Hers To Love

Chapter-11

I woke up at dawn. Arun was still sleeping beside me, his usual frown smoothened in his sleep. I couldn't believe I was waking up in his bed again after all these weeks. It was as though the past few weeks were just a bad dream I had while I was lying in his bed. But one look at the last caller on my phone and I knew it was not a dream. I trapped myself in a nightmare. I should never have agreed to go on that date with Vedh. But then again, if I didn't, I wouldn't have been here. Life was silly like that sometimes.

Quietly, I got out of bed and tiptoed to collect all the pieces of clothing I discarded yesterday. After getting dressed, I sneaked into my apartment. Only when I was in the safety of my bedroom did I let myself breathe loudly. I threw my purse on the bed and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. The bathroom mirror reflected a ruffled but relaxed woman. A woman with mussed-up hair, wrinkled clothes and eyes fatigued with sleeplessness. But her face was soft and eyes alight. She looked more peaceful than she did in the last few weeks although she was dreading encountering her boss tomorrow.

Shaking my head, I threw some water on my face and proceeded with my morning routine. Since I got up early, there was a lot of time to think and all this idle time was not good for an overthinker like me. I bathed and got dressed but then got back into bed with my phone because it was a Sunday and I had nowhere to be.

I contemplated calling Sudha and asking her to hang out but then I shook my head. I ate enough of her weekends with my silly concerns. I had to remember that she was a married woman and with Rahul's busy schedule, weekends were the only time they would get to do something together. I resigned myself to a day in bed reading or mindlessly scrolling when my doorbell rang.

I sprang out of the bed wondering if it could be Arun. Was he also up early on a Sunday thinking about last night? About how impulsive we were. About how impossible it felt to not touch each other? And how terrifying the future could be if we carried on this way?

I went to the front door and opened it without even peeping. Of course, it was him. Dressed casually in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. Seeing Arun in casual clothes always did something weird to me. It was as though I would lose my compass and wouldn't know how to be with him anymore. This morning especially, I didn't feel like being snarky or sarcastic. I felt tender.

"Hi, Arun," I said, leaning against my doorframe. My whole body language was screaming awkwardness. It reminded me of the day after we first kissed. My insecurity and defensiveness. I felt like that girl again.

"Hi," Arun said, coming in without asking me for permission. At least, he didn't have any hesitation. Closing the door, I followed him wondering what fresh hell he planned for me.

"Good thing you are perfectly dressed for the occasion," Arun said, looking at the jeans and t-shirt I was wearing.

"What occasion?" I asked, frowning.

"We both are going hiking today. I took a safe guess that you don't have any plans today."

"Rude to just assume that," I said, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Well, do you have any plans?" Arun asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No, but..."

"Yes, exactly." He said. "We can rent all the gear near the trail. Lock your door and we can go."

"Where did this come from all of a sudden?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "You never ask me to go somewhere with you. We are supposed to be together only between these four walls, remember?"

"That's not true. We have been to that fundraiser. And Olympus. And we work in the same building." Arun said, not meeting my eyes.

"Yes, your mother forced you to take me to the fundraiser. You took me to Olympus on a whim and to fuck me. And that is work. This is different. We don't do normal people things together."