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Author pov
Tulasi was panicking inside; she didn't know how to escape this situation. Then she decided to tell her the truth. since she had no option.
"W..woh, maa ji… mein woh—" Before Tulasi could complete her sentence, Indra interrupted.
"It's inside; I'm the one who told her to keep it inside so that it won't get damaged." Indra said, looking at his mother.
Anuja looked at her son with no expression; she was still mad at him, so she walked away after glancing at Tulasi one last time.
Tulasi was flabbergasted by what just happened. Why did Indra ji lie? She thought.
"Come with me." Indra spoke while walking into their room.
Tulasi followed him, but she was scared inside that he might suspect something.
"J..ji?" Tulasi asked after getting inside.
Indra faced her, and he had no expression to read.
"I won't question you on why you gave that golden ring to your mother, but answer my one question honestly, okay?" Indra said.
Tulasi's eyes threatened to fall out. That means he knows about it, and he didn't even ask about it, she thought.
"I.. Indra ji, please don't misunderstand me. I... I just.." Tulasi tried to explain the situation to him, but she couldn't.
"Shhh, just answer my one question. I'm not misunderstanding you. I trust you." Indra said after walking closer.
She gulped and nodded. She was a bit relieved by his words.
"When you gave her the ring, why did you seem sad and your mother was extra happy? I couldn't understand; I wanted to ask you, but… all this stuff happened." Indra said.
Tulasi clutched her sadi. She was looking into his eyes, which really wanted the honest answer from her.
"I… I was sad because I gave her the golden ring without consulting you first. My mother was happy because they were going to some crisis and needed the money." Tulasi said, averting her gaze from Indra.
It was half truth and half lie. When she couldn't look at him while answering, he knew that she was lying. He really thought she would trust him enough to answer his question truthfully.
He didn't force her since she seemed uncomfortable with this whole situation. He thought he would know the truth himself by his ways.
The day progressed, and no one in the house seemed happy. They had to wake up in the morning since it's Rudra's wedding.
Indra was on his side of the bed, facing the wall. Tulasi was looking at the roof. It was 1 am or something. It was also raining heavily.
Tulasi couldn't sleep. She's afraid of lightning due to her trauma. She was fidgeting with her fingers.
She leaned towards Indra to check if he was asleep or not. She was wondering how the hell he was able to sleep with all this noise.
Then the lightning became louder, and Tulasi hugged Indra tightly from behind. She closed her eyes tighter.
Indra was still asleep. Tulasi cursed under her breath. She bit her lower lip and slowly opened her eyes.
She gulped and broke the hug. She was really scared right now. She poked her finger on Indra's shoulder, trying to wake him up.
Indra wasn't budging. She pouted and hit his shoulder.
Indra woke up from his slumber with a panic. He turned to face her with his sleepy eyes.
Tulasi's lips were quivering, with little tears. Indra rubbed his eyes and looked at her face. He was so confused as to why she was even tearing up now.
"Tulasi… what happened? Did you have a nightmare?" Indra asked, worried.
Tulasi shook her head slowly. "Then what happened, my jaan?" Indra asked.
"Y…you hug me and sleep." Tulasi said.
"Huh?" Indra's brain wasn't processing.
The lightning struck harder, and Tulasi clutched onto him like a koala. Indra was bewildered; his sleepiness was out of the window now.
"H..hug me back!" Tulasi muttered into his chest.
Indra gulped and hesitantly hugged back. "Are you scared of lightning, Tulasi?"
She nodded into him. Indra broke out into a light chuckle.
"Why are you laughing?" Tulasi asked.
"Because you're scared of harmless lightning" Indra said.
Tulasi looked at him with her signature angry pout.
"Okay... okay, sorry." Indra said and rubbed her back. Trying to make her feel better.
Tulasi hugged tighter. "You know, Tulasi, I always wondered if you have water tankers in your eyes." Indra spoke, controlling his laughter.
Tulasi was about to break the hug and turn away. But Indra held her waist tighter. "I'm joking, Tulasi."
Tulasi looked away, being upset. Indra leaned closer and pecked her cheek lightly.
Tulasi was now blushing, but she still didn't look at him. Indra smiled slightly, and he made Tulasi's head rest on his chest.
"Focus on my heartbeat that beats for you, instead of the lightning." Indra mumbled lowly.
Tulasi let out a little smile and closed her eyes. She did just that. She focused on listening to his heartbeats, and it made her feel peaceful.
She eventually fell asleep; Indra couldn't sleep now. Tulasi ruined his sleep and then slept herself.
Indra buried his face in her hair and closed his eyes. Indra really wanted to have kids with Tulasi and grow old together with their children. But… he knows that he can't hope for all those for now.
Tulasi's pov
I woke up really early. Since we had a lot of work to do. I looked at Indra Ji's sleeping face, and it was so cute. I wanted to peck his cheek, but I didn't. I got up and left to take a bath.
I got to work, and maa ji didn't seem to be in a good mood at all. Nalini was helping me around the house.
Eventually, Indra ji also woke up. He made Rudra ji get ready first. Suggesting to him about all the stuff since he had experience.
Indra ji was about to bathe alone, but I didn't let him. I made him sit on a stool and helped him bathe.
Everyone in the house got ready, including me. I draped the saree that Indra ji made me buy. It looked so beautiful.
"Can I help you with the ornaments?" Indra ji asked, and I nodded and sat beside him.
He helped me put on the golden chains. I could feel his breath on my neck; it was making my core throb for no reason.
After putting on everything, he made me turn to face him.
"You look like a real goddess that just spawned from the sky. Too unreal." Indra ji said, looking at me up and down.
"J..ji, t…tank-u" I said, looking down with a red face and ears.
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