His Wife | Grooms #1 | Slow Updates

XVIII. Her After-Moment

         
If the reality didn't break the spell, it did when a lady who lived in the building announced when she saw them after getting out of her car, "You kids better get inside before you get sick."

Recognizing her voice, he answered. "You're right, Mrs. Baker," while looking at Sanam a second longer before switching his gaze to acknowledge her. "How is your daughter doing now?"

She took a second longer to stay there and process things. She couldn't just string him along because it felt right for the moment. She was never the 'in moment' person anyway. She recalled something Arjun had said at their first date... that she was one to always think through every situation before making her move.

What happened to that Sanam?

Oh, that's right. Arjun. Arjun happened in her life.

What was I thinking?

But that was it. She wasn't thinking and that's where the problem was. Atleast, that's what she believed. She was fighting this. She was the kind of girl who put her thoughts and logic over her feelings. Once they kissed or gave in to any of the attraction between them, they wouldn't just be friends. He wouldn't just be a guy who'd helped her out of a predicament. It would be real, and was she truly ready for that?

Sanam watched the interaction, wondering how he knew her or her family to be asking about her daughter. He slipped his hand in hers and all three walked in, running almost till they reached the elevators.

"She's doing alright, Arjun." Mrs. Baker answered while pressing the elevator button. "I still can't thank you enough for getting her that job. How do you know people at such fine places?"

He smiled kindly, "It's no problem, Mrs. Baker. I know a friend who works there so he just asked his boss for me to get her an interview. Your daughter did the rest. She's a very smart girl, I'm sure you know."

She gave a sad smile, "She is... she just got mixed up in the wrong things and made some poor choices." Once inside the elevator, she switched her smile to a polite one. "You must be his girlfriend? I think I've seen you leaving early most of the times. I'm Mrs. Baker. I live on the 7th floor with my husband and our 18-year-old daughter."

"Sanam. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Baker." She introduced herself while shaking her hand.

Arjun's hand came around her waist as he corrected, "She's my wife, actually."

"Oh really?" Mrs. Baker asked in pleasant surprise. "Well then, I suppose congratulations are in order." She directed towards Sanam, "You got yourself one of the nice ones."

She smiled looking at Arjun with adoration. "Don't I know it." It was a different kind of happiness hearing it from others; it made her feel as if somehow, she had to be proud of him. He belonged to such a rich family. He could've been a total snob and ignored those around him and mind his own business. But he was a friendly neighbor who made it a point to learn their names and even learn a bit about each other – even though he lived in the penthouse and they were on the 7th floor making them less of neighbors and more like just people who simply lived in the same building.

"That's my stop." Mrs. Baker said as the door dinged open. "You two take care."

"You too." Both answered at the same time just before the doors would close again.

He rubbed her arm to offer some warmth as he felt her shivering in the wet clothes. After reaching the penthouse, he suggested. "How about you go in and change while I make coffee?"

Sanam grabbed a fresh towel to wipe herself off before she pulled the shirt over her head and started to walk towards the walk-in closet to get a dry one. Before she even reached the closet, he cleared his throat behind her. She froze, scolding herself for absent mindedly taking off her shirt before getting in the closet. She also realized she hadn't locked the door to the room.