Up until now Aditi thought that Karan had made a big space for himself in her heart. But in that moment, when they were hugging each other, lying on the bed arms in arms, just listening to each other's breath go in and out, something struck her. It struck her heard of what she actually felt for him. There were very few times when Aditi actually had happy tears in her eyes. Those times were all related to her and her family. It was the first ever time she had tears of happiness by just seeing someone, seeing him.

"Here you go Missus, potatoes, milk and curd." Karan spoke placing the cloth bag she had given him on the counter. 

She smiled turning to him and arched her face up to kiss his lips. His hands smoothly went around her waist, tenderly caressing her. She pulled away after a brief kiss. "The water must be hot enough. Go have a shower while I make aloo parathas, Sir!"

"Thanks!" He said before pulling her close and kissing her lips again. He could feel her lips form into a smile. 

"Go!" She ordered pressing her palms against his abdomen. He nodded walking away. 

Aditi quickly proceeded to boil the potatoes. She had initially decided to make pumpkin curry with rice but her husband's face had soured up at the mention of the dish. He demanded aloo parathas. Aditi was happy to make him a dinner of his choice. Luckily, there was a small supermarket just down the street and Karan was more than willing to get some stuff.

Aditi hummed to herself entering the room. She could hear the shower running. "Karan, how long?"

"Almost done!" He yelled from the other side of the door. She smiled turning around. Her eye stuck on her reflection in the mirror. Gosh, she looked ugly. Her hair was oiled and tied into a bun. She wore the brown loose tshirt and pink pajamas. She made a face of disapproval. Then a smile appeared on her face. He didn't care, did he? She bit her lower lip promising herself that's she'd take extra efforts to look nice the following day, for him.

She heard the door click and turned around to find her freshly showered husband standing all bared with the exception of a towel around his waist. He was using another towel to wipe himself. Wait, two towels? She only gave him one fresh towel. Her gaze dropped down to his waist.

"Darling, tone down that gaze!" He chuckled looking at her.

Aditi was very particular about a few things. For instance, her towel, soap, loofah, shower cap etc. "Karan, that's my towel!"

He looked at her amused, "you want it?" He asked threateningly placing his hand over the tucked in corner of the towel.

Her gaze swiped to meet his eyes. "Seriously?" 

He grinned turning to his bag with a chuckle. He started placing a few trousers and tshirts out on the mattress. Aditi was about to move out to give him some privacy but she froze when two small boxes popped out from his bag among the other things. Wow! He had come really prepared. She pretended to not have seen them and walked out. 

Aditi felt his hands wrap around her waist. Her lips curved up when he pressed his lips on her neck. There was a time when this very act annoyed her. He'd come out of no where and start hugging her from behind leave kisses on her neck and shoulder when she'd be focusing on cooking or working or talking. But right now, she just didn't want him to stop. However, he quickly broke apart and stood beside her leaning on the counter. She glanced at him. His hair was wet and he smelled fresh. No cologne. Aditi could feel her insides clench.

He suddenly leaned forward and whispered close to her ears, "If you stare at me like that, the parathas will burn. And, I don't like them burnt."

Aditi parted her lips and cheeks flamed. She absolutely didn't like when he caught her red handed. She didn't say anything but simply focused on getting the paratha off the tava. He silently observed her. Aditi felt bothered under that intent gaze.

"Stop staring.." she uttered without sparing him a glance.

"I didn't come down all the way to not stare at you." 

She glanced at him grinning, "How was your flight?"

"The stewardess was super hot!" He said picking up a slice of cucumber, putting in his mouth. "Sadly, the steward was the one overlooking the rows, before and after the row of my seat."

She grinned wickedly. "Tough luck!"

He gave her a teasing smile and fed her a cucumber, "Doesn't mean I didn't check her out."

"Wow. Do you realize you're talking to your wife?" She asked looking at him with a sharp gaze, chewing the slice of cucumber he had fed her.

He brushed his lips on hers and pulled back, "Now, I do."

"That's not charming!" She remarked walking to the extreme end of the kitchen to bring out the plates and then walked back.

He immediately took a step forward and gave her another quick kiss on  her lips again, "Is it not?"

Aditi was totally charmed but she didn't like being easy on him. "Totally not!"

Her phone's ring interrupted their conversation. "Why is  your mom calling you?" He asked peeling at the phone. 

She gave him a do-no-nonsense look and picked up the call. "Hey Maa!"

Karan was tempted to disturb her and he did exactly that. While she had turned the other way, he wrapped his arms around her and began kissing her neck. 

She immediately turned, trying to peel his hands off her waist while glaring at him and vigorously shaking her head. "Nothing much was just making dinner." The last word barely escaped her mouth when his lips captured hers. She held the phone away at an arm's length trying to break the kiss. "Are you crazy?" She mouthed with wide eyes and he smirked.

She ducked away from him putting the phone on her ear again. Her mom was telling her something about her cousin Naina who was all set to get engaged. Karan's hands had found their way inside her tshirt while she stood against the counter. "Karan!" She mumbled narrowing her eyes at him, as his fingers inched up her abdomen.

His eye widened and his hands slipped out. He started mouthing something. 

She understood that as - don't tell your mom I am here. She glared. 

"Arey no Maa. Actually Karan..." she noticed hims shake his head in no,  vigorously. 

She closed her eyes momentarily,  before proceeding to lie, "his call was coming!"

He let out a sharp exhale while she wondered why he had made her lie.

"Yeah, yeah, I will talk to him." She said looking at her husband pointedly before ending the call.

"What the hell was that?" She thundered after ending the call.

"Just having some fun!" Karan shrugged walking away. Picking another slice of cucumber and stuffing it in his mouth.

Aditi walked up to him and stood before him folding her arms. "Why did you make me lie?"

He sighed, there was now point avoiding or dodging her question she'd ultimately force the answer out of him. "Look, my mom challenged me that I would visit you in the first three weeks itself. So I am not telling her or anybody else that I am here. So she'll never know!"

"Wow, so you're lying just to win her ..."

"Hey, hey,... I would have won if it wasn't for you. I thought you were upset... so why not surprise you. Get you some chocolates. Be a good husband!"

"Ohh!" Aditi exclaimed, nodding her head. "So I was upset."

"Yeah, remember you "seen zoned" my messages and missed my calls?"

Aditi looked at him slightly widening his eyes, "You are a cheater. You just couldn't win because you missed me." She smirked.

"Like you didn't!" He gave back with his own smirk, their eyes meeting with fierce emotions reflecting in them.

Aditi blinked and nodded, turning to plate the parathas. That look was hot. How was she supposed to tell him to calm down his raging man mind because she was menstruating? "Let's eat before the parathas go cold."

* * *

Aditi wasn't really verbal about things she felt or things her body went through. Periods was one such topic. Even in school and college the other girls would curse their fate or talk about how they felt like a leaking pipe but she always steered away from sharing things like that. Her mother was the only one to know if she was on periods that also was mostly because she discarded her bathroom garbage on those days of the month.

The chemistry and attraction was always in good proportion between her and Karan. They had consummated their marriage on the very first night of their marriage. It could be because they had an early morning wedding, slept through the day comfortably and had nothing better to do in the night. Truth was, they both were craving for that kind of intimacy. The few months gap between their engagement and marriage had done enough to ignite their lust for each other.

Aditi usually avoided kissing him or showed no interest in his touches when she was on her periods. She'd occasionally throw deliberate hints by flashing the sanitary napkins cover before him in a very unobvious way to let him get the idea. 

She entered the room. She had no desire to say no to him. But the mere thought of having him see her blood lined skin or worse have that blood on him in anyway put her off. He was in the balcony perhaps. She quickly got her nightsuit out and then placed a fresh, covered sanitary napkin over it. She placed it right in the center of the bed and busied herself with making the bed.

Karan walked into the room and made his way to her. She was neatly arranging the small dressing table putting everything in place. Aditi didn't expect him to lift her up and put her on the bed.  She sighed. Maybe he didn't see her hint. She wondered how he could be turned on even. She looked anything but nice. "Karan," she called before he seduced her with his hot kissing skills.

He looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

"I am on my period." She said awkwardly.

He blinked and stared at her which made her still more uncomfortable.

"Sorry!" She added.

"Can we not still do..."

"No." She answered determinedly.

"Right!" He muttered sitting up.

She sat up to looking here and there anywhere but at him. 

"Listen," he said cupping her face to make her look at him.

"Don't ever say sorry in that context!"

Aditi was moved by his simple words. Of how much she knew him so far, he didn't really mind his actions or words. He was just a carefree soul taking everything as it comes and living every day like it was his last. Yes, at times he did say things that hurt or did things that he didn't realize would hurt. He was a little insensitive at times. But Aditi somehow still liked him. Like in the kitchen, he didn't even realize that talking about checking another woman had totally not gone down well with her. Aditi wasn't the kind to show hurt and blow it up and make it big enough to be noticed. So now, when he said those words, she actually felt nice.

She nodded and got off the bed, "I will just... um change.!"

Karan lay his head back on the plump pillow with a sigh. He closed his eyes. Yes, he did have sex on his mind and a lot of it. But that discomfort on her face had totally put him off. He wanted a more open relationship with her. One where she could just tell him she had he periods without having guilt or discomfort written on her face. He wanted a still more intimate relationship with her. One where they could speak their mind out without any filter. But it was Aditi, with her it was always controlled, filtered and restrained. He wondered how he could change that.

Would love to know your thoughts!

Do you find any differences or similarities in their on text and real selfs?

-Anami!♡