Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

twenty-five

25. Yun saree mein, gile zulfon ke saath, maarne ka irada hai kya? (In a saree, with your wet locks, are you planning to kill me?)

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The sound of the dryer woke me up.

I stirred slightly, lying on my stomach to bury my face in the pillow. The noise was still so damn loud.

"Stop!" I snapped, frustrated from the lack of sleep.

The noise cut off abruptly.

Sinking into the warmth of my bed, I fell back asleep. A few minutes later, the noise started again, just a notch down than earlier. I sat up straight in annoyance, my arm hanging off the pulled-up knee as I met Priya's sheepish eyes through the mirror. She looked away guiltily, then side-eyed me for a split second with pursed lips before shutting off the dryer. Slowly putting the dryer down, she picked up the towel from the ottoman. "I'll dr-dry with this. Sleep. Good night." She waved, dashing out of the bedroom immediately after.

I sighed softly and laid back down, trapping a pillow between my legs before attempting to catch some sleep for a few more minutes.

I couldn't sleep.

With an exasperated groan, I turned to lie on my back and stared at the ceiling tiredly. Last night I was awake past midnight, thinking about ways to get a good two bhk apartment with my limited savings. I've seen Priya's house, it's big and it's luxurious, and in the locality it is in, I can't even think of renting a square foot there. If it was only me, I would have even adjusted in a one-room kitchen. But I can't let Priya live in such conditions. Even if I look for houses in this locality with at least considerable security, it'll still cost me a lot. I rubbed a hand down my face. Life is so expensive damnit.

I tossed the duvet away and made my way toward the bathroom. After a quick shower, I slipped into casual clothes and left the bedroom in search of my wife.

She was on the balcony, drying her hair with a towel. Since it was Saturday, I knew no one was waking up this early. It's only my wife who wakes up at five-thirty even on weekends. I decided to sneak up behind and scare her.

Tip toeing as quietly as I can, I walked out on the balcony and stopped behind her at a good distance. "Boo!"

Priya was startled so greatly that she almost stumbled back. I grabbed her elbow and snatched her towards me. When she realised it was I playing a prank on her, her fear transformed into anger.

"What the heck, Aditya!" She slapped me with the towel. "I almost had a heart attack!" She grunted, clutching my shirt tightly. I chuckled. "Oh, so it's funny to you?" She glared up at me.

I smiled shamelessly.

She stepped away from me to drape the wet towel on the banister. "I thought you wanted to sleep some more so I left the bedroom."

"Yeah, you should have thought of that before turning on that loud thing." I scoffed before my eyes narrowed on her outfit. She was wearing a cotton green saree. "You going somewhere?"

"No," she answered, brushing her nimble fingers through the wet locks.

"Then why are you wearing a saree." I frowned.

She stiffened. "Just... I couldn't find anything else." She shrugged.

"Chal jhooti! (What a liar!)" I chortled.

She looked at me with a poker face. "Why would I lie?"

"Your saree collection is way in the back." I reminded her.