♡Roshni's POV♡

Back to routine.

Today, I and Gaurav will be back to our routine of work commitment. He will leave for office at 8 am, while I will go to Papa's office at 10 am.

Though I have 2 hours extra, instead of sleeping, I decide to do some wife type of job. So, I arrange the bed, while he takes a bath and put the remaining dirty clothes from our honeymoon trip to wash. Then I take a bath and exit the bedroom to walk towards the kitchen.

I find him, cooking two completely different dishes, vegetable omelette and vegetable rice. While he is stirring, what smells like coffee in two mugs together.

Quite a multi talented person.

He senses my presence and turns to greet me dramatically, "Good morning, Your Majesty. Breakfast and lunch are ready."

I raise my eyebrows and demand, "Breakfast and lunch, both are ready?"

He grins before pointing at the omelette and informs, "That's breakfast" then he points at the vegetable rice before continuing, "And this is lunch."

Before I can react, he uncovers a pan and I see boiled macaroni, while he informs, "I have boiled macaroni for the night and ready-made sauce is kept in the refrigerator. I will take merely 10 minutes for making the dinner after I arrive from the office. So, you don't have to bother yourself."

I take the word "talented" back from my earlier remark because this man terribly needs a book on Healthy Eating Habits.

But first, I need to kick him out of the kitchen.

So, I order, "Get out."

He asks with a frown, "What?"

I elaborate, "Get out of the kitchen, so I can make something what normal humans can eat."

He keeps standing at his spot, frowning at me, so I take the things in my own hands and kick him out of the kitchen.

The omelette is ready, so I search in the cabinets for something to make quickly. I find semolina and grab onion, capsicum, curry leaves with some spices to make upma. A South Indian healthy and tasty dish for breakfast.

Then I search for something in the fridge, only to find bell peppers and cabbage. My eyes fall on the boiled macaroni, so I make a salad with the three ingredients. Then I grab the wheat floor to make paratha with dry powdered spices.

After 15 minutes, a proper breakfast and lunch are ready. I find the lunch box set to fill one large container with the rice he cooked, one with the paratha, one with salad and one small one with curd.

This must be enough for him as he will not come before 9 pm at the night.

Keeping the lunch box aside, I serve the omelette and upma with bread toast, which he kept to toast earlier in two plates. I re-heat the coffee and take everything to the dining table, where he is sitting with a surprised look.

I raise my eyebrows and he comments with a smile, "You made extra dishes for breakfast and lunch in lesser time than me without proper ingredients. You are an amazing chef."

I take my seat across him and reply with a smile, "Thank you and henceforth, kitchen is my department. You can sleep for extra 30 minutes and have a healthier diet."

He denies, "You don't have to bother, Roshni. I am eating in this style from last 3 years."

I take a sip from my coffee and tease him, "But someone promised last week to fix habits of certain people and something about equal efforts in the friendship, plus fulfilling our pending wishes. Do you remember, what was the exact thing?"

He chuckles at my words and I insist, "Cooking is something I love and making food for us will not be a problem because I want my friend to be healthy enough to fulfil my pending wishes."

He raises his eyebrows and accuses mockingly, "Oh, you want your friend healthy enough to fulfil your pending wishes. Isn't my dear friend a bit selfish?"

I shrug with reason, "You proposed me."

He chuckles at my comment, but soon clears his throat and composes himself to inform, "Roshni, I want to talk with you regarding a person."

I straighten up, sensing the seriousness in his tone and nod, making him continue his words, "I have one more friend with whom I want you to meet."

One more friend? Where was he/she from last 10 weeks?

I voice my thoughts, "Who?"

He clears his throat before answering, "Pratham."

The name sounds familiar.....oh wait.

I ask with a doubtful tone, "Isn't Pratham, Harsh's neighbour to whom you came to meet when we met for the first time?"

He confirms with a nod, "That's right."

I frown in confusion before asking, "But why didn't he come to any of our marriage functions?"

He answers after a sigh, "My family, Jay and Durga hate him."

I demand, "Why?"

He looks into my eyes and answers, "Because he is Tanushree's brother."

Did he just say Tanushree's brother. His ex Tanushree's brother!

I know, he is kidding and will laugh on my shocked face now. I just know.

But he doesn't even after a few seconds.

Laugh Gaurav, come on.

As if reading my thoughts, he states, "I am not kidding. I dated my friend's sister."

How? I mean, why? No wait, what?

Damn! I am panicking.

I take a deep breath and ask, "So, you are saying that you dated your friend's sister and even after what she did, you and him are friends?"

He stands to walk towards me and sits on his knees beside my chair. He turns the chair to make me face him and grabs my hands in his before explaining, "After she betrayed me, Pratham broke every connection with her and apologised to me numerous times. I forgave him because it was her decision to leave me and wasn't his fault to punish him. He only had the three of us as friends. Jay and Durga have taken an oath to never forgive him in their life. So, only I go to hangout with him sometime in a month. But our friendship isn't like before, one can see the hesitation and discomfort in the air."

I am speechless. He is thinking in favour for the person, who is connected and could stop Tanushree from breaking his heart.

Why am I more scared than impressed with his forgiving nature and maturity?

Why do I get disturbing vibes from this set-up?

I am pulled out of my thoughts by his words, "I want to invite him for dinner tonight. Is that fine by you?"

No, but I answer, "Yes."

He frowns at my words and demands, "Why does your word don't support your expression?"

Because I am developing a fear and I can't put a finger to know the exact reason.

But maybe I am overthinking as I was practically insulted by my ex's sibling. Am I mixing two things and reaching to the wrong conclusion?

I feel his hand squeezing mine and I stare into his eyes before he asks, "Do you want to say something?"

I take a deep breath and share my thoughts, "I am just overthinking, actually I had worst experience with my ex's sibling. So, I am drawing unnecessary conclusions. But don't worry, invite him and I will come early to make dinner. Any preference for cuisine?"

He shakes his head and asks again, "Wanna share something?"

I shake my head and whisper, "Not now please, I have lots of work today at Papa's office. I will be going after two weeks."

He nods in understanding and doesn't pressurize me to share for which I am thankful. He goes back to his seat and we have our breakfast in complete silence.

Then he leaves after giving me a set of the house keys and cupping my face to say bye with take care.

He even informed to return with Pratham by 9 pm and we need behave as normal couple because he doesn't want to share about our arrangement with him. I didn't argue over it and replied with a nod.

Then I do some typical home chores before leaving for Papa's office.

#

I return back at 5 pm after working to cover up the task of two weeks in a day. My father didn't react much on seeing me after 8 days, but I didn't even expect him to stand and give me a hug.

But dude, he was talking with Sujay. So, the world knows, how important thing the call was on the God's green, but slowly polluting planet earth.

I sigh, moving towards the kitchen with the grocery bags, which I purchased on my way back because his refrigerator was nearly empty in the morning. I have decided to make Punjabi food.

I wash my hands and start cooking, while calling my three Musketeers for a casual chat.

#

The door bell rings, indicating their arrival and I rush to open the door. I smile at him as he enters with an unfamiliar face, whom I assume is Pratham.

Gaurav walks closer and wraps his arm around my shoulder to give me a quick hug. I smile and welcome him to act like a normal couple. Then he introduces me and his friend as we shake hands.

But I sense Pratham's gaze observing me and Gaurav's arm, which is still wrapped around my shoulder.

Don't overthink, Roshni. He must be dreaming of his sister with Gaurav and not a stranger. Even he is betrayed by his sister and must be upset with the situation. It's normal.

The men go to sit in the living room and I bring juice for the three of us before sitting beside him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder as they talk, though I can catch the hesitation and discomfort in the air, which he had mentioned in the morning.

Suddenly Pratham asks something I didn't expect, "Do you know about Tanushree?"

I feel Gaurav's thumb, caressing my arm and I take the cue to nod in positive, answering the truth non-verbally.

Then he asks again, "So, you know everything?"

Gaurav attempts to answer, but I beat him, "We have met 9 weeks back and that relation lasted for 5 years. So, it is not possible to know everything of 5 years in just 9 weeks. But I have a brief idea of what kind of relationship they had."

Before Pratham can react, I add, "Plus, when a girl and boy meet for a relationship, they mostly discuss their future and not past. Similarly we were more interested in our life ahead instead of digging into the unimportant occurrence of the past."

This shuts him up and Gaurav gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze after I apologise in whisper, "Sorry."

He whispers back, "Don't be, he needs to accept that I have a wife, who is not his sister and the past resides in the past."

I frown at his words, but didn't get an opportunity to react as Pratham apologises, "I am sorry for asking those questions. It's just that I have always seen my sister at your place, so I was kind of upset when Gaurav informed that he is getting married. But he has every right to find someone, who can care for him and live a happy life. Plus, I need to move on from that stage and be happy for my friend. So, I am really sorry, Roshni."

He removes a small box from his jeans pocket and offers to me, while saying, "A small wedding gift."

I face Gaurav and he gestures for me to accept. I obey and thank him as we fell into complete silence.

Although, his words replay in my mind and I can understand, how he must have felt on knowing that the place, which was supposed to be reserved for his sister, has become mine. He is just upset and I guess with time, he will accept the reality.

I excuse myself to set the table for dinner as the men initiate a casual chat to kill the uncomfortable silence.

During the dinner, Pratham chats with me normally asking about my family and work. I got to know, his parents are living in California and don't contact much with him. He has been living on his own since childhood. That explains Gaurav's reason to forgave him as he might feel lonely without friends.

But it also explains Tanushree's nature. Her parents never taught her the importance of relations.

As we had ice cream for desert, the topic of conversation shifted to Jay and Durga. Pratham expressed, how much he misses Jay's silly talks and Durga's caring nature on daily basis. Gaurav assured that one day they will forgive him, but Pratham knew, that's impossible and I did feel bad for Pratham.

After a few minutes of chat on their college memories, Pratham decides to leave and Gaurav offers to drop him till his car. While I clean up the kitchen before going to bed.

I was actually overthinking in terms to Pratham. Just because he is Tanushree's brother, it doesn't mean they are alike or will hurt anyone. Though I have met her once, but I can easily say the siblings are completely opposite, one is north and the other is south.

He does long for Jay and Durga, it is clear in his eyes, but I know the couple by now, they are more stubborn than me if furious. Though their love and care for Gaurav is something, which I doubt will allow them to ever forgive Pratham. They actually pamper him as their own son.

I am pulled out of my thoughts as Gaurav shuts the bedroom door before turning on the air conditioner and making his way to me.

He informs with a smile, "Pratham apologised again before going to bring up his sister's topic. He likes you and said that he is happy for me to settle down."

I smile at him and he requests, "Now can you tell me about the worst experience with your ex's sibling. That thing has bothered me the whole day."

I chuckle at his words before commenting, "You are still stuck with the morning discussion. Just forget it."

But he repeats my words from morning, "But someone promised last week to fix habits of certain people and something about equal efforts in the friendship, plus fulfilling our pending wishes. Do you remember, what was the exact thing?"

He smirks with a teasing glint in his eyes and I sigh in defeat before agreeing to share, "Fine, you win."

He grabs my hand and we move to sit on the bed in Indian style, facing each other as I take a deep breath before narrating, "It was the beginning of mine and Danish's relationship and we had a routine to call in the noon. One day, his elder sister answered the call and I introduced myself as his classmate, only for her to get furious on me. She said, she is well aware of girls like me, who trap boys with fake innocence and spoils their life. She didn't give me a chance to explain and warned me to stay away from her brother."

I lower my gaze to my lap and he asks, "What did he do?"

I chuckle bitterly and inform, "He defended his sister by saying that she is a short-tempered and possessive woman, so I shouldn't mind her words. He asked to ignore her."

He grabs my hand as I don't face him and he asks, "Did you cry?"

I cross-question him, "When you are practically termed as characterless girl, who traps innocent boys then what do you think?"

He inquires, "Did he know?"

I nod in response and he asks, "Then what happened?"

I move my hand to grip his wrist and share in a low voice, "I was asked to never call first and wait for him, but I was falling for him, so I agreed. That was a big mistake because after two years, when she was messaged me for friendship after her brother said that he is dating me. I accepted the friendship with her for his happiness, keeping the grievances aside and started a fresh with her. It wasn't even a week of casual chatting, sending random pictures and jokes when I sent her an engagement cake with two large rings at the top. I told her, we will keep similar cake in my and her brother's engagement, but it made her angry and she said, I shouldn't be so confident that we will reach till marriage."

I lift my gaze to face him and inform in a harsh tone, "And you know what my so called ex did? He blamed me for crossing my limits with his sister when he informed that she is short-tempered. I mean, her sister had a love marriage then how can't she support us? And if she doesn't agree to something, there is a normal way to voice it instead of using hurtful words."

I sigh in defeat and add in a low voice, "But I was a fool, a big fool that I agreed to keep the distance and stay in limits. I thought as a woman, who binds the family and didn't drag the topic. I always forgave him and I think, that was my biggest mistake, I was always thinking of me and him."

I lower my gaze as my eyes fill with painful tears before they slowly start escaping. Third time, I am crying because of him and how much ever I want to blame him, I can't. He makes me cry, but it doesn't hurt.

Suddenly I feel his hands, cupping my cheeks to lift my face and I meet his gaze. He wipes my cheeks without breaking the eye contact and shifts closer to me, making our knees touch. His thumbs keep wiping my tears, which are flowing without any control.

Why can't I control them in his presence?

Then he asks something, which I never expected in my wildest dreams, "Can I kiss you?"

My wet eyes widen in shock and before I can react, he whispers, "Please."

I fail to understand, what was happening in this situation as my emotions were getting uncontrollable and voice seems to vanish in the thin air. But I do realise that I nod and he lifts his face, while lowering mine at the same time.

Then I feel his lips, touching my forehead to press a gentle kiss.

He kissed my forehead!

My eyes close on their own accord and he presses his forehead to mine before whispering, "If my siblings ever misbehaved with you then I promise to defend you."

I couldn't think, say or move after his words registered in my mind. Everything was too overwhelming, first an unknown fear to know about his friendship with Pratham then my father's nonchalant behaviour, recollecting painful memories of my mistakes and his assurance. This is becoming too much to handle.

But surprisingly, I don't have any fear with him, his presence is soothing and calms me. Today, he promised to defend me even in front of his siblings and I know, his promises aren't fake. He will defend me if the situation demands.

I trust him to never hurt me in any way.

And HE KISSED ME, though on the forehead, it was still special for me.

************

That's all for now.....will update next part as soon as possible.....hope you liked this part, do give your reviews...till then Keep Smiling and Take Care

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