Ram picks up Bani in his arms and carries to the bed.
Placing her on the bed as softly as he can, he stares in her eyes.

No words exchanged.
Eyes speaking enough.

Ram slowly opened the pin which attached the pallu to her shoulder and removed her pallu.
Bani's chest was heaving making Ram crazy.
He stared at the perfect outline of her breast which were visible because of the deep neck of her blouse.

She blushed feeling his gaze over her breasts.
He smiles.

Just when his hand went to the hooks of her blouse and he leaned to kiss her once again, She sneezed.

One, two, three, four, five times continuously.

"Oh my god Bani." Ram said looking at her face. Her nose was red and tears were streaming down from her eyes.

"I *sneeze* i think *sneeze* cold *sneeze*."

"You go and change. I'll get soup for you."

"No *sneeze* it's *sneeze* it's okay."

"Shut up and go change."

Ram turns away and runs to the kitchen, Aradhna was there too making herself tea.

"You in kitchen?" She asked amused.

"First tell me why are you in kitchen? Where's the help?" He asked.

"I'm making myself a cup of tea. You want some?"

"I actually want soup."

"Soup? Why soup?"

"Woh Bani. She's sick."

"She was fine in morning Ram."

"Yeah but--"

"Cut that." Aradhna didn't let him complete.

"Mom what is this? You never let me complete."

Aradhna rolled her eyes. "Shanti, make soup for Bani." She ordered one of the help and walked out of the kitchen.

"Make it quick Shanti Didi."

"Ji Ram baba."

20 minutes later, Ram walks in his room with a tray. Bani was sitting infront of the dressing table blow drying her hair.

She looked down in shyness, not being able to meet his gaze.

"You're still feeling cold?" He asks placing the tray on side table of the bed.

"A little."

"Come, sit here."

She settles down on bed and he covers her with duvet.
He then checks her fever by traditional Indian way of pressing palm against her forehead and throat area.

"You're having fever Bani."

"No Mr. Kapoor it's fine."

"It's all because of me. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay Mr. Kapoor. *Sneeze* I'm fine."

"I can see that. Have your soup first, I'll call the doctor."

"No doctor please, I'm telling you I'm fine."

He shakes his head and forwards the spoon to her mouth.

"Have it."

He feeds her soup and then calls the doctor.
The doctor prescribes some medicine on the call itself as the fever wasn't really high.

Bani was looking at him with so much adoration in her eyes.
Afterall her husband isn't that bad.

"Why are you staring me?"

"Me?"

"Yes you, who else?"

"I wasn't staring you Mr. Kapoor. Why would i stare YOU?" She makes a face at YOU.

"Hey what do you mean by YOU?"

"I mean look at you, Mr. Kapoor. You're old and boring."

Ram's eyes widens hearing her.

"You called me an oldy?"

"You're 38, Mr. Kapoor."

"I'm not 38, I'm just..37."

"Yeah yeah that only."

"You're not really young either."

"Maybe but I'm still 12 years younger than you, Old man."

"Stop calling me that."

"What, old man?" She smiles,teasingly.

Ram walks towards her with big steps and hovers her on the bed.
Bani was shocked what just happened.

"Yes Bani? What were you saying?"

"Me--i--me"

"Me i me what? Who is old man?"

"I was kidding, Mr. Kapoor."

"You were teasing me, Mrs. Kapoor."

Bani smiles looking at him smile but his expressions change to a serious one.

"Tell me Bani if it bothers you?"

"What bothers me?" 

"The age gap we have. You're just 24."

"Correction 25, I'll be 25 this year." She wraps her arms around his neck. "And no it doesn't matter if we have an age gap. Infact, i realised I'm more into older guys after i got married to you."

"Don't say things to flatter me, be honest."

"I'm very honest, Mr. Kapoor. I don't have any issue." She smiles wide.

He smiles and then leans to kiss her.

He presses his mouth on her, their lips were moving or something, they were just pressed together.

"Mummmaaaa." Reet shouts but this time she was entering the room, she was already in the room watching her parents kiss.

"Reet you?" Ram look up in horror and quickly gets away from Bani.

Bani squeezes her eyes in embarrassment.

"What were you doing Papa?"

Ah the curious child kicked in.

Bani expected Ram to make some story but the answer embarrassed her more.

"I was kissing your Mumma, Baby."

"Oh. But--"

"No buts Reet." Bani says sitting up straight on bed. "Let's go and change your clothes first."

"Bani sit. You have to rest."

"Mumma is sick baby."

"What happened Mumma?"

"Nothing Reet. Your Papa is just joking. I'm okay, let's go, I'll help you change."

"No Bani."

"But Mr. Kapoor."

"Mumma no. I'll go and change by myself."

"My big girl. You go and change, I'll get your lunch in room."

"I'll have lunch with Mumma."

"Sure." Ram smiles.

---------

Bani was sitting lost in thoughts.

We kissed. We were on the verge of having sex when i ruined it. We kissed again but Reet interrupted.
But we never talked about what we were doing.

The least we can do is discuss what we both are looking for.
I want love and a normal marriage.
He hates love and i don't know if he wants a normal marriage.
If he just wants to have sex with me, then also I'm ready but it doesn't seem like that.
He is caring and romantic.
I guess it's too early to ask for love from him but one day he'll love me.
All i can do is wait for him to fall in love with me.

"You're brain is going to burst, Bani." He says chuckling.

"Why Papa?" Reet asks from the back seat.

"Because your Mumma thinks too much."

Bani twists her lips annoyed.

They were on their way to Ram's ancestral home in Amritsar.
The flight wasn't really long but being an early morning one, it did tired all of them.

Ram yawns lightly.

"You're sleepy. That's why i said let's book a cab or something but no, you wanted to drive by yourself."

"I don't trusts the driver with you three."

"Huh why?"

"You won't understand so shut up and for your information we are almost there."

Bani was completely fine now, the fever didn't last long and they took a flight to Amritsar next day.
One more reason, they both didn't get any time to talk about what's happening between them.

"I'm kinda nervous, Mr. Kapoor."

"Why so?"

"I don't know any punjabi dishes, i don't know any punjabi words, they'll think I'm useless."

"They won't. Don't worry."

"Hope so."

"And did i mentioned, you're looking absolutely gorgeous in this Patiala suit."

"Thank you." She said blushing.

"Don't blush too much, i won't be able to control myself." He whispers.

"Mom and Reet are here, Mr. Kapoor."

"Mom is sleeping and Reet is busy in staring out of the window." He smirks making her blush.

Something is really wrong with this man these days.

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