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|Her eyes glitter with tears with you and sparkles with love for you|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

I blinked my eyes rapidly to struggle with the remnants of my trance and to align with the blinding rays. When simultaneously, a mysteriously familiar fragrance stirred my senses which was also something undoubtedly enchanting.

At first, I attributed it to my own locks, presuming they were playfully tickling me. However, the scent spoke of sweet berries on a vine, a fragrance foreign to my being. I don't think these strands of hair, cascading around me, certainly belong to me.

As if a sudden realization jolted through me, I ended up whipping my head around at lightning speed.

Whoa!

There, I found Aryan peacefully dozing beside me and resembling the charm of a serene baby, while I hung onto him like a koala bear with my head resting on his chest as I stayed enveloped by the secure embrace of his hands that were gently snaked around me.

I could only wonder when and how this sweet accident happened, but then whatsoever it might've been, this picturesque view was bewitching.

Eventually, the events of the last night tiptoed back into my reality, and the putrid emotions began to resurface.

The images of Aryan coddling me throughout the night played before my eyes, and, oh, how can I forget that I tore in front of him once again.

Yet, after surpassing the pessimistic encounters with my sperm donor and pushy ex, Aryan's tranquilizing words delicately appeased through my soul.

The gratitude I owed him rose above a mere repayment for he had been my unwavering support.

It was as if I was trying on myself to rise again, bolstered by Aryan's steadfast presence, rather than wallowing in the shadows of accusing deeds.

The loathsome deeds, a burden I refused to claim as mine anymore.

Once again, I lifted my gaze to gawp at his serene countenance. His closed eyes, parted lips, and the gentle symphony of light snores and rhythmic breaths that cocooned me, a protective haven free from unwarranted troubles.

A grin danced upon my lips, for in this short moment, my stupid man mirrored a plushie teddy bear. It was a whimsical transformation, rendering him unrecognizable from the very devil who could incite mad anger in me when awake.

I searched for my phone to realize the time. We were quite late as we slept like a log. It was getting close to midday and I don't remember waking up this late ever as the uninvited nightmares never once crossed while I completed a more than seven hours sleep straight away.

'Was it because I was near him?' My smart conscience asked and I partially wanted to shut it up forever.

"No way! You're always biased towards Aryan." I won't deny the calm in Aryan's safe embrace but let's just subside the first possibility for now. Added, I was drained out both physically and emotionally.

After a long internal debate, I carefully disentangled Aryan's arm from around me, mindful of his deep slumber.

Though, I was guilty as charged seeing how he must've endured my troubles throughout the night.

Navigating to my room, I tended to my morning rituals and readied myself for the sloppy day ahead. My doubts loitered all over the place about the potential toll of the previous night as I sipped on my prepared caffeine at a snail's pace.

Aryan in his unintentional wisdom had made me realize the impossibility of pleasing everyone simultaneously and I was indebted to him for unknowingly sharing an unforgettable piece of advice with me.

Aakash was far and away no longer a source of strife as he had exited my life for good. My transparent approach with him wasn't flawed either and it was him projecting his undoing and embarrassment on me which I shouldn't have tolerated in the first place but perhaps that was my biggest mistake.

Returning back to Aryan, his obsidian eyes that were initially fueled by anger and affliction during our confrontation about his absence for an entire night were transformed into genuine concern at the simple sight of my tears.

One thing that he boldly averred to me echoed persistently in my being, uprooting the seeds of doubt and repulsion sown when I saw him with Geetika- had affirmed that he couldn't betray me.

"Married or not, conscious or unconscious, with you or without you beside me. I never cheated on you. Not in the past, in the present or ever in the future. Never bring that vile thought to your mind, Mrs. Mallik. I'd prefer to kill myself rather than being accused of that heinous crime." He avowed.

I placed my trust in him; he could never betray me. The sincerity in his eyes acted as a balm, melting away the looming hills of insecurity and uncertainty that threatened to rock the essence of our sacred matrimony. Aryan Mallik could embody many things, but a cheater wasn't one of them-I stamped it onto the clipboard of my mind.

My chain of thoughts shattered when I heard the screech of a chair at the dining table. There he was, wide awake, still clad in his winnie-the-pooh pajamas from the night before. Despite his habitual run of fingers through his hair, the tousled mess appeared utterly delectable.

"You didn't bathe!" The accusation slipped out before I could leash my tongue.

"No! I didn't. Arey, abhi to subah huyi hai meri." He affirmed, tapping impatiently on the table, occasionally glancing toward the kitchen, presumably for his morning tea.

["My morning has just started."]

"Gauri Didi, thodi chai toh dedo yaar!" He shouted.

["Please give me some tea!"]

[Didi - An Indian attribute used to address an elder woman who is like a sisterly figure]

"You didn't bathe!" I charged in the air, glaring at my own cup.

"So, what?" He countered, then paused, "Do I stink?" He inquired, sniffing his underarms, while I regarded him warily. Who is he? A child starring in a deodorant advertisement?

Meanwhile, Gauri Didi arrived and placed his habitual morning tea, a routine as ingrained as the sunrise for him. She greeted us with a morning just like she did every day, but I was surprised that she didn't inquire about last night. She usually asked about my well-being, but today, after I had been literally bawling my eyes out the previous night, she remained silent. I wasn't prepared to explain myself either way, but considering nearly everyone had witnessed my distraught state, the absence of questions left me feeling uneasy. They all interacted with me casually, as if last night had never happened. I hoped I hadn't unwittingly become a laughing stock.

"Thank you, Gauri Didi!" Aryan exclaimed. "Aap ne toh aaj bacha liya. My head has been spinning since I woke up."

["You saved me today. My head has been spinning since I woke up."]

Oh no, he's unwell! My all night shenanigans must have disturbed him. His head is in pain because of me. What should I do to help him?

My eyes darted between the tea cup and him. Before he could drink, I snatched the cup away. Aryan and Gauri Didi seemed bewildered by my unexpected action, but I wasn't a bit guilty.

"What?" Aryan probed, "Do you want to drink my tea instead of your coffee?"

"No!" I replied, "You didn't bathe, and you can't eat anything until you freshen up!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" He demanded, "I never bathe before this tea goes into my system."

"I don't care! You will first bathe and then have anything else." I was adamant.

"You-"

"Yes, I! Mr. Mallik, is waiting for you to brush your teeth, get cleaned up, and then sit at the dining table."

"This is unfair, Mrs. Mallik!" He protested like a fish out of water, "Give me my cup back."

"I won't!"

Gauri Didi tried to intervene, "This is his routine, Ruchi. Let it be; he is used to having his tea before starting the day."

But I denied.

"His routine is awful then, Gauri Didi." I commented, keeping the cup of tea away from Aryan's reach as he attempted to snatch it. In short, he was getting cranky. "From now on, it will be changed."

"This is unfair. You're having your coffee too!" He accused furiously, arching his brows.

I gave him an impassive wave of hand, matching his stare. "I said what I had to say. You had to shower first, Mr. Mallik."

"Stop being a dictator, Mrs. Mallik!" He condemned in a serious tone, "Because I am going to have my tea anyway." He told and lunged for the cup in my hand while I held onto it tightly.

"Aryan, No!"

"Baby, Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes, Baby!"

He was careful but bent on consuming it, which I didn't want. So, I recoiled, "Aryan, please!" and made a long face at him to fake tiredness, which worked on him immediately, and his hold on the cup loosened.

I took the chance and pasted my lips on the rim of the cup and gulped a bit of the beverage. Aryan gasped at my audacity while Gauri Didi tried not to laugh at my daring.

"I'm sorry, Aryan! But you will have to shower first without throwing another tantrum." I announced regardless of the glare he spared me.

"You're heartless!" He hissed, crossing his arms on his chest.

"For you, yes." I admitted graciously getting back to my coffee. "Don't waste the time, quickly go now and you'll get your breakfast after that." He raised his hands up in the air to demonstrate but I convicted, "Only if you bathe." He groaned, "Cooperate and you can have your good morning, Mr. Mallik!"

Aryan stood up reluctantly while I smiled victoriously. He listened to me, at least. When he unexpectedly leaped forward and fished the cup of tea near me sippin on it readily while I could just leer at him in shock.

He just did not drink from my orted cup! He did not! This man, I tell you! He gets on my nerves faster than I consume my textbooks.

"I love it better this way, Mrs. Mallik!" He smirked, enjoying my flustered state, "No wonder your lips made a simple drink taste heaven!"

This imbecile!

"I'd be glorified if you do this everyday." He continued shamelessly, "Your rosy lips savoring my tea before I consume it and get addicted to your spicy taste buds!" This guy thought it was great to be poetic about this thing! What the hell is wrong with him? Did he fall from a cliff someday in his childhood?

"Gauri Didi from tomorrow please make sure everything I eat or drink is tasted by my wife. Her little touch even makes a bitter bottle gourd relish ambrosia." He said to her while his eyes glinted with ardor as they met my furious ones, "And I want to devour the sweet heaven of my wife over and over again until death steals-"

"Shut up, you stupid!" I growled ready to pounce at him to scratch that mischievous face, stab out that pair of suggestive eyeballs, sew that saucy mouth and amputate his x-rated storage tank.

I have never heard anything more preposterous than this in my entire existence and this man is triggering a heart attack by delivering a lewd speech for me within a bunch of audience.

I was struggling to make eye-contact with the people who were obvious of my flattered self while he was still burning me under his tempestuous gaze.

I regret not having a licensed pistol right now. I really need to carry a fully loaded gun around my husband who skips no chance to leave me embarrassed. I wish I could just dump his ass and run off to the mountains to meditate instead of being his notorious beauty.

Hell! Why did I trim my nails two days back? At least they would've been brought to some use.

"What wrong did I say, Baby?" He played innocent while leaning closer to my side but I pinched his arm and he retreated back hissing in pain.

Good! Take that for putting me under the limelight.

"I know you're wild, Baby!" He grunted, "But let's keep it bound to our bedroom. We have plenty of people here who might be uncomfortable to witness your naughty intentions."

Someone please give me a knife!

I held his collar pulling him closer to my eye-level while seething in rage I whisper-yelled, "Go and fuckin' shower before I pour a bucket full of ice on you, Mr. Mallik!"

His index finger delicately traced the contour of my jaw, a caress as gentle as a whispering breeze, sending shivers through me, even in the midst of anger.

"I love ice, Mrs. Mallik!" He murmured and I pushed him away breathing heavily, not in a position to utter another word.

"Uh, I should go-" Gauri Didi stuttered, probably terrorized witnessing the heat wave encompassing the hall.

"No worries, Gauri Didi. You stay, I'll take off from here." He told her mirthfully and sent me a sinful glance that gave me a hard time, "We can catch up later when we've got the room all to ourselves, okay wifey?"

Then the preparator strolled away with the swagger of a king.

Traitor!

Immodest!

Evil!

Beast!

Stupid!

I wish he would choke on his cold drink! The faucet breaks and falls on his useless head! Maggie gets stuck in his windpipe! He slips on the wet floor! His friend slaps him once! And he gets soap in his eyes!

All of it seems less for his punishment but for now it would do since it'll be poetic justice for his constantly pushing my buttons.

"I shall table the breakfast for both of you and prepare another cup of tea for him-" Gauri Didi began but I urgently intervened.

"No, Gauri Didi." I stopped her, "No caffeine. I'll fix fresh juice for him." I implied and she nodded smilingly. The juice might work as a cure for his hurting head due to lack of sleep and drinking caffeine isn't putting him back to sleep or reducing any of his pain. This was the entire reason to prevent him from drinking tea.

Post breakfast, Aryan secluded himself in his room's porch, sensing my ire after I smashed the jug of pomegranate juice on the table when he casually asked about his tea again. Opting for silence, he passed me whimsical smiles intermittently but I stayed unfazed throughout.

I rapped on his door a while later, sliding the glass doors to find him tangled on the swing, eyes squeezed shut, occasionally pressing his head.

His discomfort weighed on me afterall it was all my doing.

"Aryan!" I called out tentatively.

"Yes, Baby!" He sat up and looked on as I raised my hand when he moved back on instinct. "Don't hit me, okay!" He quipped, "I promise, no tea from tomorrow. Don't kill me, please! I'm your sole husband."

I rolled my eyes instead, controlling the urge to smack his head.

His overdramatic self often gets under my skin and pushes my buttons. I agree that Aryan was a troublemaker, a notorious self-obsessed beast and a heart-stealing rascal but he was a synonym to paradise for me. The one which I wouldn't hesitate while discovering even with my darkness. He was a sky that gave me the freedom to decide its colors. Even if everything he made me experience was a surreal dream, I do not wish to wake up ever from it.

"Huh, don't design my coffin with that dangerous smile." He put up testing the waters, "Else my soul would haunt you forever, Mrs. Mallik."

My lips curled in disgust with his pathetic attempt to joke, "Will you stop sprouting shit, Mr. Mallik?" I beseeched, "Don't talk nonsense always and sometimes try to be a bit sensible."

He chuckled like a fool instead, "I'm not doing anything but you're definitely influenced by me. No doubt, you're shedding roses from that little mouth of yours."

I shook my head at him, choosing to ignore his remark and reached out to rub his forehead, "Your head is aching-?"

"Not really..." He replied, "Tingling here and there but it will be fine in a while."

"It's because of me." I asserted. My mouth set up in a straight line, "You should've let me on my own."

This time Aryan held up my arm and pulled me to sit beside him, "Now you should consider being senseless, woman!" He knocked on my head, "This little thing has been bearing your smartness for years. Give it a break and a breather."

"But-"

"I never held your hand to confine you, but to let you claim your own sky, Ruchi." He cited, "Like the sun graciously shares its light with the moon and they together shape their own essence which isn't known by the universe's decree but by their own luminous story."

His words, a balm to the vaporizing guilt within me, stirred a concoction of emotions. Strong, mighty, and radiant, like the sun and moon. Aryan opted for me over enduring my presence, cradling instead of pushing away, offering peace rather than burning me. He gathered my broken pieces, choosing mending over discarding me. Should I fret over his unknown intentions or revel in the joy of being prioritized?

"You just now got poetic."

"A worshiper of love is famous as a poet." He clicked his tongue, "And an unartistic person like you won't understand the soul of my poetry!" He jibed.

I made a face to show my subtle disinterest in his poetry. I wasn't a fan of poetry either. No idea, how he likes poetry when-

"Now, will I get my tea tomorrow?"

I believe that he was visibly possessed by the beverage.

"Undoubtedly, Mr. Mallik!" I saluted and he bobbed his head excitedly when I interrupted, "But before that, let's treat that headache of yours."

"No need, Mrs. Mallik! I'm fine!" He argued.

"Please, Mr. Mallik, take a moment to relax." I gently insisted, urging him to surrender to the tranquility. As he settled, I delicately wove my fingers through his hair, initiating a tender massage that sought to dissolve any residual tension in his head.

Soon, the melody of his soft snores harmonized with the gentle tunes of the surrounding breeze, a serenade to the sunny morning.

A sense of reverence enveloped me as I beheld Aryan's serene countenance, a canvas illuminated by the lustrous glow of the sun. Shielding him from the intrusive sunbeams, I felt a surge of admiration and respect welling up within, like a river of emotions that flowed with the purity of a mountain spring.

What are you doing to me, Aryan?

Lots of Love,

ANKITA