Stuti had spent the better part of the evening constructing an image of perfect romance in her mind. It was supposed to be a scene-complete with moonlit walks, shared sunsets, and the gentle promises of a love that felt like it came out of a fairy tale. She thought she'd found that in Shan, but the reality of him... well, it was different. Different in the best possible way.
"What a mess," he said, breaking her daydream as he tossed the remote aside and leaned back in his chair, staring at her with an amused smirk.
"Sorry to break your fantasies," he continued nonchalantly, "but I like to do my stuff myself. And I don't believe in that gender-role nonsense, you know? Made up by some bigots who didn't want to work. I'm a feminist, but not the kind you're thinking of."
Stuti blinked. She hadn't expected this kind of response. She thought he might fall into the same old routine of pretending to be something he wasn't, especially with her. But no, Shan was a different breed.
"I guess I should've known," she muttered under her breath, a slow smile forming on her lips. Maybe this was the perfect romance. Maybe she didn't need to "fix" him. He was already perfect.
She had often daydreamed of making him the ideal boyfriend, sculpting him into someone who would read poetry by candlelight, sweep her off her feet in grand gestures-but maybe this was it. His messiness, his raw honesty, his refusal to conform. Maybe it was all she really needed.
Just as the thought lingered in the air, the news on the television broke her quiet reflection.
"Mr. Vinayaka and Zakeer Miya have been arrested for hate speeches and allegations on each other's cults for the meteor strikes... ," the reporter's voice blared through the speakers, practically shaking the walls...
Stuti groaned, slouching back into the couch. This, she knew all too well-the usual political circus. The drama, the manipulation, The polarisation.. the endless cycle of scandal.
"Here we go again... the same Sirun-Shan," she sighed, rolling her eyes.
Shan didn't even look up. He merely continued scribbling on his notepad, clearly unfazed by the chaos unfolding on the screen.
"Yeah, that sounds about right," he muttered, the indifference in his voice only making Stuti's exhaustion with the entire situation grow.
Despite the world burning around them, Stuti found herself drawn to his calm demeanor, his focus, his ability to cut through the noise and just... exist. They spent hours discussing the latest mess, deciding how to best safeguard the vulnerable, what steps to take, and what actions needed to be addressed.
"Should we call Mr. Shantunu too?" Shan asked casually, looking up for the first time in a while.
"Sure," Stuti replied, "It's about time we get the author's take on this mess."
Just as they were about to settle into their plan, the dinner arrived-perfect timing as always. The chef, known not only for his culinary prowess but also for his impeccable timing, entered the room with a grin.
"I've asked the kids to give you two some alone time," he winked, his voice dripping with mischief.
Shan froze, looking like he'd seen a ghost.
Stuti, however, was more than thrilled.
"This smells amazing!" she exclaimed, already grabbing her fork and digging in. "I'll just draw while you eat," she added, not missing a beat. She had come to love this little tradition: while Shan ate, she got to lose herself in her art.
Shan stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I really want to eat with you though."
"Yeah, yeah, but I really need to do this," she said, teasing him as she set the sketchbook down. Her pencil danced across the page.
"What are you drawing anyway?" Shan asked between bites.
"A beautiful scene," Stuti answered, not taking her eyes off the page. "A girl, wishing she could be a fairy in this world."
Shan hummed as he chewed, seemingly lost in the moment. But when he glanced down at the paper, his mouth went dry.
Stuti had drawn a figure that looked far too familiar. He squinted, staring at the sketch for longer than he meant to.
She wasn't just drawing any girl. She was drawing her. His eyes widened as he realized the truth-she'd somehow become the fairy in the sketch.
His voice was soft, almost whispering, to himself, "She... really does resemble you, Mom."
She looked at his face, that was practically blushing
Her heart skipped, and for a brief moment, she wondered if this was all she needed: the simplicity of this connection with Shan.
The evening wore on, and before long, the time had come for bed. Stuti felt the familiar flutter in her stomach. Tonight, she would share a bed with Shan-her boyfriend. She would cuddle him, tease him, and maybe even... well, that. She blushed just thinking about it.
Shan, however, had other plans. He walked in, looking like he'd just come from a meeting with an entire committee of angry toddlers.
"We don't have any extra rooms for now..." he said, gesturing to the sofa. "I'll sleep there."
Stuti's heart sank. She stared at him, momentarily crushed by the thought of spending the night apart.
"But..." she started, then sighed dramatically, "I was planning to..."
Shan gave her a bemused look. "I know, I know. But we're in the middle of a crisis. Maybe next time."
Hours later, as midnight slipped quietly into the room, Stuti couldn't sleep. The bed felt too big, the space too cold. Her thoughts kept drifting back to him-Shan. She couldn't fight it any longer. She had to be near him... She had a mission to cuddle
Without thinking, she slid out of bed and tiptoed to his door. Hesitation? None. She opened it slowly, slid inside, and before he could react, she was already in his arms, holding him tight.
Shan's eyes snapped open, his face contorted in shock.
"What the-"
"It's me," she murmured. "I couldn't sleep... Can I stay here with you?"
Shan blinked in confusion, his voice still groggy. "But... it's cramped. We'll be squished."
Stuti rolled her eyes and threw him a playful grin.
"I don't care. We're a couple, remember? We can just cuddle and hug."
His face flushed crimson, but there was no denying the warmth that crept up in his chest. He muttered under his breath.
"Idiot."
And just like that, mission cuddle was a success...