ENIGMA

Carefree moments

Advik entered his cabin and spotted Ruhani lying on the couch, visibly shaken from the entire ordeal. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing deeply, as though trying to calm her nerves. Smiling to himself, Advik decided to lighten the mood.

“Well, well… who would’ve thought?” he teased, leaning against the door. “My wife, terrified of a little needle! Honestly, Ruhani, I expected more endurance from you.”

Ruhani’s eyes shot open, and she immediately gave him a tired glare. “I wasn’t scared of the needle, okay? It was just… seeing all that happening with Ini was a lot,” she defended herself, though the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her.

“Oh, really?” Advik said with a smirk, raising an eyebrow as he approached her. “Because from where I stood, you looked like you were ready to bolt the moment he uncapped that syringe.”

“Advik!” She crossed her arms, trying to look stern, but he could see the amusement starting to break through her irritation.

He leaned down beside her, putting on an exaggeratedly sympathetic expression. “It’s okay, sweetheart. If you need to hide from the world, you’re always welcome to hold my hand.” he teased, adding a playful wink.

Ruhani swatted him lightly on the shoulder, her pout turning into a reluctant smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Oh, I know,” he replied, sitting beside her and leaning in closer. “And you know, if a little screw coming out scared you this much… I’m starting to wonder what will happen when a little ‘Ruhani’ comes out someday.”

Ruhani’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink as she stammered, “A-A little Ruhani?! Advik!” She stared at him, caught off-guard, and then she couldn’t help but laugh, the tension from earlier melting away.

Advik chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction. “What?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Just thinking ahead. Besides, you’re already practicing being a scared, doting mother, so I’d say you’re ready.”

Ruhani’s laughter softened into a warm smile, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, finally feeling at ease. “You really are something else,” she murmured, her voice tender.

Advik grinned, gently wrapping an arm around her. “You married this ‘something else,’ remember? No backing out now.”

They shared a quiet, contented moment, a bubble of joy and lightness surrounding them.

As they sat in comfortable silence, Advik suddenly got a mischievous glint in his eye. Without warning, he lunged toward Ruhani, his fingers wiggling menacingly. “You know what I think you need right now?” he asked, a playful smirk spreading across his face.

“What?” she replied, looking at him warily.

“A good tickling!” he declared, and before she could react, his fingers were digging into her sides.

“Advik! No!” Ruhani squealed, bursting into laughter as she squirmed away from him. “Stop it! I can’t—”

But he was relentless, chasing her as she laughed uncontrollably. “Come on, Ruhani! I thought you wanted to show some endurance! You can’t be scared of a little tickling!”

“Okay, okay! You win!” she gasped between fits of laughter, her face flushed with both mirth and embarrassment.

“Just admit it, you’re ticklish!” he teased, finally relenting but only enough to allow her to catch her breath.

“Fine! I’m ticklish!” she confessed, still giggling. “But that doesn’t mean you can go around attacking me!”

“Oh, but where’s the fun in that?” Advik chuckled, leaning back and pretending to think. “I mean, I could just tickle you every time you look nervous.”