Chapter 43

Priya woke up to find Aman’s arm firmly around her.  She sighed knowing she wasn’t about to get up any time soon.  She looked at Aman, who was sound asleep, and smiled.  She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.  Aman stirred in his sleep but didn’t wake up.  Priya kissed him again on his cheek, letting her lips linger and travel to his ear.  She felt Aman’s arm tighten around her.  He pulled her on top of him.

“What were you doing?” Aman asked, still in a sleepy haze.

“Nothing,” Priya said sheepishly.

“Mmmhmm sure.” Aman said skeptically.

His fingers brushed against Priya’s back, which was left partially bare from when Aman had undressed her last night.  He’d only unzipped the dress of her salwar kameez and pulled it lower so that her shoulders were bare, but it was enough to make him go wild.  He let his hand slip through the unzipped part and under the fabric.  He started caressing her back.  Priya shuddered at his touch.

“I love waking up to you in the morning.” Aman said, kissing her neck softly.

He noticed that Priya hadn’t adjusted her clothing and her shoulders were still left bare.  His eyes traveled down her neck and over her shoulders, resting on her chest.  He desperately wished he could see what was behind her clothes, but of course that wasn’t about to happen. Priya looked down, trying to figure out what Aman was looking at.  She rolled off of him and pulled her salwar kameez back into place as she sat up.   She felt Aman’s hands move around her waist.

“Do you need me to zip you up?” Aman whispered into her ear.  He started to nuzzle her neck.  He slowly pulled the zipper up and laid Priya back down.  He positioned himself on top of her and continued to kiss down her neck.

“Aman, we need to get out of bed.  It’s noon.” Priya said, pushing against his chest.

“No,” Ama said, simply.

“But,” Priya protested.

“I said no.” Aman stated firmly, gently biting down on her neck.

Priya flinched and tried to pull away, but Aman was having none of that.  He pulled her arms above her head and trapped them against the bed.  He started kissing her neck again, sucking on it before moving lower.  He hugged her body and placed his head on her chest, using her as his new pillow.  Priya accepted defeat and laid there beneath Aman.

Suddenly, Aman’s phone rang.  Priya smiled, knowing that Aman would have to get off of her to answer it.  Aman groaned and lifted himself up.  He picked up his phone from the nightstand and laid back down on the bed this time beside Priya.

“Hello?” Aman said a little too forcefully.

“Aman! I need your advice!” Hiten said frantically.

“What kind of advice?” Aman asked.  He looked over at Priya, who was about to get up.  He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the bed.  Priya gave him an angry look to which Aman replied with a smile.

“It’s Aditi.” Hiten said.  “I need your help.”

“What did you do this time?” laughed Aman.  He tightened his grip on Priya’s arm.

“I didn’t do anything.  Why do you always think I did something?” Hiten replied, sadly.

As Aman listened to Hiten, he saw Priya climb on top of him.  He gave her a questioning look, trying to focus on what Hiten was saying, but Priya ignored him.  She placed a kiss on his neck.

“Yeah, I’m listening.” Aman said into his phone, watching Priya suspiciously.

She sprinkled kisses all over his bare shoulders and chest.  Aman took a deep breath, trying not to give in to Priya’s attempt to distract him.  She looked up at him and gave him a sly smile.  Her kisses moved lower on his body.  She kissed along his tight, muscular abs.  Aman tried desperately to stifle a moan.

“Hiten, you’re gonna have to do better than that.” Aman said into his phone.  Priya looked up at him as he spoked but resumed kissing his body a moment later.

“I’m coming over.” Hiten stated.

“No! Now...isn’t a good time.” Aman stated.

Priya’s hand grazed against the skin near Aman’s waistband.  He knew if her hand traveled any lower, he’d need her to finish what she started, and he knew she wasn’t ready for that.  Priya left a lingering, wet kiss along Aman’s abs.  He could’ve sworn he felt her tongue on his abs for a brief moment.

“Get over it. Ten minutes.” Hiten said, hanging up abruptly.

“Dammit, Priya. You’re killing me.” Aman said, throwing his phone to the side and grabbing his wife.

“Let me get out of bed or I’ll do worse.” Priya said seriously.

“Do worse?” Aman raised an eyebrow.

Priya moved closer to Aman, leaning against him so that her lips were against his ear.

“I can do a whole lot to you,” Priya said, looking down briefly, “or refrain from doing things to you.  Either way, I’ll have your body aching for me, but you won’t get me.”

“Damn.” Aman whispered.

“I’m devious.” Priya stated, climbing off of Aman.

“Sinfully devious.” Aman corrected.

Priya got off the bed, and Aman allowed her to.  She picked up her veil, which had landed on the floor after Aman snatched it off last night.  Aman pulled on a shirt as he watched her.  He stood up and followed Priya into the walk-in closet.

“Why don’t you wear something sexy today?” Aman said into Priya’s ear.  She could feel his body behind her.  His hand was lightly placed on her waist.

“I don’t have anything like that.” Priya said, looking down.

“What about these?” Aman pointed to the pair of jeans Payal had secretly bought for Priya.

“No,” Priya said simply.

“But,” Aman protested.

“I said no.” Priya giggled, using Aman’s own lines against him.

“Well played, Priya.” Aman smiled.  “Wear a sari.”

“Why?” Priya asked.

“Because I’ve never had the opportunity to take off a sari, but tonight...I will.” Aman smirked.

“If you think you are, you’re wrong.” Priya challenged.

“Am I, now?” Aman retorted.

“You’re not going to get another night like last night for a while.” Priya said.

“Fine.” Aman sighed.  He’d promised her he wouldn’t bother her about this anymore, so he accepted Priya’s decision.

He chose his clothes and went into the bathroom to freshen up and change.  Priya decided to take a shower afterwards, so Aman went downstairs to see that his staff was doing what they were supposed to be doing.  He’d given them many days off while he was busy romancing Priya.  He didn’t want anyone around to interrupt them and intrude on their privacy.  He saw that his maids were cleaning the downstairs quite efficiently.  The chef had already prepared breakfast.

Aman heard the doorbell ring, followed by very anxious knocking, or rather, pounding on the door.  He knew it was Hiten.  His butler opened the door, and Hiten rushed into Aman’s mansion.

“What took you so long?” Hiten said to the butler.  “Aman! I need help!”

“What’s the matter, Hiten?” Aman asked in a flat tone, clearly uninterested.

“Aditi, she doesn’t love me.” Hiten stated.

“How do you know that?” Aman asked.

“She just doesn’t.” Hiten replied.

“You just think that.” Aman said.

“No! Maybe...I don’t know. Aman, I really love her.” Hiten said, smiling.

“I can tell.” Aman replied, happy for his best friend.

“I...want to marry her.” Hiten admitted.

“What? Seriously? Hiten, I can’t imagine you married.” Aman said in disbelief.

“I couldn’t imagine you married either, but look what happened!” Hiten retorted.

“Good point.” Aman commented.  “So when are you proposing?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if she’s ready, you know.  That’s why I need your help. The proposal has to be perfect, and no one knows how to woo girls better than you.” Hiten explained.

“Woo girls? I don’t woo girls.” Aman defended.

“Uh huh. Sure.” Hiten rolled his eyes.

“Okay, we’ll work on the perfect proposal...but Hiten, I don’t think she’s going to say no.  She’s crazy about you, and you know it.” Aman smiled.

“Sir, the mail is here.” Kamla came into the living room and placed the mail on the table beside Aman.

“Thanks, Kamla.” Aman said as he started looking through the mail.

“You think she is? I hope she is.” Hiten said.

Aman paused as his eyes landed on a fancy looking letter.  He curiously opened it, trying to listen to whatever Hiten was saying.  His curiosity was overtaking his attention, however.

“Shit!” Aman shouted after reading the letter.

“What?!” Hiten screamed and started looking around him like someone was about to jump out and murder him.

“I….just got a damn paper cut!” Aman said.

“What the hell? I almost had a heart attack!” Hiten said.  He grabbed Aman’s hand and started examining his finger.

Aman pulled his hand away roughly.

“When did you become my wife?  Healing my wounds is Priya’s job.” Aman said sarcastically.

“Of course, Bhabhi can do what I can’t.” Hiten pouted.

“And what’s that?” Aman asked unsurely, not really wanting to know the answer.

“Kiss it and make it feel better.  If I did that, Bhabhi would divorce you, and Aditi would dump me.” Hiten grinned.

The two of them broke out in laughter.

“Hiten, I’ll make sure you make such a great proposal that Aditi is going to want to marry you the very next day.” Aman said sincerely.

Hiten’s face lit up.  He knew his best friend was the only one who could help him.  He knew Aman was the only one who’d be able to understand how intensely his feelings for Aditi was.  Hiten had a sneaking feeling that Aman was in love.

“Thanks! I know you will.” Hiten said.  “By the way...why wasn’t right now a good time for me to come over?  I used to just show up but now I have to inform you?” Hiten said, sarcastically.

“I...Well, you know…” Aman was at a loss for words.  “You fool! You know why!”  Aman exclaimed.

Hiten burst out in laughter.

“Idiot! You think I wouldn’t find out! You’re in love.  It’s so obvious.  You’ve been in love for a while.” Hiten said.

“How do you know?” Aman said, surprised.

“It’s written all over your face.  Every time you looked at Bhabhi when you were in the hospital, any idiot with half a brain could tell.  Does Bhabhi know?” Hiten replied.

“I told her last night.” Aman admitted.

“Oh! Last night…” Hiten wiggled his eyebrows.

“Hiten! Nothing happened!” Aman said.

“Sure sure whatever you say.” Hiten said slyly.

“Hiten,” Aman said.  “She loves me too.”

“What? Bhabhi has no taste!” Hiten chuckled.

“Shut up!” Aman said, laughing.

“Okay, I’m heading out. I have some planning to do.” Hiten stood up.

“Yeah, we’ll plan at work too.  Aditi will be beyond impressed.” Aman said, smiling.

“I’m happy for you.  I never thought I’d see the day that Aman Verma fell in love.” Hiten smiled back.

The two best friends said goodbye.  Aman was eager to go back upstairs back to Priya.

“Priya!” Aman called out as he walked into his bedroom.

Priya, who was busy making the bed, turned around to face him.

“Hiten is going to propose to Aditi.” He blurted out.

“That’s wonderful!” Priya exclaimed.

“Wait, that’s not what I needed to tell you.” Aman continued.  He was reluctant to show Priya the letter, so he’d accidentally told her Hiten’s news instead.

“What do you need to tell me?” Priya asked, interrupting Aman’s thoughts.

“Umm...well...I just got this letter.” Aman said, holding up the letter he’d just received.

“What does it say?” Priya asked.

“Read it.” Aman handed it to her.

Priya took the letter and scanned over its contents.  After a moment, she looked back up at Aman with a smile.

“This is great news! Aman! You’re going to be awarded for your philanthropy efforts.” Priya commented.

Aman frowned.  How could Priya not see the problem here?

“What kind of philanthropy are they talking about?” Priya asked, puzzled.

“I have nearly fifty agencies all over that help women who are in a bad situation.  My father started the first one.  We helped Kamla through it.  I decided to expand it.  There are even a few in America.  It’s nothing really.”  Aman explained.

“Aman, it’s not nothing.  You’re doing such a nice thing.  You’re helping thousands of women and their children.” Priya replied.  She walked up to him and kissed him softly.

She started to walk back to bed, but Aman pulled her back to him.  He kissed her more passionately.  Her arms wrapped around his neck as he pulled their bodies closer.  Priya pulled away to take a breath.

“I’d help a thousand more women for another kiss like that.” Aman smirked.

Priya looked down, blushing.  Aman sighed.  He took the letter from Priya’s hand and held it up.

“Look at the date of the awards ceremony.” Aman said, pointing to the bottom of the letter.

Priya looked at the letter again.  Her eyebrows furrowed.  She looked back at Aman.

“It’s the same day as our anniversary.” Priya stated.

HITEN WANTS TO GET MARRIED!!!!!! Aaaahhhh!! Hiten! How many of you would love to have him as a husband?!?  Aman and Hiten are on a mission to plan the perfect proposal.

Aaawwwwwwwww Aman helps women! And OMG Aman and Priya are sooo romantic with each other now heheee. Poor them though.  Will they be able to celebrate their first anniversary or will this little event ruin it/postpone it??

Lemme know what you thought!!  COMMENT AND VOTE!!