Beauty
They both were stubborn, he would not come out and tell her he was in love, she would not tell him he mattered to her
They enjoyed living with each other
They enjoyed each other
They were messy and imperfect, and yet fit like a puzzle
He was up before her most mornings, her tea was ready, he always made sure her phone was turned down when he left for work and she was asleep because he kept her up
He checked on her when she walked over to his parents
He killed spiders for her and shooed away bees, and pulled her toward him if they encountered an eager dog.
Their eyes met across the room frequently and exchanged notes wordlessly
He always kissed her as soon as they returned home, pinning her on the same spot on the wall, by the door, kissing the exact spot he first kissed her
He made her nervous by just looking at her
He picked up Harold with one hand and put him behind him, and rolled closer to her every night, “Find your own” he told the puppy firmly
“Tum dhoond do” she whispered as he gathered her in his arms
“I did my own, he can do his own”
She would put his laundry away or tidy his desk or dry his towel and be greeted by the most charming smile
“My leg is hurting too” he would taunt
“Let jao daba deti hoon” she would offer
He would, but she would bend down to kiss him and run
They spent hours in bed awake and laughing about their day
They were not room mates, they were passionate adversaries.
The reality was known to them and haunted them but the attraction so deep, it was left on the way side whenever they got close to each other
Purohit called him as he sat in the waiting room of the CM’s PA
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to review the pre wedding agreement? Can you stop by?”
“I have it already, and I don’t, no”
“Umm… are you retaining us for the….”
“I just want the Bhushans paid for the store for now please” he was irritated why Purohit was getting ahead of himself
“K sure”
“Thanks” he hung up and shook his head in frustration
Tushar was calling him
“Hey”
“Hey man, a bunch of us are going to go look at a bike enthusiast’s collection, wanna join us?”
“Whereabouts?”
“I can text you, I work like an 1:30 hr from home, its closer to my work” Tushar spent the next 15 minutes describing what was in the garage of this person
“Well worth it dude”
“I am waiting to see someone in the government”
“Oh phir tujhe 2 ghante lagenge”
“Great” he laughed
“Main wait karta hoon, tu meri office aa ja”
“Got it”
“Do u want to have dinner at home?”
“Umm.. probably not”
Dead silence
They both knew what the other person was thinking
“She is at my parents”
“Ah”
“Aaja ghar”
“Umm… not sure, lets go look at these beauties”
The men laughed at their juvenile joke
“Tujhe allowed hai bike ride karna?” Tushar asked casually since he knew Taaruni held the keys
“Totally” he said coldly
Taaruni was having dinner at tushar’s
Tushar had called his wife to ask her when the next Doc appt was so he could relay to Pradyut
Taaruni was in the terrace playing with Harold and the boys
Pallavi went upstairs to ask her
“Next week” Taaruni informed “Who wants to know”
“Umm…” Pallavi couldn’t lie she was flustered
“Pradyut is here?” Taaruni was eager
“No, not HERE” Pallavi reacted somberly
“Oh… I mean… yeah yeah I get it”
Pallavi turned around to leave, and turned again to see her SIL crouched on the floor, not paying attention to anything around her, her face had fallen
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