Author's POV

The next day, Trisha dresses in a saree, looking like a newlywed bride. Meanwhile, Aadir feels restless, eager for a chance to see her.

Adding to Aadir's unease is his grandfather’s silence. He had gone to meet him first thing in the morning, but, as usual, his grandfather had already left for the day at his regular time. However, today, the family woke up a bit later than usual after the events of the previous night.

Trisha steps out of her room with Drishti, their eyes met and Trisha's eyes lowered as she follows chachi who leads her to the kitchen for a traditional ritual, where Trisha prepares halwa for the family. They taste it, bless her, and present her with gifts.

Later, Aadir takes Trisha to her family home for the phag phera ritual.

Next day, in the evening, Riya returned from her mother’s office, she decided to helping out with some of her work. She even met her younger sister, whom she’d missed dearly—despite their endless squabbles.

As she entered her room, she noticed Angad was already there. After freshening up and changing, something unusual caught her eye— a small glimpse. She stared at it, her brows furrowing as she tried to recall why it looked so familiar.

"What is this…" she muttered, puzzled.

Angad glanced at her, then at the object, realizing what she was noticing. Nearly dropping his phone in surprise, he quickly replied, “It’s nothing.”

Riya took a cautious step closer, her gaze fixed on the item as if it held a distant memory she couldn’t quite grasp. Just as she was about to inspect it more closely, Angad moved swiftly in front of her, blocking her view.

“This is for Divit, and we also need to get ready for dinner,” he said quickly to draw her attention.

Riya paused and then nodded. She was starving, after all.

Before they left, Angad watched her as she took some medicine. He frowned slightly, curiosity in his eyes. “Are you feeling sick?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s just my diabetes.”

He looked surprised. “Diabetes? But I saw you eating a lot of sweets at the wedding.”

Riya’s eyes widened, and she pleaded, “Please, don’t tell my mom! I only had… four sweets.”

“Only four?” Angad’s voice rose with disbelief.

“It’s not just ‘only,’ Riya—it’s four!” Angad’s voice suddenly rose, full of exasperation.

Riya flinched, taking a step back. “Why are you shouting?” she asked, sounding a little hurt. “I only had a sweet after so many days. I didn’t even eat the kheer that day,” she added sadly.

Angad let out a mocking laugh. “Well, it wouldn’t have mattered even if you had eaten it.”

She looked at him, puzzled. “Why?”

“There was salt in the kheer.”

“WHAT?!” she shouted, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Before she could bombard him with questions, Angad raised a hand. “Hold on—I’ll explain later,” he said, with a sigh of frustration.

Then, his expression softened as he looked at her seriously. “Listen, Riya, I don’t want anything to jeopardize your health. As long as you’re here, you’re my responsibility. I have to hand you back to your father safe and sound. They’ve trusted me, and I don’t intend to break that trust.”

Riya watched him, slightly taken aback by his serious tone.

“And from now on, no more negligence about your health,” he continued, his voice firm. “I really don’t like people who don’t care for themselves. And if you ever feel the urge to eat sweets, tell me.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh, so you can tease me and eat them in front of me?”

Angad chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I’ll check your sugar levels first, and then maybe let you have some sweets. And I just might mention it to badima so she makes sure you didn't eat... maybe add some bitter gourd juice on the side...”

As he went on with his lecture, Riya watched him with wide eyes, unable to believe how much he could talk. Finally reaching her limit, she turned and left the room abruptly, unable to endure another second of his lecture.
Angad just shook his head as he watched her go, muttering to himself, “This girl…”

Soon, both of them joined the others at the dining table. Aadir and Trisha arrived as well, and Aadir looked around, noticing his grandparents and father were absent. He sighed quietly, settling into his seat.

As everyone began eating, Drishti coughed lightly to get their attention, then asked with a mischievous smile, “By the way, Angad, Riya—how long have you two been dating?”

Caught off guard, Angad and Riya replied at the same time—Riya said, “Three years,” while Angad said, “Two years.”

The family members raised their eyebrows, intrigued. Angad and Riya instantly turned their heads to look at each other, both surprised and realizing the mix-up. Angad shot Riya a pointed look, a forced smile tugging at his lips.

Riya quickly explained, “Actually, we met three years ago, but we’ve been dating for two. It’s not like I just decided, ‘Oh, I met him today, let’s be boyfriend and girlfriend tomorrow!’”

Angad nodded, giving her a look, secretly relieved she’d managed to smooth over the confusion.

Sensing his aunt Drishti’s playful intentions, Angad hurried through his meal. Once he was done, he nudged Riya, and the two of them made a quick exit, avoiding further teasing from the family.

Aadir took Trisha's hand as he led her toward his grandparents’ room, wanting her to meet them properly this time. When they reached the door, he knocked gently. Trisha took a deep breath, nervously tapping her foot. She had heard so much about them from Aadir but hadn’t had a chance to meet them properly, even that morning. She’d gradually met everyone else in the family, but his grandparents remained.

A soft voice from inside called them in, and they entered. Aadir’s dadi looked up, putting something away before smiling at them. As they touched her feet, she blessed them both, patting their heads with a warm. She gestured for them to sit, and they settled down across from her.

After a moment, dadi reached beside her and took out a small, carefully wrapped box, which she handed to Aadir. He looked at her, puzzled but intrigued.

“Open it,” she encouraged with a gentle smile.

Aadir unwrapped the box and slowly opened the lid. Inside lay an exquisite payal, an anklet with delicate, intricate detailing that looked as if each swirl and curve had been crafted with care. His eyes widened in surprise. He remembered mentioning to his grandmother that he’d love to gift his wife an anklet that was elegant yet light enough to wear comfortably, something unique and beautiful. He’d never expected her to remember, let alone surprise him with one that was even more stunning than he’d imagined.

A faint smile spread across his face as he realized how much thought she had put into this gift.

“Now,” dadi said, her voice filled with warmth and a hint of teasing, “go on and put it on her.”

Aadir lifted the anklet carefully, glancing over at Trisha, who was already looking at him with a shy, hesitant smile. She seemed slightly embarrassed under his dadi’s watchful gaze, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.

Standing up, Aadir bent down in front of her, his gaze meeting hers, filled with a gentle warmth that made her heart flutter. Slowly, he extended his hand toward her foot, silently asking her to lift it. Trisha carefully placed her foot on his thigh, her face turning an even deeper shade of red as he began to fasten the anklet around her ankle.

Aadir’s fingers moved with a soft, reverent touch, and as he gently clasped the payal around her ankle, he noticed a faint scar from an old injury. His fingers lingered, tracing it lightly, his touch delicate. Trisha’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a mix of emotions as his gaze held hers with quiet intensity.

They were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t notice dadi until they heard the unmistakable sound of a click. Startled, they turned to find Mrs singhania smiling mischievously, holding up her phone.

Aadir stood up quickly, and Trisha shyly pulled her foot back, both of them looking slightly embarrassed.

“Alright, go and get some rest now,” dadi said with a knowing smile, clearly amused by their reactions.

They began to leave the room, but Aadir paused, turning back toward her. Without warning, he strode over and wrapped her in a warm hug. “Thank you, dadi,” he murmured softly.

"Dadi, what did he say?" he murmured.

She smiled knowingly, brushing off his concern. "Forget about him, Aadir. Now, tell me—do you want to go somewhere with her? I've heard Switzerland is quite beautiful this time of year. Or perhaps there's somewhere else, somewhere that’s her favorite?"

Aadir’s ears turned a shade of pink, and he replied softly, “Not now, dadi. Maybe later.” He smiled bashfully before finally leaving and heading back to his room.

As soon as Aadir left, dadi chuckled to herself and forwarded the photos she'd taken to Drishti.

---

Trisha was already in their room when she heard the door open. Quickly, she buried herself in her work, pretending not to notice as Aadir entered. She heard the soft click of the door closing, but she didn’t turn around. A few moments later, he moved into the closet. She glanced at him, feeling a pang of disappointment. With a sigh, she sat on the bed, placing a pillow on her lap, waiting impatiently for him to come out and say something.

After what felt like an eternity—ten minutes, to be exact—Aadir finally emerged. But instead of coming over to her, he went straight to his laptop and began fiddling with it, clearly taking his time. Watching this, Trisha’s patience snapped. Her frustration bubbled over as she clenched her fists on the pillow, muttering under her breath, "Jab yahi karna tha toh shaadi kyun ki." (If he was going to act like this, then why even get married?)

She waited a few more moments before finally throwing a pillow in his direction, which landed squarely on his face, catching his attention. He picked up the pillow, set it aside, and, after a moment, closed his laptop and placed it on the table beside him.

With the pillow in hand, he walked toward the bed and settled in, getting comfortable. Trisha watched all his dramatic antics, frustrated that he hadn’t glanced her way even once. He lay down as if ready for sleep, completely ignoring her.

The moment he lay down, Trisha abruptly stood up, startling him into sitting up and looking at her. Without saying a word, she turned and headed toward the closet, disappearing into the bathroom.

A few seconds later, tears spilled down her cheeks. She couldn’t understand why he was acting this way—why he would marry her and then behave so distantly. She longed for him to hold her, to pull her into his arms.

Before marriage, they had never been close in that way. They weren’t like a typical boyfriend and girlfriend—they had just been friends. But she had seen his love in his eyes, and she felt the same. She had always imagined that if he tried to get closer, she would tell him to wait until they were married. But he had never even tried, something she had quietly appreciated.

Her mother had always been clear on this point: no matter how much she loved someone or how much he loved her, she shouldn't allow anyone too close before marriage. Her badima had echoed this advice, saying it with a weight that hinted at a deeper reason. Though her badima rarely spoke much, she always stressed this one thing: never let anyone get too close, even if they’ve given you their heart. Trisha respected these words deeply.

Just then, she heard the door open and close, and as she turned, she found him standing right behind her. As she instinctively took a step back, only for her hand to accidentally hit the shower control. Water suddenly burst from the showerhead, and droplets splashed onto her face, making her shut her eyes tightly. She parted her lips slightly, feeling the cool water cascade down her cheeks, her hand lifting to brush it away as she tucked her damp hair behind her ear. Slowly, she opened her eyes, meeting his gaze, his expression unreadable yet fixed intently on her.

She held his gaze for a lingering moment until he broke the silence, his voice teasing but low.

"So… this is why you were taking so long? You wanted to show yourself to me like this."

Trisha felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Her sari clung to her like a second skin, revealing more than she intended, her wet hair falling in disarray around her face. She turned away, trying to ignore him as she quickly reached out to turn off the shower.

Aadir watched her, a slight smile on his lips, as he grabbed a nearby robe and handed it to her. She took it, quickly pulling it on, hoping he would leave. Instead, he stayed, his eyes still on her, an amused expression playing on his face.

She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to speak calmly. “I need to change.”

He arched an eyebrow, giving a slight nod as he left the bathroom. She let out a sigh of relief, grabbing a towel to pat her damp hair and remove the robe to dry herself off. Just as she was about to step out, she froze, seeing him walk back in, this time with her clothes in his hands.

Trisha looked at him, confused, but before she could react, he set her clothes aside and took a step toward her. Her eyes widened as he extended his hand, reaching for the drenched fabric of her sari draped over her shoulder. She instinctively placed her hand over her chest, her voice barely a whisper.

"What are you doing?"

“You just said you needed to change,” he replied, his tone almost innocent. “I’m just helping you… after all, I’m the reason you’re drenched.”

She pressed her lips tightly, replying, "I have my own hands, and I can change." She noticed his face fall slightly at her words.

"Now, please… get out." She turned away, listening as his footsteps faded, finally allowing herself a sigh of relief.

She grabbed her towel, rubbing her hair to remove the remaining water, muttering to herself. "First he ignores me, and now he’s putting on this whole show," she grumbled while unpinning her sari from her shoulder, letting the fabric slip.

She continued removing the other pin from her waist when, unexpectedly, she turned and found him standing impossibly close, eyes intense. Before she could react, his lips pressed against hers, firm and unyielding, catching her completely off guard.

Her eyes widened, the pin slipping from her fingers as he pinned her gently yet firmly against the wall. She felt his hand slide around her waist, pulling her to him, eliminating any distance between them. His other hand threaded through her hair, holding her as he deepened the kiss. Instinctively, her hands found his shoulders, steadying herself against the intensity.

She was left breathless, realizing she had just glimpsed a part of him she’d never seen before.

She hadn’t imagined he could be like this. She had always known him as gentle, restrained. This intensity was a side of him she never thought she’d encounter. A soft gasp escaped her when he bit down on her lip, then soothed the sting with a tender caress, his hands never loosening their hold, as he pulled her closer.

Summoning her strength, she took her hand from his shoulder and pressed it against his chest, a silent signal for him to let her go. He pulled back, but only enough to press his forehead against her shoulder, his lips brushing her neck in a way that made her pulse race.

She felt like he had drained every ounce of her energy, leaving her breathless. His heavy breathing, warm and ragged against her skin, sent shivers through her. Without even realizing it, she found herself wrapping her arms around him, holding him close. They stayed that way in quiet stillness, the silence speaking volumes.

After a long pause, Aadir broke the silence, his voice a low, teasing whisper, “That’s how you kiss someone—especially when it’s the first time for both.”

Her cheeks flushed as his playful tone registered, and she loosened her hold, suddenly aware of herself. He lifted his head, looking into her eyes with an intense gaze that made her heartbeat stumble. She glared at him, flustered, trying to compose herself. But he only smirked, pulling her a little closer, his intense gaze fixed on hers. She averted her eyes, attempting to regain control.

“Leave,” she said softly. “I need to change.”

Instead of moving, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. Then, his lips near her ear, he whispered, “Gladly.”

Her eyes widened immediately when she felt his hand slipping inside saree at her waist, as he teasing took out the pleats. He left immediately after, leaving abruptly.

“Shameless!” she yelled, flustered.

His playful response echoed back, “Only for you, wife.”

After changing into fresh clothes, she came out of the closet to find him nowhere in sight. She settled onto the bed. But just as she was getting comfortable, Aadir returned, slipping into bed beside her.

As she turned to face him, he quickly took her hand, pulling her onto him so she lay across his chest. She gasped, caught off guard by his sudden closeness. She tried to get up, but he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly.

Too exhausted to protest further, she relaxed, her head resting on his shoulder. After a moment of silence, he whispered, “I’m sorry.” The words lingered, filled with unspoken emotions.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to keep them at bay. Every night had been a reminder of him. Finally, unable to hold back, she broke down in his arms.

******

𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲!

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴! ❤️✨