The Invincible Love

The Ice Between Siblings

Sorry for the late update. But please go ahead and read this one.

Happie Reading!!!

Anupama stepped into the bathroom with Anuj's night-suit which he so readily lent her. She stripped off her saree and pulled on the night suit. It was so oversized for her petite figure that the hem of the top reached a little above her knees. She then wore the trouser rolling it at her waist multiple times. it felt as though she drowned in that oversized suit. To her surprise, the soft material felt very comfortable on her skin that she felt herself snuggling into it. She pulled up the collar to her nose and sniffed the freshly washed fabric. She rolled up the dangling sleeves and looked at herself on the mirror. She giggled at her own image and stepped out.

Anuj on the other hand felt thankful that the next day was a Sunday and he didn't have to go to office. He needed time with his sister. He was grateful that Anupama agreed to stay with them until Malvika completely recovered. And with that thought he realized that this was the first time she was living with him under the same roof. Only a wall kept them apart. The image of Anupama sleeping in the next room got him into the blissful reverie. Sleep seemed far away for him as he twisted and turned in his own bed. Never in his wildest dreams he would have imagined Anupama in the same house wearing his own clothes.

He couldn't sleep and so he decided to step out into the balcony for some fresh air. It was a common balcony to both his and Mukku's room. The moment he stepped out he saw Anupama already standing there in the moonlight. She heard someone's footsteps and panicked. She was about to run inside and right then she heard his voice, "Anu, ghabrao nahi. Mai hu." Her steps slowed down hearing his voice. She didn't turn towards him feeling shy.

"Meri taraf dekho Anu." he said but she didn't budge. She just nodded her head in denial as her heartbeat rose.

"Anu, itna kya sharmana. Idhar dekho..." he again said.

"Voh...mai...aise kapde...pehli baar pehni hu toh..." she fumbled in a low voice.

"Har cheez ka pehli baar hota hai...so it's okay Anu."

He held her wrist firmly in his and gently pulled her towards him and made her turn around. She just couldn't look into his eyes. Her breath got stuck in her throat as she kept her eyes tightly shut. She kept pulling up the collar nervously. She looked so adorable in that oversized outfit that he had to fight his urge to kiss her senseless. She was a sight to behold, in that light blue suit with her hair tied in a loose pony tail.

"Haaye..." he said placing his hand on his heart to calm his racing heart. She felt the sleeves of the suit being rolled up and opened her eyes. Anuj was so lovingly rolling up her sleeve which had come loose. He stepped back once he was done. That gesture made her feel childlike. No one had ever done something like that for her.

The most others had done for her was to straighten the pleats of her saree and that too at her request. She then realized that she had always portrayed herself as strong, mature and independent who cared for her family. No one ever felt that even she could crave for love, care and pampering, not even herself. Now when Anuj did that, she realized how much she was deprived of it. It felt like she could put her strong side to rest for some time and let the child in her takeover to enjoy the pleasure of all the love and pampering that Anuj had to offer.

"Tum soyi nahi ab tak?" he asked.

"Aap bhi toh nahi soye." she replied.

"Bas neend nahi aa rha hai." he said.