One fell. One Found.

13.5. Ranveer and Ekantika

At the gala,

What is wrong with her? Seriously? I need to get her checked because for the last two hours, 34 minutes and 17 seconds, from the time i picked her up from the hotel, I've received no sarcastic comment, no taunt, no comeback. It's feels like I'm talking to a wall but a very very very beautiful one albeit.

She is wearing a deep green evening dress that has a halter neck. It wraps her waist perfectly and then flats down to her feet which are clearly elevated because she is almost reaching my nose. She is looking gorgeous but distant. I was hoping for her to shut up but now that she has it feels weird. It's like I want her to fight with me. Which I don't. I hate that she's smiling at everybody except me. I hate how everyone gets to see that beautiful face that became divine the moment her lips curl up.

She has been the perfect definition of a mafia wife tonight. She was polite, courteous, gorgeous and I lent which is how majority of the men's her like their wives to be but I never did. Then why did I have the same expectation from her? And now that she is behaving like that, why am I getting irritated?

As another stunning blonde passes by me, worrying to get my attention, I try attempting a smile but I can't because somehow I can't take my eyes off my gorgeous wife who is also smiling and complementing every woman I'm flirting with.

Where are the comments, the taunts? Where is her fire? Why is she acting like that?

Back the hotel,

I grumpily sat down on the couch while she changed her clothes. Honestly, tonight was everything I wanted theoretically but somehow when I saw that in practicality, it seemed awkward. Over the course of the last three weeks, I had come to like her presence. For the first time, in a a very very long time, I felt happy bantering for no reason. Fighting that won't end bloody. A fight that I won't mind losing but most of all fighting with her give me some time to spend with her. I hate that she acted normal today but other men eyeing her was anything but normal for me. I know it's hypocritical but I like her.

She came out with her hair damp and dressed in a heart patterned night suit. She was too focused on drying her hair and didn't see me sitting p.

"Why were you like that, tonight?" I asked which clearly frightened her.

I stumbled back with a hand on her chest and let out a deep sigh.

"God! Ranveer, a warning please. And what do you mean by like that?" She asked.

"Like that as in so...complacent. No comments, no judgement? What happened? Have you fallen in love with me or something?" I asked with a smirk.

"How long are you going to use these sexual innuendos and unrealistic situations as a defence mechanism?" She asked nonchalantly as she continued to apply serum onto her hair.

"What do you mean?" The smirk wiped off my face.

"What I mean is that you use such comments to shut the other person up not because that's who you are. Sure, you're playful but you are not so overly sexual. You're waiting for me to become uncomfortable so that I break which honestly is exhausting for both sides." She said. Since when did she become so observant? And it wasn't true. What ever she said. I don't do;that do that. That's just who I am.

"I know what you're thinking. I know you'll deny this because that's the better alternative than being a person who cares when it's not. The real you was the one who chatted with over a cup of tea the other day. The one who did his sister's hair when her hands hurt. The one that helped his brother out at school when he was in trouble. The one that loves his mother unconditionally. That is you. I don't understand why you try to deny the beautiful person you actually are and hide behind a facade that makes you look like a maniac. Every time you start feeling close to me, you don't need to push me away by flirting with other women because I am never going to let you get that close. This is the maximum I can give you, friendship and if you don't want that, then I can be whoever I want to in private and be the plastic doll that you saw today in public. I have my life, my work, my sister and I am perfectly content because it is more than I could've ever asked for. But Ranveer, ask yourself, is this all you want? Do you want to realm the person who cracks uncomfortable and self-deprecating jokes when out in a spot? Stop avoiding things and start facing them because the sooner you do, the sooner you'll be able to open yourself up to love. And this is not me judging you or taunting you. This is me looking out for you as friend, nothing more, nothing less."

With that she left and the noise of the hairdryer filled the room and I was left to marinate in her words.

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