“Agar aapko kabhi bhi kareeb aana ya kuch bhi krna ya kehna uncomfortable lage…toh aap mujhe ussi waqt batayengi…samjhi aap?”

(If you ever feel uncomfortable from my proximity or anything else…you will tell me immediately…got it?)

She nodded and then he leaned in and spoke mischievously.

“Kyunki ab mai kareeb aata rahunga.”

(Because I will keep coming close.)

His breath tickled her ear and she gasped. Both at the sensation and at his words. She looked into his eyes with shock and then blushed and pushed his chest slightly muttering a “Dhatt!” and ran inside her room. Rudra laughed and shook his head going back to his own room.

Things were slowly progressing between the two. Aadya was slowly growing comfortable with Rudra’s growing proximity. She had noticed the change in his gaze. His eyes shined when he looked at her. She, too, felt happy when he was around.

Aadya was more confident in speaking English now. Sometimes, he even had English conversation sessions with her to polish her more.

Although they were still sleeping in separate rooms, Aadya was in Rudra’s room most of the day. Even when he was not at home, she stayed in his room. It felt more cozy and homely. Maybe because his scent lingers there.

Rudra and Aadya were as usual, in his room. She was laid on her stomach and telling him about her day. He too laid beside her, on his side and gazed at her softly.

She giggled at some point and he smiled. He tucked her hair behind her ear and she stopped. A red hue appeared on her cheeks as she lowered her lashes.

“Aap comfortable ho apne room mai?”

(Are  you comfortable in your room?)

He asked suddenly and she frowned. She nodded and then asked.

“Kyu?”

(Why?)

“Nhi mai bas isliye puchh raha tha ki agar comfortable nhi hai toh aap yaha shift ho skti hai…mai itna adjustment kr lunga aapke comfort ke liye.”

(No I was just asking that if you are not comfortable then you can shift here…I can adjust this much for your comfort.)

He said naughtily. She realised his intention and played along. She bit her lip and looked into his eyes seriously.

“Ab aapne puchha hai toh…uss kamre ka bed thoda hard hai…meri kamar dard ho jaati hai kabhi kabhi.”

(Now that you have asked…that bed is a little hard…I get backache sometimes.)

He too nodded seriously. She then continued explaining the problem.

“Aur waha toh geyser bhi nhi hai toh garam paani nhi aayega. Sardi mai problem hogi na.”

(There is no geyser so hot water will not come. I will have problem in winters.)

He leaned closer and his gaze moved to her lips and back to her eyes before he whispered.

“Ye toh bhut serious issue hai. I think aapko yaha shift ho jaana chahiye. Mai nhi chahta aapko kisi bhi tarah ki problem ho.”

(This is a very serious issue. I think you should shift here. I don’t want you to have any kind of problem.)

He said and started to snake his arm around her waist but she giggled and ran off, showing her his tongue.

“Aadya!”

He called with a laugh echoing in the house and ran behind her to chase her. The sound of her payal echoed along with their laughter. He caught her midway and twirled her around by snaking his arms around her waist. 

She rested her head back against him and laughed. He put her down and turned her around. They rested their foreheads against each other’s sighed with the grins still on their faces.

Rudra kissed her head and then her cheek making her clutch her saree tightly in her fists. 

Aadya had shifted to Rudra’s room after that night. They haven’t done anything other than cuddling and snuggling. Rudra wasn’t sure if she’d be comfortable. Moreover, she was still young.

When Aadya felt that she was confident enough to start working, Rudra gave her options of tiffin centres and other food centres.

She liked a tiffin service centre where all the workers were only women. It had been a month since she started working there. 

A week back was her 20th birthday and Aadya had expressed her wish to celebrate it with his parents. Rudra had taken an off from work and taken her there. They didn’t do anything grand but the glow of happiness on her face just being around his parents made his heart swell with happiness.

It was going to be 6 months to their wedding and Rudra realised that he hadn’t taken her out anywhere even once.

But before that was Karwa Chauth. Their first after marriage. Aadya was really excited. And since Rudra couldn’t take another off, his parents were visiting. 

Aadya’s alarm rang at 4 in the morning. She turned and got out of Rudra’s arms to switch it off. Rudra was also woken up and groaned.

“Why are you up so early?”

“Sargi ka time hai. Aap so jaaiye.”

(It’s time for Sargi. You sleep.)

She whispered softly and patted his head, making him go back to sleep. She quickly showered and wore a simple yellow saree. She moved out of the room and saw her mother-in-law already up and preparing her sargi.

She greeted her and the women sat down. As Aadya picked up the first almond, Rudra came out of his room, still groggy from sleep. He dropped himself beside her and rested his head against her shoulder while snaking his arms around her waist.

Aadya went red and his mother smiled at her son’s antics.

“Tsk! Kya kr rhe hai aap?”

(Tsk! What are you doing?)

She hissed and tried to push him back. Her mother-in-law might pretend not to look but she wasn’t blind. Rudra hummed and snuggled more into her. His mother chuckled, not being able to control and Aadya ducked her head in embarrassment.

“Bacha hai ekdum. Tum apni sargi kamre mai krlo.”

(He is a kid. You have your sargi in your room.)

“J-ji mummy.”

(Y-yes mummy.)

She said with a shy smile and took her sargi and her sleepy husband back to the room. Once inside, she pulled his ear making him wince and his sleep vanished.

“Kya kr rhe the aap? Kya soch rhi hongi mummy? Embarrass kr dia mujhe. Huh!”

(What were you doing? What would mummy be thinking? You embarrassed me.)

“Tsk! Kuch nhi sochengi. Pati hu aapka. Kya galat kr dia maine?”

(She won’t think anything. I am your husband. What wrong did I do?)

“Aise koi saath baitha ho tab toh aisi harkatein mat kra kijiye. Achha thodi na lagta hai. Hatiye ab! Meri sargi ka time nikal jaayega.”

(Don’t do these things if someone is sitting. It doesn’t look good. Move now! Sargi time will be over.)

She sat on the bed and started to have her sargi while Rudra laid on her lap not caring about anything else. She sighed and shook her head but then a smile formed on her lips.