Chapter 48: chapter 48

Awakened by the first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, Adhiraj’s eyes fluttered open. He was immediately drawn to the persistent buzz of his vibrating phone; it jolted him fully awake. Reluctantly and with a hint of concern, he reached out to silence the intrusive device, careful not to disturb his wife, who slept peacefully snuggled against his chest. Aware of the impenetrable walls she would build if she woke up in his embrace, he slowly withdrew, ensuring she remained cocooned in the warmth of the blankets.With his phone in hand, he left the room and was surprised to see that he had missed four calls from Sanchit. Feeling the urgency, he dialed back, his jaw tightening in anger as he listened to what Sanchit had to say.Inside the room, Imara slowly shifted, her fingers curling around the soft ends of the blanket before her eyes fluttered open. A gentle yawn escaped her; the sound echoed in the quietness of the room. As she turned her gaze to the right, she was met with an empty space; Adhiraj wasn’t there. His words from the previous night echoed in her mind, still vivid and lingering. The memory jolted her awake, dispelling any remnants of sleepiness. With a sense of urgency, she reached up to touch her forehead, cheeks, and skin. The warmth of her own body comforted her, confirming her normal state. Just as she began to process the fact that she had indeed slept in Adhiraj’s arms, the door opened. Vandana entered, carrying a tray of breakfast, followed by Anika and Tarushi.“Morning, Di!” the twins chimed, rushing over to check Imara’s temperature.“I didn’t let them in to see you yesterday because I knew they wouldn’t let you rest. But before leaving, Raj mentioned you were feeling better, so I allowed them in,” Vandana explained, chuckling.Imara’s forehead creased as she asked, “Leaving? Where to?”Anika and Tarushi exchanged amused glances, picking up on Imara’s concern. Vandana, with her back turned, stifled a smile and replied, “He probably didn’t tell you because you were asleep. He had to leave due to an emergency.”“Oh...,” Imara whispered, her heart sinking as she struggled to understand why she felt so dejected upon learning she wouldn’t be seeing Adhiraj.“It’s time for medicines, Imara. Quickly freshen up and have breakfast,” Vandana said, her hand caressing Imara’s head, coaxing her out of her daze.Imara nodded and stepped into the washroom, instantly recalling the vivid image of Adhiraj holding her hair back as she threw up the night before.Thereafter, Anika and Tarushi spent the day with Imara in her room, sharing stories and laughter. Imara couldn’t help but notice how giddy her sisters were as they talked about their husbands. It was like watching a rom-com unfold right before her eyes.Later in the evening, as tea and snacks were served, Vandana entered the room with Atharv and Samrat trailing behind her. Instantly, Anika and Tarushi’s faces turned into a shade of pink that could rival a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. Imara had to bite her cheek from laughing. Who would have thought her sisters would be the reigning champions of blushing? From as far back as she could recall, she had observed a telltale sign - their cheeks blushing crimson whenever their husbands were near. It made her wonder what secret tricks their husbands had up their sleeves to make them blush like that.“Hey there, Bhabhi!” Samrat exclaimed cheerfully as he bounced onto the bed, startling Imara and receiving a swift kick from Atharv, who added, “Could you please try to act like a normal human being?”“Enough, you two,” Vandana interjected as she joined them on the bed, while Anika distributed tea to everyone. Imara couldn’t help but wonder what was going on when Atharv pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket and declared, “It’s game time, Bhabhi! Anika told me you’re a poker master!”Imara nearly choked on her tea, prompting Vandana to pat her back and suppress her own laughter, before remarking, “We have an entire network of spies, you see!”Samrat couldn’t help but laugh at his mother’s comment as he dealt the cards. The game, the banter, everything made Imara feel right at home, surrounded by love and care. It was her first time bonding with Adhiraj’s brothers, and she felt like a part of the family beyond just sharing meals. If she claimed she didn’t have a good time, she would be lying. If she said she didn’t miss her own family, she would be lying. And if she insisted she didn’t think about Dheeraj, she would be honest. And if she admitted that she secretly hoped Adhiraj was there too, well, that would still be the truth. No lies there!The game continued, and so did the hilarious banter between the brothers. Vandana’s amusing remarks added to the entertainment, while Imara’s winning streak left the brothers in awe. Just when things were getting interesting, Samrat couldn’t help but exclaim, “Bhabhi! Bhaiya is about to be completely floored. He sucks at poker!”No sooner had Samrat uttered those words, than the door swung open and Adhiraj walked in. Imara’s heart skipped a beat as she took in his freshly bathed appearance. The scent of his cologne instantly transported her back to the previous night. She could still feel his warmth against her, his arms around her where she slept last night, snuggled against him as he held her like she meant the world to him.“You suck at poker?” Atharv responded, trying not to laugh.“I suck at poker because you all cheat!” Adhiraj retorted, snatching the cards and getting ready for another round.“Raj, sit here. I am leaving,” Vandana announced.Anika and Tarushi began to rise, ready to assist Vandana with dinner preparations, but she firmly declined. “Stay here. Have some fun! I’ll handle it!”“I heard there’s a game going on!” Virender exclaimed, entering the room with Jaidev trailing behind.“Bhabhi is on the winning streak,” Samrat chuckled.Adhiraj took no time in setting up chairs for Virender and Jaidev, a gesture which Imara didn’t miss.“Vandana, let’s all play together and tell the maids to get dinner here,” Virender instructed as he settled on the chair. “It seems like ages since we all dined together. As Imara can’t come down, let’s eat here!”Imara suddenly found herself in the spotlight, desperately trying to disappear into the background. She managed to give Virender a grateful smile, acknowledging his concern, while Jaidev eagerly eyed the deck of cards and declared, “Let’s start!”“Imara, you have a tough competition!” Vandana exclaimed as she settled next to Imara, causing her to shift in the middle of the bed.Confused, Imara looked at her mother-in-law, only for Adhiraj to clarify, “Dad’s a poker master!”Imara nodded, feeling like a weight lifted off her chest in Adhiraj’s presence, as well as around others who were doing their best to lift her spirits during her illness. A memory flashed through her mind, drawing a stark comparison. Dheeraj’s family had never shown any concern for her well-being, never inquired about her health when she was down with a fever. While Dheeraj was worried sick, she received no call from his parents.“Hey Di,” Tarushi’s voice jolted her back to reality, and she quickly regained her focus on the cards. The game began!Adhiraj was the first one to bite the dust. With a scoff, he declared, “I’m playing with a bunch of cheaters!”As everyone burst into laughter, Imara couldn’t help but take a sweeping glance at Adhiraj’s childish expressions. Who would’ve thought that the mighty Adhiraj Singh Shekhawat would act like a grumpy toddler when he loses? Nevertheless, Imara shrugged off the distraction and dove back into the game. Within minutes, it was only her and Jaidev left.Imara hesitated, torn between letting Jaidev win or playing to win herself. After all, he was technically her father-in-law. In the end, she decided to throw the game. Let him have this one. Because winning would mean she was truly becoming a part of this family, and she didn’t want to.While everyone cheered for Jaidev’s victory, Adhiraj’s gaze remained fixed on Imara. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, it was as if Imara could read his mind, as if he knew she had lost on purpose.