The drive home was quiet. Peaceful.
For the first time in weeks, my heart wasn't pounding in fear.
Kruti sat beside me, her head resting against the window, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. The hospital had discharged her in the morning, and now, after an entire day of medical instructions and check-ups, we were finally heading home.
Our home.
She still looked weak. Her face was paler than usual, her movements slower, but she was alive.
And that was enough.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
I never wanted to experience that fear again.
Almost losing her, watching her bleed, hearing her gasping for breathâ
I swallowed hard, shaking off the thoughts.
Focus. She was here now. That was all that mattered.
When we pulled into the driveway, I turned to her. "Do you need me to carry you inside?"
Kruti blinked at me. Then smirked.
"Wow," she said, placing a hand over her chest. "Are you actually offering?"
I rolled my eyes. "Forget it."
She giggled and unbuckled her seatbelt. "No, no, carry me! I want my husband to carry me inside like a newlywed bride."
I sighed. "You have legs, Kruti."
"Yes, but you have arms, dev."
I stared at her, unimpressed.
She grinned and held out her arms. "Come on, grumpy professor. Make my dreams come true."
I exhaled through my nose before getting out of the car. As soon as I reached her side, she gasped dramatically and stretched her arms toward me.
I shook my head, bent down, and lifted her in my arms.
She let out a satisfied hum, resting her head against my chest. "You're such a good husband."
I scoffed. "You just like bossing me around."
She giggled, tightening her hold on me.
I carried her inside, gently setting her down on the couch. She sighed in content, grinning at me as if I had just done something heroic.
I rolled my eyes again. "Stay here. I'll make you something to eat."
"Wow." She gasped. "You're cooking for me?"
I shot her a flat look. "Don't make me regret it."
She laughed, leaning back against the couch. "I want aloo paratha!"
"Kruti. It's afternoon."
She pouted, "so? Do you want to see your little wife suffering?"
I shook my head and walked to the kitchen.
The house was silent except for the soft clinking of utensils.
Kruti sat on the couch, a warm blanket wrapped around her, a plate of hot aloo paratha and paneer curry in front of her. She took small bites, chewing slowly, her tired eyes scanning me every now and then.
I sat beside her, leaning back against the couch, watching.
For once, not out of irritation.
Not out of frustration.
But out of something softer. Something deeper.
She noticed, of course. She always did.
Raising an eyebrow, she swallowed a bite and tilted her head. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
I shrugged, looking away, but not before she caught the flicker of emotion in my eyes.
She smiled. "What?"
I shook my head. "Eat."
She huffed but went back to her food, tearing off a small piece of paratha and dipping it into the paneer curry. I watched as she brought it to her lips, savoring the taste before sighing happily.
"Mmm. This is actually good," she mumbled, chewing. "Who made it?"
I deadpanned. "Who do you think?"
Her lips twitched. "No way. You?"
I exhaled. "Kruti. You say that every time I make food."
"Soooo? It's lovely"
She grinned, taking another bite. "That my grumpy professor actually know how to cook?"
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Shocking, I know."
She giggled. A small, soft sound.
Something inside me warmed.
She took another bite, then suddenly paused, glancing at me before tearing off a piece of paratha and dipping it into the curry.
"Here." She held it up to me.
I frowned. "I'm not hungry."
She rolled her eyes. "Dev, just eat."
I shook my head. "You need to finish your food."
She sighed dramatically. "Fine."
Then, before I could react, she shoved the food into my mouth.
I blinked, startled. "Krutiâ"
She smirked, watching as I chewed reluctantly. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
I exhaled through my nose, chewing slowly.
It was good. Annoyingly good.
She looked way too smug. "You're such a good boy, Dev."
I choked. "What?"
She laughed, patting my head. "A very, very good boy."
I groaned. "Kruti, stop."
She grinned, pinching my cheek. "But you are."
I grabbed her wrist, narrowing my eyes. "You're pushing it."
She stuck her tongue out at me, giggling as she pulled her hand back.
I sighed, shaking my head, but... I didn't stop staring.
I wasn't sure what it was.
The way she laughed. The way she looked at me.
The way she made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore.
For so long, I had forgotten what it was like to be loved. To be cared forânot because someone had to, but because they wanted to.
Kruti... She did that.
She made me feel wanted.
Needed.
Like I was more than just a grumpy professor with too many walls.
She made me feel like I was actually worth something.
I didn't know how to handle that.
So, instead, I exhaled and muttered, "You're annoying."
She giggled. "And you're soft."
I groaned. "Kruti."
She grinned. "Dev."
I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything.
Silence settled between us. A comfortable one.
She finished her food, pushing the plate away, then sighed happily, stretching her arms. "That was good."
I hummed, watching as she leaned back against the couch, her eyes fluttering.
She was tired.
I could see it in the way her body relaxed, the way her breathing slowed.
Without thinking, I shifted closer. "You should rest."
She hummed. "Mmm. But I don't want to move."
I hesitated for a moment, then did something I never thought I would.
I lay down, resting my head on her lap.
She stiffened. "Dev?"
I closed my eyes. "Shut up."
Silence.
Then, a soft chuckle.
She ran her fingers through my hair, her touch gentle, absentminded.
"You're really something, you know that?" she whispered.
I hummed. "So I've been told."
She giggled, her fingers tracing light circles on my temple. "Who knew my professor husband could be so clingy?"
I sighed. "Kruti."
She smiled, not saying anything.
Just stayed.
And for the first time in years... I felt loved.