Story 2

The Gentleman Who Stole My Heart

Chapter 11

I couldn't even imagine, an entire week had gone by. I was preparing the list of whatever I could understand was necessary for the party. Honestly, I was enjoying the small responsibilities that came over me. He made sure I wasn't burdened. At the same time, he was trying hard to make me feel home. Earnestly, I had started feeling home. I enjoyed the breakfasts and dinners with him. Soon after the breakfast we would leave for work. At lunch typically, his message would pop up in my inbox sometimes with appreciation for the lunch or asking me of I had lunch or randomly a "Hi".

I reached home by six while he usually arrived between seven and eight. Sometimes a little more late. On days he reached early he'd do most of the cooking while I would assist. On other days I would cook most of it and he'd help me in the plating if he reached in time. 

Arjun was very talkative. Very. But I has slowly steadily began liking to listen to him. He flirted all the time and was always ready to hit a one-liner. Although, I pretended as though I didn't catch his witty suggestive phrases. He was sweet. Surprisingly, he was maintaining a distance. I suppose he finally understood, I wasn't comfortable with his sudden unannounced hugging and peppering kisses. 

But... I missed them! It was natural to perhaps. 

Even if it wasn't natural to, I was aware that I had started observing him a lot. Observing his likes, his dislikes. Noticing his small habits. I assumed it all to be natural. There was him. The only other human at home. I missed my parents and even Daadi. Home was such a happening place when I returned from work but here – it was nothing if not silence. But the moment Arjun would announce his presence my boredom would be gone. 

I walked over to his room after deeming the list to be fit in my opinion. I knocked at his room's door which was slightly open.

"Come in Sweetheart!"

Issh! He and his endearments. I smiled entering in. The site that I saw made something in me stir. He sat there on his bed  wearing nothing but a vest and track pants. My eyes noted his bare muscled arms. His lustrous hair unsettled yet looking perfect. His laptop was on his bed table and letters scattered around him.

"You really don't have to knock before coming in wifey!" He said not looking up. He looked messed up. 

"All okay?"

"Yeah. Except the fact that our few last editions have been so pathetic that readers have poured in so much feedback." His usual smile was replaced by a hard line.

I chuckled. "Is that very bad or extremely bad?"

"Neither. It's tolerable as of now. I have decided to revamp the magazine a little bit. " slowly his lips eased. 

"Is it that the monthly- Explore Life, that you're talking about?"

"Precisely. Wait. You know?" He now looked up surprised.

"Yeah!" I shrugged. It had honestly degraded in content in past few months!

"Interesting. What do you feel about it?" He asked looking up.

I stared at him. "Umm, it's nice. I love the... The... The Photographs it has. " I put together. What a statement to make!

"Trash that. Give me a real opinion. Not one to please me, but the one to help me."

"Past three editions were pathetic and totally uninspired crass." I said simply.

"Exactly!" Arjun sighed picking up the papers, "that is what I've been reading. I have to plan and come up with something different before the magazines stop moving from the shelves!"

"Yeah. Oh, by the way..this is the list. I wrote whatever I could think of that would be necessary. I don't really have an idea about how much exactly is needed. But I've written the estimate quantities I could guess, in the second column. Also, if there's anything else you let me know."

"You aren't reporting account activities, my banker wife. " he grinned and I pursed my lips. " This is the most organized list I've ever seen!" He laughed.

I shook my head. "Run through it. I will be at home tomorrow so let me know by the morning. I will hit the supermarket after breakfast."

"I am not working as well. So we'll go together. Why are you standing? sit. Honestly, I don't have an idea about this as well. Every time I keep a party..I just assign the duty to my assistants or hire an event management company. "

"For a party at your home?" Was he serious?

"Yeah."

"Then..why not this time?" I asked confused.

"Ahh..because, I have a wife now." He smiled at me. I broke into a smile looking away. His smiles had become contagious. If he smiled, I smiled too– automatic!

"Okay.." I sat on the bed opposite to him. With the table between us. We discussed the list with respect to the quantity for fifty or so people.

"That wasn't hard." I said getting up a few minutes later. 

"Because I was there to help you." He smiled. I shook my head. He was so, so cute.

"Oh, yes. I had to ask you." I said remembering.

"Out on a date?" He grinned.

"What. No!"  I reacted immediately.

"Then?" He gave me a smirk.

"Ah, I was wondering if I can use the ..room on the terrace. "

"For ?" He asked curiously. I was tempted to say something sarcastic. Chose not to.

"Ah, The thing is that. I come early. So I thought I could invest some time in.."

"Dancing!" He said before I could. I smiled and nodded.

"Of course you can. In fact, I don't even use that room these days. Ask Reena aunty to clean it first, it would be dust laid by now. You can use the pool too. If you'd prefer swimming as well. Just ask Patil to get it cleaned first. It's been ten days the terrace was even open. " I nodded thankfully.

"Nisha!"

"Yeah", I answered turning. 

"Let's go for a drive?"

"Now ?" I asked surprised at his sudden request, looking at the clock.

 "Yeah, how about ice cream? The Desert Garden?"

I looked at him indecisively. Ice cream...that too The Desert Garden! I hadn't eaten ice cream since a week. And it had been more than a month that I had been to the Desert Garden. It was a desert cafe with a beautiful huge garden.

"Come on Nisha. We both aren't working tomorrow!"

"Okay!" I declared. "I will change in like two."

"Never happens!" He commented.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine Five!" 

"You look fine." He said looking at me. Damn. He mustn't do that. It makes me feel..weird. Who looks at a woman like that? Top to bottom! A husband perhaps does, the logical section of my brain reasoned.

"I can't walk out in pajamas. " saying that I quickly walked out of his room. 

* * *

"Nisha."

"Hmm." I said admiring the silent breezy night.

"I have been wanting to talk in this." He started. I fretted. About what? Shifting to his room ? Consummation?

"Hmm."

"About us.."

"Hmm. hmm.."

"Look I know. You've stayed in a family. Suddenly, the lack of it might make you feel lonely but yeah..I am here. If you'd want to shift to our family home ..Let me know. " he ended his sentence with lack of surety. I gazed at him. He was so concerned. Honestly, I liked his family. A bunch of happy, happening, humorous people. Only yesterday we had been there for dinner. 

"Arjun, you're doing everything you possibly can, for making me comfortable. Thank you." I honestly said.

He glanced at me. "Yeah, but... You're different. Very different."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is , you are different. For instance, your weirdly shaped earlobe."

"What!" I exclaimed reaching for my ear. As soon as I did that he began laughing. "So cute!" He laughed.

"Very funny!" I remarked sarcastically turning sideways to look out. Why did I have to be so stupid?

He didn't stop chuckling. I rolled my eyes. "Joke's over, if it was one."

He laughed again. Stupid man. 

* * *

"Tell me your favorite flavor." He said as we walked in to the counter. 

"Anything is fine. I don't have a particular favorite."

"You gotta be kidding me." He said glancing at me.

"No I mean it." I said softly, moving closer to him as a man passed by me. He stepped back, forwarding his hand to let me stand beside the counter. I simply followed. Ahaan, total gentleman.

"But, How? Everyone has a favorite flavor."

"I'll take whatever you're taking. " this always got me worked up. Why can't people understand not everyone has  a preference at all times. As for me , I am that human who doesn't have a preference at most times. I can tell you what I don't want, but never what I want!

"That's too sweet and romantically cute. But on a serious note, I have noticed you never make a choice. Be it..clothes, food or now ice cream!

"That is how I am." I said softly looking around. He stared at me as though I were an alien.

"Fine." He walked to the toke counter. I simply waited standing aside looking around. Whenever we, as in me and my family came here, we'd take the dry fruits Sunday. It met everyone's taste. Though I hate raisins that were so generously peppered over it .

"Nisha!" I heard his voice call out to me. 

"Yup!" I said walking up to him. 

He led me to the order counter. "He's going to make you try all the flavors so that you can find what's your favorite!" He whispered quickly tilting his head, so that his lips were somewhat six inches away from my ear.

"It's not.."

"Shh.." He said looking at me pressing his lips onto a straight line  as though suggesting me to keep quiet.

The man handed me a small spoon, of some pink colored ice cream. I stared at him and then turned to Arjun. He nodded encouraging me to take it. I did. I slipped it into my mouth and looked awkwardly. Then smiled at the man behind the counter. 

"This is Smooth Strawberry." She said handing me yet another spoon filled with a different shade of pink and I stared at Arjun taking it and then trying it. Yet again I smiled oddly. Before I could say anything, Arjun spoke to the man.

"Make her try the Dark Currant one." He said pointing at the ice cream container. "Arj.."

"Shh." He showed me his eyes to indicate me to shut up. This was getting weird. I made a face as I tried the Dark Currant Ice cream. The taste was pathetic to me.

"Ahh, seems like she doesn't like this. Raspberry one." He instructed while another man came and handed him a ice cream glass scooped with a dark brown ice cream. I tried smiling. This only got awkward. "Arjun I.."

"That Black Forest."

I tried that as well, obediently. Before I could get over the cold chill in my tongue to say something, I was forwarded a Choco-chip .This was it. Was he going to instruct the man to make me try the what– hundred flavors they had? How were they even letting me try so many? Wasn't it a loss of their time and stuff?

"Arjun. It's okay..." The person interrupted my sentence, asking the next. I shot him a smile despite my annoyance." I am fine with.. This.." I said pointing to Arjun's ice cream glass and dug the spoon in my hand into his melting scoop.

Arjun smiled looking amused. "Ahh, repeat Belgium Chocolate." 

I shot him a glare and took the ice cream glass I was handed. "Let's go." I whispered to him as the man stared at me bemusedly.

He smiled as we walked out into the garden. As we sat on the brick bench under a tree. I shot him a look which demanded explanation. "What even? "

He laughed. "I was just trying to help you figure out what you like. "

"That way! " I shook my head. " Why on earth did they even care to offer me the time and tries?" I asked flabbergasted. "They had a waiting cue to tend to."

"Because I asked them to!"

"And you're what, the Prime Minister?"

"No. I am the husband."

"That doesn't quite explain." I said taking yet another small bite of the cold dark chocolate ice-cream. Actually, this had potential of being my favorite.

"I told them you are pregnant and your hormones have got a better of you. And that you want to try a couple of flavors. The owner took pity on me – the poor husband and cooperated!"

I gaped at him. "Seriously!"

"He asked me which month!" He shrugged his shoulders, while his eyes glimmered in new found mirth.

"God! Are you mad?" I exclaimed taking a deep breath as once again my cheeks felt flushed. 

"Do you want to know my answer."

"Shut up!" I shook my head focusing on the ice cream. Pregnant? Like out of the world he got that- one lame excuse! 

"You're blushing."

"No way. You're just assuming the red light shining on my face from the board to be something of my own!" I gave back smartly. 

He nodded impressed. "What's your opinion about this flavor?"

"Ahh..it's okay." I didn't want him to take credits for introducing me to the yummy flavor. 

"Liar. You love it!"

"How can you say that?"

"Your glass is almost empty." He simpered. Despite not wanting to, I broke into a grin.

"So our favorite flavors are same!" He said nudging my shoulder with his. "Don't worry, we have a life ahead to figure out your favorites in everything!"

I gazed at him as he dug his spoon into his ice cream glass. He cared to even think of what I really liked more than I ever did.  I looked away.

"So how was your experience?" He asked as we walked into the house. 

"My mouth felt like a laboratory. "

He laughed. "I didn't know you had such a good sense of humor!"

I grinned, "yes it's just not only you."

"Ahaan... Thanks for the compliment wifey." He said as we walked up the stairs. 

"Oh my mouth feels so cold. " I said what I felt to change the topic, he turned to me. His eyes gazing on my lips. Oh Oh. That was a stare that said I would love to feel your lips right now. Wait. No. I was simply assuming. Why? Because I wanted that? I stared at his eyes that were dilated. They soon grew clearer ..Oh that was because he had come closer. My heart rate grew erratic. I gulped my gaze rapidly switching between his eyes and lips.

Hope you all enjoyed it!

Can't believe I wrote half the chapter on ice cream!😂

Any ice cream stories, you have to share?

– Anami!

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