CHAPTER 22

                                    

                                          
After dinner, they both came back to their room. Aisha sat on the bed and grabbed a book she liked to read before bedtime. Rohan went out to the balcony of their room to get some fresh air, but he was still glancing at Aisha from there. After some time, he came back into the room and lay down on the bed beside her. Aisha looked at him, puzzled.
Rohan smiled and said, "Didn't you say yesterday that we could share the bed?"
Aisha teased, "Didn't someone say they wouldn't share the bed until I accepted them as my husband?"
Rohan shrugged. "Hmm! I changed my mind," he said, closing his eyes and folding his arms.
Aisha smiled and resumed reading her book. After a while, Rohan opened his eyes and asked, "Are you not sleepy yet?"
Aisha replied, "No."
Rohan sat up on the bed and said, "Me neither."
Aisha suggested, "Then grab any book from your collection and read it."
Rohan moved closer to her and said, "I don't want to read any book."
Aisha replied, "Hmm, then do what your heart tells you to do."
Rohan squinted his eyes and asked, "Really?"
Aisha nodded, "Hmm."
Rohan whispered in her ear, "Then I would like to read you."
Aisha turned to look at him, finding him already gazing at her, their faces just inches apart. As Rohan leaned in to kiss her, there was a sudden knock on the door. Rohan sighed and Aisha quickly pulled back, coming back to her senses.
Rohan went to open the door and found Aarav standing there. "Hmm, what?" Rohan asked.
Aarav pushed past him. "Bro, move." He entered their room with Rohan trailing behind him. Aarav addressed Aisha, "I want to talk to you."
Aisha asked, "Hmm, tell me."
Aarav said, "Not here."
Rohan, already annoyed at Aarav for ruining the moment, said, "Don't bother. I know you have a crush on her friend."
Aarav looked at Aisha in surprise and asked, "Can't you hide anything from your husband?"
Aisha looked down, guilty. "Sorry."
Rohan interjected, "Hey, what? You used to share everything with me before Aisha came into our lives, and now you want to hide things from me?"
Aarav replied, "It's not like that. You always make fun of me, but Aisha understands me."
Rohan laughed, "That will never change. I still see you as a joker."
Aarav retorted, "You... you are a monster."
Hearing this, Aisha laughed. Aarav added, "Yeah, Aisha, you were right. You gave him the perfect name: Monster."
Rohan, hearing that Aisha had called him a monster, stared at her with mock ferocity. Aisha caught his look, gulped, and said, "Aarav, tell me what you wanted to talk about."
As Aarav was about to speak, Rohan interrupted, "We are sleepy now. Go. She will talk to you tomorrow," and he slowly pushed Aarav out of the room. Aarav protested, "Bro... but... bro," and Rohan, ignoring him, said, "Bye... bye... goodnight," and closed the door.
Rohan turned back and approached Aisha. "Monster, huh?"
Aisha didn't say anything. She grabbed her blanket, covered herself up to her face, and pretended to sleep.