"Shut that thing Anika!"

The irritated familiar tone,  welcomed my morning. Adding in background, the continuous  loud alarm blaring.

Three times, I already had snoozed, snuggled deeper in blanket, relish the warmness. But that thing, eh never shuts up.

"Mhm"

With hazy sight, I peered opened my eyes and saw there my husband. He was sleeping facing other side, his broad back facing me mere inches far, blanket despite the freezing cold pressed under his biceps.

"I said Shut that alarm clock"

.....  but heard his groan everytime before even Alarm started ringing properly.

Again, Alarm screamed.

"Ugh" I moaned

And as I tried patting table reaching for it's shut button while blocking it's noise with a tightly pressed pillow,  there was suddenly an earpiecing explosion!

Thud

In a jolt, I was up like on a fire, only to witness my husband now standing at my side with alarm clock in pieces kissing the floor.

When did he even stood up?

"Oh, my god." I looked at poor alarm clock,  martyred facing the wrath of Mr Angry Young Man.

Poor clock.

His icy gaze, the irritated one turned from alarm clock on me, the signs of warning screaming loudly in his eyes.

"You broke it?" I said in disbelief, blinking the remnant of sleep away.

"This thing is never going to ring in my room again!" He warned, his morning voice throaty, almost hair raising on my back.

"Our"

"What?"

Engulfing with warmness of blanket, I corrected him "Our room. It's our room now."

However, the coldness in his eyes didn't wavered. It only signified. The next words he spoke was like ice dripping in a lone cave, and every drip of icicles colder than before. "The alarm clock won't be ringing in our room again."

I shuffled, yawned, blinking out the more sleep. "How would I wake up than?"

"For waking up, you planned to depend on that thing?"

"Yeah?"

"You, Mrs Oberoi,  didn't wake up on it's five, much audible,  rings," he stated coolly looking at me, just like a bear who was woken up in between his hibernation. The Mrs Oberoi, however was all different thing. Maybe it's new to hear that's why causing feeling weird and exciting and not normal at all,  " you expect it will help you waking up on time? You're delusional."

Oh well, five times it is. I didn't even notice. I bite my tongue, looked at him, noticing his gaze flickered on my lower face for a second.

"Well, one can't break their habit easily. Or ah, I have a much much better idea," I smiled at him, as he picked up his phone, "Are you taking responsibility of waking me? Or again prefer on throwing another alarm clock, husband dearest"

He froze in between for a second, than without looking at me picked his phone up and slowly peered his cool oceanic orb on me.

"I would suggest,  learn to wake up on your own." He state

"Not everyone has their natural clock fit in brain. I wonder how you are always on time." I shook my head, remembering my good o'd days. "I was habitual,  Maa would come every morning."

"Here, make yourself habitual. No one else is going to come, wake the princess up." He said plainly.

With Princess, I remember how papa used to call me that and wake me up every morning.  "Wake up Princesss! You're missing the most amazing sight outside. Wake up. Now. Or else your mother is coming. And I don't want you to be scolded again. Wake up! Anika? You're stubborn....just like me." The good ol' days. The voice of papa, and my childish giggling still rings in my head.

I sighed, gulping the lump formed in my throat. The memories are too heavy for me to reminisce this early morning. I really need a drink, or a cup of coffee.

"What?"

His voice gained my undivided attention, involuntary my facial muscles relaxed. I was so lost in my memories that I  didn't know the whole time he was watching me, seeing me.  His questioning gaze, and a awaiting look, made me for one moment believe he is curious.

I shook my head,  "Well, nothing, except...

"Hm?"

With a big bright grin, "Good morning."

"What's good about this morning." He said and his thick voice gaining my momentary attention. " I certainly have a headache coming."

"Oho, it was just a alarm clock. Does that mere poor clock has that much effect to give a headache to such  big, powerful man  as you, Husband." Looking at him, my lips curled up in a smirk.

He straighten up his spine and creased his eyebrow into a frown. "Not just your poor clock. But loud ear piercing head splitting boisterous thing it was. Not a normal clock. That made me thinking, did you intentionally put it?"

"Um, no. Offcourse not."

"You expressions aren't meeting your words."

"Indeed they are. You are misreading them."

"So?"

"Yes?"

"Was that intentionally?"

"What?"

"Mrs Oberoi?"

"Okay so yes maybe I might have bought the loudest alarm a  store was having."

He gave me a look, which was not at all impressed or  calm and smiling one.

"What?" I falsely chuckled, " It was just for my own, accordingly.  You know how hard it is for me to break from sleep. Afterall when you  came to our house, before our marriage, you remember? When you came in without knocking..."

"Yes, yes, I remember."

"So, that. As to this, what intentions were you accusing me?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

He suddenly seems very much interested in pool outside. "Nothing. I have very important  thing to do, now."

I  took my own time to relax my muscle, in slow moves, stretching. Meanwhile out of corner of my eyes, I saw him looking back at his phone and narrowed his eyes seeing the screen. Um, seems like stock market dropped by a few points.

"By the way," I stood up, looked at his hand, "How is your hand now?"

The toothpaste was still there. And I totally expected this to be cleaned the night only. Shivaay is so cleanliness freak, it's amusing he had it on his hand whole night.  He looked at me than  his hand, tested, streched and nodded, mumbling "it's fine."

I examined myself. Thank god, no ulcers formed. But it wasn't healed yet, the redness was visible clearly. God knows how he could stretch it normally when for a normal adult person too, it irks and iches on a slight movement too.

His oceanic orbs were watching as I held his hand. For some reason, I'm glad he isn't protesting like yesterday night.

I was holding the hand carefully, and with my free hand I gently raised his black kurta sleeves.   And the condition here, I inhaled,  didn't get better. It was still bright red, with some ulcers have formed. It all looks painful.

"Oh god" looking at it carefully, the golden hair of his skin and red dots, the plumpy and swelling skin, the guilt in me increased, "we should have poured cold water here before only."

"It's alri--" he tried taking his hand back.

"Don't say that. Offcourse it's not alright."  I looked up, in his oceanic orbs, which instantly got locked with mine. In a low voice, I told him,  "You're never going to repeat, what you did yesterday."

Listening to me, for a moment he looked at me, as if searching something in my eyes. His gaze was questionable, only to answered by my genuineness. Than abruptly, took his hand, stretched his sleeves back and rubbed it, intentionally.

"Heyy! Don't do--"

"For the final time, I'm telling you, my hand is perfectly fine. See," he rotated his wrist and moved his hand and when winced silently, he stood up straight. Meanwhile I looked at him, with crossed arms against my chest, giving him a daring glare. He wasn't fazed at all. 

"See, I told you. Don't be all macho man. Be careful, it's still sensitive." I held his hand back, frowning at him, against his all trials of snatching his hand back.

"Mrs Oberoi?" He silently commanded my name. And I hate it how it made me felt stomach fluttering, and losing myself to hear what he had to say. He continued when I looked at him from his hands, "instead of your little warnings, a thanks would be  acceptable."

"Oh, thankyou so much, but" shrugging that off, "let me put some ointment, wait here I'll get---"

And as I turned to move, a tug over my hand stopped me abruptly.

"Stop." He again commanded and immediately left my wrist as I turned back at him. "Don't. It's not needed."

"Ary but-" I looked at his wrist. It's even making me feel bad, it's all because of me.

"I'm telling you na," he uncharacteristically for once said in a soft tone, "I'm alright. And I'll put it something later on."

I seriously asked, "When?"

With a look he is giving right now, I thought he will counter back or as usual, argue with me. But for a change he told me, "After getting ready."

"Pakka?"

This time, he didn't hold back, "Aren't you enough of your questions?"

I shook my head, smiling lightly.

He looked at me, giving me a look that says, nothing can happen of me.  As I turned to go, he called me out once again.

"And?" I paused in my movement, slowly turned back, humming, looking awaiting. "Don't get worked up because of this. It was just an accident. ."

I was staring at him, not at all expecting him to say this all. He was pointing right but more than that he gave a thought and was concerned and for the first time this change I was seeing, it was surprising.  I looked at him, wordlessly shaking my head. "It was, directly or indirectly my fault. More than that, I want your hand to be okay. Just put some ointment."

Without saying anything else, I walked to washroom, but no, he has to interrupt. "Wait,"

"Now, what?"

"You take hours to get ready. I have to go downstairs in five. I'm going first."

I frowned, intentionally stepping inside "But I am already in. And it's kinda urgent."

And I slammed the door on his face. I can imagine his tightened fist and cold glare on this way.

I smiled, going on with my morning routine. When I was done bathing, I than only  realised I didn't bring the clothes. I looked around, for something to wear, but nothing was here except a bathrobe, and small and long towels.

The bathrobe.

His bathrobe.

I bite my lip, took that soft piece in my hand and smell it.  And man, it smells like musk, his pleasant odour and like him. The inappropriate thought for once, came to me, how he would have used this bathrobe. I know I shouldn't even touch it and throw it in corner screaming loudly for the germs it may have. But here, I wasn't even a percent disgusted.  Unknowingly smiling, I  even wore that, and nothing else on my body. Good thing because it was his size, it was bigger for my small body. I was feeling like, being covered in blanket for once. A soft blanket indeed.

When I opened the door, peeking outside  I saw him sitting on edge of bed, clothes ready by his side and a crease on his forehead as he read something on his phone. He looked serious, and buzy and intense.

"You have already wasted my...." Without even looking at my way, he started saying and when he looked up, his words got lost, and a blink, taking in my after bath look.

The way he was looking, made my cheeks glow more pink. Noticing the situation for another second, he instantly looked another side, like I was some unwanted hippee, or disgusted alien.  I however  acted cassualy walked to the  closet, taking my things out.

"That's mine." I heard him saying, not at all accusingly. 

"Yeah, I know..." I took out my heavy dress. When I turned and my hair all together covered half of my face, I noticed his gaze was on me now.  His adam apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, but his eyes was as cold as ever.

I smiled sheepishy, shrugged. "I forgot to take my clothes."

He didn't say anything, for once looked at me, at my tendrils. I remember the time, after our engagement how he couldn't had seen me removing my kajal rashly and instantly helped me out. He was kind of person, wants everything perfect, on it's place. Now, I suspect, he wanted to move my mannerless tendrils. I so have thought that a romantic moment from some movie, but knowing him this much, I controlled my smirk, and didn't dare correcting my hairs.

"Mr Oberoi?"

He averted his gaze on my eyes, "Yes?"

"Everything alright?"

"Yes.." he seems to be distracted. I frowned, and instantly he added, "but because of your thirty three minutes in bathroom, I'm late today. Try to get up earlier from tomorrow onwards. Okay."

"Don't tell me, you were counting my bathing minutes outside."

"Not intentionally." His voice lowered.

He gave a last look at my face,  and  with close grip over his clothes, he walked towards the washroom.

Five minutes. I had already wore my clothes, in walk in closet. But Shivaay hasn't came out in his record time.

Ten minutes, I was done with my essential accessories. But still he didn't came out.

Fifteen minutes and I wonder is everything alright with him. He doesn't usually take this much time.

And by twenty minutes, I thought, I should ask him if he's alright, but the door opened, there comes my husband in track suite and without looking at me, picked his shoes up and wore them and went out of the room.

I frowned, thinking, now what's with him huh? His mood swings sometimes really feels like a pregnant lady. Unpredictable!

••||••||••

Next day, Shivaay has his own way of waking me up. Again the alarm started ringing loudly but this time, Shivaay shouted my name so loudly that I fell from my seat, down on floor along with my comforter.

I glared him. Hard. But he, looks satisfied with the way things is going. That is, grumpy me.

Yesterday, he really kept his words. After breakfast, when he was all ready to do his office work, he instantly called the house helper and ordered for first aid box from kitchen.

And not just that made me smiled but during breakfast when everyone was concerned looking at his hand, how he had covered up our late night stroll, all taking blame on himself and his coffee, made me avert gaze from all and looked at him in his eyes for a second, had made me guilty yet a small smile forming on my lips.

Yesterday  he had put the ointment, very neatly and had the three other tablets eaten, without even looking at me. Well, he hadn't looked at me the whole morning. Not after his long beauty bath, not after breakfast and not while working on laptop or while applying medicine when I was the one, whole time beside him. I suspect, it was intentionally. It wasn't until Dadi gave us together some work and he had to talk to me.

Today however, after we had come in our room, Mr Oberoi seems to have forgotten to keep his words. He hadn't called Shyama today,  our house helper for the medicines. So instead I went to the kitchen, took the ointment and walked back to our room. Mr Oberoi, was buzy typing over laptop, his speed not so much fast as he will jerk his hand in between typing.

He was subconsciously, rubbing over the affected hand, when I settled down on my side. Reaching out to him, I gently held his hand, gaining a  attentive look from him.

"What are you doing?"

"Flying the kite!" Sarcastically, I answered before looking at him. "Applying ointment as it seems like someone has forgotten to keep his words."

He raised his eyebrows "I don't backout from my words. And if you're referring to this, It was just for yesterday." And tried taking his hand back, "and it's healed now. Leave it, and let me concentrate on my work. You are wasting my time--"

"iishhh, let me concentrate on my work."

A glare from me, made him now not take his hand back. But he wasn't scared at all, just amused.

I took out the transparent gel on my forefinger, applied it carefully over his back of palm. "I know work is important but wound won't heal itself fast, the ointment needs to be applied properly--"

"Anika?"

"Yes?" I looked up.

He raised his eyebrow, pointing at where I was applying ointment. "There, the ointment is not spread properly."

I looked down, and that was just a little spot where consistency of gel was more, but  that doesn't mean he need to point it out! Here, I am applying medicine and he has to taunt..

"Mr Shivaay Singh Oberoi"

"Yes?" I applied a little pressure over his covered wrist, instantly he hissed, "ah.."

"Exactly, let me do my work. Don't you interrupt me." I nodded at him, with tight smile. He frowned at me, before shutting up and letting me apply the medicine however I want.

I was about to unbutton his sleeves, when he interrupted, "here, your hands are sticky..." when I looked at him, he shut himself up, "let me unfold it, this much I can do myself."

I let him do that, before applying the fair amount of ointment, however I wanted.

"Now, don't touch it. Moreover don't strain it." I gave him the instructions seriously.

"I know, Mrs Oberoi. However I can't compromise on my work because of some small wound."

"Really?" And I reached out and slightly pressed his wrist, gaining a hiss and a cold glare.

"However," he took the wrist out of my reach, "I'll be careful."

I nodded, "Acceptable."

"Now, if you can move, I have a company to run."

Just now I realised, how close was I sitting and my leg almost on his laptop. "Oh, yes, offcourse."

After that, he didn't argue with me whenever I applied the medicine. With whenever I meant four to five time a day.

Whole day he would be buzy on his laptop, conference meetings, approving presentation. And giving orders, offcourse. And for me, I get to spend time with my new family. Bade papa, badi maa in morning before they leave for office. Rudra and Prinku at evening as early morning they'll left for their college and Om, I would tease him with never ending banters about Gauri. All day, I would spend time with Dadi. I am trying to understand all of them. Likes, dislikes. Their habits. Specially, dadi's health condition and medicines she take.

Third day it was and four days are left for our offices to resume. It was evening, no one was home yet, except dadi and Shivaay and me. After serving adrak wali chai to dadi, I prepared my coffee, and thought to look upon my work also. Holidays are getting over, and I need to come back to business now.

I prepared coffee for him as well. The same way I had when he came to pick me up. Putting two cups and a plate of digestive biscuits, I went upstairs.

He was working, sitting on bed, leaning back to head board. I put the tray in between, meanwhile picking my own files and laptop up.

"Here"

He looked up, I pointed towards his coffee. He being he, said cocking his eyebrow, "I didn't ask for it."

"Have it." Shrugging my shoulders off, I forwarded the cup, "I was preparing for dadi and myself, thought you would like to have some."

He looked at me, than at coffee before dropping his pen and forwarding his hand.

He accepted that, and when tasted, looked at me while licking his lower lip. The simple action of his, made me avert my eyes from him. I just realised, how interestingly I was staring at my dear husband.

Though he didn't commented on taste. But took a biscuit, and I smiled seeing some sort of normal him, other than always being formal.

Unconsciously my fingers twirl around my tendrils as I, after so many days, entered the password in my laptop. The work, by god grace my employees had handled carefully and impressively. They didn't disturb me once during my marriage. But, I sighed, I gotta check everything....

"Can you pass me that charger?"

I looked up from my file, for a second I was awestruck seeing Shivaay in rectangular  glasses and reading his file. Cute.

"Anika?"

"huh, yeah?"

"Charger"

I forcefully averted my gaze, picked up my laptop charger, passed it to him.

Last time taking a glace at him, I smiled, bite my lower lip, again working on my laptop.

We were both working, lost in our own work, maybe three fours hours passed away,  when Rudra and Prinku came in our room joking around, "see, this is what happen when two workaholic person get married!"

Prinku chuckled, came to my side and settled down. Rudra on the other hand, patted Shivaay's back. Shivaay took off his glasses and they both talked about Rudy's day and his upcoming exams.

"Bhabhi," Prinku shuffled on her feet, and as I looked at her, she passed me a jewellery box. "This is for you."

"What's this?"

I took that, here Shivaay and Rudra stopped talking, quiet and looked at us.

"See yourself" Prinku said quietly and in that box was a anklet. A single beautiful anklet. And as my mind got clear it's another pair.

I remember, similar pair someone gifted me on my engagement. I looked at Prinku, seeing the similarity between these two brother sister. Both hadn't written their name on gift.

"Thankyou," I smiled, opening the side drawer and from jewellery box taking out it's another pair, "so that was you."

Prinku nodded, grinning.

"It's  so preety."

Prinku smiled, happy now.

"How was your day?" Shivaay asked Prinku.

Prinku nodded, "Buzy, and nice."

Rudy however smiled mischievously, "Tell them, Prinku."

Prinku got flushed and glared Rudy, " what t-tell them? There's nothing."

Shivaay narrowed his eyes, asking seriously, "What is it? Is some boy troubling you?"

Prinku went red and shook her head, "Nothing like that bhaiya. Rudy bhaiya keeps troubling me, that's it."

Meanwhile Rudra scoffed, "And you think, while I'm there someone can even look at her in eyes."

I sigh, these Protective brothers.

"Prinku leave them." I called out, shutting my laptop off and keeping aside my files. "You get freshen up, I'll set the dinner."

"Ji bhabhi"

Prinku went out in a heartbeat and here I playfully glared at Rudra, " why do you keep teasing her?"

Rudra exaggerated, " haww bhabhi, I was only helping her. She wants to ask you both something and couldn't because of her shyness."

"Oh" I nodded, " you go freshen up too."

Shivaay however stopped Rudra, " what is it, troubling Prinku so much? What she wants to say?"

Rudra hesitated, "wo bhaiya, it's better if she tell herself. Or she'll get mad at me."

" But, if you know--" Shivaay started.

I cut him off, "If Prinku wants to talk herself with you, let her. Give her some time Shivaay."

Rudra meanwhile escaped from room. Shivaay looked at me, and I shrugged my shoulders off.

We all met downstairs. Shivaay buzy taking news of all around from Khanna, here Prinku looked lost in her thoughts. When Shivaay called Prinku out, she shrugged off the main topic and saying she is good went to her own room

Here I saw frown forming on his face. Worried about his little sister.

I suggested, "why don't you talk in person with her? Maybe than she could tell you."

Shivaay looked at me. Not saying anything for moment, only silence. Than spoke, "Sometimes, I know she doesn't speak what she really wants, not to upset me. She hesitated whenever she knows it might not be pleasant to me."

" Oh" I inhaled, understanding his point. " Will you be okay, if I talk to her? Maybe being a girl she could share better?"

He looked over me but atleast gave me a small nod. "You do that Girl talk. But you'll tell me truthfully, what's worrying my sister?"

I nodded vigorously. " Yeah, yeah"

A new habit in this house I'm trying to develop. Walk after eating. Usually for last three days, I have gone alone. That little time have me thinking about my life, career goals, new family. About Shivaay. Fights we daily have, difference in our way of living in smallest thing. Difference in our thinking. I'm thinking of ways, I can connect to him. Make him little less cold. Alas, I couldn't think of anything appropriate, but just being polite. He hated when I care for him. It's clear he doesn't accept concern or care easily. For now, I'll just be myself. And try to understand him better.

So, today after our heavy meal, I asked Prinku to join me. Hearing about walking, in this cold that too in this lazy moment after eating, she has pouted and tried making me too, sit with her in a blanket and watch some movie. I shook my head, she sighed and at last here we are walking in Oberoi's garden, enjoying the coldness.

I asked her, "So, how is your college going on?"

She exhaled, puffs of smoke coming out of her mouth. "Really stressful, exams are coming in a month. And than this is last year of Rudy bhaiya, I have to help him too with project works."

I sigh, "I understand. Those days, I remember how Mallika and I will work all night and day, for every one mark. Though, we were easily distracted."

She looked at me. "Distracted?"

I grinned, "zizu. Haider zizu would come now and than. And he with all his emotional blackmailing made us bunk our hostel, join some party. Sometimes born fire one, other time our batch party with some weird horror theme. It was fun though."

Prinku grinned, "wow , you bunked your hostel at night?"

I gave her a obvious look, "hundreds of time." Than frowned, "you don't bunk your classes?"

Her eyes widened, "no-no bhabhi. I could never do that."

I chuckled, "Seriously?"

She nodded and gave me a vibe of a sincere student. I inhaled, exhaled long "well, it's quite tough. But I'm proud of you Prinku."

She smiled. After our one round without talk. I looked at her, a similar crease like her bhaiya forming between her brows. It's a sign, I picked up when they are contemplated to do or say something.

I asked her directly, "Is something troubling you? You know you can share with your bhabhi anything."

She was cautious and shook her head. I held her hand. "Prinku?"

"Ji bhabhi?"

"Spit it out. I know you are confused about something. Just couldn't able to decide, isn't it?"

She looked at me, than down at our shadows. " Is that that clear?"

" Kind of"

She thought for a moment, "but you won't talk about this to bhaiya." She looked up, "you promise me?"

Now that's  a trap of destiny. There I ensured Shivaay I would tell him everything and here Prinku asking me not to tell anything. Who should I listen to?

Well, Prinku is your priority this moment. She is trusting you with her problems. So be a good bhabhi and talk her out.

" I promise. You can trust me." I said truthfully, our pace slowing down but still walking.

" I trust you so much, bhabhi. And this thing I don't think I can talk to anyone else in this house, but only you." She said out looking in my eyes and I felt a warm tugging at heart. It feels wonder when someone trust you with their secrets.

I waited for her to speak, to take her own time. And than she started, "you see bhabhi, how I am actually. A nervous person,  gets scarred easily, nervous all the time, and not a tad bit of confident."

" Prinku, but that's not--" I put my hand on her shoulder.

" Come on bhabhi, that's the truth. I am well aware. Even though no one ever mocks me out in this house but I feel worst with it, when they worry about me."

"they all love you."

" Indeed they do, but I don't like it at all." Emotions swimmed in her eyes. " I want to be like you. An ideal. First time I met you, I thought why can't I be so eazy going and confident like you."

That made me stop, and she stopped too. It just made my heart flutter, I haven't have anyone saying that they see me as their ideal.

"Did I say" Prinku went conscious, "something wrong?"

I shook my head, "no, you didn't. Infact whatever you said, I felt touched."

She gave me a small smile before a tired look crossed on her, " I'm fed up, with myself."

I shook my head about to say.

But she cut me off. " And I have decided I want to change."

I looked at her, awaiting.

She nodded, walking to and fro now, and I observed her as she let out everything. " You know, I don't participate in class discussions even though I know answers. It's frustrating. The nervousness everytime overpowered me, stopping from participating in anything. Any function." She looked at me, " If this thing I would have said to anyone here, you know. Actually you don't know what bhaiya and bade papa would have done. They would have threatened the teachers, and made me anyhow have that role or position I desire."

I looked at her surprised.
" That overprotective?"

" You have no idea."

"damn!"

" And than, they wouldn't let me out of their sight even for a day."

She whined and I gave her a sympathetic look. An overprotective brother like Shivaay, and overprotective father figure like Tej uncle. On that Om-Ru, are less than them but still protective about her sister. In marriage days, I have witnessed how they would care for her, shoo off any boy tried coming near their sister.

"I'm with you. Whatever you have planned, whatever you want, I'll be on your side." I held her hand and gave it a squeeze.

She lighten up, her face glowing with a ray of hope and she put her other hand on mine. "Really bhabhi?"

I nodded, smiling at her before she tells me the real problem troubling her.

"So, you would help me convince bhaiya for this camp I want to go?"

I blinked, frowned. "Camp?"

She nodded, "Every year, for a month a camp goes on. Last year, I didn't go, I didn't dare to step out of my comfort zone. But this year, I want to. I want to explore and make new friends, on my own."

"It's good. So what's the problem? Tell Shivaay and he'll understand."

She gave me a look saying 'you really think so' than told me, " you know every party I go, that extends for my curfew at 10--"

I cut her off, " wait, you have a curfew?"

She sadly nodded and I again sympathize with her. "Untill high school it was eight pm and now in college I have given a bit leniency, it's 10 pm now."

" god! That sucks" I shook my head in disbelief.

" It does." She than continued, "So, yeah, even when I go to party, there are guards following me all around at night. And than for once when I went for sleepover with my only best friend, don't even ask, how it all seemed like when there only house seems to be on high security."

"Oh, dear god. It's too much."

"So you think bhaiya will allow me on this camp?"

I inhaled, saying out," It... seems challanging."

" Never. Bhabhi, I don't want to go with high security or Rudy bhaiya's protection. I just want to go by myself."

"correct word, independently."

" Yeah, exactly." She held her head high. "I want to go there independently."

Life can be weird for all. Now seeing Prinku and imagining myself to be in her place, I'm sure I would have ran off my house long ago. It's fortunate to have a such loving family. It's good to have protective and caring brothers. But to this extent, when she can't even breath herself freely! Noo. I can't imagine that. How will she learn to live by her, if everyone keeps protecting her every moment and keep in a comfort zone.

" You should talk to Shivaay. If you make him see your point like this, I'm sure he'll understand. He loves you Prinku. He'll always be on your side."

" You really think so? No one can win an argument with him, bhabhi." She tiredly sigh. "He won't agree with this."

I shook my head, "don't just assume. Atleast try. And if he didn't agree, I'll try to talk to him lastly."

She was reluctant but I pressed her, "Atleast try!"

She nodded.

" Now come here" I hugged her, caressing her hair. She exhaled, relaxing in hug though, she was as tensed as Shivaay whenever he was in unlikely situation. " And don't think so bad about yourself."

We parted, I held her hands. " Every person is different. No one is perfect and their flaws are that makes them beautiful. I'm happy you are trying to cross your comfort zone, and wanting to work on yourself. But in all this don't change your basic nature. Okay? And anytime you want to talk, and want someone who can listen to you, I'm just here, always with you."

Without saying anything, she hugged me tightly. Unlike the tense or awkwardness I felt before, she this time embrace me with confidence and her choice. She muttered, " thankyou so much bhabhi. I'm glad you're my bhabhi."

I patted her back. " I'm glad, I got a sister like you."

She chuckled and with new found determination went to our room, to talk with, Devil Singh Oberoi.

••||••||••

"No. I said no, so no. You're not going without security."

Well, it turns out Shivaay wasn't hard to convinced to allow Prinku on this thounsands kilometres away trip. It was all Prinku's puppy face and longing eyes that convinced him to fulfill his sister's wish. But convincing him to go without Rudy and security, is seems like next to impossible.

And judging by situation here, Prinku who never ever goes against her bhaiya's word is today having a very hard time doing the convincing.

Lastly she looked at me, who I might add was pretending to be buzy on her laptop, has to sigh at last.

I haven't even said, "Shivaaay?"

There Shivaay already warned me, "don't even interrupt in this matter."

"Shivaaay! Atleast hear me out."

He gave me a cold look, turning away from Prinku. "Are you going to say against my decision?"

I opened my mouth to say 'offcourse' than closed off. Only if Prinku wasn't here I would have answered in all Anika style.

"Please don't argue because of me bhaiya bhabhi. I have decided, I am not going on this camp. I just remember, I have projects to work on."

She looked both of us, our tension that she sensed, she blamed on herself. I can see it. Her face morphed.

" We're not fighting Prinku. Don't think like that."

She nodded silently and the form she had in her hand, she crumble it and walked out of our room.

Shivaay was standing there, looking at her retreating figure of sister. And I looked at him, awaiting when he'll go and talk to her. Can't he see how upset she is?

"What are you waiting for, go and talk to her!" I signed towards the door.

But he being he, went to study table, sat down and started working on his laptop saying, "there's nothing to talk. She'll be alright soon."

I looked at him in disbelief. So he won't do anything to make it up, or cheer up? "She's upset Shivaay. Won't you talk to her and make her go to this trip?"

"Why should I?" He turned to me. "She wouldn't agree to go with security and Rudy. It's better to be here."

" Shivaay!" I said in disbelief, "She wants this. She wants to go independently. Let her live for once, like a normal girl of her age. They don't have twenty four seven security going with them everywhere. They want to be free, they want to live without restrictions."

" I know what's better for my sister, Anika. Don't interfere in this." He coldly said that, turning to work on his laptop.

"But atleast consider her point of view--"

"I said na, I know what to do. Don't interfere in this."

I felt resentment towards him. I wanted to shout at his attitude. It's damn irritating everytime. And to not say anything I regret later, I shut my laptop off and went outside, downstairs.

••||••||••

"Ary puttar, what happen? Whom are you cursing at this time?"

Dadi asked, smilingly sitting on sofa and watching some movie.

I shut my mouth close, I didn't realise whole way  I was cursing Shivaay. Cooling off my anger, I went to dadi and stood before her. It was cold here and she wasn't even wearing her shawl. The blanket, was spread on sofa around her.

"It's cold dadi." Saying so, I covered her properly.

She patted at her side, smiled and asked, "Did you have argument with billu?"

I opened my mouth, tried denying but went with the truth, "how would you guess?"

She shook her head and chuckled, "Experienced eyes I have. The phase you are in, long ago I had already lived."

Her eyes glowed, as she said this. I huffed and nodded. Finally saying, "your billu has that big man ego, dadi. What to say about that. He is really tough nut to crack. "

Dadi nodded, "he has got it from his dadaji. Anger always on nose, attitude like giant one and sometimes seems like inconsiderate about their own people. "

That's the exactly description of Shivaay. I looked dadi with 'exactly' look. And asked her, " So, how would dadaji and you..."

I don't know the correct word but dadi completed it, " go along, or stayed together? "

I bite my lip but nodded.

"Ah, we did live together, a long life and amidst all fight with each other, there was our love never let any of us go away." She patted my hand, smiled. "I always love to recite our love story. You want to hear it? "

" Offcourse dadi. Wait a minute. " I was about to stand up but asked her, " Dadi, are you tired or sleepy, you can take rest. I can wait. I don't want to stay you up--"

Dadi gave me a frown and playful glare, and lightly slapped me on arm, " hatt pare. You aren't disturbing me. In this age, I already don't get sleep. I would be more than happy to give you company."

I grinned, "than its okay. I'll just come in two minutes.-

I quickly went to kitchen, made two cup of dadi's favourite masala chai. And microwaved the popcorn. Keeping everything in a tray, I brought to her.

"Tada, Here it is"

Dadi was surprised to see, but than happy to spend her time like this. She gladly took the tea, later confessing how much she was craving for it. I told her clearly, next time to ask me with her all rights, to prepare her tea. She nodded and than started the story.

"So, it was time around when there were all around tension arrising, we just had got independence, I was nineteen and had completed my inter college." She looked at me, " that time, it was a degree equals to now days graduation. And being a girl, I was lucky enough to be among few countable number, where I got my full education." She took a pause, " So, that time, after our education it's our turn to get married."

"You also had arranged marriage?"

She chuckled, "In my time, there's only arranged marriage happened, love marriage wasn't so acceptable thing in society."

"Oh"

"But there's the twist." Dadi smiled a secretive one as if living her old days. "My marriage was fixed but not to your dadaji."

"So you had a love marriage?" I suggested.

She shook her head, "I have just known him hardly for a week, that too when he came to my house and raised obligation to my marriage infront of all, infront of baauji. "

My eyes widen, grinning, I said " dadaji was quite daring."

For first time, I saw dadi shaking her head in disbelief, " oh, he was. Don't even ask."

I smiled, seeing a part of that nineteen year old in ninety year old woman.
" But why would he raise obligation?"

She with her hand, signed me to wait. That she is coming to that part. She had some popcorn and than started, " So here my marriage was just fixed and side by side, I started having the letters, containing" a pause before she completed, " warning to cancel it."

I raised my brows.

"Like a normal girl, I was terrified. I didn't understand, and when for a week it goes on, I told my bauji. Everything." She looked at me, taking a sip of chai. " My baauji was head of our village, richest among neighboring villages and when I told him, he was furious and ordered everywhere to find out the person, alive. Whole village was furious and started searching. "

" Was it dadaji, who wrote such letters. "

Dadi shook her head, "the handwritings were different in each letter. Than one night, a letter came through one of my friend. This was the letter, different from all. In a beautiful writing, not a warning letter but a love letter."

I grinned, excited to know more.

"Here your dadaji wrote, how he was in same school and loved me ever since he has seen me for first time, for three years. The smallest thing he loved about me, the things he valued. But due to our social differences, different religions never approached. Than in last para, he clearly written down the warning, he won't see anyone else having me, he would come and stop this wedding. He wouldn't allow it at any cost. "

"Ohh" I ate more popcorn, lost in imagining the scenes.

Dadi smiled at me, " At that time, I was outraged with all these issues. The person who claimed to be in love with me, who I might add I didnt know the name now warning me! So this time, instead of telling anything to bauji, I wrote a letter."

"Ha?" I chuckled, suprised.

"Yes. A letter, challenging him. I challanged him, if he had the courage he should come here and dare stop this marriage."

"Waah dadi, equal attitude to dada ji."

Dadi nodded, "or kya. We were both equally tadibaaz." Than she continued, "I was sure, no one would be mad enough to come and go against my bauji. We were rich, he had power. But I think, I underestimated the power of love that time." She sipped her tea, gulping and continued, " It was two days before of wedding. Everything was ready, and a week has gone for this letter thing. We were assured when no more letter came that week, assumed it was some enemy of my baauji. Than in evening, I heard loud sound coming from downstairs. Smashing, Crunching, Cracking. "

" Oh, god"

She bobbed her head like still she can't believe all that happened, "I rushed downstairs, there was crowd and every single decoration was ruined by now. More than that tensing thing was, one side, my bauji was standing with all his powerful man. And on other side, a familiar boy, with all muscles long and intimidating, standing with thrice number of powerful man with lath in their hand. All Punjabis. "

Dadi had intense expression and I stopped eating hearing everything, eagerly. " Bauji was dumbstruck, how all these man got here. I was shocked what's happening. Than your dadaji, infront of all, when I came there, looked in my eyes and openly confessed 'Ishq karta hu thuadi kudi se, vyah karke le jana chahuda hu.' That moment, looking in his eyes, I felt the love, honesty and madness and passion. I just realised."

I truly confessed to her, " It sounds like a movie story is going on."

Dadi agreed, " It sounds like that but in reality, it was anything but a movie act. Bauji got so angry, he ordered to beat all of them off. But your dada ji, he didn't back down, he didn't hit bauji but defended himself." A moment latter dadi added, "Prithvi ji, your dadaji has a large source. Already the country's situation was heated due to partition. And than hot minded punjabi in our village, weakened my bauji's resolution. Bauji understood, this man is mad enough to do anything for her daughter. Already the groom family has broken the ties, my marriage atlast happened on the decided muhrat, in same mandap but with your dadaji. "

"wow dadi, it's a story full of action and love and emotions. "

" It is. I got to know your dadaji's name in mandap. When I asked him quitely, he just laughed out so loudly. Even priest had to pace up his speed. "

"So it was love at first sight for you. " I realised later what I asked actually. I was about to correct myself but dadi, she responded to this also.

"It was the starting, we got married, lived in a small house, far away from where I lived. I wouldn't say it was eazy, to go from luxurious life to simple one. But with his support at every step, I embrace all the challanges and in between these challanges, hurdles, conflicts our love evolved and strengthen our relationship and truthfully be said, I would have lived anywhere in this world, in any condition, but with togetherness of your dadaji. Or else, without him, this luxury doesn't mean anything. "

She said while looking around. Her
eyes, held that longing for dadaji, I couldn't even look. It was so strong. I wonder how dadi had spend all these years without him.

"You must be missing him so much dadi. I so wish to meet him."

Dadi inhaled, and leaned back to sofa. She gave me a smile and said, "I miss him, but his memories are enough to support me to live." She than patted my cheek, " and your dadaji might have proud of me, I searched the best bahu for his favourite grandson."

I smiled lightly, gulping down the lump. She than told me, "puttar, Shivaay has faced hard things in his life, beyond what his age should."

My smile went off, listening to her carefully.

"That has made him what he is like today. Rude, hard headed, sometimes seems unemotional at all. You don't worry, puttar. Let me today tell you a secret about him. "

I nodded, awaiting curiously.

" How much ever cold, hard he seems from outside, he is that soft in deeper his heart. If you ask anything with love, he would surely give you."

I mentally sigh, how to tell dadi, her billu doesn't know this love language. Love and him, na na na. He would only understand one language, that is of his profit.

Dadi stood up, about to pick her cup up. I took those from her hand kept it aside. After making sure she lay down comfortably in her room, I made my way to our room.

But when I entered, it seems suspiciously quite all the way. Shivaay wasn't here. I looked at time, it was eleven, and here Mister god knows where went away. Should I look out for him? Or should I sleep? I contemplated.

It was than I was about to close our door, I saw him coming upstairs. When did he went downstairs? I thought and a doubt arrise that he might be listening to dadi and my talk. Or not. He wouldn't waste his precious time in eavsdropping.

Without any exchange of word, I went to bed, lying there quitely and he went to bathroom.

I was buzy on my phone when I heard a light whimper, "Mph"

I looked around me, Mr Oberoi standing facing the other side, I asked "Everything Alright?"

He pressed, unlike his composed tone, "Yes"

Remembering how he had talked with me an hour ago, I shut myself from further enquiring and continued looking at phone.

A minute later, I again heard irritated tone, but in low voice "Dammit!"

"Okay, I can tell nothing is alright, what's the problem?" I sat up, adjusting my suit while looking at his back.

He turned around, his one hand holding other hands wrist.

I instantly assumed, alarmed, "Is your wrist hurting? Wait, there's ointment here--"

"Noo!" He cut me off, raising his wrist, which I just realised, wasn't the affected one. I frowned, when he answered "My wrist is fine. It's my sleeves buttons..."

"Oh"

So Mr Oberoi's button he couldn't tuck off. Well, with time the soreness of his burnt hand and pain has intensified. I noticed lately how his speed in typing and over phone have been slowed down.  And how can my dearest husband handle any kind of imperfection on himself. I can imagine how that little thing must be irritating him.

But it's my own fault.

That thought made me exhale and decided to atleast help, not just for guilt but for the sake of humanity.

He was wearing his black kurta, the sleeves had four to five buttons lined up. Putting my mobile phone on side table, I gathered my hair on one side on front, while calling him, "Shivaay?"

"Hm?"

"Come here."

"Why?"

"Ary, just come here"

He was just five steps away, according to his long step actually. But that's not the point. He couldn't even come here without arguing.

Buzy buttoning his sleeves, he walked to my side. Without looking at me, he asked, "what?"

I didn't say anything. Taking his wrist in my own hand I started buttoning it up.

"Wo, it's cold outside, didn't feel like standing up."

"You don't have to do it."

"Yeah, I can see that. And here, it's done." I said, giving him his wrist away while taking another wrist gently. The burnt one. Like I assumed, it's swelling and red.  "Sit down for a while, will you?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I think I have a ointment here, Maa has given me. It's for burn scar and this swelling. Might heal this fast." I told him, meanwhile taking out that small tube from side drawer. All while, holding his hand firmly.

"Here" I signed for him to open that tube, he raised his brow and tried taking his hand back but seeing my narrowed eyes, opened the ointment tube on.

"Ah" he hissed.

I looked up, and instantly blow up cool breathe on his wrist. He looked at me, unknowingly increasing the chills surrounding us.

I looked down, away from his gaze, applying the cream carefully. The popping veins, the hard skin, golden hair, all that was warm and certainly hot. Hot red.

"Did you talk to Prinku?" I asked, calmly.

"I told you..."

"Yes yes, I know, not to interfere in your family issue, she is your sister, and it's your personal matter. I know clearly."

"Than why would you question again and again?"

"Because.." I looked up, keeping aside the ointment and leaving his hand. "It's my family too now and Prinku is just like my little sister I care about. And unlike, you," I narrowed my eyes, "I can't see her sleeping sad and upset."

He inhaled, standing up "wow, so you are assuming I'm the villain."

"That's you all thought yourself."

"Mrs Oberoi, I don't care what you think." He paused, suddenly coming closer, so much closer to my face. My back on it's instinct, turned automatically an inch away. I inhaled sharply, taking support on my elbow.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Perhaps, " his voice dropped low, as far as to called a mere whisper. His oceanic orbs borrowing into mine, "you are right, I'm the villain."

"w-what?"

"But strangely, I took pleasure in being one."

Being this close, I suddenly remember our new year's almost kiss and as if on its own, my gaze followed down his face. At  his pink lips, surrounded by clean beard.

His eyes reflected my own action, the tension and awkwardness not at all ignorable.

His gaze once more flickered slightly on down of my face and instantly, he looked sideway, picked his phone  and stood up abruptly.

"I.."

I gulped down, sitting straight, clearing my throat. "Y-yeah, um, your button. Yes your buttons. I should tuck them--"

"No. It's, fine.  It's not needed."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

Next moment all I know, we were both lying on our own seats, facing the ceiling. The night was quite, too quiet for my ears to bear. The only sound was of our breathing. A minute later, we both faced each other together, pausing in our moment seeing each other.

My thought suddenly seems to be blurred up. And throat seems to be blocked more of it, today only. I cleared my throat, "Good Night, Mr Oberoi."

He was looking right through my eyes, nodded lightly, "good night."

After this, he faced the other side, and here once watching his broad back, faced other side too.

"Mrs Oberoi?"

"Hm?"

"Is this your wet towel on sofa?"

Yawned audibly, "Goood Night husband. Rest of the talk we'll do tomorrow."

••||••||••