Layers of Us

Chapter 89: In Transit, In Love 🛩💝

The palace was still quiet, wrapped in a blanket of soft pink sunlight spilling through half-parted curtains.
Birds chirped gently in the distance, and somewhere, a temple bell echoed faintly.

Inside the room, Tripura stirred under the covers, brow furrowing slightly, lips parting in the gentlest sigh.

And then-
The smell hit her.
Not perfume. Not roses.
But something warm. Buttery. Sweet.
Her brows twitched as she slowly opened one eye.

There he was.
Shirtless, hair wild from sleep, standing at the side of the bed with a tray in his hand-laden with butter-toast, poha, steaming adrak chai, and two bowls of freshly cut mangoes.

He smiled sheepishly, trying to balance it with all the grace of a waiter on his first day.
"Good morning, Mrs. Kapoor."
He gave a small bow.
"I come bearing edible peace offerings."

Tripura blinked at him, completely dazed.
Then looked at the tray. Then back at him.
"You made?" she asked, her voice still husky from sleep.

He smirked.
"Let's not go that far. I... assembled."

She laughed softly, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, adjusting her hair.
Ram placed the tray carefully on her lap, then plopped down beside her, cross-legged on the bed like a proud child who just handed in a school project.

Tripura looked at the food, then at him.
"Okay, I'm impressed."

"You should be," he said, popping a piece of mango in his mouth. "Do you know how hard it was not to eat half of this on the way up?"

She shook her head, laughing, and took a sip of chai. Her eyes widened.
"Hmm.. you poured it right!"

He beamed.
"Of course! Top-tier husband material."

Tripura chuckled, chewing a piece of toast.
He winked at her giving a charming smile!

They sat like that-in bed, tangled in quiet conversation, stealing bites from each other's plates, her foot brushing against his calf under the sheets.

Somewhere between the mango and the chai-
He took her hand.
Kissed her knuckles.
And whispered, without any drama this time-
"Let's keep waking up like this... forever."
Tripura just smiled.
And nodded.

___________________________

Steam trailed behind Tripura as she stepped back into the room, wrapped in plush robe-her hair dripping down her back

While Ram sat on the sofa rubbing his head dry like a playful giant.

Tripura moved straight to the vanity, grabbing her moisturizer, while Ram strolled toward her closet like it belonged to him.
"You have too many clothes," he mumbled, scanning her racks.

"Touch anything and I'm kicking you out," she warned, applying cream to her cheeks.

He held up a kurta.
"What about this? Should I match you today or be my own stunning self?"

She peeked at him through the mirror.
"Bold of you to assume you're stunning at all."

Ram gasped, clutched his heart dramatically.
"The betrayal in this household is real."