Be a home
Be a light house
Be a summer day.
A safe, hopeful
and smile -inducing
Person all at once.
j.d

          Avi's study was a huge room, that Vinny thought about settling there permanently.

Vinny had access to this room always,  but she never thought about visiting it since she considered it as his personal space, even though he didn't use it much.

It was such a comfortable place with custom-built shelves, a comfy chair and a potted plants near  the big glass  window, which was directed towards the sea line view and  to her surprise, there was a long couch that's as welcoming as a bed.

Vinny was stunned by the view and the comfort the study gave, suddenly it became her favourite place in the house to hang out.

Vinny started to spend there more time, sometimes reading there, sometimes using the computer to finish her studies, or sometime binge watching movies or series.
She enjoyed her freedom whenever Avi left  for work, rest of the time he fussed around her about everything.

He was as scary as a mini version of  Hitler and as nosy as a grumpy mother in law, even though he had promised her that he won't be hard on her ,  he turned out to be Vinny's nightmare  most of the time.

He didn't let her walk around the house like before and her diet was filled with healthy food items including things she hated.

If she complained about it, he would always say that he got this meal plan from the dietitian which Dr. Sritha had suggested, if she's going to protest against each and every dish in her diet chart, he would hire a personal dietitian only for her and that made her to agree with him half-heartedly.

They never discussed about the scare they got two weeks ago, they just avoided it and pretended like nothing happened in the first place, and for them it was a closed chapter they never wanted to open again, but the after effects were huge from Avi's side that, Vinny was running out of her patience slowly.

She scowled and protested at time to time but  deep down, she enjoyed the attention she got from him. Avi was strict and had a problem with each and every plan of Vinny but somehow it showed how much he cared and that mattered to her.

So she endured him and enjoyed the free time she got from him in his study, glued to the computer and the books  just like today.

Vinny kept herself busy with her studies which she had converted into distant education program from Mangalore university, considering her present situation.
Her M.phil program in sociology was something she really enjoyed studying, weather it was distant or not. 

After texting Avi, who was running late that day , that she was about to go to sleep, Vinny got changed into her pajamas.
Holding her pillows and duvet set in her hand, she sauntered back to Avi's study to spend the night there. Since Avi is not around, it seemed a good idea for her to sleep in her favourite place than her room which lost its charm to the study.

It was around twelve and Vinny was going over the job sites munching over her last piece of chocolate when Avi knocked on the door and walked into the room with a frown in his face.

' Hi Avi...you are home already??'
She said trying to hide the wrapper of chocolate with her palm, in a vain attempt.

' It's already midnight Vinny. What are you doing here instead of sleeping? '
Avi crossed the room and came to stand beside her and lowered himself to see the computer screen.

' You were searching for a job at midnight? May I know what is going on with you?'

' Oho.... come on Avi, I was just going over the possibilities.. nothing else'
she replied nonchalantly.

'Really?' he turned to face her and Vinny grinned sheepishly.

' Not really...see, since I told dad that I don't want anything from him, I am going to be a jobless, penniless mom in the future and that doesn't seem appealing. I need to think about the future too '
Vinny tipped her head to the side and smiled thoughtfully.

' Seriously ? Do you think that something like that will happen when Varun and I are around?? '

' I know I know...you guys are going to be there. You guys are my favourite people  and my security card.. haha.' She laughed drily.

' But you know what Avi, I want to do it on my way. I always wanted to live a normal life so I am going to work like a normal woman and  going to raise my kid too. If I need any help, I am sure that you and Bhai will be there, and I am so grateful for that you know..'
She trailed off leaving Avi in his thoughts for a moment.
Avi sighed and fixed her with a warm gaze that stunned her lightly.

' Okay Vinny as you wish. But you know what, you are a normal person living your life on your own terms, may be a bit crazy but definitely you are not like those privileged kids, you are much more grounded, you always had been.' 

The last sentence caught her attention because sometimes he made her feel that he knew her for a long time and she had no idea how is that even possible.
Vinny was thinking about voicing her thoughts when Avi got a hold of her hand with chocolate wrappers.

' Now Vinny , you are going to explain what happened to my study actually?'
He crossed his arms over his chest  and Vinny shifted on the chair uncomfortably.

' What?? It's not like you were using this room or anything and it has such a stunning view and the books, comfy chair and couch... everything suits my taste...' she replied while neatly licking the chocolate that was adhering to the wrapper.
' and I was thinking about spending my night here..'

' Where?? On the couch? You move to and fro like a pendulum while sleeping and you were planning to sleep on that couch? What if you fell off from the couch?? What then? '
Avi was almost yelling at her and Vinny made a puppy face.

' You are over reacting...'
' Because you are so stupid and irresponsible...you are the one with the baby... not me '
He said reproachfully.

'Exactly Avi, but sometimes I wonder which one of us is actually pregnant..!!
Okay I am not going to sleep here.
But I am really hungry... let us eat something..'
Vinny walked ahead  and made her way to the kitchen leaving a baffled Avi in the study.

Vinny was searching her phone with great concentration when Avi made his way to kitchen still in daze.

' You know what is the best thing about you Avi??'

Avi raised his eyebrows frantically , unknown of how to respond to her anymore.

'You own Curry tree...!!!' she chimed in.

' Oh ' he replied half in confusion and half in disappointment.

'So you are going to order food now? '

' Yeah I was planning to...but Satheesh says he's off duty today?' Vinny said her lips curved in disappointment.

'Which Satheesh? Curry tree area manager? ' Avi was losing his mind now.

'Who else Avi. One day while I was ordering, he took the call and I told him that I am your wife, so we are thick friends now. Seriously the food is yummy and it's free of cost for me....Tadaa!!' Vinny chimed in with full enthusiasm and Avi wanted to bang his head on the door.

'Tell me how long have you been up with this night food fest?'
Avi settled himself on the chair unable to hold himself together with all the new information.

' What food fest?? It's just that I am so hungry at night and I am sick of your strict diet plan.
Don't mess with a pregnant woman's food preferences Avi.. that's a crime '
Vinny pouted and shrugged as she made her way to the kitchen cabinets.

' Why don't you get freshen up and come back? I will make us sandwich.
You look like that you are run down by a bus or something...go now. I got this..'

' Yeah I also feel the same...' Avi stood up and walked towards the door.

' Don't set the kitchen on fire Vinny..'

'It's just sandwich Avi.. don't worry about it...' she called after him.

' That's why I am worried about her...
Anything is possible with her..' he said under his breath as he made his way to his room.

Vinny was humming a song and was swaying slightly when Avi returned after a quick shower and seeing her like that, relaxed and full of herself a smile crept it's way into his lips slowly.

' Hey... Avi come and sit, I am famished...' Vinny drew out a chair and nodded towards him to sit down.

Avi sat down with a bit of amusement as she got the plate from the table and placed Infront of him and sat down opposite to him.
Avi looked at the plate and it was filled with biscuits and he glanced at her in confusion.

' I thought  you said sandwich... what is this?'

' Who said it is not? It's my own twisted version of sandwich. Try one, it's yummy..' she smiled with full confidence and Avi gulped visibly.

' You are saying it's biscuit sandwich?'

'Yeah...now try one already...I am sure you are going to be surprised..' she winked and Avi rubbed the back of his neck  totally  bewildered.

Vinny didn't want to wait anymore so she took one biscuit sandwich in her hand put it in his mouth and waited for his reaction as she put one in her mouth.

For Avi's utter horror, as he chewed her special dish, a mixture of sweet , sour and spicy taste filled his senses and his eyes watered with the spicy mixture tortured his taste buds.

He got himself a glass of water and drank it before facing a laughing Vinny, who was enjoying his state.

' What did you put inside there??'

'It is spicy mango pickle, Kerala style...home made' she winked at him.
Avi's jaw literally dropped to the floor.
This night turned out to be too much for him in so many ways that Avi had no idea what to think of it anymore.

' Where did you get this?'

'Lakshmi , our maid , she made it. It is really good... right?'
Avi was speechless for a second.

' Oho Avi, I know it is a bit weird combination, but try again, it's yummy..' she gave him another one as she popped one into her mouth.

After the initial shock, Avi kind of enjoyed the surprise sandwich though he kept a glass of water near him.
They munched down the rest too and Vinny licked clean the plate without drinking a drop of water.

' You are not supposed to eat this spicy salty thing, it will cause acidity..' Avi stated as a  matter of fact and Vinny rolled her eyes.

' Can't believe this! You actually ate most of the sandwich and now you are back to your evil mode. Give me a break...' she stood up and took the plate to the sink and scrubbed it.

Avi sat in silence wondering weather she was this weird from the beginning or pregnancy has changed her somehow.

' I want some cola...and I knew it is there in the fridge. I know it's not good for me and baby...but this is a one time thing you know...I am just craving for it  and don't argue for god's sake..' Vinny said as she made a beeline towards the fridge, knowing well that Avi won't let her drink that.

Avi stood up quickly, making the table screech in the abrupt motion.

' No you are not going to drink that... it's not cola...'

' Yeah I was actually expecting the same dialogue from you Avi. You are very predictable these days..' with that she unscrewed the cap and took a mouthful only to throw up the same to the floor as it burned her mouth.
Vinny looked at the bottle and Avi simultaneously and narrowed her gaze at him.

' What the hell is this?' she pointed towards the bottle.

' I told you that's not cola, it's whiskey mixed with cola, I made it last night...you should have listened to me'
He threw his hand upward and shrugged reflecting that it's all her fault.

Vinny made a face as she placed the bottle back in the fridge.
'Well...who keeps their cola bottle like this unless it is you!!' she was annoyed   as she had lost her chance to drink cola and annoy him a bit more.

'It is an old habit... can't change that easily..' he replied diffidently.

' Yeah... right. I have done something like this long ago...I was turning eighteen and I got a hold of dad's whiskey and I mixed it with cola and carried around and drank from it that evening. It was so bitter and I was kind of drunk I guess...' she smiled at the memory of her eighteen year old self who thought it was something really cool.

'Oh and there was a guy too, someone who was attending dad's year end party and got bored of it , like me...and we had a nice time. Too bad I don't remember anything about him except that I gave him a lecture about how not to become like my dad..haha' she chuckled thinking how absurd it was.

' You know what Avi , I even told him to become someone who doesn't need an introduction or something like that. He must have thought that I was insane' she face palmed herself how she had outdone herself Infront of that guy , she had embarrassed herself. 

' He must have thought that you were  really awesome...and might have admired you for a long time..' his voice was low and it came to a halt as their gaze met.
Something clicked inside her head, like everything melting together, fusing together to form a perfect picture.

' It was you...the guy from that night...right Avi??' she said while trying to swallow the lump formed in her throat.

Avi nodded  in affirmation and held her gaze, not dropping it , not even for a second.

Vinny felt like crying and her inside warmed up for no specific reason and suddenly everything made sense.
Why it was always him, who made her feel like home.