Author's POV
When Preeti reached the classroom, the lecture had already started.
She pushed the door open softly, lowered her head, and walked in with quiet steps.
Alia glanced at her with sharp eyes full of questions.
Preeti slipped into her seat beside Alia without making a sound.
A minute later, Alia slid her notebook toward her. On the top corner, she had written:
"What was that, Preeti?"
Preeti's heart skipped.
She looked at Alia, whose expression clearly said You better explain.
Preeti quickly wrote back:
"I will explain after class."
When she returned the notebook, she gave Alia a tiny nod almost like she was begging her not to be angry.
Alia sighed and turned her face toward the board, but her eyebrows told Preeti she would not escape questioning.
---------------------
The moment the lecture ended, Alia grabbed Preeti's wrist.
"Come with me," she said in a tone that meant no arguments.
They walked to the side garden of the university where fewer people went.
A small empty bench waited under a big tree.
Both sat down.
Alia crossed her arms.
"Now tell me, Preeti... are you married?"
Preeti looked down and whispered, "Yes..."
Alia blinked.
"You... what? When did you get married to him?"
"When I came to college... two years ago."
"WHATTTTTTT?!"
Alia's voice echoed so loudly that a few birds flew off the tree.
Her jaw dropped, eyes wide like she had just heard a crime confession.
"Preeti, are you serious right now? You didn't tell me this for two years? How could you hide something so big from me?!"
Preeti felt guilty.
She twisted her fingers nervously.
"Alia, actually... two years ago, my father died because of an accident."
Her voice shook slightly.
"And in his last moments, he asked me to marry Ansh. I was only sixteen... so Ansh told me not to tell anyone. He said I should focus on my studies first."
Slowly, she told Alia everything how Ansh became her guardian, how he took care of her, how he made sure she completed her education.
Alia's angry face softened.
Then curiosity took over.
"So... you guys are married for almost three years now?"
Preeti nodded. "Yes."
Alia leaned back, still processing.
"By the way... Ansh sir looks very rude and cold!" she added honestly.
Preeti shook her head quickly.
"No, he is not like that with me. He takes... a lot of care of me."
She said the words proudly, then her smile faded a little.
"But these days... he started getting angry at me."
"Why? What did you do?" Alia asked.
Preeti counted on her fingers, embarrassed.
"First time when he took me from the bar... and second time today... when Rocky removed that paper from my hair."
"Ohhhh."
Alia smirked.
"So Ansh sir is jealous."
Preeti's cheeks warmed.
"Jealous? No... he is not like that..."
"Preeti, please. I'm not blind. He was so angry when Rocky touched your hair."
She laughed.
"And by the way, Rocky is also interested in you. But don't worry, I'll handle him. You just maintain proper distance with other boys. Otherwise, my jiju will get jealous again."
Preeti slapped her arm softly.
"Aliaaa! Stop it..."
Alia leaned closer with shining eyes.
"Okay fine. Tell me what Ansh sir said to you in the office room."
Preeti's entire face turned red instantly.
Alia gasped.
"Ohhh! Some romantic moment happened, right? Did he kiss you passionately in anger?"
"What nonsense, Alia! Nothing like that happened," Preeti said, hiding her face.
"It's normal between married couples, Preeti. Why are you shy? You've been married for three years. You must have kissed him countless times."
Preeti whispered softly, "Alia... I kissed him for the first time today..."
Alia froze.
"...What?"
Preeti swallowed.
"We never kissed before... but today he asked... so I... I kissed him on the cheek."
Alia stared at her for two seconds.
Then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"PREETI! He asked you for your first kiss and you gave him a cheek peck? Seriously?!"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Preeti asked helplessly.
Alia grabbed Preeti's hands dramatically.
"My innocent little princess... you don't know anything about romance! Okay, come. Let me show you something."
She took out her phone and played a hot kissing scene from the movie My Fault.
Preeti's eyes went wide.
Two actors were kissing passionately.
"Kyaaaa... chiiii! What is this?!" Preeti covered half her face with her hands.
Her heart beat fast, she felt embarrassed, shy, and shocked all at once.
Alia laughed again.
"This is normal romance, Preeti. Husband and wife can be this intimate. It's okay! You should also kiss Ansh like this someday."
Preeti squeaked, "Chiiii! I can't! It looks so... strange. So close... so much touching... I can't do that!"
"But you will," Alia teased.
"Because your husband clearly wants you. And if you kissed his cheek today... next time he will not let you run."
Preeti slapped her arm again while hiding her burning cheeks.
"Alia, stop! Please!"
-----------------
Preeti returned home with the driver.
Her heartbeat had not calmed since Alia showed her that scene.
She went straight to her room and locked the door.
Standing in front of the mirror, she saw her own red face.
"Why am I thinking like this...? Why am I feeling so strange?"
She touched her cheek where she had kissed Ansh.
Her fingers trembled lightly.
"Does he expect... something else? Should I... do something more? No! No no no... I can't..."
Her thoughts were a mess.
She sat on the bed.
Then stood.
Then sat again.
She felt nervous, confused, and... something warm inside her chest she didn't understand.
Finally she left the room and went to the kitchen.
"Yasmin kaki... coffee, please."
Yasmin smiled. "Rough day?"
Preeti nodded.
Coffee arrived. She held the warm mug with shaking hands.
Just then her phone buzzed.
University Group Message:
Tomorrow students will go for a trip and night camping.
Preeti immediately texted Alia:
"Are you going?"
Alia replied:
"Yes! Of course."
Preeti bit her lip. She didn't feel ready to face Ansh again.
So she sent him a message:
"Ansh... tomorrow we are going camping.
Can I go?"
After five minutes, his reply came:
"Yes."
Just one word. Nothing else.
It made her even more nervous.
She went to her room and started selecting clothes.
--------------
Preeti got ready in a jacket, cargo pants, open hair, and a cute cap.
She looked different. More confident.
She took a deep breath and went with the driver.
At the university, students were entering the bus.
Alia had already saved a seat for her.
They sat together.
The bus ride was fun music, gossip, jokes, games.
For a while, Preeti forgot her nervousness.
But when they reached the campsite at 6 p.m. and stepped out of the bus A familiar voice called:
"Students, listen carefully."
Preeti froze.
Ansh was there.
Again.
She hadn't mentally prepared for this.
Her breath caught.
Her stomach tightened.
"Why didn't he tell me he is coming?" she whispered to Alia.
Alia smirked.
"Maybe he wants to keep an eye on you."
Preeti glared at her.
Ansh continued, "Choose your place and start setting your tents. Two students per tent."
He walked away with the guide.
After a few minutes, a girl rushed to him.
"Sir, I don't have a tent partner. One tent is missing."
The guide looked confused.
"How is that possible...?"
Ansh checked the list.
Then said calmly, "No worries. Come with me, Taniya."
They walked toward Preeti and Alia's tent.
"Sir, but these two are already here..." Taniya said.
Ansh didn't even blink.
"Preeti. Come. You will stay with me."
"WHAT?!" Preeti squeaked.
Alia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Yes, yes, Preeti," she teased.
"You should go with Ansh sir. Otherwise poor Taniya will have no tent..."
Preeti stared at her with betrayed eyes.
Ansh walked out of the tent, expecting her to follow.
She had no choice.
She followed him quietly.
————————-
They reached the empty space where their tent would be set.
The sun was almost gone.
A cool breeze moved her hair gently.
Ansh placed the tent bag on the ground.
"Hold this," he said softly.
Preeti held the tent pole with both hands, trying not to look at him.
He came behind her to fix the other end.
She felt his breath near her ear.
Her heart thudded loudly.
"Your hands are shaking," he said quietly.
"N-no... it's just cold..."
Her breath caught.
His hand brushed hers while adjusting the pole.
Even that tiny touch made her freeze.
Neither spoke much.
But the silence was filled with tension warm, bold, intense, yet clean.
When he leaned over her to fix the top of the tent, his shoulder touched hers.
She felt her cheeks burn instantly.
At one point the rope slipped from her fingers.
Ansh caught it before it fell and looked at her.
Her eyes widened.
He tied the rope slowly, his eyes still on her.
"You are distracted," he said quietly.
She looked away, embarrassed.
Finally, after a few minutes, the tent was ready.
They stepped outside.
----------------------
The bonfire was bright and warm.
Students sat around it, laughing, talking, roasting marshmallows.
Preeti sat with Alia.
But her eyes kept shifting toward Ansh.
He stood a little far, arms crossed, watching the students.
Sometimes he looked at her.
And when he did... Preeti quickly looked away.
Her heart refused to stay calm.
-----------------------
Preeti's POV
Tonight feels different.
I don't know why... but after everything Alia said... after everything Ansh did...
my heart keeps beating too fast.
When he told me to stay in his tent...
I felt nervous.
Scared.
Shy.
And... something warm.
When he stood close to me while fixing the tent, I felt like my whole body forgot how to work.
My hands were shaking so much.
I don't know why I react like this with him.
I don't know why one look from him makes me feel weak.
I don't know why his silence feels louder than anyone's words.
I don't know what is happening between us...
but something is changing.
Inside me.
And maybe... inside him too.
And that scares me.
But somewhere deep inside...
It also makes me feel something I cannot name.
Write a comment ...