The grey canvas

• Part I

3 months of pregnancy:
2:45 a.m-

"Deeeeev...wake up, you sleepy head!" I shouted in his ears, shaking him hysterically by the torso.

-"Let me sleep yaar...please." he mumbled lazily and dug himself further down in his pillow. Didn't even care for once to get up and ask if I was okay or not....or if I needed anything or not!

"Here I am suffocating to death and you are only concerned about your sleep? How mean is that, Dev?!" I yelled louder.

-"What? Suffocation??" He got up now. Finally. I thanked my stars, muttering a harmless curse under my breathes while he continued- "Why? I mean how?..and when? Are you okay now? Feeling better?... a little bit?? Or shall I carry you to the balcony??"

Leh! I was planning to take him to....... and he.. balcony? Out of all the places? Like seriously?!!

"I've been there since evening. Now I don't want to go there anymore!" I grumped with a sadistic, long face.

-"Where else then? Terrace??"

"Long drive??"

-"Lon....wait. what?"

His mouth fell open and I was more than elated to grab this opportunity of speaking on his behalf.
"Long drive... Delhi gate..chale?"

-"You know right that I returned home quite late today?" He spoke after some time.

"Yes, you returned at 10:40...See, I remembered the exact time!" I flaunted my memory, flashing away all my pearls.

-"And you must be knowing this too that I am hell tired right now?"

"Are you?" I pouted. "But I dint know!!"

-"Ofcourse!" He sniggered and looked away. Two minutes later, he looked back at me and asked sweetly, like really sweetly (read- sarcastically) -"So now that you know, would you mind letting me sleep peacefully?"

"What do you think?"

-"I thin..."

"Doesn't matter." I chucked off the previous innocense and pounced upon him. "Listen Mr. Heartologist, you are taking me for a long drive RIGHT NOW... Is that clear?"

-"I can't." He snapped and turned to dive into his pillow.

"Lisyen you.." Forcing won't work for him, Tara. Think something better. "Deeeev......" I cringed nosely. "Your princess wants to go on a drive. Would you like to refuse her too?"

-"Princess? Or her mother?? He frowned looking sideways. "Tara, even my princess knows how impulsive her mommy is. So don't even try blamming her okay!"

"Fine." I muttered, chewing away my lower lip and ducked myself inside the duvet, turned to the opposite side and ensured that our bodies were seperated atleast by a hand's distance.

But that distance was soon reduced to zero.

No, I didn't move back anyhow. All credits to Dev, he took the iniative of rolling to my side of the bed and snuggling into me, with his hands and legs completely enveloping my tiny frame and chest pressed to my back as if with adhesive.

-"Slept off?" He spoke over the skin of my neck.

"No." I replied somehow. Damn his effect! My breathes were totally hitched!!

-"Feeling sleepy?" His lip movements were further intensified.

"No." I gulped helplessly.

-"Wanna go out?"

"No." Shit.

-"Oh. Okay then.."

"Nooooo... you heard wrong. I said a 'yes'!!" I said, literally jumping on top of him.

-"Really? But I thought.." he acted like thinking. Jerk.

"Stop thinking and take me for the drive instead!" I yelled, jerking him by the straps of his vest.

-"But you initially said a 'no' right?" He glanced questioningly.

"NO, I DIDN'T." I frowned.

-"Sure?"

"Moron!"

An hour later, we were standing infront of the Delhi gate, reclining against our car and holding each other's hands in a tight clutch. The place was isolated, the weather was cold. We shifted a bit closer as a gentle flow of wind washed our faces. I held his arm and reclined my head upon his shoulder. He titled his head over mine and breathed in me. Together, we stared at the Delhi gate. It looked beautiful in the city lights. The starlit sky overhead looked beautiful too. And so did we- looked beautiful....sorry, PERFECT.. and yes, ALWAYS TOO MUCH IN LOVE.

One small tip-
If you ever visit Delhi someday, be sure you go to see the Delhi gate after midnight...with your beloved. It might not look as heavenly as the Taj Mahal on a full moon night, but it looks nothing less too. And as for the 'feeling loved' feels, you are always ready for a bonus, ins't it ;)