chapter : 31
hide & seek

Hey! How are you all?
I have come home after a long time.

We have entered a the last phase of the book, but no no, there's too much still left ;)

Sooo, Pehle toh, VOTE! I will post the new chapter sooon, if we reach the vote count of 90-100. SECOND, COMMENT PEOPLE!!

Let me know all your views on the boook.

and, i also wanted to know...how many of you use scroll stack?

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k a b i r
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It's been an hour since our best friends have raided our house. After they demanded breakfast to feed their wild stomachs, we are all sitting in the hall.

Dheer has taken over the beanbag, Jay is sprawled on the couch while Noor and I are cuddled up on the sofa. I had worn a tee soon after they bombarded my place because of the constant jabs on my bitten skin. One that had been assaulted by my dear wife to accomplish her revenge.

"Look at these two. My poor babies look so sick." Jay drawls out. He is sporting a very mischievous smirk.

"To think of how she used to bad mouth her boss, and now.."

I glance at Noor who only gives me a guilty smile. I drop a kiss on her temple, for how cute she looks. The intruders keep on listing the things Noor and I had said about each other.

"She called him a demon."

"He used to call her a messy riot."

"She hated how rude he was."

"He used to get so irritated by her snarky remarks."

"She once told me that she couldn't wait to get rid of him."

"Right? He was counting days."

"You heard about the temporary marriage, right?"

"Look how temporary marriage is." They coo at us.

"I didn't know you are supposed to give love bites to your fake spouse."

"It is a new concept. You can do much more than just that. You don't know about their kitc—"

"Okay that's enough, Dheer." Noor throws a pillow at him, hitting him straight on his forehead. It appears to be a normal routine between them because Dheer manages to dodge it right on time.

Dheer's comment brings back the gush of memories. Fuck, we have come a long way, haven't we?

"But we are having fun.." Jay adds on.

"You both are leaving right now," I order, getting up from my comfortable space. I need my wife alone now. I have no interest in hosting these two creatures.

"Oh, but I just booked tickets for our movie." Dheer raises his phone, showing us the booked seats.

"Noor and I aren't going. You both have fun." I announce but Dheer only gleams. Once he informs us about the movie's name, Noor starts squealing.

"She has waited a long time for this one," Dheer says, earning an angry glare from me.

"Kabir, can we please go? Please?" She pouts her lips, and blinks her eyes. Eyelashes fluttering against her cheek.

"At this point, if you even ask me for murder, I don't think I can refuse you," I mutter under my breath. Jay and Dheer stomp up in happiness as they scramble around to get ready.
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The drive to the theatre was short but chaotic. I am planning to book Noor and me new separate seats so that at least we can enjoy the movie without any disturbance from these two jerks.

"Who takes popcorn and coke before the movie?" I tiredly comment as I follow my wife and her best friend as they rush to the cafe & concessionaire line.

"Kabir, it's an unsaid rule. The movie becomes even more interesting with the snacks."

"Isn't interval there to serve the same purpose?"

"Baby, intervals are to just sit on the seats and not wait in the long lines."

"Whatever you want."

She flashes a smile at me, then places her order at the counter. Jay and Dheer follow the suit. We begin walking to our screen when I am impelled behind a pillar. Hardly managing to prevent the food on the tray from spilling.

Noor stands in front of me, continuously gawking at something behind the pillar. From my line of vision, I can see Jay and Dheer searching for us.

"What happened, Noor?"

"They are here."

"Who?"

"Rakshit, Tia and some guys from their department." She whispers panicking at the prospect of being caught.

"Baby.." I try calming her down. I know and understand why Noor doesn't want our relationship to be known in the office, but it does pinch a slight.

I am too deep into an emotional mess, and the fact that my wife is adamant about hiding about us, even after being aware of each other's feelings, tickles the wrong corner. At first, the secret was important because of the fake title of our relationship but now? There has been a change of feelings.

"Should we leave?" I try dissipating the matter. Not wanting to ponder over the fact, I focus on the good part. I think how it's a win-win situation for me, I'll get to spend more time with her, alone.

"Can we?"

"Whatever you want baby." We wait for them to go inside the same screen we were about to enter. I call Jay, telling him to watch the movie without us. They only snicker but go ahead with the plan.

Noor and I walk out of the theatre, once the crowd has dispersed. We make sure no one from the office is still left and recognises us.

The moment we are in the car, my wife sits on the passenger side, her lap full of a tub of popcorn and a big cola cup.

She sips the drink through the straw, offering me the tub.

"Now?" I ask, hoping she tells me to take her home.

"Home. We'll watch Brooklyn and now, we have snacks." She excitedly plans, pointing at the food balanced on her lap and the console.

"Home it is then."

Even if it might be a little tough to play hide & seek with my wife, for her I wouldn't fight for anything else. Her presence around me is enough, she brings joy to my life.

For me; she is the one who brings meaning to home. She is my home, and for that, I'll always be so grateful.

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I should have realised how catastrophic it was when my best friend and Noor's best friend decided to be best friends. They have announced an illegal ownership of our house, treating it as a common ground for their meet-ups. After their movie ended, instead of going back to their homes like sane people, they came back to our house.

Currently, they and my wife are sprawled on the floor, their food plates piled together on the side as they watch The Box episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. My wife has rewatched the entire series to the point of being able to recite the dialogues and yet she goes back for more.

Dheer had already watched the series and it's his second time re-watching it but Jay is a newbie and so badly hooked up. I had been a little caught up with some last-moment meeting calls and came down to find all three of them cheering at the Halloween Heist episode.

How fast are they watching the episodes? I had been gone for a maximum of fifteen minutes to change and freshen up and they had already gobbled their food.

I shake my head at the three monsters, picking up their discarded crockery and taking them to the kitchen. All three antique pieces had to fall on my head.

"This is the most exciting part."

"Oh my God!"

"Did he do it? No. Don't spoil. But. Fuck. I need to know."

I almost spoil it for him, telling him about the killer but before I could even open my mouth.

"Kabir, shut your mouth. Let him enjoy the experience." My wife scolds sitting far in the living room. It's so odd that she knows me so well. Scary yet satisfying.

They are almost approaching the end of the episode as I start managing the vessels in the kitchen when Noor calls out my name.

"Kabir, can you get me some coffee?" She orders.

"Even I need an iced coffee."

"Me too."

"My husband is not your servant. Get up and make your cup of coffee." These three would be the end of me and still, I wouldn't choose anyone else.

With that, my wife orders them to first finish seeing the end and then to help me with the coffee preparation. Bemused, I continue with my work, waiting for them to bombard the place after they are done.

I start getting the milk, coffee and glasses out so that they don't spoil my organised kitchen with their rummaging.

It takes them fifteen more minutes until we all are gathered in the cooking space. Bundled around the marble tops, leaning against the counter.

"So which episode are we going to watch next?" Jay excitedly claps his hands. He loved the episode they were currently watching, the ending had surprised him pleasantly.

"We can watch the Halloween Heist where a great event happens!" Noor replies, her face radiating with a sweet smile.

Her amused face glints with mischief and I clearly understand which episode she is hinting at.

"But didn't you watch that episode some days back?" Dheer questions, munching on his snack.

"I think Kabir can take some notes from that episode, am I right, husband?" Her right eye drops in a naughty wink. She turns to face me, her legs crossing as she leans on the marble.

"So you want me to go on my knees for you, again wifey?"

My statement catches our friends off-guard as they choke on their coffees, and start coughing violently. My wife's cheeks goes beet in colour, her eyes widened at my audacity.

"Should we cover our eyes?" Jay insinuates.

"Yeah, fuck, I forgot how you both turn into these horny rabbits in the kitchen, I suggest you both keep it in your pants till the time we leave." Dheer is the one to comment boldly.

"The door's that way." I point my finger towards the exit.

"We are not leaving, Mr Sood. The coffee's too good to waste."

Two minutes later, we are all dissing the other on their coffee choices. Fighting and debating.

Sipping on the coffee as per our taste, laughing and enjoying our evening.

It's strange that some months ago if someone came and told me that I would be in love, having friends over and just absorbing life as it is, I would have enrolled them for a check-up.

But today, these people have changed my perspective. Jay might have been my closest friend since the start but I have learnt to let him in truly. I have learnt to make new friends, Dheer for example.

And most importantly, I have learnt to love. So as I watch my wife, swatting Dheer with a spatula and defending her 'no sugar in coffee' theory, I fall a little more in love.

That's how love is. It's like coffee, more it is brewed, the better it tastes. And it keeps getting better. Bitter sometimes, but always ensures you the best experience. People might make their coffees to their taste, but one thing that binds them together is their common interest. Love's like that too. Different for everyone, and yet the best experience they will ever witness.

There's just one thing I have yet to do. One truth that I have hidden, and I need to come clean about it to Noor. Soon.

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Hey!

thank you for reading.

royally yours,
meethi.