Chapter 4: That Unknown Feeling

Vandita was startled with a sudden blow as if she was being hammered back to reality by a brutal harshness. She had felt Awnirudh's touch on her hand, but it was to undo her advances. And, at that moment, it was big enough a blow for Vandita to return back to her actuality. She had immediately looked down with shades of red brushed on her flushed face, utterly ashamed of her behaviour.

"What's going on Vandita?" Awnirudh had asked patiently.

"Um.. I just.. You know.. The book.. In this room.." Vandita could barely utter a few words. And before Awnirudh could ask any more questions, she had dashed out of his room, running down the large staircase of their lavish Haweli, and straight to her bedroom. Her heart was still pounding from this sudden unexpected encounter. She had entered her room, closing the door behind as heart started to flitter like a new butterfly, lost in an unknown anticipation.

'What did I do?

Why did I do it?

Why is HE so goddamn attractive?'

Her thoughts and judgement were clouded with an desire inconclusive to her. It was exotic, it was forbidden! Vandita had quietly inched to her soft bed as her body relaxed down on the warm coziness. Her breath was rough and hitched as she closed her eyes, inhaling sharply. Her senses were overwhelmed as her mind recreated the scent of Awnirudh's favourite cologne. She touched her heaved bosom before running her fingers to her fluttering stomach. And, all she could think of was Awnirudh's moist bare body and ripped arms.

'How would it feel to be in those arms?

How would it feel to be touched by him?'

Her mind churned the question in an incessant loop.

"Awniruddhaa.." the name slipped through her soft lips as she took a deep breath. Her hands started to travel across her body trying to feel every inch of herself as she felt an exotic tingling sensation running down her spine. She arched her back slightly, savouring the forbidden feeling.

"Vandita, please open the door."

Awnirudh's voice rippled softly from outside her door.

"Vandita, I want to talk to you. Please open the door."

The sharp sweetness of his voice stirred Vandita back to reality as her alert senses made her acutely aware of her recent deeds.

"Barrister babu, give me a minute." She shouted as her voice echoed through the high walls of her room.

With an immediate urgency, she got up from bed and fixed the wrinkled bedsheet clumsily. Fixing her clothes, she sprinted towards the door to open it.

And there he was... Her Awnirudh! Her savior, her knight in shining armour. How deep and enchanting his eyes were!

"Vandu!!", Anirudh snapped his fingers to bring her back to reality.

"Vandita, is there something that's bothering you?" Awnirudh narrowed his eyes as he asked her the question politely.

"Did anything happen in school? Did father tell you anything? or Koeli? or anyone else?" He continued.

"Tell me Vandita.. what is bothering you?" Awnirudh pleaded. "I promise I'll fix it."

"Barrister babu... I was thinking..." Vandita spoke slowly after a long pause. "We are married for the last 5 years, aren't we?"

"Yes girl, we are". Awnirudh replied patiently.

"So why don't we share the same bedroom like the other married couples?" Her voice quivered as she blurted out the questions. "Why do we sleep separately? Why is it that Koeli Didi told me that my marriage is incomplete?"

Awnirudh could see tears building up in Vandita's large eyes. Her voice choked in emotions as she asked the last question. "Why is our marriage not complete, Barrister babu?"

Awnirudh took a deep breath as his sharp senses fathomed the meaning of her questions instantly.

Vandita was growing up and the so-called established norms of the society was making her question their relationship.

Awnirudh placed his hand on her head lovingly to calm her down.

"Vandita.., my little Vandu, who said our marriage is not complete? They don't know anything about us..about our relationship."

He raised his hands to wiped her tears gently.

"We have a relationship that's originated in our hearts. You are my little Vandita and I'm your Barrister Babu. I'll be by your side for ever. I'm your shield Vandita. I'll help you to fight the world." Awnirudh stopped and looked at her face trying to gauge her expression.

Her large eyelashes fluttered with every words she spoke, her sharp nose had turned crimson giving her face an angelic appearance, and her pouty red lips were a perfect match.

What a lovely face she had! The last traces of tears made her eyes glisten like crystals.

'What's wrong with me! What am I even thinking!' Awnirudh shook his head violently battling his hidden emotions as Vandita's words claimed his attention.

"I don't want your protection." Vandita almost screamed in a suppressed voice.

Awnirudh was stunned! In the past five years he had never experienced such an outburst from Vandita... 'What might have triggered this soft spoken girl to lose her temper then', he wondered as his heart started to thud impatiently in an apprehension.

"Then what do you want Vandita? Tell me, what..."

Vandita spoke up without letting him complete his sentence as her eyes looked expectantly at him.

"Love... Barrister Babu. I want your love."