Almost seven years have passed that we both have been together. Three years back we decided to move in together and listening to it our families almost died of heart attack. There came lots of questionings and hurdles, so after getting irritated by all of it we registered ourselves as couple in the book of law by conducting a registry marriage in presence of our family members only. Everyone looked happy but also wanted a social marriage just like typical Indian families so we decided to conduct it once we get settled completely.

After that the next three years went busy. I and him, Ishaan, my boy friend, only got few hours at night to spend with each other. Even on weekends we remained busy. Harsh corporate lives you see. Our sex life wasn't cool as well. Things were okay but something seemed missing. That warm feeling of love was nowhere near. We hardly cuddled and as this realization crashed over me I got panicky.

I was scared, if Ishaan got bored of our routine ever and left me then how would I live without him? Thinking so I inched closer and rested my head over his chest. He was my home. Honestly, no one understood me the way he did. He knew my desires even before I mouthed them, and that is why I always felt special when he stayed around.

"What happened baby?" his sleep is very light and he got up as soon I kept my head over his chest.

"Nothing much, I was just missing both of us. I was missing our banters, our love makings, and our future planning, our everything basically"

"Okay, but we still do all of these"

"Yeah, but there is no sense of adventure in it. It feels like some routine. It feels caged inside this home which we once bought as our dream home"

He slightly smiled and intertwined his fingers with mine. His eyes were fixed over our fingers and he started playing with them.

"Do you know Nitya when you denied my proposal for the first time it felt as if world has crashed over me, I was at loss and couldn't understand what to do or where to go but then something worked out and we both are here now" I could sense the happiness in his tone "the first time when you held me in your arms, that feeling was eternal. I could sense how heaven felt like. Then slowly we grew closer, we decided to live together and spend the rest of our life together and all of these are what I forever dreamt since the day I met you. Laying beside you and looking at you sleep peacefully is my favourite part of the day. When I get stressed and you massage my head that is what makes me feel most relaxed. When you call my parents to ask about their well being my heart flutters with pride. I feel special and on top of the world only by thinking that you chose me to spend the rest of your life" Ishaan looked into my eyes as he completed saying.

Honesty, warmth and love were dripping out of his eyes and they were filled with joy. He wrapped me in between his arms.

"I love you today, tomorrow, and forever" were the only set of words I could say.

He then softly brought his lips closer and kissed my forehead. My eyes got closed in reflex and he started stroking my hair. I slowly drifted off to sleep. The last thing I could hear before loosing consciousness was Ishaan's I love you.

Next morning arrived and as I opened my eyes to get up I felt that sharp pain in my stomach and back. I checked the date and cried to myself. Just like every month, the dates for my menstruation have arrived. I hated the first three days of my cycle as my stomach and back pained so much. I could hardly move but owing to my work schedule I couldn't take a day off. I looked around in the room to see if Ishaan was there but he wasn't. So, I rested my foot over the floor to get up and just then Ishaan rushed in with a tray and a hot water bag in his hand.

"Nitya wait, it is the day when your cycle would start right?" he asked standing at some distance and balancing both the things over his hand.

"Yes but how..."

"Okay then, you and I both are not going to office today. I know how sick you feel so we would both take your care today, together, okay?" he came in and kept the tray over our bedside table and handed me the hot water bag "baby, I prepared tea for both of us and decided to feed you some good food unlike the boiled diet food you always eat. So, your diet plan or routine or whatever is not going to work out for today in front of me"

I looked at him and honestly got a bit irritated. He was ordering me as if I was a baby girl and hated this ever so special treatment. I was okay, but who would explain this to him. Moreover, I had so many works left at my workplace so just thinking about taking an off was making me feel guilty. But I knew if once Mr. Ishaan has decided my routine then even god can't change it.

"Ishaan you know my boss..."

"Yes I know your boss and that is why I have already informed him about you being sick and taking a day off"

"That means you already completed all the necessary arrangements to stop me from going to office?"

"Yes" he stretched his head up in pride.

He was that one existing Mr. cute and I loved it that he was mine. Without further extending the discussion I went to washroom and got freshened up. As I returned I found a sad Ishaan sitting at the edge of our bed.

"What happened?"

"Nitya I informed my colleagues about you being sick and me taking off for that and all of they thought that you are pregnant. They posted good wishes on social media and tagged us and after seeing all of it our family members have had called six times already in these last fifteen minutes"

"What?"

It took time for me to process the information but when I understood all of it, I broke into laughter. I didn't know how to react and what to say but my laughter just couldn't stop. Our families were literally waiting for our babies so I could imagine their happy faces but on the other side I could think that how much sad they would be right now after knowing the truth.

"Stop laughing and tell me what to do. I couldn't tell them the truth. You come and say it"

My eyes went wide listening to it. That means our parents were still celebrating the joy of becoming grandparents and this idiot Ishaan has not stopped them from doing so. I felt like punching him hard but as I said earlier, this man was one cute being alive on this earth and by seeing his cuteness anyone would melt. So, I simply walked towards him and sat beside. He handed me my phone and I dialed the numbers of our parents one after another and informed them about the truth.

"I knew it that you wouldn't ever give us the happiness of being grandparents" my mother shouted.

"But Maa..."

"Bye" and she cut the call over my face.

I looked at Ishaan who was happily enjoying the situation he has pushed me into and seeing that I held his ear and twisted it hard. Anger was boiling inside my head in high temperature but leaving some deep breaths I dialed Ishaan's mother's number.

"Congratulations dear" aunty, Ishaan's mother, sounded so happy.

"Aunty actually..."

"Don't worry dear, we and your parents would soon fix a date of your social marriage and celebrate both the joys together"

"No aunty it's not like that, actually I am not pregnant"

"Not pregnant? But I saw on facebook that..."

"It was all a misunderstanding aunty. Sorry"

"Oh! It is okay dear. Tell me how are you?"

"I am good aunty"

Our conversation went on for few more minutes. It felt bad to listen to the sudden fall of happiness from her voice. She was probably expecting us to get married finally but as always we didn't fulfill her expectations. After cutting the call I looked at Ishaan, he was in turn looking back at me. His playful expression has turned to serious. He probably has understood the inner turmoil that was running inside me and firmly kept his hand over mine.

"Nitya it is not your fault or mine, everything was just a mere misunderstanding"

"No Ishaan I wasn't think about today's incidents, I was thinking that how all these years we have stayed by each other's side but every time denied getting married socially. We know we will forever be there then what is the problem in getting married?"

"I don't know"

Exactly, we didn't know why we were keeping on denying the thought of marriage. I realized that as I talked to aunty that day. My mother's words seemed like pestering to me but when aunty explained all of it calmly, the other side of our relation came in front of me.

"So Mr. Ishaan Mehta, would you marry me?" I asked extending my hand towards him.

"I would think and answer" he showed attitude and got up.

"Urgh!" I grunted to only get surprised by him as he pulled me up in his arms and swirled me cutting the air.

"Finally going to get the chance to call you wifey"

"Umm maybe"

We smiled aloud in unison as I rested my head over his chest. I could hear his heartbeat and it seemed to match mine. Our lives taught us so much as we stayed together. Last night the insecurity that I felt, just vanished in the thin air. Ishaan was mine, all mine. I smiled and pecked him over his lips just to receive a sloppy kiss from his side in return.

___________

How many of you have this type of boyfriend/husband? And how many want it?

Much love always
Nilanjana ❤️