Sona's POV:

"Arjun Arjun...

Why the hell on earth does everything related to you have to be linked with him

Why all the time you need to take his permission

Why can't you decide anything on your own

Why are you always dependent on him for every minor thing??

Suhan kept on bombarding the same questions for the 'n'th time and I kept rubbing my forehead in an attempt to maintain my calm but all of sudden he grabbed my shoulder and jerked me roughly as he shouted on my face "Don't you have your own identity Sona??"

I shrugged off his hands as a voice roared at him "Arjun is my identity Suhan"

With the pitch, I roared on that poor soul the whole library shivered and kept looking at me as if they had seen a demon with red lips blood oozing out of the mouth thirsty for more blood

Come on guys I am vegetarian...

Who eats eggs..

Whatever

Giving shit to everything I threw the book into the shelf and stormed out of the library while I could hear Suhan's footsteps

I looked at him through my shoulder and gritted my teeth "Stop following me like a lost puppy"

"Excuse me...you are a puppet not me" he taunted and I stopped right there...

My finger automatically pointed at him but before I could open my mouth he taunted again "You are your husband's puppet...asking his permission for everything...you better take his permission to laugh and even breath too"

He let out a sarcastic laugh while I balled my fist as my eyes closed trying not to create any scene and said in a very low voice "leave it Suhan...you won't understand"

But Suhan was getting on my nerve at that moment with his nonstop shitty mouth that further said "You are being his doormat yaar Sona" while I immediately responded "I am not Suhan" and he fired back again "And that's why you are unable to make your own decisions"

And now this was getting ugly...

But somehow I calmed my boiling blood and tried to explain to him "Look Suhan...seeking permission from your partner and discussing with him about particular stuff are two different things...

According to you seeking permission is being submissive and asking him what to do and what not to do whereas according to me it is more of having a healthy discussion with him regarding the pros and cons...taking his suggestions on the expected and unexpected outcomes and then finally jumping to the conclusion...

Because instead of making a hasty decision I would always prefer discussing with him... considering his views  and then deciding what to do next  because we are connected Suhan...every individual decision of ours will be effecting the other one and our lives as a whole

Be it a petty issue or a major one we never know the unexpected outcome so isn't it always good to discuss your opinions with your partner

And it's not about being submissive or dominant... it's about respecting opinions...trusting the thought process and gaining the ability to bear the consequences of our partner's decision

You think he asks me to keep him updated about where I am and what I am doing because he wants to control me but can't you see his concern hidden in those small instructions he gives me when he drops me at the college...can't you see his worry when he makes a call when I am late to inform him about my whereabouts

You see it as an act of controlling but I consider it as an act of care and responsibility out of pure love" 

"But Son-

I didn't let him talk shit again and continued firing him with my raging words

There's nothing wrong to say that Arjun is my identity because he is the reason I am here in this college fulfilling my dream or else I would have still worked in any random mobile shop to earn my bread butter and pay the debts of my drunkard father...

You want me to be independent right  then don't forget that the seed of will to create my own identity has been sowed by my husband

Right from a pencil to this uniform on my body, everything is because of him...

He is not controlling me Suhan instead he is making me an independent individual by educating me...

He doesn't want me to fall prey to anyone's rude comments and fake sympathy...

He wants me to grow strong enough to survive in this cruel world without any dependency...

But he is wrong

Though after finishing my education I'll be financially independent I'll be always emotionally dependent on him because he is my strength...

And I am not ashamed to accept this...

I would need him all over again and again and I would shamelessly go to him asking me to help out

Even if I achieve something I will name myself as his wife because the identity I create for myself will be a reward for him too as he was my backbone

"You are blindfolded...behaving like a typical Indian wife" he smirked for which I simply crossed my hands against my chest and asked him

"Tell me one thing Suhan...as a kid and even now as a college-going adult are you ashamed of yourself for being dependent on your parents??"

"Why did the parent's thing pop up now Sona??" He frowned but I was determined "Yes or No??"

"Obviously No"

He sighed and I shouted on his face "If you are not ashamed of yourself then why would I be ashamed of myself...

My husband is my guardian looking after my every need just as a parent does to his child"

I turned on my feet angrily but then my steps halted as I heard those words
"People named him a beast" while it took me no time to pay him back

"Yes, he is a beast...a beast whose soul is shielded from the ugly eyes of poor people like you...

And people also say that every beast is incomplete without his beauty but here
this beauty needs that beast to complete her...

Sona needs Arjun to complete her existence because she is always

Sona Arjun❤

Do you get that??"

********************

Since that ugly yet necessary argument I left the college and reached home before my usual time...

I finished my work and thought of studying but my mind was dead and all thanks to my best friend Suhan...

It's been a month since we met and gelled up so well that it feels like we have been friends for years...

From helping me in my studies to eating my tiffin he is my partner in everything

I really admire him and feel lucky to have him as my friend but then his little hatred-like feeling towards Arjun is something that boils my blood

It's not like he hates Arjun or disrespects him but it's also not like he likes him or looks up to him as a good person...

It's complicated...

Whenever there's a mention of Arjun suhan's face would turn pale for God knows what reason...

But I don't know what rushed into him today for behaving so weirdly and absurdly when I told him about asking Arjun about my home tutorial plan...

Suhan always teases me for the little things Arjun asks me to do but today by questioning my dependency on my husband he crossed his limits...

No one has the right to say that my husband controls me...

Why Suhan...

Why are you spoiling our friendship

Why did you say those words

"Which words??"

That tired husky voice poured into my ears and I was snagged out of my thoughts...

I twirled at him and without looking at him I took the cloth bag of vegetables from his hand and said "Freshen up I'll make tea"

"There's vada pav in the bag...take it out" he instructed and I silently nodded...

With hot ginger tea and vada-pav, I was back to the living room and there was my husband looking all hot as always with his bare upper body...

His eyes were glued on those naked bald fighters on TV and I kept the cup on the teapoy...

He began sipping his tea while I was in a trance thinking about how to start the conversation...

"Bol kay zal??"( Tell what happened)

I heard him and that's when I lifted my lashes and brows scrunched "How do you know that I want to talk about something??"

"Instead of eating vada-pav, you are eating your nails"

The moment he said that my fingers were out of my mouth and I jumped next to him on the sofa and blurted out the much-awaited words "Aho aika na...(Listen) I was thinking of taking tuition at home"

His sharp eyebrows slightly frowned and the subtle smile-like thin line on his lips disappeared on the spot as if he got almost angry...

Without even uttering a word to me he just walked out into the verandah while I kept staring at his back...

He didn't like my thought of a home tutorial??

Is he angry with me??

What will he do now??

Will he come back with a stick or chair and hit me hard just like those naked bodybuilders??

Or will he lock me in a room and starve me to death just like those daily soap mother in laws??

Or will he chop me into tiny pieces... wrap my body in a goney bag and throw it in a public dustbin or nearby lake??

Or will he make my adult video and make it viral??

Or will he....

Will you just stop your nonstop overthinking gutter brain for a second???

Ewwwwww.....

My brain is not a gutter okay...

Yes, it is...

It's being too criminalistic...

And for your kind information, our beast is a beautiful soul...he won't even touch our pinky fingers nails...

Ha but...

No, but...Only shut

Shut what??

Your mouth and brain both...

Hmmm okay...

Now listen to me...

He won't oppose but as this is his house he would expect some charges as we'll be using his property for our purpose so we'll pay him the rent...simple

But what if demands a high amount that we couldn't afford

Then we'll do one thing...well make an agreement claiming that in the initial days, we'll pay him 5% and increase it later on

Hmmm...good idea

But will he agree??

Go and talk first don't make assumptions...

Okay wish me luck

Gathering the luck given by my subconscious I took baby steps towards him and found him on the verandah bench with his hands folded to his chest and eyes gazing at the moon

Though he looked all relaxed with those calm breaths making soft movements on his shirt I knew he was disturbed

I took a seat next to him yet there was no change in his body posture

He is definitely upset with me...

Staring at my lap and letting out a deep sigh I whispered "I won't go for it if you are not okay with the thought"

And that's when I felt his eyes on me
"Do you want me to put an innocent sheep into venomous people's mouths??"

Raising aloft my lashes and making a cute little face I faked Oscar-winning innocence "Innocent sheep??? Who innocent sheep??" for which he glared sharply and within a second I was back to the serious mode

"It's okay...those people are good people with low quality...atmost they wipe some oil on their mouths and won't do anything bad to me"

"No they are not good as you think... they'll wipe stains of my past on you that may leave ugly scars on your mind and you'll be mentally tormented by those predators and I will...

"You'll never let that happen" I completed his words while his mouth was left open and I went on "I know you'll protect me from everything"

His eyes softened a bit as if more than his ears he felt my words through his heart

Silence filled in the air as we kept looking into each other's eyes while the corner of his lips arched a little up...

"No one will send their kids to this house as they think this is a den where a hungry lion is eagerly waiting for his food"

"Maybe they haven't seen Simba the lion King...though it's a dangerous animal it teaches good things too...and my lion is not only good but also it's cute"

And I was awarded by one more sharp glare from the angry lion for which I simply waved my hands in the air and shrugged my shoulders

With that messy fur around his neck, my lion looks damn beasty yet extraordinarily cute with that chocolate lips

And those hypnotic black eyes that have conquered my soul are just beyond any words...

Simply magical they are...

They are...they are...

"What about your studies??"

And before I could write a good essay on those oceanic orbs my Hitler husband shot me a big serious question and with that my eyes lost their shine yet my voice was filled with energy as I confidently announced with a raised chin

"I'll manage everything"

"You can't even manage your single assignment"

He taunted while my brows scrunched in amusement and he went on going...

"Like a puppy, you keep crying over your incomplete assignments, and to stop your running nose I have to pick up the pen and finish the leftover work while the puppy becomes a pig and keeps snoring on my shoulder....such a lazy donkey you are"

He wrapped up his words while my mouth just went all wide...

Did he just compare me with animals...

That too 3..

I frowned at him demanding an explanation while he simply shrugged his shoulders as I did to him a minute ago

Did he just copy my style...

How bad of him...

But he is right though...he helps me with assignments...

But I won't fully agree with him...

Lowering my gaze I argued with a very small tone "I didn't ask you to help me"

I heard a deep sigh as a long hot breath fanned my head and a series of words reached my ears "we can't do this" I instantly cheered him by looking at him "if we don't it...how do you know that we can't do it" but his face spoke that he wasn't convinced yet so I gave him the much-required assurance...

"I'll make a proper schedule for everything...I won't neglect my studies and finish the assignments on time"

"You'll be fully exhausted by the end of the day because of the hectic schedule" his concern visible in his orbs while I said "I won't take a toll on my health too...if I feel like I am unable to pull this off I'll stop this attempt right at that moment...kharach" (Trust me)

Eager to hear from him I locked my eyes on him and after a brief silence he finally said "I respect your decision..you are free to do whatever you want"

Hushhhhhh....

I sighed in happiness and sloped my back comfortably to the bench but still, I had a small doubt and couldn't stop myself from asking him "if you have something to say...just say it"

"This is going to be hard" he mumbled softly yet his voice depicted the discomfort in his mind while I laid my head on his shoulder "we both are a bit similar...we can bear hardships"

He thought for a moment and nodded "there will be hard times but we are not going to give up on us"

It was the sentence that gave me the courage

My fingers gently slide between his as my palm hugged his warm and rough one and this way our hands intervened and rested on his thigh as I said "Together we'll conquer everything"

And I felt his cheek on my hair as he lowered his head towards me...

I don't why I felt our moment a little romantic yet a little beautiful

It felt like time has suddenly stopped working...

Everything around us seemed to disappear and it was only us...

Arjun Sona...

Celebrating their small moment of togetherness

**************

So sorry to keep you all waiting for a long time...

This chapter is a small step toward getting myself back on the journey of writing again and hope it goes well...

Do let me know your views on the chapter so that I can rectify my mistakes and improve myself for the further chapters...

And this chapter is dedicated to my husband who is helping me to get back my identity as a writer a small one though...

Thank you my real-life Arjun SonArjun for being my parent

Thank you Dida Yours_Nidhi we both need your blessings