e l e v e n
running after love

Amongst all the mysteries of this universe, humans might be the biggest one of them all.

They aren't like other living beings. Finding food to sustain isn't their only motive. They have dreams, ambitions and a sense of purpose. They feel emotions. More emotions than others. Betrayal, insecurities, a sense of superiority, and the list would never end. They overanalyse and over complicate the most straightforward things.

Foolish humans.

Foolish humans with a constant need for love. Their craving for affection surprises them too, but that was just how they were.

Just like this married couple.

Shubman and Sara sat on the dining table, stealing glances of each other secretly while they had the dal chawal Shubman had prepared for dinner. They sat in silence, watching Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's older episodes.

"Uh...when do we have to leave for the New Zealand tour?" Sara hesitantly asked, her spoon clinking against the plate.

"Next Thursday," he replied, chugging down some water.

"Oh..." she trailed off, fidgeting with her spoon. "Uh, I...my brother's birth anniversary, my parents have this prayer meet, will you come?"

Shubman scanned her face, as he noticed how disengaged she seemed. He nodded, clearing his throat.

"Yes, of course. You don't have to ask," he gently offered, a little unaware about how he should behave about Sujay dada.

She never talked about him.

He cleared his throat and Sara nodded, flashing a soft smile.

"Uh Shubman, I'll go to bed, I'm feeling a little drowsy, thoda headache bhi hai," she muttered, and he nodded.

"Yeah, go and sleep, I'll clean up," he said and she nodded, getting up. He looked at her, shoulders slumped, as she almost dragged herself towards the room.

Just as he returned to the living room after keeping the dishes, he saw Sara return.

"What happened?" He asked but instead of saying anything, she hugged him, her head resting on his chest.

Shubman didn't say anything, he put his arm around her, softly stroking her hair.

"Thank you Shubman," she whispered, pulling away and he nodded.

"Sara, you...uhm don't have to thank me for doing the bare minimum," he said, his voice laced with surprise.

"It's not that, it's just...it's for, everything,"

He remained speechless as she walked away, heading back to her room.

If Shubman would have asked Sara why she hugged him, she would have no answers for him. She just wanted to. Wanted to sink in the warmth he gave her.

Shubman was slightly confused, but realised how emotionally charged she must have been because of her brother.

But the worst part about humans was that their inability to live in the present. They were mosaics- of their future dreams, their present and their past. Their sad memories, happy memories, every single experience, every person they loved, every person they hated continued to shape them as a person. Continued to keep them happy and continued to haunt their dreams.

🪷

( the next night )

Sara and Shubman were huddled up on the couch as they watched a movie.

"Ek minute," (Wait a minute!) Sara paused the movie making him groan.

"Again?" He loudly asked and she turned to face him.

"Who's the guy who drove him here?"

"A taxi driver,"

"He's not a friend?"

"No he isn't,"

"Yaar, why does everyone dress the same in this movie?"

"Kuch bhi," he mumbled under his breath, grabbing the remote. "Can I resume the movie now?"

Sara nodded and he pressed the button on the remote.

"Who's this girl now?" Sara asked again and he rolled his eyes, a sigh leaving his lips. He got up from his place, sitting right beside her, placing his hand on her mouth.

"Last fifteen minutes of the movie, please just let me watch it,"

Sara slapped his arm away, her brows furrowed in annoyance. She sighed, resting her head against his bicep.

"Bekar si movie hai, sab ek dusre ko maar daal rahe hai," (It's a trashy movie, everyone's just killing each other) she mumbled under her breath. In the next few minutes, she had dozed off but he didn't realise it, immersed in the climax of the movie.

As the movie ended, he shut the tv, eyes falling on his wife who had fallen asleep. He gently nudged her, tugging away the hair falling on her face.

"Sara, utho,"

"Hmm?" Her eyes fluttered open as she saw him. "Did I just sleep?"

"You did,"

"God, that movie was awful, wasn't it?"

"It was a great movie," he disagreed and she rolled her eyes.  

"Where were the emotions? The romance? The drama, the comedy?"

"Not every movie needs to follow the Karan Johar rule book," he mumbled, their faces close as they talked.

"I agree, but no romance?" She raised her eyebrow. "What's a life without romance?" She questioned, her voice barely a whisper and suddenly, the air in the room changed. Their eyes gazed into each other, heartbeats quick.

In those moments, all Sara could think about was him. How much he meant to her. How he made her feel safe, comfortable and and at home.

And how she was gripping onto her fears, trying to run away, but somehow he pulled her closer.

"Worthless," he answered. "Life's nothing without a romance," his voice held a sincerity which affected her deeply.

For a hot minute, they continued to look at each other, their eyes speaking volumes. Shubman ever so slowly leaned in, and Sara looked at him expectantly, in anticipation of what was to come.

I want this.

Shubman, on the other hand felt hazy, overwhelmed by the sudden shift in the situation. His desire clouded his senses but he didn't want to do something that Sara would regret and would complicate things further.

Sensing his slight hesitation, she wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him slightly closer. He smiled, his hesitance gone as they kissed. Their racing hearts now at peace as their lips met. The moment felt perfect, a spark ignited between the two. His hands cupped her cheeks, his touch warm on her skin. Sara continued to cling onto him, a hazy feeling taking over her.

But they were interrupted as Shubman's phone which was lying in his lap rang loudly. The couple was startled, pulling away, both trying to catch their breaths.

"Fuck my life," Shubman was annoyed, cussing under his breath as he got up, receiving the call. Sara felt her cheeks burn up as she stared at him while he talked to Ishan.

"Kya hua?" (What happened?) she asked, softly.

"I'm sorry, I have to go," he mumbled. "Ishan's stranded on the outskirts of the city and his car broke down and there's no cabs available at this ungodly hour," he explained. "Plus, Aditi's not feeling well, I have to go pick them up,"

"Why? What happened to Aditi?" She worriedly asked and he sighed.

"Periods,"

"Oh god, that's horrible. You should leave quickly,"

"Yeah, I'll just change,"

Shubman departed with a bag of chocolates Sara sent for Aditi, leaving his wife in the ocean of her thoughts.

It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience. No feelings. But there was no denying it- they were beyond it all.

The lines between fiction and reality had been blurred.

The kiss felt like a dream, the feeling still lingering on her mind. But at the same time, it felt so real. And so right.

Them being together felt like two pieces of puzzle, completing each other. The yin to her yang.

"Oh my god," a realisation set in. She had just kissed...Shubman. The man who very recently almost stole her charger.

Okay well, he didn't steal it. He just thought it's his.

"Did I just kiss...my husband?"

"What am I going to do?"

"Oh my god,"

"It was a nice kiss though,"

🪷

While Shubman exited, he couldn't stop thinking about his wife.

Did they just kiss before Ishan had called?

As the car started, his phone connected to the system, and like every time, the songs he was listening to previously automatically resumed.

"the taste of your lips is my idea of luxury"

A sigh left his lips as he heard the Taylor Swift lyric. It was Sara's playlist. He didn't change it.

But does this mean she...likes me back? I'm not the only one who feels this way?

He exhaled sharply, feeling anxious because of his thoughts.

"God, I hope I'm not wrong,"

A/N: 'It's been a long time coming...'
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince x King of my heart!
Anyway, slow burn's over? Did you like it? Lmk your thoughts!

Published today because I'm going to be super busy tomorrow :D