𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

II

Edited

-

Maybe you met the right person, but you're just not ready to fall in love.

-

Sara showed her to the room and left soon after, the door clicking softly behind her. Alone for the first time, Kashvi felt an unexpected wave of solitude wash over her. The vibrant colors of the wedding day faded into the background, replaced by the stark reality of her new life. With the wedding having been a whirlwind of unexpected events, all her clothes remained at her apartment. This meant she had to settle for the night suit that Sara had lent her just moments before.

Kashvi stood in front of the mirror, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against the intricate jewelry that adorned her. Removing each piece was tedious and time-consuming, it took her nearly 15 minutes to detach the shimmering earrings and heavy necklace, followed by another 10 minutes of painstakingly unpinning her hair. Each pin felt like a tether to the whirlwind day she had just experienced, and finally free of the embellishments, she changed out of the elaborate lehenga into the soft, comfortable night suit. The relief was palpable as she shed the weight of the day, the feeling of liberation enveloping her like a warm embrace.

Too tired to take a bath, she opted for a quick wash of her face, splashing water to refresh her senses. As she walked out of the bathroom, the scene that greeted her was unexpected. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, engrossed in his phone, the soft light illuminating his features. He had changed into a pair of joggers and a black t-shirt, a stark contrast to the formal attire he had worn for the ceremony. It was a sight that startled her, here was a man she barely knew, yet now he occupied the same space, sharing a threshold into her life that she had not anticipated.

Quietly, she moved towards the other end of the bed, intent on finding comfort in sleep. However, just as she began to settle in, he interrupted her with the most absurd question she had ever heard.

"What do you think you're doing?" His dark voice was laced with irritation.

Rolling her eyes, she shot back, "Sleeping. Are you blind?"

"I see that. But why the hell are you sleeping on my bed?" he countered, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone.

Kashvi couldn't help but laugh. "Don't tell me you expect me to sleep on the floor or something," she replied, amusement mingling with defiance.

"I don't care where you sleep, as long as it's not beside me," he said nonchalantly, a statement that struck a chord deep within her.

"If you have a problem, go and sleep somewhere else! I refuse to have my sleep ruined because of your nonsense," she replied, rolling her eyes once more before climbing onto the bed.

Rishiv sighed, realizing that there was little he could do to change her mind. He turned to the other side and switched off the lights, the darkness enveloping them. Tomorrow, he would deal with the aftermath of this unexpected arrangement.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

Meanwhile, Sara's return to her room took longer than expected. Dadi had insisted she look at some jewelry for tomorrow's festivities, and she couldn't refuse. It was around 11 PM when she finally entered her room, immediately hearing the familiar sound of her husband's voice raised in frustration.

Arjun was on the phone, barking orders as he paced. "I don't care it's late! It was supposed to be done three days ago! Do-" His voice trailed off as she slipped into the closet.

Taking out a pair of heart-printed shorts and a t-shirt, she made her way to the bathroom. The cool water refreshed her, washing away the remnants of the day's stress. Ten minutes later, she emerged feeling lighter than before, her spirit unburdened.