Arranged to love

#12: Dumbegg.

Chapter Twelve: "Dumbegg."

"So? What happened?" Arjun pestered Meera.

"What do you mean?" Meera asked, her eyes focused on the TV screen in her room where the two were having a Harry Potter Marathon.

She felt Arjun give her an 'are you serious' look next to her but she ignored it. He nudged her feet with his as the two were positioned in her bed, sitting up to watch the movie.

"Oh come off it, Ajay bhai hurried home yesterday from the bowing arena, saying he needed to take care of something. You were the only one at home, he obviously rushed to see you" Arjun reasoned impatiently.

"Nothing happened Arjun. He was in his room and I heard talking so maybe he had a meeting with the college people or something" she said, making it up on the spot.

Truth is, she did not know exactly what was going on between her and Ajay and she needed to figure it out first. Arjun will just make her more confused. So she needed to explore with Ajay before telling anyone.

Moreover, she wanted keep what he said to her with herself. Who knew a single word from Ajay would become so important to her?

Arjun rolled his eyes, not believing her but didn't push the subject.

A knock sounded at the door, making Arjun pause the movie while Meera clicked the button at the bedside table to open the door.

"Bhai?" Arjun called out, his voice sounding surprised.

Meera looked up to see Ajay entering her room, clearly surprised at Arjun's presence. He had assumed Meera would be alone but he was wrong.

"What are you doing here?" Ajay demanded at his brother in an accusatory tone.

"Me? What are you doing here bhai? Here to see Princess?" Arjun returned the question but in a teasing tone.

"Me uh well, I uh lost my ring" Ajay made up an excuse, a little startled at the question. He didn't think he would need an excuse as he had not anticipated anyone to be there.

"But you don't wear rings. And your engagement ring is right on your finger..." Arjun commented, suspicion increasing in his voice as he looked from his brother to his cousin.

"It was a ring that um Mr Raichand gave me" Ajay tackled the questions smartly.

"Really, I never knew he was the one to give gifts... But what has that got to do with you coming to Meera?" Arjun asked. It seemed as if he was trying his best to pester Ajay into giving him answers.

"Right... Uh well oh I gave it to her so that I won't lose it" Ajay scrambled to find another excuse.

"But you said you lost it..." Arjun reasoned, now more confused while Meera tried her best to suppress her laughter.

"Oh for god's sake do I have to reply all your questions you dumbegg?" Ajay groaned, dodging the question and left the room, making Meera burst into laughter while Arjun sat there confused at his brother's sudden annoyance towards him. Was it something he said?

-

"Can't sleep again?" a voice called out. Ajay.

She nodded at him and turned back to the front. It was around midnight and she had come out to the garden at the back of the manor to get some fresh air.

She felt him sit beside her on the grass, his legs extended in front of him. She realised how close their heights were. Their legs were almost the same length but he had a longer torso, making him taller than her just by a little.

"How are you now?" he asked after a while, tearing his gaze away from the crescent in the sky that illuminated the dark night just by a little.

His eyes focused on her face which glowed under the moonlight. She seemed ethereal. Maybe it was true how our senses were more perceptive in the dark because he noticed things he never had before.

Her hair was wavy, like natural beach curls. Her newly dyed blonde hair had made her blue eyes piercing which used to look pale and dull. She held that determination and confidence in the way she carried herself. He could see her muscular biceps due to the sleeveless shirt she was wearing which reminded him of her boxing hobby.

That thought immediately brought him back to reality as the images of her in the boxing studio the previous day floated into his memory. He tried to shake the worry away and focused on her reply.

"Is that why you came to my room earlier?" she asked, the corners of her lips turning upward as she looked at him.

He laughed quietly and nodded, his neck turning a little red as he turned away in embarrassment, making Meera laugh.

"I'm fine, thanks to you" she said, after calming down.

"It was nothing" he assured, happy to be able to help her. He was just worried. The fact that he was the trigger to what she did made him guilty.

"Do you want to go inside? You look like you're shivering" he asked as he saw her hands rubbing her arms subtly.

It was a cold night and she was in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. He would have offered her a jacket or something but he didn't have one on him.

"Not really, I don't really want to go back in there for awhile but thanks for asking"

Meera felt Ajay's arm around her, pulling her into him. She liked questioning my at him but didn't remove his hand.

"At least you can be warm like this" he whispered, tightening his hold on her. She smiled, not complaining at all as she let herself relax into his arms. He offered her a form of protection. Not physically but emotionally.

As if there was someone to safeguard her from those memories that have been haunting her. She felt safe in his arms.

Ajay felt Meera's arm hold on to him at his torso as her head rested against his shoulder. He inhaled her scent of rosé oil. She was perfect. Beautiful, humble, smart, selfless, strong and empathetic. He only had one problem with her. Her health.

He just wanted her to be healthy. He didn't want her to torture herself. He felt like helping her to revive herself was the best thing he could do as her fiancé. If only she would let him help her, he would do anything.

He noticed her eyes become heavy as she tried to stay awake.

"Sleep princess"

And that was the last thing she heard before she felt a pair of lips press against her forehead as she fell asleep.