THE IMPERFECT PERFECTIONS

•∆4~𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

Aditya stirred from his slumber, the morning light filtering through the curtains. As he approached the bed, he beheld his wife, her form nestled in peaceful repose. The delicate strands of her hair lay like spun gold against the pillow, and he couldn't help but admire her.

His hand moved of its own accord, fingers tracing the contours of her hair. But then, with a sudden jolt, she awoke. Aditya swiftly withdrew his hand, caught off guard by the abruptness of her awakening.

"I'm sorry," he stammered, the words escaping him. Why had he touched her like that? He couldn't fathom it himself.

Taniya, still half-asleep, tried to ease the tension. "Do you need anything?" she asked, attempting to break the awkward silence.

"No," Aditya replied, the word hanging in the air between them. They remained silent, both grappling with the strange intimacy of the moment.

"I'm going to the washroom," Taniya announced suddenly, as if to escape the room's charged atmosphere. "And I'll head to the gym."

Aditya mirrored her words, and they chuckled together, their laughter tinged with embarrassment. In unison, they hurried away, seeking refuge from their own inexplicable feelings.

*After a few minutes...*

Taniya stood in the washroom, contemplating her next move. Should she venture out now? What if he was still there? Lost in her thoughts, she heard the door open and close. Panic surged-had he returned?

"Oh, he's here now!" Taniya scolded herself. She should have stepped out earlier. But it was too late. She had finished her bath, only to realize she'd forgotten her towel. There was none in the washroom.

With no other option, she knocked on the door, hoping to catch his attention. "Aditya?" she called out, her voice echoing in the quiet space.

Aditya's eyes widened as he spotted the hand peeking out from the partially open washroom door. The urgency in her voice was palpable as she explained her predicament.

"Actually, I forgot to bring my towel," she blurted out, her words tumbling together. "Can you pass it to me? It should be in the closet. And please, my clothes too."

"Okay," Aditya replied, momentarily taken aback. He walked over to the closet, his heart still racing from the unexpected encounter. As he opened a drawer, his eyes fell upon something entirely unexpected: her delicate lace underwear. His face flushed crimson, and he hastily shut the drawer, mentally berating himself for the intrusion.

Grabbing his own towel and selecting a T-shirt and trousers, he returned to the washroom door. "Here," he said, knocking gently and extending the clothes to her.

Taniya hesitated, scrutinizing the garments. "I think you're mistaken," she said, holding them up near the door. "These are not mine."

Aditya tried to sound reasonable. "Actually, I couldn't find your clothes. You can wear these for now and then change later."

Taniya withdrew her hand, closing the door without further argument. She slipped into the oversized T-shirt and trousers, the fabric enveloping her like a cocoon. As she adjusted the fit, she couldn't help but notice the faint scent of his cologne clinging to the fabric. Everything in the room seemed to carry his essence.

Emerging from the washroom, Taniya caught Aditya's gaze. The borrowed clothes hung loosely on her frame; she was already shorter than him, and his muscular build made her appear even smaller. But there was something endearing about the oversized attire-she looked adorable.

"She looks so cute in my clothes," Aditya thought, a smile tugging at his lips. With the towel and his own clothes in hand, he headed toward the washroom.