The clock ticked past midnight as I walked into the kitchen, suppressing a yawn. I was on my third cup of coffee for the night, my eyes burning from hours of working on the question papers for the upcoming exams.
The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint rustling of papers coming from the living room.
I paused, coffee mug in hand, and frowned. It was Kruti.
There she was, hunched over the coffee table, her books and notes scattered in every direction. She was chewing on the end of her pen, her eyes glued to her textbook, completely unaware of my presence.
"Kruti," I called, my voice low but firm.
She didn't even flinch, too engrossed in whatever she was studying.
I stepped closer, placing my mug on the counter with a deliberate thud. "Kruti. What are you doing up so late?"
This time, she looked up, her face lighting up with a guilty smile. "Oh, hey. Didn't see you there."
I crossed my arms, giving her a pointed look. "It's past midnight. Why are you still studying?"
"Because I have exams coming up," she replied nonchalantly, flipping a page in her textbook. "And because I want to pass them."
"You've been at this for hours," I said, my tone sharp. "Have you ever taken your medicine yet?"
She waved me off, her attention already back on her notes. "I'll take it later."
"Later?" My irritation flared. "Kruti, you can't just ignore your health because of some exam."
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the couch. "I'm fine. Seriously."
"You're not fine," I snapped, walking over to stand in front of her. "You're exhausted. You need to rest."
"Then why are you still awake?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow. "You've had three cups of coffee already, haven't you?"
"That's different," I countered. "I'm working."
"And I'm studying," she said, her voice stubborn.
I clenched my jaw, feeling my patience wear thin. "Take your medicine, Kruti."
"No."
"Kruti," I warned.
She smirked, clearly enjoying this. "Make me."
I stared at her, my frustration mounting. "Fine."
Before she could react, I grabbed the bottle of medicine from the shelf and popped a tablet into my mouth.
"Dev, what are youâ"
I didn't let her finish. Leaning down, I cupped her face and kissed her, slipping the medicine into her mouth.
Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she froze. But as soon as she realized what I'd done, she pulled back, coughing and glaring at me.
"Dev!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of outrage and disbelief. "Did you justâ"
"Yes," I said simply, crossing my arms.
She stood up, her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at me. "That was completely unnecessary!"
"You wouldn't listen to me," I retorted, unable to hide the smirk tugging at my lips.
"You're impossible!" she huffed, grabbing a pillow from the couch and throwing it at me.
I caught it easily, chuckling. "If I'm impossible, what does that make you?"
Her cheeks flushed with frustration, and she crossed her arms, turning away from me. "I'm not talking to you."
"Good," I said, stepping closer. "Then you can save your energy for sleeping."
She spun around, her eyes blazing. "I'm not going to bed. I have to finish this chapter."
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Kruti, you're not doing yourself any favors by staying up all night. You need to rest."
"And I will," she insisted. "After I'm done."
I stared at her, exasperated. She was the most stubborn person I'd ever met.
"Fine," I said, my tone deceptively calm. "If you won't listen, I'll make sure you get some rest myself."
Before she could protest, I scooped her up in my arms, lifting her bridal style.
"Dev!" she yelped, her hands clutching my shoulders. "What are you doing? Put me down!"
"Not until you're in bed," I said, walking toward the bedroom.
"This is ridiculous!" she complained, squirming in my arms. "I'm not a child!"
"No," I agreed, glancing down at her. "But you're acting like one."
She glared at me, her face red. "You're unbelievable."
"Thank you," I said dryly, pushing the bedroom door open with my foot.
I carried her over to the bed and gently set her down, ignoring her protests.
"There," I said, stepping back. "Now stay here and get some sleep."
She sat up immediately, crossing her arms. "I'm not tired."
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms to mirror her. "Really?"
"Yes, really," she said stubbornly.
"Then why are you yawning?" I asked, smirking as she tried to stifle a yawn.
"That doesn't mean anything," she said defensively, pulling the blanket up around her.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Kruti, just admit that you're tired and go to sleep."
"Fine," she muttered, lying down and turning her back to me. "But only because I'm tired of arguing with you."
I chuckled, walking over to the door. "Goodnight, Kruti."
"Whatever," she mumbled, her voice already drowsy.
As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but smile. She was infuriating, stubborn, and impossible to deal with at times.
But she was also... endearing.
And maybe, just maybe, I didn't mind her antics as much as I pretended to.