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Writer's POV

After letting his heart out to Arushi, Vikrant felt lighter as though a weight was off his shoulders. At night when the two of them were off to bed they slept at the two end poles both wanting to be in each other's arms but hesistant to take the first step ahead.

Both kept tossing and turning unable to gather some sleep and when they faced each other with widely awake eyes they couldn't help but let out a laugh at each other.

It was so easy for Vikrant to involuntarily have her in his arms the previous night but now it seemed like a war between his brain and heart. Still hesistant though Vikrant finally managed to speak.

"Can I?" he asked pointing at her waist and holding his hand out for her to snuggle into him.

Not knowing the right words to reply Arushi just moved closer to him while Vikrant wrapped his arm around her slender waist. Arushi made sure she wasn't hurting his shoulder in any manner and made a mental note to take him for a check up the next day.

The next morning Arushi woke up in Vikrant's embrace. It all seemed like a dream to her but she knew it wasn't a dream. She could not stop the smile that was playing on her lips. When Vikrant's sleepy eyes were greeted with a smiling Arushi he could not wish for anything better than this sight. Last night he had the most peaceful sleep that he had been craving for months.

Once Arushi was out of his embrace he felt empty just like a lock without its key. But alas he couldn't stay like that for the whole day though he badly wanted to. Vikrant had decided to join back to work because he knew  his father needed him.

When Vikrant walked out of the closet after dressing up he saw Arushi getting ready in front of the dressing mirror and once again the urge of filling her hairline with vermilion was building up in him. He always thought that was an act that makes him feel she is his, he has someone to be back home for, someone to love, someone to care and someone to cherish his life with. But remembering the previous encounter he could not gather up his courage to ask her again. Maybe she needed time he thought.

Arushi could sense his gaze on her rather more on the vermilion box. She felt bad for declining him the other day but back then she could not bring herself to let in so easily. Even she craved for those small loving gestures but their equation was not so clear then. It was like a complex algebraic equation which had now simplified a lot.

Taking the vermilion box she walked towards where Vikrant stood gazing at her. Vikrant was perplexed at her action he could not bring his mind to realisation that she stood infront of him holding the vermilion box out to him waiting for him to do the needful.

"Are you going to make me wait for another life time?" Arushi questioned him clearly irritated by the amount of time Vikrant was taking to sink in her action.

Vikrant nodded in a No like a small child who sways their head a hundred times. A happy tear danced in his eyes when he placed the vermilion in her parted hairline. Life was getting better with every passing day and now he would not miss out on making the best out of it.

"Would you mind if I did that every day?" he questioned happiness glinting in his eyes.

"Not in a hundred years." Arushi smiled back walking out of the room not before asking Vikrant to come out soon as she had taken an appointment at the orthopedics.
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Arushi was happy when the doctor informed that Vikrant's shoulder had healed completely and now all that he needed was a little care for a week and he would be absolutely fine. Arushi was driving Vikrant to his office because the doctor had clearly declined the request of Vikrant to let him drive.

"You know I want to drive you down to work everyday once this 'No you can't drive' period ends." Vikrant said air quoting his words.

"O really and why would you think I would let you do that?"

"Because I want to."

"It's not a joke Vikrant. Driving me down to a place that is on the complete opposite direction of your office that too in this heavy Mumbai traffic will be No fun."

"It will be fun to have you in my sight for a little longer time."

"Stop being so cheesy It's not some movie that is going on here." she said as she gave a light smack on his head.

"Will pick you up by 6 Is that ok?" Arushi asked once they reached his office.

"Someone lectured me on driving in Mumbai's traffic is no fun." Vikrant said rolling his eyes at Arushi. Arushi just laughed at the antics he has been throwing for a while now.

"I'll take a cab don't worry. See you soon at home. Take care." Vikrant said before disappearing from her sight.
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Arushi and Vikrant were back home by 7 both of them were equally tired after a long day. They decided to cook together sharing the work load. After having a banter on what to cook and what not to they finally settled on making simple noodles that both of them loved equally. Arushi was chopping some veggies while Vikrant boiled the noodles.

"Why hasn't the house help been coming in the past few days?" Vikrant questioned her because he had seen Arushi doing all the work for which they had a house help earlier.

" Because I reappointed her at mumma's place." Arushi said while she placed a pan on the stove.

"And why would you do that?"

Arushi was hesistant on honestly answering his question. But somewhere deep down her heart she knew she had to speak out the truth rather than giving lame reasons to Vikrant.

"I did not want people around me. You know your contagious disease of staying alone had spread to me. And more over I had ample time to waste so thought of doing some work and staying slim rather than putting on some weight." not wanting to make him feel guilty Arushi replied in the most jovial way she could. But Vikrant knew what she actually hid under her not so funny statement.

"You can reappoint her now I guess. I don't want you to strain yourself so much." Vikrant said really concerned for his wife because off late he had seen her being very tired.

"Not needed I want to shed weight not gain." she said as she was placing the cooked noodles in a bowl. Before she was done she felt a pull on her arm and within seconds she was in Vikrant's arms that held her tight across her waist.

"You fit perfectly in my arms so there's no need for you to shed any weight." he whispered bending down a little towards her ears.

Arushi was perplexed at his choice of words but could not control herself from blushing a little. Vikrant rubbed his thumb against the newly turned red cheeks of his wife while Arushi lowered her eyes towards the floor enjoying his touch.

Vikrant lightly raised her chin to make his gaze meet hers. Vikrant's feelings were overpowering his senses as he was leaning in to kiss her. But Arushi needed time to go ahead with it.

Though she was happily letting herself to get back to a normal happy life her mind still needed sometime to progress ahead in their relationship. Not wanting to act rude by pushing him off she was wondering on how to stop him and that's when the noodles came in her sight. Somehow managing to take a fist full of them she threw them on Vikrant's hair.

"What the f..." Vikrant let his arms loose because of the sudden action that brought him back to this world. His hair were now a little sticky with some sauces of their schezwan noodles on his hair. Arushi was laughing her heart out looking at Vikrant who was trying to get that sticky mess out of his hair.

"Serves you right..." she said still laughing and trying to run out of the kitchen but Vikrant was quick enough to react.

"O really...then you should also be served with your part of the right." he said as he held Arushi with one hand and reached out to the shelf for some noodles.

"No Vikrant No please." Arushi tried wiggling out but his hold was really tight for her to set free. Knowing the fact that Vikrant was ticklish before he could throw the noodles on her she started tickling him and ran out as soon as his hold got a little loose.

Vikrant started running behind her now with the whole bowl of noodles rather than a fist of them.

"Vikrant please don't.... The hall will become a mess please." Arushi tried reasoning as she stood in the hall holding a cushion to protect herself but Vikrant wouldn't let her go so easily. They started running around the house while throwing some noodles and cushions onto each other and jumping on the sofa's like small kids.

Arushi threw a cushion towards Vikrant but he dogged it which resulted in a vase to fall down and break into a million pieces. Both of them gasped at the sound and that's when they stopped on their feet to look around at the mess that they had created. It wouldn't take any less than an hour to clean it.

As they were letting the reality of cleaning the messed up hall sink in the door bell rang. When Vikrant saw Rahul through the key hole he did not mind welcoming his friend into this newly decorated house of his.

"What the fuckin hell on earth is this." Rahul greeted them with not so appropriate words. Vikrant stood there scratching his head while Arushi was trying to clear some space for Rahul to sit.

"Are there any kids in this house?" Rahul questioned while giggling at the state of the house.

"Why are you here at this time?" Vikrant questioned him to divert the topic and avoid unwanted leg pulling session.

"Was passing by thought of catching up on your health. But looking at the condition of this house I think you both need to visit a psychiatrist."

All the three of them were gazing at each other and finally burst into fits of laughter. Arushi went in to fetch some water for everyone while Vikrant and Rahul were catching up on the ongoings of their lives.

"Bhabhi you can tell me if this man troubles you I will break another few bones of his. You know I am on your side after all." Rahul said to Arushi as she handed him a glass of water.

"Yes yes I will surely let you know so that you help me just like you helped me find him rather than helping him hide from us." sarcasm and anger dripping from every word of her's.

Rahul and Arushi had grown an unknown bond in the past months. They shared a friendly bond with each other. Though Arushi did not want to confront Rahul about helping Vikrant to stay away from everyone she couldn't control herself from letting it out.

"Bhabhi is on fire." Rahul whispered to Vikrant and Vikrant couldn't help but laugh.

"You better make up to her." he said while taking the empty glass and placing it on the table.

"You know bhabhi this best friend of mine is a complete idiot and his company made me also an idiot. I am so sorry but I promise I am on your side now. So tell me what can I do to make up to my mistake I am ready to do anything." he said because he genuinely felt guilty for helping his friend in a wrong deed.

"Anything? Really?" Arushi smirked at him.

"Of course." he said oblivious to what was cooking in her mind.

"Then propose Ananya for marriage."

Rahul's eyes grew wide at what he heard.

"Don't stare at me like that. You guys have been dating since 5 years. When on earth are you planning to get married? Once you turn 50 is it?" Ananya was a sweetheart. Arushi had met her once and ever since then she has been waiting for Rahul to get hitched to her.

"I second her on that." Vikrant said.

"Ok ok....I will think about it. You guys clean your mess I will leave now." Rahul walked away hurriedly leaving Arushi and Vikrant to laugh at him.

"Vikrant I am hungry." Arushi said pointing at the now empty bowl of noodles.

Ordering some food and cleaning the mess they had created they retired to sleep... back in the embrace of each other.

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I hope you guys liked it.

Thank you for all the love that you have been pouring in through your votes and comments. They mean a lot to me.

See you soon with the next update.