Chapter 21 - Embarrass Innaya Club

|Innaya|

I felt some weight on my waist. I shrugged it off thinking it was my sleepy mind, playing trick on me and I tried going back to sleep. It was soft and continuous thumping of something, beating against my ear, had my sleep-laden eyes fluttering. Blinking my eyes to get rid of their heaviness, it took me a while to get my vision adjusted. That lub-dub was again there and the rest of my sleep went away as something moved beneath me.

What?

I hurriedly looked around in search for the source for the sound and the moving. It came as a surprise when I found myself wrapped in Eshan's arms. Waking up in his arms was not new, as it had happened a couple of times in last one month but the fact, that I was sleeping almost on him, with my head resting on his chest where his heart was beating against my ear, my one hand sandwiched between our bodies, other one draped across his stomach, and well, my legs tangled with his under the covers.

The shock was the understatement as my mind registered our intimacy. We were close but this close, and that too I, was more overwhelmingly concerning for my own good. Eshan initiated, always, never me. As I recalled last night's event, I wondered how I ended up in this position, laying almost on top of him.

My mind went back to the conversation with my family on one morning while we were having the breakfast, regarding my sleeping style.

*

"You know Naina, after marriage our son-in-law would be sleeping on the floor only." Grandpa's word had Grandma's, Mom's and mine attention but for altogether different reasons. I put the sandwich back on the plate before noticing others were doing there breakfast normally as if nothing happened.

With my eyes almost popping out in astonishment as if the topic itself was absurd, I glanced at Mom for help, but instead of doing so, she directed her gaze at Grandpa while sipping her favourite apple juice waiting for Grandpa to elaborate. Before I could turn towards Grandma, I heard her asking, "Why?"

I could see Grandpa was barely able to contain the bubbling laughter, he was clearly enjoying at my expense. "Don't you know? She wrestles with her bed while sleeping. The whole bed is not sufficient for her. I wonder what will she do at her in-law's place?" with all seriousness in his voice, Grandpa explained worriedly.

"I am more worried about my son-in-law though, Papa. How would he cope with sumo wrestler every night?" Trust my mother to join 'Embarrass Innaya Club', her comment did the trick and the whole table erupted in loud laughter.

I left the place as the teasing became too much. First of all, whatever wrestling Grandpa was talking about was my concern. When I knew I was not going to share my life with anyone ever, then what was the use of talking and being concerned about the son-in-law who would never be in the picture?

*

'Seems like Grandpa was right, I did wrestle and that must have resulted in me shifting near him.' I mentally face palmed myself.

'Not shifting near him, it is sleeping almost on top of him.' My mind had to reason.

I was mortified, at the same time, there was the strong urge of being in that position, the urge that was alien to me. It was already enough for the day and if he found us in this position, I was sure he would pass some teasing remarks that would only add more, to my already piled up embarrassments. So, in order to avoid any awkwardness and save myself from further embarrassment, as stealthily as I could, I pried away from his arms wrapped up around me. It took more efforts and more time to complete the task but I managed to free myself. Immediately I felt the absence of his warmth.

Still lying on his chest, I raised my head little towards his face. 'Adorable.' He presented that picture unknowingly. His always neat and gelled hair now were disheveled and yet they did nothing to mar his handsomeness, in fact, they added more to the cute factor, his mouth little opened, he slept just like a small baby.

Lifting my right hand, I brought my palm to his hair, softly touching them. They felt soft just like yesterday. It was the second time I had let my fingers vanished in his dark, dense black hair. Slowly, I dragged my fingers to his forehead caressing it with them. With that I realized I did not like to see worry lines on it, I liked seeing him stress-free. That realization had me gasping in a surprise. My fingers, resumed their journey as if they had a mind of their own. They slowly traveled from his forehead to his cheek. He liked to keep himself clean shaved but the tight schedule of the last couple of days did not allow him to and that was the reason for his light beard. It felt, tantalizing against my skin.

His warm skin felt so good against my cold one, and I wondered why I was so cold. One part of me, screamed to pull back my hand at that moment and another part in the very locked up corner, insisted on further exploration. My eyes flickered to his plump lips closing up ever so slowly together. I let my thumb trace his lips and the moment it met his lips, sudden shiver went running through my body and that pulled me out of whatever trance I was in.

Quickly detangling myself from him, I rushed to the washroom without looking at him. I closed the door hurriedly behind me and stood in front of the mirror, my fingers clutching the sink as I shut my eyes tightly. The loud beating of my heart in my ears along with the sudden unknown fear had me almost panting with the unknown feeling.

I opened my eyes as I stared at the reflection of the woman in the mirror. She was not me. The person who never let any male apart from my Grandpa have important place and space in her life was now touching someone when he was not in his senses.

The thought of replacing my thumb with my own lips had jolted me to the reality. How could I feel this way about him? What was I thinking? What had happened to me? What if Eshan had woken up, what he would have thought of me? Oh, God!

I put my head in my palms. I was thankful for almighty that he was sleeping when I was checking him out else, I did not know how would I have faced him. 'Stupid me. Hell, I don't know how will I face him now.'

I decided to take a shower first to calm down my estranged nerves and forget that anything like this had ever happened.

*