BEYOND THE CLOUDS (Completed)

Chapter 43

Beyond The Clouds – Chapter 43
When the crew cab stopped at her apartment gate, she saw Rana waiting for her as always, but the usual groan that left her in anticipation of the long travel from suburb to town was missing today. Despite the unusual hour and tiredness, she felt her face break into a grin and with a bounce in her gait, she bid a good bye to Kartik and perched in the car happily and zoomed off with Rana. Things were going to change soon, her heart fluttered, and she silently observed the cold deserted Mumbai streets in the middle of the night.

He was fast asleep when she entered his room, dragging her bag behind her. She took a moment to study him. Gloriously sprawled on the bed, entangled in between the sheets, he slept with her side of the pillow clutched in his arms. His hair was tousled, the shiny thick strands covering his forehead. Soon its going to be them both, entangled with each other, night after night on the same bed. She smiled to herself imagining the adorable sight. After freshening up and changing out of her uniform, she came back and crawled into the bed, making herself comfortable on his back. He hummed as her felt the familiar weight and greeted her with a soft sleepy smile.

“mmmm… ur back…I missed u love” the groggily muttered words sent her body vibrating with a zing.

“I need to ask you something” she spoke with her lips touching the blades of his shoulder. His smile faded and his brows furrowed even in his sleep induced state. “What” he asked, sounding a bit alarmed.

“Why do you want to marry me?” her question set a fire of panic in him and she could feel his body tense under her.

Without a moment’s delay she spoke again, “relaxxx darling, its just that…I cannot cook and I can get quiet unorganised and clumsy at times” she stated and placed her chin where her lips were earlier, looking at him as his eyes flew open, and relief washed through him.

For a moment he thought she had learnt something that she wasn’t supposed to. He closed his eyes back and heaved a relaxed breath.

“Firstly you are going to be my other half, not a cooking lady expected to churn out extravagant meals, and besides I have known you enough to know what a charming little piglet you are.” He sighed in exasperation, drawing giggles out of her with his sarcasm

“Last evening when I walked into our closet, I spent twenty minutes, putting the caps back on ur lipsticks, and perfume bottles” he chuckled with a roll of his eyes amazed at himself for adoring her untidiness too.

“But why are you bringing that up now?” unable to figure the context of what she said, he asked not knowing where the conversation was going at 6.00 am in the morning.

“I am telling you this now, because I want you to be fully aware of what you are walking into. You don’t have an option to walk out the wedlock because your wife has a few vices” she stifled a smile at that and awaited his reaction, but in his sleep induced state, he only managed a long humming of his throat.

It took a full two minutes before he realized what she had just said and in the next second he had rolled on his back, making her tumble on the side.

“Come again?” he breathily whispered, as he pinned her down, holding her wrists over her head with both his hands.

His heartbeat had gone erratic in a mere few seconds. His bewildered gaze was locked on her face, which was now covered in a pinkish hue as she giggled back.

“Lets get married Sidharth. I finally feel ready to be your wife” she whispered with a deepening blush, looking deep into the chocolatey whirls of his eyes, which had enchanted her from day one.

“Phew.. finallyyyyyy” he screamed jubilantly and slipped his hands under her back, to scoop her up in his arms. Mashing his lips mercilessly with her, he silently vented out the anxiety he felt when she had been so unsure and skeptical about going through with this marriage.