Page 56 of The Unwanted Husband
A week passed. Then another. She caught glimpses of him in the hallway, saw the exhaustion etched in his features, the way he’d freeze when their eyes met before quickly looking away. He was running from what had happened between them, and she was letting him.
All because they mutually wanted to give into their attraction that night? She did not expect such behavior from him. They were adults who were attracted to each other. If the tension was making it hard to be around each other, like any civil grownups, either they talk about it or do what they need to do to address it.
She was not going to let him get away that night. Just like she had been the past week or so, she was the one to give the twins a bath and then read to them. She surprisingly enjoyed hanging out with them. It fascinated her how much they could understand and she learnt how to reason with them.
Isha just had to reason with their uncle and set things straight because the undying pull that was driving her nuts all those days didn’t bother her as much. Maybe because she realized how complicated the situation would be if they had gone all the way.
She needed to talk to him openly about it and she was finding it hard to focus on her work or on the paperwork she was going through to file the law suit against Paramesh Saini. Her mind and body seemed to be high strung no matter how many times she took care of herself.
It was a Tuesday night and she confirmed with Nina and Varun, somewhat discretely, if Ashok was in town. They both confirmed they had seen him in the office; his sports car was not on the driveway so he had to be in town and not traveling that night. The car was so loud, she knew it would wake her when he arrived later that night. She sipped on cup after cup of coffee as she sat in the office working late into the night. She was determined to have the conversation with Ashok that night, no matter what.
Before she realized it, it was well past midnight and she was bright as a flower from the caffeine overdose. She turned off her computer and decided to catch up on a TV show. Maybe she could watch a few episodes of an old show while she waited for him.
She walked softly down the hallway, not to alarm any of the staff. She looked around the large living area in the dark to get the eyes adjusted to the dark. Once she could see the outline of the furniture, she took one step and froze. There was something unexpected on the white leather couch.
Her eyes fell on the tall figure sprawled on the reclining sofa. His laptop was still open on the coffee table; work documents scattered around him like he’d been working on something and was too tired to get up and go to the bedroom. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair messy, and there were dark circles under his eyes that spoke of too many sleepless nights.
Guilt hit her like a physical blow, double hard.
It was all her fault. The office was usually his in the evening and she had taken over the space thinking he was away. Also, she was the one who pushed too hard, being too selfish in her need for him. She had manipulated the situation, used his protective instincts against him, forcing him to literally sleep on furniture to avoid being near her or talk to her.
She grabbed a blanket from the closet and gently draped it over him, careful not to wake him. In sleep, his face was relaxed, the tension he carried around her finally gone. He looked younger, more vulnerable, and it made her chest ache.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, though he couldn’t hear her.
*****
The next morning, she made coffee and left it on the counter for him, then disappeared into the office before he woke up. She started giving him space, real space. No more lingering looks, no more excuses to be near him. When he came home late, she made sure to be visibly busy with something else, not waiting up like she had been. If she didn’t have anything to work on, she made sure to be in bed.
The truth was, she missed being around him. Even though she didn’t interact with him, she missed him in ways that made her chest tight and her hands shake. But watching him sleep on that couch, seeing what her selfishness had cost him, she realized that wanting him wasn’t worth driving him away.
It made sense why he adamantly stayed away from her. It was a simple solution in her mind to get over the sheer pull they felt for each other but if something went sideways, it would affect their relationship and eventually that would impact the twins.
If distance was what he needed, she would comply. Probably best for everyone!
But three days into her new resolve, she caught him watching her from the other side of the office room doors, something unreadable in his expression. When their eyes met, he didn’t look away this time. It felt like he was waiting there to talk to her.
“Come in,” she murmured, gesturing to him to come into the office.
He nodded before stepping into the room, holding up the coffee mug in his hand. “Thanks for the coffee and I hope I’m not interrupting.”
She shook her head, suddenly aware of his proximity. “Of course, not.” She flicked her hair and let out a chuckle of excitement.
Cut it out. Control. He doesn’t want anything to do with you.
“I have some good news.” He smiled.
“What?” It had been a long time since she had heard anything good so it kind of scared her.
“I just heard from Aravinda. Looks like we are going home soon.” His eyes sparkled as he approached her as if to celebrate the news.
Unsure of what it is that he wanted to do, she stood frozen for a second before stretching her arm out, to shake his hand. It was the best thing to do given how explosive it got the other night when they were close.
She was surprised when he slapped her hand and wrapped his arms around her.
“Thanks to you I guess for the convincing spin on this arrangement.” It was a platonic, bear hug from his side but when she felt his warmth against her soft body, she let out a gaspy moan, close to his ear.
As if in response, she felt a shudder pass through him and on instinct she slightly tightened her hold on him, even as he held her to him, her feet off the ground. Moments passed and their breathing was coming fast as every time they came close to each other.
