Relationship Status - It's complicated

Chapter 32 - Are we all good?

Anjali

When I woke up in the morning, Shiv had been sleeping in awkward position. He was basically resting on the headboard and sleeping. Fortunately, my cell phone alarm vibrations didn't wake him up which was a little odd as he was such a light sleeper. After a quick shower, I dressed up in a red salwar suit with red kurta and cream color salwar paired with a red and cream dual color dupatta. 

I was actually tip toeing in the room to be as quiet as possible in order to not wake up Shiv. I loved wearing sindoor on my forehead just as much as I adored wearing the mangalsutra signifying my union with Shiv. I was applying kohl when it really stood me out, is he unwell ? He has never slept in until late all the days I married. 

I walked over to him and found him calmly sleeping. I then sat beside him in the little space that was available on his side and noticed his day old stubble. I felt the need to scratch it a little bit but then I bit back a smile. This man had my heart already and he didn't even know it. 

My gaze traveled to his belly where his hands were resting. I was reminded of the time that I had commented to Pooja on the day I met Shiv that he has a dad bod symbolizing a happy man.

He slowly opened his eyes and gave me a smile that was capable of filling my entire being,  "Good morning!" 

I smiled back and then I gasped hearing his voice. I thought I was imagining him but he was actually awake while I was gawking at him. 

"Ji, good morning!" I tried to compose myself.

"Kya hua? Aise dekh rahi thi ? By the way, you are all ready. What time is it?" 

What happened? You were looking at me like this.

"Ji, it's 7:30. I was thinking of leaving at 8:30 so I can reach by 9. If you are up, you can freshen up. I will go and make breakfast."  It was now I looked at him properly, his eyes were puffy, he hadn't slept perhaps. Why did he look so worried?

"Anjali, don't worry about breakfast, Papa and Dadi are managing it. Also, breakfast duties are mine technically since Harshit goes to the gym in mornings. "

"Ji, I haven't done anything in this home. I should start now. As in, everybody in this house contributes in the kitchen, so I should too." He had explained to me one of these days that everybody contributes in the kitchen and so I should never feel guilty of telling him that I won't be cooking for any reason.

"Start on weekend then. Anyways, dadi will ask you to make something sweet first and then will give you kharchi too." I nodded but I was already planning on atleast helping out some in the kitchen.

kharchi = token of money given as blessings usually by elders

Shiv then grabbed my hands and then spoke very seriously, "Anjali, there is something I need to talk to you about. Do you have a few minutes?" 

"Ji, tell me." I had started to panic. What was going on afterall? 

Shiv forwarded his phone to me. Confused, I asked him, "Why are you giving me your phone?" 

"Anjali, I received a message from Shikha around 3 in the morning congratulating me on the wedding. You can read it. I ..uh..I don't know how she found out but we do have a lot of mutual connections as we went to same college. I know the guest list was pretty limited but I suppose it just traveled to her."

I was staring at the lock screen of his phone in my hands trying to absorb everything he said after the word Shikha. Shikha loved Shiv, I love Shiv. Does she still love him? 
His lock screen was our selfie that we had taken on first morning of our marriage.