Dheere Se Kho Gaye!

[1]

"Sri! Sri? SRI! Get up, it's 11 in the morning!" A soft but insistent voice broke through his groggy state. Shrinkhal, or Sri as he was fondly called, groaned and buried his face deeper into the desk where he had been working all night. The voice belonged to Ishi Malik, his girlfriend, who was now tugging at his arm with determination.

"If you don't get up, you'll regret it," she warned, her tone playful yet firm.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm up, meri maa," he mumbled, lifting his head and stretching his stiff neck. Ishi smacked his head lightly and walked out of the room, calling over her shoulder, "Good. Now freshen up quickly and come out. Guru will be here any minute, and I'm making brunch for the three of us."

Ishi Malik was Shrinkhal's girlfriend, and the "Guru" she mentioned was Sharavan Bhushan, Sri's younger brother. The three of them were inseparable, sharing a bond that was equal parts chaotic and heartwarming.

Sri rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion from working all night on his next YouTube video. The sunlight streaming through the windows felt harsh, and he squinted as he heard a car pull up outside. He quickly jumped into the washroom to freshen up.

"Koi hai? Sri? Ishi?" Guru's voice echoed from the main door as he peeked inside.

"I'm in the kitchen, Guru. Come on in!" Ishi called back.

Guru walked into the kitchen, carrying a container of food his mother had sent for Sri and Ishi. He set it down and turned to hug Ishi, his eyes immediately drawn to the delicious aroma wafting from the stove.

"What are you cooking, missy?" Guru asked, sticking his tongue out like an excited puppy.

"Pohe and chai," Ishi replied with a smile, sprinkling cilantro over the dish before turning off the stove.

"Ah! I can't wait to eat. It looks amazing. Ab toh tujhe sach mein humari ghar ki bahu bann jana chahiye, Ishi. You cook just like maa," Guru said, his tone teasing but affectionate.

"Only when the time comes," Ishi replied with a playful smile.

"By the way, where's Sinku?" Guru asked, using his nickname for Sri.

"I'm here, baby," Sri announced, walking into the kitchen and jumping onto his younger brother. The two of them were a riot together, their bond so strong that people often mistook them for more than just siblings. When they were together, the world seemed to fade away, and even Ishi sometimes felt like an outsider to their antics.

Sri and Ishi had been introduced by Guru during one of their random hangouts. Back then, Ishi was going through her "emo girl phase," and Sri had fallen for her almost instantly. After two years of dating, they had moved in together after college, and these were some of the best days of their lives.

Ishi watched them with a fond smile as they chatted animatedly at the dining table. She stood in front of them, arms crossed, waiting for them to notice her. When they didn't, she sneered and plopped herself onto Sri's lap, catching him off guard.

"Hi baby. Morning, baby. How are you, baby?" Sri teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he kissed her cheek. Guru tried to suppress a laugh, failing miserably.

"Ugh! Kitna kamina hai, Guru yeh!" Ishi said, curling her brows in mock annoyance.

Both Sri and Guru burst out laughing. Ishi tried to get up, but Sri held her by the waist and pulled her back. "Arrey, kahan ja rahi ho, jaaneman? Ruk jao!" he said, wrapping his arms around her. Guru took the hint and got up to serve the food, giving the couple a moment of privacy.

Ishi turned to face Sri, studying his tired face closely. "Oh God, you need to start sleeping at night, babe. Look at those dark circles. You need to take care of yourself," she said, her voice filled with concern.

Sri grinned. "You're here to take care of me, right?" he said, his tone playful but sincere.

Ishi smacked her forehead in mock exasperation. "I'm dating a little kid," she muttered, bending down to kiss his lips softly. Sri blushed, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red, and Ishi couldn't help but smile at his reaction.

Guru placed plates in front of them, and the three of them began to eat, chatting happily about work and life.

---

It was almost 10 p.m. when Guru left after helping Sri and Ishi with their videos. Ishi had insisted he stay for dinner, and after bidding him goodbye, Sri retreated to his room to continue his research. Ishi sat on the couch, working on her laptop until exhaustion took over.

Three hours later, Sri emerged from his room to find Ishi asleep on the couch, her laptop resting on her stomach. The room was cold, and he quickly shut the windows before gently removing her glasses and picking her up. He carried her to their bed, tucking her in and turning on the blower to warm the room.

Sri lay down beside her, feeling a pang of guilt for not spending enough time with her lately. But he was also grateful for her understanding and support. Ishi never complained about his long hours or his dedication to his work, and that meant the world to him.

He hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead. "I love you, chintu ki maa. You don't know how happy I am to be with you," he whispered.

Ishi giggled softly. "What the hell? You were awake?" she asked, her voice sleepy but amused.

"Yeah," Sri admitted.

"Fuck you," Ishi said, laughing.

"Come, fuck me!" Sri teased, pulling her closer.

Ishi laughed, her cheeks flushing. "I woke up when you carried me to the room, but I didn't say anything because I was enjoying it. Kitne time baad toh tumhare itne kareeb aane ka mauka mila hai, kaise kharab kar deti?" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Sri chuckled. "Ah, you're such a bad kid."

"But it's true," Ishi said, her tone turning serious. "I missed you. A lot. I missed us."

"I missed us too, my love," Sri replied, his voice soft and sincere.

He cupped her face and kissed her, the moment quickly turning passionate. Their connection was electric, and as they lost themselves in each other, the world outside ceased to exist.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The mix of English and Hinglish adds a cultural touch, but if it's confusing, let me know, and I can adjust it. Thank you for reading! ✨🔪