Arya woke up with the worst hangover ever. She felt like her head was being punched by a gorilla again and again.
She tried to get up but something heavy was stopping her.
Not something but a heavy strong arm. Rehan was holding on to her waist as if she was a pillow. He had buried his head into the crook of her neck and her hair covered a good part of his face.
Her first reflex was to get out of his hold but she found herself moving away the strands of hair covering his face and gazing at him warmly.
He might be a pain in the ass but he looked like an angel when asleep.
"Ithna bhi ghuro math. Pyaar ho jayega. "
(Don't stare too much. You will fall in love. )
"And we don't need that do we? "
He said peaking at her with one eye open.
Arya moved back startled at being caught.
"I wasn't staring at you. I was... Glaring " she said then pushed his hands away.
"Really? What did I do so early in the morning? " He asked yawning.
She was trying to calm herself. His gruff morning voice was doing things to her which she wished they didn't.
"Who told you to sleep here? "
"You don't remember? " He said raising an eyebrow. He was sitting on the bed beside her now.
Oh god... Arya honestly remembered nothing but flashes from yesterday. Ughh , she had to get that drunk didn't she?
"Remember what? " She asked
"How could you forget last night after all the things happened between us?"
He said moving closer to her.
"What happened yesterday?" she asked her voice coming out unsure.
"You honestly don't remember do you?" Rehan questioned her again and Arya failed to notice the new mischievous glint in his eyes as he asked it.
She shook her head in negative still pondering over what all stupid things she could have done.
"Yesterday...."
He said playing with a loose strand of her hair, moving closer to her.
"Yesterday......"
"Can you just tell already?" She asked exasperated.
" Well , You were drunk "
"Yeah no shit Sherlock."
She replied sassily but it lacked the usual confidence.
Their proximity was making her breathless.
" If you don't want to know....." He said moving away from her.
" Stop. Tell me what happened "
she stopped him by pulling him towards her by his collar but the force was too much that he lost his balance and fell on top of her , their lips touching.
" This"
His breath was fanning her cheeks and her heartbeat was erratic.
"What?"
"You wanted to kiss me and then things got out of hand...."
" You are lying"
"Maybe , maybe not. You will never know. "
She pushed him away from her.
" No one in their right minds would want to kiss you. "
"Exactly what I was saying from the first day. You are out of your mind. "
"You!!"
Arya said pointing her fingers at him menacingly.
"Are the most handsome person in the world?? Are the love of my life"
"Ek minute mai tujhe abhi batati hu"
(One min. I will show you)
She took the pillow lying next to her and and started beating him mercilessly.
"Aree what did I do?"
"You were the one who wanted to kiss me. "
Rehan shouted in between her attacks.
"I should be more careful around you.
What if you take advantage of me "
He said dramatically.
"Eww. As if. "
Rehan used this distractions to take a pillow for himself and a full 15 minute of pillow fighting ensued till both the 'adults' were tired.
The were both literally tangled in bedsheets and somehow, again, they were really close.
Was there a magnet attached to them? Arya thought to herself.
"You know. Mujhe kuch problem nahi hai."
(I don't have any problem)
"If you are still sad that we didn't kiss just ask. I'm always ready to fulfill everything my wife wish for. "
"I don't want anything. "
She snapped , pushing him away.
"Wait a minute, so we didn't kiss yesterday?" She whispered after a second.
Arya didn't know whether to be relieved or regretful.
"Am I sensing disappointment, sweetheart?"
"Nope just glad that I wasn't unlucky enough to do that. "
Rehan chuckled at her response his dimples coming into full view.
And somehow that mesmerized Arya. His hair was messy and he didn't have his glasses on. Some of his shirt buttons were undone and she could see a bit of chest hair peaking through.
But somehow he felt...... perfect.
Even this felt perfect , as if from a fairy tale she read in her childhood.
She found herself thinking whether this could work.
Her and Rehan.
"I won't mind us sitting here and just staring at each other but we did promise Aarohi to go to brunch with her. "
Arya snapped out of her dreamland , rolled her eyes and then walked towards the bathroom and closed the door.
Arya gazed at herself in the mirror.
Her hair was messy and she was still in yesterday's dress but her make up was removed.
Rehan she thought and unknowingly a smile lit up on her face.
Her cheeks were a tinted a faint pink due to their little tussle.
Don't Arya. He is just playing with you. Look at yourself.
Her skin was not flawless. She wasn't ever fair. She didn't have a sharp jaw line or small button nose. Her eyes were the most boring colour of black so was her hair. Then she had two toned lips which always made her feel weird. . Her stomach was bloated and she had also put up a little wait making her cheeks get chubby.
She wasn't despicable she knew that. But she wasn't that perfect beautiful rich girl material too.
No. She didn't expect anyone to love her , cause she loved herself enough. Or she hoped.
After the Ted talk, she started doing her morning ablutions.
Arya had problems with her body since she was a teenager. She was even diagnosed with body dysmorphia but she never cared enough to do something about that.
Arya wanted to look beautiful today. She wanted to feel beautiful and sexy and not how she felt a few moments before.
She needed that confidence boost.
She was drying her hair when Rehan yelled from outside.
"Hello madam we don't have the whole day I also have to shower. "
"Go to hell "
she replied opening the washroom.
"Gladly if its.... "
He stopped mid sentence his mouth hanging open.
"Apna muh band kar makhi gus jayegi"
He closed his mouth, handed her a pain reliever and water then without uttering another word went inside the washroom.
***
"Bhabhi. OMG you look gorgeous." Aarohi gushed rushing in for a hug.
"Thank you. "
"Bhai aap kitne lucky ho , ithna beautiful biwi to mile hai"
( You are so lucky bro. You have a really beautiful wife. )
"Hai , par usse dikhai nahi dete. "
(He does , but he doesn't notice it. )
Arya told her ignoring him completely.
"Wo toh bachpan se hi aise the.Stupid"
(He was like this from childhood. )
"This is not fair. You are my sister. Aren't you supposed to support me?"
"Nah the exact opposite. "
We giggled at his offended expression.
"If Bhabhi aur devrani is done can we go inside?" Rehan begged annoyed at both of us.
"Of course your majesty" Aarohi said with a fake bow.
"Vermin" Rehan murmured.
"Bhabhi you look gorgeous as hell but why saree?"
"Nothing much. After watching Kajol in K3G and Aiswarya Rai in 'hum dil de chuke sanam' , I always wanted to wear a saree and walk around London. "
"Understandable. " Aarohi responded shrugging.
"You guys find a place for us to sit. I'll order you guys something to drink.
Aapko kuch allergies hai , bhabhi? "
(Do you have any allergies, Bhabhi?)
"Just to some sea food. Rest are ok "
"Ok. I'll be back "
An awkward silence commenced the moment aarohi walked away.
"You look good. "
"Thank you. "
"What's going on?" Aarohi asked joining us at the table.
"Nothing" we stated together
"Okayyy that's not weird at all"
Aarohi was playing with her ring as they talked and waited for the food.
Suddenly her rings slipped out of her hands and to the floor.
Two people bend down to pick it up.
Aarohi and ......
"Thank you. " She said looking up to the stranger who helped her.
"Park Min ho? "
"Yeah , and you are. Do I know you?"
"No you don't. I have seen you around the uni a couple of times. Aarohi Singhania btw"
"Oh cool. Nice meeting you. "
"You too. "
Aarohi was red as a cabbage just from his handshake.
She fricking touched Park Min Ho!!!!!
"Madam , he is gone" Arya said pulling her back down to her seat.
"Someone has a crush" she said noticing the lovey dovey behaviour of Aarohi. "
"Yeah......what no" Aarohi yelled.
"Yeah what now ?"
"No need to hide it now."
"There is nothing to hide" Aarohi said feeling conscious about herself. So she strategically changed the topic
"Did you like my gift?"
"Don't get me started" Arya snorted.
"Great selections" Rehan said leaning back into the chair.
Aarohi couldn't help but giggle at the red face of her sister in law, no,sister and the satisfied smirk of her brother.
"Well I sure am seeing some new chemistry"
"There is no such thing" she said glaring at them both.
"Whatever you say Sis"
***
"Bhabhi so there's this one more thing "
"C'mon shoot"
"We have this Christmas Ball at our university this year and I don't know what to wear. And seeing you today ... Uhh ....Like gowns are good but I really want to wear something a bit more Desi. But I am really scared. People already look at me like I am some exotic species "
"You know Aarohi, if I could give you one advice, it will be: never be afraid of your roots because that is what binds you to this world. And there is nothing better to represent your culture than being yourself "
"Really?" Aarohi looked at her like a little child full of hope.
"Yep"
"What's happening?"
"Bhabhi was giving me some advice"
"Is it like classes on how to land the perfect slap?"
Arya jabbed him with her elbow.
"Ouch"
"I have to go". Aarohi gave a quick hug to Arya and turned towards Rehan who took her in a bear hug.
"I'll miss you. "
"I'll miss you too you little devil. "
"Any advice for your sister?"
"Stay away from boys" he said seriously
"Really?" Aarohi asked looking at him annoyed.
"Always listen to your heart"
Huh. Heart.
Arya so wanted to give into her heart. But she was a cardiologist. She knew better than to listen it. Her heart had proven itself to be treacherous occasionally.
Still there was always one name and one face haunting her.
Sarah
But enough was enough. She was going to confront Rehan tonight. She has stared at half the picture for long. She wanted the full picture now.
***
Arya arranged the pillows in a line right in the middle of the bed
"You can sleep on that side of the bed."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Rehan asked teasingly.
"If you want , you are free to sleep on the couch and complain all about it in the morning. " She responded nonchalant.
"No... No. It's fine." Rehan yelled giving her a 100 dollar smile.
She giggled at his antics.
"Hasee toh phasee "
Arya stopped smiling at that and turned her face away from him.
As Rehan laid down on his side Arya asked him
"Will you be completely honest with me if I ask you something? "
"Why do I already have a bad feeling the way you said it? "
Arya rolled her eyes
"Okay fine. Go on ask. I promise I'll try to tell the truth " he said chuckling.
"What really happened between Sarah and you that day? "
The mischievousness and freeness disappeared at the mention of her name. He sat up in the bed , leaning on the headboard.
"You sure you want to know? " He asked hesitantly.
"Mm hmm"
"But I am saying this only because you asked me to. "
Rehan took a deep breath.
"Her's is the first batch I taught. She always had trouble understanding some concepts and I would help her with it. Sarah was a nice girl. Eventually we developed a friendship or so I thought. I was , still is , socially awkward and she kind of got into my personal bubble. I think she took it in some other way. "
"She proposed to me oneday , out of the blue and I refused because I never saw her more than what she was. My student. "
"Sarah didn't take it lightly. She started stalking me on social media and on real life. She became super possesive over me. She was ....... Obsessed. And it still is one of the most horrifying things I have ever gone through. "
He shuddered as he recalled his real life nightmare.
Arya held his hands as if in reflex. Her eyes reflected empathy and understand and Rehan continued.
"That day , she was threatening me actually. She said she would try to end her life if I didn't accept her and when I said I won't she tried to force herself upon me. "
"She stole my first kiss." He said giving a sad smile.
"You know, I had these perfect image of my first kiss. I wanted to save it for the first person I fall in love with.
But well now we know that will never happen. "
Arya had tears of guilt in her eyes.
"You know, even when you slapped me that day , you were kind of saving me. "
Suddenly Arya hugged me
"I am so sorry" she apologized, repeating it again and again.
Rehan hugged her back trying to soak in all the emotions he was feeling. Trying to remember every bit of this to make sure he never forgets it.
Both souls found solace in each other's embrace.
One accepted it wholeheartedly.
The other still in denial of what her heart was telling her.
Rehan wanted to tell her about what Sarah told him at their reception but thought better of it.
"You are mine and if I can't have you , then nobody will"
No.......
He will. One day. But not now.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She whispered, still in his embrace.
"You never asked. "
"I feel like a really bad person. " She sniffled.
"Yeah you kind of are one" he whispered back into her ears.
She pulled back enough to see his face then hit his should lightly.
"Stupid"
"Still completely yours sweetheart" he replied winking.
â
Yayyy
Finally!!!!
Don't kill me
But here ya go , a sweet little chapter after all the drama of last one.
I wanted to update earlier but one of my parents is hospitalised and had to go through a surgery today. It was a success!!! So this is my own little celebration.
And I don't know when I will be able to update ( most probably next year)
So advanced Happy New year â¤ï¸
Thank you for making me feel special and for all the love you have showered upon me this year.
Thank you so much
And if you noticed , the chapter name is one of my top TS songs.
Love you all
Aswa_maya
"Life is the flower for which love is the honey."