Bittersweet

-6-

A blissful warmth over her skin, the tickling grass underneath her body and the music of wind made Sathya smile that is not just a smile it's a satisfaction which she never had before.

Still closing her eyes she felt someone's arm around her waist. She knew who it might be, turning around with that same smile she snuggled in his embrace.

"Sathya?" Raghu called out her name. The way his gruffly tone pronounce it is beautiful to her ears.

"Umm?" she hummed beaming but she couldn't open her eyes as she is too much in her dreamy state.

"Why you are smiling?" he whispered near her ears. It made her smile again. Opening her eyes slowly she saw Raghu half naked without his shirt on, looking as bright as the sun gracing upon him. And he was looking at her intently with that amusing smile on his face.

"What happened?" he again asked tugging a strand of her silky hair behind her ear. Gazing his eyes for a second Sathya's smile slowly faded.

"I think you are the reason," she told.
Narrowing his eyes Raghu looked her in a mix-up.

"I love you," she let it out and her pupils dilated in angst thinking what stupid thing she had said now, but that is what she is feeling for him at this moment and Raghu's face was devoid of emotions even after hearing this from Sathya.

They both were tangled about what to do and how to react.

Raghu laid beside without answering. Sathya was hell struck by his no reply, slowly turning to another side she started shedding tears.
Suddenly Raghu's strong arms pulled her against his hard chest.
"Thank you," he gasped.

Her heart raced in happiness, in that same excitement she awakened from the dream, yeah it is an unbelievable dream which made her eyes to well in tears instantly. Her unclear vision slowly cleared to show Raghu who is half naked as in her dream but with no smile watching her intently.

"What?" she asked wiping her tears off and gazed around her surrounding which was dark and silent.

"Nothing, you are mumbling something in your sleep so I was looking at you," he said.

"Oh!" she sat up pushing away the bed sheets.

"Did you heard... what I said?" she cautiously uttered the words.

"No, but why you are crying?" His question made her eyes to grow wider in surprise.

"Uh... I had a bad dream.... where... I was stuck in a ghost house as a..... Cook," she tried to convince him. But he knew that wasn't the truth.

"Whatever," he stood up and moved to the balcony, the rain was pouring mercilessly. Sathya tying her hair in a bun followed him.

"It's still raining!" She exclaimed. There comes the reason to take leave, she smiled mentally.

"I think you should stay in the home," he told rubbing his nape.

"Yeah," she looked at his half-naked body. That sports physique is too much for this morning. Gulping she looked his face that was already staring at her eyes.
To avoid further awkwardness Sathya walked away to the restroom, after finishing off the morning chores she went to prepare a hot cup coffee for both of them. In-between she got a call from Bhuvan who informed that today is a day off for them.

With a satisfied smile, she folded the bedsheets and sat on the couch sipping the coffee.

"Sathya," Raghu called her name as he did in her dream. She suddenly reminisced that dream, she became perplexed by her confession. In reality, she doesn't have any kind of love like feelings for her husband. But in that dream, she really meant those words. It sounded more like reality than just a dream.