Part : 12
Priya tossed in her bed trying to get some sleep. Ram's words of proposal kept echoing in her mind so loudly. She felt his presence everywhere. She got up and looked around and saw him sitting near her bed end. She crawled up to him and snuggled to his chest. He threw his arms around her protecting her. She felt secure. He gently cradled her like a baby. She felt tired, she felt worn out, but she felt warm. She felt that she was completed. His peculiar fragrance filled her nostrils. She moved herself closer. Her eyelids were heavy and they closed, he patiently cradled her without speaking a word. She drifted off to a deep slumber.
Priya woke up in the morning. She realized she was sleeping in near the end of the bed, cuddled up in her sheet. She got up and let her mind recollect what happened. All she could remember was, Ram gently cradling her in his arms. Everything else seemed blank. There was no sign of him in the room. "Am I imagining things?" she thought. Her head felt like spinning. She took some water and gulped them, she felt sick. She felt herself going mad. "Was he her or not?" she asked herself, but she was not able to get any reply. She decided to keep it away from her brain. Today was her competition, she was not yet sure what to cook. She opened her laptop and browsed some dishes. She felt a sudden excitement in knowing that Ram would taste her food for the first time today. Her papa always said she cooked well. Her heart danced in the thought of Ram praising her cooking. Her phone buzzed. She took and read the message "Hello madam..! Can you open the door..Ram" she read it. "Ok so door locked, and I thought I slept in his arms the whole night" she said herself. She felt idiotic. She closed her laptop and left to the door.
Ram stood with a tray full of food. His face was half hidden. "Ram are you ok?" she asked. "Hi aunty" the small boy called from below to gain her attention. He was carrying a tray with coffee mugs "Well so my champ is also here..! Come in" Priya opened the door wide for them. "Good morning Priya" ram greeted. She smiled at him. She felt uneasy to see him. The last night event was popping in her mind. Ram set the tray on the table "Priya you must be hungry, so I thought we three can have breakfast here" he smiled. "That's great" she replied. The small boy settled himself in one of the chairs and waited for them. Ram filled three plates with food and gave them. "Uncle we both will have a competition who eats first" the boy said. "Well no one can beat me in a food competition, you can ask aunty" Ram winked. Priya smiled and nodded. "Oh but aunty said me your weak, that's why you proposed yesterday" the boy asked. Ram looked at Priya confused. "Well yes, Ram tomorrows competition is for brave person right" she said. Ram caught her hint and made up. They all had their breakfast. "Uncle I will get my ball and come then we can play" the boy suggested. "Yes champ of course we can, and uncle is in mood to play so we can " Ram smiled. The boy ran out.
Suddenly Priya felt hyper aware of his presence, the fact that they both were alone in a room ringed in her heart. She looked at him; he was cleaning the plates and keeping them in the tray. Once he finished, he looked up at her and saw her starring at him. He raised one brow "What's it?" he asked. "Nothing" she whispered. He looked at her for a second and pulled his chair to her. "What did you say the boy yesterday" he asked slowly. She felt difficult in answering him; his proximity was a great distraction. "I didn't tell anything" she managed. "You said I am weak, and that's why I proposed there right?" he asked. "OMG..! Where is he taking this?" she thought. "NO Ram I didn't tell anything I just said coz.." he kept his finger over her lips. Her heart beats rose, she felt hard to breath "Not now" she kept telling in her heart. "Answer me this, whom do you think I proposed yesterday?" he asked. His eyes were fixed on her. "Ram..." she stammered, she felt herself sweating badly. He took a tissue from the side and bought it near her face. She closed her eyes "Why is he making things so tough?" she thought. She waited for the tissue to touch her, but no. She opened her eyes and saw him hiding a smiled. "What's it?" she asked. "come-on relax, wipe them away" he held the tissue to her. She took and wiped her face. He sighed and pulled his chair a little more closely. "so I guess we were speaking something" he smiled. She gave a weak smiled back .her phone rang. She picked it up and thanked all Gods for saving her from what she was about to face. He snatched the phone and cut the call. He didn't seem tensed. He seemed relaxed. He was smiling warmly, which made her feel more tensed. "It can wait" he said. He went close to her. "Whom do you think I proposed Priya?" he asked. his breath was nearly fanning her face.
