Chapter 48: chapter 48

GOWRIThe morning sun rays touch my face and I frown at the light. My bed shifts as someone sits and I take my pillow and put it on my face to shut the light that is disturbing my sleep.“Sweetheart,” a soft voice calls. “Good morning. Time to rise and shine.”I take the pillow away in irritation to glare at my mom but I am met with a pair of eyes that sees through me. Shiva. What the hell is he doing in my room? Yesterday night comes back and I rise from my bed.My bed. How did I end up here? I was sleeping on the floor. Did I climb back in the bed during the night ti-“Bed coffee,” Shiva tells bringing a cup of hot streaming coffee to my face. The smell makes my stomach grumble in hunger.“Kadavulae, is there no one else to witness this topsy-turvy scene,” my father says from the doorway. “Gowri, you should be the one waking up Shiva with a cup of coffee and not the other way round.”Then giving Shiva a pointed look he says, “Come on, Shiva, you can’t spoil her like this.”Shiva gives him a chuckle and says his eyes fixed on me, “What can I do uncle? I am a total goner for your daughter.”My father shakes his head but gives him an approving smile and tells, “Ok, now I am going. Do whatever romance you want with the door closed.” My father pulls the door close and I hear his footsteps fade. I look at Shiva. He is wearing fresh clothes and he smells of soap.“How did I end up on the bed?” I ask. “I didn’t climb it during the night out of habit, right?”“No, I lifted you and placed you on the bed after waking up. I wanted to open the door and I figured if you were lying down on the floor when I open it, your parents might get suspicious.”I stare at him. He FREAKING lifted me and I didn't wake up. That cannot be true. A little disturbance is enough for me to wake me up. But my whole sleep place was changed and I didn't wake up. How could have tha-“Drink the coffee, else it will get cold,” he tells.“I have not yet brushed my teeth,” I protest.“There is a reason the coffee is called ‘bed coffee’. Drink now,” he tells chuckling.🍀🍀🍀🍀Water drops from my long hair as I dry it from the hair wash. One of the biggest retribution of having long hair is that it is heavy maintenance. Maybe I should cut it short but for some reason, I love my long hair. So, nope, no matter how big the maintenance is I will endure it.“Love, we will-” Shiva's voice wavers as he seizes me up. His eyes hover over my long hair which is partially dry and partially wet. I clear my throat and he looks away shaking his head. His cheeks turn pink. He is mesmerized by my hair. Most people have that look when I wear it open but it is been a long time since I let it loose that I forgot how people used to gawk at it.“We will what?” I ask trying to hide a smirk. But his irritated look tells me that I failed terribly at it.He looks at me but his eyes fasten on my hair again. “We will start for my mother's house after breakfast,” he says coming near to me. I straighten and he stops at a distance of one foot between us. If I wanted I could have stepped back but nope I am standing grounded to the spot. Our eyes meet and there is a playful twinkle in his eyes. I gulp down as his eyes again roam over my hair intensely. A teasing smile tugs at his lips as he brings his hand toward me. I hold my breath as his finger glide softly over my hair in a delicate touch. My heart pounds wildly as he slowly leans down and whispers in a deep voice, “You have soft and smooth hair.”My cheeks warm with his compliment. It is a usual compliment I get from people. But somehow hearing it from him is different.   My body heats up. When I look up his eyes are teasing and Damn it, he knows what his compliment does to me. He leans even closer and his breath tickles my neck and I will myself not to close my eyes as he whispers, “You look beautiful.”OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! I AM DYING! Someone call an ambulance. I am having a heart attack. This is the first time I am receiving a compliment from him about how I look and honestly I feel like flying in the sky. Yes, I know, I should not let a man's compliment affect me this much but this is Shiva we are speaking about. He has never shown any interest in me from day one. Oh God! Why is this becoming difficult for me? Why can't Shiva be a cold man who calls me a ‘gold digger’ so that it would become easy for me to despise him? If he keeps invading my personal space and keeps speaking in that low deep voice of his then soon I am going to lose my mind and do something stupid that I would regret later.🍀🍀🍀🍀We are on our way to my MIL's house. After breakfast, we left my parents' house. I feel relieved that we have impressed my parents with our acting skills. I am more confident about my acting skills now. “So, how well did you sleep on the floor?” asks Shiva reducing the radio volume.“Very well,” I tell. “How did you sleep….” On my bed? I add silently in my head.“Slept like a log,” he replies turning around a corner and stopping before the house I remember.Only once I had come here and it was on my wedding day. Memories of how I felt about Shiva when we were here the first time tumble down my memory lane.I hated and despised Shiva the last time we were here but now I am attracted to him. “Isn’t it funny how fast we judge and misunderstand people?” Shiva asks. “I hated you on our wedding day.”“The feeling was mutual,” I tell with a smile. He gives me an amused smile.“I am glad. But what about now?”“Now?”“Do you still hate me?”“Do you?”“Nope. I don't.”“Again the feelings are mutual,” I tell with a chuckle.We get out of the car. This house is three times bigger than my parents’ house. It is beautifully painted in different shades. My MIL comes out with an aarti plate.What is with the elders welcoming us with aarthi plates?Nithya follows Savitri aunty with Arun in her arms. Both the women– well sorry in this case the woman and girl freeze at the sight of Shiva. They blink their eyes a few times at him. I look at my side but no Shiva has not grown two horns. Then why are they giving him that look? It takes me a few seconds to realize they were used to the bearded Shiva and that this clean-shaven one is new and different to them. Nithya’s eyes go wide when Shiva flashes her a grin. She squeals and runs inside with Arun. Oh yes! She was used to his cold shoulder attitude that she is surprised at his grin.“Why did you scare that poor girl with your grin?” I ask as my MIL takes aarti.“I don't  think my grin is that scary,” he tells and then flashes it again at his mother and asks deadpanning, “Ma, is it scary?”Savitri aunty’s eyes show surprise but she recovers quickly and flashes her own grin and says, “Too bright. I think I might need a sunglass.”Shiva chuckles and we enter the house, I place my hand on his bicep and stop him. He gives me a questioning look.“Shiva, I think you owe your sisters an apology for your stupid behaviour,” I tell.“Are you a mind reader?” he asks startled. “I was just thinking the same but thanks for telling. I am a bit scared about it.”“Ah, come on, they are your sisters. There is nothing to be afraid of them.”“I guess so but you never know my sisters,” he tells with a shudder.🍀🍀🍀🍀