PATHS OF HEART

6

Anupama woke up the next morning, a warm smile spreading across her face as she snuggled closer to Anuj. The memories of the previous night played in her mind like a soft, romantic film, and she couldn't help but blush at the thought of how deeply they had reconnected. She reached out, tracing her fingers along his jawline as he stirred slightly, still deep in sleep.

As her mind wandered, a sudden realization struck her, and her eyes widened in surprise. *Did we...? Oh no, we didn't use protection!* Panic began to bubble up, but she quickly calmed herself, knowing that waking Anuj up in a state of distress wouldn't help.

She nudged him gently. "Anuj, wake up," she whispered softly, trying not to startle him.

Anuj groaned, his eyes fluttering open to find Anupama's worried expression. He smiled sleepily, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "Good morning, love," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead.

Anupama, though, was too distracted by her sudden revelation to fully enjoy the moment. She bit her lip, her voice slightly hesitant. "Anuj, there's something we need to talk about."

He blinked, sensing the shift in her tone. "What is it? Is everything okay?"

She sat up a bit, pulling the blanket around her, more for comfort than modesty. "Last night... we didn't use protection."

Anuj's eyes widened, and he sat up as well, running a hand through his hair. "Oh... I didn't even think about it. We got so caught up in the moment."

Anupama nodded, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and the lingering warmth of last night. "Yeah, it just... happened. But what if...?"

Anuj took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, whatever happens, we'll face it together. You and me, just like always."

Anupama smiled, feeling the weight of her worries ease slightly. "I know, but it's just... a lot to process."

He leaned in, kissing her gently. "We'll figure it out, Anu. No matter what."

They spent a few more moments wrapped in each other's arms before deciding it was time to get up and face the day. After a quick shower, they got dressed—Anupama in a simple top and jeans, and Anuj, feeling relaxed, in a vest and shorts.

As they walked down the stairs together, hand in hand, they were greeted by Rajesh and Meera in the living room, who were sipping their morning tea. The older couple looked up, smiles on their faces, but those smiles quickly turned into looks of surprise as they took in the sight of Anuj and Anupama.

Rajesh's eyes zeroed in on Anuj's neck, where several love bites were visible against his skin, stark and unmistakable. Meera's eyes widened as she noticed similar marks on Anupama's neck, though partially hidden by her hair.

Rajesh cleared his throat loudly, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and fatherly concern. "Well, well, it seems like someone had a very... eventful night."

Meera tried to stifle a giggle, but her efforts were in vain as she looked at the couple, her eyebrows raised. "Anuj, beta, you might want to wear a scarf or something next time," she teased lightly, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Anupama's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she instinctively tried to cover her neck with her hand. "Oh... um... we didn't realize..."

Anuj, now aware of the marks on his own neck, scratched the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. "Yeah... it just kind of happened."

Rajesh shook his head, laughing heartily. "I'm not judging, son, but maybe keep in mind that we do have visitors from time to time."

Just then, the doorbell rang, and before either Anuj or Anupama could react, Meera went to answer it. A moment later, Madhav and Sushma, Anupama's parents, walked in with bright smiles, carrying a bag of fresh fruits and a box of sweets.