Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

Arsh was amused how Noor didn't fluster and pretended so smoothly. He felt like they were underestimating her too much.

"How long are you planning to pretend to be asleep?" He asked, whispering near her ear.

He watched her slowly flush red, squeezing her eyes, clutching the pillow. He almost thought she was going to cry but, "Couldn't you just help me with the act?" She mewled, really wishing to cry.

She was awake around dawn, she had thought she was dreaming like sleeping outside, under the sky so she hadn't thought much when an arm protectively wrapped around her, pulling her up on the pillow. 

Facing him felt extremely embarrassing. 

Since she wasn't afraid or disgusted but embarrassed, Arsh had no complaints. He offered, "Should I also go back to sleep and pretend to be asleep?" He questioned, propping his head on his fist, supporting his elbow on the pillow.

'Asleep.' Recalling she was sleeping next to him, she jerked up and looked around. "Where are others? Did they see us sleeping together? Why did we sleep outside?..." Then she started mumbling to herself, "I should stop drinking so much. Why don't I have a headache?" She lifted her head and asked, "Did I say anything to you last night? Did I trouble you a lot…"

Arsh: "..."

He waited for her until she asked, "Why aren't you speaking?" Impatient, she poked his arm.

Arsh sat down, breathing loudly in her place. Why didn't he know she speaks a lot too without taking a breath? "What if somebody saw us?"

Noor flustered, she became jelly and stammered, "I-I- I will run away." She pointed towards the cars.

Arsh lied smoothly as he fished his mobile out of his pocket, "None came out. All her sleeping inside." He messaged his sister and friend, ordering them to go back to bed. 

"You- are you lying?" She didn't believe him. Yet there was a pleading gaze to hear the truth but she wasn't prepared for the truth. She wanted to hear what could rest her heart at ease.

Arsh wanted to flick on her head and ask, 'Why are you panicking so much dummy?' but he stayed indifferent, "Check yourself." He pointed at the villa with a tilt of his head.

Noor wanted to believe him but she got up and went inside. Arsh saw his friend's reply, [We are doing this for Noor.]

Sister's response, [Don't bully sister-in-law.]

Noor peeked everywhere. She first saw Ivan cuddling Arna on the couch in the living hall, Naira was alone on the bed upstairs and Rooney and Jasmine cuddling on the guest room's small couch.

She glanced at Arsh leaning on the wall so she asked in confusion, "Isn't it uncomfortable on the couch when there is such a big bed?" Fitting one on the bed was fine, she couldn't understand two struggling to fit on it.

Arna suppressed her laughter against Ivan's chest while Arsh stared at Noor without knowing which response to choose for her. 

Noor innocently blinked at him before glancing at Jasmine and Rooney in the guest room, controlling her urge to wake them up and ask them to sleep on the bed, comfortably.

"When I get a girlfriend, you will get to know." Arsh twisted his words and left to get fresh.

Ivan: "..." He didn't know Arsh was so brazen to say Noor was going to be his girlfriend.

Noor initially assumed that he will get to know when he gets a girlfriend before realizing his words. "You-" But he was gone. 

Sighing to herself, she went to prepare breakfast for everyone. Patting her chest, none saw her shamelessly cuddling Arsh. She stopped bothering about her behavior in a drunken state as none teased her when they woke up. 

Since everyone had to go to work, school, Noor served them and sent the two couples before she sat on the couch with a long exhale.

Her work reminded her of her mother who was a homemaker after her birth. Remembering how Norah always stayed on her toes, sending one after the other, making sure they had what was required for their days, her respect for her mother increased even more.

"What are you smiling at?" Arsh asked, passing her the coffee. He was in charge of cleaning, now serving his wife-to-be who looked satisfied for some reason.

Noor took the cup from him and turned to face him when he sat down at the other end of the same couch. "What do you think about homemaking mothers?"

Arsh sipped his coffee, understanding why she was smiling. He promptly gave his opinion shortly, "The toughest job with no appreciation or position."

Noor's smile flattered hearing him. Her shoulder slacked when she said, "Young Master Morgan, nobody will scold you if you talk more." Or should she be happy he answers in a sentence instead of a word? Ugh.

A throaty chuckle made her lips agape and stare at him. He was glad she wasn't adjusting anymore and voiced her opinion. He didn't want a puppet to follow him and she learned to voice. That was a great improvement and also he saw no more embarrassment for the morning.

Now he elaborated for her to listen, "We go out and work for a few hours, at the end of the day we have somewhere to go called home. We get promotions, monthly salaries, hikes, and appreciation for the work we do. We take holidays and vacations because we are tired of work and need a break."

Noor came out of her stupor and nodded hearing his words, that's how modern-day work and people are.

Arsh continued, "What do we often think? We are working hard to provide at home."

Noor was about to nod but confusion flickered in her eyes. Just now she realized how hard her mother works in the morning routine of the house to provide every necessity for her, Naira, and Noah. Why did she even think they were working to provide for grandparents and mother when her mother was working harder, holding her breath, and remembering each of their schedules and needs.

Who is providing whom?

Arsh continued after a sip of her coffee, "Have we ever thought what if homemakers weren't there? We would be running around for toiletries in the morning, then searching for ingredients for breakfast, cleaning, getting ready, and then working."

Noor pursed her lips thinking how single independent ladies or gents are doing everything on their own. Yet, they often order food outside or eat outside. To avoid affecting their health, they go in search of health and spend more money.

Arsh's long fingers reached out and lifted her cup making her realize she has to sip her coffee as he continued, "When we get everything done, we assume we are working hard for them forgetting they are also working hard for us."

Noor hummed, "We often forget or don't even know what they like and need but they know everything." She added her thoughts.

Arsh sipped his coffee as he nodded, "They don't get a salary, they get any promotions. We often tend to ignore them in our so-called busy schedule, with that we even scold them if they are a little late, we call them jobless, we say they just stay in the home and do nothing. Are they doing nothing?"

Noor shook her head in guilt as though she had neglected her mother or scolded her. She felt she cared less about her mother and she should treat her better for sacrificing her career and be their support.

Arsh completed, watching her unblinking eyes, "All they expect is a small hug, a little appreciation for their relentless work. We have to show them more love, spend some extra time, take them out, and make them enjoy."

Noor happily hummed, flashing him a sweet smile.