It was a slow, sleepy morning when Sehra first woke up, the kind where the world outside the window seemed muffled by the gentle hush of dawn. The soft light of the early hours filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The air smelled faintly of the lavender-scented pillow spray she had sprayed on the bed the night before, and the sound of Abhishek's steady breathing was a comforting lullaby.

She lay there for a moment, her head resting on his chest, listening to the quiet rhythm of his heartbeat. His arm was draped lazily around her waist, pulling her closer even as he slept. She smiled to herself, grateful for this small moment of peace before the world outside the bedroom door began to pull them in different directions.

A shift in his posture caused her to stir, and Sehra felt Abhishek's fingers graze the skin of her back as he stretched slightly. His breath hitched in that cute, half-asleep way of his, and then she felt it—a soft kiss pressed to the top of her head.

"Mmm," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep, "good morning."

She grinned, lifting her head to look at him. "Morning, sleepyhead."

Abhishek blinked at her for a few seconds, his eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep, before pulling her back down against him, his arms tightening around her as if he was trying to steal a few more minutes of rest.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled into her hair, his lips brushing against her scalp.

Sehra laughed softly, nestling against him as she closed her eyes again. "You always say that."

He responded with a quiet hum of agreement, his fingers now tracing small patterns on her back as she relaxed in his embrace. It was one of those mornings where there was nowhere else she wanted to be, no pressing deadlines or worries to chase away the calm. Just the two of them, wrapped in the warmth of their shared space.

It wasn't long before the sound of their alarm clock gently interrupted their cocoon of comfort, signaling that their lazy morning was coming to an end. But neither of them made any move to get up. Instead, they lay there a little longer, stretching, yawning, and exchanging quiet murmurs of affection.

"You're still in bed," Abhishek teased, his lips curving into a sleepy smile as he gently nudged her.

"Only because you're so comfy," Sehra replied, still not moving an inch.

Abhishek chuckled, kissing the top of her head again before shifting his body so that he was half-lying, half-sitting against the pillows. Sehra lifted her head, watching him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"What?" he asked, as if he had a feeling she was about to make trouble.

"Oh, nothing," Sehra said with an exaggerated innocence, "I just find it funny how you're always the first to get out of bed on a workday, but now you want to stay in all day."

He raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "You know I love a good lazy day."

"Don't lie," she said, poking his chest playfully. "You're just trying to keep me from getting up so you don't have to make breakfast."

"Maybe," he said with a sheepish grin, "but also, I think I just want to hold you a little longer."

Sehra's heart did a little flutter at his words. She leaned in to kiss him, her lips soft against his. When they pulled away, she smiled warmly. "Okay, okay. I'll get up... but only because I need to make us coffee."

Abhishek stretched his arms above his head, yawning exaggeratedly. "Fine. But I get to pick the playlist for the morning."

Sehra grinned. "Deal."

They finally dragged themselves out of bed, still half-dazed but undeniably happy in each other's presence. The morning was slow-paced, easy, and filled with the little touches they had both come to cherish. Sehra went to the kitchen to start brewing coffee while Abhishek shuffled behind her, throwing on a hoodie and giving her a light kiss on the cheek before taking his usual place by the counter.

They shared a lazy breakfast—nothing too fancy, just some scrambled eggs and turkish bread with butter. Abhishek poured them both mugs of coffee, then added just the right amount of sugar and milk to Sehra's cup, just the way she liked it. As he handed it to her, their fingers brushed, and she couldn't help but smile.

"I'll never get tired of this," Sehra said softly, looking at him over the rim of her mug. "Of us. Just being here together."

Abhishek's eyes softened, his voice low and sincere. "Neither will I. This... is everything I've ever wanted."

They spent the next few hours in their usual lazy routine. Sehra put on some old movie they had both seen a dozen times while they snacked on fruit and pastries, cuddling on the couch in an embrace that felt both natural and grounding. Abhishek, being the expert at always knowing exactly what Sehra needed, made sure to adjust the blankets whenever they shifted, draping them over her whenever she shivered slightly.

After the movie ended, they spent time rearranging their living room for no real reason other than to avoid the outside world. Sehra laughed as she tried to explain her logic for moving the couch a few inches to the left, and Abhishek, ever the willing participant in their small domestic adventures, helped her without question.

"Is this what our life's going to be like forever?" she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes as she climbed onto the couch, grinning at him.

"If it means I get to spend every day with you?" he said, his voice warm, "Absolutely."

Once the living room was rearranged (to Sehra's satisfaction), they decided it was time for a walk. The weather was just the right kind of overcast—cool enough to make it comfortable to walk, but not too chilly. Abhishek grabbed his jacket, draping it over Sehra's shoulders as she slipped on her sneakers. The moment the door closed behind them, Sehra was already leaning into his side, her hand sliding into his without a second thought.

They walked hand in hand down the street, passing familiar sights—the small coffee shop where they had their first date, the bakery where they got their favorite croissants, and the park they frequented whenever they wanted to escape the bustle of the city. They talked easily, sharing thoughts about everything and nothing. It was a rhythm they had fallen into, one that was comforting and natural.

As they wandered through the park, Abhishek stopped, pulling Sehra gently to the side by the large oak tree near the lake.

"I have something for you," he said, his voice suddenly shifting to a playful tone.

Sehra raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's this? A surprise?"

He smiled that mischievous smile of his, the one that always made her heart race a little faster. "Maybe."

From the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a small envelope. Sehra took it from him, a little confused. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Abhishek shook his head, his grin never faltering. "Open it."

Sehra slid her finger along the edge of the envelope, pulling out the small piece of paper inside. She unfolded it, her gaze flicking over the words written in neat handwriting.

"Two tickets to Singapore. Departure: next month."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth parted in disbelief. "Abhay..."

"I know you've always wanted to go, and I've been thinking about it for a while," he said, his voice soft but excited. "So, I thought... why wait? Let's go. Let's see Singapore. We can visit the Gardens by the Bay, eat all the street food, and do everything you've dreamed of. Together."

Sehra blinked, her heart racing as she looked between the tickets and his face. "Wait, this is real? We're going?"

"Absolutely." He took her hands in his, his gaze full of warmth. "It's all real. You deserve it. You deserve to see the world, to go on adventures... and I want to be right there with you for all of it."

Sehra felt her eyes fill with tears, the magnitude of the surprise sinking in. "Abhishek... this is everything I've wanted. You're... you're incredible. I can't even..." Her voice faltered as she pulled him into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around him, not caring that they were standing in the middle of a park in broad daylight.

Abhishek held her close, his voice soft against her ear. "I know. You don't have to say anything. We're in this together, okay? Just say yes. Say you'll go with me."

Sehra pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a smile that could light up the entire city. "Yes," she whispered, her heart swelling with affection. "Yes, I'll go with you. Always."

And in that moment, surrounded by the quiet of the park, the promise of future adventures, and the warmth of his embrace, Sehra knew that their journey was just beginning.

a/n : now I'm craving scrambled eggs and turkish eggs 😭