The Corporate Monster ✅

I G N I T E D

The sun shined through the window, spraying its light on the two sleeping couple. Tucked in between, and hidden away from the sun's harsh rays, Aruvi was curled around her father. The girl had sneaked in during the middle of the night, creeping in between after she had finally put her hyperactive brothers to sleep.

Groggily opening her eyes, Krithi woke up to find a handsome man sleeping next to her. She was almost frightened, but her breathing calmed when she received a flashback from the depths of her brain, ensuring her that it was only her husband. She sighed in relief, and found her daughter hugging her father to sleep. Aniket had his heavy arm on his wife's waist, and cocooned Aruvi's head in the bridge of his neck.

She caressed the high cheekbones of his face, his eyelids, the tips of his lips. Her fingers over over his goofy ears, the only part of his face that hadn't changed, when Aniket awoke from his deep slumber. Even though they were sleeping on the cold, rugged floor, he felt like he had the best sleep in forever.

His eyes opened to find deep dark brown eyes staring back at him, a smile etching on the corners of her round eyes. "Morning, beautiful" He chirped, pulling his wife closer. He then noticed his little girl whimpering in protest, choked between the two of them. Krithi chuckled, moving away from him while Aniket looked above at the ceiling as if he was questioning God if why he was making him suffer.

"Morning. Mr.goofball." She greeted back, jumping up on her toes. Encircling the two of them, she bent down, pressing a soft kiss onto Aniket's cheek. As she moved away from him, Aniket caught her pudgy wrists, hurling her body into his own. Krithi fell on top, breathing heavily upon him. "I have to check on Maran." She complained. "If he wakes up, he'll disturb Jai."

"I don't understand why didn't name them similarly."

"It'd be weird. I wanted them to have their own uniqueness and not conform to the societal standards on how twins should be." She argued, still trying to escape from his arms. Now that he finally had her, he was reluctant to let go of what was rightfully his.

"What's Jai's full name?" He asked. It was absurd that he was learning his own children's names though his wife, but not only was he curious, he wanted his wife in his arms. He didn't want to let go of her, period.

"It's just Jai, Aniket. I'm kinda out of breath. I'd like to have my air back, mister." She wailed.

Pursing his lips, Aniket released Krithi with some reluctance, curling up to Aruvi after his wife escaped the room.

Feeling lost, he scrambled off the floor and made his way into the washroom to freshen up. While he showered, he thought about the plan his wife and he made the former night. He didn't really agree with her strategies, but he arguments were valid. Both of them agreed on one thing, however, and that was the reason why they had chosen to go with Krithi's plan collectively. They wanted to lead a peaceful life after all they had been through, and it was time they settled down and extinguished their burning conflicts.

Hopping out of the shower enthusiastically, the man wrapped himself in a towel. It was hanging off his hips loosely by the time Krithi laid eyes on him. His shirt had been torn apart by Krithi and his pants had soaked in blood. It wasn't his blood, so he didn't care. Although his bruises weren't hurting him too much after his well-rested night, he was filming a plan in his head where he could fake injuries in front of Krithi. He had never acted for attention before. He had always earned it wherever he went with his calm demeanor and powerful, attractive looks.

"Ouch." He faked, while he limped out of the bathroom. Krithi raised her eyebrows, but went to his aid nonetheless. Although she suspected how a man in pain had showered without help, she didn't complain, enjoying the time she could set her sights on his bare body.