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*****
Happy Reading!â¤ï¸
****
Riya's Pov
"Adityaaa...Get up naa!!" I nudged my sleeping husband repeatedly who was currently sleeping as if he hasn't slept since the past twenty-six years.
Kumbhkaran!
Whilst I can get up at the slightest of noise, this sleeping log beside me hardly budges from any of the disturbances around. Though I assume that my jiggly-wiggly dancing and shuffling on the bed in the middle of the night only holds the power to wake his sleepy self up.
Pouting tiredly, I whined and tried my luck again, nudging a little harder this time, "Adityaaa please na yaar."
"Huh huh huh What What happened. I am awake I am awake." He jolted upright, his eyes open rather widely, too unaware and unconscious of the surroundings, and spoke this gibberish which I could hardly decipher.
"Get up na jaldi se, so that you can get ready even more jaldi se, and then we can have breakfast usse bhi jaldi se, and then we can leave and reach Hoshiarpur super-duper jaldi se!!" I exclaimed ignoring his lost-dazed state, unable to keep up my excitement at the mere thought of meeting my family after three days.
"Huh?" He blinked his eyes twice, as if unable to process my words, and gaped at me as if am some buffoon speaking.
Is his mind still sleeping?
"We have to go to Hoshiarpur, my home, your brand new in-laws place today. Remember?" I asked, madly scowling in his direction.
His eyes flickered to the wall clock, and instantly an annoyed look marred his face.
Switching his eyes between me and the wall clock, he voiced gruffly, "It's just five Riya. We have to leave at ten." He grumbled unbelievingly and rolled his eyes helplessly at me.
Shaking his head, and ignoring my happy-hopeful face, he lied down again, his eyes closed and his one arm over his eyes.
Next Level Beizzati.
Hawww!
"Han so? You take one hour to freshen up, sometimes even more. And this hair of yours never gets set easily, all the time you keep settling them. Sometimes this way, Sometimes this." I mimicked him settling my hair with my hands ruffling them one side to the other as he does.
"So take one hour for them. Then we have to eat breakfast and sit with family too for some time, then arrange the gifts in the car. Then there is a chance that we may get stuck up in something. So this all will take time na." I snorted irritatedly, scowling in his direction.
He opened his eyes lightly only to throw an irked look at me and then shut his eyes blowing a helpless sigh, and shook his head in resignation.
"Why the hell do you have to start our every morning with a fight?" He muttered to himself, his eyes still closed, and a teeny-weeny amused yet defeated look marrying his features.
"Open your eyes na." I nudged him again, making him glare at me.
Adorning an innocent face, I spoke lying on my stomach, my both hands palming my cheeks, "I Haven't met mom paa bhaiya bhabhi avyu since three days. I miss them so much. Can't I be a little excited and impatient to meet them? Hmm?" I fluttered my eyes to add more innocence to my features and ended my words with a little sad-pouty face.
I never thought I would ever get dramatic with someone, that too with such drama coming out so naturally and effortlessly out of me.
A knowing smile hinted at the corner of his lips, and he sulked suppressing his smile a little, "Chal chal bas ab. Stop acting innocent now. I know you enough to look through your attempt to butter me up with your innocent doe-eyed face."
I giggled inwardly at his comment, and pouted in his direction, thus indicating him to get up and freshen up fast.
He got up from the bed half-heartedly and aimlessly began looking for his sleepers here and there.
Noticing them beneath the bed, he tried dragging his slippers with his foot in his direction. Though all his attempts proved futile, as his slippers moved even further under the bed.
A giggle escaped my lips looking at the scene in front of me, while he angled his neck sideways only to pass a glare at me. I immediately started coughing to disguise my laugh with my cough, while he rolled his eyes knowing my dramatic attempt.
Grumpy Grandpa.
Groaning frustratedly, he bent down defeated, and dragged the sleeper in his direction with his hands, and wore it rather unwantedly not before passing an ugly glare to that poor innocent piece of rubber slippers, as well to his poor-innocent wife.
"Devil in disguise." He muttered grumpily glancing at our photo, as he passed his office table.
Hawwww!!
"Oii! I heard that." I protested, offended.
"Good for you. Vaise bhi this title suits you." He commented and shut the bathroom door even before giving me a chance to retort back.
"Devil in Disguise!! " I repeated, mimicking him.
Though a teeny-weeny smile graced my lips as my gaze moved to the closed bathroom door.
Who says only romantic mornings are the best mornings for any couple? Try easy-breezy teasings and healthy quarrels sometimes, it has its own fun. And vaise bhi in our case, it seems our thing.
I intentionally find a way to tease him a bit every morning only to see that discreet amused-annoyed smile tugged up at the corner of his lips, puffed-up cheeks, frownsome expressions, those cheeky remarks when he tries his level best to feign anger at me.
Paagal!
******
Aditya's Pov
"Look at your face, all brightened up like Diwali lights." I teased, passing a fleeting glance at my wife who sat beside me in the car, her sole attention towards the passing buildings, street shops, and random people on the road.
This woman of mine loves looking outside the car.
She smiled instantaneously turning towards me, her eyes gleaming, "Because I'm happy." She shrugged carelessly and began looking outside again, her head placed on the window shield.
"It feels different." She added a few minutes later, more like said to herself, as we made way towards the canopy roads, her eyes slowly focussed on the moving trees, a soft thoughtful smile gracing her lips.
"Hmm?" I asked perplexed, trying to comprehend the hidden meaning of her words.
She shrugged silently, probably not wanting to clarify anything. Nodding, I palmed her hand in mine, interlinking our fingers together, and placed them on my thighs, occasionally tracing the back of her palm with my thumb.
Discreetly, I took notice of her serene blushful smile beautifully adorning the corner of her lips, her eyes closed leisurely, and those carefree wisps of her hair effortlessly dancing at their own tunes amidst the wind flowing from the half-open window panes.
Haaye!
In almost three months of us knowing each other, I've learned something very valuable for our relationship, and that is, it isn't always important for you to pester someone into confiding what's going on in their hearts and minds.
Give them a little care, respect their boundaries, appreciate their space, make them feel home, accept their occasional silences, and let them know you are always there, especially when you are at the beginning of your relationship.
They'll come around on their own, and open up their hearts like never before. She has confided in me a lot lot more than I thought she ever would, and I am happy and immensely content with the progress our relationship is making with each passing day.
Moreover, this imperfectly perfect woman of mine appreciates everything undisturbed, unforced, unpretentious, and most importantly,
Unrushed.
********
"Boo boo'!!!!!" Our nephew jumped uncontrollably in bhabhi's arms, a big broad grin gracing his face, those innocent doe-eyes filled with unadulterated happiness seeing his boo-boo after days. He extended his arms outwards as soon as Riya exited the car, her moist eyes gleaming with immeasurable happiness.
I exited the car after parking it at the side and stood silently yet a little awkwardly witnessing the scene in front of me.
Those prolonged hugs, soft whispers, moist eyes, and cheerful giggles warmed my insides inexplicably, and unknowingly my gaze kept flickering over to my wife, a splurge of emotions enveloping me seeing her so lively and happy.
"Uh, Namastey papa, Namastey mumma." I wished our parents rather consciously, bending down, and took their blessings, and hugged Ayaansh bhai.
"Helloo fu-fu." Vaishally Bhabhi said in a babyish voice, gazing admiringly at Avyukth in her arms.
I chuckled at her words and tried to take Avyukth from her arms, but he started wailing incessantly as soon as I touched him, scowling a little in my direction.
Uh-Oh!
Sticking my tongue out in embarrassment I passed an apologetic smile to bhabhi who was now consoling this little man. I angled my neck sideways to look at my wife just to witness her failed attempt at suppressing her laughter.
We kept standing at the threshold, while Riya's parents did all the necessary rituals to welcome us inside as Husband and Wife. Keeping aside the day we met here, I was not allowed to enter Riya's home before marriage, a belief our families strictly adhere to. Once all the rituals were over, we were welcomed inside with abundant love and respect.
*******
"Acha Aditya, tell us how is this satan treating you?" Ayaansh bhai asked, passing a teasing look to his sister, and received a threatening glare from her in return.
After the customary tea and snacks, we were seated in the dining room, and unlike our home, there were only one or two guests present, while almost all others have gone back to their homes.
Blowing a deep-helpless sigh, I answered getting along with him to tease her, "You know your sister bhaiya, what can I say now." I spoke, marring a defeated, sad face, while all others chortled amusedly listening to my answer.
Riya jerked her head towards me in an instant, her eyes wide, and mouth agape, a big fat offended scowl messing up with her features.
"What? I am saying the truth." I remarked, teasing her even more.
She slapped my thigh rather hardly, irritated by my reply, and glared at me dangerously.
"See mumma papa bhaiya, That's what I was saying." I pointed towards her complainingly, as I switched my eyes between all of them.
******
Riya's Pov
"Riyaa..No! He is your husband beta." Mom admonished, discreetly glaring at me.
O Yaar, Typical Mother Behavior.
Ignoring her, I glanced at him, furrowing my eyebrows, and demanded "What have I said to you huh?"
"Nothing." He said, smiling softly at me, but before I could get happy at his reply, this cruel man added,
"Just a little fight here and there, lots of scowling and glaring, irritating me all the time, arguing and overthinking, and those not so innocent teeny-weeny dramatic antics. Bassss, nothing much." He replied smartly, wriggling his brows at me, his lips pressed as if suppressing his smile, while everyone laughed brightly at my expense, thoroughly enjoying my state.
Everyone is on his side now. Nobody loves me anymore.
Avyukth laughed too jumping on the ground, clapping his hands excitedly.
Hawwwww! Traitor! Even he doesn't love me anymore!
Pouting, I sat silently, glaring at each of my traitor family members. Though, much to my relief, after this, the conversations smoothly went on from business to politics, cricket to relatives, wedding discussions, and whatnot.
*******
Huffing and puffing, I entered my room with certain someone, and spoke annoyedly, "This is my room."
He passed a fleeting glance at me, a little playful smile still tugged on his lips, knowing well that I'm angry at him for making fun of me.
He followed me carefully looking around, as it's the 1st time he's seeing my room in person. Standing in front of the wooden stand which had all my trophies from school till post-graduation, he rounded my shoulders effortlessly and began uttering the names of each trophy slowly,
"Excellence in academics, 1st in CTSE, Nss-1, Nss-2, 1st in Elocution, 2nd in Debate, Youth leadership camp, University topper, Best Student." He finished naming each trophy.
Angling his neck sideways to look at me, he exclaimed happily, a proud glint in his eyes.
"Arey waah! Such a scholar my wife is."
"Yeah." I answered boredly, maintaining a poker face, impatiently waiting for him to manaofy me.
"Someone is angry hmm? He asked pulling me more to his side, while I bobbed my face up and down looking at him, my lips protruded.
"You made fun of me." I spoke, innocently.
"Arey baba I was just teasing you, You know how cute you look with those offended expressions." He voiced softly, flicking my nose.
"Shut up." I murmured getting all blushy-blushy again.
Despite my futile attempts to feign annoyance, a smile broke my lips at his reply, and instinctively I placed my head sideways on his shoulder, his arm softly rounding me.
Placing a soft-lingering kiss on my forehead, he gazed at me with pure admiration, with those magnificent opalescent irises and heartwarming dimpled smile I have been irrevocably accustomed to since the past three months.
"Ahem Ahem Ahem." We jumped instantly on our spots and scooted away from each other in a split second as soon as Vaishally bhabhi's loud fake coughs sneaked into our personal moment.
"Uh oh uh uh bhabhi." I babbled embarrassed avoiding any eye contact with her and my nephew who was in her arms, while Aditya immediately began shuffling the contents of our luggage finding God knows what, with his back towards us.
Switching her eyes between me and him, she wriggled her eyebrows questionably, a notorious grin gracing her lips.
"Yaaaaar." I whispered meekly, glaring at her a little. She indicated me to come a little closer, and I did.
Nearing me, she whispered in my ear, cautious of her pitch, "Thank God, finally you two buffoons had begun to romance a little. Otherwise, I was wondering when and how this love track of yours will start."
"Uh, Riya." Before I could answer anything, Aditya's voice reverberated in our ears, "You both talk, I'll go and freshen up." He said eyeing me, a little embarrassed tint on his face.
"Yeah yeah sure sure. Vaise bhi you can continue your romance later, you'll get enough time after this." We both gaped at her dumbfounded, while I shut my eyes embarrassed at words, and a constipated look marred Aditya's features.
"You want to go to fu-fu avyukth? I'll come in two minutes okay?" Ignoring our faces, bhabhi said to her son trying to befriend avyu and fu-fu.
"Fu-Fu-Fu!" Avyukth, who has been a silent spectator till now voiced in his cute babyish tone, and Aditya's face lit up like firecrackers hearing fu-fu for the first time from him.
He extended his arms a little towards him, respecting this little man's personal space this time, thus taking his permission before picking him up.
How astounding is this, that not only adults but also children nowadays know that their personal space needs to be respected and taken care of. Nobody can come and just enter their boundaries without their permission.
You may/may not know someone for days, or months, but this setting foot into someone's personal space needs time, and comfort, intentions, and trust.
Avyu kept thinking for a while, maybe figuring out this not-so-known unknown man, but later gave in and rounded Aditya's neck indicating him to pick him up, while bhabhi left the room indicating me of some work with her eyes.
An inexplicable heartwarming feeling overwhelmed my insides at the sight of my husband so profoundly holding my nephew, his sole attention at smiling softly at him. Avyukth cocooned himself in Aditya''s neck and closed his eyes leisurely, and my husband kept caressing his back lovingly, placing feathery kisses over his forehead time and again.
Amidst this, our eyes found each other on their own accord, an unnamable intense emotion surrounding us.
You don't always need physical intimacy to feel the unexplored dimensions of emotions, these eyes, and this penetrative gaze is enough to make you feel all the goddamn feelings of the world.
I don't know what he was thinking, hell, even I had no idea what I was feeling, but this, this we were feeling now felt far more intimate and foreign than any other emotion we've ever gone through.
Unable to handle his intent-powerful gaze, I gulped this sudden sense of alien feelings and broke our eye contact after a few seconds. I began aimlessly looking towards the door, my hands palms rubbing my arms instinctively, knowing well that he was still watching my every move with equal intensity.
He took a step closer to me, his intoxicating fragrance messing up with my brain and I became a nervous and jittery mess merely at this proximity,
Before he could say anything, mom's voice reached our ears,
"Riya, come downstairs for a second beta, your paa is calling you. Also, bring Avyukth with you, it's his feed time." Aditya blew a deep frustrated sigh hearing mom, and I called out rather difficultly shutting my eyes, and calming my wild beating heart, my vocal cords not ready to voice out anything,
"Hanji, coming."
I peered at him, indicating him to pass an almost sleeping avyukth to me. Taking avyu from his arms, and ignoring that stupid jiggly-wiggly feeling I got the moment his hands brushed against mine, I walked out of the room rather hurriedly, only to turn around a little, and steal a glance at my husband, who was raking his hands in his already messed up hair, his eyes not leaving me, and that infamous amused smile quirked up at the corner of his lips.
Passing a shy- amused smile at him, I turned around and descended the stairs to spend the much-needed alone time with my family.
****
"Aditya beta, take this."
"Aditya, one more chapati."
"Aditya Ji, take the salad as well."
"Aditya, the food is not much spicy na, we have kept the spices low for you"
Don't you think these son-in-law's get way too much attention at your homes? As if they are the sons here, and we are nobody!
Honestly, I did felt a little jealous by the extent of attention he's getting here, not that they were not asking me anything, but still, I am the daughter of this house, I should get all the attention. Oh and yes, nobody loves me here, all of their love is now for a certain someone.
"Oye Overthinker, Stop overthinking, We still love you the most." Ayaansh bhai's voice sneaked into my thoughts, and I looked at him baffled, not getting how did he know what I was thinking.
"Your face was marred in a big fat scowl, with that stupid little pout you make whenever you feel like we don't love you anymore." He answered my unasked question, his face swirled up with amusement.
I smiled embarrassedly, switching my eyes around five people, who were grinning at my dufus thoughts.
"I am used to getting everyone's attention, and he has taken all of it." I squinted my eyes at my husband in accusation, even though everyone knew I was just bluffing.
"Han han, as if you haven't taken up all my attention in Delhi, my brother and sister ask for you more than they ask for me. Mom and Dad have called you before they had called me." He retorted immediately.
"God, another Ayansh and Vaishally in our house." Mom sighed helplessly, shaking her head,
"They used to argue the same way as you both are arguing. But Thank God you two haven't resorted to pinching and slapping each other on their arms, otherwise, Ayaansh and Vaishally fought like children when they were newly married. Sometimes I wonder why do we have to marry children like you." She shook her head again, and we giggled pressing our lips at her reply, while Vaishally bhabhi and Ayaansh bhai kept gawking their plates, and went all embarrassed and red at the revelation of their childlike antics.
*******
Aditya slept almost an hour after we had our dinner, thoroughly exhausted by driving for 7- 8 hours straight, and knowing well that he has to again drive the same distance the morning after.
While I stayed in mom and paa's room for a few more hours, along with bhai and bhabhi, discussing all that had happened in the past three days in Delhi, assuring their tensed parental instincts about the goodness of people there, about Aditya and his family, along with a long list of instructions that almost every overly-tensed mother and highly- concerned father gives to their daughter, just to make sure she lives with peace and happiness at her new home, with a bunch of people she now calls family.
******
"Riyaa." Aditya trailed off as he took notice of my sullen mood, and passed a swift glance at me while driving the car.
My heart felt heavy, my throat kept constricting and my eyes kept turning moist every time my thoughts wander back to the moments I have spent with my family the previous day. My heart kept sinking unknowingly, and I've to keep assuring myself that it's okay, it's natural, and it's inevitable to feel this way leaving your family behind, and get accustomed to living and getting surrounded by another family of some known-unknown faces.
It had been fifteen minutes that we have left Hoshiarpur and were driving back towards Delhi.
"I am okay Aditya, just don't feel like talking now." He nodded, and said softly,
"Okay" He passed an understanding smile in my direction.
"Also I slept late last night so I am feeling a little sleepy now, but you know I cannot sleep on the way, so I am just closing my eyes okay?" I yawned removing my footwear, and all other types of jewelry except my wedding chain and sat comfortably, cross-legged on the seat, chucking out my handbag at the back seat, my head placed lightly towards the windowpane, and the back of my left hand palmed over my eyes, blocking the sunlight.
Typical Indian thing to sit with the utmost comfort in a car!
"Hanji." He replied, his attention focused on changing the gear of the car.
*****
"Bhabhi your phone is ringing!" Kunal called out for me from the lobby, as I was in mumma's room helping her settle, bifurcate, and arrange the wedding gifts and other stuff which isn't needed as of now.
Reaching the threshold of her room, I spoke glancing in his direction,
"Kon hai?" I asked eyeing questionably.
He looked at the phone which was kept on the dining table, and replied, "Some Pooja, and in brackets, MBA is written."
"Uh okay, just silent it, I'll call her afterward." I answered, not wanting to attend the call instead of helping mumma.
"Riya beta, it's okay go and talk with her. It's almost done here." Mumma assured, as soon as I turned around.
"Uh, no it's okay, I'll talk later," I replied, smiling.
She looked at me, shaking her head a little, and then called out, "Kunaaal."
"Yeah mom" He replied from the outside.
I resisted the urge to giggle when she spoke annoyed, "What yeah mom yeah mom, come inside right now."
"Hanji." Kunal spoke a little disinterested the moment he sauntered hurriedly inside her room.
"Chal help me in this, your bhabhi has some work." She replied eyeing the mess in the room while picking up a gift to settle in the bed drawers.
A smile made its way on the corner of my lips and I looked at her thankfully, as I really wanted to go and talk with Pooja, because she had her interview yesterday, and I wanted to hear all the details as soon as possible.
"Go now." Mom admonished me lightly, while I nodded happily and went out of the room.
******
"Hey! Sorry yaar I was busy that's why I didn't pick up your call earlier?" I dialed Pooja's number as soon as I entered our room.
"It's okay di. Now you are free na?" Pooja who calls me di, as she is one of Purva's cousins, and used to talk, study or take guidance from me whenever she felt the need for it.
"Han han. Acha leave this, and tell me jaldi se, how was your interview?" I asked, a little excited and curious knowing well how ardently she has waited for this moment.
She was silent for a few seconds, and replied meekly, "I didn't go for the interview."
I furrowed my eyebrows in perplexion, not comprehending the reason for her backing out at the last moment.
"What happened? All well at home?" I asked concerned.
"Hanji." She answered, her voice glum.
"Then?" I questioned immediately.
"I don't know." She spoke, and voiced after a silence of a few seconds,
"I just got extremely nervous and scared in the morning di. Like what if I didn't perform well? What if I do not know an answer to their question? What if I gave a wrong answer? What if they rejected me? What will they think about me if they didn't like my performance? What will I do if I kept fumbling out of nervousness? What if I didn't suit their requirements?" She voiced out her apprehensions one by one, disappointment laced in her tone.
"I was very scared and overwhelmed thinking what will happen. I wasn't able to think clearly, and I just backed out the last moment." She finished, sighing deeply.
"You should have called me na." I spoke softly.
"I was too nervous and doubtful about my caliber di to think anything logical. It felt like what if all the efforts that I've made in studying and have been making for preparing for this interview go in vain, and they reject me, dissatisfied by my performance. What will they think about me?" She spoke her heart out, and I let her, knowing well that these apprehensions are natural, and inevitable for every newcomer.
"Do they know you, as in the interviewers? I asked.
"Uh, no." She replied, confused.
"Then why are you caring about the fact that what will they think about you just in case they are dissatisfied by you? Infact, even if they'd have known you, it hardly matters Pooja that what those people from the other side of the panel thinks about you or your caliber." I spoke in one breath, and added,
"Also do you know, that even more than us, the interviewers are at more risk while taking the interview. As in we always think that we are in a negative position by sitting in an interview and answering them. But honestly, those people are at a much higher risk while taking the interview, because ultimately it's their decision of hiring or rejecting a candidate that decides the future performance of their company."
"As in, they might forego an excellent candidate, and hire a wrong one? In that case all the time, efforts, and money they've spent in taking the interview and training that person will be wasted na, and they'll have to start the process all over again."
I stopped for a second, and stood near the office table, my back towards the door, "Now just because of this fear of failure, they don't stop taking the interviews haina? Then why do we need to step back because of our fear of failure? So now tell me who is more in a vulnerable position, you or they?" I tried to make her understand, my tone as polite as I could.
"They." She answered lightly, still sinking in the meaning of my words.
"Di but it's also about me, like what if I gave a wrong answer..." Before she could speak further, I interrupted,
"So what yaar, it's all about learning. Either you are selected or rejected, in both the cases you learn." I answered my tone firm yet polite at the same time.
Sighing, I voiced calmly,
"You gave a wrong answer, you clear out your concepts;
You forget the answer to few questions, you try to find out the answers later;
You realize you don't have a certain skill, you decide to learn a new skill, and focus on skill-building;
You felt you were underconfident, you work hard to build up your confidence;
You fumbled a lot, you focus upon polishing your communication skills;
You were too scared and fearsome in the interview, you become much more courageous the next time;
You get rejected in an interview, you try again, and again, and again until you get selected;
Sitting in an interview isn't going to take away anything from you Pooja, instead, it's going to gift you infinite treasurable experiences, and lifelong lessons that a few textbooks may never provide you with." I tried convincing her to the best of my ability, while she stayed mum the whole time.
"We can't afford to lose good opportunities just because of our timely fear of getting failed. So start working and start applying for new jobs, and no matter what, you aren't going to miss another opportunity. Okay? And in case you feel like backing out again, just call me or your puru di once." I finished and waited for her positive response.
"I am regretting not going for the interview now." She voiced out frustrated.
"It's okay, it's normal to be apprehensive and fearful, one opportunity has gone, another will come by, but just make your you grab the next one and not miss it." I assured smiling on my own.
"Hanji. Thank you so much di. I'll call you as soon as I get an interview call from the next firm, and I am not going to let my fear overpower the caliber I hold." She spoke, a sudden sense of confidence in her voice
"That's like my girl. Now shoo, I've to go." I said looking at the wall clock.
"Hanji, hanji bye. Thank you, you always guide me with the best" Smiling at her words which were laced with newfound determination, I cut the call after wishing her bye one last time.
"Arey! When did you come? And why didn't you come inside?" My gaze went to the threshold of our room as soon as I turned around, where my husband stood leisurely leaning against the door, his arms crossed, a tender smile quirked up at his lips.
"When my wife was busy counseling her student." He replied, "And I didn't felt like disturbing you, so just stood here." He shrugged, entering the room.
Immediately the blushy-blushy mode of mine overpowered my senses, as I got too shy realizing he has witnessed my lecturer mode.
Rounding my shoulder, he whispered, "You are an immensely wonderful guide, both personally and professionally, you know that?"
"Mhm." I shook my head amusedly, my always conscious self unable to accept anyone's compliment for me.
"I have learned from the best." I insinuated, gazing at him.
He chuckled at my reply, and kissed the side of my head, pulling me more closer to his side.
"Oh God!!! Too much romance in this house, that too in open!!" Isha shrieked, standing near our half-opened bedroom door.
O yaaaaar!!! Why does he have to leave the bedroom door open?
I tried to scoot away, but this mini hulk didn't leave my side and stood firmly rolling his eyes boredly at his sister.
"Come here." He admonished Isha lightly, and I gaped at him.
Isha entered the room half-amused, half-scowling, and stood near him. My husband rounded her shoulders as well and side-hugged her so that he was in the center hugging both of us both from the sides.
"I have full right to hug all the women of my life, that too in open. So stop being overdramatic, and stop watching those saas-bahu serials." He narrowed his eyes at her playfully, while Isha and I giggled heartily looking at each other and then him, which was followed by two soft kisses my mini hulk placed on both of our heads.
*******
Aditya's Pov
"Hushh." I sighed thoroughly exhausted, propping myself on the bed, too tired of driving for almost 15 hours in two days.
Riya exited the dressing room, neatly placing her clothes in the laundry basket.
This woman is obsessed with doing everything with perfection.
She laid on the bed, applying some cream on her face, and extended her hand to pick up that stupid cuddle pillow of hers which was kept beside my head.
Before she could take the hold of it, I immediately picked up that third wheel in our story and raised it in the air, out of her reach, while my not-so-innocent wife passed a murderous glare in my direction.
"Give me my pillow." She scowled, deeply offended, her face puffed up in sheer annoyance.
"No!" I shook my head extremely slow.
"Why." She whined and pouted looking at that piece of cotton.
"Lae you have a cuddle pillow, but I don't. How will I sleep without a cuddler?" I raised my eyebrows questionably.
"Because you don't need it na." I looked at her poker-faced, to which she replied,
"Acha I'll buy you a pillow too. But at least give me my pillow for tonight." She protruded her lips, eyeing her pillow expectantly.
"No. Vaise bhi why do you need a pillow, when you have a husband." I insinuated what my heart wanted from her.
"Yaar how come you and pillow come in the same context." My tube light wife answered huffing.
Paagal!!
Sighing, I spoke, resisting the urge to smile at her puffed up, cranky face,
"When you have a husband, that too a brand-new one, you don't need a pillow to cuddle. I can also cuddle well, and yeah what do they say?, Yeah! I can be your cuddle bear. So try me today." I put forward, smiling goofily at her, wriggling my brows notoriously.
Her features swirled up in a multitude of expressions from irksome to poker to stupefied to blushful in a matter of few seconds, as she gawked at me, her lips parted, a beautiful scarlet adorning her cheeks.
"Adityaaa..." She voiced, shying way too much.
"Lae what Aditya, come out of your sharmili mode na yaar, and chal come here jaldi se or I'll have to come to your side." I tested her, my tone serious yet playful at the same time.
"Also, at least don't deprive me of your cuddles yaar. I am a good husband, so I need to be rewarded with some peaceful cuddles with my wife." I spoke innocently, glancing at her expectantly, and extended my right arm towards her keeping the pillow behind me, impatiently wanting to embrace her.
She kept biting her lips in contemplation, a soft smile beguiling her lips, her face beetroot, her chocolate-brown eyes peering me with sheer innocence, and those few tendrils of her hair loosely residing at the corner of her face.
"You are coming or not?" I whispered gazing at her a little intensely this time when her shy self didn't make the move.
She pouted defeated, and shutting her eyes tightly for a second, she opened her eyes smiling a little blushfully and whispered softly, gazing at my extended arm,
"Coming."
****
Heyaaaa Dear Onesss!!!!
How was the chapter? Did you like it? Please comment kar dena, it keeps me motivated enough to write, because you all are the only reason I feel like writing for!!ð
Also, could you relate to Pooja's situation? And what according to you are the other fears which might surround a student before an interview or entrance test?
Do vote (Star Iconâ) and comment dear ones, it motivates me to write more.
Until Next Time,
Lots of Love
Râ¤ï¸