Mine To Hold

Chapter 2

Naina's POV:

As expected, I could not sleep the entire night in my anxiety of a new place and the thought of meeting new people and socialising. I fell asleep somewhere around 6 in the morning and before I knew it, I was being woken up by my dear husband. Karthik was very patient in waking me up, and after testing his patience for long, I finally leave the confines of my duvet and start getting ready. I quickly take a shower and dress up in the clothes that Karthik got me yesterday. I exit the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror to put some moisturiser, blow dry my hair and accessorise my dress with silver earrings and bangles, while Karthik goes to take a shower. I apply vermilion in my hair partition carefully and look in the mirror to see my final look. Just then, I see Karthik emerging from the bathroom, with a vest and a towel around his torso. He opens his cupboard and gets dressed quickly. He turns around and our eyes meet in the mirror. He passes me a smile and I turn around to admire him in his black trousers and light pink shirt which is nicely tucked inside. Seeing it is scorching hot, he has rolled up the sleeves of his shirt till elbow, flexing his toned arm muscles.

"You look amazing in this dress." He says cutely.

"Well, you have an amazing choice. Thank you!" I reply back with a smile.

I hear my alarm and am quick to leave the dressing room and shut it off. I quickly grab my tote bag and descend downstairs to go in the kitchen. I shout to Karthik to come downstairs quickly once he is ready. I see Karthik's parents and grandparents sitting in the living room sipping tea while the servants are preparing the breakfast table. I touch their feet and take their blessings before sitting with them.

"So, are you excited to start your Masters?" I quickly give a nod to dad with a small smile. "Just a tad bit nervous!" I confess.

"Don't be, we know you'll do great. And if there is any problem just tell your father-in-law or your husband and if they turn out to be useless, give me a call." Dadu says with a glimmer in his eyes, making me chuckle a little and give him a nod.

Once, Karthik and Tara, my sister-in-law finally come to the living room, we make our way to the dining table and start eating. Tara is on her vacation here as she is completing her bachelor's in fashion designing. Karthik's dad started the fashion stream in college for her but much to their dismay, she opted to study it from abroad. She is in her third semester. She came for wedding and since it was her semester break, she elongated her stay and will be returning this weekend to Paris.

"So, bhabhs, all ready?" She asks me.

"Hopefully?" I reply.

I am sitting opposite to Karthik and he gives me his assuring smile and a small nod, indicating everything will be fine. There is a chatter going around the table on random things while I am just too lost in own thoughts to be contributing. I have barely touched my food which is so unlike me and am hoping no one has noticed. Once done with breakfast, dad and Karthik get up from their places to leave and Karthik looks at me expectantly and I raise my eyebrow in order to ask him what he wanted.

"Naina, can you please get me the red file that is kept on the side table? I forgot it upstairs." I give him a nod and move from my place, making my way to our room. I move to Karthik's side and search for a red file. Not finding the same on top of the side table, I open the drawers to see if it is there, I then turn to go to my side table and check it there. As soon as I turn around I see Karthik standing there looking at me.

"Karthik, are you sure you kept the file here? I cannot find it." I tell him.

He makes his way towards me and stands just in front of me.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"It's nothing, I'll be fine once I get over with today."

"Are you sure?" I give him a nod.