The house was dark and silent, soaked in the stillness of midnight. Everyone else was fast asleep, but Adhira sat alone in the kitchen, perched on a high chair beside the slab.
Her one hand rested protectively on the soft swell of her belly, while the other was buried inside a packet of nachos, dipping each one into a ketchup bowl she had kept beside.
Six and a half months in and she'd surrendered to her weird cravings. Nachos with ketchup, fries with vanila ice cream, noodles with chapati.
She looked down at her belly, eyes soft. "Why aren't you full yet, mera Gappu?" She whispered, patting it affectionately. "Ab kya khanaa hai hmm?"
A bunch echoed as she bit into another chip, eyes scanning the kitchen for her next found. "We have to be fast."
She stood with a little grunt, pressing her palm to her back for support as she waddled to the cabinet of packed foods.
As she pulled the door open with urgency, her face fell. Her Maggi was replaced by aatta noodles.
"This Golu papa of yours won't let us live in peace." She whispered, scrunching her nose.
With a disappointed sigh, she closed the cupboard. Her craving remained stubbornly alive.
She tiptoed to the corner cabinet, reaching for the glass jar of homemade chocolate brownies. The moment it hit her tongue, she let out a satisfying hum.
She took out the second one while mentally appraising Saanvika for her baking skills.
She was on her third, when she heard a soft shuffle from the living room. Her chewing halted, eyes widening. No. No. No.
The footsteps were closer now. She did the only thing her sugar addled, sleep deprived hormonal brain could come up with.
She shoved the entire half remaining into her mouth and stood there, cheeks puffed out, forgetting about the jar of brownies that was still wide open on the counter behind her.
The sound of a throat being cleared, froze her mid bite. Her eyes slammed shut on reflex, maybe if she couldn't see him, he couldn't as well.
Adhira, consider yourself gone.
"Sab sukh lahai tumhari sarna, tum rakshak kahu ko darna." She began chanting under her breath, peeking through one barely open eyelid.
[Chanting Hanuman Chalisa]
Vikram stood at the kitchen threshold. His sleeves rolled up, arms folded across chest and his expressions were unreadable.
I can't believe this woman. He shook his head, watching her antics but still didn't say a word.
Adhira swallowed quickly, almost choking but didn't stop chanting. "Bhoot pishach nikat nahi aave, mahavir jab naam sunave."
He stepped forward slowly, his gaze flat. Sensing his presence near her, she forced her eyes open, noticing him close the jar and put it back on its place.
He didn't have any single expression on his face and that scared her more.
She watched his gaze flicker toward the half empty packet of nachos strewn across the slab before his eyes returned to hers.
YOU ARE READING
I Found You
Romance22 years old ADHIRA VATS, who's vague & intricate, too naive to deal with the cruel world. Getting married was never in her list, atleast not before getting settled & providing her father a luxurious life. She has been her papa's Gudiya since alway...
