Sheena and Rohan had been going out for a month now. Rohan was a strapping 6’2”; his burly frame belied his gentle and generous nature. He had a huge build and a rough look that gave a raw edge to his masculinity. Sheena on the other hand was diminutive at 5’4”, and her slim frame made her look even younger and more petite.
They first bumped into each other at a coffee shop where a mutual friend introduced them. They found each other pleasant, and their friendship took off when they found that they worked in the same company albeit in different sections. Sheena was outgoing and fun. Rohan was quieter and had a warm, sensitive nature. Slowly, they were drawn to each other like moths to fire.
They felt their relationship progress from a casual like to spend time with each other to want to be around each other all the time. And, both of them went from handshakes to warm hugs and peck on the cheek. Sheena was not your typical obsessed with the latest fashion trends girl and enjoyed dressing simple and staying well groomed. Rohan was a typical male who found using moisturizer on his skin akin to make up. With great difficulty, he pushed himself to shave once every few days.
Sheena hated his unkempt look. His shaggy stubble, she really disliked. It scratched her cheeks and lips, and she quickly winced inwards.  The thought of going anywhere close to his face filled her with dismay. And, she could sense his confusion when she never showed any interest in kissing him. His deep eyes seemed to question her quietly, but he never asked her. And, she could just not bring herself to tell him directly.
Pic courtesy: Freedigitalphotos.net
Back from work, she was flipping the channels absentminded when she chuckled loudly. She immediately picked up her purse and went out of the house with a mischievous smile on her face.
The next day, a neatly wrapped gift arrived at Rohan’s house. He was in a rush to leave for work. He took it and quickly unwrapped it feeling very inquisitive about what it contained. It was from Sheena. She had never gifted him anything this far. He was puzzled to find an uneven package inside. It had a plastic brush normally used to scrub clothes before washing them. He was deeply puzzled. There was nothing else in the package and certainly no note. He was holding the brush and moving it in his hands when he saw something and a quick sheepish grin came on his face. Smiling to himself, he locked his door and went out.
Sheena was anxiously waiting to hear from Rohan. He did not call her the entire day. He had received the package, and she was wondering how he took it. She was tempted many times to call him but waited. By evening, she was clearly at the edge of her seat when she received an SMS from Rohan. It simply said, “My place at 7Rohan!” She immediately got up and left for his place.
Her heart was beating rapidly when she rang his doorbell. Rohan opened the door. It was dimly lit. She could not see his face. As she walked in, she could smell a delicious aroma of vanilla and cinnamon. Some lovely candles were lit casting an eerie glow on the dining table. A bottle of wine was also chilling there. Behind her, she could sense Rohan watching her. And then, she saw her “gift” displayed on his table showing the words “Shave or Crave” that she had scribbled in bold letterswith a heart around then.
She immediately turned and found herself looking into Rohan’s chest. Glancing up, she did a double take. Rohan was clean-shaven and looked positively edible. His boyish features were clearly accentuated and a delightfully masculine after-shave hit her nostrils. She loved the musky smell. Her hands flew to his face cupping his smooth skin. She loved the touch of him. She felt a thrill of excitement go up her spine, as her pulse quickened. His eyes mirrored her own passion and also had a hint of laughter in them. All he said was, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” With a huge smile and a wink, her hungry lips reached out for his making impossible any further conversation!
Pic courtesy: Alibaba.com
Much later in the night, she silently thanked Gillette’s Shave or Crave commercial that she had seen on television the previous day. He was indeed going to shave every evening. Wasn’t it a win-win situation for both of them ;-)!
Many years later, his son also grimaced at his prickly stubble. The guy has no escaping. He has to shave not only for his wife but kid as well!

54 responses to “Stubble trouble!”

  1. indu chhibber Avatar

    This current look looks so unkempt.I wonder why it has become the rage, maybe because of ease.

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    1. Rachna Avatar

      Perhaps! I love the clean shaven look. My husband will vouch for it :).

      Like

  2. Bhagyashree Avatar

    Ahaaa…. this is good 😀 Good luck Rachna

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thanks Bhagya :).

      Like

  3. kateshrewsday.com Avatar

    Ha! This is a familiar story, Rachna….

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar
  4. Jack Avatar

    Rachna,Good one. Hope you win.Take care

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar
  5. Ashwini C N Avatar

    Good one there. Somehow people tend to be more creative when they are asked to touch upon the romantic aspect of their lives. Good luck 🙂

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thanks :). I am an extremely romantic person ;-).

      Like

  6. Jay Singh Avatar

    Hi Rachna,HAHAHA..positively edible…good one.Lovely post, you’ve made him crave for the shave. 🙂 Happy New Year to you and family. :)Here’s my take on this:http://road-to-sanitarium.blogspot.in/2012/12/showed-me-how-to-live.htmlRegardsJayMy Blog | My FB Page

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thanks Jay. I will hop over to your entry soon.

      Like

  7. Unknown Avatar

    Hahaha…good one…good luck for the contest 🙂

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    1. Unknown Avatar

      Btw, latha here..:)

      Like

  8. Purba Avatar

    Smooth and mushy…Your post was much needed to lift that terrible gloom that has descended on all of us.

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you Purba!

      Like

  9. KParthasarathi Avatar

    Nice one,Rachna.Best wishes for the contest

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you KP Sir.

      Like

  10. Irfanuddin Avatar

    SIMPLY SMILING….:) while my fingers are trying to mend my mustache like Rowdy Rathore…..:))my best wishes for the contest and a very Happy New year to all of you…..

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      ha ha Irfan! Wish you a very Happy New year too.

      Like

  11. goingbeyondthepages Avatar

    ha ha 🙂 good one… All the best 🙂

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    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you! Wish you the same.

      Like

  12. mashedmusings Avatar

    All the best for the contest! I always thought girls liked a day or two old stubble.

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Yeah, that is the way they project it in movies. But I hate stubble. My hubby will vouch for it ;-).

      Like

  13. Nisha Avatar

    I like the idea of the guy shaving for the son. Wife can become ‘ghar ki murgi’ but kids they cannot escape!All the best for the contest 🙂

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you Nisha! My younger son pointedly tells his dad that his stubble hurts ;-).

      Like

  14. jane.healy Avatar

    Good luck Rachna (although I have to admit I love stubble!)

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Good for you, Jane ;-). I like it on models and movie stars. On my own husband, I love the silken smooth feel.

      Like

  15. Bikramjit Avatar

    IT seems the whole blogworld is getting together to make men shave he he he But I am holding fort with my Moustacheeeeeee… MUUUUUU HA HA HA HA HA lovely article made me smile .. hope you enjoying ur holidays Happy new year to you and family and everyone around you 🙂Bikram’s

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Hi Bikram, Wish you a happy new year too. Yeah the vacation was nice. And, mooch, I know you love yours ;-). As long as your significant other digs it, it hardly matter what everyone else thinks.

      Like

  16. Shilpa Garg Avatar

    That’s a nice story!! :)All the best for the contest! 🙂

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you Shilpa! Wish you the same.

      Like

  17. Vani Avatar

    ahem ahem kuch jyaada hogaya ji

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      haha I am an incurable romantic deep down :).

      Like

  18. The Fool Avatar

    Nice to see you attempting fiction and contests. Best of luck for the contest.

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you The Fool!

      Like

  19. IGBG Avatar

    But I like a man with stubble 🙂 Still, creative way of communicating! Thumbs up!

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thank you Iliana :). I prefer my man clean shaven. The rest are okay any which way ;-P.

      Like

  20. Meenakshi Malhotra Avatar

    rings a bell! best of luck for the contest!!

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thanks Meenakshi :).

      Like

  21. KayEm Avatar

    Enjoyed that, Rachana. Sandpaper has its place – just not on his face.

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      hehe Good one, KayEm! Thank you for liking it.

      Like

  22. Destiny's child... Avatar

    Nice story 😀 All the best for the contest! 🙂

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      Thanks DC :).

      Like

  23. DEBAJYOTI Avatar

    enjoyed reading this post! an engrossing story!! all the best for the contest!

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar
      Rachna

      Thanks Deb!

      Like

  24. Bk chowla Avatar

    My best wishes for the contest

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar
      Rachna

      Thank you Chowlaji :).

      Like

  25. Rajeesh Avatar

    Liked the post.. lol.. If my wife’s sees the post she ll burst in laugh..
    “He has to shave not only for his wife but kid as well!”

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      :). Welcome to my blog Rajeesh!

      Like

  26. rahul aggarwal Avatar

    all the very best for the contest Rachna!

    Like

    1. Rachna Avatar

      The contest is long over, Rahul :).

      Like

  27. deepika vasudeva Avatar

    This was so cute 😀 That brush thing took all the points. The point when she turns around, her face bumping his chest, haha, super cute and so well penned in such short story. You got a fan lady 🙂

    Like

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I’m Rachna

Welcome to Rachna says, my first abode on the internet where I share snippets of my mundane life, as I navigate empty nest with my husband. You can also get my recipes at my food blog, Rachna cooks.

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