After Rajveer went inside the bathroom, leaving me all flustered and with butterflies in my stomach, I headed back inside the room but not before looking at the braid in the mirror. I entered the bedroom only to be witnessed by the eerie calm and there was little Rehan who was already asleep but now his suit was long gone and there was his cute yellow t-shirt and his night pajamas on. I looked around his room noticing everything in its place, The cleanliness is maintained and I am not surprised that he is a disciplined person who never gets sidetracked.

I looked around to find my other belongings as my clothes were already set up in the closet. I walked near the left side of the bed from my point of view and saw my laptop already placed in the bedside drawer. I plopped on the same side and looked at the time on my phone which was placed near. It was nearly twelve in the morning so I suppressed the urge to call Maa at this hour and I am sure she might be asleep. My gaze then set on the two gift boxes on the coffee table and decided to open mine but suppressed the thought and looked at the other items in this room. The room is light-colored and there is a small couch and a coffee table, there are balcony doors and on the balcony I can see a few flowering plants I guess but not sure. I averted my eyes from there and again looked at my phone screen.

I checked my phone for any calls but there were none other than one from Anvi who was asking me if I was fine so I typed her back saying that I was truly fine and healthy and she didn't have to worry about the same. I heard footsteps and immediately my head turned in the direction of the sound and Rajveer came inside the bedroom wearing his t-shirt and gray sweatpants and God I swear he looked so eatable at this moment, flushed red from the hot shower and I am sure I am drooling like a dog. I blinked a few times and kept scrolling on my phone but my whole attention was on him. From the corner of my eye, I caught his smirk and now I am embarrassed as hell. I think I've got a little crush on my husband and urghh it sounds so bad and good at the same time. Who the hell has a crush on husbands now? I think I'm the one and only masterpiece God decided to make. But I think I am dumb as always, maybe I might get hurt what if he didn't love me back?

"Adhvi, I want to tell you something." His voice was just above a whisper and I looked at his side of the bed to find him looking at me with great intensity and something like fear, I guess. "Yes," I whispered so that Rehan doesn't wake up from his deep slumber. I looked at Rajveer again to find him shifting on the bed and opening his mouth to say something but closes it again. "What is it, Raj?" My voice came a little stern and he looked at me with wide eyes and something dark flares in them.

"Why are you surprised?" I asked again but met with silence. He looks at me again finally saying, "I know I'm not doing right by spoiling our first night together and covering it with bitter moments from the past few days but eventually I have to tell you either now or later." He pauses for a moment and begins again as if reciting a speech he prepared. He cleared his throat and started speaking again without meeting gaze on him, "That day you showed me a picture and a video of me, I asked my friend who worked in cybersecurity to look after it but it didn't lead to any dead end but he confirmed that this whole thing was fake and editing was done highly to put me under the bad eye. So if you are mad at me please don't be I would never do such a thing with anyone." He closed his eyes for a moment as if it pained him.

With a sigh, he looks at me with pleading eyes and expecting me to answer but I am staring at him, in his eyes looking for any artificial emotions but I am met with genuine emotions. I don't know if I should trust him and let him trust me but in reality, I don't want him to trust me, I am no good for him at all, I might unknowingly destroy him and leave him cut open. But my tongue has its own brain and I blurt out the words without thinking twice.

"I am sorry, I didn't trust you back then when you told it was not you." I spoke and he let out a sigh of relief but I was still not assured as to what to do.  Looking at me again he reached out for my left hand and placed a feather light kiss on it which is such a pure gesture but my heart skipped a beat or two at his actions. He then smiled not wide but a little and its genuine I just know.

"I thought you would beat me up." He grins this time and god bring me some fan the temperature here just rose a degree or two. And I am shocked at how he changed the whole environment from serious to playful in a second. He is really something but I couldn't decipher what he truly is.

"Are you that scared of me?" I asked side eyeing him and his grin vanished from his face with something twinkling in his eyes. "Not at all, You are tiny." He said with a smirk and showed me a gesture by pinching his fingers to tell me how much little and tiny I am but who knows what comes next?"Oh thank you, I'll show you someday how tiny I am." I fake glared and he let out a silent chuckle. "Sure, Madam." His eyes twinkle with mischief. "Whatever, I am sleeping." Saying this I slipped inside the duvet facing away from him and Rehan towards the balcony doors. He turns off the lights and the only glow pouring inside the room is from the moon outside. I shut my eyes and let my tensed body relax.

My eyes fluttered open when strong vibrations reached my body making me jump straight on the bed. My eyes roamed around the room and orange-colored rays of sun peaking through the balcony doors washing the room in a yellow and orange glow. I looked around to find the source of vibrations when they began again. My gaze then set on my mobile phone vibrating telling me it's 6:20 a.m. in the morning and suddenly I remember I set the alarm as it is my first rasoi [kitchen] today.

 I looked towards Rehan to find the bed empty and I think Rajveer woke up much earlier and might have taken Rehan with him. I am still in astonishment that I woke up late today. Surely I was tired yesterday, that might be the only reason. Dismissing my alarm, I get onto my feet and set the bed sheet. Then I padded inside the attached closet room, took out my towel, and crashed inside the bathroom as fast as I could. Brushing my teeth I followed my morning routine and then turned on the shower to hot water, rinsed my hair thoroughly, and relaxed.

After a few minutes, I came back from my shower, dried my wet hair with a dry towel and then dumped it in the basket nearby, I opened the cupboards and started seeing which outfit I must wear today. The time was limited so I chose a royal blue coloured saree with golden colored embroidery on its ends and a blouse and lightweight and so perfect. Draping my saree, I looked at the mirror and a smile erupted on my face. A Genuine one. I let my slightly damp hair open and applied lipstick but I don't know if I should apply vermilion or not.

I sighed and looked for a beat or two deciding what to do, Suddenly the sliding of a door caught my attention and my gaze flickered to the source of the sound and instantly my gaze locked with my husband, looking at his shirtless form is a divine pleasure and his sculpted muscles bulge out and on top of it they were shining with sweat as the droplets move from his neck to his wide chest and to his perfect abs and down and down where his sweats hung low on his hips showcasing his Adonis belt as the droplets went down and I came to a halt when I realized I was staring at his body with parted mouth and my eyes wide as buttons. I snapped and my gaze met his heated one and his lips did that twitch that resembled his signature half-smirk. God that smug look as if he knew what effect he did have on me. Regretting, I cleared my throat and looked at myself in the mirror ignoring his intense stare and now the most embarrassing part is my ears and neck are red. He definitely had power over me.

"You look beautiful." His remark made a chill run down my spine and My gaze locked with his intense one in the mirror when he came behind me and I was much shorter as he had 7 inches over me, I guess and his shoulders were wide against my narrowed ones and his forearms, Hell his forearms are built dangerously as veins protrude out and I could sense that he can throw me anywhere he wants with just his one hand.

"Thank you." My reply came out as a whisper as if he throttled and I barely made my words out of my mouth. I shifted my gaze back to the mirror and the look on his face was properly masked. Ignoring that I decided to ask the most important question that was lingering in my mind. and"Do I have to put vermilion?" I blurted out but regretted instantly when something flashed in his eyes which I couldn't decode.

"It's your choice, Buttery, If you want you can, and if you don't want you can avoid. My family will not pressurize you at all." His voice was smooth and soft and I released the breath I was holding. I turned around to find his eyes softened and I smiled a little with a nod. He closed the distance between us and placed a kiss on my temple. A sweet gesture yet so intimate at this point. "I am going to take a shower. You can join anytime if you want." He said and stepped inside the bathroom. "The door is always unlocked." Saying this he shut the door leaving me all red and heated with his words. I turned around, took out my pearl studs and similar locket from the glass case, and put it. At last, I put on my white mule heels and for some, reasons love heels— so much.

I came back inside the bedroom and my gaze went straight to the gifts. There's only one box left and I think Rajveer opened his own gift. I went near the coffee table, picked up the perfectly wrapped box, and opened it. Breath knocked out of my lungs when I opened the box and looked at the Rolex watch which is beautiful. I closed the box and placed it back on the table and took a long sigh controlling my emotions as my eyes pricked with unshed tears. This whole family is really something, the way they care about me and Rehan and didn't put pressure on us to do anything. I don't deserve them and Rajveer. I am the one who isn't capable of loving something. How could they love me when I am not their dream daughter-in-law? I wiped a lone tear that escaped my eyes and reminded myself not to cry or overthink.

I took a deep breath, stepped out of the room, and descended downstairs towards the kitchen. Upon reaching the kitchen, My gaze swept over the design and the aesthetics of this traditional-style kitchen. There are golden coloured shelves and cupboards and even the refrigerator's cover is of similar design. The countertops are shiny and clean. The kitchen is empty and there is no sign of Maa and Chachi.

"You look beautiful, Adhvika." A voice startled me and I turned around to find Maa and Chachi standing with big smiles on their faces. "Oh My Bachi, kitni sundar lag rahi." Maa said cupping my cheeks and kissing my forehead. Chachi did the same too and now I am on the verge of crying after seeing their love for me. (My child, You look so beautiful)

"Everyone forgot me after meeting Bhabhi." Anita's voice came making us turn around and watch her coming to our side. She is wearing a light pink colored suit, her hair down, and matching heels. She is smaller than me in height and she is cute as hell. "No one forgot about you, Miss." Maa fake chided and she pouted in response. Maa kissed her forehead too and Chachi did the same. "You both look beautiful, My Children," Maa said with a smile and Anita's smile widened on her face. Chachi took a bit of her kajal and applied a small behind mine and Anita's ear saying, "Kisi ki Nazar na lage, Meri Bacchiyon ko."(May you don't catch evil eyes, My Girls.)

"Maa where is Rehan?" I asked panicking because he was nowhere to be seen. "He was with Anita," Maa replied but Anita stood there shaking her head and spoke up. "He is with Bhai, I was coming downstairs with him when Bhai took him to his room." She said and relief washed over me that he was safe. I trust them but whenever it comes to Rehan I am always stiff and panicked. Anita came and hugged me whispering the same compliment which Maa gave me. "You seriously look so goddamn Beautiful, Bhai will die upon seeing you." She let out a giggle when a blush crept on my neck and my ears started heating too.

"Adhvi beta, It's your first rasoi today so you should cook something sweet and if you need help we are here to help you," Maa said and I nodded in response before we all moved inside the huge kitchen. Chachi and Maa started preparing the food for the family while Anita helped me find out the ingredients required to make kheer. After half an hour or more the food was ready to serve and everyone assembled inside the dining area next to the kitchen. Dada ji and Dadi occupied the head chairs while Papa and Chachu occupied the ones beside Dada ji but there was not a sign of Rajveer anywhere. I frowned at his lack of presence with the family.

"Beta, come join us," Maa said and I walked beside her to the dining table where everyone was sitting upright in their working attires and I greeted every elder seeking their blessings. The food was placed on the table by Meena, their maid and she served us. Everyone was eating their breakfast while my mind swirled to Rajveer who was nowhere to be seen. "Bhabhi what happened?" Anita asked who was sitting on my right side and I shook my head covering my worried expression smoothly. I picked up my spoon when a clink sounded and I looked ahead to see Chachi's mouth parted and her eyes widened an inch. Everyone on the table gasped at what they saw. I followed the line of their gazes towards the stairs to find Rehan in his school uniform and Rajveer in his business suit, coming hand in hand and smiles adorned their faces.

"Dadi!" Rehan squealed seeing everyone and jumped straight on Maa's lap making her chuckle. She pressed a kiss on his cheeks and he ran towards Anita. Everyone burst out laughing at his energy but this child forgot me. He sat on Anita's lap facing the table quietly as if observing everything. I placed a kiss on his cheek and he looked at me smiling and kissed my cheek back. I am happy that he is happy with this family, I thought he would not be able to adjust to the changes but here he is making everyone smile and laugh.

Then again everyone's gaze was fixed on Rajveer and I couldn't help but take a look at his face. As I turned around he was already eating his breakfast, his stiff body commanding, radiating with authority and calmness which I was surprised of as he didn't even bother to look at anyone. "Bhai never joins us for breakfasts or dinner whenever he is home," Anita whispered so only I could hear her and I was shocked by what she said and the only question was why? His family radiates positivity so why he does not join them, the most suspicious thing is Anita says 'whenever he is home'. Does he not come home often? Where does he live then? In his penthouse or somewhere else? My mind is bombarded with questions and I can't help but wonder what would be the reason. I'd definitely ask him some time but now I've to push down these thoughts and be calm.

"Did you dress Rehan for school?" I whispered for his ears only and I couldn't help but ask this to him. The way he is considerate of me and Rehan, the feeling sets a different fear and butterflies inside my stomach. He gave a slight nod, just a little which I would not have caught if I wasn't looking at him. This Man! Sometimes I think I don't deserve him at all, he is pure— so much pure for someone like me.Everyone started eating their own food in complete silence even though Rehan is such a quiet boy today. I did the same taking the salads and fruits and yogurt with paranthas. Ah! My favorite combo for breakfast. When everyone was done with their breakfast and now its the time for dessert, the main and the most important part.

"Meena, you can bring the dessert," Chachi ordered the maid in her soft voice and the lady in question came out of the kitchen bringing the dessert in a ceramic bowl, set the same on the table, and started serving everyone. "Oh It was my Adhvika's First rasoi, I'm so excited." Daddi grinned showing her almost toothless smile and a smile threatened to form on my lips.

"Yes, let's taste it." Dada ji followed and then the dessert was served to everyone except Rajveer. I frowned why Meena didn't serve him the dessert? Is there anything I am missing? As if sensing my thoughts, Anita nudged at my arm and I looked at her with a questioning gaze. "Bhai doesn't like desserts," Anita said and I'm sure there was a visible scowl on my face and frustration overcame my expression.