Chapter 12: The First Morning

Ananya

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was how bright the room was. Sunlight poured in through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over everything. I stretched lazily, my body still heavy with sleep, and tried to piece together my surroundings.

And then, it hit me all over again—I was married. I was in his room.

I sat up with a start, my hair an unruly mess, and turned toward the bathroom door. That's when I froze. Aarav walked out, fresh from his shower, his hair damp and tousled. A white towel hung low on his waist, clinging to his muscular frame. Water droplets trailed down his chest and arms, and the sight sent my brain into a full-on meltdown.

I stared, unable to help myself. He looked... intimidatingly good.

His deep, gravelly voice snapped me out of my daze. "Enjoying the view, Mrs. Malhotra?"

I immediately turned away, my cheeks burning. "W-What? No! I wasn't staring!"

He chuckled, the sound rich and teasing. "You don't have to lie. I am your husband, after all. You're allowed to gawk at me all you want."

I tried to glare at him, but my embarrassment won over. "I wasn't gawking," I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

He walked over, casually leaning against the wardrobe, completely unfazed by the fact that he was almost naked. "Sure you weren't," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Y-You should put on some clothes," I stammered, trying to avoid looking at him.

"Oh? Why? Are you afraid you'll stare again?"

I groaned in frustration, burying my face in my hands. He was impossible!

But then, inspiration struck. I peeked at him through my fingers and said, "For someone who's so old, you're surprisingly... okay."

He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Old? I'm not old."

I bit back a smile. "You're in your thirties, aren't you? That's pretty old. But don't worry. Your body's... decent for someone your age."

His frown deepened, and I couldn't help but giggle. "I take care of myself," he said defensively, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "And for the record, thirty-two is not old."

"Sure, if you say so," I said, trying to keep a straight face.

Aarav

She was impossible. And adorable.

Watching her blush and stammer was quickly becoming my favorite pastime. She thought she had the upper hand with her "old" comment, but the way her eyes kept darting toward me betrayed her.

I shook my head, grabbing some clothes from the wardrobe. "Get ready. The family will be expecting us downstairs."

She nodded, still avoiding my gaze. "Um, about that... I don't really know how to tie a saree properly."

I stopped in my tracks, turning to look at her. She was playing with the edge of the saree draped over her arm, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"Do you need help?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

Her head shot up, her eyes wide. "N-No, it's okay! I'll figure it out!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Ananya, you'll take forever. Just let me help."

Before she could protest, I walked over and gently took the saree from her hands. "Stand still," I said, my voice softer this time.

She hesitated but eventually nodded, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her bangles.

As I began to drape the saree around her, I could feel her body tense under my touch. The fabric was smooth and cool against my fingers, but her warmth was unmistakable. Her heartbeat seemed to echo in the quiet room, matching my own.

When I reached her waist to adjust the pleats, her stomach quivered under my fingers. "Ticklish?" I asked, smirking.

"Y-Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I chuckled, making a mental note of that. "You should've warned me. What if you kick me while I'm helping you?"

"I-I won't," she said, but her voice wavered.

By the time I finished, her cheeks were as red as the saree. She looked stunning, the soft fabric clinging to her petite frame. I stepped back, taking in the sight. "There," I said, my voice lower than I intended. "Perfect."

She looked up at me, her wide eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place—nervousness, maybe? Or something more.

"T-Thank you," she murmured, tugging at the edge of the saree.

"Don't mention it," I replied, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "But next time, you might want to learn how to do this yourself. Otherwise, I'll have to help you every day."

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. "N-No, I'll learn!"

I smirked, stepping away to give her space. "Good. Now, let's go. The family will be waiting."

She nodded, still flustered, and followed me out of the room.

The morning chaos of the Malhotra household greeted us as we stepped downstairs. It was warm, loud, and filled with laughter. But all I could think about was the girl beside me—the girl who had completely turned my world upside down.

And I couldn't wait to see what she'd do next.