“It’s not a hindrance. Not forever. It’s been five weeks now.”
“Then?”
“We haven’t run stamina or stress tests this week.”
“You are saying I need to submit a stress test to take you up with me tonight?” He cocked his head. “I ran with you through half of Sidhpur. I twirled with you. Don’t make me bring out the real obnoxious now.”
Her mouth twisted — “Go ahead.”
“I kissed you senseless andyouwere panting. Not me.”
Her mouth opened.
“Want me to demonstrate it again?”
She shoved at his chest.
“Careful,” he held his chest. “That part is broken.”
She bit back her smile. “Fine. One test. Stress test.”
“Ritu, don’t start…”
“If you can walk up two flights of stairs without strain, then.”
His brow cocked. “These stairs?”
“Yes.”
“You are sure?”
“Sure.”
“Take the lift,” he commanded, then turned and broke into a brisk sprint up the wide, high, stone stairs that were double the height of modern ones. Ritu went inside the open lift, butterflies beginning to burst like sparks inside of her.
————————————————————
The lift glided to the third floor and she pushed the grille open.
“Come here, Doctor.” A long arm snaked around her and she found herself hauled into his chest. Her first instinct was to check his pulse but she didn’t need to. He wasn’t panting too hard. He had reached here before the slow lift had. His face wasn’t strained. It was lit up. Aglow. His wet hair was hanging over his forehead, again dripping over her. This time, he did not claw it back but fused her mouth with his, letting more water drench her forehead.
And her arms wound themselves around his neck.
His body pushed her, pushed her, pushed her until a beep was heard and she was inside a room. His room. Panic from somewhere low inside her began to rear its ugly head.
“Do you trust me, Ritu?” Nilay’s mouth whispered over hers.
The panic intensified. Churned.
“I know I haven’t done anything to earn it,” he murmured. “But can you trust the next good moment that is about to come?”
Her eyes met his.
“Canyou trust me?”
She blinked. And realised a lock of her hair was stuck to her eyelashes. His thumb untangled it and pushed it off. Then ghosted over her eyelashes to smooth them over. And in that second of thoughtful tenderness, something ruffled long ago smoothened inside her. His thumb trailed down the side of her face, to her cheek. It circled there, and then his warm mouth pressed to the apple of her cheek. His nose came next and it stayed there.
“Yes.”
