Here After!

20. Embracing Comfort

Anu

The next time I opened my eyes, I found myself in the same position as before. The only difference was that now, he was awake too.

Giri's eyes met mine, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "All good?" he said softly, his voice filled with warmth.

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. The comfort of our embrace made the awkwardness of the previous days seem distant.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his hand still gently resting on my head.

"I did," I admitted. "I think I needed this."

He nodded, his expression understanding. "Me too."

For a moment, we simply lay there, enjoying the quiet connection between us. The outside world felt miles away, and in that instant, nothing else mattered. We were just two people, finding solace in each other's presence.

"I've been thinking," I began hesitantly, "about what you said...."

Giri's gaze softened. "And?"

"And I want to make this work," I said, my voice steady. "I want to focus on us and not let my insecurities get in the way."

His smile widened, and he pulled me closer. "Okay, as you wish," he said warmly. Then he added, "But it's already past 3, and I'm starving."

"Oh, really? Give me a few minutes to get ready," I replied, reluctantly pulling away from our embrace.

I quickly freshened up and changed into more comfortable clothes. By the time I was ready, Giri had also gotten ready, and we headed out. Since it was evening, most places weren't too crowded, and we found a quiet corner to enjoy a hearty meal.

Afterward, Giri took me to a nearby garden where we sat for a few minutes, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. To my surprise, instead of heading home, he drove us to my parents' house.

Just as I was about to ask why we were going there, he spoke up. "Whatever problems we face, we shouldn't let them affect others, especially our elders. You might have had your reasons, but as the elder daughter, you should have stayed with them yesterday. But don't worry, you can make it up to them now. Let them see that you're okay," he said, gently squeezing my nose.

I felt a mix of gratitude and determination, realizing that he was right. This was a chance to set things right and show my family that everything was okay.

We arrived at my parents' house, and I could feel my heart racing with a mix of nerves and anticipation. As we walked up to the door, Giri gave me a reassuring smile, his presence calming my anxiety.

When my mom opened the door, her face lit up with surprise and relief. "Anu! Giri! Come inside!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug.

"We thought we'd drop by and spend some time with you all," Giri said, while I returned her hug.

My dad joined us in the living room, his expression softening as he saw us. "It's good to see you, Anu," he said, giving me a nod of approval.

We sat down and chatted for a while, catching up on recent events. The tension I'd felt earlier began to melt away, replaced by a sense of belonging and comfort.

After a while, Giri and my dad went to the garden to discuss something, leaving me alone with my mom. She looked at me with concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, Anu? You seemed troubled yesterday. Your Dad suggested we give you time."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her concern. "I am, Mom. I just had some things on my mind."

She nodded, her expression softening. "That's good to hear. Remember, we're always here for you."

"I know, Mom. Thank you," I said, feeling a sense of relief.

When it was time to leave, I hugged my parents tightly, promising to visit more often. As Giri and I drove home, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and connection.

"Thank you for bringing me here," I said softly to Giri, reaching over to squeeze his hand.

He smiled, his eyes warm with understanding. "Anytime, Anu."

As we headed home, I felt a sense of calm and optimism. It had been a day of new beginnings, and I was ready to face whatever came next.

Giri

After deciding to dine out for lunch, I went out for a brief purchase. When I returned, I noticed a slight change in Anu's mood. Good sign! After refilling the fridge, I headed inside and lay down. But Anu was nowhere to be seen. About half an hour later, she came into the room and started to apologize. I realized she was still dwelling on the earlier incident.

I consoled her, gently encouraging her to move past it. Eventually, she seemed to get convinced, and within ten minutes, she fell asleep. It looked like she had a sleepless night.

Since we had some more time, I decided to take a nap too, rather than just scrolling through my phone. As usual, her hand found its way to my shirt, and she gradually moved closer, lying partially on me. I slipped into a deep slumber, and I can recall my hand patting her head whenever she stirred in her sleep.

When I woke up, Anu was still asleep, her hand clutching my shirt and her body nestled close to mine. I gently stroked her hair, trying not to wake her, but soon I felt her stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me with a mix of confusion and comfort.

"Hey," I whispered softly, smiling down at her.

"Hey," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Feeling better?" I asked, hoping she had gotten some rest and that our earlier conversation had eased her mind.

She nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Yes, much better."

"Good," I said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "How about we get ready and head out for that meal?"

She agreed, and we both got up to freshen up. By the time we were ready, the afternoon had slipped into the evening. We decided to find a quiet spot for a hearty meal, hoping the change of scenery would do us both good.

We drove to a cozy little restaurant, where we enjoyed a quiet meal together. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the food was delicious. For the first time in days, it felt like the tension between us was starting to dissipate.

Afterward, I suggested we take a walk in a nearby garden. The fresh air and greenery seemed to lift Anu's spirits even more. We sat on a bench for a few minutes, enjoying the tranquility of the place.

As we headed back to the car, instead of driving home, I took a detour to her parents' house. Anu looked at me, puzzled, just as she was about to ask why we were going there, I spoke up.

"Whatever problems we face, we shouldn't let them impact others, especially our elders. You might have had your reasons, but as the elder daughter, you should have stayed with them yesterday. But don't worry, you can make it up now. Let them see that you're okay," I said, squeezing her nose playfully.

She nodded, understanding and appreciating the gesture.

We arrived at her parents' house, and the surprise on their faces when they saw us was worth it. Her mom pulled Anu into a warm hug, and her dad welcomed us with a relieved smile.

"We thought we'd drop by and spend some time with you all," I said, while Anu returned her mom's hug.

We spent the evening catching up and enjoying each other's company. The tension I'd seen in Anu's eyes earlier was gone, replaced by a sense of peace and belonging.

When it was time to leave, I could see that Anu felt much lighter. As we drove home, she reached over and squeezed my hand, her eyes reflecting gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she said softly.

"Anytime, Anu," I replied, smiling warmly at her.