Next Morning — Chaos
The golden morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm halo across the rumpled bed.
Mahi blinked awake slowly.
She was curled against Soumik's chest, one leg tangled over his. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, like a promise. Their bodies were still sticky with dried honey in places, and her inner thighs ached — not painfully, but in that delicious, smug way.
Then it hit her.
Voices.
Down the hallway. Closer.
Aunties. Loud. Sharp. Already awake.
> "Beta, check if Soumik's in his room — we need to pack the gifts."
> "And Mahi! Where is she? That girl vanishes during clean-up!"
Mahi shot up, hair wild, face pale.
> "Oh shit."
Soumik groaned and pulled her back down.
> "Five more minutes," he mumbled, eyes still closed.
She smacked his arm.
> "They're coming! Soumik, I'm naked!"
His eyes snapped open.
> "You're not the only one, genius!"
They scrambled.
Mahi tried to wrap the dupatta around herself but it was somehow tied around his foot. The choli was inside out. Her panties were hanging off the bedpost like a war trophy. The honey jar was open on the side table — a dead giveaway.
Soumik leapt to his feet and tripped over his pyjamas.
The door knob turned. A soft click.
Mahi gasped.
Soumik dove across the room like a cricket fielder and locked the door just in time.
> "Beta?" came a voice. Aunt Farzana. "Why is your door locked, haan?"
Soumik cleared his throat, voice cracking.
> "Uh — praying, chachi!"
Mahi buried her face in the pillow to muffle her laughter.
> "Praying?" she mouthed. "At 7 AM? In your boxers?!"
> "Better than saying 'recovering from spiritual intercourse.'"
Outside, the aunties conferred — suspicious but distracted.
Mahi jumped out of bed, dragging the choli over her head, grabbing every piece of clothing she could. Soumik shoved the honey jar into a drawer and wiped the mirror in a panic.
> "My earring!" she yelped, crawling under the bed. "My fucking earring!"
> "We don't have time for jewelry!"
> "It was Nani's!"
Just then —
A knock. Louder.
> "Soumik! Your uncle wants you downstairs. Now!"
Soumik groaned, already half dressed, kurta buttoned wrong, hair a wild mess.
> "Tell him I died in my sleep," he muttered, shoving his phone in his pocket.
Mahi, now half-dressed, darted behind the bed, crouching low — hiding. Her eyes were wild, finger to her lips.
> "Go," she mouthed. "Handle him."
Soumik gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, fixed his kurta collar, and unlocked the door just as Uncle Karim walked in.
> "Soumik! What's taking so long?"
Soumik turned slowly.
> "Sorry, Uncle. I was… deeply lost in prayer."
Uncle Yusuf frowned — then squinted.
> "Why do you smell like dessert?"
Soumik smiled.
> "Must be the kheer, Uncle."
Uncle grumbled and left with a sigh, muttering something about kids these days.
As soon as the footsteps faded, Soumik shut the door again. Mahi rose from behind the bed, rolling her eyes, adjusting her choli and fixing her hair.
> "I thought I'd die back there," she whispered, exhaling.
> "You were the one who said, 'just five more minutes.'"
> "Shut up," she smirked.
She tiptoed to the door, peeked outside, then slipped quietly into the hallway once the coast was clear.
---
Mahi, now dressed, walking casually down the stairs minutes later — like she hadn't just nearly gotten caught post-messy-makeout-and-more. Her dupatta was perfectly pinned, face glowing from leftover blush and adrenaline.
Back inside, Soumik stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his kurta collar.
His lips curled into a lazy grin.
> "Next Eid's going to be a lot harder to survive."
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