Warrior

89

Sometime after I was finished with my meal and phone call with Amma, a worker came by to collect the tray and took it away. After pacing a little and letting my food digest, I laid back down on my makeshift bed. I was quite tired again, especially after hearing Amma go on and on about her daily drama - none of which has changed so much since when I lived under her roof. I put my phone on silent, got comfy under the covers, and faded into sleep.

*~*

"Khushi? Khushi, wake up."

Not again!

"Khushi?"

I ignored the voice and snuggled into my pillow, trying to go back to sleep.

"Khushi, wake up. Why are you on the floor?"

A low, annoyed groan escaped from my lips, wanting for nothing more than silence so that I could go back to sleep.

"Khushi-"

I groaned out in frustration once more, even half-ass waving my hand to get the person to shut up.

Let me just sleep in peace, come on!

"You shouldn't be on the floor, what the hell are you doing?"

I cried out in frustration once more and pulled the duvet over my head.

Leave me alone!

However, the duvet was quickly pulled off from my head and I squinted up to see an annoyed Arnav.

How apt.

"Khushi, get up. It's not your place to sleep on the floor."

"I can and I will," and I turned away.

"What the-! No you won't!"

"Hmph! Try me!"

"Khushi-"

"If you can, then so can I. Think of it as me on the lower bunk," I muttered his own words, trying to fall back asleep.

"That is not going to work! Khushi, get up and go to bed right now or... or... or I'll put you there myself!"

My eyes instantly popped open in shock and I glanced back to look at him. A small hint of redness sat atop his cheeks, even though he was trying to display frustration and how serious he was.

Some things just cannot be helped.

I let out a yawn and waved my hand lamely as I turned back around. "No you won't."

"I have carried you before."

The memory quickly played in my head. "Hmm."

"Khushi, I'm not playing; get up and go to bed."

"I am in bed-"

"No, you're not. The floor is not the bed, get up!"

"I'm fine-"

"For once, will you stop being stubborn? Not everything is a battle!"

My eyes opened and I simply stared forward. 

I heard Arnav sigh from behind me. "Please Khushi," he asked softly.

I felt my heart thud in my chest. "I'm too exhausted to move," I said, my tone matching his.

"...I can carry you... if you'd like."

Turning back to him, my assumption of him blushing turned out to be true.  

I opened my mouth to say something but Arnav cut me off.

"I swear if you say anything else about you wanting to stay down here...."