Ishika's(pov)

My eyes literally gouged out of my socket seeing Mr.Husband standing in the kitchen when I returned from the room.

Although he can, wasn't it too early? CEOs, in my opinion, are far too busy to have time to leave the office so soon.

Not that I am complaining. I was over the moon when he sat beside me to have dinner. Disregard less of the fact, that he didn't say anything about the food, I put my heart and soul into.

I am...understanding.

But now I'm feeling very gloomy.

I was in a jolly and peaceful mood, spending my day reading a Book, before he came. But now all I feel is annoyance clawing my nerves.

I am like a moth drawn to a light bulb by other people's moods. They suck my energy replacing it with theirs.

Not their fault, it's just me. I absorb the energy of the people around me. That's why I like to stay alone.

I huff in irritation. Why can't that man of a husband of mine have a good conversation? I know we are not some friends but at least as a___stran__ger.

A sardonic smile touches my lips.

My life seems to be an oxymoron, doesn't it? Husband and stranger, same sentence. Damn. Father and Stranger go hand in hand as well.

Slow pace. That's how things work girl.

I try to reason with myself. At least in the former situation.

Fetching a glass of water for myself, I shut off the lights of the main lobby area, making my way to his bedroom.

Goosebumps pepper my flesh, from the mere thought of him and me in the same bedroom

From now onwards I'll have to share my space with a man, my Husband.

It's Scary as fuck.

Men. I have always had a distance from the species. Truly treacherous and deceitful.

I kick open the door of the bedroom, dim lights are the only source illuminating the whole room.

Silently shutting the door, I keep the glass on the unoccupied side table.

I glance at Abhiraj who is quietly scrolling his phone while lying on the left side of the bed.

My little stomach is fluttering with butterflies. Dizziness sprawling my inside.

He looks enchanting. Wearing specs, resting against the pillow wearing a black shirt and pajamas. Golden hues of light trickling every inch of his facial features, reflecting his masculinity in all its glory.

I tear my gaze away, clenching my fist tightly annoyed at the unwanted thoughts clouding my brain.

You don't know how he is, girl, so Stop Drooling. It's absolutely not good.

I exhale and move towards the bed, heaviness in the air turning my body into a bundle of nerves. The man on the bed didn't even have an ounce of a hint of what was going on around him.

I'll have to share a bed with him.

Settling myself softly on the other side of the bed, I silently tuck my legs under the heap of blankets, sinking my body in the softness of the mattress.

Awkward.

"I thought you'd prefer sleeping on the couch," Abhiraj says coolly, his eyes on the screen.

"I'll have an uncomfortable sleep and it makes me cranky." Does he want me to sleep on the couch? I won't do that, I'll sleep in the other room but not on that thing.

He didn't respond the way I expected, but, "Thanks for preparing dinner for me."

Is he really saying what he is saying? The man can be polite as well. Unexpected. I grin in my mind.

"No problem." I squeak.

"Did you like it?"

Shit!

My eyes widen, why do I do this? Why?

God is there a way I can disappear... Please.

He looks at me with blank eyes, I flash him a tight awkward smile.

"Nev-erm-ind." I stammer ways to embarrass myself.

"I won't be able to take you to your parents' house until after seven o'clock tomorrow." He says, his voice frigid enough to reflect any emotions out of him.

" Okey. I am fine with it. " I murmur.

It's already 9:30, too early for my bedtime, although reading a novel is out of option, my nerves won't help me out, and secondly what if he gets a hint of the book's genre? I can't get myself embarrassed again.

Sleep.

That's what I can do. But in the same blanket?

Why are you hell-bent on getting yourself embarrassed? Stupid.

I swallow hard. Right.

I put my head under the blanket while turning the other side, shifting slightly towards the edge of the bed.

Wouldn't want to awaken tangled alongside him.

Covering myself in the blanket, I close my eyes. Burying my face in the pillow m

"Good night"

"Night..."

With the last sound of his, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

                _____________

I HATE THE WAY I LOOK.

Drool dried up around my mouth, my pillow soaked because of it. My clothes are disheveled, and my hair is frizzy and messy.

And He saw me like this when I was sleeping.

I swear I don't always look like this. It's just not that morning for me.

Pulling myself away from the mirror in disgust, I start getting ready for the day.

Not the best morning.

At 7:30 pm

He Is Still Not Here.

I have been continuously on my phone since the afternoon, trying my best to pacify an anxious Ivaan to calm down. The boy is suffering. He is on his own there, with none to look after him the way he needs.

The worst part is I don't even have Abhiraj's phone number. Neither do I know how to contact him. Can't even give a call to Aunty, still not comfortable with her.

Ring Ring Ring

I pick up the call immediately, "Hello?"

"Ishu, where are you? Ivaan is distraught. He ain't even eating."

"Maa I'll be reaching soon. What is he doing right now?" Worry filled my stomach, hearing about Ivaan.

"He cried himself to sleep."

My chest deflated upon hearing it. My baby.

"Maa I'll be reaching as soon as possible. Till then you take care of him. I'll inform you when I am near the house. Bye."

"Okay." With that, I hung the call.

I'll be waiting for five more mi...

Ring Ring Ring

An unknown number

Before I could reply, a familiar cold voice hit my ear, " Come outside," and with that, the line went dead.

I look at my blanked screen.

What the hell?

First of all, he is late, and now he calls from an unknown number and behaves like a jerk.

Absolutely indecent.

I switch off the main lights and retrieve the keys from the drawer shown by him today in this morning.

Locking the doors shut, I walk myself to the driveway.

I squinted around the large area covered by the forest trees in search of his goddamn car.

I am in the middle of the long pathway leading out to the main gates, it's never-ending.

Is this his outside?

My phone shrills loudly, making the birds chirp around violently.

My heart beating rapidly, It's scary outside, "Hello?" I pick up the phone warily.

"Where the hell are you?" My husband says in an Icey voice, hinting I am not your fucking servant.

"Ain't this place too big? " I say in a duh tone. Doesn't he understand?

"Stand wherever you are, I am coming." And again he ends the call without hearing my reply.

My jaw clench in frustration, eyes filling with the pool of tears.

I don't like when people talk to me insensitively and become aloof towards me.

My damn sensitiveness.

The bright beam of the headlight flashes in front of my eyes.

I immediately wipe my face off of any traces of wetness.

I unwind, as I adjust my eyes to the light, feeling a tiny bit safer in this dark mighty forest.

The Range Rover stops in front of me, Abhiraj gets out of the car to come and stand in front of where I am.

He opens the passenger door, gesturing me to get in.

Chivalrous

I ducked myself in, ignoring the
heavenly smell of black spicy oud. The man smells luxurious.

He settles beside me in the driver's seat, closing the door with a thud.

I bite my lips in nervousness, clutching my thumb in a fist, a futile attempt to calm my nerves.

He's dressed in a white button-down neatly tucked in his slacks, the sleeves of his shirt rolled to the elbows. A Patek Phillippe adorning his wrist.

The man screams danger, in and out.

"Type your address in the GPS. " He says, his voice frigid enough to send shivers down my spine.

I nod, silently.

"We won't be staying for more than an hour there. If you want to bring any of your things along, pack it as soon as we reach there."

"Okey..." My words hung in there as soon as my gaze fix on his hands, his fingers curling around the steering wheel, his veiny muscles flexing while turning the helm. An absolute beauty.

I anticipate that I won't need much time to develop an addiction to his hands.

"I despise waiting. The next time, keep it in your mind."

I close my eyes, another instruction from another man.

I whisper a quick yes, not  wanting to get myself in trouble.

I look out of the window, the white light of the moon bathing the forest elucidating its depth.
Feels like today is the full moon.

"Thank you for coming along with me," I murmur.

Silence.

Resting my head on the widow, I close my eyes. It'll take one and half a hours to reach.

I appreciate it. I say in my head, even though you are arrogant.

What do you think will be Abhiraj's reaction on meeting Ishika's family for the first time?

Ivaan's face when he'll come to know Ishika was away from him because of Abhiraj?

Are you people fine with the slow pace of the story?

Heyy Reader's

I hope you all are doing well.

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