Night of 25TH

CHAP 52: Forgotten Birthday Surprise

Past:

Shubman

We lay on the bed, having enjoyed a quiet dinner ordered to our room for the sake of privacy. The cap had served its purpose earlier, providing a shield in public while I ate without a mask. However, wearing it at the restaurant at night would have surely made me appear out of place, especially in my kurta.

A fortress of pillows separated us as we reclined on either side, facing one another. The room was gently lit by the table lamp, casting just enough light to reveal Chucky's face.

"So, maza aya aaj?" Chucky asked her brown eyes without glasses fixed directly on mine. The intensity of her gaze was both captivating and warm. Strangely, the dark circles under her eyes seemed to complement her fair complexion and brown eyes for reasons unknown. I became aware of my prolonged stare when I felt her warm breath on my lips.

"What... What are you doing?" I stammered, my gaze still locked onto her face, which was now dangerously close to mine.

"Just giving you a good look so you can scrutinize me and answer my question quickly," she laughed, playfully falling onto the bed beside me.

Attempting to steady my quickened heartbeat, I looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I was thinking about the day's events, okay?" I replied, offering a feeble defence.

"Haha, I know you have a girlfriend so beautiful and perfect," she said, laughing as she moved back to the other side. Huh, she wasn't supposed to believe my answer.

Chucky, propping herself on her elbows, gazed at me with an inquisitive smile. "So now, tell me, maza aya aaj?"

A genuine smile crossed my face as I reflected on the day. "Bohat. It was like a refreshing escape from the media buzz and a much-needed break from cricket." The thought of the day brought a lightness to my mood.

Chucky nodded knowingly. "See, isliye dosto ko baate batani chahiye instead of cutting them out."

Her words resonated with me, and I admitted, "Agreed. I am sorry for cutting you all out." Guilt filled my voice as I confessed, my gaze drifting to the ceiling.

Chucky's eyes softened, and she reached out to gently touch my arm. "No worries, it happens. We all need our space sometimes," she reassured me with a warm smile. "Now, let's not dwell on that. We have an early flight tomorrow, and we need our rest."

Chucky lay back on the bed, pulling the covers up, and I followed suit. The room was dimly lit, creating a cosy and intimate ambience.

Just before closing my eyes, Chucky turned towards me again. In the dim light, she pressed a soft kiss on my eyebrows, causing a gentle warmth to spread across my face.

"Sweet dreams," she whispered.

"Goodnight," I murmured, feeling a mixture of surprise and warmth from her unexpected gesture. The lights in the room were just dim enough to conceal the subtle blush on my cheeks.

As I closed my eyes, I found myself lost in a vivid wonderland, indulging in the fantasies of having Chucky in my arms. The dream was so immersive that I could almost feel her presence, a warmth that transcended the boundaries of imagination. I felt a slap on my cheeks not too hard waking me up as I looked around I could see the grand Sri Lankan hotel as I looked up I saw Chucky looking at " You have been sleeping like a baby needed to slap you to wake up" she said trying to pick up the bag from above rack. You see that's how quickly the past month went since we met at Banaras. I sighed looking at my shortie trying hard but she couldn't reach it.