Here After!

7. In the Family Fold: Day One

Anu

After a whirlwind of events, the day came to a close, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep. When I woke up in the morning, sunlight flooded the room, slowly bringing me back to reality. As I lay there, I realized that my hand was tightly gripping Giri's t-shirt near his chest, while his hand held onto my wrist. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I let go, noticing that his t-shirt was now wrinkled, likely from my firm grip. It seemed he had attempted to loosen my hold, but his efforts were in vain.

I disentangled myself from his grip and he stirred momentarily before resuming his slumber. The toiletries were neatly arranged, prompting me to freshen up and change into more comfortable attire. Since it was already past 7:30, I felt compelled to head to the kitchen, not wanting to be seen as tardy on my first morning. Upon entering the kitchen, I found the children engrossed in watching TV and could hear bustling activity within. Gayu greeted me with a smile, wishing me good morning, which also caught Mom's attention.

We exchanged a brief smile, and she inquired about my preference for tea or coffee. I responded that either option was fine, and she served me tea. While we sipped our tea, she asked if I managed to sleep well in the new environment. I explained that I was so exhausted that I fell asleep immediately upon lying down and enjoyed a restful night's sleep. She nodded understandingly and then inquired about Giri's wakefulness. Before I could respond, he interjected, announcing his presence. Mom promptly served him tea, and he joined the children in the hall after exchanging a smile with me.

Mom instructed Gayu to attend to the children as time was running short, and she directed Giri to freshen up and join us for breakfast. By the time Giri returned, Anil also made his way to the breakfast table, and the children scampered off to play. Despite my lack of experience with children, I struggled to engage them. Over breakfast, Mom, Gayu, Anil, Giri, and I exchanged small talk about our daily lives. Mom inquired about my job and expressed concern about my work hours, to which I explained the constraints of my current project, carefully avoiding the true reason for my schedule preference. 

After breakfast, Anil informed us of their departure and graciously invited us for dinner at their home, to which Giri happily accepted, and I responded with a smile. Mom inquired about our plans, and Giri confirmed that we had none, consulting with me first. Mom suggested a brief visit to my home followed by lunch, and I urged her to join us, knowing she would be alone otherwise. Initially hesitant, she agreed after my persistent request. Excited to see my family, I assisted Mom in packing snacks for my niece and . Once they left, Mom suggested we rest for an hour before departing ourselves.

I found Giri lying on the bed, engrossed in his phone. Upon noticing me, he smiled and inquired if I had seen our wedding photos. Admitting that I hadn't, he motioned for me to join him and began sharing the pictures. We shared laughter at some of the more comical poses. Requesting him to send the photos to me as well, I took the phone and scrolled through the feeds, discovering numerous well-wishes from friends and acquaintances, some of whom had even featured our pictures on their status updates. Eventually, I too relaxed on the bed, engrossed in my own phone. After a while, Giri asked if I had called home, to which I replied that I had done so after breakfast, updating them about our arrival.

Giri: I have about 20 days of leave left. Do you have any specific place you'd like to visit?

Me: Hmm, not at the moment. Anitta's wedding is in 8 days, so I'll be occupied until then. But after that, I'm open to any plans you have.

Giri: Alright, if you have any preferences, just let me know. We can plan accordingly.

Me: How about this time we go with your choice? I'm fine with that if you are.

Giri: Hmm... okay, I'll think about it. Just don't blame me later if you don't like my choice.

I nodded in agreement, and he playfully pinched my nose, reminding me of our closeness. As I started to pull away, he gently grasped my hand and raised his eyebrows inquiringly. I shrugged my shoulders, signaling that everything was fine. He drew nearer, planting a tender kiss on my forehead.

Giri: I'm going to take a nap. Just wake me up in an hour when we're ready to leave.

Me: Sure.

I began to rise, but he pulled me back down, embracing me from behind and resting his head on mine. He urged me to stay a while longer. Despite this being our first intimate moment, I concealed my nerves and relaxed into his embrace. Setting an alarm, I realized I too was drifting off to sleep, as it was my usual daytime routine. 

I awaken to the sound of someone calling me, hoping to extend my sleep a little longer. However, they persistently urged me to rise. As I opened my eyes, I found myself in Giri's embrace. Initially, I had slept with my back to him, but now I faced him, with our hands intertwined and his arm wrapped around me. Giri reminded me that our allotted hour had passed, prompting me to get up and prepare. Upon emerging, I found both Giri and Mom ready to depart. Mom held several packages, indicating her readiness to fulfill the tradition of gifting my family with clothing.

Giri took the driver's seat, and Mom instructed me to join him in the passenger seat while she settled in the back. During the journey, Mom suggested stopping for some sweets and fruits, which Giri promptly arranged. He even offered us some fresh juice, adding to the pleasantness of the ride. As we approached our destination, my excitement grew, reminiscent of a kindergartener returning home after their first day. My enthusiasm must have been evident, as Mom teasingly remarked, "Anu, it's only been a day, and you already seem eager to return to your family." Giri chimed in, jesting, "Is that so, Anu?" Despite my attempts to deny their playful accusations, they continued to tease me good-naturedly as we made our way towards my home.