Here After!

21. Building Bonds

Giri

It was almost late evening by the time we reached home. Anu seemed more relaxed now, and it was a relief to see the tension easing from her face. As we settled in, I called my mom to inform her that I would be picking her up tomorrow. She suggested that Anu and I should spend time together, but I insisted she come back so that Anu could start bonding with us. After all, it would be the three of us living together.

During the call, Mom reminded me that we needed to invite Anu's sister and her husband for dinner since they were newly married. She also suggested inviting Anu's entire family. I agreed and made a mental note to discuss it with Anu.

After the call, I realized I hadn't seen Anu since we got back. I remembered seeing her head towards the kitchen earlier. Suddenly, it hit me: I had completely forgotten about dinner plans. We should have arranged something on our way back, but it slipped my mind, and Anu hadn't reminded me either. We needed a solution quickly.

I headed to the kitchen and called out to her, "Anu, I'm sorry. I forgot to ask about our dinner plans. We probably need to order something since I'm not in the mood to cook or go out."

She looked up from the stove with a reassuring smile. "Hey, no problem. Mom packed dinner for us when I mentioned our morning cooking. She made some simple food and packed it. I just need to reheat it. You can take a shower and join me at the table."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Oh! I wasn't aware of that. Good thing. I'll be back in a bit. You can set the table, and please thank her for me."

I went to freshen up, feeling grateful for the unexpected gesture from Mom and for Anu's understanding. 

After freshening up, I returned to the dining room to find Anu had set the table beautifully. The aroma of the homemade meal filled the room, bringing a sense of comfort and warmth.

"Smells amazing," I said, sitting down. "Please thank your mom for this. It's exactly what we needed."

Anu smiled, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and happiness. "I will. Let's eat."

We enjoyed the meal, chatting about our day and the upcoming plans. The food was simple yet delicious, and the familiar taste of home brought a sense of peace.

As we finished eating, I decided it was a good time to bring up the dinner invitation. "By the way, Mom suggested we invite your sister and her husband for dinner, along with your family. She thinks it's a good idea for everyone to get to know each other better."

Anu's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. "That sounds nice. It would be good for everyone to spend time together."

"Great," I said, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "We'll plan it for this weekend. It'll be a good way to start integrating our families."

After dinner, we cleaned up together, and the atmosphere was light and easy. It felt good to share these everyday moments with Anu, building our routines and strengthening our connection.

I was sitting in the front garden after dinner, enjoying the cool evening breeze, when Anu joined me. She settled into the chair next to mine and sighed, drawing my attention.

"Isn't it really hard to stay alone? It's just been one day, and I'm already getting bored," she said, looking at me with a hint of frustration.

I was at a loss for words, so I simply smiled, hoping it would convey some comfort.

"It's not that I'm just bored," she continued, her voice softer now, "it's giving me a different feeling, one I don't know how to explain. Normally, whenever I get some free time, I'd spend it watching series. But now, I can't seem to do that. I feel like if I immerse myself in that, I won't know what you're doing or feeling."

Her words tugged at my heart. I could sense her vulnerability, her struggle to adjust to our new life together. I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently.

"It's okay to feel that way, Anu," I said softly. "We're both adjusting to this. It's new for me too. You don't have to change who you are or what you enjoy. We'll find a balance."

She gave me a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Giri. I just don't want to lose touch with us, with what we're building here."

I nodded, understanding her fears. "We won't. We just need to communicate and be patient with each other. And maybe, we can find new things to enjoy together."

We sat there in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of unspoken worries lifting slightly. It felt good to share these moments, to connect and reassure each other. As the evening grew cooler, we decided to head back inside, feeling a bit more at ease.

Later that night, as we settled into bed, I felt a renewed sense of optimism. The day had been full of small yet significant steps towards a more harmonious life. Anu snuggled close, her presence a comforting reminder that we were in this together.

"Goodnight, Anu," I whispered, kissing her forehead.

"Goodnight, Giri," she replied softly, her voice full of warmth.

As I held her close, I realized it had been days since I had given her a forehead kiss, a gesture that had been a regular part of our routine from the very beginning. She snuggled closer to me, seeking comfort in my embrace.

"Anu, are you feeling sleepy?" I asked, knowing sleep was far from my own mind.

"No, probably because we slept most of the day. And you know how hard it is for me to sleep at night because of my job timings. It's more convenient for me to sleep during the day," she replied.

"Yeah, I know," I said, pausing before adding, "I know another reason too."

She turned to look at me, curiosity in her eyes. "What reason?" she asked.

"Anish mentioned that you opted for the night shift because you're scared to sleep alone at night. Is that true, Anu?"

Her eyes widened in surprise. "No, no, nothing like that. He must have been joking."

"But I don't think so," I said with a laugh, "the tight grip you have on my shirts says otherwise."

She blushed slightly, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Okay, maybe a little. I guess I feel safer when you're here."

I tightened my hold on her, feeling a wave of protectiveness. "Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm here, and I'll always be here." I whispered, kissing her forehead again, making up for lost time.