"have you packed?" I bit my lower lip, gliding my eyes through the suitcase to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything.
then I checked my handbag hurriedly. "nahi, um, can you pass me the lotion?" I asked, turning around to face him.
I was sitting on the floor, still packing my things, while he had already finished and was now sitting on the couch.
the past two days had flown by so quicklyāalmost in a blurāthat I hadn't had proper time to pack, but now, finally, I had a bit of time.
and we were leaving today.
Veer nodded and handed me the lotion. "Here." I took the small bottle and tucked it into my bag.
It was almost the start of winter, and I didn't want to risk my skin drying out until it started to shed. Zipping the bag closed, I mumbled, "thanks."
flashing a victorious smile, I stood up and grabbed my yellow saree from the bed. I was still in my nightdress, and I definitely needed a bath before we left. I had just woken up, so I hadn't had the chance to shower earlier.
after stepping into the bathroom, I untangled my ruffled hair from the bun. Opening the shower door, I turned on the faucet, shedding my clothes as I went.
setting the temperature to a mild warmth, I took my time in the shower, indulging in the soothing water for a good twenty minutes to pamper my skin.
once I was done, I wore the blouse and petticoat and walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying my wet hair.
I dropped the towel onto the dresser and pushed my hair behind my ears while looking at myself in the mirror, smoothing it out.
my eyes unknowingly flicked to Veer, who was sitting on the couch in a formal white shirt and pants.
shaking my head, I turned away and began draping the saree. Since returning home, I had started wearing sarees on my own, and it didn't really bother either of us anymore.
after pinning the last pleat in place, I moved on to my makeup. I kept it simple, applying kajal, a bindi, burgundy lipstick, and finishing with some vermilion.
grabbing my mangalsutra, I placed it around my neck and followed it with bangles on my wrists.
I wiggled my wrist to create a soft jingling sound from the bangles, just the way I liked it. Suddenly, I felt a warm presence behind me. My eyes lifted, meeting Veer's gaze through the mirror.
he leaned in, reaching for his perfumeāthe Velvet Noire one. It had notes of vanilla and black musk, a scent that suited him perfectly.
He spritzed some on either side of his neck, then dabbed some on his wrists.
"ready?" His voice whispered in my ear, sending a soft tingle down my spine.
I nodded gently, keeping my eyes locked with his through the mirror. A small smile tugged at his lips as his hand reached out and ruffled my hair smoothly.
my brows scrunched in slight annoyance, and I abruptly turned around. "Chalo," I exclaimed, running my hand through my hair to settle it back gently. He chuckled, stepping back, and grabbed his suitcase from the closet.
taking my handbag, I pulled the handle of the trolley bag and walked out of the room. Veer followed behind me, closing the door with a soft click.
I hadn't packed that much, but still, the bag weighed more than I expected, and it was hard to carry it up the stairs.
glancing back, I saw Veer standing near the railing, attending a phone call. A smile was on his face as he continued the conversation, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.
"Ve-Veer," I called out, but it was barely a whisper. However, he looked up the second I said his name, his eyes curious.
"haan?" he replied, the phone still pressed to his ear, his voice quiet as he took a step forward. My palms clenched into fists as I debated whether or not to ask him for help.
biting my inner cheek, I whispered slowly, making sure the person on the other end of the phone couldn't hear me, "Vo, can you carry my bag? Actually, it's heavy."
I hadn't packed that muchājust a few suits, sarees, my makeup, and flatsābut the weight was more than I anticipated.
his gaze shifted to the suitcase beside me before returning to my face, and then, in a subtle way, he nodded.
taking the handle of my suitcase, he motioned toward the stairs and murmured softly, "After you," a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
I nodded, turning to walk down the stairs. I took each step carefully, making sure not to trip or fall. As I reached the bottom, I saw Maa and Chachi.
"good morning, maa and chachi," I greeted with a warm smile, and as usual, maa hugged me with a sweet greeting.
"good morning, beta," maa and chachi said in unison.
their eyes flickered behind me before returning to me, both of them smiling. "looks like you've packed everything," maa teased, her tone light as she spoke. I looked back, following their gazes.
Veer was still on the phone, coming downstairs with my suitcase in one hand, holding it effortlessly. Behind him, a servant followed with his own suitcase.
"haan," I mumbled, snapping their attention back to me. They chuckled softly, and we walked to the dining area. I sat down, placing my bag to my left, where Ahaan's seat was, since he had left for New York for work.
a few minutes later, Veer came over, seeming to finish his call, and sat beside me. He picked up a paratha, about to place it on my plateāas he always does ābut I stopped him by gently touching his wrist and shaking my head in denial.
He looked at me, brow raised in confusion. "tum nahi khaogi?" he asked, placing the paratha back in the tiffin.
I took the tiffin, placing a paratha on his plate instead, and gave him a subtle smile. "actually, I'm not hungry. Tum kha lo," I said, my voice soft.
I had motion sickness, and no matter how much I tried to ignore it, it always hit me on long journeys. It irritated the hell out of me, making it hard to breathe properly, as though I might throw up at any moment.
that's why I traveled so littleābecause I couldn't enjoy a trip if the journey was uncomfortable.
Veer's face showed a slight concern before he asked, "are you sure? It's a five-hour journey." He had turned fully toward me now, practically ignoring Maa and Chachi's presence.
I glanced at maa before nodding briefly. "tum khao, I'll go help Maa," I said with a subtle smile. He looked at me, his eyes flicking back and forth between mine with a curious expression before he nodded.
on my way to the kitchen, I saw chacha coming to the dining table. "good morning, chacha Ji," I greeted, and he smiled, placing a hand on my head.
"good morning, beta. All packed?" he asked, and I nodded.
he then walked over to the dining table, and I helped Maa and Chachi serve the breakfast, even though only one person could technically do it.
Soon enough, Papa joined, and they all began eating. I sat in the living room, talking to Maa and Chachi.
"bring those sweets your Dadi mentioned. She said they're very famous there," chachi said, and maa nodded in agreement.
smiling, I replied, "Okay." The conversation continued until Veer came out after breakfast.
after putting our bags in the car, we settled in and said goodbye to the family. When we entered the highway, I placed my hand on the car screen and asked him, "music?" I wanted to distract myself to avoid feeling nauseous.
he nodded, and I played some relaxing music. Taking deep breaths, I admired the view of the city until the crowded areas faded and empty fields stretched out before us.
š¤
my sleep was broken when the car came to a halt. I looked around, then at Veer. He killed the engine and turned to face me. "Let's go," he said.
my brows furrowed in confusion as I looked around again. I was sure we hadn't reached my village yet.
glancing at him, I asked, "where? We haven't reached yet." The navigator still showed two hours left until our destination.
Instead of answering me, he stepped out of the car, circled around it, and opened my door. Leaning against the hood, he placed his forearm on the roof of the car. "To have lunch," he said, his tone casual.
absentmindedly nodding, I stepped out slowly. My eyes met his intense black ones, and that's when I realized I was standing between him and the car. He had never stepped back to give me space to stand properly.
his tall figure loomed over me, one forearm on the hood of the car and the other resting on the door. His eyes were fixed on my face, and mine were locked on his intense gaze.
my face heated up, and I blinked nervously. "chalein," I said in a low voice, inhaling a breath to calm myself.
he hummed in response, nodding, and stepped back to give me space. Clutching my phone tightly in my hand, I walked toward the first restaurant I saw, as there were plenty of them around.
I spotted a window-side table and, before stepping forward, turned around to check if he was beside me. As I did, my head collided with a firm chestāhis chest.
a small whimper escaped me, and I rubbed my forehead lightly as my eyes looked up to meet his face. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
taking a step back, I sat down in the chair, and he sat opposite me. A few beats passed before a waiter came, filling our glasses with water and handing Veer the menu.
soon, the waiter left, and I sipped from my glass, almost emptying it. There was no denying that I was hungryāI'd been feeling it since the morning, and now the hunger was almost unbearable. But I was too tired to deal with my motion sickness.
"what do you want to eat?" he asked, holding the menu in his hands.
"any thali?" he asked, and I shake my head. I didn't want any kind of roti or sabziāit would spoil my mood.
he glanced down at the menu, flipping a page. "Pav bhaji?" he suggested. Interesting, but I shook my head again and took another sip of water.
he nodded and continued searching through the menu. "Chole kulche?" he asked. I shook my head in denial. I never liked chole kulche because of the bread.
"Chole bhature?" he asked immediately, not bothering to look down at the menu. My eyes narrowed a little, but I nodded slightly.
He exhaled in relief and closed the menu. Raising his hand, he called the waiter over and placed our orderātwo plates of chole bhature.
I looked around while we waited for the food to arrive. In my mind, I kept thinking that I shouldn't eat now, or else I'd embarrass myself in front of Veer by acting like the sane person who feels nauseous on a normal road journey.
but I guess I'd die if I didn't eat now. Shaking my head, I grasped the glass and drank the last of the water.
after a few minutesāexactly twentyāour food arrived. The waiter placed the plates in front of us. Looking at the chole bhature, my mouth watered, and I swallowed the saliva that gathered in my mouth.
having no patience, I tore a bite from the fluffy bread, only to gasp as intense hot air brushed against my fingers.
"aaram se," his fingers covered mine, his voice soft. Gently, he rubbed the burning area, soothing it.
once he was done and pulled back, I murmured in a low voice, "thank you," rubbing my hand against the other.
he nodded, about to reach for the bread, but I stopped him. "Carefully, it really hurts." A subtle smile broke on his lips, and he nodded again.
I blew air on my burning fingers, waiting a few minutes before I started eating.
after we finished, he paid the bill and told me to wait in the car. I opened the door and settled inside. I adjusted the mirror, smoothing my hair and re-centering my bindi.
The other side of the car door opened, and Veer slid in with a plastic bag in his hands.
"Here, take it," he said, holding the bag between us while effortlessly buckling his seatbelt with one hand. Absentmindedly, I looked at him, then at the bag. "Huh?" I asked, taking it from his grasp.
opening it, I saw a few bottles of lime juice and some candies.
starting the car, he motioned at the bottles. "this helps with motion sickness. Drink it, and I'll keep the window open for better air," he said, turning right onto the road.
I didn't ask him how he knew about this, but I smiled and thanked him. "thanks."
I leaned back in the seat, looking out the window. Soft music filled the air as the drive resumed. My side of the window slid down on its ownāhe had opened itāand I breathed in the fresh air.
š¤
Veer turned the car to the right, onto a slightly rocky road. On either side, towering trees lined the road, and the lush greenery of farm fields stretched out behind them.
I opened the window to get a better view of the small huts scattered across the fields. A smile of amusement slid onto my lips as I realized that not much had changed since my childhood.
the sun was about to set, painting the sky in soft shades of orange, while dark rainy clouds gathered on the horizon. The cold breeze of August washed over me, sending a shiver down my spine.
a few minutes later, a drop of water touched the tip of my nose, then another landed on my cheek. Soon, the black clouds opened up and began to rain.
tiny droplets tickled my skin, and I chuckled before closing the window so I wouldn't get wet. Soon, I spotted a large pond and a havan kund beside it, marking the start of the village houses.
we passed a few houses, then a familiar one caught my attention. "The right one," I motioned to the house, and Veer turned the car, entering the gate.
Dadi's house was a bit different from the others in the village. It had a large, empty ground after the gate, and then the main house. Most of the other houses didn't have such a spacious yard or a two-story design.
stopping the car at the corner, we both stepped out. The rain had already soaked us as we walked toward the main door.
nobody was outside, except for a few kids playing in the rain. I clutched my phone tightly in one hand and held my saree with the other.
I turned around to look at Veer, but his figure was slightly blurry through the rain, my lashes wet, and the rain making it hard for me to see clearly.
we dodged some water puddles as I focused on the main door, which opened just as we approached. Dadi emerged, accompanied by a few servants.
"Dadi!" I exclaimed, rushing toward her while carefully avoiding the puddles. I enveloped her in a warm hug, not caring that my drenched saree clung to her. She kissed my cheek and asked, "kaisi hain?"
I pulled back and saw the familiar, warm smile on her wrinkled face. "ekdam acchi. Aap batao?" I blurted out, placing my hands on her shoulders.
she nodded with a smile. "main bhi ekdam acchi hoon." Her attention then drifted to Veer behind me, and she patted my arm before waving her hand toward him.
Veer stepped forward, bending down to touch her feet. Dadi placed her hand on his head and blessed him. "I'm so happy you're here," she said, her voice full of warmth. After he stood up straight, she enveloped him in a small, affectionate hug.
A subtle smile curved Veer's lips. "And I was so excited to meet you," he replied softly.
"Dadi, andar chalein?" I asked, wrapping my arms around myself to shield against the cold from the rain.
Dadi nodded before unwrapping her shaul and draping it over my shoulders. "Dekho, halat dekho, abhi bhi bheeg rahi ho," she teased, pointing at our drenched condition. I smiled awkwardly and nodded in agreement.
Holding the shaul carefully, I walked inside. The house hadn't changed much. The same hall with the same furniture, and Dadi's obsession with plants was evidentāthere were plants everywhere.
The childhood frames and wooden toys were still scattered across the house, adding to the nostalgic warmth. The earthy smell of the house was just as I remembered.
As we reached the stairs, Dadi turned to me. "Go upstairs, change, and don't catch a cold, both of you."
We both nodded, and I led Veer upstairs to my room. Holding the front of my saree, I carefully ascended the steps.
Suddenly, I felt a tug behind me, and my steps came to a halt. I turned around and looked down to find that Veer was holding the pallu of my saree.
"Kya hua?" I asked, noticing how he was holding the drenched pallu. He looked into my eyes and shook his head slightly.
"Nothing, just that your pallu was brushing the stairs."
"Ohh, ummā" I leaned to adjust the pallu, but he shook his head. "It's okay, chalo," he motioned forward.
Inhaling deeply, I turned back around and walked up the stairs. A smile tugged at my lips as I opened the door to my old room.
It had been almost three or four years since I'd last been here. Dadi always visited us in the city. Maybe getting married had done something good after allāit brought a little more joy into my life. And Iā
My smile faltered as my eyes landed on the bed. It was a full-size bed, smaller than the one in our bedroom. It could fit us, but not as comfortably as our bed at home.
We'd have to sacrifice some space between us on this bed, and that didn't seem like a good idea.
I walked to the window and placed my phone on the bed. I opened the window to look at the backyard field. The rain made the weather gloomy, and the cold breeze gave me goosebumps.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Turning around, I saw a servant standing there with our suitcases.
Veer took them from him, thanking him before walking over to me. I grabbed my suitcase and opened it. I picked out a pastel blue checkered shirt, sweatpants, and undergarments.
My saree was sticking to my body like a second skin, and I needed to take a hot bath right away.
Standing up, I glanced at Veer, who was observing the room. He eventually stood by the window. His white shirt, now slightly transparent from the rain, gave me a faint glimpse of his muscled back.
His hair was pushed back, and a few drops of water cascaded down, gliding over his neck before disappearing into the collar of his shirt.
I felt a rush of warmth and cold simultaneously, and my breath hitched slightly. Removing the shaul from my shoulders, I walked over to him. "Here," I said, extending the shaul toward him.
He lifted his head, his eyes slowly tracing up to meet mine, then shifted to my outstretched hand.
I shook it slightly, urging him to take it. "Lo," I added quietly, knowing it was cold, and by the time I finished my bath, he'd probably be chilled as well.
He hesitated for a moment, but a few seconds later, he took the shaul from my hand. I nodded when he wrapped it around himself and glanced at me. Turning, I walked into the bathroom with my clothes and took a warm bath.
After about fifteen minutes, I emerged from the bathroom, which was directly opposite the window. Gently drying my hair with a towel, I sat on the bed.
Dropping the towel beside me, I turned slightly, my back facing the window, and noticed that Veer was still standing there, his gaze fixed on me.
He studied my face for a moment, before pushing himself off the wall and walking to the bathroom to grab his clothes. Once he entered, I began applying lotion to my skin.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom, now dressed in black sweatpants and a black T-shirt that clung slightly to his biceps.
Another knock came at the door. I stood up and opened it, smiling when I saw my friend, Sneha, who had worked here with her mother since my childhood. "Hi, Sneha," I greeted her with a smile.
"Hi! Dadi was asking you both to come down for dinner," she replied, mirroring my smile. "Okay," I said, turning to Veer before glancing back at Sneha. "Chalo," I added, stepping out.
Sneha nodded and rushed downstairs. I moved forward, feeling Veer's warm presence behind me as we walked toward the stairs.
We made our way downstairs to the living hall, where we usually ate. Dadi didn't like eating at dining tables; she preferred the comfort of sitting on the floor in the living room.
Even when Dada was alive, he'd made sure that everyone ate together in the living roomābreakfast, lunch, and dinner.
"Siya!" Dadi called from the kitchen. I turned to Veer. "Tum baitho, I'll help Dadi," I said, gesturing to the couch. He nodded and sat down, while I walked into the kitchen. "Haan, Dadi?" I asked as I entered.
"Here," she said, handing me a plate full of dal bati and churma. My nose scrunched slightly as I looked at it. I never liked batiāit tasted like uncooked flour to me.
"Aise mat dekho, Aaj toh yeh khana hi padega," Dadi said in a slightly stern tone, adding a generous amount of ghee on top of the dal.
"Dadi, please, yeh nahi, baki kuch aur kha loongi," I pleaded. I could easily fill my stomach with rice and dal, but not with dal bati.
Every time dal bati was served, the servants would make some rice for me, knowing how much I disliked it since childhood.
Dadi shook her head. "No rice today. I didn't let them make it. Now jao," she waved her hand, gesturing for me to leave.
I whined but turned around to leave. Then, I stopped abruptly. "Then where's my plate?" I asked, realizing I hadn't seen any other plates of food.
"Ek hi plate mein khana hai," she replied, firmly holding my shoulders and turning me back around, pushing me toward the living room. Annoyed by the idea of eating the dreaded bati, I stomped back into the living room.
I placed the plate on the carpet and sat down, folding my legs. "Dadi said we'll eat from the same plate," I murmured, feeling awkward.
We'd never eaten from the same plate before. Maybe I could sneak in another plate when Dadi wasn't looking.
I was about to stand up when Veer sat down in front of me. "Okay," he said, his voice unexpectedly husky. The familiar scent of sandalwood filled the air.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then nodded in response. He started eating, and I sat there, contemplating how I'd manage to eat this without offending him.
Biting my inner cheek, I absentmindedly poked my finger in the bati. Veer continued eating in silence, but then his gaze flickered to my side of the plate. I hadn't taken a single biteājust poked the bati around.
He observed me for a few more seconds before gently removing the soft part of the bati from my side and placing the harder, outer piece on my portion.
He added a few bites to my side, murmuring softly, "Eat these." His eyes lifted to meet mine.I nodded, still debating whether biting my inner cheek might be better than eating this.
But finally, I took a bite of the first piece, dipping it gently into the dal. The crunchy, cooked bati cracked in my mouth, the flavor mixing with the spicy dal.
Veer hummed, pleased to see me eating, and resumed his own meal. A few minutes later, Dadi came to check if we needed more food.
We both declined, finishing our plates. She left to send someone to walk over the fields, since the rain had stopped.
After eating, I took the plate back to the kitchen and returned to the living room to sit on the couch.
We sat in comfortable silence until Dadi came back and started a conversation about our plans to tour the temples.
š¤
"walk pe chalein?" His voice reached my ears, and I turned around to look at him. His face was relaxed, his hair slightly ruffled in a messy, endearing way.
It was 11:30 at night. We had returned from the living room about an hour ago, and we had been doing nothing since.
Well, he had been doing nothing. I'd done my skincare routine, applied some eye cream, and was scrolling through my phone.
"Haan, chalo," I answered with a nod, which he mirrored. Placing my phone on the side table, I walked toward the door, and he followed me.
But as I stepped out, my steps came to a sudden halt when I realized there would be puddles outside. Wearing normal flats wouldn't save me from getting soaked.
Turning abruptly, I nearly collided with Veer's hard, muscled chest for the second time that day.
His brow raised in a silent question, looking down at me.
"Vo, let me wear crocs," I blurted out, and hurriedly grabbed my crocs from the bag, quickly putting them on. "Hmm, ab chalo," I said, standing in front of him with a happy smile.
I was now a few inches taller thanks to the crocs, and my head reached just about his ears. I think I'll wear crocs at home from now on.
He nodded and walked out, pushing a few stray locks of hair behind my ear as he passed. I followed him, closing the door behind us. Turning, I descended the stairs and took a left, where Veer had gone.
As I jumped off the last step, a shriek escaped me. "Veeerr!" I yelped, throwing open the nearest door and hiding behind it.
My eyes were fixed on the slightly intimidating creatureāa healthy, dark brown dogāstaring at me through the mesh of the door.
I glanced left and right, finding Veer standing nearby with his hands shoved in his pockets. His eyes flickered between me and the dog, and then a soft chuckle escaped him as he shook his head.
"Bhagao ise," I whined, shaking the door in a futile attempt to get the dog to leave. The dog flinched, showing his teeth, and I turned back to Veer, scrunching my brows and tilting my head slightly.
"Khud hi chala gaya vo. Bahar aao," he said, biting the inside of his cheek as if trying to control his laughter.
I opened the door and stepped out, crossing my arms over my chest, and gave him a pointed look. "It's not funny," I said, though I could see the slight curve on his lips that told me otherwise.
Inhaling deeply, I began walking fast toward the main door. His soft chuckle echoed in the quiet night air, and soon it felt like his presence was right beside me.
I tried to dodge the puddles, but deliberately stepped on a few, just to splash some water onto his feet. He skillfully avoided them and smiled.
Our steps slowed as we walked across the fields, the night air cool against our skin.
"How come you're afraid of dogs when you have one at home?" he asked, breaking the silence. I turned to look at him. His hands were still shoved in his pockets, and his eyes were on my face.
"Having a pet doesn't mean the fear of dogs will vanish," I replied with a shrug. "I still have that fear, but I just don't feel it around the one I have."
Veer raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, when did you get him?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly with the laughter he was holding back.
I tugged absentmindedly at the hem of my sleeve, remembering the day I decided to get a dog. "Three years ago."
"Oh," he nodded thoughtfully, I twist the fabric under my fingers. "He gave me the comfort I needed the most at that time," I added, looking at him.
Veer smiled, his eyes on the road beneath us. "He's a lovable dog."
I turned fully toward him, slowing my pace as I spoke. "He is a lovable dog, but let me tell you, he's very clumsy.
He breaks things while playing, digs holes in the dirt, and disturbs my sleep early in the morning. The foodā" I smiled as I continued, "āyes, he likes to eye my food a lot."
Veer laughed, a teasing glint in his eyes. "But you know what he likes to do the most?" I asked, raising an eyebrows, leaning a bit.
He shook his head, still smiling. "What?"
I widened my eyes, imitating Bruno's look. "He gives me his cute puppy eyes like this, whenever he does something bad."
I exaggerated the look, and at the sight of my face, Veer laughed again and ruffled my hair before walking ahead.
I quickly fixed my hair and hurried to catch up with him, matching his pace. As we walked, I glanced at him and then pointed toward the bridge ahead.
"Oh, look, I used to come here to play with my cousins," I said, my voice brightening. The small bridge connected two large fields, with a tiny stream flowing beneath it.
"Quite interesting," he murmured.
A yawn escaped me as I sat down on the small boundary of the bridge. Shaking my head to fight off the sleepiness, I tried to stay alert.
Keeping my gaze on the clear sky, I asked, "You tell me, when did you get Bella?" Saying her name reminded me of how she had bitten me two days ago. I still felt a slight sting whenever I applied lotion there.
I blinked several times, struggling to keep my eyes open. "Three years ago," he answered, and I turned my head to look at him.
I scrunched my brows, observing him curiously. "Never thought you'd be a cat person," I mumbled, looking back at the sky.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "Why?" he asked.
I tried to think of an answer, but my brain felt too sleepy to come up with one. I muffled another yawn and shrugged.
"No reason, just what I thought," I murmured. My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, making it harder to stay awake.
My eyes fluttered shut, but I jerked them open againāhad I fallen asleep? Veer's voice cut through the quiet night.
"Hmm, I saw a very feisty cat three years ago, which made me get one," he said, his voice now more relaxed.
I nodded briefly, still fighting sleep. I kept my eyes closed, thinking it might help me stay awake.
"But just so you know, I likedā" His voice trailed off, but I couldn't hear him anymore, as my eyes finally drifted completely shut, and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
š¤
I felt a slight movement, as if I were floating, and then my body jerked with a sudden lift. My eyes flew open.
That's when I saw a veiny hand under my knees and another under my back. I peeked at my surroundings, trying to regain my senses.
I remembered sitting with Veer, talking, and thenāthen I must have fallen asleep. From the surroundings, it was clear we were near our house, which meant he'd carried me from the fields back home.
Biting my lower lip, I thought to myself; Should I look up and say, 'Thank you, you can put me down now?' Or should I just pretend to be asleep and let him figure it out on his own?
Or maybe I could stay like this and just continue pretending to sleepābecause it would be super embarrassing if he found out I'd fallen asleep like this while we were still talking.
So, before he could realize I was awake, I closed my eyes again and gently rested my head against his chest. The soft sound of payal jingling echoed in the air.
"Where did you go at this hour?" Dadi's voice came from nearby. She must have been out for something because at this hour, the whole village would typically be asleep.
I felt him stop in front of her. "Walk pe," he said gently.
"And she fell asleep," Dadi added with a hint of a smile in her voice. I felt his eyes on me then, scanning every corner of my face.
Heat crept onto my cheeks, and I leaned further into his chest to hide my faceāif that was even possible.
He chuckled softly, his chest vibrating against my head. "And she fell asleep," he repeated, confirming Dadi's words. I inhaled a deep breath, still pretending my best to sleep.
A beat of silence passed before Dadi spoke again, and her words made my heart race. "She's happy with you, Veer."
My hands itched to soothe my racing heart. Her words were so simple, yet they made me feel something unexpected. But I remained still, my head resting against his chest, pretending to be asleep.
Once I relaxed a bit, I realized that the rapid beating of my heart wasn't the only one I could hear. There was a faint thump, thump, thump echoing beneath my earāhis heartbeat.
I squeezed my eyes shut more tightly to try to block it out, but it only seemed to get louder. I felt his fingers tighten around me slightly, and then he said in a low voice, "Thanks."
Oh god, this was so awkward. How do you respond to something like that when there aren't any actual feelings involved?
"Now go sleep. Kal mandir jaana hai," Dadi said, stifling a yawn. I imagined Veer nodding. "Good night, Dadi," he said, and Dadi wished him back, "Good night, beta."
Then I heard the soft fading sound of her payal as she walked away. I mentally relaxed, and so did Veerābecause I could practically hear him exhale a deep breath.
Then, he started walking again, carefully taking steps as he somehow opened the door with me still in his arms.
I felt the soft mattress beneath me, which I assumed was him placing me on the bed. I did my best to continue pretending to be asleep as I stirred and turned on my side, placing one hand under my cheek, relaxing my eyes.
His rough fingers brushed against my foot, making me curl my toes under the crocs. But soon, he gently removed them one by one and then covered me with the duvet.
A sudden rush of hot breath tickled the top of my head, and then I felt him slide a few loose strands of hair behind my ear gently.
"Good night, Siya," he whispered softly against my forehead.
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