"You assholes! Come here!" Monica bursts out as soon as the court hearing is over.

"Ma'am, you--"

"Monu, shaant ho jao, they're getting what they deserve," Sunil says as he holds her.

"Hey Sunil, I need to go, Sonia is asking for me,"

"You'll come tomorrow right?"

"Of course, I'll come, I'm sorry but I really need to go," I inform him, too guilty and ignorant to face Rohan.

"Okay,"

I rush out of the courtroom and answer Sonia's call as I wait for the taxi to arrive.

"Where are you? You're always late Sanju,"

"I'm on the way, the hearing went on longer than we anticipated it to go Sonu,"

"We'll order then?"

"Yeah,"

"Will jiju--"

"No, he's busy,"

"Oh that wasn't what I was asking, jiju is coming so don't bother to lie, I was just asking if you could ride with jiju since he's not here as well,"

"I--"

"Want me to drop you off?"

"Oh tell jiju hi!"

"Bye Sonu," I end the call.

"If--"

"You're going to meet Sonu and your family right? Mom invited me too... I can give you a ride there,"

"Yeah okay," I say as I twiddle with my fingers.

He runs to his cars and I follow behind him as he opens the passenger door and holds it open for me. He shuts the door once I've settled inside and then runs to the driver's side and settles before starting the ignition.

We drive in awkward silence and when we reach the restaurant, he sighs before facing me.

"I really don't want to come if it'll make you uncomfortable,"

"It'll not make me uncomfortable," I mumble as I open the door and get out.

I follow after him as we walk into the restaurant, only for me to stumble on air and go face down on the floor.

"Ow!" I cry as I sit up.

I should be embarrassed but the pain in my nose is too much and tears well in my eyes as I hold my nose. When I feel hands cradling my face and concerned eyes staring at my eyes do I take into account all the eyes that are staring at us.

"It'll leave a bruise," Rohan murmurs as he stares at me.

"It's okay,"

"I'll go get the pain relief gel, I don't think your bone it broken,"

"No need, the pain will subside, I have a high pain tolerance level because of all the toes I've stubbed,"

Rohan chuckles and helps me stand up. Sonia is already coming my way, mirth written all over her face as she stares at my nose.

"You look funny Sanju,"

"Oh I'm fine thank you so much for asking Sonia,"

"Well I just came here to inform you, mom is going to start fussing over you the moment you sit down," she says.

And true to her word, my mom starts fussing.

"Sanju! Are you okay? That was quite a fall wasn't it? Did you hurt yourself somewhere? Do you wanna get your eyes checked? You keep stubving your toes also these days, what if you have glasses, oh wait you already do, what if the power has increased and we have no idea? What if--"

"Chup reh jao, let me greet my daughter without your fussing," dad says as he hugs me, taking a closer look at my nose.

He kisses my forehead before greeting my husband and we sit down, on my right is Roshan, who bumps his shoulders with me as he greets me and on my left sits my husband, who is sitting a little closer.

"What would you guys like to order?"

"Lasagna for me," I say before I let my head fall on the table only to wince.

Shit. I think my forehead is bruised as well. I must look funny.

Rohan places my head on his shoulder and I get comfortable as I close my eyes. He lets his cheek rest against me head as he talks to my dad and Roshan.

°

"Ma, will you wake me up early tomorrow?"

"What time?"

"3? For that trip I told you about,"

"Okay, beta, will you be eating dinner today or are you gonna skip because of your heavy lunch?"

"I'll eat bohot thodasa,"

"Okay,"

As my dad makes dinner for us, my mom and my sister drag me to the living room and make googly eyes at me.

"My lips are sealed, don't pester me or else I'll complain to dad,"

"Sanju,"

"Let me sleep please, my head is aching a lot,"

"But Sanju," mom whines

"Papa, these people are irritating me,"

"Oye! Let my girl go and sleep, she's probably gonna need it,"

"Thank you, atleast someone who cares,"

"And you're not bothered about the argument between our son-in-law and our daughter,"

"Well..."

"Papa!"

"Respect their privacy Rekha darling and Sonu, you better not poke your nose in your sister's business,"

"Thank you pa,"

I leave my family downstairs and go to my room, sighing in relief as I lie on the bed and as soon as my back hits the bed, I'm out like a light.

°

"Get inside the car fast Sanju, it's cold," Monica says, her teeth clatter as she trembles.

"Ha na yaar," I whine as I sit in the passenger seat and wait for Rohan so join us.

"You look funny,"

"Aye, thank you I hope you're doing well too,"

"Sanju,"

"Shut up," I grumble.

"All set?" Rohan asks as he sits in the driver's seat.

I nod and plug the earphones as I lean my head against the awfully cold window and close my eyes.

"I didn't think it'd be this cold,"

"Yeah well the weather nowadays surprises everyone of us,"

"Where's mom and dad?" I ask.

"They're in another car, they wanted to drive alone,"

"I'm seriously so tired," I murmur as I close my eyes.

The painkiller was making me drowsy and I wouldn't even be surprised if all I did on the trip was sleep because today my nose was aching a little more and I couldn't even put some make-up on to make my bruise less visible.

"Sanjana,"

"Hmm?"

"Your seatbelt,"

"Shit, sorry,"

Once my seatbelt is tucked, Rohan starts driving and all three of us fall asleep as Rohan drives in silence.

Our first stop comes a few hours later for breakfast and I'm more than willing to sit in the car but Monica literally drags me to the small diner.

"Good morning everyone," mom chirps.

"Someone's extra bright today," Sunil says.

"Of course she is," Monica grins.

"What do you want to order?" Rohan asks me.

"I don't know, get me anything I'm really only eating for these pain killers,"

"Okay," he says.

He orders poha for the both of us and everyone talks but I just zone out and focus on eating absent-mindedly.

"Sanjana,"

"Huh?"

"You're a messy eater, how did I never notice it?" He rhetorically asks as he wipes my cheeks and even picks some food from my hair.

He lets his hand rest on my cheek and caresses my cheekbone, too unbothered about the people around us. Monica clears her throat and she gestures for us to get up because everyone was done with their breakfast.

"I'll just take my medicine and we'll join you,"

"Yeah, Sunil is driving anyways, so take your time, I thought Rohan could rest for a bit," Monica says as she hops of the bench and with the help of Sunil walks out of the diner.

"Here,"

Rohan hands me a glass of water and the tablet.

"I'm sorry," I murmur.

"I'm sorry too, love,"

"I really shouldn't have acted like that, I really shouldn't have questioned your practice like that,"

"It's okay Sanju, I really should have understood where you came from, I really should have handled this more maturely,"

"Nahi, you did nothing wrong, I probably overreacted,"

"No you didn't,"

"Yes--"

"Take your medicine okay? You look funny,"

"Oye! Shut up,"

"Kidding,"

_________________________

Did it get clumsy?