Chapter 49: chapter 49

The woman was well aware that her husband was unlikely to listen to her demand to sleep in a different room. The way he held her last night was still haunting her thoughts, and it had her on edge. So, what could she do? She wrapped herself up in that blanket like a little doll and settled herself in the corner of the bed, sending a clear message to Adhiraj that he better keep his distance.To her surprise, he grabbed another blanket and settled on the opposite side of the bed, teasing, “I see you shivering at night; I will drag you closer to me.”She turned away, retorting, “I’m absolutely fine. Lay a finger on me, and I will kick your ass.”He just chuckled, bidding her goodnight with a playful, “Sleep tight, Little Tyke!”She scoffed audibly before shutting her eyes tight, willing herself to fall asleep. Gradually, the effects of the medicine kicked in, and she was out like a light.When he heard the soft and even rhythm of her breathing, he cautiously slipped out of bed and quietly made his way around to her side. The room was dimly lit, casting a warm glow across his wife. He leaned in, his eyes shimmered with a mixture of affection and concern, and he planted a soft kiss upon her forehead. The scent of her hair filled his senses, a sweet fragrance that brought a smile to his face. Silently, he savoured the sight of her sleeping form, her lips forming a cute pout. He etched that image into his heart. Finally, he retreated to his own side of the bed, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. As he lay on the bed, memories flooded his mind, replaying the events that had unfolded since his marriage to Imara, including the recent fire at his car showroom.—————Imara woke up the next morning, only to find Adhiraj missing once again. Puzzled, she glanced at the clock and realised it was only eight in the morning. She deduced that he must not have left for the office yet. So, where was he?Just as she was about to get out of bed and head to the washroom, the washroom door swung open and out walked Adhiraj, sporting a towel around his waist. Her eyes widened in awe as she couldn’t help but gawk at him. However, her admiration quickly turned into annoyance as she stormed off to the washroom, muttering, “Shameless!”He couldn’t help but grin at her reaction, and with a boisterous laugh, he swaggered into the wardrobe room.After some time, when she emerged from the washroom, the breakfast was already laid out and Adhiraj, looking like a million bucks, all dressed up and ready for work, was sitting on the chair with his legs crossed, engrossed in the newspaper. She couldn’t help but be mesmerised for a moment. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something about his posture that was simply captivating.“Done admiring the view, Mrs. Shekhawat?” He smirked, clearly enjoying the attention.She simply shrugged, trying to play it cool, and took her seat. But before she could even reach for anything, he had already prepared two boiled eggs and handed them to her.“Mom asked you to have them unless the weather changes because you catch a bad bad cold,” he said, an affectionate glint in his eyes.Upon hearing Vandana’s name, Imara obediently ate the eggs. Adhiraj couldn’t help but notice Imara’s consistent compliance with his mother’s requests. It seemed as though a strong bond had formed between them, as he rarely witnessed her refusing anything Vandana said. He was genuinely surprised that Imara didn’t attempt any tricks or antics on Vandana to win the one-month challenge.As of this moment, while he was busy enjoying his omelette, he casually mentioned, “Isha called…”“Wait, what? She called you?” Imara whispered, looking completely puzzled about how Isha managed to get Adhiraj’s number.Hd shook his head, denying, “Nope! She called on your number. I picked up and updated her about your health, and now she’s on her way.”She swallowed her bite of egg, squinting her eyes as she fired back, “I don’t appreciate someone answering my calls.”He took a sip of his piping hot tea before responding, “I don’t fall into the category of ‘someone.’ I am your husband!”“Husband, my foot! There’s this thing called privacy!” She shot back.“You might as well...” he stated, taking another mouthwatering bite of omelette. “Answer my phone behind my back. I believe in equality.”She glared at him, and he gestured towards her plate, saying, “It’s getting cold, Imara! You still have three more days!”Groaning in frustration, she finished her eggs and fetched her medicines. He whistled, exclaiming, “Now that’s what I call progress!”She grumbled, “Asshole!” as she downed the meds. Just as she was about to unleash her fury, the door swung open, and in walked Vandana, beaming at the sight of Imara looking better. Placing a comforting hand on her head, Vandana inquired, “How are you feeling now?”“I am completely alright,” Imara replied, her voice filled with warmth as she flashed a reassuring smile.Vandana nodded, but added, “You’re not leaving this room until you finish the five-day medicine course. Okay?”Imara, feeling the warmth of Vandana’s concern, found herself nodding. Just then, she shot a sideway, sweeping glance at Adhiraj and asked, “Can I work from home?”Her desperate plea was as irresistible as a child pleading for their favourite candy, leaving the man stunned. How he longed for the day when Imara would ask for things from him in that playful, adorable way. He would bend over backwards to make all her wishes come true!“You don’t have to ask, Imara!” Vandana replied, clearly puzzled, then shifted her gaze towards her son, who awkwardly cleared his throat. She squinted, “Did you tell her not to work, Raj?”“She was unwell, Mom!” he clarified.Vandana then faced Imara, her smile returning as she said, “You can do whatever you want. You never have to seek permission from anyone. Okay?”Imara nodded, her eyes glistening, and Vandana continued, “If he refuses you anything and you’re not happy about it, just do as you please. If he bothers you, you let me know, okay?”Imara struggled to hold back that megawatt grin as she earnestly nodded, asking, “I sure can step out of the room, then?”“If you want to, you can…but you have to understand that he has made sure to keep this room warm enough so that you don’t feel cold. Outside of this room, the temperature is still very low for you,” Vandana replied and Imara nodded. Her gaze flickered momentarily towards him, his penetrating eyes capturing her attention and sending a strange, but oddly satisfying sensation up her spine.“Isha is here…” Vandana mentioned, causing Imara to jump up in excitement and Adhiraj to suppress a laugh.Vandana couldn’t help but chuckle and affectionately patted Imara’s cheek, saying, “I’ll send her in.”With those words, Vandana left the room and Adhiraj rose from his chair and approached Imara. When she turned around, she was startled to see him standing so close, his unwavering gaze focused solely on her. Her smile froze. Slowly, he extended his hand, his fingertips brushing against her cheek as he gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. Her heart skipped a beat. His voice, barely above a whisper, reached her ears, accompanied by the soft sound of his breath, “There is a situation that demands my presence. I will be back as soon as I can.”Before she could react, warmth enveloped her as he leaned in, his lips grazing her forehead in a tender kiss. Instinctively, her eyes fluttered shut. She could almost taste the bittersweetness of the moment, a perfect reflection of her mixed emotions. His whispered words, “Take care, Little Tyke,” lingered in the air.And just like that, he vanished from the room, leaving her standing there, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her heart raced, the echo of his touch still tingling on her skin, leaving her breathless.