Rudrani:
Ashu freshened up and came to the kitchen.
"What are you doing, my love?" Ashu asked hugging me from behind. He kissed me on my cheek.
"Do you know something? Living alone like this without parents gives us more time to romance and become naughty at times," Ashu said.
"I am sorry for disappointing you all these days and making you feel alone," I said.
"I told you to stop chanting sorry. There's no need of sorry or thanks between a couple. Let's just forget everything and take a day off from our routine life. Today let's enjoy completely," Ashu said.
"Are we not going to college today?" I asked.
"No! We are going out to spend together for the whole day," Ashu said.
"Wow, that's a great idea," I said and Ashu smiled at me.
"So now leave all this and go to get ready, my love," Ashu said taking away the bread from my hands.
"Let me finish off preparing the breakfast. We will go out after having it," I said.
"Sweetheart, we can break our morning fast on the go. Now get ready," Ashu said and winked at me.
"Or do you want me to help you in getting ready?" Ashu said raising his eyebrow and pulling me towards him by holding my waist.
"Nope! I can help myself," I said blushing and pushed him a little away to go to our room.
"Why to get strain alone?" Ashu said.
"When I am here to do everything for you," Ashu said moving his fingers on the back of my neck creating unfamiliar sensation in me.
Ashu moved more closer to me and whispered in my ear from behind.
"Today we are going to have a marvellous night filled with love," Ashu said moving the strands of my hair aside. He placed a soft kiss on my shoulder.
"Are you ready for it, my love?" Ashu asked me.
All the thoughts rushed through my mind at once and answer escaped from my lips which was not expected by me or Ashu.
"No!" I said and then wondered myself for the answer.
Ashu left me and I turned back to look at him. For the first time I saw Ashu fuming at me. I scared of his anger and stayed silent without speaking anything while tears rolled down from my eyes. Ashu closed his eyes and then took a deep breathe. I could clearly sense his anger, disappointment and pain. He opened his eyes and I moved away from him in fear. He looked at me for sometime.
"Get ready. We are going to the college," Ashu said.
"Ashu, I am sorry," I said but Ashu left to the room without listening to me. I wiped my tears.
Why did I say No to Ashu? I am not scared and Ashu removed the phobia in my heart with his love. I love him so much and I too want to become his lovely wife in all means. I went to the room and saw Ashu getting ready to the college.
"Ashu, I am sorry. I didn't mean to say No but...." I said.
"That's okay. I can understand. It is true that you married me without love and having no choice. May be that's the reason still you don't have feelings for me. That's not the actual problem, Rudrani. The problem is will you ever get that kind of feelings for me? I can wait for lifetime for your love. But I don't want you to waste your life by staying with me for whom you have no feelings at all.
If your heart wants to choose some else than me, never hesitate to say that to me. I never bind you or your heart as you are my wife. I will free you from this bonding and you are always free to make a choice. After all love should be a choice but not a force," Ashu said, making me cry more. I tried to place my head on his chest to find the peace but Ashu moved back away from me.
"Ashu, I really love you. I don't know why No came as a reply from my mouth," I said.
"Enough, Rudrani. Stop saying that you love me. Don't betray yourself for the sake of this loveless marriage. As far as I know, you always speak what's there in your heart. It means this also came directly from your heart," Ashu said.
"Ashu, I am sorry. I really want to become your wife in all means. Please don't cancel your plan tonight," I requested Ashu holding his both hands.
"Shut up! Do you think that I am such a cheap and characterless person who wants the body of my wife at any cost though she has no feelings for me? Don't make me lose my control over my anger, Rudrani," Ashu said fiercely.
"I didn't mean it, Ashu. Please try to understand me," I said.
"If you get ready, we will go to the college," Ashu said, looking away from me.
I nodded and went to the college with him. In the evening, Ashu dropped me at the house but didn't get out of the car.
"Are you not going to come inside? Are you going anywhere?" I asked Ashu.
"None of your business! Go inside!" Ashu said.
"Ashu, please tell me where are you going?" I asked.
"I said go inside," Ashu yelled at me.
I rushed into the house as I got frightened for Ashu. I don't understand how to cool Ashu and make him realise my feelings for him. I truly love him but may be I am a bit scared to get intimate with him which made me say No without my realization.
I waited for Ashu and he came back after one hour. He sat on the sofa watching TV. I stood before him to talk but he ignored me completely.
"Ashu, please talk to me," I said.
"Tell me," Ashu said without glancing at me.
"I love you," I said in a low voice and closed my eyes as I know he will shout at me. But I didn't hear anything and opened my eyes only to find Ashu staring at me.
"Come here!" Ashu said and I went immediately near to him. Ashu pulled me onto his lap and held me tight in his arms.
Thank God! My Ashu is back.
"Ashu, actually...." I tried to say.
"I love you, sweetheart," Ashu said, tightening the hold on me to embrace me more into his arms.
I turned towards him and pecked on his lips. Ashu kissed me back.
"I am sorry for disappointing you," I said.
"That's okay! We have lot of time for that. Just be cool," Ashu said.
"I was so scared seeing your anger at me. I thought you will not talk to me," I said.
"I am sorry," Ashu said.
"No no, don't be sorry. It's my fault," I said.
"Of course it is," Ashu said, making me worry a little.
Is he back to normal or still furious at me?
"I tried my best to make our relationship work in all aspects. I just don't understand what's stopping you from going further in the relationship. It's not that I am too much interested in taking you or something like that because I love you and not your body. But this is something that is a part of our married life and expecting a child to make our bond stronger is not wrong. Am I right?" Ashu asked me. I nodded.
"Answer me in words," Ashu said seriously.
"Yes!" I said.
"What's stopping you from accepting our relationship go further?" Ashu asked turning me towards him.
"Sweetheart, you also should enjoy the married life completely. Getting intimate and making our family is not wrong. Are you worried about your study and career?" Ashu asked caressing my hairs.
"I don't know," I said with a pout.
"Okay! Don't worry. I will not force you ever. I want you to know the reason and then let's deal with it together. Whatever we will become one only when you are ready for it heartfully without any fear," Ashu said, kissing on my forehead.