Chapter - 28
PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT IF YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER.
THANK YOU.
Vihaan ~
My wife was home with me, sitting next to me, trying to find the ring in milk to win against me.
Funny, I was not even trying.
Why would I?
"Vihaan sir, aap koshish bhi nahi kar rahe hain." She whispered to me, telling me what I already knew.
(TRANSLATION - Vihaan sir, you're not even trying.)
"Aapse jeetne ki koshish mai kar bhi nahi sakta hoon Shivanya kyunki mai aapko hi jeet chuka hoon."I told her, only to see that beautiful shade of red adorning her cheeks and neck once again and she looked away.
(TRANSLATION - I cannot even try to win against you, Shivanya because I've already won you.)
"Jiju yaar please ek round toh jeet jaana, maine bet lagayi hai Taran ke saath ki aap hi jeetoge." Radhika said, glaring at me.
(TRANSLATION - Jiju, please win at least one round! I've placed a bet with Taran that you'll be the one to win.)
"Beta you made the wrong bet this time, Vihaan is not winning one single round." Dad said, who was sitting next to Maa.
Everyone burst into laughter at Dad's comment, and I shook my head, amused. Shivanya stole a glance at me, her fingers still moving through the milk, searching for the ring.
"Jiju, stop looking at Di like that and focus on winning," Radhika complained, shaking her head. "Taran is already smirking like he's won."
I sighed. "Radhika, you should have placed a bet on your sister. You would have won easily."
Shivanya's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red but before she could react, she pulled her fingers out of the bowl with the ring between them for the third time.
"Three times in a row! Do you know what this means Vihaan? This means that you are going to be listening to Shivanya for the rest of your life." Maa teased, her eyes twinkling.
Dad chuckled. "Humare sahabzaade ko koi apne takkar ki mil hi gayi."
(TRANSLATION - Looks like he has finally got his match.)
There was nothing to disagree about with either of their words.
Shivanya looked at me shyly, as if expecting me to say something. I reached for her hand under the table, wrapping my fingers around hers. "Mujhe koi shikayat nahi hai." I said softly, just for her.
(TRANSLATION - I have no complaints.)
Her breath hitched, and she quickly looked away, hiding her face behind the edge of the dupatta over her head.
"Bas bas, ab in dono ko akela chhod do." Radhika groaned dramatically. "Di is already blushing like crazy, and Jiju looks like he is ready to carry her away right this second."
(TRANSLATION - Enough, enough, now leave these two alone.)
"Radhika, I would have loved to sit with you here to pull my son's leg but look we all are hungry and I can't wait one more minute to have my dinner so this is going to have to wait for later." Dad got up, followed by mom.
"Chalo, dinner is ready. Everyone to the dining table." Maa said after all the post wedding rituals.
Shivanya tried to get up too, but I held her hand, stopping her from getting up. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at me, confusion flickering across her face.
"Vihaan?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chatter around us.
I leaned in just a little, keeping my voice low. "Where are you running off to, Mrs. Raichand?"
I felt her fingers tremble slightly in my grip as her wide, surprised eyes locked onto mine.
"Mrs. Raichand?" she repeated, her voice soft, almost uncertain.
I paused for a second. The name had slipped out naturally.
"Ji, aap hi hain na. Unless you don't want to change your surname. This is completely your choice Shivanya." I assured her.
(TRANSLATION - Yes, that is you.)
She blinked at me, looking surprised by my words. I did not want her to feel any rush or expectation. I wanted her to feel comfortable with whatever decision she made.
"I just want you to know," I continued, "that whether you decide to take my surname or not, it's your decision, and I'll respect it no matter what."
She seemed to take a moment to process what I had said.
"I... I don't know yet." she murmured, still looking at me as if searching for reassurance.
I gently squeezed her hand. "That is okay Sunshine. You have an eternity to decide."
She gave me a small nod.
Just then, Maa came over, pulling me up. "She is my wife," I said, feeling a little too proud.
"I know." she replied, pulling Shivanya along with her. "But move, dinner is waiting."
Maa seemed to have a way of getting her point across, and I could not stop myself from smiling as they walked off together.
As we sat down for dinner, Shivanya sat beside me, hesitant, as if she were unsure of what to do next. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her dupatta.
Endearing.
"Will you stop looking at me like that sir?" She gave me a brief glance before dropping her eyes back to the plate in front of her.
"I am not looking at you for a purpose, Sunshine. It is you who are not letting me look away." I confessed.
"What did I do?" she said softly, avoiding my gaze.
I reached for her hand under the table once again, holding it in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin.
"You don't have to do anything. Just being here with me is enough for you to make me keep my eyes on you." I said, keeping my voice low, just for her.
She glanced at me, her eyes still wide with a mix of surprise and something else that I couldn't quite place. But before she could say anything, Radhika, as usual, couldn't resist making a comment.
"Look at you two," she laughed. "It's like the two of you are in your own little world. Don't make me embarrass you both right here!"
"Radhika." Shivanya looked towards her with a glare and she rolled her eyes.
"I can tease you Di, you cannot stop me from doing that. It is my legit birth right." She announced.
"Bol toh sahi rahi hai bhai Radhika. Tumhe dekh ke lag raha hai ki tum poore Romeo ban gaye ho aur shaadi ko abhi ek din nahi hua hai Vihaan." Dad announced in an attempt to embarrass me.
(TRANSLATION - Radhika is right. Look at you, it seems like you've turned into a complete Romeo, and it hasn't even been a day since the wedding, Vihaan.)
"Aman, aap bas kar dijiye ab mere bete ka mazaak udana please, sabke saamne batayun mai ki humari shaadi ke baad aap kaise din bhar mere aage piche ghoomte rehte the?" Maa, as usual, jumped in my defence and I heard Shivanya stifle a chuckle.
(TRANSLATION - Aman, please stop teasing my son now. Should I tell everyone how you used to follow me around after we got married?)
"Haan bata dijiye pranpriye, jab biwi hi itni khoobsurat ho toh aage piche ghoomne mein kaisi sharam?" He asked, taking Maa's hand in her own and brushed a kiss on her knuckles.
(TRANSLATION - Yes darling, go ahead and tell them! When the wife is this beautiful, what's there to be ashamed of in following her around?)
"Toh ab pata chal raha hai ki Vihaan Jiju mein yeh romantic bones kahan se aaye hain." Radhika laughed and others joined.
(TRANSLATION - So now we know where Vihaan Jiju got his romantic side from!)
"Vihaan, please mera haath chhod dijiye." Shivanya finally leaned towards me slightly, continuing to twist her wrist away from my hold.
(TRANSLATION - Vihaan, please let go of my hand.)
I smiled at her.
"Not so fast, Sunshine," I whispered back to her.
"Vihaan, please... everyone is watching." this time, she narrowed her eyes at me, trying to look a little stern.
I couldn't help but laugh quietly, knowing she was embarrassed. "Let them watch. I don't mind."
She gave me an exasperated look, but there was a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You're impossible," she muttered under her breath.
I loved seeing her like this. A little shy, a little annoyed but still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
Shivanya ~
Throughout dinner, Vihaan kept holding my hand.
Thankfully, it was my left.
Dinner felt like a blur. I could hardly focus on my food because of the warmth of Vihaan's hand around mine. It was like I was floating, unsure of what to feel. My mind kept racing, wondering.
The meal ended soon, and everyone got up to leave the table, chatting and laughing.
Radhika and Taran along with his parents took their leave while Maa led me to Vihaan's room and with every step, I could feel my heartbeat rising.
As we reached the door, she smiled at me like aways, "You're going to be fine, Shivanya," she said softly. "I have raised my son right. There is nothing he would do which you do not like."
I nodded, feeling a bit of comfort from her words, but my heart was still racing. She gave me one last reassuring smile before she left, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
His room was just like him, intimidating.
It was elegant, almost grand, but there was a quiet stillness to it. The walls were a soft charcoal, and the furniture was dark grey with silver accents.
A large bed was positioned in the centre, its duvet in a deep slate grey, contrasting against the lighter pillows.
But there were no pictures.
None.
Why?
I sat down on the edge of the bed, my fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of my dupatta like they have been for a few hours now.
"Stop worrying Shivanya, he is a good man and you know that he understands what you want." I told myself and took a deep breath.
"But what if he wants me to......" I voiced out but was cut off.
"He wants nothing more than to make sure that his wife is happy and comfortable." I head Vihaan's voice and saw him kneeling in front of me as he took hold of my fidgeting hands in his calm ones.
I looked at him, trying to read him but it was still difficult for me but he sounded like he meant what he was saying.
His words seemed to ease the tight knot in my chest. I felt my body relax, the tension I didn't even realise I was carrying melting away.
He stood up before gently leaving my hands and then extended one of him towards me.
"Come with me, Shivanya." He said and there was a sincere look in his eyes.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect, but then I stood up, taking his hand. Vihaan led me across the room in front of the mirror and turned me around.
"Look at her, she is all I wanted, all I needed." He said looking at me through my reflection.
His words caught me off guard. I turned slightly, looking at him and his words made my heart flutter.
"You have to stop." I muttered before looking away from him down to my feet, trying to calm my heart.
What on earth was he doing to me?
What were these feelings playing inside me?
His words echoed in my mind, making my pulse quicken, but before I could gather my thoughts, I heard him speak again, his voice low, gentle but firm.
He gently cupped my chin in his hand and guided my face to look back into the mirror. His fingers lingered there for a moment, making my breath hitch, his gaze locking with mine through the mirror and whispered "Sunshine, stop pretending as if you are not the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
I opened my mouth to say something, to protest or perhaps laugh it off, but my voice betrayed me as his eyes were still locked to mine.
"Vihaan..." I whispered, my voice barely audible. I couldn't even look at him directly, his presence was too much for me to handle.
"You must be tired, come on." He said, now taking me to the bed and made me sit.
"Goodnight, Sunshine." he said softly, his voice like a calm breeze. He reached for a pillow to make his way toward the couch, but before he could take another step, I quickly, almost instinctively, wrapped my hand around his wrist.
"Nahi Vihaan sir. I trust ki aap aisa kuch nahi karenge jisme meri marzi nahi hai toh please, you can take the other side of the bed." I whispered, my words trembling slightly.
My heart was racing, my fingers still holding his wrist.
He stopped, freezing for a moment, his back still turned. Then, slowly, he turned to face me.
"Shivanya you don't have to do this. That couch is comfortable for me, stop worrying." He said,
"No, I really mean it Vihaan. Please take the other side and don't worry, I usually don't kick in my sleep." I said, in a little attempt to joke around.
He paused for a moment, looking at me. There was a mixture of amusement and concern in his gaze, the look he usually has when he is contemplating some fact in the office.
He finally sighed, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, Sunshine," he said softly.
He walked to the other side of the bed, gently lowering himself onto the edge, still glancing over at me. It was strange, having him so near out of the office.
I stood up from the bed and walked over to my suitcase but before I could even lift it off the ground, I felt Vihaan's presence behind me. He was always so quiet when he moved, and I hadn't heard him approach.
Without a word, he reached for my suitcase, lifting it effortlessly, like it weighed nothing.
"There you go." He said as he kept it on the table.
"Thank you! Aap jaake pehele change kar sakte hain, mujhe thoda time lagega." I said, pointing towards my jewellery I was wearing.
He gave me a slight nod before walking away to his closet and I took my clothes out before walking back to the dresser.
I carefully gathered my hair, pushing it back from my face as I stood in front of the mirror and tied them with a claw clip. The loose strands of hair that escaped the bun brushed against my neck, and I tucked them behind my ear, glancing at myself in the reflection.
For a moment, I didn't recognize the girl staring back at me. She looked... different with the sindoor in her hair partition and the mangalsutra on her neck.
I let out a soft breath, trying to push the uncertainty away and started taking off the ornaments one by one till I was left with only the mangalsutra and the toe rings.
I placed the bangles on the dresser, next to my earrings and necklace, taking one last look at the reflection in front of me and just then, I saw Mr. Birdbrain.
I couldn't help but stare at him as he walked out of the closet, his casual outfit somehow making him even more... effortlessly handsome somehow in grey pyjamas and a plain back tshirt.
He caught me looking and raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I quickly averted my gaze, my cheeks flushing again.
Why do you keep doing this to yourself Shivanya!!
Every time he looked at me, I felt like my heart might burst right out of my chest.
"I see that you are not shy anymore, Sunshine." he said softly, his voice teasing but warm.
I didn't know what to say, so I just let out a nervous laugh. "I wasn't staring at you. I was just—" I paused, trying to find an excuse that didn't sound as ridiculous as I felt. "I was just thinking."
"Thinking, huh?" His voice softened even more, the teasing disappearing as he walked closer to me. "About what?"
I looked away, trying to come up with something, anything at all!
"About how you seem to be obsessed with grey." I blurted out.
I did not believe that thought, how could I expect him to?
"If you say so." He said, still smiling before tucking a strand of hair that had made its way back on my face while I continued to look at him just like he continued to look at me.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz