Married To A Stranger

Sreesha Pov:

The sight before me was not something new but it feels special today, very special.

“I love you” he mumbled again burying his head in the crook of my neck, still sleeping. I lost my count after 100, he mumbled ‘I love you’ between every kiss we shared. Maybe this is the nth time he declared his love towards me all night even in his sleep.

Last night he showed me how much he loves me. I love it, when he was all jealous, it made him show me how much he loves me. I was awake all-night listening to his ‘I love you’s’. I would never get tired of listening to those three precious words. And to add more, he is damn cute while sleeping, his head on my heartbeat and his hands draped around my waist holding it possessively.

‘As if you’re complaining about it’

‘Welcome back, I miss you. Where were you all these days’ I thought, sarcastically.

‘Yeah.. yeah.. looks like I was being missed a lot when I was away?’

‘I hate you… you’re always wrong to judge my husband. You know he loves me!’ I thought proudly.

‘What did I do? And you hate me? Oh please! We both know you can’t live without me’

‘As if! Leave it, I’m too tired to argue with you’ I thought, shutting down the voice.

“I love you” I heard his voice again. A big grin appeared on my lips. I know I was smiling as an Idiot and he would definitely think I’m insane.

Yes, Insanely in love with him.

“I love you too Karthi” I mumbled placing a kiss on his forehead and started running my fingers through his silky hair. He sighed in approval.

“I wish we could stay like this forever” I mumbled. I know he’s awake now.

“I wish to too, but sadly we need to get ready and go out to grab late breakfast to tame your growling monster in this tiny stomach” he said running his hand on my now naked stomach. I shivered when he started drawing imaginary circles around my navel.

“Karthi” I whispered, he groaned.

“Don’t use that voice right now, love. We couldn’t leave this room if you keep on using that voice on me, which makes my self-control weak. I was just a few seconds away from taking you again” he groaned again.

“Then what’s stopping you?” I mumbled.

“My plans for you, of course, I want you to be happy and enjoy each and every moment we stay here,” he said running his hand through his hair.

“I’m happy” I said looking into his eyes.

“I love you” I added kissing him to which he responded almost immediately.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I love you too” he said after our heavy make out session, his eyes filled with love, passion and desire.

“Okay, let me go get ready. So, we can roam in the city” I said dragging the sheets with me to the washroom. After bathing, I realized that I didn’t bring my clothes with me. I quickly wrapped the towel around me and stepped outside clutching it securely… just in case.

“Why are you making it hard on me” Karthik said pushing me against the wall while placing open mouth kisses which will definitely leave a hickey.

“Karthik, stop it, I don’t want to use more concealer today, stop biting my skin,” I said drowning into his sweet torture.

“Then don’t use it, I like my marks on you, it shows to everyone that you belong to me. I want the whole male population away from you… including that Mahesh babu guy” he almost growled making me laugh.

I placed my one palm on his cheek while holding my towel securely with other “Mahesh babu is a Tollywood Hero” I said kissing his cheek.

“What? Yeah, now I remember we watched a few films of him, right?” Almost sighing in relief “How dare you to fool me?” He took a threatening step towards me.

“Karthik, remember we need to go out and all, so let me go and get ready” I said wriggling in his hold.

“It can wait, now let me teach you a lesson for fooling your husband and uttering a male’s name which is not mine” he said closing the gap between our lips with a Possessive yet toe-curling kiss.

“Get ready” his was voice hoarse, I nodded slipping away from his hold.

There is a saree on the bed with matching jewelry.

Did I tell you my husband is the sweetest? No? Then I’m telling you now… he was the sweetest guy on the earth.

We’re out of our suite in no time, after having our breakfast more like lunch in a nearby restaurant, did I mention it is already noon! and we’re heading towards god knows where.

“Karthi, where are we going? Tell me please” I said pouting.

“To somewhere,” he said nonchalantly.

“Now stop pouting before I take you right here” he said in a threatening voice making me blink at him in surprise.

‘Where the hell is my innocent husband and who is this man beside me’

“This is the man you created a few hours ago with all your love,” he said smirking and winked. That is when I realised I must have talked my thoughts aloud.

“We’re here,” he said before parking the vehicle in the middle of nowhere before I could say a word, he started dragging me into the forest. I followed him without saying a word admiring the tall trees everywhere. The sound of our footsteps was in rhythm, the faint noises of birds and the squeals of squirrels were taking me into another world.

The world I dreamt of.

I want nothing but to build a treehouse and stay here for the rest of my life. I stumbled over a few stones to which Karthik tightened his grip on my waist.

“You look lost in your thoughts” he commented.

“I am” I said nodding “lost in the beauty of nature” added giving him a big grin.

“You forgot me again, didn’t you?” He accused.

“I’m sorry Karthik, I can’t help myself when it comes to nature. I wish we could live here forever” I said leaning my head on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry I’ll plan a long vacation next time; we’ll travel all the world. I promise.” He mumbled kissing my hair.

“It doesn’t matter Karthi, be my side thick and thin. Nothing would make me happy more than you beside me” I mumbled drawing imaginary lines on his shirt.

“I would never leave you alone, even if you want me to. I love you too much to leave you. This time I’ll be selfish and never let you go” he added last words in a whisper.

“I love you, Karthik,” I said placing my lips on his making him stun for a second.

“Come, I’ve something to show you” he said after pulling away placing his forehead on mine. I nodded following him, this time I was not admiring the nature but him.

I couldn’t believe what I just saw.

A treehouse?

In the middle of nowhere?

It looks like an old one, maybe it was built a few years ago.

“Do you like it?” Karthik’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“I love it, Karthik. Who build this?” I asked him still in shock.

“Nihal and I did” he said scratching behind his neck.

“When?” I whispered.

“When I was in college, you know the college tour you missed,” he said looking nervous.

“The tour I missed?” I asked him shocked.

“Do you think I don’t know why you always want to go Shimla? I know it’s your dream to go here with your friends and build a treehouse in the forest and go roam all over the city? I was there just behind you, listening to you when you’re busy talking to your friends about your plans, it was then I registered my name to go on a tour, just because you’re going. Nihal was there too, even though he was from different college he still managed to go with me. But you didn’t come with us, I don’t know you’re not with us until we reach here. At that time, they send us Seniors on a different bus. That was when Nihal and I build this, no one knows about this other than Nihal and I” he said smiling at me.

“Why didn’t you tell me before? Why didn’t you ask me out before Manoj? Why didn’t you talk to me directly than stalking me? I could’ve chosen you, you could’ve been my first love, first kiss and my first everything just like I was yours. Why? Why Karthik?” I said hitting his chest.

“I’m sorry Sree, I was not confident and way more insecure than you, I wish I could change everything, but I don’t have any regrets sweetheart, trust me, now I’m the happiest man alive on Earth. There are a few reasons to why I didn’t approach you, but I’ll explain to them when we reach home, now let’s enjoy our time here. No more tears allowed” he said kissing my forehead.

Everything was arranged here from food to bed, roses in the vases and unused candles and everything.

“I thought no one knows about this place?” I said raising an eyebrow.

“I asked Nihal for help, he was here with Anju today and left before we reach here” he smirked hugging me from behind.

“Nihal and Anju? You’re kidding, right? They can’t even stand each other for two minutes then how in the world did they manage to arrange these things without burning the house down?” I said shaking my head.

“They are just fighting their attraction towards each other,” he said pestering small kisses on my shoulder. I sighed.

“Let’s have dinner, it’s already 6pm,” he said still kissing the side of my neck.

“Already?” I mumbled.

“Yes. Now let’s go and eat before it gets cold” he said taking me with him.

“Okay” I mumbled.

After our dinner, he explained how he used to stalk me and try to listen to my convo with my friends and how Manoj used to glare at him, and how Tej used to look at him suspiciously. After talking for hours, I feel drowsy and asked for spare clothes.

“Here. Veni asked me to tell you that it is not her who packed your bags and said they are your night wears” he said handing me a bag.

I didn’t buy any nightwear, in particular, then what are they? I shrugged and opened the bag’s zip carelessly. And stilled in my place when I saw what that devil packed for me.