His Wife | Grooms #1 | Slow Updates

XX. Her Person

Sanam was hoping to leave the next morning early so she wouldn't have to face Arjun. Half the night, she was awake and so when it was morning, she'd gotten up before her alarm would have the chance to ring and disturb his sleep.

Her heart started beating faster when she heard the door opening while she was in the kitchen. Before she could think of a game plan, he'd walked up to the kitchen rubbing his eyes. "Hey, you're up early."

She let out a nervous chuckle, "I should be saying that about you."

He smiled to himself, walking towards her. "Yeah, I just wanted to wish you before you'd leave."

She stopped in her tracks of pouring coffee into her Yeti cup hearing his words. He'd woken up early just for that.

Taking notice of that, he kept going. "Happy new year, Sanam."

She pressed the lid over the cup, a thin smile on her face with the briefest glance in his direction. "Happy new year to you too." She quickly turned with rushed words, "Sorry, I'm running late."

It was such a lie. Arjun knew her morning schedules like the back of his hand. Reaching out to her, he grabbed her mid-arm and pulled her back.

Crashing into him, she scolded with wide eyes, "Arjun, what is wrong with you? This coffee could have..." She trailed off when his eyes widened just a bit. She quickly dipped her head blinking away and asking in a lowered octave. "Let me go."

The two seconds she had spared showing her face to him, he figured out why she was avoiding him. Last night's behavior came back to him and he didn't like that she'd been crying and he hadn't noticed it the slightest. His hand didn't leave her as his free one lifted up to her chin. He tried but even she was stubborn to not look at him.

He ordered softly, hating that he had to push her for this. "Look at me."

She wriggled her hand in his grip pulling her chin back. "Leave me, I'm getting late."

This once, he didn't hold back on his true thoughts as he nudged her closer to him again. "Your class doesn't start for another hour so cut the crap and look at me, Sanam."

With a flash of her own temper, she held her ground. "You don't get to force your strength on me, Arjun. Let me go right now."

Once her words settled in her brain, his eyes closed gathering composure. His grip loosened around her arm but before she could have slipped it out and take a step back, with a tug, he brought her into his arms. She tried to fight him at that too but he wasn't going to let her get this as well.

At her lowest emotional self, she didn't have the energy to keep fighting. Her hands stopped and she stood there motionless. Seconds ticked by and the safety of his embrace seeped in, threatening her tears again. When she didn't think she could hold it in, she started to inch away. Getting the hint, he pulled back as well. In a soft motion, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, rubbing her cheekbone with his thumb.

"Talk to me please." He asked in utmost concern.

"It's nothing." She mumbled starting to walk away.

"Sanam, if something is hurting you, I want to know." He continued his attempts, following her to the living room where she was trying to get her bag and leave. "Sweetheart, please."

She sighed at the word he used for her, one he hadn't spoken in a long while, and turned towards him. "Yesterday was just a tough day. We, uh... we lost a patient." She gave him a part of the whole.

"I'm so sorry, Sanam. I..."

She shook her head, lips pressed thin. "No, why? There was nothing we could have done." She picked up her bag, "Anyway, I'm fine. Thanks. I'll...see you later."