My Nepenthe

Chapter 52

"You look so cute in this picture Omkara ji," Gauri smiled walking towards him to show the photo album.

It was mid noon by the time Omkara woke up and decided to freshen up for the day. He didn't have much choice as his mother almost broke the door of his bedroom when she knocked on it that afternoon.

Jhanvi scolded the couple for not eating through the day as both of them had their blissful sleep not caring for their stomachs and ordered them to get ready.

After a late brunch, Omkara decided to work on a sketch in their room while Gauri sat on the bed eagerly unsticking the pictures from one album out of a heap of which she got from her mother-in-law's room.

Omkara looked away from the sketch he was working on and focused on the picture shown by his wife.

He smiled as he said, "Yeah but now I must look hot right?"

"Wow, how humble of you," his wife said in all sarcasm and he laughed extending his hand to her. Placing the album on the worktable, she took his waiting hand with a smile.

He pulled her nearer to the stool on which he sat, made her stand along his side while he brought his attention back to his unfinished work.

Placing a hand on her husband's shoulders, Gauri admired his spectacled look for a few uninterrupted minutes.

Hot was a compliment she considered under descriptive of her love's work look. When he wore his loose v neck t shirts, pulled his hair into a sexy man bun, donned those vicious reading glasses and focused on sketching a picture on the canvas, he looked ravishing to her.

Lately, she found it very difficult not to ogle at him during work. She feared he would leave everything and come to her if he got a whiff of her thoughts on him. Begrudgingly, she focused on her English stories especially ones she found interesting to keep her thoughts away from him.

That day however seemed to be her exception as she looked at him without restraint.

"You would burn me down with that look Gauri."

Her husband's statement made her flush red. 

She hurriedly removed her hand which she noticed was senselessly drawing designs on his arm and tried to move away but he held her close, his grip on her waist firm but gentle.

Why couldn't getting caught red handed be less embarrassing?

She saw his other hand freely move on the paper, his eyes not leaving it for a second.

How did he know?... she thought.

"I can feel your eyes on me wifey," she saw him smirk, though he still didn't look her way.

It took him another ten minutes to complete his work and sigh in satisfaction while his wife stood straight, keeping her wayward hands in control.

Putting his pencil back in the holder, he turned to his wife and gave her his undivided attention.

Raising his eyebrows in question, he spoke, "Now tell me."

As she saw him place both her arms back on his shoulders, she asked in confusion.

"Tell what?"

"That you are finding it difficult to resist my charm," he gave her a wink and she couldn't help but smile.

Her hands cupped his face before she placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I like you like this," she said making him grin.

"Like what?"

"Humorous, liberated and happy."

"Oh, I thought you would say hot, delightful and sexy."