A sudden silence of shock took over at the dinner table as Shivaay announced that they'd be moving to the mansion in two days.
"Shivaay. It's not possible. There is so much packing yo be done. Oh no oh no. It will take at least a week to get everything in order." Pinky declared unhappy with Shivaay's idea.
"Mom. Relax. I have everything arranged. The movers and packers will be here and all you have to do is supervise them. Of required you can call for extra helpers. Mansion will be ready completely by tomorrow. Shiya is working on whatever changes you wanted. Everything is perfect." Shivaay explained.
"But -"
"Mom!"
Anika simply stared at him. Alright it was there home. But this was hers. Ever since the wedding she had been here. This was her home. The thought of going away from here to a new place tormented her. With his every decision she found her annoyance growing. Fine- he had memories there his childhood and what not. But he had memories here too. They had memories. Was it so easy for him to leave behind this place?
Of course.
When Pinky couldn't convince him, she tried. She wanted time - time to be here. She was so attached to everything. The dogs, the neighborhood, the room, memories of her early days of marriage everything was here.
"Shivaay, it's not possible. " she said slowly. He looked up at her immediately. "I mean, packing personal belongings, wardrobe, and what not. Mumma is right. "
"Anika, I have everything planned. There will be a special team for all that. You and mom have to just take care of the jewelry, and lockers that's it. Now that's not more than a quarter day's job is it?"
Anika fell silent. Fine, he had decided. How did it matter what other opinion was? She had suddenly lost the appetite to eat. She however continued and finished what was inner plate.
* * *
She was standing in the balcony of her bedroom having no heart to go down and feed the dogs. Her phone beeped. It was an email from office. On seeing Vishal's name on the notification, she remembered how rude she had been to him. She pinched the bridge of her nose feeling stressed. What was his fault?
She quickly dialed his number. He always answered her call. But this time he only picked up the call at the last ring. "Hello."
"Hey, Anika. I've sent the details and .."
"Yeah I got it."
" Great.Then-? Anything I forgot? " the man on the other side maintained a professional tone.
"I called to say- I am Sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
"No.no. it was my fault. I shouldn't have behaved so unprofessionally. " he maintained a clipped tone.
Anika frowned. He had always been like a nice friend. Why was everyone around her behaving oddly to her? She closed her eyes.
"No, you were just being kind. I am sorry, I was a little annoyed and it came out on you. " she said softly.
The tone on the other side changed. "That's okay Anika. Take Care. Let me know if there's anything.."
"Yeah. Good night."
"Good night." The man on the other end , ended the call.
She stood there for a few minutes looking around. Two days and everything will change. Not that she did not like the mansion, in fact she loved it. But this place was too dear to her. She felt a little nice that he was with his father discussing over a new deal or something. She went for a shower, and decided to sleep before he came. Unluckily for her, when she stepped out of the bathroom he was already in the room. Her eyes widened when he turned to her just the last button done on his shirt. He was moving to unbutton that.
She quickly shut the door of the bathroom turning away and walked over to the balcony to hang the wet towel there. She could feel his eyes on her. Oh, she wished, he decided to go for a shower so that she could peacefully sleep. She had no mood of talking to him. No heart at all.
She stepped inside and slid the glass door. As soon as she turned she startled finding him stare at her. Her eyes blinked slightly meeting his fixed gaze. His hands traveled to the glass behind her. They were close. Very close. Her breathing became uneven. His gaze was intimidating.
He slowly bent his head forward coming closer. Anika couldn't help but look at his lips. She gulped. As much as she wanted him to kiss her, she wanted to keep away. His hand rose, to caress her neck, perhaps. But stopped before it could reach. His phone rang. He let out a muttered curse and turned his attention to it. The caller id got the better of his attention. "This is important. " he said apologetically and left the room. "Hello Mr.Cathoway.."
She leaned against the glass door, taking a deep breath. Happy or sad? She couldn't say. But it hurt. She did not want to hate him. She hated herself for beginning to hate him. He was doing everything. It hadn't gone unnoticed, the details of their new room. It was a perfect blend of his choice and hers. She had remembered how jokingly she had said to him that one day she would get the best picture made into a wallpaper for their room. It would always remind them of their lovely trip. She did not forget it, although she did not mention it. She couldn't hate him, couldn't love him. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she quietly moved to the bed and tried sleeping before he came.
Few minutes later she heard him walk in and then felt him get on the bed. She did not move. She heard his sigh. Feeling a little bad for him, she simply closed her eyes trying to be on the extreme side of the bed.
* * *
The next morning she woke up to find his arms caging her. How did he manage that even when he slept? She was surprised to find that it wasn't her who had moved to his side in sleep, for a change it was him. She looked at him, his sleeping face. He seemed so content. She was tempted to touch his face. Those lips. That nose. She looked away for a few minutes. This was growing harder day by day. She remembered she had a lot of work. The Mehra's event, the packers and movers would also be coming today. To add there was another special event she had been working on - his parents thirty-second wedding anniversary. It was due in three days.
She tried moving out, and that woke him up. "Good Morning!" He said in a sleepy voice burying his face in her shoulder. She stiffened. God this man had no clue what he was making her feel. It had been a while she hadn't been this close to him. It would have been casual if this was a year back, but now it wasn't. She had almost forgotten the feeling. The feeling of intimacy.
He squeezed his eyes open when he did not get a response. She was staring at him. At once his sleep flew out. How long? How long had he longed for her to see him that way? His eyes moved from her eyes to her face, to her cheeks , to her chin and then upwards stopped at her lips. He moved slightly away so that he could get on the top. Sudden anxiety filled her. Oh no. His look. Yikes! She had been seeing him. Staring at him. He gently stroked her face with his fingers. She remained as still as she could. He loved the feeling. His fingers caressing her face. Damn. He was loosing the patience he had kept. He had always been a very patient man. Especially when it came to her. But now he was loosing it. He wanted to make love to his wife. Crazily, passionate love, that made her moan his name until eternity. The grip on his control was going loose and he knew his need was driving him to the extreme and he wouldn't be able to hold it longer. Cursing he moved his lips down. She immediately turned, his lips landing on her cheek. He groaned softly.
Anika's heart skipped a beat. "I have a bad breath." She said at once, not turning to him.
He moved slightly away and buried his face into the pillow, not before cheekily remarking, "Mood Spoiler."
She quickly for off the bed and walked into the washroom, her cheeks colored up and the evidence of a small smile on her face. She glanced at him backwards. He was sleeping frontal side down. She couldn't help but notice the handsome form of her husband. Shaking her head she went into the washroom locking it behind her. The smile disappeared too soon, yet again!
-Anami!