Before asking any questions related to the plot of this book I request you to please read the New authors Note...

Edited and published on 19-11-2018

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Meghna

I opened my eyes at the bright light which is coming from window sliders, I saw the other side of bed was empty, cold means he woke early. I sighed and stared at ceiling thinking what am I going to do today....

Hearing the footsteps approaching I turned to my right and saw him coming out the walk-in closet wearing gym clothes. Passing me a longing look he walked out of the room.

Letting out a sigh I sat up and noticed my dupatta lying on floor, rolling my eyes at my clumsiness I jumped out of bed and left to bathroom taking a red and green combo saree. I then remembered his words from yesterday and locked the closet door fearing he might come barging in while I'm showering.

After half hour I came out drying my hair and brushing it. I wore my bangles along with kangans, earrings and left my wedding chain on. I went to kitchen and looked around "Oh you're up already?" Rekha asked as soon as she entered the kitchen.

Smiling up at her I spoke "I've to perform aarti as its Friday" she gave me an impressed look and nodded at me to continue. Preparing the prasaadh I filled it in a silver bowl which Rekha handed me earlier.

By the time I've finished Prateek and Rekha were waiting for me to come out so that they can take aarti. Just then Jai entered living room after finishing his workout I guess as I noticed his sweaty body. Drifting my eyes back to the old couple I handed them prasaadh and made my way towards him as he stood there staring at me in ___fascination.

I motioned for him to take aarti with my eyes and in return he gave me a bewildered look. I frowned trying to read this man but after two minutes he started coughing and I noticed his eyes lingered on to the thali which I'm holding currently - he stared at it wide eyed and left upstairs coughing all the way.

What happened to him?

Placing the thali on table I rushed to our room to check on him. I found the room empty but then I heard the water running sound and walked towards the bathroom. I found it unlocked and the door is slightly ajar, knocking on it a few times I got his attention as he turned off the shower "Are you okay?" I asked.

Nothing...

"Jai? Are you okay? You seem to be coughing awhile ago.. Do you want me to get you some pills?"

After a minute he answered "No need I'm okay" I nodded even though I knew he can't see me.

Grabbing my mobile I went downstairs and my feet took me to kitchen where Rekha is preparing breakfast along with some maids. I helped them and soon we were sitting at dine table "Today's breakfast was prepared by her" Rekha said pointing at me.

I found Prateek and Jai's head snapped up instantly at her words "What? No. I just helped her" I said shaking my head at them. They sat across us while I took a seat beside Jai. He gave me a glance and continued to eat his food. I helped myself with food and silently started to eat.

"We're leaving today" Jai stated suddenly. The old couple looked at him in shock "Why don't you stay for a few days?" Prateek asked him and I can see them giving yearning look at us.

"No, I'm busy with work. I've to go.. It includes attending the office, I can't work from here" without waiting for their reply he stood up and left upstairs to our room.

Why can't he behave like a normal person?

They gave me a sad smile and left to their room. I washed my hands and decided to do the dishes but maids stepped in and denied. So I left to my room.

Once inside I saw him packing his laptop in bag and a few files which were lying on bed.... "Can't we stay here for two more days?" I asked him. He stopped what he's doing and looked at me, he slowly took steps towards me and I backed away until my back met with the door.

"Yesterday you seem excited to leave this house. What happened now?" he asked trapping me placing his hands on either side of my head.

"I... I just asked when we're leaving! I'm not excited to be with you alone" I managed to say with his close proximity.

"So, you want to stay here?" he asked staring at me without even blinking his eyes. I nodded as it almost felt difficult for me to open my mouth in front of him.

"Awhile ago I thought to stay here but now after what you've said about not being excited to be with me I changed my mind, we're leaving today itself!" he stated moving away from me and resuming what he's doing when I entered the room.

I stared at him dumbfounded for awhile, I stood there thinking he'd change his mind but nothing like that happened. Sighing I took my change of clothes and went to bathroom to get changed. After getting ready Jai handed our bags to maids and we went downstairs and I saw the old couple already waiting for us in living room. Rekha rushed to give me a hug "You Take care of him. And yourself" I nodded and gave her a smile. She turned and snatched a velvet box from Prateek and handed to me...

From the corner of my eye I saw Jai and Prateek were standing there glaring at each other...

What's going on?

"Open it dear!" Rekha pushed me. I slowly opened it and saw a diamond necklace set...

"It's beautiful.... " I breathed out in awe...

"We got it for you...I'm glad you liked it!" Rekha said glancing at his husband who's giving warning looks to my husband.

"Thank you" I said and looked for my husband who's already waiting at porch. I walked out and we got into car, I glanced back at them and noticed how sad they are...

Clearing my throat I glanced at him "I don't want to go Jai. Can't we just stay here for two more days?"

He stared at my face for a second and said "We can visit them whenever you want. But now I've work and we gotta go" without waiting for my reply he drove away from there.

..........................

After an hour we reached his home. A guard opened the gates and Jai parked the car and got out.. I followed him to the porch and stopped once I saw him waiting for me to approach him.

"What happened?" I asked looking up at him and to the living room which I can see from here.

Suddenly he scooped me in his arms earning an yelp from me. I locked my hands around his neck fearing the fall "What are you doing?" I shrieked

His brown eyes stared down at me for a second before he answering my question "Following the rituals. What else?"

I frowned at his words and he entered inside with me in his arms. I looked around and a gasp left my lips at seeing the interior, its a mansion just like the one his grandparents owned. I felt his eyes on me but I'm too focused on gazing at the enormous room. Jai carefully put me down on huge couch and I reluctantly unlocked my arms from him "Go ahead. Check the house" he said smiling at me.

I stared at him wide eyed, admiring his handsome face when he's smiling. And yeah I noticed dimples forming on his cheeks when he smiled....

Oh my god! Does he even knew what he's doing to me?

But I didn't get more than a second to stare at them because he has already left upstairs leaving me alone. I shrugged and got up walking further into the house and again my eyes filled with amazement as I glanced around. It's too big for two people.I saw garden outside and a swimming pool too...

I went upstairs and opened the first door which I assume his because its full of black and screams male scent - Black walls, grey curtains, black sheets and what not!

"Arrange your clothes I made some space in closet" he spoke coming out of walk-in closet I guess. I nodded and went to open the curtains "Your mansion is beautiful but it's too big for two people" I saw our garden, swimming pool and streets from windows.

Turning around I saw him rolling up his sleeves till his elbows which allowed me to stare at his strong arms....

Why am I behaving this way so suddenly?

I turned away from him and spotted our bags at the door and no sight of the man from earlier. Walking towards it I grabbed my trolley and dragged it all the way to the closet. Sliding the left panels I saw his suits and casuals were neatly hung over the closet rod "Take the right one" I heard his voice from the other end of the room.

Opening the doors to my right I came face to face with an empty space which is more than enough to arrange my clothes in there. After an hour of sorting my closet I walked out and saw him talking on phone seriously with his brows etched in irritation.

Deciding on leaving him alone I went to door and before I can open it his eyes found mine and he motioned me to go near him. Without doing what he has asked me to I stood to my ground "What?" I mouthed not wanting to disturb him.

He started walking closer to me. And suddenly I felt difficult to breathe as the atmosphere in here turned hotter. I looked away from him unable to held his intense gaze anymore. Even after approaching me he hasn't stopped talking on his mobile, I knew he is staring at me but I couldn't bring myself to look up at him. I'm biting my lip from past five minutes feeling nervous at our close proximity - if only Joseph is here he would have been started teasing me like hell.

Oh my gosh! Why am I feeling so shy suddenly?

"Don't do that?" I heard him saying but just ignored thinking he might be still talking on his mobile.

"I told you to stop abusing your lips!" I felt his fingers on my mouth and he released my lower lip from teeth. I stared at him in utter shock still feeling the tingling sensation on my lips...

He towered me and brought his face to my level to look into my eyes "So... What do you plan on doing when we're alone?" he asked with an amused glint in his eyes. Heat rushed to my cheeks, I avoided his stare and ran downstairs to see kitchen in the background I heard him chuckling from our room.

.........................

At lunch time I came up with an idea of ordering pizza but he refused saying he wouldn't eat any junk foods. So I rummaged through fridge for something to cook but I came up with nothing but some bread and Nutella.

"There's nothing in here" I stated in disappointment.

"Oh I forgot to restock it. We can go later for grocery shopping but for now we can eat toast" he said walking to bread toaster.

I scrunched up my nose in distaste and went to grab some juice which is thankfully available in his fridge. After ten minutes we were sitting on couch in living room with munching on our toast when my eyes suddenly caught something on the table in front of us.

"What are these?" I asked grabbing them and checking with him beside me.

/Voyla honeymoon package/

The cover read those words and I stopped chewing on my food staring at the package. I peeked a glance at Jai and found him avoiding my stare and watching television. A smile etched on my lips and I cleared my throat before asking "What is this?"

"May be my grandparents left those when they visited me last week" he said without taking his eyes from Tv.

I nodded and wanted to ask him if we can go but he beat me to it "I can't make it. I'm busy right now" I turned to him found him already staring at me. I nodded mutely and dropped the subject after that.

I think I drifted to sleep while watching movie with him because when I opened my eyes I'm still laying on couch with a cushion placed underneath my head. I stretched my limbs and noticed our plates were gone along with the honeymoon package which made me to wonder. Going upstairs I met Jai who's working on his hair "Go get ready. We're going to grocery shopping" I nodded and walked into the closet.

I changed into navy blue top with a faded ankle length jeans, grabbing my bag I walked out and brushed my hair leaving it open. As I'm not in mood to do make-up I just applied some lip balm and skipped downstairs with my mobile.

"Shall we leave?" I asked approaching Jai who's checking his phone. His eyes snapped at me and I'm sure he did a double take inspecting my dressing sense "Is something wrong?" I asked frowning at him. He shook his head and walked out to his car with me following closely behind him.

As I guessed he didn't talk to me the whole time and soon we reached the stores and were strolling here and there to get something. I added everything I like in to the trolley and he did the same, I was trying to grab the cereal tin from the upper rack when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and saw Ghaffar approaching me with a lady behind trailing behind him...

"Hey"

"What are you doing here?" He asked looking unsure at me.

"Obviously, shopping. Why would I be here?" I shrugged grinning at his silly question.

"Yeah yeah... Sorry" his eyes fell on something and I realised he's looking at my wedding chain.

Why does he look so sad?

"Are you okay?" I asked slowly inspecting his face for any other emotions.

"Ghaffar, is she the one?" We heard the woman talking. Like he has came out from his world he turned to her and nodded lightly "Oh she's so beautiful" the woman said caressing my face.

"Thank you" I stared at her in confusion and waited for him to introduce her "I'm his mother dear. Nice to meet you Meghna" she smiled.

"How do you know my name?" I asked her.

"He told me everything about you" she stated patting his back. and from the corner of my eye I saw Jai approaching me. He looked at two of them and turned to me raising a brow "Jai he's my friend Ghaffar and his mother. Ghaffar and aunty, this is my husband" I said looking between them.

Ghaffar's eyes went wide for a second and he passed me a small smile which I'm sure is a fake one "Nice to meet you Jai" he said to which my husband just nodded at him.

"It's so sad to hear that you're already married. Actually I tho___" his mother started.

"Ammi!" He hissed beside her. She stopped when he gave her a stern look "Bye Meghna. Congratulations to both of you" saying this he dragged his mom out of there.

"Is he your friend?" Jai asked once they're out of ears.

"I think that's what I've told you before" I said turning back to the things which I decided to get.

"Help me get this please" I muttered and waited for him to grab it. As I didn't get any reply I turned back and saw him looking at something. I followed his line of vision and realized he's staring at Ghaffar who's standing with his mom at billing counter.

Why is he staring at them?

"Do you plan on staying here tonight?" I spoke snapping my fingers on his face.

"What?" he asked looking down at me.

"Make it quick. I wanna go home" I pouted at him and he nodded getting what I want and we made it to billing section.

I want to go home, my back hurts...

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