My eyes fluttered open when a burning smell reached my nose, making me barf. Instantly, I jumped out of my bed, sniffing like a dog. I wore my slippers, and suddenly, my memory went a few hours ago. I am in our bedroom, but a few hours ago, I was with my husband, hugging him close while we both listened to the rain.

'This isn't the time to solve useless mysteries Adhvi.' My brain chastised me and I am aware of that burning smell again.

I looked around the bedroom and then in the bathroom, but there weren't any signs of burning, and even my husband wasn't there. So I decided to go downstairs and find the reason for this burning smell.

Rushing down the stairs, I am met with the burning smell but now it's 10x stronger than it was in the bedroom. I think something is really really wrong going on here. God Please I don't want to find burning sofas or curtains this early.

"You're awake darling." A deep familiar voice scratched my brain and I looked around to find my husband standing in front of the kitchen door wearing his sweatpants. Oh No! I think it's my turn to burn after seeing his perfectly packed abs and his arms—His veiny muscled arms and his sweatpants not to say about that. My jaw dropped at the sight and he smirked.

"Like what you see, My Buttery." He knows the effects. My husband is playing with me. I gave him my mischief-filled smile and his smirk vanished in the thin air.

I moved towards him and the burning smell was coming from the kitchen. What the hell!!

"What's with the burning smell?" I narrowed my eyes in suspicion all the playfulness vanishing from the air leaving it thick and the not so burning smell.

"It's nothing, Buttery" His nonchalant tone is making me more suspicious. I walked past him to the kitchen when he held my wrist in his firm hand. I would've loved the situation if I wasn't on a mission to discover the burning kitchen.

"Leave my hand, Mr. Rajveer." My voice dropped a little and his hold loosened on my hand. Without wasting any further minutes I rushed inside the kitchen only to be greeted by the messed up frying pan. So this was the reason behind the burning smell. This is an actual mess.

"I'm Sorry, Buttery."

"What were you doing?" I asked folding my arms and raising an eyebrow at him.

"I was trying to make breakfast for you but I think cooking isn't my cup of tea." He replied and I tried to stifle my laughter by pressing my lips but failed miserably.

"Why are you laughing?" He frowned and I can't help but shake with laughter.

"The most famous businessman who is known as a Devil and is feared which I got to know yesterday, is burning the kitchen." I laughed more and he tensed up. I shut my mouth when the whole scenario became serious.

"I love your laugh." His confession made my heart race and My cheeks heated up from his words.

"You are blushing now, Buttery." He stated not so innocently.

"What does Buttery mean?" I asked diverting the topic but still, I was not aware why he called me buttery at all.

"Buttery is short for Butterfly." He smiled saying this and I tried to cover up mine by biting my lower lip.

"you shouldn't do that." He stated his smile now turned into a straight line.

"Huh?"

"Don't bite your lips wifey, This act of yours is fueling my imagination." His voice was deep while saying these words and my eyes went down to his plump pink lips, soft and inviting me to bite them hard. I gulped thinking about them.

"My eyes are up here, Wifey." He said and I am going to die from embarrassment.

'Dumb ways to die, Adhvika' My brain mocked making me scoff.

I cleared my throat, "Let's clean the mess."

He gave a nod and we started cleaning the mess created on the kitchen counter.

"What were you trying to cook?" I asked him when we were done cleaning the shelves and he was cleaning the stove while I scrubbed the frying pan.

"I was trying to cook scrambled eggs." He said and I looked at his shirtless frame. He is kind of cute but the people from the office were just so rudely speaking of him. He might be serious about his work but he didn't yell at me at all.

"Okay, but next time don't try to cook." I fake glared at him.

"Why can't I?"

"You wanna burn the kitchen dumbo?" I said gesturing the space around.

"But Aaron told me that girls like it when men cook for them." He looked around and I chuckled at his words. How could he be so adorable and dangerous at the same time?

"I'll teach you then." I grinned like a child making him smile too. We were in our own staring competition when it got interrupted by the doorbell.

"I think our child is back." Saying this he went to open the door while I was still stuck at that line. He said Our Child. He accepted Rehan as our child even though he didn't know anything about him and me. And here I am being dumb, How can I get attached to him in just a month? The way we talk and interact, it felt like we knew each other for years. I want to love him, give every piece of mine to him but the wounds I've got deep inside my heart aren't healing well. At first, me being pregnant and then Aayansh along with Mumma and Papa got hit by the truck and now someone is threatening me on a daily basis.

I receive messages from unknown numbers. At first, I thought someone was trying to prank me but when I blocked the number the messages became more threatening. I don't want to tell anyone because there is no one I trust. I might be trusting Rajveer but it doesn't mean I'd put his life in jeopardy just for my sake. He'd done everything he could do, the promises he gave me, the way he held me close and said soothing words whenever I got panic attacks.

"Bhabhi, What are you doing?" Anita's voice echoed in the kitchen and I realised I was practically overthinking again.

"Just cleaning the mess your Brother made." I huffed cleaning my hands with soap.

"Woah." She made a surprised sound looking down at me and that's when I remembered I was wearing Veer's T-shirt. I gave her a shy smile to which her expressions were comical.

"Where is Rehan?" I asked her diverting her mind from the places it went.

"He is with his Daada." Her eyes glinted and a smirk danced on her lips.

"What's with you and smirking?" I questioned and she lifted a brow in response.

"Nothing at all." She beamed making me roll my eyes internally. Whatever she is thinking, it's going to be something crazy I am for sure. "How was the sleepover?" I inquired as we strolled out of the kitchen and to the couch in the living room where my husband was working while Rehan was looking at his laptop screen. They seem so familiar like Rajveer and Rehan were biological father and son and I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. The guilt and heartbreak hit me at those memories.

"It was pretty fun and Anvi is quite cool but I don't like her grump of a husband." She huffed a reply which made me smile.

"I don't even know about him," I mumbled as we both plopped down on one of the couches. Rehan jumped from his place when he spotted me as well as startling Veer by his sudden actions.

"I missed you, Mama." His lips wobbled and I scooped him up in my lap. "Now you're missing me and earlier you were ignoring your mama." I fake-chided him and hugged me, keeping his head in the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry Mama. I love you the most." He whispered only for me to hear and I chuckled at his cute words. I soothed his back while my gaze swept to my husband who was fiercely typing on his phone and he is now wearing his t-shirt.

"Bhai today we girls are going on a shopping spree," Anita informed taking him by surprise.

"Okay..." He drawls before clearing the table and placing the items in his bag.

"Don't give me that impression." She chided and I'm trying my best to stifle my snort.

"What impression?" He groaned and a snort slipped taking in his expressions. Anita side-eyed me and now I am shaking from a silent laugh.

"Nothing." She rolled her eyes and began to tell me how they spent their night and especially how Aaron reacted to their crazy ass ideas—her wording, not mine.

"Mama, I'm hungry." Rehan pouted as he was sitting quietly on my lap and listening to his bua word vomit everything.

"Let's cook then!" The girl almost startled me as she stood up picking up Rehan and he almost whined before shutting up because he knew his bua won't listen. My husband was nowhere to be seen so I think he might be busy in his home office after listening to Anita's whole story.

"Mama, come fast." Rehan's shouting reached my ears and I stood up immediately stalking towards the kitchen.

"Bhabhi, I'm cutting fruits while you can prepare some toast." She announced when she saw me coming. Rehan was sitting on the high kitchen chair eating grapes.

We all started doing our own work that is preparing breakfast.

"Bhabhi, I and Anita booked a massage too." She informed while I nodded as we put the breakfast on the dining table.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Two in the noon." She replied. I gave her a smile accompanied by a nod. It's the perfect time because I've to visit Maa today.

"What are you thinking?" She asked looking at me with concern.

"Nothing, I was going to visit my mom so the timing is perfect," I replied in an assuring tone.

"Bhaiiiiiii!!" She yelled loudly enough to startle the neighbors. Rehan gave her a horror-filled look similar to mine only for her to grin. Rehan shook his head slowly as if saying 'She is crazy' and sighed but she didn't notice his expressions as she was busy grinning like a child.

"Why the hell are you shouting? You want my ears to bleed!" The bhai in question came wearing his shirt and pajamas.

Damn.

Damn.

Damn.

He looks hot. So hot that my skin is burning under his scrutiny.

Am I attracted to him? Yes.

Am I going crazy for him? Yes.

Am I ogling him? Yes.

Am I drooling? Yes.

Does he know? Yes, Yes, and Yes. He knows everything including the effect he has on me. I jerked my gaze away only to slide over to another crazy person who is eyeing me with a smirk. These two Bastards. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and flip them off. This sounds out of my character but who cares?

"Before someone gets cooked, let's eat the breakfast." Anita's remark had me glaring at her which she dodged by giving a sweet innocent and batting eyelashes. Ignoring her we sat down on the chairs, Rehan beside Anita and my husband sitting on the head chair while I sat down on the first chair to his right.

"What were you saying about shopping and all?" He questioned and I opened my mouth to answer him but Anita spoke first cutting me off.

"Girls weekend plans." She glared at him only to receive a nod in return. No one spoke anything more about it and continued to eat our breakfast silently.

❁❁❁

"I'm so happy you came along." Maa smiled at Anita who was munching at snacks sitting beside her and drinking tea. We both arrived to meet Maa and from there we would go for our shopping. Rehan was left with his dad and their reactions were so funny when we left them alone for our business.

"Thank God I came along otherwise I'd have missed these delicious snacks and tea." Anita grinned as Maa patted her head like she was some five-year-old kid. I rolled my eyes at her because she was taking my part of love too. When she saw me rolling my eyes at her she stuck out her tongue to tease me more.

"Mere Damad ji Kaise hai?" Maa questioned ignoring our silent fight.

(How's my Son-in-law?)

"Apke Damad ji toh Bechare apne bache ke sath hai." Anita giggled as if imagining their scowling faces.

(Your son-in-law is with his kid)

"You must have brought them along with you," Maa added in a hushed tone as if she was sad that we didn't bring them together.

"We both were going shopping so there is no need for grumpy men there." Now it was my time to grin to lift up her sour mood. She loves her grandson and now son-in-law but she never loved Aayansh this way like she loves Rajveer because of Aayansh's behavior whenever I needed him and told him about the struggles I faced. But he wasn't that stone-hearted he loved me in a friendly way and I am sure that love was true.

"Did bhai call?" I questioned this time because I didn't get any calls from him and that was so rude of him.

"He did and was sorry because he was busy with his work," Maa replied with a sigh and I can agree with her because that man never stops to disappoint us. He is married to his work for life.

"Bhabhi, You have a brother?" Anita's shocked face was something I was so used to by now.

"Your Bhabhi has a brother but their relationship isn't well," Maa explained because she was aware of the fact that I would not be able to explain or tell my side of the story without sobbing and shaking.

"But now you asked about Bhai." She looked between me and Maa confused.

"She was talking about Avyaan, He is my Son." Maa clarified her doubts. Anita nodded as if understanding the matter. I know her family might have told her everything about my biological family and my massi maa.

Before I could say anything my phone went off and I saw the caller ID.

"Please don't say Bhai is calling." Anita reacted and Maa let out a chuckle.

"No...it's Anvi." I retorted and she let out a dramatic sigh.

"Why she would call...." Anita trailed off when she saw the time on her phone and I gave her a look that said 'Now you know'.

It was 12 noon and time for our shopping spree. Maa looked between both of us and I gave her an apologetic smile but when it's time, it's time. We arrived here as soon as possible but now our little chat day is over with Maa.

"Adhvika beta, I forgot to tell you. I am going to meet Avyaan and will be staying there for a few months." She shared the piece of information and I was happy that she was finally meeting him and staying with him but she kept that piece of information.

"Maa why didn't you tell me earlier?" I deadpanned and her eyes widened a little before they were normal again.

"I forgot at first, you know I'm getting old." She smiled and I melted there.

"Okay, no problem but give him a beating from my side for not calling me." I grin and she enveloped me in a hug. She gestured to Anita too and we all hugged as if were long-lost friends.

"So when are you going?" I asked her. She pulled back from the hug and replied. "Day after tomorrow and everything is packed."

"What? This Soon?" I was shocked at her and a little bit sad too because she was leaving this soon for a few months and I'd not be able to meet her in person.

"Don't worry my baby." She stroked my hair and kissed my forehead lovingly.

Before I could say anything she paused me. "Now go for your shopping."

"Oh shit I almost forgot." Anita jerked up from her seat and put on her heels and I followed because we were late and Anvi would eat us up like a fine dish.

"Bye, my babies." Maa kissed Anita's and my forehead before waving us goodbye.

"But our conversation isn't over yet," I replied before we were practically running in our heels out of there but Maa let out a hearty chuckle at us.

❁❁❁

"You're late." Anvi huffed a frustrated sigh showing us the time on her watch. She is wearing a mid-length summer dress like me and Anita while Anita is wearing heels I and Anvi are wearing sneakers. She might be 5'4 with honey-colored hair that reaches just below her shoulders.

"We were at my mother's place." I gave an apologetic look and she hugged me like a sister would do. She did the same to Anita. Both girls are bubbly and rays of sunshine unlike me who is always bawling out her eyes. 

I was always an introverted person and never had many friends, not even in high school, and a big no in university. I was more comfortable with my brother and parents. They always listened to my blabbering all day without judgmental stares or views but it changed after that dreadful day or I might say night which stole my brother and parents forever.

"For the first, I'm sparing you my wrath," Anvi remarked folding her arms across her chest.

"Okay, but you came alone? Where's your I-am-the-only-one-to-touch-Anvi husband?" Anita chimes in this time with a raised eyebrow only to be greeted with a scowling Anvi.

"I came with my bodyguard and threatened him to not leave his car otherwise I'd make a mess of his life." Anvi giggles while telling us how she made her bodyguard's life a little too miserable.

"You are a hellion in disguise." My sister-in-law stated with an obvious look and I smiled.

"Just shut up, we are going for a makeup first." She glared at Anita, only for her to get a shit-eating grin in return. We're in the parking lot of a mall and an hour away from our home. Anita told me this was an exclusive one with less rush and everything including makeup, hair salon, cinema and everything at one place. We don't have to run around bustling places.

We stepped inside the massive mall, there was a front desk and the lobby with shining golden chandeliers and lights and most importantly the cleanliness. The marble floors were so shiny that I could see my face clearly. Staff members are roaming around and at the gate, there are a couple of guards who check for IDs. 

The middle area is decorated with flowering plants, beige couches, and a huge aquarium. The glow of the sun pierces through the ceiling windows giving the mall a beautiful look but the sunlight isn't harsh and I assume the windows are highly tinted which might be the reason lights are hung from the ceiling. On the reception chair, there sit two women wearing a grey colored skirt which I assume is their uniform.

There aren't many people aside from a few men in well-tailored suits sitting on the couches, scrolling through their phone and a few are even playing with their children.

"We'll start from the hair salon." Anvi pointed towards the first floor where shops are distinguished by neon lights on the entryway. I let myself a little loose because crying and panic attacks are not on my to-do list for today.

"I wanna dye my hair." I chirped happily because I want to be happy and depression might go to hell and fuck there someone else.

"Woah! Girl chill there." She grinned happily not before pinching my bare arm. Anita pinched the bridge of her nose and rolled her eyes at us.

"Bhabhi, your natural hair looks good." She scowled a bit at my previous statement.

"Please, it's not that I'll dye my hair blonde," I said with a pout and Anita acknowledged my statement because that's true I would not dye my hair blonde.

"Please, don't waste time," Anvi said and the next is we are going for a dye, all three of us.

For the next five hours, we all bought new Louis Vuitton handbags, clutches, and mainly jewelry by Tiffany & Co. We didn't just stop there we bought matching Chanel lipsticks, matching Hermes dresses, and watches. We bought everything in matching like we were triplets. In Anvi's language, 'it didn't hurt to spend some of our husband's money' because we even purchased Louboutin's for the couple.

Then we had a massage after a sauna bath. From manicure to pedicure we did everything, enjoyed the movie with salted caramel popcorn. A lot of candy floss and ice creams that I might get diabetes.

"Bye Babies." Anvi waved us as she settled in the backseat of her car, her eyes tired as hell and her hair now dyed grape purple.

"Bye Anu, Give me a call when you reach home." I chirped happily waving to her while Anita blew her a few kisses before we were settling in our car's backseat.

❁❁❁

"Why are they not opening the door?" I asked Anita for the third time after banging on the door countless times and numerous calls that were forwarded to voicemails.

"My whole body is feeling like a sack." Her reply came as she swayed on her bare feet while one hand clutched the dozen shopping bags and the other one holding her heels. I on the other hand am taking support of the wall beside the door while holding the same dozen bags and my arms feel like they will fall off soon.

"I think my body is going to crack open." I sighed lazily when the click of the door sounded and I straightened just in time. 

"Thank God," Anita muttered under her breath and I let out a breath. The door opened showing My husband standing there wearing gray sweatpants and a t-shirt his hair a little damp as if he freshly showered. His eyes are wide and his lips are a bit parted as he looks at me and Anita from head to toe.

"Why are you staring Bhai, let us in." Anita pushed him a little making her way inside and I followed her lead. I plopped on the couch beside her shutting my eyes close.

"What's with your hair color?" My husband's sound made my eyes wide open. I watch him as he sits on the opposite side of us and now his brows are pinched a little.

"We dyed our hair," I replied.

"Why?" He questioned again.

"Bhai what's wrong with our hair color?" Anita's frustrated reply came from beside me.

"Nothing's wrong it's just...I'm surprised."

"No problem at all." Anita's reply was instant and it was correct there is nothing wrong with our hair. We just dyed it with a decent color. Mine is now dark wine red while Anita's hair color is cherry brown and as per the stylist it looks good on us. I like this change a lot and now I even have curtain bangs. I just love this look and these bangs.

"How was your shopping?" Rajveer asks eyeing us both.

"You can see for yourself." Anita gestured around and he nodded before saying. "That's what I am looking at."

"Where is Rehan?" I questioned him and diverted the topic for sure.

"He's sleeping and he did eat his dinner." He answered my unasked question too and I was feeling relaxed a bit now.

"Did you eat?" I asked him looking at my phone. It shows 7:17 p.m. and like this, our day is just done. Weekends are a holiday for interns and assistants of course but my dear husband had to work from home.

"I did. I ordered a takeout." He replied and I nodded before closing my eyes again.

"I'm going to my apartment now. I'm full and my body is sleep-deprived." Anita stood up from her place still swaying as she picked up her heels and shopping bags.

"Let me help you," I said holding a few bags and helping her to her door.

"Good Night, My bhabhi." She kissed my cheek before she entered her apartment which is on our left side and is similar to Rajveer's except the colors. I kept the bags on the table and she jumped on one of the huge couches.

"Good Night my Anita baby." I wished her stroking her hair as she closed her eyes and was on the way to snoring. I left her there sleeping on her couch and closed the door behind which I'm sure has an automatic lock so without any worry I came back only to be greeted by darkness except the glow of city lights which entered the living room through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Rajveer was nowhere to be seen in the kitchen so I ran upstairs in our bedroom. As I entered our bedroom I was greeted by soft yellow lamp lights and Rehan sound asleep on the bed hugging a bear to him while my husband wasn't here and I assumed he was in his home office working his ass off.

Rolling my shoulders a bit, I decided to change into my nightwear.

I walked into the walk-in closet and saw my shopping bags stacked in one corner neatly. I think Raj did so. I looked at myself in the mirror and My hair color looks so cool on me. Even the bangs are fluffy and I can practically see hearts in my eyes.

I moved to put my hairclips in one of the drawers when a sharp pain ignited in my left hand. This was not bad because I might have scratched my hand a little from the drawer's sharp side. I inspected my hand only to find a little scratch and droplets of blood forming around the wound itself.

The blood is bright and lively. My heart is pounding and the one thing I could listen to is the dripping from blood.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

And suddenly I am back to those haunting memories from the past that I thought I'd forget and would enjoy no matter what but I'm caught in a cage and the events are on a loop. Again and again and again.

"You're not worth it." A haunted voice came from behind me as I took a pinch of vermillion to put in the partition of my hair. I look at myself in the reflection. Dark brown eyes staring at me, hair open and flowing down my mid-waist. I'm clad in a red saree and a nuptial chain resting on my neck like a noose around my neck like it'll throttle me someday. The red bangles adorning my arms. I don't feel like me, it feels like I'm someone else. I am feeling different, a lot different from my own self.

The sounds of footsteps caught my attention and I looked in the reflection to see my mother-in-law wearing a dark green saree, her hair in a bun, and her eyebrows pinched together in frustration. I can see her jaw clenched in order to control her anger. I know from her expression she was angry because I also know she found out something that was meant to be between me and my husband.

I don't feel like a married woman. I feel like I was sent to prison by my own parents. Even they don't like me, like they used to when they found out something that wasn't meant to be found. Not like that.

But I'm married now and it's been only a few days or a week and that was pure torture. The horror that no woman deserves in their life.

I'm jerked back to the place where I am sitting on the chair in front of the mirror but the only difference now is someone is holding my arm tightly. I look towards the person to find her glaring at me as she eyes the vermillion in my hand which she is holding now.

"Whores aren't allowed to put Vermillion." Her harsh words are like a slap to my face. I can feel my eyes burning from unshed tears as I try to focus on her face from these blurry curtains. My whole body is shaking, even my soul is shaking and I can feel it in my bones.

Her harsh grip tightened more around my right arm and the red crimson bangles pierce through my skin as the crimson liquid oozes out but I feel numb because this physical pain wasn't the only pain I could feel. My pain is more from this physical pain which can not be described in words. This pain is beyond words.

She jerked my crimson-colored arm away in disgust and wiped her hand with the tissues. She didn't glance my way before she left smiling like nothing happened. But that nothing did something to me. I glance at my red arm which is numb as the blood drips on my red saree.

A bright thick liquid. The only sounds are the dripping of this thick liquid on me, on my soul, my body, my heart, and everything.

"Adhvi...My baby." A masculine smell wafts through the air as two hands wrap around my middle.

"My Darling... Breathe, slowly..like I do." My husband took deep breaths asking me to do the same. I mimic him, gulping in the air like he was asking me to. My blurry vision clears a bit as he wipes my tears.

"Yes, Bacha. You're doing good." He said as he stroked my hair and with his other hand held me close to him. I look up at him and find him crouching down beside me. I didn't know when I fell down. But the whole blame lands on those memories. The memories which haunt me even in the bright sunlight. The memories which I couldn't forget not even if I die.

"No overthinking, Wifey." I glanced at my husband who was wearing the same clothes from earlier but the only change I could see was his expression and the concern reflecting in his beautiful eyes.

"Are you hurt, Buttery?" He asked but I could not respond even if I wanted to so I nodded. He sighed and wiped my face again pushing my hair back that's when I noticed we were close, too close. I look at his beautiful face, his dangerous eyes but I find them beautiful as if they were telling me the story.

With him so close, I can barely think in the right direction. All I wanted to do was pull him close, so close to me and my soul. I never knew someone could be affecting me just by their eyes. My gaze flicks to his full lips, plump and pink and inviting.

What will happen if I bite his soft lips now? Would he think I was some perv?

He moved a bit closer to me and now our lips were almost an inch away from sealing like a puzzle piece. My heart was giving out and I could definitely feel it beating loudly in my ears but this time it was from the heat radiating from his body. My gaze locked with his and I could feel myself moving more closer to him. His eyes were dark now as if he was controlling himself.

I wanted to sweep my tongue on his lips and we were only a breath apart. Before I could do something, he pulled a little back but his arm was still around my waist holding me tightly against him. As if he could sense my frustration, he smirked and my nerves boiled at his audacity to smirk after almost kissing me.

I tried to pull back from his hold but he pulled me flush against him and his hold tightening around me. I looked at him in confusion because just a few moments ago he pulled back and now he was pulling me close against him.

He dipped his head forward and my eyes fluttered close from the sensations when I felt him whispering against my ear.

"Can I kiss you, Wifey?" He whispers against my ear, his hot breath stirring something in me as my hands land on his muscled chest.