Chapter 3 The first priority

Winter of 2018.

Description: Before the reboot.

The day was very dull equivalent to her mood, Rohan couldn't cheer her up because he knew she was deeply hurt by her sister who didn't invite her to her wedding, and she gazing at her Instagram photos. She didn't shed tears but she was sad, and she badly needs a person next to her, He understood. Taking the blanket from the cupboard, He moved towards the drawing-room. Rithika was resting in the couch and gazing at her iPad. She didn't notice his presence until he came and wrap her with the blanket.

"Rohan, Didn't sleep yet?" Rithika asked him Before she could spell anything further, He took her head in his lap and switched on the television.

"Not yet! Wait, Shall we binge-watch vampire diaries?" He asked while switching on to Netflix. She looked at him and checked his temperature.

"Why are you acting so weird?" Rithika asked him with a smile. Because she knew he hated that series but he loved it.

"I have to ask this to you, Why are you acting so different since morning? Just because you come to know about your sister's wedding through Instagram?" He asked her while intertwining his fingers with her finger.

"Not like that, I am happy for her," Rithika said with a smile and took his hand wrapped it around her neck, and heaved out a deep breath. Rohan sensed everything but he had no idea from where to start. But his number one priority was to change her mood, So he decided to ask the question which he wanted to ask for a long time.

"I know, It's the wrong timing to ask you this, But I want to know, Shall I ask?" He asked while caressing her hair in his lap. She turned her face and looked at him.

"Did I say 'no' to you on anything? why are you even asking?" Rithika asked him. He couldn't able to come out of her words but kissed her forehead and thanked her for everything, For being with him in the most terrible and last phrase of his life. If he says that in reality, she will cry, He never wanted that, so he remained silent.

"Why are you silent? Ask me whatever you wanted to ask!" Rithika insisted on him.

"Hmm. What I need to know is..."

"What?" She asked him.

"When did you fall in love with me?" He asked.

"I always loved you, I told you this at least a million times..." Rithika hesitated.

"Whenever I ask you this question, You always hesitate like this. I hate you for this!" Rohan said in a grumpy tone.

"Aww, My baby became grumpy. But Honestly, I couldn't figure out when I fall in love with you, But I can tell when I recognized, I can't live without you." Rithika said.

"I heard that for a zillion times, You recognized that before 3 years and before 2 years, You went out of patience and proposed me, And we got married. But I want to know When you fall in love with me." He asked her in a low tone.

Rithika stood up from her place and sat opposite him in the couch, Took his palms, and kept it in her lap. He looked at her confusingly with a smile.

"Okay, Shall we play a game? I call it, 'DOWN TO THE MEMORY LANE' I hope, after playing this game, You might get your answer When the great, Rithika trivedi fell in love with the great Rohan Singh Rathore... So Are you ready, Mr. Rathore?" Rithika asked him.

"Yes, Mrs. Rathore. I am very good in cracking puzzles." He said with a smile, Her cheeks went pink seeing his smile. His smile always makes her blush.

"Are you blushing?" He asked her.

"No. The weather. It's too cold. Shall we start the game?" Rithika asked him in the return, He pinched her right cheek, but she slightly jerked off his hands, tugged her hair behind her ears, and started the question.

"Okay, The game is, I will ask you some questions, You have to answer them, It's about 'us'... Are you ready?" Rithika asked him.

"Always!" He responded. Sat up comfortably on the couch facing her opposite.

"Question no -1: When did we first meet?" Rithika asked him.

"Wait, I know the answer, It's 4th Grade. Am I right?" He asked her, She smiled looking at the floor. He asked her what happened, Instead of replying, She opened her google drive in her iPad and shown him their kindergarten group picture where Rohan was standing in the first row and Rithika was standing in the row above him. Rohan cupped his mouth in shock.

"What are you saying?" Rohan exclaimed.

"Yeah, We both are in the same class from Kindergarten to second grade, Then my paapa got transferred and again we met in 4th grade. So Rithika-1 and Rohan-0" - Rithika replied, Rohan remained silent and nodded his head.

"Question no-2, I think you can answer this question, Who was your first-first girlfriend from school?" Rithika asked him.

"I can answer this, It's Rivana from 5th grade..." He said with a vibrant answer.

"Oh really, Then Rihana, Nithya, Ananya come under which category?" Rithika asked him with a smile.

"Oh, Yeah, They exist. So It's Ananya, She's the first girl who I proposed to without knowing the meaning of love." Rohan said with a cheapish smile.

"Stop cheating, Mr. Rathore. This point goes to me. So Rithika- 2, Rohan- 0" Rithika said.

"You said, The questions are about us..." Rohan said.

"Anyway, You're not gonna remember anything, Let's go general," Rithika said disinterested tone.

"Rithu, Yaar." He pouted at her sadly.

"Okay fine, Three more questions." - Rithika said. He nodded.

"When did you find a girl like me EXISTS in your school? The place where you were studying." Rithika asked while placing her hand in her cheek.

"You mean a girl like a fairy." He asked her, she chuckled. He knew the answer but hesitated to tell anything to her. So he was ready to pick the safe answer.

"Before 4 years, When I met you in the conference as a journalist." He said avoiding eye contact with her.

"No, You're lying, I know, You know the answer, Come on, Answer. Now you're my husband, Remember." Rithika asked him in the calmest tone.

"In our twelfth grade, Before boards, When I come across Kiara," Rohan said in a low tone. He couldn't able to face her.

"Hey... Hubby..." Rithika called him. Rohan faced her with a low face.

"You never knew I have feelings for you over that time... So there's nothing to worry about, Over then, I was hurt, But not now." - Rithika said while widening her arms for a hug, He came and took her in his lap while hugging her.

"I shouldn't have done that, I was living under some shed which had full of fake people and resisted me to look through the real peoples and the fairy of my life." He said while kissing her forehead.

"Stop cursing yourself, You were a kid. And now everything became alright." - She said while caressing her face in his chest.

"Yeah, When I find the reason for my life, it presented me with a timer." - Rohan replied. Tears crossed from both of their eyes.

"It was a very bad phase for me. My best friend, Kiara cheated on me, That too, Moving on with you, She knew everything about my inner feelings, On that day, I lost trust in everything. Even I refused to spend some time with my mom, Gone away from my sister, She almost became like a stranger to me, And then, the Sudden death of my mom, After my exams, And my father's re-marriage. Everything messed up with one another." Rithika finally opened up to him, Even though he knew he was the reason behind it, He didn't loosen up the grip, He held her tightly and consoled her by being with her.

"Then, Finally I went to college, Met my friends, They brought me back to life," Rithika said with a chuckle.

"This Lehenga. Mom made it for me, For my wedding, She wanted me to wear it with pearl jewelry as I am very obsessed with Mermaid princess. She wanted me to look like a mermaid princess walking in the aisle holding my prince charming hand, Oh my god, How cheesy she was?" Rithika chuckled, Tears grouped in Rohan's eyes but he didn't let it down. He held her palms tightly.

"She dreamed a lot for me, For my wedding. Now, seeing my sister in that outfit. I just can't stop myself from missing my mom." Rithika said, Her voice trailed off. Rohan pulled her back to his chest and stopped her from saying anything further. Over then, He wished to go back to the past and erase her pain a little bit. But He signed disbelief thinking that, It will never happen but the least he could do he can adore his fairy who slept in his chest.

......