Chapter 17
Silence was the only answer to the Ministry representative's inquiry.
"Very well, very well," the older gentleman said joyfully. He pulled out a ribbon and procured the golden marriage certificate set in a scroll. He set it in front of Mayank and Nupur.
"Mayank Sharma, if you are of sound mind, please, in front of all these witnesses, sign your name on the first line."
Sound mind? Nope… sorry, buddy. I've been certifiably out of my mind since that first sip of Baccardi at CJ's twenty-first birthday party.
Mayank signed his name with the diamond encrusted Mont Blanc his mother had insisted they use. It was extravagant and gaudy and perfectly Shilpa.
"Very well, very well," the representative said once Mayank was through. "Nupur Bhushan, if you are of sound mind, please, in front of all these witnesses, sign your name on the second line."
Nupur took the pen from Mayank and signed her name under his, trying her best to hide her hyperventilation.
"Very well!" the representative boomed.
Mayank closed his eyes to keep what minimal sanity he had left. If the asshole says 'very well' one more time, I'm going to stab him in the eye with the pen.
"I am honored to be the first to announce Mr. and Mrs. Mayank Sharma as husband and wife. Please, Mr. Sharma, do kiss your new bride."
Damn… I was hoping he'd forget.
Mayank and Nupur… and half of the guests… turned to the sound of giggles coming from the front row. Neev and Harsh were laughing into their hands, unaware that they were disrupting the ceremony.
"They're going to kiss… ewww!" Harsh told Neev.
"That's yucky!" Neev reassured his friend. "My daddy would not do something that yucky."
"Neev Sharma," Ajay's slow, baritone drawl sounded from the front table. Neev looked up at his granduncle and immediately wiped the smile off of his face. Harshad, a smart lad, did the same. "Are you quite through with your silliness?"
Neev and Harsh nodded, wide-eyed.
Ajay nodded once and then gestured for the representative to continue.
"Daddy, don't kiss mummy… it's yucky!" Neev screamed, making his concerns clear to everyone.
Nupur's cheeks felt tremendously warm, and she knew they must have been burning bright red for the world to see. Mayank seemed ready to say something, as his cheeks were powder pink. If Nupur wasn't mortified beyond belief, she would have thought he looked quite endearing.
Sonali, sitting next to the boys, leaned close to them. "Mummies and daddies kiss all the time, Neev. It's what they do. When you get married, you're going to kiss your wife."
Neev looked horrified, as did Harsh. "I'm never going to kiss a girl. That's gross!"
Sonali rolled her eyes. "Trust me; you'll change your mind. Now, please stay quiet so that you don't embarrass your parents any further. I am not to hear a peep from either of you. Is that clear?"
Neev and Harsh pouted and scratched at their clothes before nodding solemnly.
The Ministry representative laughed jovially. "Very well…"
Mayank gripped the Mont Blanc pen in his hand, accidentally snapping it in two.
"Now that the young ones have expressed their dire grievances against the wonderful show of affection, let us proceed. Where was I? Oh, yes. Please, Mr. Sharma, kiss your new bride."
You should have protested harder, Neev…
Nupur turned to her 'dearly beloved' and gave him a pale smile. She didn't know what happened, but one second she was preparing herself for what was going to be the most forced action she had ever displayed… and the next second, Mayank's lips were on hers.
Quick and simple. Good thinking, Mayank. I wish I had thought of it. Wait, this is not quick… his lips are still on mine. And they're warm… and soft…and why am I remembering all our other insignificant kisses?And oh, now they're gone.
Nupur blinked quickly and settled her gaze on Mayank who had turned away from her, standing up quickly, avoiding looking into her eyes. She realized their guests were applauding and stood up, too.
She felt disoriented, reeling from the brief, surprising kiss. Her lips felt itchy… she now understood how the boys felt in their tuxedos. Her skin burned from his touch and she had to resist the urge to press her fingers to her mouth. Oh good god, they tasted even better than before….what? No they didn't! You did not enjoy that kiss Nupur. You didn't. Yup, you didn't. Who're you kidding – of course you did.
Smiling faces and cheers of congratulations followed them as Mayank maneuvered them through the guests back into the manor. The reception of the wedding would be held in the regal drawing room.
"Why… why are you walking so fast?" Nupur panted as Mayank dragged her through the empty halls of the manor, the guests slowly making their way in.
He suddenly stopped and she ran into the hard form of his body. "You idiot, warn me next time you stop," she said, rubbing her nose which had come into violent contact with his shoulder blade.
"I forget your legs aren't as long as mine," he said calmly.
"How can you forget? I stand a head shorter than you," she grimaced, noticing that he was still holding her hand.
He smiled sheepishly and rubbed at his hair. "I'm sorry; I had to get out of that garden… all the white and the flowers and all the people looking at us. It was incredibly awkward."
Nupur stared at him, wondering why the pink hadn't receded from his cheeks. "It was a bit awkward. Neev's worry lifted the spirits a bit, though. It's ok, now; you don't have to go through that yucky experience ever again." Heavens knows it wasn't yucky at all for me.
Mayank looked at her and smiled as she teased him, wondering how she could be so confident and not a shaking pile of nerves. His heart still hadn't slowed down…. from running, of course, not from the soft, short kiss she had given back slowly… well, that's what he was telling himself at least.
"Thanks for remembering not to recoil in disgust," he muttered quietly, one corner of his lips up in a half-smile.
She looked up at him and suddenly took her hand from his, ignoring the loss of heat. "What are we waiting for?"
"All the guests must enter the drawing room and then we enter when the representative announces us. It's lame and it's unnecessary, but it's how they do it."
She took a breath and grabbed his hand back, lacing her fingers through his. He looked at her and then down at their linked hands. What's this? She's holding my hand? No one's here yet. Or is she just trying to calm me down….horrible way to do it though. N-no, she's just…just practicing…now make a witty comment. "Newlyweds, right. Can't keep our hands off each other…"
She stifled a laugh and nodded. "Are you up for it?"
"I'm just pretending I'm an actor… 'All the world's a stage…'"
"'And all the men and women merely players'," Nupur finished for him, her smile finding it difficult to leave her face. "Except, it's just you and me as the players."
"Right," he nodded.
Two pattering sets of footsteps resounded from behind them in the massive hallway. Neev and Harsh ran up to them and each took a pair of legs to hug.
"Why did you kiss?!" Neev asked, sickened beyond his limited four-year-old vernacular. "It was a 'isgusting!" he said, tripping over his words.
"Yeah, Masi! It was yucky!" Harsh agreed.
"Because when you're in love, you kiss," Nupur explained. "You have to wait until you're a grown-up to kiss." Good god, what am I saying.
Harsh and Neev exchanged disgruntled glances. "Can we have cake?"
The randomness and velocity of their conversation changes were normal enough that Mayank and Nupur sighed with relief that the kissing discussion was over.
"I told you not to go into the drawing room this morning," Mayank accused, knowing the boys had seen the massive white cake.
They looked to the ground, guilty looks on their faces.
Nupur sensed something was amiss. "Did you two already have some cake?"
"No!" they quickly defended, giving away any hope they had for convincing Nupur and Mayank of their innocence.
"You know what the punishment is for lying, Neev," Mayank said, his eyes narrowing in half-amusement, half-exasperation.
As usual, Neev unconsciously grabbed the seat of his itchy pants and quickly looked at Harsh, telling him in silent tones that the jig was up. A spanking was so not worth it.
"Only a little bit, daddy. It was so yummy!" he said hopefully.
Nupur and Mayank looked at each other at the sound of Shilpa's voice coming from the ballroom. "Neev Sharma and Harshad Khanna, you get yourselves into this room right this second!"
Neev and Harsh looked up at the adults with worried glances. Dadi was pissed.
"I've never seen two people more in love," Shilpa said, sighing dreamily as she spoke with two ladies she knew were married to Ministry workers. She had set out a plan to really help out her son: spreading the word and having fun while at it. She didn't get many chances to act.
Mrs. Deshmukh looked over at the newlyweds sitting near each other at the head table of the ballroom, sitting close to each other, Mayank whispering something into Nupur's ear, his arm around her shoulders.
"Young love," she sighed. "I do congratulate you, Shilpa. Your son has married a beautiful woman and she looks like she makes him so happy."
Of course she does…well, she will soon…
"Yes, I am so delighted at the prospect of having Nupur finally join our family. She's a great mother to my grandson and she makes my son happier than he's ever been."
Ease it back a bit. You don't want to overdo it.
"Look at them whispering sweet nothings to each other like fresh spring lovers. She's actually blushing. A blushing bride! How lovely," Mrs. Verma, the other lady, said.
Shilpa quirked an eyebrow, wondering what on earth those two were talking about. Well, I should be happy. They do look like they're smitten by each other…but so soon? Something's fishy.
"Good guess, but Austin is the capital of Texas. Not Houston," Nupur whispered back, trying to ignore the goose bumps that tried to erupt on her body from Mayank's proximity and the heat coming from his arm around her shoulders.
"But Houston is the largest city…"
"True, but the capital is still Austin," she replied. "I thought you knew this Mr Brainiac. No points for you then. Now, it's your turn and give me a challenging one this time."
"Ok. Tell me, what is the atomic number of Radium?" Mayank asked. He hoped she didn't catch the huskiness in his voice. But, damn it all, she smelled so sweet. Sweet and fresh, floral… and her skin was soft. Softer than it had ever been when he used to caress it before. So damn soft. Damn. Damn. Triple damn.
"Oh, good one," she said, furrowing her brows and trying to picture the Periodic Table of the Elements. "It's either 88 or 89… um, ok, I'm going with 88."
"Damn, that's right," Mayank mumbled. Since when did she get so smart? "Ok, your turn."
Nupur thought for a second. "Name four classical Baroque musicians."
Mayank smiled. "You're not even trying anymore, but I'll answer you regardless. There's Corelli, Purcell, Vivaldi, and Telemann."
"I thought I'd trip you up on that one," she sighed. But how could I? He's the genius Mr Mayank Sharma."Your turn."
"Name a position from the Kama Sutra," he said, his lips lifted in a smirk. Ha! Stumped her this time.
"Mayank!" she whispered harshly. What the hell? Is he flirting? Good god, he can't be flirting! We still hate each other…well not hate but definitely dislike each other. Nupur, stop blushing so hard, people are going to think you've turned into a tomato. Ugh. "God, this is 'boring facts and trivia', not 'pervert particulars'."
She could feel her cheeks burn against Mayank's traveling fingers.
Why, oh why is he acting at this newlywed thing so well! I hate his caresses! I love them! NO! I hate them!!
"You're blushing," he laughed quietly. "This is fun." Fun? Teasing her is certainly fun. But…why do I keep doing it? You can clearly see she's uncomfortable. Don't need to get so personal. But….she looks just so darn irresistible today and she's so easy to tease – I can't help it. Damn!
"You're a stupid git," she mumbled. "A wanker of massive proportions."
"And you're uptight and prudish," he responded in her ear, causing her to suppress a shiver she didn't want him to know he elicited.
"I am not," she whispered back, forcing her lips not to form a scowl. People were watching.
"Then answer the question," he shrugged; his whispers still warm against her neck and ear. "Unless… you don't know the answer, thus giving me the win."
She sighed angrily, the forced smile making her cheeks and lips twitch. "Fine. The Pair of Tongs."
Mayank burst out laughing and ignored the elbow in the ribs delivered by his new bride. "Ok, ok. You get two points for that one. Great answer." This is so easy – laughing and not fighting. We should do this more often. Except she isn't going to look like that everyday.
"Glad you have had your laugh, now we're tied," she said. "Lightning round."
"What on earth are you two still doing sitting here?" Gunjan said from behind them. "It's your wedding and you must go out there and dance!"
Mayank and Nupur leaned away from each other and looked out towards the mahogany dance-floor where a few people stood socializing, dancing and having a much better time than the newlyweds.
"It's ok, Gunjan," Nupur said, waving her hand in a casual manner. "We enjoy watching."
"How can you not dance at your own wedding, Di?"
"Easy; we just sit here and not dance," Mayank said, getting a scathing look from his sister-in-law.
"Darling, I believe it imperative that you dance at least the couple's first dance," Shilpa said, coming up to them with a look that said they had no choice.
Mayank and Nupur internally groaned, knowing that it would help keep up the pretense of a love-filled marriage if they danced the traditional couple's first slow dance.
"Now, hurry along and I'll alert the string orchestra to play a song. Any requests?" Shilpa smiled softly, knowing that the newly-wedded couple was sending her evil curses in their minds. You are sooo going to enjoy this dance my sweets. I promise you that.
"Whatever you'd like is fine, Auntie," Nupur said. Oh god – a dance. I haven't even gotten over that wretched nightmare yet and here comes a real, live nightmare. God help me. Well, at least no salsa. Only swaying gently to the music. Why does that seem worse somehow?
Mayank held out his hand for Nupur as they made their way to the dance floor, all eyes on them.
Neev sat in Ajay's lap, Harsh sitting in the chair next to them, with his parents.
"Are they going to kiss again, Mummy?" Harsh asked.
"Yes," Gunjan replied. "They're married now, Harsh. When people are married, they kiss."
"You and Mummy don't kiss," Harsh replied, looking at Samrat now.
How dare he question my amorous prowess...
"Yes we do," Samrat replied.
"No, you don't," Harsh shook his head.
"Yes, we do."
"Nuh uh."
"Yes, we do."
"Nuh uh!" he insisted.
"Harsh, we kiss all the time. You just don't see us," Samrat countered, wondering how he got sucked into the argument. "Now, stay quiet. They are going to start their dance."
"Dance? Why are they going to dance?" Neev innocently asked his granduncle.
Ajay sighed and signaled for one of the servers to bring him a strong drink. "Because that's what people do at weddings."
"Can Harsh and me dance?"
"Not together," Ajay quickly answered.
"Why not?"
Stop with the bloody questions!
"Because boys should not dance together."
"Why?"
Count to ten, Ajay. Count to ten… steady now. You love him, remember?
"Because in most cultures, only girls and boys dance together."
"Oh," Neev replied, his brows furrowed in concentration. He had no idea what culture meant… but he had a feeling he had reached his question quota with his granduncle. "Are you mad at me, Unca Ajay?"
The ice that usually surrounded Ajay's exterior seemed to melt away when he looked down at his grandson, the one child he would move heaven and earth for. "No, Neev. I'm not mad at you."
"Can Harsh and me dance not together, when they play the fun music again?"
"Yes. Why don't you ask Dadi if she wants to dance with you?"
Neev's face lit up and he jumped out of his granduncle's lap just as the song for Nupur and Mayank started.
"If you put your hand any lower, I'm going to knee you in the groin," Nupur hissed, waiting for the music to start as they assumed their position.
Mayank tried to hide his devious smile, but it shined through. He obediently raised his hand higher up on her waist and squeezed her hand, which he was holding. Why can't I keep my hands and eyes off her? Control yourself Mayank. You used to pride yourself on your self-control skills. What the hell happened today? "Newlyweds, remember."
"I'll make myself a widow if you don't behave," she said, staring up at him through narrowed eyes. "God, I wish everyone wasn't looking at us. I feel incredibly uncomfortable." Why is he staring at me like that? I don't look any different….is he forcing me to think of the old times – but why would he do that? He doesn't wish to revisit those memories either.
"Tell me about it," he muttered. "When is the stupid music going to start?" Can we get over this dance already?
As if on cue, the first chord of the music began.
Nupur smiled softly as she recognized the piece and at the ease at which Mayank floated around with her on the smooth dance-floor.
"Why are you smiling?" he whispered, leaning his head down, now focusing on the small mole on her collar bone.
"Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. It's my favorite," she said. "Your mother is very intuitive."
"Oh," he nodded.
Mayank stiffened when he caught a whiff of the subtle gardenia and jasmine scent wafting from her hair, so close to his face. If the song lasted any longer, he was going to have to move away from her and find a bucket of ice water to dump on himself. And why was he constantly looking at that bloody mole?
Ok, Mayank, think non-arousing thoughts: fractions and differentiation; Annie bitching at me; watching my Japanese colleagues eating live octopuses; the time Neev threw up on me; Lalita Sherawat in a bikini… ah, that did it. I'm good to go.
The dance ended minutes later and Nupur hadn't even noticed that she had been lost in her thoughts, her feet moving on their own accord, in perfect step with her partner. The soft applause from their guests and the rowdy cheers from Harsh and Neev concluded their round on the dance-floor.
Mayank stepped back and bowed over her hand, kissing her knuckles softly. I better stop this.
The guests were eating it up.
Nupur, on the other hand, well, she suddenly realized that she wished this was all real. Not that she wanted to marry Mayank Sharma… good God, no. But, she missed this…being in a committed relationship, one where someone loved her as much as she loved them…where she loved Mayank so much it hurt, where she used to wait up all night for him to call her finally at 11.30 – their usual time, where they used to go for their walks on the beach at dusk talking nothing in particular, where she used to hear the three enthralling words every day at least 7 times….
Once the six months were over, she was going to finally get on track and find the perfect man for her. It was time for Nupur Bhushan… er…Nupur Sharma nee Bhushan, to find the man of her dreams and settle down!
She could last six months without killing herself or her new husband, right?
Mayank tried not to curse as he saw the trio of dimwits, Samrat, Uday and Benji, approach the table he and Nupur were sitting at. They were scowling at him, naturally, and didn't even bother to put on a fake smile until Nupur had looked up at them.
Just to taunt them, a favorite habit of Mayank's, he put his arm around Nupur and kissed her cheek, lingering there for a second, before turning back to the golden trio. "Come to wish us congratulations?"
Through gritted teeth, Uday spoke. "Congratulations, Nupur."
Nupur smiled lightly, feeling slightly dizzy at the kiss. "Thank you, Uday Bhaiyya. I'm really, really happy you decided to come today. I know you don't much like the choice I've made, but the fact that you showed up really means a lot to me."
Uday's scowl softened and he gave her a small smile. "You look beautiful today, by the way. Gunjan and Dia can't get over it."
"Of course she looks beautiful," Mayank said, having fun with the distraught looks they were giving him. "But, then again, I'm biased and think she looks beautiful every single day."
Nupur looked up at Mayank and stared at him, her eyes almost popping out. He's just doing to irritate them Nupur. Duh….and here you were, thinking he meant it. She subtly pushed the heel of her foot down onto Mayank's, warning him not to go overboard.
Samrat and Benji frowned and looked as if the cake they had eaten was threatening to make a comeback. "Well, we're happy that you're happy, Nupur," Benji said, ignoring the goo-goo eyes that Mayank was making at her.
"Thank you, Benji. I really don't want this to affect our friendship. You, Uday Bhaiyya and Samrat are my best friends and I could never live with myself if the three of you were upset with me," she said, truly meaning it.
"We're not mad, Nupur," Uday sighed. "But did you really have to marry him?"
"I'm right here," Mayank replied with a glower. "At least wait until I'm gone before talking about me."
"Oh, did I hurt your feelings?" Uday asked, rolling his eyes.
"Please, don't start," Nupur warned. "You can fight all you want later on, but right now there are other people around. Speaking of which, Dia and her boyfriend look like they're coming to give us their best wishes."
The five of them turned to see the aforementioned couple walking towards them. Dia had made it back to Mumbai from her tour in Singapore.
"Congratulations!" Dia said, leaning down to give Nupur a kiss on the cheek and to shake hands with Mayank.
"This is a beautiful wedding," Dia said.
"Thank you, Dia. I'm glad you made it," Nupur said, repeating the same line she had said to at least one hundred other people.
"So, where are the two of you going for your honeymoon?"
Nupur sounded as if she had choked on her own spit and Mayank placed a hand at the small of her back to steady her. "We've actually decided not to have a honeymoon."
She seemed surprised by his quick answer and then relieved that it was satisfactory.
"Who the hell doesn't go on a honeymoon?" Dia asked, bewildered.
"We just thought it best if we skipped ours. Besides, what we do on a honeymoon can be done anywhere… isn't that right, my love?"
I'm going to kill you Mayank Sharma, hubby dearest. I'm going to kill you slowly and painfully.
"Isn't he tactful?" Nupur said in a half-joking, half-serious comment directed towards him. She hoped the men around her caught the teasing lilt to her voice and she hoped her new husband caught the murderous intent in her tone. It was hard playing two parts.
"I bet you two can't wait for tonight," Dia smirked.
"Ok, we're leaving," Samrat grimaced, pushing Uday away from the group trying to depart quickly. "Congrats and all that rubbish; bye!"
"Daddy!" the two boys cried out upon spotting their fathers.
"The cake is so yummy, daddy!" Harsh explained to his father, who had picked him up promptly upon his materialization. "Neev and me had ten pieces!"
"You did? How did you get these ten pieces?"
Neev answered this one. "So many peoples only eated a little bit of their cake so we finished them!"
"You ate the pieces of cake on the tables?" Mayank asked, knowing fully well that his son and his son's friend had just acted as garbage disposals.
"Yes! Some of 'em had a little bit of cake and some of 'em had a lot!" Harsh explained. "We ate so much and then Neev's Dadi said that we can't have any more cakes… my tummy hurts."
"Me too!" Neev said, his forehead wrinkled in confusion. "But I don't have to go potty. Only my tummy hurts."
"Thank you for sharing, Neev," Mayank replied. "Go find Kaki and tell her your tummies hurt and she'll give you the right medicine."
The two boys slowly left the group, scratching at their bottoms and the backs of their thighs. They tried to sneak in another piece of cake on their way out, but Ajay's glare stopped them. Better luck next time, boys.
Mayank turned off the light in his son's room and closed the door quietly so as to not wake him up. It was almost midnight and all the sugar from the filched cakes Neev had eaten had finally worn off.
The sound of Nupur tinkering around in his… their… bedroom made him stop for a second and think about his day.
He was married for the second time and this wife didn't like him any more than the first one did. He didn't care about the first one but….Nupur not liking him somehow left him feeling stung. But anyway, there was no doubt he was extremely grateful towards Nupur.
When this was all said and done, who would want to marry a twice-divorced, single father? Sure he was handsome as sin, if he did say so himself, but that wasn't enough to find a real mother for Neev. A real wife for him. Someone who didn't hate him. Someone who could possibly love him. Wouldn't that be nice?
Pushing away those sensitive, never-to-be exposed-to-another-male thoughts, Mayank knocked lightly on his door, irritated at the fact that he had to knock on his own door, but he didn't want to walk in on anything less than a fully-clothed Nupur.
He was granted entrance and he walked in to find Nupur sitting cross-legged on her bed, flipping through a book. Mayank tried to ignore her wheatish legs poking out of the basketball shorts she wore as pyjamas, but he was failing. Another wedding night for him spent in a lonely bed. Yippee.
Not that he wanted to sleep with Nupur… good God, no; but he was still a virile man with friggin' urges… and there was an attractive (he finally admitted it to himself) female in his room, sleeping only two bedside tables away.
NO! No thoughts like that. She is an employee and that's it. She isn't your girl anymore, Mayank. You've got to control these…urges. Cold showers have treated you well these past five years. Six more months is not going to kill you.
"Are you going to come in or are you going to stand there all night?" Nupur asked, looking up from the publication in her lap. "Is Neev sleeping?"
"Yes, he finally crashed after that insane sugar-high. I only hope your sister is having a better time with Harsh," Mayank replied, pulling off his shirt and walking to his own queen-sized bed.
Nupur gulped and watched as her new husband revealed the expanse of smooth, broad chest she remembered having admired years back. But…he, he used to at least sleep with a shirt on. Why on earth was he taking off his shirt? Please tell me he's not drunk. Oh God please.
"You can tell me to get out if you want to change," she said in a broken voice.
He looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "I'm not changing clothes. I'm going to bed."
"Oh," she said, biting her thumb. He sleeps shirtless?! Since when? Please, please, please, oh God, don't let him sleep completely nude.
"Don't worry, I keep my pyjama pants on. I thought you knew." he said with a wily smile, lying down on his bed on top of the covers. What? What makes you think she still remembers you twit? Haven't you forgotten – she's tried to forget you completely over these five years. And she's probably succeeded too. It isn't her fault you haven't forgotten every single stupid habit of hers.
"What are you reading?" he asked nervously, desperately trying to cover up the desperation in his voice.
"The spring issue of the Indian Journal of Educational Psychology," she said, realizing what he'd just said. "They have this great study this month about the learning habits of adolescents diagnosed with depression…"
Mayank snored and hoped she got the message.
"You're an ass," she muttered, going back to her article. "Ass-face."
"I love you, too, wife," he laughed and then stopped himself. What am I doing?
"Don't even joke like that," she grimaced. "God, I can't believe I'm actually married... and to you!"
"Yeah, well, I'm completely knackered. I'm turning in. You can leave the light on to read, it doesn't bother me."
Nupur watched him get out of the bed and pull the covers down, catching a glimpse of his strong back and the muscles moving beneath the skin as he moved to get in the bed. Before he could catch her ogling him, she switched back to the periodical in her lap.
"Good night," she whispered once he was under the covers.
He mumbled something back, already halfway to his final destination to a deep slumber.
She smiled softly as she heard his light snores and soon, she found herself droopy-eyed and cuddling into her own covers.
Well, Mrs. Sharma, welcome to the next six months of your life.
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Author's note: A more naughtier chapter I know ;) but it needed some light-heartedness...hoped u liked it!
Real Estate
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