Chapitre 12: Sleep my dear, it has been a long day!

|Innaya|

"You want to talk about it?" Eshan asked after we finished our food. He was quite insistent that I finished everything he brought and he made sure that I did what he wanted.

"Hmm..." I gave a brief nod.

"Why don't we sit in the balcony?"

I could easily make, how apprehensive he sounded as he regarded me cautiously.

I walked first without replying, I knew he would understand and he did as he followed me.

It was the first time I was stepping in there. The balcony was spacious and had railings up to my chest level. At one end, three-seater sofa in brown and beige colour with two brown colour cushions was placed and at another end, plants in pots were arranged in a careful manner on different shelves. Middle space was empty. I walked towards railings and let my body weight rest on the folded arms I kept upon them.

Billions of stars adorned sky, intensifying the beauty of the already beautiful moon. The area surrounding our house had long and dense trees at a little distance away from the fencing, hiding the rest of areas effectively.

It looked like a farm. The wind flowing through those trees carried the sweet smell of mangoes proudly implying their arrival in upcoming summer

The slight shuffling beside me, told me Eshan was waiting for me to start. I kept my eyes glued to moon letting its light chase away darkness clouding around me.

I sighed, knowing I had to let out some of the information. I decided to keep it brief. Inhaling the fresh air I framed my words in mind.

"I told you, I had TT at 9... Well, I had a deep wound on my back from the rusty metal as I fell on it and that landed me in hospital. Let's just say that... that experience was not the pleasant one. I do not like hospitals." I started ignoring the little pang in my chest for not being completely honest.

"I am sorry to remind you of that." Eshan's voice fell upon my ears, he was standing so near, yet his voice felt distant. I realized he was regretting his actions.

"It was okay... Your presence helped me in hospital. It... It was not that bad. It's just I am not talkative when I am upset over something." It was time that he let go of the guilt. This time being honest with my feelings, I told him. It was hard to confess something like this to the same person.

"I figured it now." He answered, for my last line.

Okay, so Granny didn't tell him.

"The disappointment in your eyes -" He opened his mouth to interrupt, yet I continued, knowing I would not be able to do so later, "Let me just complete it, please. I now realized that it was not for me, nevertheless, it just had me remember the look people in my life had given to me." Words just continued to come out of my mouth on their own.

I purposefully ignored looking at him, as I knew last part must have raised questions in his mind and continued, "I am okay now. It was past... I just don't know how, but it came back and I sort of compared you to them and rest you know."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw deep frown gracing his otherwise handsome face. I waited for him to say something, anything;

However, he seemed lost in thoughts. Why wouldn't he be? The information he just received was incomplete and being the intelligent person he was, he must have figured it out.

The uncomfortable silence I thought was going to last, broke when Eshan questioned, his voice low and careful, "You want to talk about your nightmare?" He added, "If only you are comfortable."

Should I tell? I winced at that dreadful memory of my nightmare.

"It was some masked person strangling the girl. I ... I felt him choking me." I felt tears gathering in my eyes as I recalled how real it felt.

"Hey, it is fine. You are fine." Eshan must have noticed my distress as he put his hand around my shoulders, gently rubbing my arm and I realized he was right, there was no point, on crying over it.

"Now let past be past. We will start afresh." Eshan commented in a cheerful voice.

Eshan led me towards the sofa. I was amused when instead of letting me sit, he told me to wait in the corner.

He unfolded the sofa and arranged it in a way, that sofa turned into the bed. I was not expecting that. Once he adjusted pillows and blanket on the bed he turned to me grinning, gesturing his eyes towards the bed he raised his hands like a magician, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I smiled, at his attempt of changing the gloomy mood. He lied down on the right side near railings and beckoned with his eyes to the empty side beside him.

Yesterday night I slept before him and had no idea when he slept or when he woke up. Sharing the bed with him after our recent talks felt too intimate, with thudding heart I sat down with some distance between us.

"How was your college? You will have to study now. Focus on studies." Eshan turned his body in my direction propping his head on his left elbow.

I then remembered Mr. Roy and conference.

"Hmm... Eshan, my professor asked me that can I accompany him to the international conference." I decided to ask his opinion.

"International conference?" He gave questioning look.

"Yeah. Mumbai, next month," I affirmed.

"Are you talking about the one on digital marketing?" He questioned with surprise.

"Yup— wait how do you know?" I asked.

"Sweetheart, your husband is one of the speakers and judges too for that." He proudly stated.

"What?" I ignored the sweetheart part.

"Yes, my dear wife," Eshan confirmed tugging at my arm to lie down.

"Okay, so I shall deny professor tomorrow," I muttered.

'How am I going to tell this to Mr. Roy without revealing about my marriage?' So lost in thoughts I did not notice that I obeyed his request and was laying down beside him.

"You won't. It will be a good experience for you so, say yes to him. I will inform organizers and they will find a replacement for judging position." Eshan answered, pulling the comforter over us. I felt heat crawling on my face despite the chilly wind.

Eshan's finger grazed my cheek lightly as he tucked few tendrils behind my ear, his brown eyes never left mine. I sucked a sharp breathe as his fingers caressed my skin tenderly, our conversation long forgotten.

Eshan leaned down, the beating of my heart increased with each passing second with anticipation of his further action. Just inches away from my face he stopped, his lips curved in that beautiful smile, the light coming from inside of the bedroom and soft moonlight emphasized his features exquisitely.

His face lowered and he brushed his lips on my forehead just like earlier and yet the feelings that simple act evoked were just unexplainable. My eyes closed on their own accord.

I thought he pulled away but seconds later I felt him pressing kiss on my close right eyelid and then on left. It felt all stress, tension was leaving my body and sense of contentment was taking over.

His lips trailed upwards and his warm breath, left a trail of tingles. He stopped near my ear whispering, "Sleep my dear, it has been a long day, sleep."

His gentle patting against my head lulled me into sleep as events of the day started fading away.