The next morning, Jodhbir stirred awake to the sensation of delicate fingers gently toying with his curly hair. He groggily opened his eyes to find Ruhani wide awake, her fingers playfully dancing through his locks.
"Good morning, Hubby," she greeted him with an infectious enthusiasm, her smile radiating warmth.
"Good morning, Wifey," he responded, leaning in to plant a tender kiss on her lips, their love an unspoken promise that eased the shadows of the night.
Ruhani's voice broke the tranquil morning air as she requested, "My luggage is still in the car. Please bring it inside."
"I will," Jodhbir agreed before giving in to the temptation of her presence, closing his eyes once more.
However, Ruhani's gentle insistence interrupted his slumber, "Jodh, please wake up."
"Just ten more minutes," he mumbled, nuzzling against her neck, finding comfort in her proximity.
"Alright," she nodded, her soft tone a testament to their growing intimacy. "You know, you can throw tantrums. You don't need to be so careful around me. I won't hurt you, I promise," Jodhbir reassured her, the genuine affection in his words putting her fears to rest.
"Jodh," Ruhani placed her hands on his shoulders, her eyes earnest, "you should consider seeking psychiatric help."
"Maybe you're right. Let me go get your luggage," he responded, rising from the bed, a willingness to address his issues for her sake.
He swiftly retrieved her luggage from the car and returned it to her within the next few minutes. As she thanked him and began preparing for the day, Jodhbir couldn't help but admire her. She emerged from the bathroom wearing a stunning red frock suit, its deep neckline exposing her back and showcasing a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage. Though a dupatta hung gracefully around her neck, she chose not to conceal her assets, embracing her natural allure.
"Hmm, you look ravishing," he complimented, unable to hide his admiration.
Ruhani simply brushed off his flattery and instead inquired, "What do you want for breakfast?"
"You," he smirked, his playful side surfacing.
"My vagina is not on the menu," she retorted, her tone teasing yet bossy.
"How about your boobs then?" he countered, persistently flirtatious.
"They are reserved for our future baby," she responded with a coy smile, their shared banter a testament to their love.
"Alright, grilled cheese will do," he relented, ending the light-hearted exchange.
"Okay, get ready for the day. Breakfast will be ready by then," Ruhani instructed, leaning down to plant affectionate kisses on both his cheeks before making her way to the kitchen.
Jodhbir watched her leave with a contented smile before he himself prepared for the day, cherishing every moment with the woman who had captured his heart.
ððð
Half an hour later, Ruhani and Jodhbir were seated at the dining table, savoring their breakfast.
"The food is truly delicious," Jodhbir complimented, a satisfied expression adorning his face.
"Thank you," Ruhani responded with a warm smile, her culinary skills bringing a hint of pride to her eyes.
As they continued eating in contented silence, Jodhbir couldn't help but wonder why Ruhani hadn't broached the subject of the previous night. Seeing that she had no intention of bringing it up, he decided to share it with her himself.
"Rooh, aren't you curious about what happened last night?" he inquired, his tone revealing his desire to open up.
Sensing his readiness to talk, Ruhani nodded and encouraged him, "Tell me."
He began to recount the revelations of the previous night, "I met my father's loyal friend. He told me that my dad was involved in Jay uncle's assassination, and it eventually led to his own death."
Ruhani was taken aback, not so much by the revelation itself but by the matter-of-fact way Jodhbir presented it. His nonchalant demeanor puzzled her.
"Why are you telling me this so calmly, Jodh?" she questioned, her concern evident in her voice.
"Because it doesn't change my love for my father," he confessed, his words resonating with deep-seated emotions. "Last night, my mind was struggling with this revelation, and I concluded that, even if my father was flawed, I can't bring myself to hate him. My attachment to him runs too deep for that."
"You're right, Jodh," Ruhani acknowledged, her tone earnest. "I don't know if I should share this, but my father...he killed his own father."
Jodhbir was startled by her revelation, unable to fathom that Ruhani was privy to such a dark family secret, even if only partially.
"Why?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Because my grandfather was a wicked man," she explained, her voice tinged with disdain. "Bade Papa and Dad had orchestrated his assassination together. Both of them despised him because he committed heinous deeds while masquerading as a benevolent figure."
Jodhbir absorbed this revelation, his brow furrowing with the weight of it all. "How did you find out about it?"
"I once overheard them talking and stumbled upon the truth accidentally," Ruhani admitted. "But it didn't change anything between my father and me. Politics is a wicked world, and it can taint even the purest of souls. Our families have borne the impact of its darkness."
"Yes, I think I need a break. All of this might drive me to madness," Jodhbir confessed, the stress of his family's complicated history taking a toll on him.
"We could go on a honeymoon," Ruhani suggested, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Sure," Jodhbir agreed, relieved at the prospect of a break. "Where do you have in mind?"
"How about Europe?" she proposed, her enthusiasm infectious.
"As you wish, wifey," he replied, his affectionate smile melting her heart.
"You're the best husband in the world," she gushed, leaning in to steal a kiss from his lips, which were currently smeared with cheese from his breakfast.
"One who can be self-destructive at times," he quipped.
"I won't ever let you harm yourself again," Ruhani reassured him, gently patting his hand.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have you. If someone else were in your shoes, she might have already decided to divorce me by now," Jodhbir admitted, his gratitude palpable.
"Don't be ridiculous, Jodh," Ruhani chided him playfully. "Finish your breakfast and book our flight to a European country. Perhaps Italy."
"Okay, Mrs. Agnihotri," he responded with a romantic smile, his eyes filled with affection, causing her cheeks to flush with a rosy hue.
ððð
Ruhani burst into her father's room, concern etched across her face as she rushed into his arms.
"Dad!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Sahib Shekhawat lay there, frail and weakened, a heart attack having shaken his once-sturdy demeanor. Fear gripped him, fear of the consequences of his past actions. What if his daughter were to discover the truth about his earlier political career, that he was not merely a supporter of Angraj's party, but someone who had taken the lives of many criminal politicians? This fear had taken a toll on his already fragile heart.
Tears streamed down Ruhani's cheeks as she beheld her father's weakened state. "Dad, I left home just two days ago, and look at what's become of you," she scolded him, her voice choked with tears.
Sahib, bedridden and vulnerable, remained silent, her scoldings a bittersweet symphony to his ears. However, his composure shifted when he noticed Jodhbir entering the room.
"Umm, Ruhani, Chandni aunty is calling for you," Jodhbir informed her, attempting to create some space.
"Oh, okay. Dad, I'll be back," Ruhani said, flashing her father a reassuring smile before leaving the room.
With Ruhani out of sight, Jodhbir took her place and seated himself. The tension in the room was noticeable, especially for Sahib, who felt profoundly uncomfortable in Jodhbir's presence.
"You had a heart attack because of me," Jodhbir stated bluntly, his gaze locked onto Sahib's eyes.
"What do you know, Jodhbir?" Sahib inquired, no longer bothering to beat around the bush. Jodhbir's words had made it evident that he knew something, perhaps everything.
"Dad killed Jay uncle, and you killed Dad," Jodhbir revealed with an astonishing calmness that left Sahib bewildered.
"Why are you saying it so calmly? Don't you want to exact revenge?" Sahib cautiously probed, keenly observing Jodhbir's demeanor.
"Perhaps I might have sought revenge if Ruhani were not part of the equation. But now, just look at yourself-your fear is devouring you," Jodhbir responded, his eyes lowered, unable to meet the gaze of his father's murderer.
"You're right," Sahib conceded, a profound weariness in his voice.
"But I promise you this, Sahib Shekhawat," Jodhbir continued sternly, "Ruhani will never learn the truth from me, at least. I'm not doing this for you; I'm doing it for her. I don't want her to endure the same pain that I did."
With that final declaration, Jodhbir rose from his seat and exited the room, leaving behind a burdened father to contemplate his past actions and their consequences.
ððð
Jodhbir descended the stairs, drawn by the delightful aroma wafting from the kitchen. He knew it was his wife working her culinary magic in there.
As he reached the kitchen entrance, he found Ruhani tending to a pot on the stove. She was in the midst of preparing something delicious.
"Ruhani, I'm heading to the office now. I'll pick you up in the evening," he informed her as he approached.
"Okay, Jodh. I also wanted to discuss something else," she began, turning her gaze towards him while she continued to stir the simmering soup.
"Sure," he replied, standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Could we please postpone our honeymoon until my dad gets better?" she requested, her voice tinged with concern.
"Of course, no problem. I just want your vagina, whether we're in Italy or India," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin as he nuzzled her neck.
"Stop with your absurd jokes, Jodh. I don't appreciate them," she chided gently, her attention still on the pot.
"Sorry, my love. I won't do it again," he apologized, planting a gentle kiss on the sensitive skin of her neck, causing her to close her eyes in response to his affection.
"Mumma-Oh, damn it!" Angad's untimely entrance into the kitchen shattered the intimate moment.
Ruhani's eyes flew open, and she quickly stepped away from Jodhbir, startled by Angad's unexpected arrival.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Angad exclaimed, covering his eyes with his palm before swiftly retreating from the kitchen.
"We'll continue this later at home in the evening. Bye," Jodhbir said as he kissed her cheek and made his exit.
Ruhani blushed, realizing that she would have to face Angad's teasing later, but for now, she couldn't help but smile at her husband's playful advances.
ððð
As the evening sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, Jodhbir made a stop at the Shekhawat mansion on his way home to pick up Ruhani. He stepped into the living area, where the sound of joyous laughter greeted him. There, he found Ruhani, caught up in a moment of pure delight, sharing laughter with her cousins, Chahana and Angad.
In this scene, she appeared carefree and vivacious, exuding a happiness that he had rarely witnessed around him. It left him pondering why she didn't seem to exhibit the same carefree demeanor in his presence. He couldn't help but notice the contrast between her behavior when she was with him and when she was with her cousins, and it left him feeling somewhat disconcerted.
"Jodhbir is here!" Chahana cheerfully announced his arrival, prompting Ruhani's gaze to shift towards him.
Jodhbir smiled warmly and joined the trio, taking a seat beside Ruhani. Almost instinctively, his arm moved around her waist, seeking closeness. However, to his surprise, Ruhani subtly withdrew from his hold, her expression turning stern as she turned her attention back to her cousins.
In that brief exchange, Jodhbir couldn't help but sense the shift in Ruhani's demeanor, leaving him with a lingering sense of unease.
ððð
After a half-hour drive back home, Ruhani made her way straight to their bedroom, intending to change out of her outfit. Jodhbir quietly followed her, and upon entering the room, his gaze fixated on her with an unusual expression.
As she stood before the cupboard, Ruhani began pulling out her night suit, the rustling of fabric filling the room. It was then that she noticed Jodhbir looking at her strangely, his eyes lingering on her cleavage and bare arms, exposed by the sleeveless dress she had just removed.
A perplexed furrow formed on her brow as she inquired, "What's the matter, Jodh?"
He didn't respond immediately, his eyes still fixed on her. With a heavy sigh, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why are you so guarded around me?"
Ruhani's confusion deepened. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"
Jodhbir's gaze remained intense, and his voice grew more intense as he continued, "You behave differently with me compared to others. When you're with Angad and Chahana, you're carefree, laughing, and enjoying yourself. But in my presence, you rarely smile. What's the reason, Ruhani? Do you think I'm some sort of psychopath who will hurt you if you acted like yourself around me?" His words resonated with anger, and he was practically yelling at her.
A tear welled up in her eye as she saw him unleash his anger upon her. Uncertain of how to respond to his outburst, she remained silent.
With a resigned expression, Ruhani lowered the zipper of her dress, allowing it to slide down her body gracefully. The dress revealed two cup-sized pads attached to her breasts, functioning as a makeshift bra, since the dress had a deep back that didn't accommodate a conventional one. She bent down and slipped out of her lower garment.
Jodhbir's angry tone had left a tense atmosphere in the room as Ruhani stood before him, now in her underwear. Frustration lingered in his voice as he repeated his question, "If you're done undressing, would you please answer my question?"
Her voice trembled slightly as she responded, "I don't have an answer for you."
Jodhbir sat on the edge of the bed, a turbulent mixture of emotions coursing through him. Ruhani, unconcerned, drew nearer, bending down to meet his gaze directly.
A husky whisper escaped Jodhbir's lips as he asked, "Do you know what I want to do with you?"
Her thumb delicately traced his lips as she replied, "I do."
With that acknowledgment, a fire ignited between them, and without further words, Jodhbir pushed her down onto the bed, his intention clear as he began to shed his own clothes.
His bare body hovered over hers as he drew her in for a passionate kiss. He was anything but gentle, finally giving in to the madness he kept chained around her. Ruhani was too shocked to respond. Shivers ran down her spine in excitement as he proceeded to pull down her panty. He ended the kiss and looked into her eyes as his finger began doing it's magic down there. Her shut close as a moan escaped her lips.
"Open your eyes, Rooh. Look at me," He whispered, caressing her cheek with his free hand.
Ruhani opened her eyes, her breath hitched and body on fire as his finger moved in circles, rubbing against her nerve endings.
"How does it feel, Rooh?" He asked with desire dancing in his eyes.
Ruhani sighed, "It feels like I'm about to explode."
He smirked, "Oh, you are," and the speed of his finger increased, making her moan harder than before.
She clutched onto the bedsheet as something began building inside her. Heat rose all over her body and a wave of pleasure hit her as she came.
"Oh God!" She moaned with her eyes shut.
After a few moments she felt his manhood pressed against her entrance.
"Look at me, Ruhani," He told.
Ruhani slowly opened her eyes and met his intense gaze filled with desire.
"Tell me if you can't handle the pain," He instructed her before slowly entering her. It hurt her but the pain gradually subsided. He pulled her in for a kiss while starting to move inside her. Her moans were being suppressed by the kiss. His palms cupped her breasts and began kneading them. He was trying every way possible to distract her from the pain sex brought and it was working on her. Her mind was too hazy with pleasure to let her feel the pain. He kept going on, kissing her, kneading her and thrusting her all at once. It was pure bliss for Ruhani. Soon she reached her climax, followed by him. He fell against her body, drained out of energy. She wrapped her arms around him and both of them closed their eyes.
ððð
"Jodh! I'm exhausted," Ruhani whispered breathlessly. After their third session of lovemaking, she felt physically drained. She placed her palms on Jodhbir's shoulders in an attempt to signal him to stop, but he held her wrists gently above her head and continued his movements.
"Jodh!" Ruhani protested weakly.
"Just five more minutes," he murmured, teetering on the edge of release, and maintained his rhythm.
Ruhani closed her eyes and surrendered to his desires, allowing him to continue.
"Oh..." Jodhbir moaned as he reached his climax. His body went limp, and he rested his face against her neck, his eyelids drooping with exhaustion.
"Jodh..." Ruhani softly uttered his name, her fingers gently caressing his curly hair.
"Hmm?" Jodhbir hummed against her skin, his breathing gradually steadying.
"Will I get pregnant now?" Ruhani asked in a childlike tone.
Jodhbir turned his face to the side to respond, his voice tinged with drowsiness, "Maybe not this time. It was our first time, so it's not very likely."
"What if I died during childbirth?" Her question caught his attention, and he looked at her with concern.
"Why would you say that?" he asked, studying her tired face.
"My mom died while giving birth to me. And even your mom died during childbirth. What if the same fate awaits me?" Her childhood fear resurfaced-the fear of dying like her mother.
"I would rather be childless than risk losing you. If you're worried about pregnancy, we can explore surrogacy when the time is right," Jodhbir suggested matter-of-factly.
"Really?" Ruhani was surprised by how calmly he addressed the topic.
"Yes, I'm serious," he assured her, cupping her face gently.
A smile spread across Ruhani's face.
"I... don't want to bear a child, Jodh. I'm afraid I might die," she confessed, her smile fading as she shared her fear with her husband.
Jodhbir tenderly stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "It's alright, Rooh. When the time is right, we can consider surrogacy. In the meantime, you can start using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, okay?"
Ruhani nodded slowly, her smile returning.
"Good. Now, get some rest," he said softly, planting a loving peck on her lips before resting his head on her chest.
Ruhani tangled her fingers in his curly hair, savoring the intimate connection, until she drifted off to sleep in his arms.