chapter 75

     I was watching the ceiling fan rotate unable to sleep and here at one hand distance from me this idiot girlfriend of mine was totally knocked out as if it were her last chance to sleep. Fine I agree I was the one who refused to sleep in same bed initially and then denied her of good night kisses and even rejected the idea of cuddling because I wasn't interested in being teased but that doesn't seriously mean she shouldn't have hugged me to sleep.        I turned around to face her admiring her features. Visibility wasn't that great at night but in the dim light of street lamp I could see a bit. She slept like a baby. I would stay awake all night just to watch her sleep only if I didn't have this morning class tomorrow. So cute .      My hand itched to touch her face, caress her cheeks , ruffle her hairs but I don't want to disturb her sleep. She turned away taking the blanket with her. This girl!  Why . I tugged the blanket hoping she'd let loose but she just pulled further leaving me to battle cold on my own. Very caring indeed. I tried pulling once again but her grip is no joke. I take my ' cute ' back . She sleeps like a log.  That too annoying one.      Should I just use the bedsheet instead? There must be spare blanket. I got up reluctantly. As lazy as my body was to move an inch , I didn't want to stay awake in discomfort all night. I searched the cupboard and found one. I got back on bed  to the other side at corner and slept wrapping it around myself.      Sleep hadn't even made it to me when I felt a hand wrap around my waist . Not now. Not when I already got this bulky big blanket. I don't need extra now. I tried to toss the blanket away but this girl stuck to me like leech. If that wasn't enough next came her leg on mine. Ughh!! This not what I meant when I said I love hugs .       Entire night this girl didn't move and I was steamed like a dumpling. I don't remember when I got tired enough to not register my surroundings anymore and fell asleep.       Morning dawned on me when my phone rung. I had to battle two huge blankets to get to it. I turned it off and laid back down . It took some time for my processor to decipher the situation and I woke up rubbing my eyes . I looked around but realised I was the only one in the room. " Vibha?" , I called out . No response. Was she out? Gone so early ? Am I late? I rechecked the time just to ensure I wasn't running late. It was still 6:15. I had time . Did she have some work to attend? So early? I got up and went to the washroom to freshen up.      I walked out to the the kitchen to get my morning coffee . I wasn't really looking when I took the coffee powder from the drawer and then milk from the fridge. Not until I saw the vessel had label, ' milk ' .  It wasn't yesterday I remember. I opened the fridge again checking out other bottles. They had labels too. What's this ?      I went over to the shelves taking our the jars and containers. All of them labelled. What even is this? Wait- what a clever way to tell me without hurting my feelings right! Exactly what did I cook though? Was it that bad she didn't let me taste? Was it even edible? Why did she even eat it? Is she sick because of it?      I turned around to leave only to be trapped against the counter. " Good morning love.", she greeted so close that I felt I might just explode at the distance. " This?", I raised it to show her. " Well. You cook good love, just so next time you'd be able to distinguish between powdered sugar and salt. " , she said it so calmly taking it from me as if she didn't eat a whole meal made of just sugar and spices with no salt. " Why'd you eat that?" " Because my love made it. " " That wasn't even edible!"" It was made with love."" Did your tastebuds die or something?" " Drowned in love."" Stop it! You could have told me."" Come on! I told you I love everything you make."" You are unbelievable!"     I am giving up on this argument.  I tried to leave but instead she just lifted me and placed me on the counter. " I will make my wifey a coffee. You want anything to eat?"     How can she sound so calm and expect me to reply normally after pulling such stunts early morning. " Any-anything will do."      Why did I stutter so bad? " Awww. Is my baby shy?"       I knew it! I saw it coming. " No "         She chuckled at me and rested her palms on my either sides leaning in closer with eye contact never breaking. " You better get used to this wifey because I can and will do a lot more .  "" Shut up!" , I placed a finger against her forehead pushing her back by it .  She just kept up her grinning and got back to making coffee. " Omelette?" " Will do ."       She was focused on her work and somehow that was hot to me. I don't know why her being focused made me feel so attracted. How could someone look this good doing task simple as breaking egg? " Vegetables or plain?" " Anything will do. "" Come on. You order darling,  I serve anything you demand. " , I watched her hairs interrupt her as she washed her hands. " Keep the vegetables.",  I said and she went to get them from the fridge. My eyes tracking her every moment.      She stood besides me cutting them . I could no longer resist and tucked the locks of her hairs behind her ear. Her movements froze for a moment. I was expecting some taunt but instead she just ao her movements more clumsy. Don't tell me - can she be shy too? I held her hand stopping her and she stared at my hold on her wrist for a brief moment before giving me a confused look. I took the knife and chopping board from her. " At the rate you are doing it you might end up cutting your finger. ", I explained as I shifted back to place it in front of me and be comfortable enough to chop it. " Awww my wifey cares?" , she tried to tease but her voice it wasn't really helping her." Why won't she when she has such a beautiful wife. ", I replied and gently lifted her chin with the tip of my finger to make her look at me and the way she flustered was something I won't forget. She backed off and went back to aggressively mixing the spices and eggs. It took every last of my facial muscle to supress my urge of laughing.     Acting all flirty and bold when you yourself are so shy wasn't really good idea now was it?    I silently focused on cutting while sneaking glance at her tensed up actions and biting down my smile.     " Here. " , I passed her the vegetables and she didn't  even look up but just took the chopping board to her side and added them.  I love the effect but doesn't mean I don't have the itch to do it again. " Vibha." " Hmm."" Darling."" What?" , I love how her voice is suddenly so timid. " Loveeee. Look at me. ", I continued irritating her while she kept dodging my touch. " Stop it . I am trying to put it on pan properly -"" I never said I want a round ommellete just make sure it has all your love ."" What's gotten into you?" , she stood out of my reach as she poured it on the pan . " Love." , her face was as red as the chillies she had cut and I regretted not having my phone to capture it right now. As if it heard my thoughts my phone rung and I had to go answer. Ruined the fun but I guess she needs a break. [ Vibha' s p.o.v ]      She left and I could finally breath . What's gotten into my innocent Arushi. I wanted her to love me be romantic and stuff but this, I don't know. I can't . The way my heart almost jumped off my rib cage . I was mindlessly pushing the spatula around when I felt a slight push and she took it from me. " Just a minute mom. "     " You'll burn it dummy. ", she scolded me snatching the spatula and flipped it . I had actually almost burnt it. She returned back to call and stood besides me talking as I kept staring at the pan , occassionally at her. But I am not burning it further. " Yeah say."" Nothing mom. You say ." " No no. "   She kept talking and laughing while I served it in a plate and placed it aside to get some bread. I am more than embarrassed right now but she's acting all fine on the phone . For the first time I wish that call never ends. But it did. " Bye mom."      She kept it aside and filled the glasses while I carried the plates out. We sat down to eat and I kept my head low to avoid any kind of further embarrassment.  " You'd be going direct like yesterday?" " What? Yeah. "" You won't have lunch? With me?" " Huh? "" I don't feel like eating without my wife."    I coughed and grabbed the glass trying to sip away the feeling. She needs to stop. I caught her laughing. " Stop it!" " Stop what?" " Whatever you are doing?"" Eating?" " Flirting."" Why? Are you not my wife? Don't I have the right to ?" " I. Yes. You do. But give me a break. I really would jump off the window if you continue." She laughed a bit and shook her head." Okay okay. Now eat. We don't want to be late. "      The rest of the breakfast was all quiet and so was getting ready and heading down . I started the scooter and she sat behind me. I felt her hands wrap around my waist and I suddenly forgot how the vehicle functions. " Whats wrong?" " Uhh. Nothing. You settled? Let's go?" " Yes."      I tried to keep the focus on road and not on the hands locked around my tummy or the head resting against my back though I would very well like to savour the moment but I know I am too weak for it and might end up crashing  somewhere. Not risking when I have my love with me .        I felt life back in me when I finally parked. It would be a lie if I say my legs weren't as numb as my brain. I stood like a statue playing with the key. " Is it stuck?" , she asked coming over . I just moved away . I don't know what to say. She pulled it out easily and looked at me confused. I gave her more confused look. It's better to look dumb than embarrassed. " Are 'you' stuck?" , she changed the question and now I really feel dumb. I just moved away and started walking ahead not even waiting for her . I heard her anklets tinkle even the noise of the crowd as she followed upto me.     She held my arm and that's so normal gesture, she does that; she used to do that before as well. It's just so normal of her instinct to cling to the nearest object moving besides her why does it affect me so much. It never did before but right now I feel electric current surge up my entire body.     I waddled like a limp penguin possessed by frog eyed goldfish and tripped over nothing, someone's foot and finally the metal rod at the bench 's  corner. Can it get any more embarassing? Yes it can! That dumb alien head cousin of mine had the audacity to film me and now I know she won't shut up about it. Great! May as well give me the worst possible situation next.       Â