a question. The one who doesn't want to answer have to give his or her food away to the other party."

"That's cheating."

"It's not. Let's start. You first."

"Oh... Okay. What's the colour of your underwear?" I asked and he choked on his food. "Are you fine?" I passed him a glass of water and he immediately drank it.

"Wh... what? Is that what people ask?" He asked and I hummed, "Black." He said and I nodded. What if he was lying? Well, there was no chance that I could've tore his clothes apart! "What's the strangest thing you've ever heard?"

"The strangest thing?" He hummed, "Our school was built upon a graveyard."

"You heard that too?" He asked as soon as I finished speaking.

"Ofcourse."

"Do you remember the rumour that the one who goes into the basement alone can witness the lights going on and off."

"I know. It was scary as anything. That's the reason we always went underground in groups." I said and he hummed. "Okay, it's my turn. Your first girlfriend?"

"I told you I never had one. There's no need to make fun of me." He said and I controlled myself from smiling.

I thought he was joking last night.

He really never had a girlfriend?

Radhika was right!

"Anyways, at what age did you watch a restricted adult content? Don't tell me you've never seen anything such." He asked and I gulped hardly. That was an extremely personal question. Putting a stone over my heart, I kept my newly favourite food in his plate. "So, you're not going to answer?"

Ofcourse not!

He took a deep sigh and hung his head down. "Don't you trust me with such a small thing?" He blinked his eyes sadly and I couldn't keep myself to stay quiet.

"Seventeen." I mumbled and immediately stuffed my mouth with food I previously had kept in his plate.

"What?!"

"At seventeen. I told you." I said while chewing and he widened his eyes.

"Where did you find such a thing ten years ago?"

"The same place where you found it." I said and found his mouth shutting in an instant.

"I never knew girls too... watch... something like this."

"Stereotypes, you know." I said and he nodded. I took a deep breath before asking the next question. "Let me ask something. Who's your first?"

"As in?"

"You know."

"No, I don't." He teased and I narrowed my eyes.

"Rishabh!"

"Okay, I understand." He said and I looked at him with anticipation. It's not always necessary to be in a relationship to have your first times. It can happen anytime, I guess. Although I don't have high hopes, I still wish me to be his first.

It's me?

Or not?

"It's you, my lady. Any other question?" He said and I shook my head in negative. God! I wanted to fly high in the sky. Calm down. "Who's your first time?"

"You." I mumbled and he smiled.

"And, your first kiss?"

"You can't ask two questions at a time. That's cheating!" I said and he sighed while nodding. "Who's your first kiss?" I asked and his eyes widened.

"Leave it." He said and picked a piece of his food to give it to me. I held his hand before he could complete his task and looked straight into his eyes.

"No. You can tell me."

"Don't laugh at me. Okay?" He asked and I nodded in assurance. "It's Radhika's soft-toy."

"Wh... what?" I choked while eating and controlled myself from laughing.

"I told you not to laugh. It wasn't my fault. Radhika smashed her teddybear onto my face when she was three and-"

"You had your first kiss at the age of five?" I laughed and he looked at me with disbelief. I stopped myself from laughing further before his mood would change into anger. "Sorry. I mean to say, your first kiss with a human."

"It's you. Now my turn..." He said and I couldn't move my gaze from him. I was his first kiss and his first time! Really?

Sorry but, I'm not dreaming, right?

Someone pinch me!

"Shruti? Shruti!"

"Yes?"

"Did you even hear me? I was saying something."

"Pardon?" I said and he looked at me with disbelief.

"Nevermind. Shall we leave?" He asked and I raised my eyebrows. "We've finished the dinner." I nodded and got up from my chair. "Can we have a beach walk?"

"Sure." I said and he smiled.

I felt him clasping my hand as we walked ahead. I turned my gaze towards him and saw him looking towards our feet while walking.

Was I actually falling for him?

I know there's difference between infatuation, attraction and love. Infatuation was something I felt for him long ago. I still feel attracted to him since the first day of our wedding. But love?

Why are feelings so complicated?