Chapter 24: Chapter 24

"No one knows his or her value unless it is reflected in the eyes of others who love them."

Abhimanyu's Perspective

"Are you okay?" I asked when I walked inside the bedroom and she nodded, pressing her back. I had had enough with her sitting on the bed and pressing her stomach and back occasionally. It was getting on my nerves that she was in pain and wasn't telling me. In fact, if it was a right hunch, my mom and other woman in the house knew about her condition.

"But it doesn't look like. What's wrong with your back?" I asked sternly, pointing at the poly bags, "You haven't unpacked them yet?"

She closed her eyes in pain and waved her hair back, "I will do it later and I am fine."

"Really?" I clenched my jaw and exhaled, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You can tell me, you know. I might help you somehow."

"I told you I am fine."

"Fine, I'm going to ask mom." I moved to the door and she sprinted to me, instantly catching my arm.

"Are you mad...I'm fine. I've little back pain, that's it." She whispered, shockingly.

"You have back pain and you are not seeing doctor. It can cause some serious problem. Come with me." I interrupted and grabbed her wrist.

"Uff...It's not serious. I don't need to see doctor." She bit her lip, looking down.

"You can tell me. I'll give you some medicine." I mumbled, softly, framing her face. She palmed the back of my hand. "I am telling you that I am completely fine. If not, I will be better tomorrow."

I crossed my arms, staring at her in disbelief. "What kind of logic is it? How'll you be fine without medicines?"

She avoided my gaze and chided. "I don't need medicines, Abhimanyu; I get it every month. I'm used to it."

"Every month? Yet you aren't seeing the doctor?" I said in disbelief. How come I not noticed it before?

"Abhimanyu..." She turned around. "It's what every girl faces." She whispered, embarrassingly. My mind roamed around to grasp her intentions.

"What do you-"

"I'm on my periods Abhimanyu. Now just shut up." She shouted and moved to the bed. She took all the bags and stuffed them in wardrobe. Her cheeks deepened red and her eyes everywhere except me. I stood at my place stupefied, mentally kicking myself. My ears heated in embarrassment. I ambled to her as she sat on the bed.

"So...um...you need something?" I fumbled.

"No... I'm fine."

"May I?" I extended my hand as she couldn't press the broiling bag on her bag and she passed it to me, quietly. I sat behind her as she skidded forward. The air around us got thick as no one spoke. She let out a sigh as I pressed the bag onto her back. Fragrance of her scented hair wafted in my nostrils, I pulled her closer ignoring her gasp.

Shree's Perspective

I tried my best to give him clues but that ultimate tube light didn't even catch any single one. Why God made men so stupid?? And the biggest specimen is before me. I glared him, leeringly when he asked what I wanted. Poison... if you can give.

He sat behind me and pulled me closer.

"What are you..."

"Relax." He husked against my ear, erecting the baby hair in neck. His one hand rested on my stomach and the other pressed on my back. "Where is it paining exactly?"

"In lower back and abdomen." I breathed out and he pressed the bag in lower back, rubbing his hand on my abdomen, I squirmed as he blew air on my neck.

"Abhim...."

"Will you stop moving?" He clutched me tightly and slid against him. "Don't move. It will help in healing." He whispered in my ear, my heartbeats accelerated and a swirl of desires pooled in my abdomen as he pressed the bag between his flat stomach and my aching back, pressing me tightly against him.

"Dada!" Paridhi knocked on the door, "Come down for dinner." I thought to get up but he pulled me back. "Pari, get our dinner upstairs and one glass lukewarm milk."

"Okay!"

I turned to him. "Why aren't we having dinner here? I am completely fine."

"We are having dinner here because I want to." He curtly replied and I scoffed with nose in the ear, "Then let me go. I will eat with everyone."

"I need company. I can't eat alone." He got up as Paridhi was back with food. He took the tray and said something to her, she nodded and left.

"What you said to her?" I queried and he gestured me to go and washed my hand. I rolled my eyes and ambled to the bathroom.

"Hmm...So now tell me." I demanded as I came back and he clicked his tongue. "Can you please turn off your catechize mode? I am hungry."

"Fine!" I perched next to him and had the food. Minutes later, Paridhi came back for the empty plates and passed sliced apples in a plate to Abhimanyu. I'd a vague idea that I was not going to like whatever he was going to do with them.

"Here, have it!" My eyes popped out as he passed the plate and milk to me. I switched my gaze between the plate and him.

Is he mad?

"Abhimanyu. I just had my dinner, with you. Remember?" I mocked him and he glared. "Don't waste your time reminding me things. Finish it!"

"I can't. It's too much." I denied and he placed the slice near my mouth, "Eat quietly else I know various ways."

"Abhimanyu, please!" I made a puppy face but he was obdurate on his part, so I sighed and bit on the slice. With that, he started the ritual of feeding me and I chewed on the slices reluctantly. Every time I denied, he had given me this angry look that I bit on the slices with doubled speed. Finally, when I finished it, he passed me the glass. "Abhimanyu...."

"Shut up, it will give you energy. Just five more days and you will be done with milk and apples."

"Two days only." I muttered, feeling embarrassed on hinting him about my times of the month.

"Okay, fine. Just for two days. Now finish it." As embarrassing as it sounded, I felt gratified. He was taking caring of me, he was concerned and for the first time, I saw my caring husband in him. I loved this. I love my husband.

"You're sleeping on the bed." He declared, perching on the bed and patted the place for me to sit.

"I am fine now." I mumbled, "And where will you sleep then?" Yes, we still didn't share the same bed. He was on bed without much fess and I on the couch. Well, he had told me so many times in circumlocutory way to sleep on the bed but I didn't wish that. His words had somehow pierced me.

We might be on speaking terms but there was still something between us, something that I couldn't point finger at but sense very well. Something that made Abhimanyu step back every second he made advancement.

"On the bed." He replied, breaking my chin of thought.

"You will sleep with me?" I asked shyly, sitting beside him and he chuckled, "I am not sleeping with you sweetheart, we will share the bed."

He lied down and switched off the lights. Seconds later, I followed his suit after pondering so much.

***

I groped for the alarm that's shrilling on its ace, breaking my sleep and I slammed it, turning the alarm off. I blinked my eyes and stretched my limbs. I hit something soft and it groaned, turning to my left I found Abhimanyu rubbing his nose, he looked cute with closed eyes and ruffled hair.

"Is this the way to wake up someone?" He groaned hoarsely and buried his face in the pillow.

"Sorry!" I yawned, sitting up. Rubbing my eyes I put on the flip flop and tottered inside bathroom. Done with my routine, I came out dressed but he was still sleeping.

Without disturbing him, I hopped down to the kitchen. I put the pan on the stove to make tea and soaked puffed rice to make poha.

"Hey good morning! You okay now?" I turned to see bhabhi, "Good morning! Yes, I am good. Want some tea, I am making it."

"Yup!" She clutched her hair in bun, "Everyone must be coming for it. Um...what are you making?"

"Poha and Idli." I answered, putting veggies to pressure cook and she boiled milk, "I'll be back after feeding Adi."

"Sure!"

She moved out and I resumed my work, glancing around to find coconut. Reminded, I opened the uppermost cupboard and slid the flour bag a little through my fingertips. Just as pressure cooker whistled, startling me and in hurry, I knocked the bag down.

It started falling on me. I closed my eyes anticipating the impact on me as I couldn't move. A shrill blew my ears, and with a pull, I was in someone's arm. He caged my waist firmly with one hand and other got hold of my hands. I pressed myself to his chest, avoiding the fall. My eyes closed but I could feel his gaze on me.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Abhimanyu shouted as he left me carefully.

He was looking funny with all the flour over him. I couldn't help myself to guffaw and he frowned more.

"Really?? What's so funny?" he squinted his eyebrows, keeping hands on his waist.

"You..." I pointed at him and he looked down at himself. I could not stop my laugh.

Floor was a mess. Though I too had some flour but, I found him funnier. He puffed his face and it elongated my laughter. I laughed clutching my stomach until.....he strode to me and held me closer...than ever.

Abhimanyu's Perspective

I woke up peacefully and blinked my eyes to see her but she wasn't there. Probably, in the kitchen. I came downstairs to grab a cup of tea but as I entered in the kitchen. She stood on her toes and slid a bag with her fingertips. She was stretching her body and her blouse uplifted a bit.

I gawked at her stretched body which was giving a clear view of her bare back from where the fall of her Sari was roundly tugged in her waist. I took in her beauty in. My mind warned me not to stare and my heart only asked how. Soon, I saw the bag falling over her and she stood there rooted.

I quickly took her in my arms, bag fell on my back and flour started falling over us. I held her tightly and her eyes were shut, fist tightened on my t- shirt and her forehead was creased. I stared her until she opened her eyes and it made me so angry how she could act so irresponsible. Before I could say anything, she started laughing. I looked down at me.

Damn.... I was fully covered with flour.

"Stop laughing!" I said, sternly but when she didn't. I strode to her like a predator and clutched her waist, her laughter stuck in her throat and eyes widened, red hue flooded her cheeks.

I smirked and hugged her, dipping my face in her neck. She gripped my shoulder and I held her tight. Mmm...She smells so nice. I sniffed her scent and kissed her neck, her breathing quickened. I pulled her closer, barring the barricades between us.

"What happened? Where has your voice gone now?" I teased her, taking the liberty of rubbing the bare plains of her waist and chuckled, nuzzling my nose in the crook of her neck.

"Abhi...Abhima..." Her stuttering was falling deaf in my ears; I had forgotten that we were not in the phase where I could pull her in me or get intimate with her. The increasing pressure on my shoulders tipped me off about her reluctance. I pulled back from her neck but didn't leave her and tipped her chin, "Will you laugh at me now?"

"Hmm?" Her eyes were widened and swayed between mine.

"Is that a yes?" I mock threatened her and she shook her head, fervently. "No."

I smiled at her and stared at how innocent she looked. How stupid was I to get her on hold with this relation that was awakening my cell. Her laugh, her words and her coyness was what dragged my day.

"Shree..." I wanted to say her that I was ready to give her a chance, give this relation a chance and I was willfully ready to disclose my darkest secret to her, "I...."

"Ahem...if you guys done. Can we come in?" Throat clearing disturbed me; I turned over to see the source. Bhabhi and Dada stood, amused.

Oh no... Seems we provided entertainment…

"You guys are impossible. You can have adventure in your room." Bhabhi giggled, looking at the mess and Shree pushed me aside.

"Actually, I was taking out coconut and I don't know how this happened." She mumbled, not making eye contact.

"It's okay...you guys go change. I'll manage here." Bhabhi nodded her chin and Shree dashed out, leaving me alone to face embarrassment.

"I will go get fresh." I murmured, scurrying my way out to the room.

"That's so embarrassing." She glared me as I stepped in our bedroom and I raised my eyebrows, "What?"

"What what...why did you hug me. You never hugged me here in the room but you'd to do that in kitchen." She grouched, thrusting her hands over her waist and raised her chin. I so wanted to kiss her then. I realized that every single day I spent with her was breaking my resistant; it was reaching my will to immune to be with her. I was really a barefaced to think that as if I had not made her cry, as if I had not mistreated her.

"Will you answer me?" She snapped her fingers before me.

"So you want me to hug you in our room?" I smirked, moving closer and gripped her waist, her eyes went wide as predicted and I hugged her tightly. Her body went spasm and I laughed internally liking the fact that I had some effect over her.

"I hugged you because you provoked me." I huskily whispered in her ear and I saw her lips quivering as I pulled back, still not intending to exit from her space. "What did I do?"

"This..." I trailed my fingers from her waist to her arms and she clutched my arms, exhaling loud.

"You shut your eyes."

"Huh!" She opened her eyes immediately and I repelled, smirking, "The bag could've fallen in you and you would've turned into paranoid if it'd hit some nerves unknown to you."

She puffed her face and I strolled in the bathroom, smiling. I decided that very fast I would confess everything to her and beg her to be my wife, for real. I knew it very well that she would definitely accede to inaugurate a fresh start with me.