chapter 81

Author's POV Thulir got down from the bike and walked ahead to unlock the gate. The key was with her. Agathiyan followed slowly behind, still astride the bike. A lone copper light flickered outside, casting a warm glow across the entrance.He parked the bike to the side and watched her unlock the front door. His brows drew together in mild surprise.“You had the keys all along?”Already stepping into the house, she turned slightly and replied,“Hmm. I hired a team to clean and restore everything—no changes, just some careful care. They finished the work only today, and the key reached me by evening. I slipped it into my pocket, and when we stopped for tea, I remembered. That’s why I asked you to bring me here tonight. Otherwise, I would've come by tomorrow to check everything. The wardrobe’s done too. Clothes have been dry-cleaned and freshened up, I also asked them to leave some new clothes in the guest room—just to be safe. With the weddings getting closer, we might have people stay here, right?”She switched on the lights, letting the warm brightness breathe life into the familiar walls. Nothing much had changed. And that, in itself, made the place feel like home.Agathiyan glanced around and nodded silently.“I’m going to take a shower,” she said, walking into their room.The photo frames still hung in place—frozen memories watching over her. She smiled at them, opened the cupboard, grabbed a towel, and stepped into the bathroom. She didn’t bother locking the door, silently inviting him. But when he didn’t come, she didn’t mind. The hot water embraced her as she soaked in the stillness.Outside, Agathiyan moved through the house, taking it all in—the new curtains, the polished, restored furniture. He sat on the freshly upholstered sofa to test its comfort. The new TV, fridge, and washing machine stood unused—unplugged, waiting. It made sense now—just as she said, the workers had only finished today.In the kitchen, he ran his fingers along the old wooden fittings, their familiar texture unchanged. No modular cabinets. No glossy makeovers. Thulir had insisted on keeping it exactly as it was.This house—every wall, every corner—held a pulse of its own. Memories were etched into it like carvings in old wood.He, Aadhavan, and Thulir had spent countless weekends here when their grandparents were alive. Later, it became a quiet haven for him and Thulir—where they first lived as husband and wife. This wasn’t just a home. It was their place. A vessel of beginnings, and maybe, a space to begin again."You haven’t showered yet?"Thulir’s voice, sharp and impatient, sliced through Agathiyan’s thoughts, wrenching him back to the present. He turned just as she stepped out of the bedroom, her fingers working through the damp strands of her hair with a towel. The sight of her sent a jolt through him—she was wearing one of his old brown shirts, the fabric now stretched snug over her fuller curves, the first few buttons carelessly undone, exposing the delicate dip of her collarbone and a teasing hint of cleavage. A towel was wrapped loosely around her waist, barely secured, and he knew that she wore nothing beneath.The shirt, once oversized on her, now clung to every dip and swell of her body, the thin material damp in places, plastered to her skin. The outline of her nipples, peaked from the cool air or perhaps something else, pressed against the fabric, taunting him. when Thulir adjusted the towel he find the hem of his shirt barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, leaving far too much to the imagination—or, in his case, to memory.Agathiyan’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening as he bit down on his lower lip, his eyes dragging over her with a slow, deliberate heat. From the tousled wet hair falling over her shoulders, down the tempting slope of her neck, over the shirt that barely contained her, to the long, bare legs that made his fingers twitch with the urge to touch.Thulir, oblivious—or perhaps indifferent—to his simmering attention, dropped the hair towel over her shoulder and bent forward to rifle through the drawer beneath the TV stand. The movement made the waist towel slip dangerously low, the edge catching on the curve of her hip before she straightened with an irritated huff."Ugh" she muttered, yanking the towel free and tossing it onto the sofa. Now unhindered, she bent again, deeper this time, the hem of the shirt riding up to expose the tempting swell of her backside—Agathiyan casually held out the remote in front of her.Thulir stared at it, annoyed. He had it all along and let her search for no reason. She stood up, ready to scold him but before she could say anything, his palm came down hard on her ass.She let out a sharp gasp, her body jerking in surprise as she spun to face him. His smirk was infuriating, smug with the knowledge of exactly what that sound did to him. But he gave her no time to retaliate—his arm hooked around her waist, pulling her against him in one swift motion.His mouth crashed onto hers, swallowing her protest, his kiss hungry, demanding. One hand tangled in her damp hair, gripping tight, tilting her head to deepen the angle as his tongue swept past her lips. The other roamed possessively over her body—skimming the curve of her waist, sliding down to grip her thigh, hiking it up around his hip as he backed her against small table.She melted into his kiss and sucked his lower lip in retaliation, but he only growled, his fingers tightening in her hair as he kissed her harder, deeper, as if he could devour her whole.Her moans were swallowed by his kiss, lost in the heat between them. What felt like an hour later, he finally pulled back, his dark gaze fixed on her—an enchanting mess, breathless and trembling. Their eyes remained locked, neither willing to break the connection.In one swift motion, he swept everything off the table—boxes clattering to the floor in a loud crash. She gasped as he lifted her onto the now-bare surface, her legs instinctively parting to accommodate him. His intoxicating gaze burned into hers, raw and unrestrained.Her lips parted, and his thumb brushed roughly over them, sending a shiver down her spine. His other hand braced against the table, caging her in. Their faces were inches apart, hot breaths mingling, the air thick with tension.Her fingers worked faster on undoing each button of his shirt while his mouth remained busy—sucking, licking, nipping at her skin, leaving a trail of fire in its way. His large hand palmed her breast, kneading with just the right mix of roughness and possessiveness, drawing a breathy moans.He pulled back just enough to yank his shirt off, tossing it aside carelessly. The sight of his vest still covering his torso made Thulir’s eyes flash with frustration. Agathiyan smirked at her reaction and he peeled the vest off in one go. Then, without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pressed her palm against the straining fabric of his pants.Her throat went dry. Swallowing hard, she flicked her gaze up to his, silently questioning. He gave a single, slow nod—permission, encouragement, a demand all at once.With trembling fingers, she undid the hook, then the zipper. The moment the fabric loosened, something heavy clattered to the floor between them.Her eyes dropped to the fallen pistol, cold and ominous against the wood. A beat of silence. Then she looked back at him, brows knitting together. Agathiyan rolled his eyes, already leaning in to reclaim her lips—but she pressed a firm hand against his chest, stopping him."You went to the hospital... and to Nandhu's home—with a pistol?"Her voice was sharp, edged with disbelief. His jaw clenched as he stepped back, stripping off his pants with rough, impatient movements. The sight of him standing there in just his briefs, all hard muscle and barely restrained power, would have made her go weak on her knees if not for the gravity of the moment. He picked up the pistol with practiced ease, turning it over in his hands before meeting her narrowed gaze.Mischief glinted in his dark eyes as he glanced between the weapon and her. The intensity in his eyes sent a different kind of shiver down her spine. His meaning was clear even before he tilted his head in silent suggestion.Thulir understood instantly. "No.""Thulir" he murmured, low and coaxing.But she shook her head immediately. "No, Agathiya. I’m not comfortable with that."Her tone was firm. He let out a slow breath, opened the side drawer, placed the pistol inside, and closed it gently. Then he stepped between her legs, His rough palms framed her face, thumbs brushing over the delicate bones of her cheeks."You didn't answer me yet.....You took pistol to hospital?"He shook his head. "No. It’s an unlicensed one. I picked it up on the way home. Didn’t get time to take it to the room and lock it in the drawer. And don’t ask why I need it."He gave his reply, his voice calm but edged with a quiet finality—a clear signal that the conversation was over. Without another word, he stepped back and dropped onto the sofa, throwing his head against the cushion and closing his eyes, letting the silence settle between them.Thulir exhaled slowly. Maybe I should’ve stayed quiet.She slid off the table and approached him, her bare feet silent against the floor. He didn’t stir. Another sigh escaped her.“Sorry,” she whisperedHe let out a slow sigh—not out of anger, but something heavier, like disappointment he didn’t want to admit. His eyes opened, the sharpness in them now dulled into something quieter. He didn’t speak, just lifted his hand and beckoned her with a tilt of his fingers.She walked to him, hesitant at first, then eased herself onto his lap. The room felt still—like even the air was listening.His arm slipped around her waist, holding her close, steady and sure. With his other hand, he gently cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch seeking the warmth of his palm."You’re a policeman’s wife, dii"  he murmured. "These pistols... they shouldn’t scare you""I’m not scared of it," she countered, fingers curling into his bare shoulders. "But the thought of the kids stumbling upon it? Or someone at your grandparents’ house finding it? They won’t question you but me. And with the children around…" She swallowed. "I just—I panicked."A beat of silence. Then Agathiyan groaned, tipping his head back again. "For once, switch off this ‘perfect family woman’ mode dii. Especially when it’s just us."Thulir bit her lip but nodded. Then, his voice shifted—gentler, but edged with something deeper."You know what hurts? You’ve stopped thinking about us. Even when we’re alone, your mind is always somewhere else. There’s always something—family, the kids, the house. I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about those things, and I’m not asking you to stop being the strong daughter-in-law, the perfect mother. But in all that... you forget I exist too.I’m your husband, Thulir. I’m part of your world too. I don’t want all your time. I don’t expect constant attention. Even I can’t give you that. But when we’re alone—when it’s just the two of us—I want you with me, not halfway somewhere else. I miss being seen. Being thought of. It’s not just about needing you... I crave those little moments that were just ours. And maybe that’s on me too. I started pulling away because I didn’t want to become a nagging husband. But I didn’t stop wanting. I didn’t stop missing you. I...” he stopped himself, voice caught in his throat. "Forget it.""Agathiya—" Her voice cracked, but before she could spill another apology, his fingers pressed against her lips."Stop. No more sorrys" His thumb traced her bottom lip, his gaze softening. "My Theeni doesn’t apologize—she demands forgiveness like it’s her right. And tonight, I asked for her—not this version of you that carries the weight of the world." He teased herIt worked. A laugh bubbled out of her, bright and sudden, and she threw her arms around his neck, smacking his chest playfully. Agathiyan’s chuckle rumbled against her as he pulled her close, kissed her head.A loud rumble of thunder disturbed their moment. Startled, Thulir pulled back slightly and glanced toward open door."The bike’s still outside, Agathiya… It’s going to rain. You should’ve parked it in the shed" she said, her tone casual, more out of concern than complaint.Agathiyan let out a groan, slapped his forehead, and shook his head in disbelief—clearly frustrated. He stood, grabbed the towel, wrapped it around his waist, and marched out to follow his wife’s order.Thulir watched him go, confused for a moment. Then it hit her—he wasn’t upset with her. He was just frustrated because she’d said it at that moment, after everything they’d just shared. She meant it as a simple reminder, nothing more—he would’ve complained in the morning if the bike had gotten wet anyway.She sighed, smiled to herself, and facepalmed."I should’ve just waited..." she mumbled with a chuckle, watching her husband step out into the night, grumbling to himself.