I remembered last night I dozed in her lap. After that I didn't recollect anything. I had a terrible headache due to hectic work in the office.

I stirred to wake. Wait, why is the bed and pillows so mushy and spongy? I am still closing my eyes, pressing my palm on the bed.

“mmm huh” an irritated sensual sound was heard. Now all my drowsiness was gone into the thin air by that moan.

I opened my eyes completely. I actualized that I am sleeping between her bosoms circling her waist. Her breasts were so smooth and velvety. Her t-shirt was stained by oil as I slept by keeping my head.

My forehead is greasy and oily. Maybe she applied balm. She still has not woken up. All the while I have been sleeping between her breasts by dipping my head into her.

Than the tablet, sleeping with her worked better. Now I am all fine. The way she was concerned for my health and the drive to ease my pain made my heart warm.

She does care for me. I have seen care for me in her eyes. Maybe she is falling for me. I woke up cautiously so as not to disturb her. I got freshened for the day.

I decided to prepare breakfast today. Gauri kaki came to help me but I could manage so I sent her. I was arranging the table, and she descended the stairs. She is more beautiful than yesterday and less beautiful than tomorrow.

Only she can bind me around her little finger.

“ You could have woke me, I would have prepared breakfast. Why are you preparing it?” she queried.

“ You are sleeping placidly. I don't want to disturb you. I know basic cooking.” I ensured her.

“ Mmm, are you feeling well? “ Oh she is concerned about my health.

“ After you massaged my head with your divine hands and laying in your lap made me fine” I exaggerated.

“ Besharam Insaan…never gonna do that again.” berating me she poured juice into glasses.

“ Then I will die from a headache from longing for your massage.”

“ subah subah aisi ashubh baatein kyun karte hai aap. Dobara Aisa baat mat karna”

(Early in the morning why are talking ominous. Next time don't talk like that.)

She scolded me.

“Are you worried for me?” I further want to know what she would say.

“ We are getting late. We can have this useless talk some other time.” She is smart to ignore it.

What I have observed about her is that she is a light eater. Sometimes I am furious that she doesn't take care of herself.

But never mind, I am here at her service to oversee her for a lifetime. Even now she is adamant about skipping her breakfast just by having juice.

I am not less stubborn than her. I stuffed her with toast and made her eat a proper breakfast.

We were getting late to our respective works so we hurried. I dropped her at college and I turned towards my destination.

Life is getting interesting, lovely as days pass. I am gratified for what I have. I haven't expected her to adjust with everything.

Somewhere I feared that she might distance me but she is not protesting or complaining about things happening between us.

Instead I see care and something that I can't name yet in her eyes. But I feel she is not what she is inside. Her eyes try to hide her vulnerable side and maybe pain. I can tolerate anything but not her distress and pain.

She is what she wants to show but not the bonafide side of her is all hidden in the layers of her heart. I don't care how she wants to cover her facade but I want to be the person who she can trust and not care about her vulnerabilities.

I promise you Manvika I will stay by your side no matter what,I will be your safe place, I will be your home. Just I want your Little Trust.

I promised myself. I reached the office and indulged myself in work.

But my frame of mind was spoiled by the most annoying person anyone cannot come across. It's none other than the nettlesome Shruti.

“Hey Arjun ... .I want to be in your team but Mihir is not allowing me. I really want to work with you on this project. Please request Mihir.”

She was pleasing in the most irksome voice which I badly wanted to constrict with my bare hands. But I curbed myself from doing it.

“ I can't do that. Also I have enough hard working members in my team. Already we are in the testing phase of the model.” I said coldly to her.

“ But Arjun, you know that Mihir simply can't deny you.” The audacity of this bitch to talk to me in this seducing tone.

“ Shruti I can't.” I said with firmness.

By my denial she stomped her foot and went away. I don't like her but she tails around me. Even if she is my college mate and other.she can't barge into my space.

I don't like it. I didn't even invite her to the wedding. When she comes to know about it definitely she would create a scene.

But who is she challenging? Calm down Arjun, don't spoil your mood. I tried to concentrate on my work.

After that I went to fix some issues in my new model car. I don't know why but I feel a strong pull towards cars. I don't like racing but I love to fix cars and make them.

I am good at racing but I don't do it often. Karan, Gaurav, Farhan we all often go to legal car races. Even we race among ourselves. Initial days of our uni we used to frequently sneak out of class and go on for bike races conducted by seniors.

Traveling, racing ,cars, bikes, friends, partying are the things which kept me alive and interested me until Manvika came into my life.

By remembering Manvika I realized that it is time to pick her up from college. My watch is ticking at 5 in the evening.

I am done with fixing the engine of my new model car. I hurriedly packed my things and rushed to my car but the headache of my life Shruti stopped.

“Arjun, can you drop me today? My car was broken.” Anger bubbling up in me.

“NO…you can book a cab. I am in a hurry “ I stressed on No to make her understand.

“I am alone. Please drop me.” Who is she? After all, Shruti joshi. Facade sadness she said.

I can't say that I can't make my wife wait because of her. So I started my car engine without paying any attention to her.

“ARJUN YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME” she was shouting flaring angrily. I gave a look through the side mirror.

Started my drive to my home, my wife Manvika. Nothing comes before her. She is my priority.

✧⁠✧✧✧✧⁠✧

As everyday I consciously entered college. The reason is quite simple. I don't want anyone to notice me with Arjun.

Rather than anyone Neha should not. She would shower me with her never ending questions.

I have still time before my first lecture of the day starts. So I thought of meeting Neha. I texted her to come to the canteen.

I was waiting for her in the canteen. I am lost in my thoughts about how things turned. That’s when a soft palm covered my eyes from behind.

I know who it is. Neha, I can recognise her with her signature lavender fragrance.Here comes my chirping bird as usual with high energy.

“I missed you. Why have you shifted? Our room reminds me of everything about you.” She stretched it.

“I missed you more. You know my reasons, Nehu.”

“ I hate you Anvi.” She didn't mean it.

“ Have you had breakfast?” I enquired about her.

“Are you serious? After knowing how our hostel food tastes you are asking me.” She said with disgust. Yeah our hostel food tastes worse. That is one of the reasons why I skip my meals.

“ I bought you a grilled cheese sandwich. Have it.” I forwarded packed toasts to her. Ordered a coffee for myself.

By taking a bite she moaned with its taste.

“ Anvi, definitely you are enjoying comforts there. It tastes amazing. By the way, who prepared it? I know that it's not prepared by you. It tastes different.” By savoring toast she said.

Mmm Arjun is a good cook.

“ It doesn't matter who prepared it. Just enjoy it.” I tried to skip answering her. Thank god she didn't interrogate me further.

My lecture is about to start in five minutes so we parted ways.

I am on my way to class but Rahul and his group are adjacent to me. He entered my class with me.

That made me uncomfortable but he gave his not so good smile. We entered together by that entire class looking at us leaving the Chaos behind.

This made me conscious. Fastly I tried reaching my seat but what stopped me was Rahul.

“ Manvika, wait a moment. I have something to announce.” Without any interest I stood beside him and cursed it to get it over.

“ Can I have your attention? As this is the final year of our batch we are informed to manage college fest. I want you guys to assist us and actively participate in everything. Get to enter your names at respective activities.

And also we don't want any misbehavior, there will be guests. We want discipline.”

He ended his long speech with his senior authority. As soon as he was informed I tried to escape but again stopped by him.

“Manvika, I want you to be on my team as a volunteer. Will you join me?” He said in a low voice while standing near me.

What do he want? I am not interested in it. Also with him I don't want to do it.I don't know how to reject him. What if he gets offended?

“ Please Manvika..join us” he is pleading with me.

I can't deny it. So I unwillingly agreed to it. His face lit up with a huge smile. If Neha gets to know this she will not spare me.

She hates Rahul to her core. Another new enigma.

Where have you landed yourself, Anvi? I questioned myself.

The day went on like that.

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