Maybe In Another Life | ✓

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"No thanks," Muktha said as he backed away, shrugging his shoulders.

•*•~•*•

"I was on a business trip with my boss, and I was completely preoccupied. That is the only reason I did not answer your calls. I went to the mall to get something and noticed Barkha's car," Rohit said as he sat beside me.

It is evening now that we are back at home. Bhaiya is preparing dinner, and we are catching up. Muktha is playing with the children; for some reason, she is strange around Rohit.

"I missed you," he said, squeezing me into a side hug and kissing the side of my head.

He has always been this way. I have seen him make people feel at ease around him since the first time I met him.

"Um, what is going on? Did you just kiss my wife?" We all turned to look at Rudra, Sumit, and Rahul, who were all staring at the guy next to me.

"We were just talking," I explained as I smiled at them. He took off his suit jacket and folded his sleeves as if getting ready to fight.

"Move," he said, glaring at Rohit, who went to sit on the floor next to Barkha.

I shake my head at him with a slight smile on my face. He sits next to me, his sides brushing against mine. He glares at Rohit, leans down, and bitterly whispers. "I do not like this guy."

"You just met him, and he did not even do anything," I remarked, astounded by his dislike for Rohit.

"He was near you, and that is enough for me to hate him," he said, meeting my gaze.

Is he getting jealous?

"Are you jealous of him?" I teasingly said, bumping my shoulder into his, but I stopped smiling when his expression changed to serious and he leaned in to my ear.

"Yes. He was close to you; he kissed you, and his hands were too close to you for my liking. So, darling, I am jealous," he said quietly, lightly brushing his lips against my ear, making me shiver.

"And my darling, I request that you maintain your distance. I am not saying you should not talk to him or anything. I simply do not want him and his hands to get too close to you. Can you do that for me?" He speaks slowly and calmly.

I turned to face him and found myself nodding, and his entire face lit up and his lips curled into a dazzling grin. My stomach flutters, my heart races, and my breath catches in my throat.

He actually grinned.

Not just with the slight smile that forms when the corner of his mouth turns up; rather, with a genuine grin that causes his lips to stretch and expose his brilliant white teeth. It emphasises the smile lines around his mouth and wrinkles around his eyes.

I shook my head lightly to stop myself from staring at his lips.

He leaned back, wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and asked, "Anyway, how long do you intend to stay here?"

"I am not sure; maybe until tomorrow. If you want, you should return home," I advised him. He must be missing the comfort of his bed rather than sleeping on a couch.

"I am home, darling. My home is wherever you are." He spoke with sincerity, and there was something glimmering in his eyes that I could not place.

As he drew me in closer, my heart started to beat quickly as his lips lightly kissed my cheek. I am supposed to be angry at him, but here I am, leaning back into his arms.

"Uhh- ahm," someone cleared their throat, and I opened my eyes to see everyone staring at me. I seem to forget about my surroundings when he is close to me.