Chapter 15 - Sleeping beauty and angry best friends

|Eshan|

I let my fingers continue running through Innaya's hair, on her face just to assure myself it was over, she was fine. One moment I was holding her on the road, preventing her from stepping on that dog's tail and in next moment, I had felt her going stiff in my arms as that dog stared at us in anger and bewilderment.

That dog did not attack as I thought he would. Instead he lapped at the fallen ice-cream on the ground.

I had brought her to the car that was just a step away and sat in the backseat holding her. I had felt her body turning cold as I watched her eyes glossing repeatedly and felt her heartbeat racing as I hugged her to myself, rubbing her back. The very same condition I witnessed on the second day of our marriage.

I knew I did not want her to fall unconscious and that was why, I whispered words of comfort, encouragement in her ear. I had felt her struggle to breath steadily against my neck so, I pulled back a little.

Holding her face in my palms, I instructed her breathing exercise I had learnt from my Gym instructor. Her small fists had gripped my white shirt, crumpling it in the process as she did as told.

Eventually, her breathing had returned to normal, lifting the rock that had settled on my heart watching her so vulnerable and that had me sighing in a relief. I had patted her back until she had fallen asleep in my arms, her eyes had fluttered momentarily and I saw something similar to satisfaction of some kind float in those chocolaty eyes before she close them.

After assuring myself for around more than half an hour holding her sleeping figure closer, I adjusted her on backseat in laying position so that she wouldn't wake up while I drove.

Making sure, she was comfortable as much as she could in the confined space of backseat, I willed myself to drive towards our home. As much as I wanted to be near her, I would like her to be at confines of our home rather than outside in scorching heat in the car.

I manoeuvred the steering wheel through the familiar lanes of roads leading to our home, being careful enough not to disrupt her. Calling it, my home no longer felt right, my eyes went to the reason behind it that was sleeping peacefully in the backseat.

*

I opened the door of the car where Innaya's head was resting and picked her up, being attentive enough not to wake her from her slumber. She twitched a little in my arms, nestling her head in my neck before she settled.

I started climbing the white marble steps of our mansion and my hold tightened around her as her steady breath fanned my neck while her nose rubbed the skin there. I reached the top of four stairs and before I could dwell on how to ring the bell, I found the front door wide opened. Must be Amma, the caretaker, had kept it open waiting for us as I had informed her last night.

"Whoa... Look guys Eshan Singhania carrying a girl in his arms." Barun was first to notice.

"Somebody please pinch me." Arjun had to be his dramatic self.

"Shut up, Arjun." Ayush, my best friend spoke for me.

"Here we thought you will be apologetic for not coming with us and— you are doing this." Sameer grunted.

"Very beautiful reason for your consistent absence, I must say. But from when you started sleeping around, bro?" Arjun had to open his big mouth.

"Shut up," I whispered yelled at my idiotic friends who apparently had to assume worst of the situation and jump onto the conclusion.

I glared angrily at them not for remarking the stupid comments but for daring to disturb her. I glanced at my wife in my arms that thankfully just squirmed a little and snuggled more into me but slept. 'She is a heavy sleeper when she wants to.' I smiled to myself at that thought but instantly the incident before came to my mind and that smile turned into the frown. Ignoring my friends who had baffled look on their faces except Ayush, I started towards our bedroom at the second floor.

"Hey buddy, what happened?" Ayush was beside me while I continued to walk, he added after taking a look at her, "Is she alright?"

I entered our bedroom that I had redecorated in cream and purple colour theme according to her taste. I placed her on the bed before pulling the covers over her till her chin and adjusted her head on the pillow.

"Do I call a doctor?" Ayush again inquired breaking my trance.

"No. She is just sleeping," I answered, while searching for remote of air conditioner on the bedside table. I set the temperature after I found it.

"Sleeping?" Barun questioned. I turned around and found they all had followed us in our room.

"She is tired," I half-lied to them while rubbing my neck tiredly.

"Tired," Sameer mumbled to himself while I found his lips curving in the teasing smirk.

"Hmm, seems like you drained her," Barun commented before winking at me.

I glared at him before I heard him adding, "Poor girl."

"By the way where did you find her? I must admit she is ho—,"

I pinned Arjun Arya to the wall beside the door before he could complete his sentence. I had not forgotten his earlier comment of me sleeping around. His blue eyes widened slightly at my fury.

"Dare you utter a word, she is my wife you—" I gritted out each word before pressing at his neck with my elbow.

"Calm down buddy. He was just jesting." Barun who was standing near us pulled me away from Arjun.

"Jesting? You think it is funny. Sorry to burst your bubble Barun but it's not funny," I spat the words in frustration before I shrugged his hands that were holding me.

"Eshan, what happened. Why are you getting cranky?" Sameer questioned.

"Guys, give us a minute," Ayush intervened before I could speak anymore and punch someone taking out my anger. Ayush always was mature one amongst us and knew me better than anyone.

Sameer and Barun nodded at him and dragged Arjun with them who was rubbing the area of his throat that had turned red. I felt slightly guilty for that but in my defence, he provoked me first.

"Eshan," Ayush tugged at my arm pulling me out of the bedroom.

"What are you doing Ayush? Leave me," I hissed at him trying to wriggle out of his grasp but his hold at my left elbow didn't waver. I glanced at Innaya, I wanted to be near her, and this stupid was dragging me away from her.

"I will, now shut up and follow me," he sternly replied and dragged me away towards the area little away from my room.