Chapter 20

Mrunali stood amidst the deserted arcade, her eyes reflecting the disappointment she felt as she watched everyone else leave. "What should we do?" she asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

Aahan lifted his gaze to meet Mrunali's and then gestured toward the arcade. "Let's stay here for a while," he suggested.

Mrunali let out a sigh. "I don't think I can walk anymore. I just want to go home," she muttered dejectedly.

Ignoring her protest, Aahan gently scooped her up in his arms, causing a surprised yelp to escape her lips.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Mrunali asked, her eyes darting around as her unexpected outburst drew the attention of onlookers.

A blush crept onto her cheeks, whether from embarrassment or the contrast between Aahan's cool touch and her warm skin, it was hard to tell.

"So, where to next?" Aahan inquired, his voice unwavering, as if unfazed by the curious stares of the people around them.

"Aahan, Sab hame hi dekh rahe hai," she timidly said, feeling self-conscious as he carried her in his arms like a child, drawing the attention of onlookers.

(Aahan, everyone is looking at us.)

"Toh aap sirf hume dekhe, aur hum apko. Kyuki logo ke dekhne se jada humne apki fikar hai." he said in a husky voice, his words carrying a hint of reluctance to let her go, emphasizing that he didn't like that she was giving more attention to other people.

(So you just look at me and I will look at you. Because I care more about you rather those people who are looking at us.)

As he spoke, she could feel her heart racing and butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She nestled into his embrace, feeling smaller and more childlike than ever.

"Am I too heavy for you?" she asked, with a touch of concern in her voice.

"No," he assured her.

"Are you getting tired?" she inquired once more.

"No," he replied again.

"Is your arm hurting from carrying me?"

"No," he reassured her.

"If you need to put me down because you can't walk any farther, just let me know," she offered.

With a tender sigh, Aahan paused and looked at Mrunali in his arms. She seemed like a mischievous runaway after stealing food or a lover hiding from relatives prying eyes.

"Little one, first of all, you're as light as a feather. And secondly, stop acting like we're committing a crime. I just want you to have a great time at the arcade because I know how excited you were. But if you're not comfortable, we can turn back," he said gently.

Her guilt deepened as she registered Aahan's words. He was simply trying to make her happy, while she had been behaving like a spoiled child.

With a deep breath, she finally accepted his embrace, she felt like weightlessness, freedom, and pure joy all mixed together!

Mrunali feels as if time stands still, and the world around her melts away, leaving only the two of them suspended in a moment of pure bliss. The sensation of being swept off her feet, literally and figuratively, is exhilarating.

The feeling of vulnerability, mixed with complete trust, creates a sense of surrender, allowing herself to be fully supported and cherished. Her heart races with delight as she gazes into his loving eyes, feeling the deep connection and adoration.

The physical sensation of being lifted is almost like flying, with a sense of lightness and airiness, as if gravity no longer applies. Her body relaxes, melting into his embrace, feeling the warmth and strength of his arms around her.

In that moment, everything feels right with the world. She is exactly where she is meant to be - in his arms, surrounded by gentleness, care, and devotion. It's a feeling that leaves her breathless, with a heart full of joy and a soul that is filled with delight.

Mrunali could feel her cheeks flush with a sheepish and guilty expression as she succumbed to the internal debate about how to escape from Aahan's warm embrace. She conceded to indulging in some fun at the brightly lit arcade instead.

"Alright, let's go!" she exclaimed with infectious excitement, her finger pointing eagerly in the direction of the arcade.

Aahan simply shook his head at her playful antics, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

As they began to walk in the direction indicated by Mrunali, it almost appeared as if Aahan was an obedient horse and Mrunali held the reins, guiding him wherever she pleased.

After wandering around for an hour, Aahan came to a realization: it's important to never judge someone or something based solely on its outward appearance. Despite being small in stature, Mrunali has an insatiable appetite, almost like a black hole.

In just one hour, she managed to devour almost half of the food at the arcade and yet, she still seems hungry. If it was not for them living in the same house, Aahan would believe that they would starve her in the house.

"Aahan, look, that cotton candy looks so pretty," she exclaimed excitedly, her voice carrying over the lively chatter of the crowd.

He couldn't help but notice how the cotton candy glistened under the fairground lights, its pink and blue swirls reminiscent of a pastel sunset.

"Want some?" Aahan asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

She nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as they made their way to the cotton candy stand. After a short wait, they returned with a cup of fluffy, sugary confection. Despite his initial surprise at her voracious appetite, he felt a warmth spread through his chest at the sight of her delight. It was moments like these that assured him of their growing comfort and connection with each other.

As they roamed around, he heard her sigh, which made him curious about what was going on inside this little one brain now.

"What happened, little one?"

She gazed at the Ferris wheel and confided, "Esme bethne ki himmat nahi hai, aur Usme bethne ki umar nahi hai." She concluded her statement with a pout, directing her attention to Mickey Mouse.

("I don't have the courage to sit on this wheel, and I'm too old to sit on that one.")

He gestured towards Mickey Mouse and remarked, "Umar nahi hai, but height toh hai. wese v das saal se upar ki lagti v nahi ho tum."

("You may not have the age, but you do have the height. Besides, you don't even look older than ten.")

"Did you just call me short?" She gasped, hurt evident in her voice and eyes.

But he seemed unfazed by her reaction as he continued walking, holding her tightly. She squirmed in his arms, feeling insulted and struggling to understand his words.

Exasperated, he sighed, "Little one, please stop moving if you don't want to fall. And let's be honest, accept the fact that you're small and cute. There's no need to pretend otherwise."

As the words left his lips, he didn't realize the impact they had on her. Unaware of the effect of his seemingly harmless words, he continued, unaware that they had turned her as red as a tomato.

.

.

.

.

Naksh and Pihu strolled through the serene arcade, their casual demeanour belying any sense of a romantic connection between them.

"Hey, bossy, do you like the arcade?" Naksh inquired, moving closer to Pihu. She shot him a disapproving look but made no move to distance herself.

"I'm not a fan of crowded places," Pihu responded with apparent indifference.

"Well, then how are you managing in the hospital?" Naksh retorted, rolling his eyes in playful exasperation.

"About as well as I'm managing with you," Pihu shot back coolly.

Naksh heaved a resigned sigh, realizing it was best to drop the subject before it escalated into a war in the midst of the lively arcade. The last thing they needed was to tarnish their reputations with a public altercation.

"Hey, bossy," Naksh shout out.

"What?" Pihu replied in an irritated tone, but when Pihu didn't get a response, she felt a brief moment of panic. The first thought that raced through Pihu's mind sent a shiver down her spine.

'Did he faint? Who gonna drag him?' she wondered, her heart pounding in her chest. However, when she turned around, she realized that Naksh, her stupid husband, was simply looking at something with a glint of excitement in his eyes and lost.

Pihu let out a sigh of relief and took a deep breath, grateful that there was nothing to worry about dragging a dinosaur-sized man.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, hitting his head.

"Ouch! Why are you hitting me? Mom always told us not to hit the head because it decreases intelligence," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Is there even anything left to decrease?" she quipped, pointing at his head.

"YOU-..."

"Yes, me!" she interrupted, raising her eyebrows in a challenging manner.

"Forget it," he sighed, as Pihu smiled in victory.

After getting satisfied by the teasing session, Pihu asked, "By the way, why did you call for me?"

"Oh, yeah!" The anger left his body within a second and was replaced with a big idiotic grin, " See that..." He picked up something from the table of the shop and shoved it in front of Pihu's face.

So basically, this grown-ass baby named Naksh excitedly shoved a model of a black Iron bike in Pihu's face. It was clear that Naksh had a massive love for bikes, and his excitement over a bike toy wasn't surprising at all.

Pihu, somewhat taken aback, asked Naksh, "Do you want it?" To which Naksh, with childlike enthusiasm, nodded his head in affirmation.

"Then why are you telling me? Am I your sugar daddy who's going to buy it for you?" Pihu rolled her eyes, half-jokingly, half-seriously. However, Naksh's next words caught her off guard and froze her emotions.

"I don't want you to buy this for me, but I'm sharing my happiness with you." His smile faltered, revealing the genuine intention behind his action.

Pihu's body stiffened, and a chill ran down her spine. Her face paled as the weight of those words sank in. In all her years, she had never encountered such genuine, heartfelt conversation. Her world had revolved solely around work-related discussions and curt, practical exchanges.

Her parents, too, only engaged with her about work and family matters, never delving into personal emotions or connections. With no siblings, her family life lacked the warmth of intimate conversation. Even at university, her closest friend was Aahan, who, in his own reserved manner, seldom shared moments of happiness with her.

Following that incident, Pihu found herself struggling to believe in the existence of happiness, let alone in its shared expression. The memory of Naksh's faltering smile pierced her heart with a poignant ache, an unforgettable reminder of the emotional distance she had grown all too accustomed to.

"Sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I never thought you meant like this," She said in a small, soft voice.

Naksh looked at her face, noticing the delicate features and the hesitant expression that had replaced her usual aloofness. It was the first time Pihu had spoken to him with such vulnerability, asking for forgiveness and admitting that she hadn't intended to cause him pain. At that moment, it became apparent to Naksh that she cared. His heart fluttered at the realization. For the first time, he felt a sense of closeness to Pihu that had never existed before. The rapid beating of his heart left him wondering if he was losing his mind.

"Hey, bossy... Don't be sad. At least you cared about me." He teased her, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he reached out to playfully pull her cheeks.

She swiftly shoved his hand away, a frown etching into her features. "Don't pull my cheeks, you idiot," she exclaimed, rubbing her cheeks to dismiss the tingling sensation and giving him a stern glare.

Undeterred, he continued, "They're so soft and cute," his voice taking on a cooing tone.

Pihu felt her cheeks turning crimson cherry red, unsure whether it was due to embarrassment or the playful tugging. "Let's buy it," she quickly interjected, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Absolutely," he replied eagerly, moving towards the shopkeeper. Meanwhile, Pihu stood still, one hand resting on her cheeks where she could still feel the lingering touch of Naksh's large hand, the other placed on her chest. She muttered under her breath, "Stop beating like this, damnit," as her heart raced with a mix of emotions.

"How much for this?" Naksh asked, pointing to the elegant bike.

"It's 1950 rupees," the shopkeeper promptly replied.

Money was not an issue for Naksh, and without a second thought, he handed over 2000 rupees to the shopkeeper, who efficiently packed the bike for him.

"Beta, change nahi. Tum kuch or v dekho lo."

(Son, we don't have change. Can you look at something else, too.)

Undeterred, Naksh scanned the shop and soon his mischievous grin returned as he picked out something else. "I'll take this," he declared, pointing towards his new choice.

"But it's not even 50 rupees," the shopkeeper protested.

"You can keep the rest," Naksh insisted, not waiting for the shopkeeper's response as he walked over to Pihu.

"Did you buy it?" Pihu inquired.

"Yes, and I have something for you," Naksh replied with a sly smile.

"For me?" Pihu asked, sounding doubtful.

Naksh nodded, presenting her with a delicate chain adorned with a single white pearl. To anyone's eye, it didn't appear extravagant or expensive.

Pihu chuckled, "Why?"

"I don't know, I just think it will look good on you," Naksh shrugged, his hand gesturing towards the cheap chain.

"Wow. Should I be happy? A millionaire brought me ten rupees chain." She chuckled while taking the chain from his hand.

"Whatever." He said.

Pihu accepted the gift with a rolling eyes, her fingers tracing the delicate design. As Naksh began to walk away, she examined the chain and a content smile graced her lips. Unspoken but deeply felt, the chain held a special place in her heart as it marked the first gift she had ever received.

.............................................................................................................

To be continued.

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