Priya paused.  She hadn’t really thought about whether or not she was still angry with Aman since he’d gotten in the accident.  Of course, his infidelity had hurt her even more deeply since she realized she now loved him.

       “Let’s just focus on your recovery.” Priya said quickly, trying to make an escape.

       “You're avoiding the question.” Aman pointed out.

       Priya held the door open, ready to leave.

       “If you need an answer, then it’s yes.” Priya said, stepping out of Aman’s room and closing the door behind her.

       Aman sighed in disappointment.  Priya hadn’t ever shown that she was still angry with Aman throughout his recovery.  A part of him was hoping that she’d forgiven him because of his car accident, but sadly that wasn’t the case.  He wondered why Priya was still angry.  She was justified in being angry, but why has that anger lasted so long?  Couldn’t she just throw a tantrum, yell at him and then forget it?  He didn’t like this prolonged anger that she possessed.  The fact that her anger was subtle confused him even more.

       Aman’s medication instantly made him drowsy.  Priya came back to check up on him many times throughout the day.  He was in such a deep sleep that he didn’t even stirred when she entered.  Kamla tried to wake him up to get him to eat dinner, but he mumbled that he wasn’t hungry and went back to sleep.  Priya also tried a little later but Aman gave no response.  Priya picked up the medication and read the label.  It claimed some intense drowsiness. Priya had been afraid that she’d given him the wrong dosage, but she followed all of the doctor’s instructions.  Priya sat down on Aman’s bed and wondered why he’d been sleeping so much.  It was late, so there was no point in waking him up now.  She herself was tired and decided to go back to her own room.

       “Priya!” Aman’s voice reached Priya’s ears.  She stirred awake, wondering if she’d heard correctly.

       “Priya!” Aman called again.  She heard a grunt.  Priya rushed out of her bedroom and down the hall into Aman’s room.

       “What’s the matter?” Priya asked urgently.  

       Aman was awake and writhing in pain.  He was clutching his abdomen and was in a cold seat.  Priya rushed to his side.  She ran down to the kitchen and got a cold compress to put on Aman’s forehead.  She went back up to his bedroom and unwrapped the bandages around his abdomen.  She applied some medicine to his wound and rewrapped it with some fresh bandages.  Then, she gave him some painkillers.

       “How are you feeling now?” Priya asked after a  few minutes.

       “Much better.  Sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night.” Aman answered.

       “Aman, you were in pain.  It’s a good thing you woke me up.” Priya replied sincerely.

       Aman looked at Priya.  He reached out and placed his hand over hers.  She looked up at him expectantly.

       “Maybe you should just stay here.” Aman said, his gaze boring into Priya.

       “Stay here?” Priya said unsurely.

       “Stay in my bedroom with me just in case.” Aman said.

       “In case?” Priya asked.

       “What if you hadn’t heard me tonight or what if something worse happens?  You should just stay here.  It’s better that way.” Aman declared.

       “For the duration of your recovery, you mean.” Priya said.

       “Or forever.” Aman said with a smirk.

       Priya blushed.  She readily agreed.  Honestly, she was a little nervous about something happening during the middle of the night when she wasn’t around to monitor Aman.  Now that he’d suggested that she just stay with him, she felt relieved.  She also felt ecstatic to be once again sharing a bedroom with Aman.  She was glad to be living as his wife again.  She settled in beside Aman.  He reached out for her, but she shook her head.

       “What’s wrong?” Aman asked, disappointed when Priya moved all the way to the other side of the bed.

       “I don’t want to accidently disturb any of your wounds.” Priya reasoned.

       “Priya, you won’t hurt me.” Aman said, extending his arm out to her.

       “Just in case.” Priya said, moving closer to the opposite edge of the bed.

       “Fine, whatever you want.” Aman said, defeated.

       The next morning Aman instructed the maids to shift all of Priya’s things back into his room.  He thought back to the reason why he’d kicked her out in the first place and felt ridiculous.  He’d tried to get closer to her last night but she refused, worried about his injuries.  He knew once it came time for his bandages to be changed, he would have another opportunity to make Priya come closer to him, and he wasn’t about to miss it.

       “Aman, are you ready?” Priya came into his bedroom, ready to change his bandages.

       “Priya, I need to take a shower.  Will you help me?” Aman said.

       “Help you…take a shower?” Priya said, looking down.

       Aman smiled.  He liked the way she thought.

       “As much as I would enjoy that, I just need help getting to the shower.” Aman said.

       Priya walked over to Aman’s bedside.  He pulled back the covers flung his legs over the side.  Priya helped him stand up.  Aman grimaced at the pain he felt in his ankle. He wrapped his arm around Priya, leaning against her for support.  They slowly made their way to the bathroom.  Aman sat down on the edge of his large bathtub.

       “I think I can make it from here. The shower is literally two feet away.” Aman said, gesturing towards the luxurious spa shower that stood right beside the bathtub.

       Priya turned to leave, thankful that Aman didn’t need any further assistance.

       “Priya, wait.” Aman stopped her.

       Priya paused.  She slowly turned around, dreading whatever it was Aman was about to say.

       “I need help getting undressed.” Aman said innocently.

       Priya hesitated.  She looked at Aman, wondering if he was serious.  She gave in and walked back towards him.  She started unbuttoning his shirt, and Aman let her.  He sat back and watched as she slipped his shirt down his shoulders.  She peeled the bandages off his shoulder and started working on the bandages around his abdomen.  Aman leaned in closer.  His nose brushed against her cheek.  Priya’s eyes flickered up towards Aman.  She paused for a moment before continuing to unwrap his bandages.  Aman grabbed Priya’s hand.  He pulled her closer to him.  Priya looked down.  Aman got ready to stand up.  Priya offered her hand for support.  He leaned against to her to take the weight off of his bad ankle.  Priya started off toward the shower.

       “Wait,” Aman stopped her.  “I’m not fully undressed yet”

       “Aman,” Priya blushed.  “I can’t…”

       “Priya, you’re my wife.  If you aren’t going to help me with this situation, who will?” Aman asked innocently.

       Aman suddenly kissed her.  Their lips connected, and Priya started to feel numb.  She wasn’t expecting Aman to kiss her, but she couldn’t bring herself to break away from it.  Her eyes fluttered closed as Aman’s hand moved her hand down his chest.  She felt him stop at his belt.  She slowly undid his buckle.  Aman smiled against Priya’s lips.  He deepened the kiss, making Priya feel light headed.  He could tell the passion was overwhelming her. Her hands now rested on his chest.  Aman grabbed Priya’s arm for support and stepped out of his pants, leaving him in just his boxers.  His lips never left Priya’s.  He leaned back against the bathtub, moving Priya with him.  Finally, Aman broke the kiss.  He turned Priya around with his good arm so that her back was against his chest.

       “Aman,” Priya whispered. Her breathing was uneven, “I…”

       “Sshhh,” Aman quieted her.  “Are you sure you don’t want to join me in the shower?”  He said in her ear.  He placed a light kiss on her neck.

       Priya bit her lip.  She felt Aman nuzzle her neck.  She moved her head to the side, giving him more access.  Priya’s eyes shot open.  She rushed out of the bathroom and closed the door behind her without so much as looking at Aman.  She leaned against the bathroom door unable to believe what had just happened…what could’ve happened.  She left Aman’s bedroom and quickly made her way downstairs before he could follow her.  Aman stood in the bathroom, smiling.  Priya was so shy.  He was actually surprised she’d lasted so long in such a compromising position with him.  He wished that she would’ve agreed to join him in the shower, but of course he knew, she wouldn’t.  His plan to get closer to Priya had worked, and the little deal she made with him gave him ample opportunity for repeated romance.

       Priya decided to join the chef in the kitchen to get her mind off of Aman.  She couldn’t really focus on cooking, so simply watched the chef as he prepared dinner.

       “Ma’am,” Kamla came into the kitchen.  “There is a visitor for you.”

       “A visitor for me?” Priya asked.  “Is it Payal?”

       “No ma’am. I don’t recognize her.  She said she only wanted to talk to you.  She’s waiting in the living room.” Kamla replied.

       “Alright, I’ll be right there.” Priya said.  She wondered who it could be.  Kamla knows Payal, Aditi, and Neha.  They are the only people who ever come to meet Priya.

       Priya walked into the living room.  She looked at the woman before her.  She was sure she’d never met this woman before, but something about her seemed familiar.

       “Are you Priya?” the woman asked.

       “Yes.  Who are you?” Priya asked skeptically.

       “I’m Tamanna.  I’m the woman your husband cheated on you with.” Tamanna said.

       Priya gasped.  She paused for a moment, assessing the situation.  Tamanna was dressed in a simple striped maxi dress and carried a trendy handbag.  Nothing about her seemed extraordinary.  Priya spitefully wondered what Aman had seen in her.

       “What do you want?” Priya said, a little too angrily.

       “I heard about Aman’s accident.” Tamanna started.

       “You can’t see him if that’s why you came.” Priya replied sternly.

       “No, I wanted to talk to you actually.” Tamanna revealed.

       “Me? About what?” Priya asked.

       “Aman and I didn’t have sex.” Tamanna declared.  “We just got too drunk and got carried away, but he wouldn’t sleep with me.”

       “Why should I believe you?” Priya asked.  She started to think whether or not Aman must have put Tamanna up to this.

       “What do I have to gain from talking to you?” Tamanna challenged.

       “Aman might’ve told you to come and talk to me.” Priya replied.

       “Aman won’t even talk to me.  He doesn’t care about me, Priya.  But do you know who he cares about?  You, Priya.”  Tamanna said.

       “If he cared, he wouldn’t have cheated on me.” Priya said seriously.

       “We danced at a nightclub.  We kissed.” Tamanna said.

       “I don’t want to hear this.” Priya said.  She turned away, walking back to the kitchen, but Tamanna stopped her.

       “Wait, Priya. You need to hear this.  We kissed.  He brought me back here, and we made out.  I tried so hard to get him to have sex with me, but he wouldn’t.  No matter how drunk he was, he knew better than to sleep with another woman.  You know what he said?” Tamanna said.

       “What?” Priya was curious.

       “He said that Priya would never forgive him.  Later, when we took more shots, he kept saying your name, saying something about you two not being ready for this.” Tamanna explained.

       “What?” Priya asked. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

       “That’s what he said.  I know it’s not my place, but I do hope you forgive him one day.” Tamanna said. She left, leaving Priya to think about what she’d just said.

       Aman was telling the truth.  He’d never slept with another woman.  He still cheated on her, but not in a way that was completely unforgiveable.  Priya’s love for Aman grew in that moment.  Her anger had been keeping her love at bay, but now that she knew all the details, she couldn’t stop herself from falling even harder for her husband, especially after what had just happened in the bathroom.  He’d even envisioned Priya and even then refused to go all the way.  Aman was a better person than Priya had given him credit for after he’d confessed about his affair.  Maybe it was time to forgive him.

       Priya went upstairs to see if Aman was out of the shower.  She knew he would need her to rewrap his wounds once he was done.  Priya knocked on the door, unsure whether or not it was alright for her to enter.

       “Come in,” Aman’s voice said from the other side of the door.

       “Aman, do you need me to wrap your bandages?” Priya asked.

       Aman wasn’t in the bedroom.

       “Aman?” Priya called unsurely.

       “In the bathroom.” Aman replied.

       Priya walked to the bathroom.  The door was open.  Aman sitting on the edge of the bathtub, trying to get his arm through the sleeve of his shirt.

       “How did you manage to get dressed?” Priya said, giggling at Aman’s feeble attempt to wear a shirt.

       “Trust me, it wasn’t easy.” Aman chuckled.  He’d managed to get dressed from the waist down, but his shoulder injury made it difficult for him to put on a shirt.  “Will you please help me?”

       “Of course.” Priya replied.  She walked over to Aman and helped him with his shirt.  She didn’t bother buttoning it because she knew she’d have to take it off again once she starts bandaging his wounds.  Aman, with Priya’s help, limped over to his bed.  He laid back down, and waited for Priya to start bandaging.  Her fingers traced over the wound on his abdomen.

       “Don’t worry, Priya. It doesn’t hurt so much anymore.” Aman said reassuringly.

       Priya looked at him, concerned.  She started applying the medicine.

       “So you know how you asked me if I was still angry with you yesterday?” Priya said casually.

       “Yeah,” Aman replied carefully.

       “Well I’m not anymore.” Priya said.

       “You aren’t angry with me anymore?  You’ve forgiven me?” Aman asked in disbelief.

       “I forgive you, Aman.” Priya said.

       Aman smiled.

       “That’s great! I’m so glad.  But Priya, why did you forgive me all of a suddenly?  Yesterday, you said you were still mad.” Aman said.

       “Well…Tamanna came by and talked to me today.” Priya said.

       Ooohh Priya and Tamanna finally came face to face.  Are you disappointed that they remained so civil? It’s just the way Priya is.

       What did you think about that steamy bathroom scene? Too bad Priya wouldn’t join Aman in the shower.  He would’ve LOVED that! ;)

       How do you think Aman will react to finding out that Tamanna paid Priya a little visit?

      COMMENT AND VOTE!!!!