*Mridula Pov*
Within a few seconds, I felt him stepping back and I slowly opened my eyes to see him looking down before staring at me for a second and walked outside the room moving around me.
While I just stood there thinking and feeling what just occurred and how affected I got by that thing. I came out of my thoughts and feelings when I heard a thunder outside.
I looked around to find that he is still not in the room and immediately walked outside thinking he must be in the corridor or somewhere in the house.
“Aunty?” I asked in a surprised tone when I saw her pacing in the living room.
“Did he tell you where he was going at this time? I was asking him, but he didn’t stop and just walked outside the house and left, but didn’t take his car.” She replied frantically.
“No! He will be fine.” I said, assuring her and moved near to her.
“I hope so! Dileep crossed the line today, and I hope the change in Tajwar didn’t go back to its way like it never happened.” she mumbled holding my hand.
“We will wait for some time and then will go together outside to search for him.” I mumbled, and she nodded smiling a little but didn’t leave my hands.
“Should it rain too?” she asked herself while I stayed quiet, hoping he returns safe in this drenching rain.
“It is ok!” I mumbled nodding at her, and it felt like we again had the special bond now.
“Tajwar!” she mumbled, and I glanced where she is seeing to see him standing near the door fully drenched.
“Thank God you are safe.” She added before moving towards him, and I followed her, but he stopped showing his hand.
“I am fine!” he mumbled, walking near to us by himself and then glanced at both of us.
“So, you think she will change me, right?” he asked glancing at his Mom.
“We will talk later.” She replied, sighing to herself after feeling the tension until now.
“But she is actually helping me in not changing at all.” He continued, and I frowned at him.
“What do you mean?” she asked, glancing at both of us.
“Do you think I really changed? I didn’t change at all, and it was just a plan.” he replied and I silently groaned.
“The special point is the girl with whom you got me married thinking she is innocent and all gave me the idea, and I just planned it.” He added, and I stared at him in shock thinking when did I give him the idea?
“What?” Aunty asked leaving my hands, and I shook my head at her immediately.
“Did you not tell me that she will back off if I become normal soon?” he asked and I nodded slowly remembering I did.
“How will I become normal soon, even after no change in two years of medical attention? She is the one who gave me this idea, and she was even ok with all this and helped me when I thought I may not do it.” He continued to talk while Aunty just stared at me with anger.
“No!” I mumbled, not understanding what is going on.
“I can’t believe this.” Aunty said, rubbing her forehead while he walked near to me.
“So, ask your son not to worry about her as she is more capable to do the things like these than you guys thought.” He said while Aunty stared at me with a disbelieving look.
“It is getting late and we need to go and sleep.” He added before climbing the stairs but didn’t leave my hand while I stared at Aunty hoping she doesn’t believe it.
However, watching her expression, I know she believes him, and I felt helpless before letting him drag along with him.
When we came into the room, he left my hand like it burned him while I slowly sat on the bed tired with all the events today. I was happy while leaving this room, and now I am confused and sad.
“Stay away from her.” He ordered making me look at him.
“Why did you lie to her?” I asked him hugging myself.
“Did I lie? I really got the idea from your words.” He replied, shrugging and I felt like to go somewhere else and hide.
“Where did you go after… after leaving from here?” I asked him little stuttering while he is rubbing his head.
“I just went for a walk feeling confused.” He replied before moving towards the cupboard and took out his clothes.
“Do… you hate the kiss?” I asked, staring at his back.
“No!” he replied after a few minutes.
“Do you wish it didn’t happen?” I asked again controlling the relief, I felt when he said he doesn’t hate it.
“No! Why would I wish like that when I was the one that thought about it? It’s not like you thought about it and made me do it, and I don’t know why I did it.” He replied, turning around before unbuttoning his shirt.
“Go inside the washroom.” I said, closing my eyes, and I guess he did when I heard the door closing.
“I am glad that you don’t think wrong about it.” I mumbled when he stepped outside after changing his clothes and is still rubbing his head.
“Like I said you didn’t think about it and made me do it. You could never do it with your own.” He said, shaking his head and handed me the towel when I asked for it seeing his inefficiency to do the task.
“I can!” I said, defending myself and he gave his famous snort making me frown.
“I would never believe it.” He said, shaking his head, and I took away the cloth to see his face.
“Are you doing this purposely like playing me?” I asked, frowning and his expression turned hard.
“Do you think I really tell jokes and play?” he asked in a serious tone, and I shook my head in negative.
“I am just pointing out the truth. You couldn’t even kiss me back, and you would initiate it by yourself? Go and tell that to someone…” He couldn’t finish it before I already placed my lips on his but moved back immediately.
“See? I really can.” I mumbled before moving away and lay on the bed.
“Yeah, right!” he commented after a few seconds when I switched off the light.
“Mridula!” I felt someone waking me up, and I immediately sat up to see him shaking me with his half-closed eyes.
“What is it?” I asked, rubbing my eyes and then saw that it is still midnight.
“I am a little cold. Can you switch off the fan and get me another blanket?” he asked and I slowly nodded before doing what he asked.
After sitting beside him, I felt his body heat, which seems to be normal and then went back to sleep. Nevertheless, it turned out, he got a fever when I woke up again at the time when he actually leaves for office.
“Have some soup and take this tablet.” I mumbled slowly to which he nodded with weakness but didn’t open his eyes.
“Where is he?” Aunty asked when I started climbing the stairs back holding the soup.
“He got a fever! He is going to stay home.” I replied, but her blank face didn’t change.
“I will call some doctor.” she said before taking out her mobile.
“No need for that! He got it from getting drenched yesterday in the rain. I can take care of him.” I said stopping her.
“Make sure he doesn’t leave for office, even with a little fever.” she said before moving aside so that I can climb the stairs.
“I don’t want that.” he complained having a sip of the soup.
“You need to or else I can call your mom here.” I said after pleading him for a few minutes, and he immediately started having the soup.
“I never thought you were scared of your Mom.” I commented after he finished on which he glared at me.
“I am having a feeling of vomiting.” He threatened making my eyes go wide, and I immediately offered him a tablet.
“Go to sleep.” I said covering him with the blankets.
“You will not get anything from all this work, Mridula. You just have to escape when you get the chance. Someone else may need this care from you.” he mumbled staring at me.
“I am your wife and I want to be here.” I said sitting beside him.
“You can leave! It’s not like I can live only with your presence in my life.” he commented before drifting off into sleep while I sat beside him in silence, wishing he stops all these and moves on feeling the little hurt at the thought of leaving him.
“Tell me about Lavanya.” I suddenly asked him when he woke up.
“You really want to know?” he asked, and I nodded positively.
“She was amazing and you know to have that attitude suitable to be a part of a royal family. She is not innocent and even has the brain to fight for her rights and also capable to stand in her place when needed.” he replied and continued to talk while I have an only word.
She is just opposite to me. I am not suitable for this family, and I will never fight with someone no matter what. And I got this life of study only because of the kindness of this family.
“You love her so much, right?” I asked but didn’t get an answer.
I looked down to see him already sleeping, and I pushed the question away from my head thinking everyone will move on to another even if it needs to take time. He will also move on soon if he gets the love, and I feel like I will be the one who falls for him and that too soon stupidly.
“Can I talk to Bhai?” Dileep asked after knocking on the door in the evening.
“What is it?” Tajwar asked, gesturing me to move.
“I am sorry for my words, Bhai. I was just concerned for her, and that’s all.” Dileep said pleadingly.
“I do not care what you say.” He said to which Dileep glanced at me, and I stood in silence not wanting to come between the brothers.
“I hate that girl who made you go away from all of us.” Dileep stated before leaving the room while Tajwar fisted his hands.
“Did you hear him? How dare he say something like that?” He said fuming.
“You do not care what he says, right?” I asked him not wanting to hear bad about my best friend, and he glared at me hearing my words.
“Get out of here.” he shouted, to which I nodded.
“I need to bring the food for you.” I said, leaving the room while I heard him groaning behind me.
“Have some food.” I said returning to see him still fuming at me.
“Don’t act smart near me.” he stated to which I just placed the bowl before him.
“I am just a stupid girl.” I said, remembering how stupid I felt like I am on a way to fall for him even after seeing his anger.
“That you are for marrying someone without knowing them.” He said shrugging leaving the anger.
“I always thought I would marry like that only. My parents paid the price for loving, and I didn’t want to repeat the mistake.” I said staring at him.
“What price?” he asked frowning.
“Family! And I didn’t want to miss this family when I marry someone against this family’s wishes and wanted Aunty to select a groom.” I replied sighing.
“Dumbest thing to do.” He stated snorting to which I gave him a small smile.
“I know!” I whispered to which he glared at me.
“Do you think I am dumb?” he asked frowning.
“I didn’t say that.” I replied but didn’t stop smiling and all he did was glaring before continuing to eat his food without saying a word to me, and I just continued to smile staring at him.
Like I said, I am completely stupid like more than stupid! I thought sighing inside, but didn’t look away from him and didn’t lose the smile.