"What happened in this room?" I heard, and my eyes widened, ready to pop out of their sockets. I averted my gaze from him to see Maa standing at the door, hands folded on her chest.

"maa--uhh maa--"

"Why are you not sleeping, Mom?" Rudra asked, interrupting me. I glared at him again, but he did not seem bothered. I turned around to face Maa and waited for her response.

"I was sleeping, but guess what? I heard a loud bang and went to look for it. "I heard you both shouting," she said, her brow furrowed as she looked around the room.

I followed her gaze, taking in the state of the room, which was a mess with cotton flying everywhere. My face flushed with embarrassment, and I clenched the blanket in my hands, wanting to punch his smirking face.

"I am sorry, maa, for disturbing your sleep," I apologised, and she opened her mouth to say something but instead nodded and walked away.

Then I noticed his state and began laughing, causing him to jump and stare at me, perplexed.

"you-- oh my god-- you are c-covered in co-otton" I collapsed on the edge of the bed, clutching my stomach. It was everywhere in his hair.

He stood unbothered while I relaxed and exhaled a long breath. I raised my head to look at him.

"First, take a look at yourself," he said flatly as he dragged the duvet into the closet.

I dashed into the bathroom when I realised what he had said and found myself covered in cotton as well. My clothes and hair, and I laughed at him when I looked like a clown myself. I facepalmed and started removing the cotton. After I was convinced I was clean, I returned to the room.

He changed his clothes and was cleaned as well. He raised an eyebrow as I walked towards him. I got up on my tiptoes and leaned in closer to his face. He was standing as stiff as a stick.

"What are-" he says hoarsely.

"Shh..." and he gulps hard.

His warm breaths hit my face, being close to his, and my heart was racing, ready to come out. I removed a small cotton ball from his hair and stepped back.

"You had this in your hair," I said a little breathlessly, clearing my throat and showing him the cotton before blowing it away.

He looked up, closed his eyes, took a long, shuddering breath, and rubbed his face, his ears and neck turning red. We cleared the bed and returned to our side of the bed, this time with a new duvet.

It is simple to tease him.

-------------

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping cheerfully. I opened my eyes and looked around the dimly lit room. My head was foggy. I notice the black curtains are completely drawn, preventing sunlight from entering the room, and I realise I am not in my room.

I pulled back the curtains and opened the balcony door, standing there with my eyes closed, basking in the sunlight. I turn to enter the room, but my breath gets caught in my throat and my pulse quickens.

Rudra stands there, a towel wrapped low on his hip, and he runs a hand through his damp hair, water dripping on his broad shoulders, down to his chiselled chest, and down his abs. My gaze swept across his entire body, following the drop as it vanished into the towel.

Do not stare!

Chandini! Don't!!

Someone cleared their throat and dragged me out of my filthy mind. I raised my head; he was staring at me with a quirked brow. I quickly looked away and gulped, feeling my cheeks flush and patting my warm cheeks with my hand.

"Are you all right, darling?" he asked, smirking.

Bastard!

I nodded and walked over to the bedside table, where I saw my phone's screen light up. Another message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Chandini, you know I do not like it when you stare at another man. You need a reminder of what happens to bad girls.

I should not have seen it—a shiver of fear ran through my entire body, and the phone slipped from my grip. My hands trembled violently as the memory of that reminder flashed through my mind.

I walked into the room after taking a shower, a towel wrapped around my hips. I ran my hand through my hair, then realised I should not be in just a towel; Chandini would be uncomfortable.

But then I noticed her eyes moving to my entire body and stopping at the towel wrapped around my hips. Her cheeks and neck were flushed pink.

I am sticking to a towel!! If it means she will look at me with those eyes.

When I cleared my throat, she looked at me but averted her gaze, gulping hard.

She went to her side of the bed, while I went to the closet to get dressed. I was buttoning my shirt when I heard something drop. I walked into the room.

Chandini was lying on the floor, her body trembling violently. I rushed to her, dropping to my knees and touching her cheek. She flinched and pushed herself against the bed, away from me.

"Sorry, ple-ase no more. It really hurts. I will not d-do it a-again," she sobbed, joining her hands.

I put up my hand. I ignored the pain in my chest as her voice cracked and sat across from her, my back to the balcony door. Her eyes were wild and red, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she was breathing loudly and harshly.

"Darling, you are fine. No one's hurting you, I promise. You are safe," I whispered.

She was perfectly fine just moments before!

I am going to rip that fucking person apart, limb by limb, who is responsible for these memories. She is not having a panic attack; instead, she is going through a terrifying memory. This is a feeling I am all too familiar with.

Her breathing became normal again, and she drew her knees to her chest, folding her arms and resting her head on them. I leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and released a shuddering breath when she hiccuped. I could feel my blood boiling at the thought of someone hurting her.

"Ru--Rudra?" I immediately opened my eyes when I heard her small, terrified voice. She looked at me as if she had not expected me to be there.

"Yes, baby?" I smiled and asked, keeping my voice gentle and low.

"You are smiling," I chuckled, and she only noticed that.

"Tell me, Chandini, kya hua?" I asked, scooting closer to her.
(What happened?)

"Nothing, I just remembered something—a phase of my life," she explained, a sad smile on her face.

I moved in slowly, afraid of making her uncomfortable, but she remained unfazed. So I positioned my legs on either side of her and tenderly cradled her face in my palm.

She stiffened and shifted her gaze around, avoiding my gaze.

"It is fine if you do not feel comfortable revealing a difficult phase of your life. I am not going to push it, but darling, please do not lie, either." I said. She relaxed as my thumb stroked her soft, moist cheeks.

Her gaze dropped down as she nodded, and she looked at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

"I--uhh-- you should button your shirt," she says, her cheeks turning bright red. I looked down and realised I had forgotten to button my shirt and to be honest, I was not in the best position, with my legs on either side of her.

She stood up shakily, wiping her face, and made her way to the restroom.

Clearing my throat, I went into the closet, and when I returned to the room, the water in the bathroom was still running.

So I went downstairs to the dining room, where the maids were putting the table settings together. As I sat in my chair, memories from the previous night surfaced.

Chandini patiently waited for me so that I would not have to eat alone. After mumma, no one bothered to wait or ask when I would be back. But papa calls sometimes, but only when I have been gone for days, and I am glad he does—it means he notices me.

It was difficult at first, but I eventually got used to it. Why is she doing it when she says she hates me?

"Good morning, bhai," Muktha said, interrupting my thoughts.

I nodded at her and greeted Papa and Mom. Athwa came running but stopped when he saw me. He walked calmly to his chair, which was next to Chandini's.

"Uhh, Bhaiya, is Bhabhi not coming?" he asked quietly.

"She is coming," I said without looking at him. It is the first time I have said something to him that was not harsh or rude.

I just can't look at him because he reminds me so much of Mumma. Every time I see him, my heart twists in an agonising way. He got his big eyes from his moumma, and he has a mole on his right cheek, dimples, and black hair just like hers.

"bhabhi!!" Athwa screamed enthusiastically, startling me.

Chandini entered the room, looking fresh and ready to be the cause of my death. Her long black hair was in a neat braid, with a few strands of hair falling to her face. Her partition is filled with vermillion, and a mangal sutra rests on her chest, all mine. Her bright smile seems to brighten the room, and her anklets are like music to my ears.

"Good morning, maa papa," she said as she wished for them, joining her hands and smiling at Muktha.

She pulled Athwa's cheeks and pecked his brow as she sat beside me. In return, he pecked her on the cheek. I glared at him, and he looked away, widening his eyes.

Chandini turned to face me after noticing my gaze fixed on the child. She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Do not glare at him; instead, try to smile at him for once," she said, grinning at me.

I shake my head, denying her, but she takes my hands in hers and looks at me innocently, blinking. "Come on, just once."

I look down at her, holding my hand, and I can feel myself giving in. I took a deep breath and smiled as I looked at Athwa.

What am I doing? And why?

"Fix your face, Rudra. It is as if you have seen something repulsive." When she tried to pull away, I immediately stopped, flattening my lips and gripping her hand tightly.

"Well, I tried. Okay," I gritted my teeth.

"Try again," she said, smiling sweetly, and I nodded once more.

As I turned to face them, Chandini pushed herself back in her chair. I faced Athwa and smiled again. But he looked at Chandini with wide eyes.

She sighed dramatically, as if she were bearing the weight of the entire world.

"Stop," she said into my ear, "you look constipated." I quickly returned to my original position. I glared at Muktha, who snickered.

Chandini stood up to serve everyone, and then she served herself. We started our breakfast, and then she leaned against my side.

"Thank you for trying," she said softly.

"Anything for my darling wife," I whispered into her ear.

.

.

so, what do you guys think about this chapter?