Chapter 8

The bedroom light cast a hallow like glow on the wall and shadow of the artificial flower and vase made the room feel like it was specially decorated for what we are going to do just now.

"Fast or slow?"

"Both?"

Omkara looked up from tugging my T-shirt and gave me full, mischievous grin.

"I would like that."

Omkara and I were as orthodox as one could get as we both lost our virginity to each other two days after our official wedding night. It wasn't disastrous, but wasn't even close to nothing the books and movies promised. It took time, patience and lot of effort for us to understand what ticks for us. Probably that is the reason I can never think of sex without thinking of Omkara. Our initial blunders and goofiness made it feel more like our thing, something only we two are capable of experiencing. Though half the population of earth might be doing it right now, I felt as if we are the only blissful souls who could enjoy being this physically connected to one another. Over the years, our intercourse became more mechanical and less romantic. Nevertheless, we both know that nothing could get us off like each other. Fortunately, neither of us failed to use that as an advantage.

I felt Omkara's hand draw forward and his palm closed over my mouth much to my shock. What is he doing? We didn't agree on anything kinky, definitely not in my parents' house with our daughters under same roof.

When I couldn't, even with full strength, push him off me, I held the sensitive bone of his wrist and shoved his hand away.

Omkara cursed and sat up beside me on the bed. He held his wrist with his other hand and looked at me amused.

"What was that?"

"What was that?" I repeated as I hoisted on my elbow to look at him.

Omkara's trepidation was masked by complete amusement and he looked at me with a half smirk.

"Well..." he shrugged. "You are a screamer."

"I am not." I said even as the flush hotness made my cheek turn red.

I am.

I whacked Omkara's arm in utter embarrassment. He chuckled holding my wrist and placed an open mouthed kiss on inside of my palm.

"Then let's do slow." I said. My blood rushed from all over my body to south in hot wave even as my lips uttered the words.

Taking slow also means making love, something which we have forgotten in lieu of fast and rough quickies between my tight schedule and our conflicting priorities.

I lifted myself off the bed, pushed Omkara down on the bed and lay flat on him. "Let me do it my way." I whispered as I startled him and as sensuously can I manage lifted my top off me. Omkara was already shirtless. I bent down to capture his lips, when we heard a knock. Knock?

I looked at Omkara to confirm that I am not the only one hearing it. He was looking at the locked door with an incomprehensible expression.

"Must be the kids?" I predicted uncertainly as I climbed off him and pulled over my T-shirt that I hadn't thrown far away thankfully.

I heard Omkara curse as he ran across the room to find a new shirt because the one that he was wearing is not to be found. May be it's under the bed or something.

Omkara was the one to open the door, but I soon followed and stood near him to greet a visibly distraught Misha and Nidhi with a pouting Preeti behind them.

"Papa..."Nidhi opened her arms to be picked up and Omkara did exactly that. He cuddled Nidhi in his arms as Misha ran to our side and hugged me around my waist. Omkara and I looked at each other bemused.

"I took them for a sleepover in my room after the movie. It was they who insisted I tell them a horror story. They got scared in between and wanted to come to you." Preeti said in a rather impenitent tone. "I am sorry."

"We'll take them. Go back to your room." Omkara said rather curtly.

What is up with him? It's not like this is the first time Misha or Nidhi are scared of 'monsers' as Nidhi would call it. They more than handful of times end up in our room.

I saw Omkara close the door rather loudly, before he walked to the bed to place Nidhi there.

"Get on the bed, Mish." He ordered.

What's with the tone? Even the idea that Omkara would be disgruntled because abrupt hindrance to our er... love making is ridiculous. Come on, it's Omkara. He wouldn't prioritize anything under the son over our daughters. Anyway, even this isn't the first time this is happening. Ask any parents, they will have hilarious stories about what a spoil sport kids can be for sex life. It's as casual as habit now. But, Omkara has never shown any kind of irritation before this.

"Are you okay?" I asked concerned.

Omkara lay down beside Nidhi holding her head in his arms. "I will get them to sleep." He said ignoring my question.

I stood there awkwardly unaware what is my role in this perfect bed of three. It felt like the monsters that were trying to leave behind for at least one night was crawling back in. I took a subtle step backward planning to exit wordless, when I felt a tiny hand engulf mine.

"Sleep here with me, mumma. I am scared." Misha murmured from under the duvet.

I looked at my little girl and her pure, innocent heart reflected right in my eyes with so much trust in me that my heart melted into a puddle. My eyes drifted to Omkara. 'Stay' his eyes said, though he has stopped saying it in words long time ago fearing my wrath. This time, unlike the previous times, I really did want to stay. I bent down, kissed Misha's forehead and squeezed inside the small bed that I was very sure couldn't have accommodated four.

I copied Omkara's style. Pulling Misha under my arms, I patted her chest gently until her breathing was even and she was in deep slumber just like her sister. It was Omkara who got up from the bed first. He placed a pillow beside Nidhi lest she falls off. I saw him walk to the adjacent balcony. I once again copied him. Placed a pillow beside Misha and followed him to the balcony.

I saw Omkara leaning on the ramparts immersed in deep thoughts. I stood beside the door frame crossing my arms and legs watching him for few minutes.

"It's cold out there." I said after a while rubbing my ears.

Omkara didn't turn immediately, but when he did, his face held the same smile and mischief that I saw few minutes ago. "I will keep you warm." He said. I shook my head in negative, but Omkara extended his arms and welcomed me to his arms. Without doubt, I obliged.

Standing between Omkara and the wall did the least bit protect me from unforgiving cold. I rubbed my hands together and turned around in Omkara's arms.

"I am freezing." I said blowing air in my hands. "Let's go inside."

Omkara held my hands together in his one huge hand and kissed them. "We can't have that now, can we?"

No way can Omkara and I sleep in the bed whole night without pulling muscles. I guess it's time for me to go to guest room like yesterday.

"Let's take the couch." Omkara informed as he moved ahead to perch on the cough with his legs crossed over each other. He motioned for me to take the seat beside him.

Guess we are not going to sleep tonight. Cool!!!

***

Okay, I keep forgetting to answer this question. There is going to be no Omkara's point of view. You have to take Gauri's word for everything and everyone in the story. So, this isn't one of the stories with an unreliable narrator voice. So, you can trust protagonist's observation.