Avani woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside. As she adjusted her eyes to the morning light and tried to move, she realized she couldn't. Her gaze fell on Akash ji, who was cocooned against her chest, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, and his legs draped over her.
She couldn't help but smile gently at the sight. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his hair.
After struggling for a while, she finally managed to slip out of his embrace, but his sleepy whining didn't stop.
"Avani yaar, come back and sleep with me," he murmured, his voice laced with drowsiness.
"It's already morning. Wake up! You have to go to the panchayat, right? I'll go help Maa in the kitchen," she replied, moving toward the bathroom to freshen up.
When she returned to the room, she saw him sitting on the bed, rubbing his eyes like a child whose candy had been stolen.
"Cute," she thought with a fond smile.
"Go and freshen up," she said, standing a little away from him.
He opened his eyes, lazily scanning her from top to bottom. Then, with a teasing smirk, he curled his fingers, silently calling her toward him.
As if hypnotized, she took slow steps toward him-only to be pulled into his lap.
"I feel like eating you... Maybe I should. You look absolutely edible," he murmured, playfully biting her cheeks.
Avani giggled, squirming in his arms. "Hehehe... stop it, Akash ji!" she laughed, trying to wriggle free.
He finally stopped, looking at her face with soft adoration. "You look ethereal, baby," he whispered.
Feeling shy, Avani quickly stood up from his lap and rushed toward the dressing room, a small enclosed space inside their bedroom.
She soon heard him entering the bathroom while she got ready for the day.
Draping her saree properly, she applied kajal, bindi, and anklets, completing her look. She smiled at her reflection.
After adjusting her hair and pallu, she left the room before he could come out of the bathroom.
In the hall, she greeted Bua and Dadi, but only received silent nods in response.
Choosing to ignore them, she went straight to the kitchen, where she found Maa and Adhya preparing breakfast.
She joined them and helped finish cooking. Soon, everyone gathered at the dining table to eat.
Priya and Adhya left for college with the driver, while Akash ji prepared to leave for the panchayat.
Before stepping out, he leaned close and whispered, "I'll come back soon. Wait for me," giving her a playful wink. Before she could react, he placed a quick peck on her lips-without anyone noticing-and walked away.
Avani stood frozen for a moment before blushing deeply. A content smile spread across her lips as she walked back inside.
Heading to the kitchen, she found herself lost in thought.
"How lucky I am to have Akash in my life," she mused.
If Vinay had arrived at the wedding mandap that day, she shuddered to think what her fate would have been.
Today marked the third day of their marriage, yet no one from her family had come to see her.
Frowning slightly, she decided to ask her mother-in-law why.
Avani moved to the kitchen and found Maa talking to Choti Maa, who was crying.
The moment Choti Maa saw her, she quickly wiped her tears and turned away.
"Main chalti hoon, Bhabhi," she said to Maa before leaving.
Avani watched her go but didn't ask anything about it, sensing her distress. Instead, she hesitated for a moment before softly asking about her parents.
Maa looked at her with pity in her eyes.
"Beta, your parents cannot come here," she said gently.
Avani immediately understood-it must have been Dadi's rule. Being from a lower caste, her family was not allowed to step into the haveli.
A lump formed in her throat, and she felt tears sting her eyes. The pain of not being able to see her parents weighed heavily on her heart, but what could she do? Some things were simply out of her control. Swallowing her grief, she focused on preparing lunch and dinner.
As she worked, Maa told her many things about the family.
She explained why Bua and Priya were living in the haveli.
Bua's husband had passed away from a stroke, and since Akash ji had deeply respected him, he had brought them both into the haveli. Not only that, but he had also enrolled Priya in the same college as Adhya and taken full responsibility for her future.
Hearing this, Avani's mind clicked.
"So Priya must have mistaken his kindness for love..." she thought.
"She needs to snap out of it. Akash Ji is my husband."
Maa continued sharing more about the family's history, and as the day passed, everyone eventually retired to their rooms after dinner.
Avani sat waiting for Akash, who finally returned around 9 PM.
The moment he saw her, his tense shoulders relaxed, and the storm inside him seemed to quiet-at least for a moment.
All his anger, frustration, and exhaustion melted away like a bird set free.
But the turmoil within him was still heavy.
Without hesitation, he rushed toward her and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Surprised, Avani pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "Kya hua?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
He simply shook his head. "Nothing," he murmured, but she could feel the weight in his voice.
Without questioning further, she went to the kitchen to fetch food for him, but he followed her like a lost puppy, holding onto the edge of her pallu.
A soft smile tugged at her lips, but she didn't say anything.
That night, they ate together in the kitchen.
Akash sat on the marble slab, while Avani stood beside him, feeding him with her hands, taking small bites in between.
It was a quiet, intimate moment. No words were needed-just the comfort of each other's presence.
Later, as they lay on their bed, Akash clung to Avani like she was his oxygen.
Avani gently ran her fingers through his hair, wondering what had happened to make him so vulnerable tonight. But she didn't press. She just held him, comforted him.
With his head resting against her chest, Akash finally felt at peace.
The turmoil inside him slowly faded, and he drifted into slumber.
Avani smiled softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead before closing her own eyes.
What made Akash act this way?
To know why, please keep reading and leave a comment if you can guess.
To all the silent readers out there-just clicking on the vote button won't take much time, but it will mean the world to me! ❤️✨
Write a comment ...