✿ Fear ✿

I am highly disappointed. I was ready to give the next update just the next day but you guys took two freaking weeks to complete the target🤷🏻‍♀️

Those whose fingers hurt pressing the vote button, just have some self respect and stop reading my book. I don't want your views. I never understood the reason for this behavior.

I wish I could block all of such people❌

One person can't vote multiple times. So kindly don't do that! You have already done your part. Some of you were voting daily...? It doesn't count more than one. No need to repeat it daily😊

It was like I asked for your kidney instead of votes. I am done with this behavior...

Anyways🙄

This episode is dedicated to my true readers. Sorry guys for updating this late. I know and appreciate the love you have for this book...💟🫶🏻

Nataliya watched him cluelessly as if he had grown horns on his head. She blinked her eyes, saw here and there to find something interesting, then understood what he meant and finally fixed her eyes at him who was patiently waiting for her reply.

She passed him a silly toothy smile.

"What do you mean?" She decided to act dumb. Easy way to not get awkward in the presence of a hot guy.

Kaif silently took his step forward with his hands still in his pockets. He stopped a few inches away from her. His tall frame was towering her little one.

"We aren't acting dumb" He said seriously and stared at her not so innocent face.

"Ohh" Her lips formed into an 'O'.

She didn't know how to react now.

"What do you think?" He asked her opinion. He was fully invested in the conversation and had no intentions to leave it in the middle.

Ye to piche hi par gae hain, She watched him from head to toe and gulped her saliva anxiously.

(He is stuck at this conversation)

He raised his eyebrows, demanded for her answer.

"I lately decided to not think" She gave him an awkward smile.

"Be serious Nataliya! We are having an important conversation right now" His eyes disciplined her in seconds. He was seriously serious.

"Okay Sir!" She nodded.

"So, what's your take on this?" He asked once again.

"Hm why should we share a bedroom?" She asked and bit her lower lip anxiously.

"What are we Mrs Nataliya Kaif Khalil?" For the first time ever, he took her name with his and she loved it from his mouth. It sounded so perfect.

"Professor and student" She joined her hands at the back and with bowed head, she tried to act dumb once again. She loved to tease him and around him she could never be serious.

"Of course. We are!" He clenched his teeth. "But more than that we are husband and wife and couples share everything including the bedroom. I think it's the right time to acknowledge that" He averted his gaze from her not so innocent face and ran fingers through his hair.

"Right" She nodded her head like an obedient child and tapped her fingers on her neck, thinking about the possible future.

"We have already shared a bed. So I believe we are already comfortable with each other. If that's okay with you we should share a room from now" He stated plainly.

He is such a bore. Ese thori bolte hain, She thought.

"Whatever you decide is fine with me" She looked up into his eyes for a few seconds and lowered her gaze again. Her voice held nothing but innocence.

"Am I the only person in this relationship Nataliya?" He crossed his arms at his chest now.

"No" She shook her head.

"Then?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I don't mind it. As you said we are already comfortable with each other so it's fine with me" She told him seriously this time but her heart was screaming that it would die in his constant presence.

How would she face him day.

"But.." She just uttered and played with her fingers anxiously.

Kaif released a sigh.

"Relax Nataliya! Nothing would ever happen without your consent. If you are scared of me let me be clear to you I won't be doing anything that would be troubling for you. I am your husband and you have to trust me with yourself" That was the softest explanation he had ever given to her and it effortlessly softened her heart.

"I didn't mean that" She readily tried to show that he was taking it wrong. Partially he was correct but she wasn't scared of him. How could she be scared of him when he was the kindest person to her.

"Do you trust me?" His voice held some unknown intensity.

"More than anyone" She replied in a heartbeat.

He rested his hand on her cheeks and caressed it with his thumb. She smiled at him and to her surprise his lips curled up into a bright smile and his eyes softened.

Her heart fluttered watching his smile. Not every day she could see it. It was indeed a rare sight.

"Your smile is gorgeous" She couldn't stop herself from telling him.

"Thank you" He looked away and retracted his hand to his side.

"You're welcome" She mumbled, staring at her feet.

"Which room should we share. Yours or mine?" He again asked her opinion, joining his hands at his back.

"Yours of course. It's the master bedroom which you have already occupied" She taunted him at the end.

"It was my parents room" He murmured after taking a pause.

"Yeah, you had all the reasons to shift there. I wasn't complaining" She could sense sadness in his voice and it saddened her.

"So, it's decided you are moving in my room. We will shift your stuff tomorrow" He opened his arm and pointed towards their room, showing her the way.

"My stuff is in my room. I will be back in five minutes" She told him before disappearing into her room and closing the door at his face.

Okay, He mumbled as the door closed on his face.

Khare khare qatal kar dia, Inside her room she collapsed on the bed and banged her hand on the soft mattress.

(He killed me just like that, so easily)

Ab professor ke sath rehna pare ga hamesha ke lie. Ufff toba! She herself wasn't sure if she was happy or anxious.

(Now I have to live in the same room with the professor)

Kaif was lying in his bed on the side he had been sleeping for the past two nights. He was busy on his phone when she walked in, dressed in her grey t shirt and black trousers.

"Turn off the lights" He asked her without looking up from the screen of his mobile phone.

She turned off the lights, walked to her new bed and laid down at her side, more at the edge of the bed and covered herself with the blanket that smelled like him.

Just after a few seconds she had closed her eyes, an arm encircled around her chubby waist and pulled it back. Her heart took a somersault.

"You're gonna fall from there. Sleep freely, now it's your own room and bed" He pulled her in the middle and left her immediately before she could say anything.

"I'm comfortable" She more like told herself instead of him.

Her hand touched her waist where he had just laid his hand. Her mood turned sour when she thought the only thing he could feel was her fat.

She wanted to cry on her curvy figure.

"I better know that" He said putting his mobile phone on the night stand.

She turned her back towards him once again and fidgeted her fingers on the pillow. She was experiencing the same overwhelming emotions she had experienced for the past two nights. As it was the beginning she was a little uncomfortable and she knew after a few days she won't be as anxious and awkward as she was today.

"Will you go on the trip?" She broke the silence after a few minutes.

"Mhm" He was sleepy.

"Are you going on a trip?"

"Of course" He said.

"Really?" She asked unbelievably.

"What makes you think that I will send you alone so far" He asked her in reply.

"And why can't you?" She turned towards him and asked seriously this time.

"You mess up" He too turned towards her and now they were facing each other.

"I am not a kid. I can take care of myself" She opposed the idea.

"I know you better than you know yourself and I can't be satisfied. I would remain worried for you if I sent you alone. So there is no point in sending you away without me being at your side" He stated plainly.

"Ab waha py bhi maza kirkira karain gy a kar" She huffed.

(You would spoil my trip with your presence)

"I have never been an obstacle in your enjoyment" He clearly minded and replied immediately in defense.

"Sir! Listen" She took his attention dramatically.

"Already doing that" He replied.

"The journey would be very long. You would get tired" She told him beforehand as if he didn't know that.

"I am not an old man! It's not an issue for me" He cleared it.

"It would be too cold there" She tried again to make him reconsider his decision to go on the trip with students.

"That's not a problem for me. You should think about yourself" He suggested.

"There would be so much noise, you would get a headache" She warned him about the thing he hated. He loved the peaceful environment and he couldn't get it on the trip, no chance.

"I already know that ma'am" He said, nodding his head.

"Alright. You win, I lose" She accepted even though they weren't playing a game.

"Very good" He patted her arm.

"We will go shopping tomorrow. I have nothing to wear. I will buy warm clothes. I have seen a long coat. I will buy that and there is this new perfume launched by my favorite brand. There is much hype about it. I will buy that. And I want to buy some minimalist jewellery. It's in fashion these days. And and..yes, I have stocked out of my tint I will get that as well" She gave him a to-do list which he heard without interrupting her.

"Alright. Get anything you want" He only said that.

"Goodnight" She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.

"Goodnight" He kept looking at her face before closing his eyes and falling asleep, facing her.

It was half an hour later, Kaif was sleeping soundly and she was still struggling to fall asleep when a notification popped up on her mobile phone's screen.

Hy! It's been days since I've seen you. Can't you come to see me. I have been missing you. Or should I visit you at your university?

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and upper lips. She patted her upper lips and sighed, closing her eyes. She blocked his contact number knowing it very well that he would use another number to text her next time.

She tossed in the bed restlessly until finally facing him again and holding his hand in her tiny ones. She hold onto his hands as if her life was dependent on him and rested her face on his hand.

She closed her eyes peacefully.

She loved the warmth he provided her. She knew she wasn't alone. He was at her side but her heart was filled with fear.

A moment later, his other hand caressed her hair. Her eyes shot opened. He woke up and saw her holding onto him.

"What happened?" He asked softly, caressing her hair.

"Nothing" She muttered, without leaving his hand nor did he try to remove it from her hold.

"Go to sleep" He came closer to her and kissed her temple.

"I can't fall asleep" She told him after taking a minute.

Without saying anything he started caressing her hair again and she didn't know when she fall asleep...

She has finally reached her designated place. How was the conversation about it?

What can be the reason of Nataliya's fear?

Story ain't that simple. Buckle up your seats. The journey is going to be a little thrilling.