🎶 Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeren.

• Rihaan •

Embraced by the duvet, my arms craved for my woman. My wife. Still under the influence of sleep, I pulled her pillow to rest under my chest as I savoured her scent on the pillow.

Unfazed by the passing hours, I felt at peace, still on the bed as it was a self-imposed holiday for me. Though freedom is a birthright of a self-employed man yet I had laid myself open to influences of the responsibilities of managing a mass, whom I called my employees. As I groggily mapped her side of bed, it was perfectly in accordance with her - tidy and uncreased.

My half-shut eyes unbolted to sight the woman in my room, busy wearing her anklets. The sight of her in a red saree vaguely felt as if compassing me towards the midnight dreams of love and a cherished married life.

"I just recalled someone's promise to give me 95 kisses on our first night." I drawled, resting my chin on her pillow. Her eyes balls swayed, ultimately landing on me.

"Good morning!" I heard her footsteps approaching me as she kissed my forehead slowly.

"Compensating, are we?" I laughed as I threaded our arms together, pulling her to lay by my side.

She grinned as she whispered, "Is it working?"

"I guess, no." I paused to add, "If you forgot, your husband isn't lenient enough to let go of benefits."

"From the first day, you are being a typical businessman with your wife, huh?" She complained, hitting my chest as I snuggled my face more into her neck.

"You make me greedy." I pouted, circling my hands around her petite waist as she half-lay'd beside me.

"But, I hate greedy men." She laughed, ruffling my hair. "Stop being touchy and get up, hubby bear."

I protested her words by pouncing over her frame, trapping her under me. As she gaped at me in disbelief, I pecked just over her red bindi.

"I want my kisses now. Right now. On cheeks. On my lips." I sang, gathering her weight in my arms.

"Get up, Rihaan." She pinched my arm, escaping from me.

"You are a contradictory woman, wifey. Trying to escape from someone, you are tied to, huh!" I mocked her act as she shrugged, setting her disarranged pleats again.

"Now get up. It's already 5:50 am." All my joys morphed into panic as I jumped out of the bed to see the watch.

"What the freaking hell!" I gasped, checking the phone again.

"Why didn't mom wake me up earlier? I've a meeting in an hour." I paced fast in search of a towel and was about to move into the bathroom when a tender arm wounded around my neck.

"Honey, let's first complete our unfinished business we left there." Seeing her batting her lashes at me coyly, while pointing at the bed wasn't doing anything to ease the hormones acting on me in the morning itself.

"Such a cunning jackal." I laughed at her silly attempt to delay my movements.

"If you want me to not go, you should tempt me with something mind-blowing to stay back." I winked, suggesting her as I saw her squirming under my sight. So, I waited.

"I guess, you don't have anything to say anymore." I laughed at her scrunched up face.

"Postpone it." She murmured.

"What do I get in return?" I questioned, teasing her.

"Two kisses." She mumbled again, pulling out her index and middle finger.

I smiled at her innocence as she pouted, looking at me. Kissing her cheek, I whispered, "Isn't that too less?"

"Then, go. Anyways, you are leaving after five days." She sounded grim as she sat on the bed. I sighed at her behaviour.

This was exactly why I wanted to delay our marriage. Saying that she could live here alone was easier said than done.

"What do I do, Bhavna? I don't have an option." I sighed, squatting near her legs, resting my palms on her knees.

"I don't know." She whispered, rubbing her sweaty cold palms together. Holding her cold palms in mine, I placed a kiss on the back of her hands.

"Let's not ruin our mood thinking about the future. Let's just celebrate the next five days." I mused, before cupping her cheeks. Our moment broke at the consistent knocks on our door.

"Coming!" She shouted, escaping from me again.

Alike a thunderstorm, Vansh sauntered into our room, grinning cheekily. He was still in his night suit and he seemed to have just woke up.

"Happy day one, hubby bear." He pounced on me, jumping as I laughed at his morning silliness.

"What's with this morning drama?" I chuckled, setting his unkempt hair.

I averted my eyes from him to see my wife approaching us. The next moment, Vansh screeched as Bhavna twisted his ear.

"He is my husband, not yours." Bhavna huffed, twisting his ear more as Vansh's cacophony grew louder.

Bhavna threw his hands off me as she rested her head over my chest, seeing which Vansh's nose scrunched up. Without uttering anything, Vansh hugged me as if his life was dependent on me.

"Why is he hugging you?" I heard her complain as she hit the back of his head and still seeing him unmoved, she kissed the corner of my lips, shocking both of us.

Recovering from the initial shock, I peeped at my gobsmacked brother, while clearing my throat. Redness crept up my face quite similar to her as I coughed.

"Do you need something, Vanshie?" I questioned converging my focus on him.

"No. I mean, yes. Get ready and come down." He uttered, scrambling towards the door. I heard Bhavna sighing as she stood by my side, seeing him retreating.

But, as the door closed, he poked his head again through the door and spoke, "Tell Bhabhi to come down and cook quickly. I'm hungry."

Pouting, he left.

"Can you choose an outfit for me till I come back?" I patted her cheek, seeing her smile sheepishly.

"Don't dare to do these risky things infront of mom. She would grill us alive, demanding for a grandchild. You are yet to glimpse how crazy our family is!" I hushed near her ears, pecking her lips.

"Go and brush your teeth." She pushed me into the bathroom as her face resembled a ripe cherry.

"Yeah." I chortled, proceeding to complete my morning routine in peace.

In the silence of the restroom, the flashes of the last night thrilled me. I basked in serendipity at the late realisation of the happened scene, I was trying to soak in. Our marriage and this new relationship. The compromises we have to make in future and how we need to be together in each decision of the other. For a man like me, independence matters the most. But, being dependent on someone never felt so good either, when that someone happens to be your better-half. Your wife.

But, this feeling of being dependent over someone scared me too, because I had scarred myself because of this emotion in the past. Thus, I knew, growing dependent was easier to learn than emerging independent out of this dependence.

"Don't let your past experiences flash over your present, Rihaan." I  myself, wrapping a white robe over my body.

'Your Bhavna won't leave you alone like her.' I heard my heart whisper as its beats dropped reminded of something, I refrained from reminiscing.

"I don't need to fear, when I've her. She promised to shelter my fears under her wings." I hissed as I chewed my lower lip involuntarily.

Shaking off those odd emotions, I pushed open the glass door and saw a denim shirt and brown pants neatly placed on the bed. Walking to the wardrobe, I smiled viewing her clothes stacked in a row, just beside mine. Leaning, I pulled out the last cabinet of the wardrobe to pick out my underwears. But, got surprised to see a lilac bra amongst them.

Pulling out the drawer completely, I saw a wide plastic container box, which looked quite identical to mine, stuffed in the same drawer. Taking it out, I realised, it had her undergarments. So, I put that lilac bra into the box.

"What are you upto, Rihaan?" I looked back to see her gazing at me, amused. My ears tinted crimson as she pointed at the box in my hand.

"I swear, I didn't touch your stuff." I replied instantly as I pushed the box into the drawer as if it disgusted me.

"You can go down. I'll get changed and come."

"I've to use the washroom." I nodded as I slipped my leg into my underwear and trouser and pulled it up, under the robe. Untying the robe, I wore the vest and then, putting on the shirt, buttoned it up.

"Let's go down." Hand in hand, we stepped down as I could already anticipate three of their expert mocking.

"Finally!"

"It took you both years to come and I've already died ten times in hunger." we heard Dad and Vansh's voice as soon as we reached the dining room.

"Children, don't mind these dramatic fools. You are on time." Mom caressed her hair as she passed me a beaming smile.

"Beta, let me show you all the ingredients in the kitchen. You can cook any sweet you can." Mom told her and I saw her nodding frantically.

To me, it seemed - she was scared. But, why?

Mom retreated to the kitchen as Dad and Vansh were occupied finalizing a restaurant for tomorrow's family lunch because Bua would be coming tomorrow with her daughter and her family as she couldn't attend my wedding at such a short notice.

I turned to Bhavna as she pressed my thumb finger.

"Why are you scared?" I whispered, resting my palm on her back.

"I forgot, I can't cook anything except maggi, poha and tea." She murmured back with an adorable pout. Hearing her, I panicked.

"If you don't know how to cook, you could've just told Mom. Why did you nod?" She hissed, placing her palm on my mouth as my voice raised a bit. Her gesture resulted in a few incredulous stares from Dad and Vansh.

She passed a cute smile to them and they again moved back to their discussion, giving me a creepy look.

"Do something, please." She urged me and I nodded, distancing ourselves, seeing mom coming out.

"Come, beta." She took Bhavna with her, who kept sparing me longing glances as if she was being taken to slaughter.

"Stop staring at her like you can't spend a second of your life without her." I heard Dad say as Mom came out of the kitchen.

"You too stop staring at my mom like you are going on another honeymoon with her tomorrow." I retorted back, making him snicker.

"If you three can manage the house for a week, we don't have any issue. We are always ready." I shook my head at Dad's reply as he kept staring at mom, creepily.

"Rihaan wants us to go on a honeymoon." He instantly filled her ear as mom glared at him.

"I know, you are just using my elder son as a medium to convey your wishes." Mom hit his shoulder as both of us laughed.

All of us sat on the chairs as Dad started to brief us about the hotel's progress. Our family business was soaring and touching new dimensions everyday. As the conversations continued, I tapped my shoes on the floor to form an excuse to go to kitchen.

"Let me see once if she needs any help." Mom rose from her seat but, I stopped her, engaging her in another conversation on our fashion house. Meanwhile, I texted Preetika to call me urgently.

My heart swelled in happiness as soon as my phone rang. Gleefully, I stood up, accepting her call.

"Hello?" I whispered.

"Yes, Preetika. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, sir." I heard from the other line. So, I covered it up in my favour.

"You can't? Seems like my network is glitched." I told, loudly as I walked ahead in the direction of the kitchen.

"Can you hear me now, Preetika?" I repeated, waving at Bhavna. Seeing the coast clear, I entered into the kitchen and shut the door.

"Yes." I replied to Preetika. Thankfully, the kitchen wasn't visible from the dining hall, hence, it eased my escape.

"What are you planning to make?" I asked Bhavna as she stood in the midst of heap of spice boxes.

"No idea." I hummed, seeing around the kitchen.

"Sir, Is there anything urgent?" I heard Preetika's voice from the other line. I even forgot, she was still on call.

"Nope. I'll call you later." I declined the call, even before she could say anything further.

"What's your favourite sweet delicacy?" I questioned her as I saw a bowl of soaked moong dal.

"Aam ras." She answered.

"Puran poli is the favourite dish of our family. Let's make it along with aam ras." I informed her, while rolling my sleeves up.

"Bring four mangoes out of the fridge and slice them. I will make Puran Poli by then." I voiced out as I quickly emptied the bowl of soaked moong dal in the pressure cooker. Turning on the stove, I placed the pressure cooker and prepared the dough.

I saw her slicing the mangoes with concentration. It felt less like slicing but, more like she was doing an incision on the mango. Though, technically, she was!

As I took out the boiled moong dal from the pressure cooker, I heard her hiss. Sighing, I rushed to her side to see her thumb finger bleeding.

"How did you slice your finger instead of the mango, girl?" I put her thumb into my mouth to stop bleeding but, when it didn't stop, I put some sugar cubes on her cut and tied it gently in a white cloth.

"The knife was too big and sharp." I smiled at her adorable excuse.

"It's okay now." I whispered as I continued to prepare the filling with liquefied jaggery, cardamom powder and paste of boiled moong dal. I made balls out of the dough and rolled a ball into a circle. As I was stuffing the filling in the flatbread, I saw her slicing mangoes again.

I glanced at her as she criss-crossed the mango slices, while hissing. Hence, surreptiously, I lifted her in my arms and placed her on the kitchen counter.

"Put your finger on your lips and sit silently. No movements." I strictly warned her as I rolled the balls circles, stuffed the filling and rolled it into circles again. As I was done with five, I turned on the stove and dropped a peice of butter on the pan, before dropping a Puran Poli on it.

Disobeying my warnings, she arranged a container with tissues and showed near the pan, for me to drop the Puran Poli on it. As we were done with Puran Poli, I prepared aam ras by blending saffron milk with mango pulp.

"I'm going now. You stay here and come out after ten minutes." I instructed her as I helped her to slide down the kitchen slab and kissed her forehead.

"Don't be clumsy." I whispered, kissing her nose as I walked out.

"Don't tell anyone I came here." I told her as I rushed to the garden, unnoticed by everyone.

I called back Preetika and had a prolonged discussion on the pros and cons of postponing today's meeting.

"I'll see through it, Preetika. Don't worry." I assured her as I went inside our house. All of them were sitting and even, Bhavna was there.

"Your wife cooked for you for the first time and you are making her wait. If you continue to be like her, may god bless you." I sighed, hearing Dad's reply as it made me confident that they had no clue about our little adventure.

"Let's eat. I'm hungry." Vansh piped in as he tapped on his plate.

"Rihaan, the lest you could do is serve for everyone to help your wife." I heard Mom saying as her eyes dared me to go against her words.

"Yes. You sit. I can serve." I patted her shoulder as I pulled out the chair beside me for her.

"First one is for Vanshie." Vansh cheered as soon as I started serving. Laughing at his excitement, I served him first, followed by Mom and Dad and finally, two of us.

"I was waiting for so long to know how tasty would the food made by these skilled hands in surgery, taste like?" Vansh whispered, enough audible to all of us as Bhavna gazed at me.

"Let's start." We nodded as Dad said, taking the first bite. Vansh was busy playing with aam ras. In between, Bhavna and I awaited their reaction with bated breath.

"Something's fishy!" Vansh announced as Dad had a grin plastered on his face.

"This tastes so familiar. It feels exactly like the Puran Poli, Bhai makes. Low sweet and use of jaggery and butter." He concluded as he ate another bite. I saw Bhavna on the verge of getting a semi-panic attack so, I pressed her thigh with my palm to reassure her.

"My son shared his recipe with his wife. What's the problem there?" Mom supported us as I sighed in relief.

"It's delicious." Dad complimented as he tried the aam ras.

"Why are you not eating?" Mom inquired, seeing both of us not eating.  I peeped at her and remembered the cut on her right thumb.

"Let me feed you." I murmured in her ear as I slid my chair to her side.

I fed her a crumb of Puran Poli after dipping it in the aam ras. She smiled as she pointed me to my plate.

"Eat." She whispered and I nodded, feeding myself. Fetching a spoon, she fed me aam ras.

"How many years will it take?" Mom and Dad snickered at my brother's comment as a hue of crimson bathed her cheeks.

"Vansh, it's not good to interrupt newly-married tribes. These days are exotic. Let your brother enjoy." I could hear the sarcasm loud and clear in his voice.

"Don't worry, you will experience the same when you get married." Dad added, in turn, pausing our little musketeers' chuckles.

"As if I am getting married!" We heard Vansh's curt reply as he shrugged.

"Soon, brother." I teased him as I fed Bhavna. Showing me his tongue, he walked away to avoid further discussions. But, Bhavna's revealation halted his steps and startled us.

"Vansh has a girlfriend."

•~~•~~•~~•

[ Unedited ]

Hey People,

How have you been? Well, I hope, all of you are doing awesome.

Hope you had a great time reading the chapter. I got time to update after a week. Yes, I've been busy the last month and I guess, this month will be the same. Not that I don't have time, but, the lack of support is terrible. So, I just wanted you to know that I'm too demotivated to continue this book. I don't know why!

I don't know why I even updated today. Sighs*

Special thanks to asethete for pulling me out of my hibernation. Just know that you are the reason of this update. And, I'm grateful.

Important Note - I'm not updating the next chapter before this chapter crosses 25 votes and 150 comments.

Take care. Have a nice day and stay tuned for the next update.

Love,
Lonalicious. ❤