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Last night, I had slept peacefully thinking and dreaming about surprise and his beautiful smile, but the morning was nothing short of a shock. My eyes were still closed when a loud ringing sound began echoing near my ears. Jolting awake, I was sitting up straight on the sofa, rubbing my eyes, trying to process what was happening. And there he was-Krishna-sitting on the floor right next to my head, ringing a bell(ghanti) with all his might!
Waking up like that, I wasn't able to comprehend what was going on. My heart was racing as if I'd just had a nightmare. While still rubbing my eyes, I asked him, "What time is it?"
"It's 10 o'clock, madam!" he replied with a mischievous smile while fixing my messy hair.
It felt good to see him first thing in the morning, even if it was him in this chaotic way. I was staring at him like a fool, smiling for no reason. But suddenly, the realization hit me-it was 10 already! I threw his hand away, jumped onto the sofa, and yelled, "Oh no! I forgot to make breakfast! I'll go right away and prepare it!" due to my pastnight cooking trauma.
Before I could move, he grabbed my hand and gently pulled me back onto the sofa. "Relax, there's no need for that right now," he said with a tone so soothing that it momentarily made me wonder if he had already made breakfast for me, just like in the movies.... Ohhh!!! How sweet he is!.
But, of course, I had forgotten one crucial thing-Krishna was my real-life hero, not some cinematic prince charming. And my real-life hero never followed a script. In fact, what happened next left my mind reeling....
"But Why ?" I asked him with a hint of innocence, still half-asleep as I want to hear that from his mouth.
"Because it's not time for breakfast yet...," he said, chuckling in a way that felt both comforting and teasing as he held up my phone to show me the time.
"What?! ....It's just 4:30 AM....?.!" I screamed and flopped back onto the sofa in disbelief.
Without missing a beat, he grabbed my hand again, pulled me upright, and said with a devilish smile, "It's not breakfast time; it's yoga time!"
"I don't want to!" I said, pouting like a child, my voice laced with irritation. Who wakes someone up like that, after all and this much early for yoga ?? ?
He smirked and replied, "I'm not asking; I'm not asking you .... I am telling you. Remember the contract?... Besides, I don't like doing yoga alone. And I also don't like lazy people like you...well, they both annoy me. But hey..., By this way, we can kill two birds with one stone!" His mischievous laughter filled the room as he playfully tugged at my cheeks.
"Fine, I'll go," I muttered grudgingly, shaking his hand off, and stomped toward the bathroom.
Even then, he couldn't leave me alone. He lightly tapped my back and teased, "That's the spirit of a good girl! By the way, you haven't told me yet-how was the surprise? I love surprises ...., you know!" His words were accompanied by that annoying sound of the bell, still ringing in his hands.
I was fuming, but I managed to hide my frustration behind a forced smile and said, "Hoe can your surprises ever be bad?" With that, I stormed off into the bathroom to freshen up.
When I came back and started looking for clothes to wear for yoga, I found him still grinning, his teeth on full display. "Hurry up! We need to leave before 5!" he kept saying like a drill sergeant.
Finally ready, I asked him, puzzled, "Where are we going?"
"For a morning walk!" he said, adjusting the tracksuit which he had bought the previous day. Only then did it click to me-so that's why he bought the tracksuit with stylish clothes!
"But you said we'd be doing yoga!" I protested, sitting on the sofa again, sulking.
"Oh, lazy old woman! All you think about is sitting down on sofa!!. Do you ever consider giving your body some effort? Don't you know warming up is essential before yoga? Oh, wait-you've never done like this before, have you? Forget yoga, you wouldn't even know basic exercise routines!" he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the sofa before dragging me to the door.
As we reached the door, I blurted out dramatically, "Wait! Wait!! I'm not going anywhere without you, Prabhu Ji!! I have Remembered your contract by heart..... At least let me lock the door!"
He laughed at my sarcastic jab, and as I locked the door, I couldn't help but smile. My earlier anger and sleepiness had already melted away.
I was about to take the lift when he pulled me toward the stairs. Putting his arm around my shoulders, he said, "Did you forget, madam? We're warming up, and this is part of it! And as for leaving me, ..., I won't let you go anywhere anyway."
His words felt like both a taunt and a compliment, leaving me blushing slightly. I lowered my head in embarrassment, but he didn't stop. Still holding me close, he guided me down the stairs with still holding me through his hands on my shoulder from back and added, "I told you, didn't I? My surprises are always as special as me. Look at you-how beautiful you look when you smile!"
He kept his arm around me as we descended the stairs. All the while, he was whistling a tune-probably some melody I didn't recognize. And as I followed him down, I was caught between two thoughts: Was he genuinely complimenting me, or was this just the calm before another storm?
When we reached down, I was standing outside the building, looking at him. I asked, "So, tell me, what now?"
Pulling a face, he replied, "Do one thing! Let's go to the park, sit there, and gaze lovingly at each other. Why not? After all, we're here to sit like two buffaloes...Just like as you do on your couch ...anyway.... Oh, come on now! Time's ticking, hurry up!"
Though his idea and words seemed silly, I agreed in starting og his sentences-how nice it would be, just him and me. But no, he wanted to take a morning walk in the dark! The sun hadn't even risen properly yet..., but his determination knew no bounds...He is too bad!!.
While I was still lost in these thoughts, he gave me a gentle push from behind to get me moving. Then, in his jogging stride, he took off ahead. From behind, he looked like a baby deer sprinting around. As I lagged behind, walking slowly, he abruptly turned back, halted, and stared at me.
"Now I understand the real problem!" he exclaimed dramatically.
Pulling a black rubber band from his pocket, he stepped toward me, stopped just in front, and tied my loose hair into a ponytail by standing in front of me.
"Do you need to show off your fashion sense even while running time? If you delay again, I'll cut your hair off next time. Now hurry up!"
Hearing his words, I sulked but followed him silently. Neither of us said anything. Who scolds like this? I was genuinely hurt about his threat to cut my hair...I was feeling like crying from inside.
Suddenly, he stopped and grabbed my hand. Still fuming, I was looking straight ahead to the road as I walked, but his touch made me glare at him angrily. He stepped closer and softly said, "Don't look at me. Look above."
Reluctantly, I turned my gaze forward to his direction. There, the red sun was rising, spreading a fiery glow across the horizon. The scene, framed beneath the trees, was stunningly beautiful..Just like a dream. Leaning close to my ear, he whispered, "I just wanted to show you this. That's why I rushed you. If I'd told you, how would it have been a surprise?... I really don't wanted to hurt you"
His words made me blush. I turned to look at him, he was looking so divine in front of sun....and suddenly I found he was also gazing at me with such tenderness. Suddenly after a while, he let go of my hand and, with a playful smile, said, "Shall we move on?"
"But didn't you say this was the surprise? Where are we going now?" I asked, confused.
"Ohhhooo, this was just part one of the surprise. The real surprise is yoga! Let's go!" he said, his eyes twinkling as he pointed ahead.
"Ughhhhhh, I should've brought my phone to click a photo!" I muttered while walking beside him.
"I've captured it in my eyes. Just tell me when you want to see it ... I will made you see the scene again ," he said with a faint smile, not even glancing at me.
Blushing again, I walked quietly beside him. Soon, we reached the park, where he began my yoga lessons. At first, his theoretical explanations felt utterly boring... But I was still looking at him becausehe look so cute while speaking ... Specially his lips!!, but then he suddenly demonstrated a perfect balancing pose called Tulasan. I thought it looked easy until I tried it myself. That's when I realized the struggle.
He patiently made me do some basic poses, and I was completely worn out even by doing basic. How could someone push this hard on day one? Show some mercy pleaseeeee!
Then came the five fast rounds of Surya Namaskar. By the last round, I folded my hands in surrender. He sat down laughing and resumed his theory, saying, "This pain is the real ras(essence)." and this is just basic yoga...I am planning for you...That you may become master of yoga.
My back, my legs-everything was dead. I glared at him the whole time. On the way back, I held his hand, glaring even harder as I limped along, while he continued to smile.
When we got home, I collapsed onto the sofa, ready for some peace... felt like dying.
But no he don't like my peace, he went to shower and when returned only to nag me, "Why are you Still sitting here??? I thought you'd have started cleaning by now. Hurry up-I hate mess!"
"And I hate you!" I muttered under my breath.
"Did you say something?" he asked with a smirk.
"No!" I snapped and stormed off to fetch the broom.
Even as I cleaned, he wouldn't stop nitpicking. "You missed a spot here... and there...that....blah ...blah..." At that moment, I seriously considered that earlier one "accidentally" dropping the broom on his head must turned into intentionally this time. But instead going anything , I finished quitely sweeping and mopping, later on when I finished plopped back onto the sofa, but this time also he ordered me to take the shower by saying ....Any Dirt must Not sit on sofa again....What does he actually mean huhhhh.
When I came back, exhausted and grumpy, I saw him in the kitchen cooking. That lifted my spirits a bit. I asked, "What are you making?"
"First, go pray in the temple," he replied, pointing to the room.
There, in the small home temple, was a statue of him! I silently thanked it, sang a quick aarti, and applied tilak before returning. He was sitting on the sofa with food.
"Here, I made poha for you. You've worked so hard today. I can't live in your house for free, after all," he said, bringing a spoonful to my mouth.
"I can eat by myself!" I said shyly.
"Your hands are tired. Let me feed you," he said lovingly, insisting.
"When will you eat?" I asked, chewing.
"A servant eats only after the master has eaten," he replied with mock innocence.
Annoyed, I grabbed the spoon and plate from him and served him his own portion on another plate. "Fine! You eat yours, I'll eat mine, and let's end this conversation. And you Want me to feed you?" I asked mimicking him
"No, no! Your hands are in pain. Why would I trouble you?" he teased.
"Stop it! Just eat quietly," I said, nearly in tears.
"As you command, ma'am," he said with a cheeky grin and started eating like a child.
I moved away from him, sitting quietly to eat. His food was good-surprisingly too good. But who puts potatoes in poha? I didn't understand..And it was quite spicy also... Some tomatoes were also there... I don't like vegetables!!!!!! But this one was quite tasty.
Finishing quickly, I snatched his empty plate, ignoring whatever nonsense he was about to spout, and rushed to the kitchen to clean up.
When I came back, he stood up on the sofa and dramatically announced, "Let me massage your feet madam. They must be aching!"
"No...., no....!" I yelled, running away as he chased me. We ran around the house like kids-climbing over the bed, throwing pillows, hiding behind the table. Finally, exhausted, I folded my hands in surrender. "Enough! I don't feel any pain, see? I'm perfectly fit!"
"Good! then Be ready for another yoga tomorrow... Let me do my important work it's already 2pm ... See you in the evening with another surprise," he declared, shutting the room door in my face by twinkling his eyes, almost grinning.
Frustrated, I stomped to the sofa and flopped down, vowing in frustration that never to go anywhere with him again specially for morning yoga...ohhhhhhhhh!!! God .... Sorry he is the real problem behind this pain .... My legs ...My back... My stomach ...It's hurting... Thinking about it I fell into sleep as I was so tired because of his surprise session ... Hope so in evening ... The surprise would be less cute then morning one. Huhhhhhhhhh!!
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