Anisha's POV:
Two weeks had passed within the blink of an eye. I had settled all my belongings into my room completely, had attended the interview at St George Multispeciality Hospital as previously decided by both the families. And to my surprise I was hired!! I started working immediately. Adjusting to the new city, and new job wasn't a difficult task for me. I finally got time to rest and breath a little today, I was given the weekend off now.
This was going to be the first time both of us will be staying at home together in the day time in two weeks. Kunal and I hadn't spoken much other than necessity, complete silence had engulfed the house.
I walked out of my room into the living room, Kunal was already sitting on the sofa with a cushion on his grey sweatpants lap watching TV. BBC Sherlock was running on the screen.
I silently walked and sat in the nearby empty sofa, and watched along with him. His glanced at me for a moment, then back to the show. I had already completed this series, because it was mostly adapted from the books unlike other series. Arthur Connan Doyle was one of my favorites. This was the episode where Moriarty was officially introduced, frankly I loved Andrew Scott- he looked cute.
I felt my cellphone vibrating in my blue hoodie's pocket, it was a call from Rosie. I thought it was better to move away without disturbing Kunal so I tiptoed back to my room to answer it.
"Hello Ro!! How are you??" I asked her.
"Heyy Ani!! I'm good. What about you? And got any weekend plans?" she spoke excitedly.
"I'm good! I'm free this weekend, very bored so Netflix and Chill"
"Amazing this is exactly what I wanted!! How about we meet up on Sunday? Like a double date or something,
You - Kunal; Me - Robbie." she suggested
I wasn't much pleased with the idea involving Kunal, so to avoid it I came up with a thought.
"I'm not sure if Kunal's free, how about we three meet up" I say.
"Ohho, Go and ask him NOW!!" she said unimpressed
I scratched my head to get an idea on how to avoid this as I walked towards the living room, TV was turned off and Kunal was on his cell talking to someone.
I was about to turn back he waved and signalled me to wait. Rosie who was still on the line told me to talk. And before I could ask anything he himself spoke,
"My bestfriend Lakshit wants to meet us, he's coming here on Sunday. Is that okay with you?" he looked at me.
"Perfecccttttt!!!" Rosie spoke through the cell, I understood she had heard it.
"So see ya Sunday Ani! Enjoy the night Byeee" she hung up.
I sighed and looked up to see Kunal still waiting for my answer I nodded at him.
He gave me a small smile with a nod and I walked back to my room.
***********
I was prepared for the challenge I'm going to face within few minutes. Faking a happy marriage doesn't seem much of an effort compared to maintaining a real happy marriage I feel. Anyways both of us had prepared for all the couple things that we were about to showcase this evening. I was amazed on how well we planned and organized everything so good together. Yesterday and today is the most we spoke after our marriage and in this process I did get to know Kunal a little more.
I quickly had gotten ready wearing a white ballon sleeve top and a black knee length pleated skirt and walked downstairs to see Kunal setting the dining table with dishes, he had worn white turtleneck and a black jeans. He looked good!! Not everyone could ace that look I thought.
The door bell stopped me from scanning him further, I went to open the door.
"Hello Anisha!!" Lakshit said giving me short hug. I smiled and welcomed him inside and closed the door.
"Where is Praachi?"
I asked as we walked into the living room. He gave me the wine bottle and took off his coat while he replied.
"Praachi has not yet returned from her business trip"
I could sense a little sadness in his voice,
"Ohh!! You must have missed her so much" I said looking at him.
"Yeahh, Very much!! but I'm used to it by now" He said and Kunal came towards us. They both had a tight hug for a brief moment and Lakshit himself spoke.
"Heyy Bruhh!! Missed me??"
Kunal just shook his head chuckling and said "No" Lakshit held his chest acting as if hurt. As I went and stood beside Kunal and we held our hands together.
"Ofcourse! why would you miss me when you have your beautiful wife beside you" he said and before anyone else spoke we heard the doorbell ring again.
"I'll get the door" Kunal said.
As we sat on the sofa, Kunal came inside with Rosie and Robbie with a box of cake.
Rosie came to me and gave a bear hug and mumbled "I'm so happy to see ya"
Robbie also gave a small hug with a "heyy Anisha"
I saw the clock and spoke,
"How about we finish our lunch and then get into talking? Kunal and I have cooked together"
"Wow niceee!! Kitchen romance??" Rosie said wiggling her brows and smirking.
"I'm waiting to taste Anisha's cooking" Lakshit said.
All three of them sat on the round dining table and started filling their plates.
I bought the wine glaasses from kitchen while Kunal uncorked the bottle and we both made an eye contact. And startled when someone coughed. Then we joined them, sitting beside each other.
"Try the Buffalo wings, Anisha made it." Kunal announced as he took his first bite of it and a tiny moan left his mouth as he ate.
Amused by this,
"Ofcourse but the credits for the main course- Spaghetti goes to Dr Ruse" I say.
"But really Anisha, Wings taste amazing" Lakshit says.
"Thank you" I reply.
"I didn't take you for a cook Kunal but this one's good" Rosie says.
"That's the only thing he knows to cook"
Lakshit replied chucking making Kunal fake glare at him.
"He had learnt this one dish during college days and till now he knows nothing else " Lakshit continues laughing as he spoke.
"How many recipes do you know Lakshit" I say taking Kunal's side to which everyone seemed surprised.
"Hahaha!! You deserve it" Rosie says looking at him.
Lakshit rises both his hands up defeated. The rest of the lunch went on with such small talks.
And we all came to the Living room and sat on the sofa Me and Kunal together, Rosie and Robbie together leaving Lakshit alone.
"I feel left out" Lakshit said with gloomy face.
"Video Call your wife" Rosie suggests. Kunal beside me stiffened a little.
"Can't. she might be busy" he replied.
To change the topic, I spoke
"Today's cake was very tasty Ro!! A new recipe??"
Robbie seemed intrigued by this topic and breaks his silence,
"She's learning that recipe for about a month and kept feeding me it. She was finally satisfied with the flavor today"
Rosie makes faces and rolled her eyes at her husband and I laugh at it, I knew about her baking class. But the cake tasted really good and she had written 'For the newly weds' on it.
"By the way, I forgot to congratulate you on your new job Anisha, Kunal said you joined his hospital itself" Lakshit said.
"Thankss!! We both work in different blocks. It's little far from each other"
"Ohho!! can't stay a little farther away from your husband haa??" he says and I smile.
"How come you are free for the weekend on the first week of job? You were always busy before" Rosie said complaining.
"Before I used to work in Public Hospital, but now this is a private one. Here they provide weekend offs to reduce their staff's burnout and work stress" I reply. And she nods.
"Thats nice!! So when and where are you both going for the honeymoon" she asks.
We were prepared for this one, Kunal held my hand in his and said,
"We will go, it's just that we are still getting to know each other. Everything happened so soon, we haven't understood each other much" as leaned towards me, I could clearly sense a bit of discomfort in him doing this. I just brushed his hands and clasped it with mine. And we turned towards others.
"Awww you are such a lovely couple" Ro said also clasping hands with her husband and kissing on the palm.
"PDA sucks!! What are we watching now" Lakshit said making faces and took the TV remote.
And the FRIENDS was playing on the screen for the rest of the noon. But I was lost in the thoughts of how well both Kunal and I had managed to put up a perfect facade in front of our best friends. Even by faking atleast we were brought together a little closer than before. As the day passed I had learnt quite more about him than before, even a few details about me came out from our talks.
I heaved a sigh of relief after everyone left satisfied by seeing our love filled marriage, Kunal also accompanied Lakshit. As I kept my head on the pillow, I felt as if the whole theme for today was 'fake it till you make it'.
Author's Note:
Keep reading... as the journey is going to be long until we reach happily ever after 😉
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