There he goes being a jerk again, acting like his decision is final and I don’t even get a say. But if there’s one thing he should know by now, it’s that I’m equally stubborn.
I hold his gaze and rise to my feet. Then I narrow my eyes and cross my arms tighter as I stand in front of him. “Really? Well, why don’t you give me a heads-up about what you’re planning next? A personal SWAT team stationed in the guest room?”
“I can add that to the list,” Sidharth chuckles.
But before I can open my mouth to tell him that his overbearing attitude is seriously getting on my nerves, he tugs my hand and pulls me down onto his lap.
“Nisha,” his voice is quieter now, more serious. “You’re precious to me. You really think I’d take any chances with you?”
I sigh, glancing back at the dog, who’s now quietly observing us like he actually understands what we’re talking about.
“Still, it’s going to take a while to get used to him,” I murmur, rubbing my temple.
“You’ll get there,” Sidharth says with a small smile. “On that note, how about we start with you learning his name?”
“Please tell me his name isn’t as scary as he looks. Like Brutus or Killer or, God forbid, Fang.” I glance at the dog again, who blinks at me like he’s deeply offended.
Sidharth bursts out laughing before looking at me with that annoyingly proud grin.
“Well, his name is Shadow. And I know it doesn’t qualify as cute. But it suits him.”
I tilt my head, sighing. “Okay, fine. That’s… actually kind of cool.”
“Now, how about you touch him?” Sidharth says, casually.
My eyes widen. I jerk my head towards him like he’s lost his mind.
“Are you serious? What if he bites me?”
“You think I’d ask you to do something that would put you in danger?” Sidharth says, before adding. “He won’t do anything. Just have a little faith in me.”
Guilt twists in my chest for letting my fear get the better of me.
I lower my gaze for a second, then look back at him. “I trust you, Sidharth. I’m just being stupid.”
Sidharth smiles. “Then how about giving it a try?” He nods towards Shadow. “He’s waiting.”
I rise to my feet, and so does Sidharth. Just then, the sound of footsteps reaches us. I see Sunita Aunty walk into the room, her gaze lowered in peaceful focus as she carries a pooja thali.
But the moment she looks up and spots Shadow, she freezes mid-step. Her hand trembles, and the thali wobbles dangerously in her grasp.
“Hai Ram! What is this?” she gasps.
Before I can reply, Shadow perks up, then trots over to Sunita Aunty and gently licks her feet.
Aunty squeals, and the thali wobbles again, but this time, I move forward and grab it from her hands before it falls down.
“Aunty, relax,” Sidharth says, stepping to her other side. “He’s just greeting you. He won’t do anything.”
Aunty scowls at Sidharth. “He’s licking me like I’m his meat.”
I stifle a laugh while Sidharth replies calmly, “He likes you, Aunty. That’s his way of saying hello.”
“Can’t he say that in his dog languagewoofand not by slurping?” she exclaims dramatically, eyeing Shadow, who now plops himself at her feet with his tail swishing from side to side.
The look on Aunty’s face, part horror and part theatrical outrage, is just too much. And I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer.
“It’s not funny, Nisha,” Aunty mutters, now glaring at me like I’m the one who brought him home and personally trained him to slurp her feet.
