Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Leaving? But why?" Sanaya was astounded. "We are going back to our home," Nick responded.

"Our home? But isn't this one our home too?"

"No, it's... It is my parent's house. We will go to my home." Saying so he strode towards the cupboard when Sanaya questioned, "Ohh so you live in another place?"

"Yes, I used to live alone but now I have to... I mean now I am married, you are my companion so you will be living with me." Sanaya was happy that she was going to live with a family, Nick's family but now it made her sad. She was going to be apart from them.

She was sad. Sighing she asked him, "Can't we stay here?" He nodded his head in denial.

Letting out a sigh of grief she announced, "I love them. I will miss everybody here..."

"You can come here and meet them when you feel like." Hearing him she did not ask him any more questions. Sanaya did not have many clothes there nor Nick had so they did not have to pack much.

"We will miss you, Sanaya." Emily embraced Sanaya. Only a few days and she was sad to be apart from them but what could she do? Nothing. Not only her but nobody there could change Nick's opinion. If he decided he would leave then it was final.

As for Sanaya, she was a newly married wife. She did not think it would be good to try to change his decision when nobody there tried to talk to Nick so he would say that they could stay there.

"I will miss you too, Maa (mother)." Sanaya started crying, she liked Emily. Finally, she thought that she met another mom but this soon, she was going to miss her. Nick had no expression on his face, having his hands in his pockets he was standing still.

Raina and Sanaya were crying while hugging each other. Nick's dad was not at home so she could not meet him before leaving.

Sanaya turned to look at the house once before leaving but what she met was Nick. He was standing behind her with a steel gaze.

In the car, Sanaya was gawking outside of the car window while wiping off her tears. Not like Nick was bothered but he did not like the sound of her crying. Clearing her throat he proclaimed, "You will be meeting them later, not like this is the last time. Why are you crying?"

As she turned her head towards him Nick felt sad all of a sudden. Her eyes were teary. "I miss my mom dad..." She said in a low voice, having her eyes down.

Suddenly Nick grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her in his hug. Surprised, Sanaya could not react but stay serene.

"You can cry now." He said. Sanaya gulped the lump in her throat, it was hard to control her tears now even more. She broke out in tears and cried out louder. Nick always hated loud sounds but this time, he did not react nor did he got angry at her. He kept her in his hug, not letting her feel lonely when she was missing her parents...

"Feeling better now?" As he asked her she bobbed her head. "Thanks." She said dabbing her face by the back of her palm. "What for?" As he questioned she countered, "For making me feeling better."

As Nick saw he was holding her hand he moved his hand away and glanced outside of the car window.

**

"Come." Extending his hand Nick said so. Sanaya was yet to get out of the car. Holding his hand as she got off the car she was shocked. It was a... Mansion. "This..." Her eyes were wide open. She blinked her eyes and looked at Nick.

"Welcome to my castle, my princess." Nick smiled at her. "This... Wait, I am not in some dream. Am I?" Sanaya mumbled. She was surprised to see such a big mansion. It was just how she saw it in the movie but now it was not a dream. She looked at Nick's back who was walking ahead of her while holding her hand.

"Welcome home, Madam." Sanaya looked at the middle-aged woman who was standing ahead of all the servants. She stared at Nick.

"She is Mrs. Elisa. She had been taking care of everything in this mansion for many years by now." Nick explained to her. "Ohh." Sanaya looked at Mrs. Elisa and smiled, "Thank you, Mrs. Elisa. You can call me Sanaya."

Mrs. Elisa glanced at Nick as he bobbed his head she smiled and said, "Ok, Sanaya."

When Mrs. Elisa held a plate containing 'durba', lac dye, and milk, Sanaya was surprised. How did she know this? And who told her about it. "Little Nick told me everything." As Mrs. Elisa said so Sanaya could not help but laugh. Nick rolled his eyes at her and she cleared her throat, trying to stop her laughter. "Sorry but... Little Nick..." She giggled again.

"I have been seeing him since he was little so I call him little Nick." Mrs. Elisa announced.

Looking at Nick who made an annoyed face Sanaya smiled and said, "But this is cute." Nick stared at her and saw she bowed her head as Mrs. Elisa put durba on her forehead as a blessing.

Then a pot full of rice was placed in front of her feet. She kicked it gently. Like Sanaya thought that it would be some lonely house with only her and Nick's living there but the mansion had so many people. She did not feel lonely at all, at the least she could talk to someone.

"Come. I will take you to your room." As Mrs. Elisa said so Sanaya nodded her head but she saw Nick to walk upstairs, leaving her with Mrs. Elisa. Though she could not understand why he did not take her in the room with him and let her know everything about their room.

She was following Mrs. Elisa's footsteps. "This is your room." Getting in a room she said so.

Sanaya widened her eyes. "So beautiful... Wait, this... It's my room?" She asked her in disbelief. "Yes," Mrs. Elisa smiled saying so.

Sanaya could not believe her. This was like the most beautiful room she could see in her dream. Floor-to-ceiling window, modern fireplace, massive TV, walk-in closet, outstanding master bedroom, etc. She was stunned.

Her eyes caught on the photo that was on the wall opposite of the bed. It was none other than Nick's picture. She thought in her mind, "Why did he put only his photo? He could put our wedding photo here instead of this one..."

After Mrs. Elisa left Sanaya jumped on the bed. "Eeee, so soft and cozy. My bed... No, our bed." When she was lying on the bed on her stomach and being happy she thought of Nick. Right, he did not come to see her after the last time.

As she went to the closet she was shocked more. Nick told her that it was his house, he lived here then his clothes were supposed to be in the closet but she found nothing. Thinking of she would ask him about it later she took a bath first. Then choosing a red yellow mix saree she wore it. As someone knocked at the door Sanaya ran towards the door.

Opening the door she saw a servant. "Dinner is ready, madam." The servant reported.

"Ohh, ok. Let's go." This was going to take time, she was new there. Entering the big dining room Sanaya saw Nick. She smiled gazing at him. The dining table was filled with so many delicacies. Sanaya sat at the opposite of Nick. During dinner time Sanaya ate silently and sometimes looking at him. Something was off, Sanaya was feeling herself being far from him. She felt distant from him.

After dinner as Sanaya saw Nick go upstairs, she asked, "Ahh, where are you going?"

"My room." He replied shortly.

"Do you need something?" He asked her. Nodding her head in denial she replied, "No."

"Good night, then." Saying so he walked away. She voiced, "Good night."

Sanaya did want to know what it was that made her feel cold when he talked as if that warm Nick turned into a cold one. "What am I thinking? He might go to our room." She thought so.

After a while when Sanaya went to her room she was a bit confused. The door was closed just the way she left it before leaving for dinner. Opening the door as she entered the room she did not see Nick. "Where is he?" She searched him in the room but could not find him.

"Did not he said that he was going to his room? Where can he go then?" Walking out of the room Sanaya was strolling towards the staircase but as her eyes caught on the room Nick went previously something came to her mind.

"No, it might not be the case. We are married now, why would he still sleep in another room? He wanted to marry me so of course, he won't do something like this, yes it can not be." Sanaya stepped towards the door. Standing in front of the door Sanaya patted her chest as she let out, "He might be working in a separate room so I can sleep. Yes, he must be working, or maybe he... Whatever it is, I should talk to him, or else I will..."

She knocked at the door. As Nick opened the door she looked at him. "What's wrong? Do you need anything?" He asked her.

"Ahh, are you working?"

"No, I was about to sleep." He answered.

'He was about to sleep...' That was the answer to all of her questions running in her mind. Seeing her silent, he said, "You did not say if you need something."

She did not know what was she feeling. She said in a low voice, "I wanted to ask... Ahh, I want to work from the day after tomorrow. So is it ok?"

He nodded his head, "Yes. It's ok. You came to ask me only this?"

"Yeah... Thanks, then... Good night." Saying so without waiting for him to say something she ran to her room. As soon as she stepped into her room she closed the door.

"Good night... Strange! What's wrong with her?" He could not understand why she ran to her room all of a sudden. He closed the door.

Sitting on the bed Sanaya was looking at the cupboard. It was clear that he was living in a separate room that's why he did not have any clothes in the cupboard. "Does he dislike me? But it can not be true... He would not possibly marry me if he did not like me..."

Living with her husband happily, being a great wife, taking care of him and his family, maintaining her working life well, Sanaya wanted to do these. But the first day in the mansion with Nick was not like she thought it would be. Yes, she got people, she would not be feeling lonely in the big mansion but Nick, felt somehow different than he was before towards her.

She did not feel he was closer to her at all. Some invisible distance was there already, she did not like it at all. For her, staying in the same room, under the same roof as husband and wife were important.

Though she did not know if she loved him and if he loved her but at the least, she thought she would give her best in this marriage. She would try her utmost to make him happy and there, on the first day he just went to live in a separate room and she did not even know that. If she would not go and see him staying in another room would she tell herself that he wanted to stay separately? Sanaya kept looking at the roof...