Vivian approached me, his steps deliberate and heavy, and said in a cold, dark tone, "Are you planning to put on this drama in front of the whole world too?"
Confused and a bit startled, I asked, "What drama?"
Vivian pointed at my mangalsutra, his e...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The morning sun filtered gently through the sheer white curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. As I reached over to silence the alarm, I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my chest that I hadn't known in years. Aarini was still curled up against me, her head resting on my chest, her breaths slow and peaceful. There was something so pure, so innocent about the way she slept-like a delicate rabbit nestled in a safe haven.
I leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, careful not to wake her just yet. This was one of those moments that made everything worth it-the battles, the struggles, the waiting. Seeing her like this, so close, so mine, it was surreal. The morning had a serene beauty to it, the kind that made you wish time could freeze, letting you linger in it a little longer.
The cool morning air drifted in through the slightly open window, causing the curtains to sway gently. A breeze caught a few strands of Aarini's hair, sweeping them across her face. I couldn't resist-I gently tucked the stray locks behind her ear, taking my time to savor the feel of her soft skin beneath my fingertips.
"Wake up, Cara," I murmured against her neck, rubbing my nose along the soft curve where it met her shoulder.
She stirred slightly, her reaction adorable as she pulled the blanket over her head, snuggling deeper into my chest. The warmth of her breath on my skin sent a shiver down my spine, and I was reminded of just how close we'd become. Four months-it had taken us four long months to reach this point, and now that we were here, I was determined to make the most of every second.
"Come on, you need to get up," I urged, gently pulling the blanket away from her face. The way her hair spilled across her cheeks, her features soft and relaxed, made my heart ache in the best possible way.
But instead of getting up, she mumbled, "I'm not going anywhere... just let me sleep," before pulling the blanket back over her head.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her stubbornness. There was a part of me that wanted to let her stay like this, to let her sleep in my arms forever. But then I remembered-she had a flight to catch. "Alright then, I'll just call Aman and let him know you're not going to Goa," I teased, starting to move away from her.
As soon as the word "Goa" left from my lips, she shot up, the sleep instantly vanishing from her eyes. I watched, amused, as she glanced around the room, her gaze landing on the white curtains that enclosed the canopy bed. I could see the memories of last night flashing through her mind, her cheeks growing redder by the second.
She quickly threw off the blanket and darted towards the door, but I was faster. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I pulled her close, resting my chin on her shoulder. "What about my morning kiss?" I whispered, my voice a mix of playfulness and need.
She squirmed in my hold, her discomfort only making me hold her tighter. "Let me go, Vivian! I'm going to be late!" she protested, though I could hear the reluctance in her voice.
