Harry 's POV
I felt like someone just hit my head, when I woke up to a voice shouting my name. I lifted my body a little to see. The excruciating pain in the half of my head was not letting me open my eyes properly. I saw her, she was sitting coiled to herself like a worm.
"What happened?" I asked politely, not trying to shout at her because I would have lost my sleep If I had done that.
"T-thunder-the lightning and the thunder," The way she pronounced a natural phenomena like a paranormal event, I could have screamed at her. But I didn't, because I was still half asleep.
I looked at the window, I saw a faint lightening.
"Just-just sleep. It's nothing," I said, as I relaxed my back against the mattress. I was finally going to get some peaceful sleep, when a large thud of clouds colliding with each other echoed in the room. In normal circumstances, it wouldn't have bothered me. But she screamed again. I woke up, still not fully.
"What's the problem with you? It's just light." I said annoyingly. My voice was crooked.
"I can't control," she said in a faint voice.
"God, I can't believe it. You are so annoying." I blabbered. Grabbing the pillow below my head, I shifted on my chest. I positioned the pillow on my head to mask some voice.
I sensed the movement beside me. Maybe, she was finally lying down.
It would have been like two seconds when I heard the thundering sound again. The way a sudden movement caused the bed to vibrate, I knew she flinched. Within a second of that, another thunder came and it was louder this time. She flinched again. I rolled my eyes.
F**k I was finally getting some sleep peacefully and she woke me up. My head was throbbing like someone's pounding it again and again.
My eyes were open. But I was still in my position.
Another thunder came with lightning. And the whole room enlightened like it was daytime, for a moment or two.
A muffled cry left her mouth.
Was she crying now? What does she want me to do? Stop the f***ing storm?
Turning my face to her side, I dragged the pillow out of my sight. Her back was facing me. Her skin was peeking out of the see through gown she was wearing. Even in this dim light I could see the sparkle of her skin. Her arms and legs were folded. She was scared as hell. We were far from each other. I shifted my posture. My chest was now facing her back. Her body was trembling. I dragged my body slowly to hers. Another bolt of lightning enlightened the whole room. But before she could react again, I was holding her. My arms wrapped around her body. Pulling her closer to me, I felt her breath hitched.
"Shhh, It's okay," I said in a breathy voice. My nose was embedded in her hair. As I sniffed, the smell of herbal shampoo entered my nose. Her hair was soft. And they had their own smell too. I felt the tension begin to fall down from her body. But her breath was fast. Like it was when I dragged her on my lap. She turned her head to me slowly, it was so near. Another stroke of clouds caused her features to illuminate like she was in a spotlight. Sparkle in her hazel green eyes surprised me as they looked so deep.
Maybe they were deeper than the ocean.
The observation I made in just a millisecond was unbelievable. She moved her body to me. I moved a little bit backward to give her space. She turned to me and hid her face in my chest. I caged her in my arms immediately. This was not the most comfortable position, I would like to sleep in. But here I was, feeling my headache disappearing somewhere in the thunder and lightning of the storm.
She lives alone. What does she do when it happens in her home? I decided not to ask her. Not that I care but still I wanted to know. How does she manage days like this all by herself?
I didn't know if it was my tiredness the whole day or her warm body that sent tranquillity to my soul, I felt myself going to sleep. She was relaxed too. But still clung to me and so I It was okay. Maybe more than okay. With that I let myself fall asleep with her in my arms.
The morning after a loud night was peaceful. The chirping of words reminded me of the mornings of my childhood. Lazy mornings with the smell of pancakes lingering all over the house. As I opened my eyes, I was reminded of the events that happened last night. She was now lying on my chest. I was facing the ceiling. My arm was around her waist. Her face was on my shoulder. Her arm was on my chest. Perfect position for couples to sleep. I wanted to scoff but I didn't. Adjusting myself a bit, I got a full view of her face. She was lying carelessly. Careless of everything. Her skin was soft. She looked innocent. That made me want to ruin her. It was just such an impulsive thought. My hand came to her cheeks and I started brushing my knuckles against her cheeks. I saw a frown appear on her face and she wriggled in my arms. That made me smile.
Was this me? Who is she?
The door knocked lightly. For some reason, I was so determined to let her sleep. Very carefully and slowly, I slipped myself out of her. Carefully watching her reaction. Thankfully, she didn't wake up.
Opening the door I saw the young maid, the one from night.
"Good morning,Sir. What would you like for breakfast? Would you like it here or in the dining area?" she said robotically, her eyes were stuck to my chest.
Following her gaze, I saw a strand of long hair. Brushing it off abruptly, I answered her.
"Uhh yeah, the dining area is fine," the side of her lips curled as she observed my nervousness. She handed some clothes and other stuff, which I took and shut the door in her face. Yes, it was rude. But I had too.
Washing up, I wore the T-shirt and jeans she gave me. It was a dark brown plain shirt. With dark blue jeans. She was still sleeping when I came back from the shower. I was envious of her, I had been wanting to have a good sleep like this since I stepped into the world of music. It was stress and lack of rest, that's what doctors always told me. It was followed by migraines, painful eyes and tense neck. But I was surprisingly feeling relaxed today. I could have guessed several reasons, but I let it go.
It was already ten, I felt the need to wake her up for breakfast. Sitting beside her sleeping body. I said in a low tone,
"Hey, wake up." getting no response from her I repeated the words a bit loudly or it would have sounded loud because I got closer to her. Surprisingly, she gave me no reaction. Is she dead? I asked myself.
"Hey,!" this time it was loud enough to wake up a dead man. But there she was lying unresponsive.
"Hey! Sarah ," this time I squeezed her shoulder. It caused her eyebrows to lower a little bit, and she moved her body lazily.
"Just two minutes," she said in her morning voice. How was she so comfortable in someone's home? She was so different from me. Staying in someone's home has always been a problem for me. Because I always lose my sleep in a foreign place. And there she was begging for two more minutes of sleep in a place she had never been to before.
"It's enough! Wake up, Grandma waiting for us," I shook her.
To which she turned her side to others. Blabbering something I didn't understand.
"Seems like you enjoyed so much in my arms," I teased. To which she opened her eyes. Turning her head to me, she lifted her body.
"Get over yourself," she said, narrowing her eyes at me.
Success.
She went to the bathroom to wash up.
I had several calls to make. And the signals inside the room were always so weak. I had to go outside in the hallway. Near the window.
After I was done, that took me twenty minutes. I went in.
I saw her struggling to tie a knot behind her neck. She was dressed in a brown dress with a small floral print. The dress was touching her knees. When she was done she put her hair that were slid to one side before. Catching me standing by the door made her blush. She was wearing the same pearl jewellery from yesterday. We were wearing the same colour. I know it was given to us purposely. Grandma was treating us like married couple. And this was awkward.
Coughing awkwardly for a strange reason I finally spoke,
"You ready?"
"Yeah," she said, nodding her head.
Finding her healthy, smiling with sparkle in her eyes, was the best morning of my life. It was filled with her giggles. She was loving Sarah so much. They both busied themselves in conversation immediately. She was seated beside me as she was yesterday.
"What happened next?"
"Harry 's grandfather proposed to me in front of everyone. And that mean b*tch of the towns faked fainting. But he didn't let go of my hand."
Sarah laughed uncontrollably at the free use of curse words by Grandma's mouth.
"That sounds like a movie," she said as she took a bite of cheese sandwich.
"It does. You know what else sounds like a movie? Your chemistry with harry. You both are quiet, but you look more at peace.?" Grandma said in excitement. I was silent. Since Grandma was so curious to know everything about her. And I didn't have to answer her annoying questions. I was happy.
" That's what I took from my mother. She used to say peace is something everyone craves for. Even if you have jewels of the whole world. You can still crave for peace," her eyes were shining when she said those words. The words that struck me. Like they were meant for me. Hinting about my sleepless nights. Those nights when I plead to make things easy for me, to someone up there.
"She must be a lovely woman. I would like to meet her someday."
"Yeah, she was. She is no more. She- uhh died four years ago," the quiver in her voice made me stuck my eyes on her. Her gaze was lowered. I could have held her hand. This was the first time I felt a need to show sympathy. But it was just, so not me.
And I continued being me, cold, rude.
"I am very sorry. You should have been through so much. Is there any one else?" I heard Grandma's sad voice. I looked at her. Her eyebrows were lowered, like she was pitying her.
"It's just me. But it's okay. I am okay," her voice was a little better now, and a faint smile was resting on her lips.
"Don't say that. You have Harry and me too. Isn't it Harry ?" to her question, my lips curled in automatically.
"Yeah, of course," I agreed to her. Sarah looked at me. I also turned my head to her. Her eyes were sad, maybe just a little bit. I was looking at her sheepishly, she smiled maybe genuinely, and then turned back to Grandma.
"Yes," she said, before she busied herself in eating again.
Things were different. I had some concerns about this contract in the past. But none of them were about feeling like I was feeling right now. Like you are somewhere else not where you should be or may be finally feeling like I am home.
Chaos.