8 | matching dress
Damnnn Avyukt words......
"My wife can eat however much she wants."
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After dinner, everyone gathered in the home theater room for the usual family movie night.
Mom and Dad sat together on one couch.
Siya and Ruhi took over the other one completely.
And me? Ruhi had very forcefully made me sit beside Avyukt.
Not that I felt uncomfortable anymore. Strangely... Avyukt had never once made me feel uncomfortable since the wedding. That realization itself felt dangerous.
The room was dim except for the soft light coming from the television screen. Everyone had popcorn bowls in their hands. But somehow-Avyukt had brought two bowls for us.
At first, I didn't think much of it.
Until Ruhi suddenly looked at us suspiciously.
"Bhaiya..." she dragged dramatically, "do you always bring double things just so bhabhi can eat more?"
Siya instantly burst into laughter.
"Exactly. At this rate, Di will become fat."
Before I could react, Ruhi gasped dramatically again.
"Wait-now that I think about it, bhaiya brought extra sweets too that night."
Then she pointed accusingly toward me.
"And after eating one piece from every sweet, bhabhi still finished bhaiya's share too."
Siya's eyes widened immediately.
"WHAT? I got full after eating one piece each and you ate three pieces each?"
Heat instantly rushed to my face.
Without saying anything, I awkwardly lowered the popcorn bowl in my hands.
Because unfortunately-they weren't entirely wrong.
I had already finished more than half of my own popcorn earlier.
And at some point during the movie, without even realizing it-I had casually started eating from Avyukt's untouched bowl too.
The realization made me want to disappear immediately.
Before I could even think of defending myself-Avyukt suddenly spoke.
"My wife can eat however much she wants," he muttered while trying very hard to sound calm. "I brought it for her anyway."
The entire room went silent for exactly one second.
Then both Siya and Ruhi leaned forward together dramatically.
"OHHHHHH-my wife, huh?"
The second the words registered in his own head-Avyukt froze.
And unfortunately... at that exact moment, he also realized something worse.
He was holding the popcorn bowl I had already eaten from.
More than half of it.
Without saying another word, he immediately stood up and walked outside toward the balcony.
The sudden escape was so fast that even Dad started laughing.
Meanwhile, I sat there completely frozen in embarrassment.
What exactly was I supposed to do now?
After a few awkward seconds, I quietly picked up the popcorn bowl and stood up too.
From behind me, Ruhi immediately shouted dramatically-
"Haan haan, go with your husband now. Why would you stay here?"
My face somehow became even hotter.
Ignoring everyone's laughter, I hurried upstairs.
As I passed by the railing upstairs, my steps slowed slightly.
Downstairs near the balcony area, Avyukt sat alone on the couch, silently eating the popcorn.
The same popcorn.
The one I had already eaten from.
And-I remembered something Ruhi had casually told me before the movie started.
"Bhaiya doesn't even like popcorn."
For a split second, I just stood there quietly, staring at him.
Then, before my heartbeat could start acting strangely again-I rapidly walked back toward the room without saying anything.
___
A little while later, I got up and stepped outside the room again.
Avyukt was still downstairs, sitting alone on the couch exactly the same way as before.
For a moment, I just stood there looking at him.
Then I slowly walked downstairs.
"You can sleep in the room," I said softly.
And before he could even respond-I immediately turned around and hurried upstairs again.
Still... I noticed the surprised look on his face before leaving.
The entire way back to the room, my heart felt strangely restless.
I had already decided something.
When he came inside, I would tell him properly-he could take the bed.
I would sleep on the couch instead.
That seemed fair.
As soon as Avyukt entered the room-he silently picked up a pillow and lay down on the couch before I could even say anything.
I hesitated for a few seconds before speaking softly.
"You should sleep on the bed... I can sleep on the couch."
He refused immediately.
"No. I actually like sleeping on couches."
I stared at him.
What kind of person likes sleeping on couches?
Still... I didn't argue anymore and lay down on the bed.
For some reason... the sight felt strangely peaceful.
I walked toward the closet to grab my clothes.
That's when my eyes suddenly stopped on the pillow lying on the couch.
Something about it looked familiar.
Very familiar.
The way it was placed... it looked exactly the same way I had left it on our first morning after the wedding.
My fingers paused slightly.
Wait... did Avyukt turn off my alarm that day too?
But why would he do that?
The thought itself felt ridiculous.
Shaking my head lightly, I walked into the bathroom instead.
But once inside-I froze again.
The bathroom looked untouched.
Completely clean.
As if no one had used it at all.
A few minutes later, I stepped outside after getting ready.
Avyukt was still standing near the balcony.
While combing my hair awkwardly, I spoke softly.
"You should freshen up too."
He turned toward me slowly.
Then he raised one eyebrow before stretching both his arms slightly.
"What exactly does it look like to you?"
Only then did I properly notice-he wasn't wearing yesterday's shirt anymore.
Which meant-he had already showered.
Then why did the bathroom look untouched?
Just as I was about to think further, I looked toward the mirror to apply sindoor.
And I immediately froze.
The saree I was wearing... matched his shirt color almost perfectly.
Oh God.
I instantly felt awkward.
What if he thought I wore it after noticing him?
Before I could panic further-Avyukt suddenly turned toward the door.
And while walking out, he said casually with the faintest smile-
"I know you don't notice colors intentionally."
Then he left the room.
My face immediately burned in embarrassment.
Why was I behaving like this lately?
Still... I didn't change the saree.
By the time I walked downstairs-everyone's eyes moved toward me first, then immediately toward Avyukt.
And bang-Siya and Ruhi shouted together dramatically.
"OHHH, matching matching!"
Dad started laughing instantly.
"Even I never listened to my wife this much."
Mom smiled proudly.
"That's because my son loves his wife more."
Avyukt nearly choked on his water.
His ears had already turned slightly red as he awkwardly lowered his gaze toward his plate.
And honestly... my condition wasn't any better.
I couldn't look directly at anyone either.
The worst part?
I didn't even hate this teasing anymore.
Siya leaned forward mischievously.
"Jiju is blushing."
Ruhi immediately added between laughs-
"And bhabhi even more."
Before either of us could defend ourselves-Ruhi suddenly stood up dramatically and pulled Siya up with her.
"Our work here is done."
Then she pointed toward the garden outside.
"You two also come quickly. We need cute photos."
Surprisingly-neither I nor Avyukt refused.
In fact... surprisingly, Avyukt finished breakfast faster than usual.