A Bond Of Intellect

Chapter - 5

It had been a week since that day. On Sunday evening, Riti was sitting with Adhya and Arun in the guest room, playing games with them.

Adhya and Arun were Ruhi and Vivan's children. Adhya, who was 7 years old, was in the 2nd standard, while Arun, who was 9 years old, was in the 4th standard. They adored Riti and were thrilled when she arrived.

As they played, they were so engrossed in the game that they didn't notice someone entering the room until he approached and picked up Adhya, Arun looked up with a smile and said, "Uncle, when did you arrive?" Adhya, giggling, and said, "Where's my chocolate?"

Evan put Adhya down and handed each of the children a chocolate. "I was standing there for 2 minutes," he said with a chuckle, "but you guys were so absorbed in the game that you didn't even notice me." He then asked, "Have you both finished your homework?" Arun nodded enthusiastically and replied, "Yes! Riti chachi (aunt) helped us with it."

As Evan spoke, Riti sat quietly, trying to find a way to escape. She didn't have the courage to interact with Evan, and she hoped to slip away unnoticed.

As they took the chocolates, Adhya and Arun ran off, leaving Evan and Riti alone. Evan sat down on the sofa, and Riti tried to slip away. However, Evan caught her hand and made her sit beside him.

"Where are you slipping away to?" he asked in his usual tone. Riti's face turned bright red as she felt embarrassed. "N-nowhere," she stammered, looking down.

She realized that Evan still held her hand, but she didn't try to pull it away this time. He observed her for a few seconds before asking, "How was your week?"

Riti replied without looking at his face, "I-it was good." A little  smile slip from his lips and he said, "Must have been good since I wasn't here, right?" Riti quickly responded, "N-no,no, it's not like that."

Then Evan said, "Then be ready, from tomorrow your studies are going to start." Riti didn't reply, instead fidgeting with her fingers and feeling suffocated, as if she had something to say.

Evan noticed her unease and asked, "Do you want to say something?" Riti remained silent for a few seconds before nodding her head. Evan said, "What is it? Go ahead," very lightly.

She bit her lip hard due to nervousness, then replied in a very low voice, "S-sorry."  Evan had heard her, but intentionally said, "What? I didn't hear it. Say again."

Riti got more nervous and was trying to say something. As she parted her lips to speak, he held her chin with his thumb and made her look into his eyes. "Now say again, what do you want to say?" he asked.

Riti got too embarrassed and was about to bite her lip, but stopped herself. Then she said, "Sorry." Evan asked, "For what?" Riti was getting more embarrassed due to his intense gaze and tried her best to say, "For that day."

Evan asked, "Which day?" Riti quickly replied, "Sorry for that day, I shouldn't have hidden anything from you."

Evan asked, "Did you get your mistakes?" Riti nodded. Evan said, "Then tell me, what did you learn from that?"

Riti replied, "T-that... I will not hide anything." Evan asked, "And?" Riti added, "And I will check my things properly."

Evan prompted again, "And?" This time, Riti replied in a very low and shy tone, "And I will not remain silent, when you ask me something." Then he said, "Good!" And
patted her head a little, stood up, and turned her hand over which  was he holding from before, palm up. He placed a chocolate in it and then left.
Riti takes a long sigh , after he left and a smile formed on her face seeing the choclate in her hand .

After dinner, Evan asked Shivani to make him coffee before he went to his room. Riti was sitting with Ruhi, chatting about something. Later, Riti got up to go to her room. Shivani stopped her and handed her a cup of coffee. "Riti beta, take this with you and give it to Evan, okay?" Riti took the cup and headed to her room.

As she walked, her eyes were fixed on the cup, and she didn't notice the carpet on the floor near the bed. As she approached Evan's side, her foot got caught in the carpet, and the coffee spilled onto her hand and some of it onto the laptop Evan was using. The coffee was scalding hot, and Riti let out a small scream, "Ahh!"

Evan quickly got up, put the cup aside, and saw Riti's red hands. He pulled her towards the washroom and washed her hands with cold water. "Can't you see the carpet?" he scolded. Riti got a little emotional and said, "B-but your laptop..." She thought he would scold her for what she had done.

However, Evan reassured her, "It's waterproof, it will be okay after wiping it." Evan took Riti out of the washroom and called for her mom, Shivani. Riti thought now she would might get scolded from Shivani for what she had done.

Shivani came, worried, and asked, "Oh, how did this happen?" Evan explained what had happened. Shivani quickly went to get the first-aid kit and returned with Ruhi. They applied a cream used for burns to Riti's hand.

After the incident, they cleaned up the room and then went to sleep. The next morning, both Riti and Evan woke up early, had breakfast together, as they have to go to college.
They arrived at their apartment and quickly got ready. Riti washed her hair, which she had forgotten to do the previous day, and let it air-dry as they were running late. She paired a black top with jeans, and her long, open hair made her look stunning.

Evan too noticed it , but he didn't said anything. And, they left for college.

After reaching college, Riti attended her first class and there was 15 minutes break after every class. During the break, she stepped out with her friend Kavya, as riti 's hair was still wet. Kavya asked, "Thank God those boys didn't follow you today! Where were you last week? You just texted me that you wouldn't come, but why didn't you came?"

Riti explained, "Like I told you, I'm married, and my husband found out about it. He said I could come to college after he resolved the issue, which is why those boys didn't follow me today, and those girls didn't talk to us."

Kavya replied, "So that's what happened! You're lucky your husband believed you and didn't doubt you. He must be a very caring and loving husband." She teased Riti with a smile.

After their conversation, they headed to their second class. Once it ended, Riti received a message from Evan: "Come to my cabin after your class ends." She got up and asked Kavya about Evan's cabin. Kavya took her there and riti  left kavya without telling what was going on.

As Riti entered the cabin, she saw Evan sitting at his desk. She approached him and said, "You called me." Evan stood up and asked, "How did you find my cabin?" Riti explained that she had asked Kavya.

Evan then said, "Turn around." Riti turned her back to him, and Evan began braiding her hair and said after completing it "Here, it's done," he said. Riti felt relieved that her hair was now braided, but she didn't understand Evan's intention behind it.

She said, "Kavya must be standing outside for a long time; she'll get the wrong idea. C-can I tell her about us? She's a nice girl." Evan replied, "You can if you trust her that much, but you'll be the one to bear the consequences." After replying, "Okay," she left the cabin.

Riti noticed Kavya's confused expression and approached her. "What's wrong?" Riti asked.

Kavya replied, "What were you doing in there for so long, and you didn't even tell me anything before leaving "

Riti took a deep breath and said, "The thing is, don't get shocked, but actually... he's my husband."

Kavya's eyes widened in surprise, and she stuttered, "What?! Really?" Riti nodded, confirming the truth.

Kavya exclaimed, "OMG, Riti! If those girls find out, they'll freak out!"

Riti pleaded, "It's a secret, don't tell anyone about this. Promise me."

Kavya promised to keep the secret and said, "So that's why he didn't let those boys sit behind you that day."

Riti and Kavya both starts laughing as Kavya added, "I still can't believe it – Evan sir is married, and his wife is walking with me!"