Sidharth pulled her trolley bag and kept it in her room. Sana stared at him and virtually facepalms.

"Sidharth, we are partners now. Either you shift to this room or I will shift with you.", She said.

"Huh? But we aren't married yet.", He said.

"So?", She asked.

"So we can't stay in the same room. Once we marry, we can stay together in whichever room you want.", He said.

"Why? Are you doubtful about your decision of marrying me now?", She asks.

"No, we will. But some things are done only after marriage. ", He says.

"Oh! Like?", She asks

"Like sleeping in the same room or on the same bed.", He says.

"Why? Are you scared that you will lose your control?", She asks.

"Nothing like that.", He says.

"Then what's the problem?", She asks

"I belong to an era where this thought is common. You can visit my room whenever you wish to but shifting will only be after we marry.", He says
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Sana knocks on Sidharth's room door.

"Huh? Sana?", He looks at her surprised to see her so late.

"I have come on a visit. I wasn't feeling sleepy.", She whines.

"Hmm.. come", he calls her.

She goes and lies on his lap

"Did you really record a video of Reshma's husband with some college girl?", Sidharth asked curiously.

"What do you think?", Sana asks.

"I don't know. Let me see.", He says

"Why? Do you want to take notes and tips from that video?", She asks

"What? Is it an educational video that I will take notes and tips from it?", He asks.

"Yes, they are. What year did you marry Shreyas' mom?", She asked.

"Hmm.. 1995", he said.

"What did you do for sex education then?", She asked.

"Huh?", He was taken aback.

"I mean, that time you didn't have much of internet and computers I suppose. So where did you get the knowledge from?", She asks

"I had heard my college male classmates discussing it and when my father asked.. asked me to consummate my marriage, my friend gave me a magazine.", He said nervously feeling shy.

"And then?", She asked

"Huh? What?", He was surprised on her probing questions.

"What did you do?", She asked.

"I.. I just read it once and then put it into the firewoods on which my mother heated water to bathe.", He said.

"And?", She probed further.

"I am very tired. I want to sleep.", He fumbled.

"Why are you avoiding the topic Sidharth?", She asked.

"Because I don't think we should discuss such topics", he said.

"Really? You said we are partners. I just googled the meaning of the word. It says 'Your partner is the person you are married to or are having a romantic or sexual relationship with.' So am I not the right person to discuss it with?", She asks.

"Why do your generation depend so much on google for everything?", He asks.

"Does someone remember googling the word 'empowerment' few weeks back?", She asked.

"Aaa.. aaa.. I use it very rarely but your generation seems to be surviving only on it.", He says.

"What's the harm in researching if you want to gain knowledge?", She questioned.

"But is the medium reliable?", He asked.

"If you don't use it how would you know? Something is better than nothing. You can't go on searching and asking experts on every topic everytime. Like for example sex education, you are feeling so uncomfortable to speak to me whom you are going to get married soon. Who will you go and ask your queries on what and how to do? Instead you can google and read or watch videos in your room privately.", She said.

He was speechless and didn't know what to answer. He sat quietly patting her head. Soon she feel asleep in his lap. He gazed at her face for sometime and slowly placed her head on the bed. He closed the door behind and went to her room to sleep.

However, his mind pondered on the topic Sana spoke to him. He remembered the incident from the park which happened few weeks back.

***
Sana: What's your problem? Isn't your new wife satisfying you enough that you've come up here to talk to me?

Mr. Ex: Huh! Don't think about me, I have lots of choices if I am dissatisfied. Think about you who is stuck with that old man. But it's good for you, who else would want a barren land like you?

Sana: Shut up you patti (dog). You know what? I am happier with him than I was with an @$$h0!3 like you. I pity your wife, who will have to fake about being satisfied just the way I did. You know what, the man I am with is a beast in the bed. He really knows how to pleasure a woman.
****

She lied to Mr. Ex about sleeping with me that day but soon when we get married, her words might turn into disappointment. I never gave any importance to my bodily needs after I learnt about Shreyas' mother's pregnancy. I never thought that my then wife, the women I slept with, had her own desires to fulfil. It might be because I never loved any woman the way I love Sana. I don't want to disappoint Sana.

He locks the room door and further locked himself in the attached bathroom. He then opens the google page. However, his hands shivered out of nervousness. He couldn't think what words he should be searching.

With lot efforts, he finally typed 'love making' into the handle and pressed the search button. The first video he played, he mostly looked away feeling guilty of watching someone else performing the act. He played another video and this time the guilt was lesser and soon he found himself aroused. His desires which he had never addressed to were surfacing. He pleasured himself unknowingly and released the decades long pressure. He then0 went to sleep in her room after feeling content.

Sana woke up in his room and wondered where he was. She searched for him everywhere except for her room.

It's already late, probably he must have left to the bookstore. How could I sleep so carelessly, unaware of the surrounding? I miss him already.

She made a sad pout and went to her room. She was surprised to find him sleeping over on her bed. She smiled to herself as he was sleeping until late today. She went and touched his forehead to check if he was well. He opened his eyes and smiled as he was woken up.

"Good Morning Sana", he said.

"Good morning Sidharth. I thought you weren't feeling well since you were sleeping for so long.", She said.

"I was never better than today.", He said with a smile.

"Really? What happened to you overnight that I missed?", She asked.

He reminisced what all he did last night and smiled. He then looked up at her. She was perplexed to find him smile all alone. She raised her eyebrows to ask what was he upto. He nodded to say nothing.

"Aren't you feeling like going to the bookstore and Radio station today?", She asked.

"It's a public holiday today! So I am on leave.", He said.

"Oh, It slipped out of my mind. Fine, I'll freshen up and then will prepare breakfast together.", She said while getting up. He held her wrist stopping her from going away. She turned around to look at him. He quick pecked her on her lips and blushed. She was surprised at his innocent act and smiled looking at his face. She realised how genuinely he was putting effort to come out of his shell.

She snaked her hands around his neck and looked into his eyes. With a little blush he looked back into her eyes and she covered the distance by kissing him passionately. This time he reciprocated it wholeheartedly.

"I think this room has better vibes. It changed you into romantic Bharadwaj.", she giggled.

"I love you Sana. Lets get married at the earliest. I've realised that I've wasted a lot of time in life but now I want to do everything I ever missed in life.", he said and hugged her. She felt emotional at his cutest gesture. She was getting what she wanted, his love and attention.

"I am ever ready", she said.
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"Sana, what are you doing?", Sidharth asked standing outside her locked room.

"I am trying to drape the Kasavu saree by watching YouTube video.", she says loudly.

"Okay, would it be possible to open the door? I think I can help you in it", He asks.

"How can you help me? I being a Mallayali, can't tie the saree, how would you help me?", She asked.

"Don't you trust me when I say I can help you?", He asked.

"Emotional blackmailing? Fine, I trust you. Wait a minute.", She says.

She opens the door and what she saw infront of her eyes was unbelievable. It was her mother standing infront of her.

"Amma!!", She says with tear filled eyes.

"Molle (Child)", her mother says equally emotional. She hugs her tightly while both the ladies shed tears of reunion.

She wipes her tears and looks around and finds her father, brother and his newly wedded wife standing in the living room with Sidharth.

"Achcha.. Chettan.." she exclaims as she runs and hugs them.

After a long session of emotional reunion, Sana looks at Sidharth with a huge smile, who was behind all this miracle. He was happy inturn to see her happiness.

While her parents and brother went to freshen up, Sana goes to make chai for all of them. Sidharth goes behind her to kitchen.

"Happy?", He asks.

She turns around and hugs him with full force. He supports himself by leaning against the kitchen platform.

"I love you, I love you, I love you so much.", She says by kissing his entire face out of happiness.

"Control yourself Sana. Your entire family is here.", He says.

"I can't", she says and smooches him by pulling him behind the fridge.

"How did this miracle happen Sidharth?", She asked.

"I called them up and told them what and all you went through in life. How much you love them and miss them. Additionally, I told them we love each other and the fact that I belonged to the same religion and caste as theirs from different region. I said this to them because I knew this is one point which will lessen their pain as they were orthodox. Finally, they agreed to attend our wedding.", He said.

"Whatever way you explained them and convinced them, I am very happy Sidharth. I feel even more proud of my choice now.", She said.

Her parents were very happy to sip onthe chai made by their daughter. The girl who didn't know cooking and who was impulsive was so changed in Sidharth's company that even they took liking for Sidharth instantly. Though they were hurt by the fact that Sana couldn't conceive, they found Sidharth supportive towards Sana even in such situation. They were convinced that apart from Sidharth no one could handle her better.

___________________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️