8.
{Third person's pov}
Kiara was sitting next to him in his car, tears Falling from her eyes. Ekansh looked at her, but again he was bad at comforting people, He passed her a bottle of water. "You can meet them any time you want."
Kiara looked at the water bottle and then towards him, she slowly took the water bottle and drank a little amount of water.
"Still I won't be Able to see them every morning and night." She whispered and looked at her hands, Ekansh sucked a deep breath. "I am bad at comforting people, but please calm down."
He placed her hand on the gear and kept his on top of hers and caressed her hands. She was staring at their hands.
He could feel her tremble as he placed his hand over hers, the slight tremors in her body betraying her emotional state. He hated seeing her so upset, but he was at a loss for how to comfort her.
His thumb traced gentle circles on the back of her hand, the touch light yet reassuring. He felt the smoothness of her skin, the delicate bones of her fingers.
"It'll be alright," he muttered gruffly, not knowing what else to say.
Soon they arrived at his house and he helped her out of his car, they were welcomed by his family, his step mother stood at the main door waiting to do their Aarti.
His jaw clenched tightly as they stood in front of the door, his stepmother's smile almost making him grimace. He forced himself to stay calm, taking a deep breath to keep his anger under control.
He cast a brief glance at Kiara, noticing the slight tremble in her hands as she held them in front of her. He wanted to reach out to her, to offer her comfort, but he was too distracted by the sight of his stepmother welcoming them into his own home.
They both walked inside and Richa guided Kiara towards his room, she walked inside just to witness the dark curtains and dark interior. She chuckled and thought - as expected.
"I will leave now, if you need something call me," her sister said and walked away.
His room was just as he liked it - dark and simple. The thick curtains kept the room dim even in the daytime, and the minimal furniture gave it a slightly austere appearance.
He leaned against the wall, watching her look around the room. A small smile tugged at his lips at her chuckle, amused by her reaction to his decorating style.
She looked at him, "You like staying in the dark?" He shrugged, pushing himself off the wall and taking a step towards her. "I like the shadows," he said, his voice low.
The dim lighting of the room made his features look sharper, his dark eyes gleamed as he watched her. "It's...comforting," he continued, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a smirk.
She stared at him, "I like nude colours." She whispered and sat on the edge of the bed.
He watched her take a seat on the bed, the way her body sank into the mattress, the soft curve of her spine as she leaned back.
He chuckled at her statement, his eyes still roaming over her. "Nude colors, huh?" he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You want to redecorate this place with beige and cream everywhere? You can if you want to."
Kiara smiled as he allowed her to do it, but she shook her head, "it's fine, I don't hate this either."
He raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I see," he teased, taking a step closer to her.
He stood over her, looking down at where she sat on the bed. His eyes raked over her figure, drinking in her slender form and the way her wedding sari draped around her.
She shifted back "I am on periods," she whispered making him frown, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I am not doing anything Wife, Something's in your hair, I was just removing it." He said and stepped back.
"You can change," he whispered back. Kiara bit her lips and looked at him as he walked towards the door and opened it, "here is the wardrobe and bathroom."
Kiara nodded and walked inside While Ekansh Walked out of his room.
Kiara came back after changing just to find him in a trouser and Shirt, he looked at her, "do you need anything?"
She shook her head, "on which side do you usually sleep?" He asked.
"Left," she replied, he nodded and shifted to the right side of the bed, "you should sleep, here." He forwarded the hot water bag to her.
She looked at the hot water bag and then back to him, she smiled at his gesture, "Thank you!"
He watched as she looked at the hot water bag and then up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. She thanked him, her voice soft.
He felt a strange sensation in his chest at her gratitude, and he had to fight the urge to reach out and pull her closer.
"You should rest," he said gruffly. "You probably had a long day."
She nodded and settled on the left side of the bed and soon sleep engulfed her, Ekansh being Insomniac kept working on his laptop and glancing at her.
..........
Kiara woke up in the morning just to witness him sitting on the couch and working on his laptop, "when did you wake up?" She asked in her sleepy voice.
Ekansh shifted her gaze towards her, "I didn't sleep." That's when his insomnia hit her and she took a deep breath.
"It must be tiring, not being able to sleep." She looked at him and he nodded.
...........
Kiara was wearing her saree, while standing in front of the mirror, she was making her plates when the door opened revealing Ekansh.
As he looked over at her making her plates, he couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of heat rise within him. She looked beautiful, the silk of the saree flowing gracefully over her curves.
She didn't notice him, she took the Vermilion from the shelf and applied it in her hairline and that's when their eyes met.
He stood silently in the doorway, watching her as she applied the vermilion, the red powder a striking contrast against her skin. His eyes roved over her, taking in her face, her hair, the way the saree clung to her body.
As her eyes met his in the mirror, he felt his heart quicken. He couldn't quite look away, the sight of her applying vermilion awakening something within him.
"When did you come?" She asked and turned around. He took a few steps into the room, his eyes still fixed on her. "Just now," he replied huskily.
He couldn't help but let his eyes travel over her again, the way the saree cinched her waist, how the vermilion accentuated her features.
"Kiara, Ekansh bhaiya," Richa came inside as the door was open, both Kiara and Ekansh looked at Richa.
"You have to perform a ritual." Richa said and Kiara nodded, Ekansh didn't reply but eventually Walked with them.
Some of the relatives were still at home, Kiara covered her head with the pallu as they descended downstairs.
In the centre a bowl was set, it was filled with milk and rose petals, they were made to sit in front of each other.
"Now I will drop a Ring in this, and whoever finds it more than once will be the one to rule in your marriage." Richa explained, Kiara was staring at the bowl.
Ekansh watched as Richa explained the ritual, his eyes flicking over to Kiara. Her face was covered by the pallu, but he could see the slight tremors in her hands as she held it.
He couldn't help but feel amused by the ritual, feeling a slight stirring of competitiveness rise within him. He glanced over at the bowl of milk and rose petals, feeling the urge to win this silly game.
They both started finding the ring, but Ekansh was just stirring his hands, not even trying to find the ring. The competitiveness faded and Kiara took out the ring in all three rounds.
Everyone cheered and Ekansh was still maintaining his cold expression, "So bhabhi will rule," Chitransh said and everyone smiled.
Kiara smiled softly but her face was covered.
Ekansh walked towards his study after performing the ritual while Kiara was sitting with all the ladies.
"I have to say one thing Nidhi, both of your daughters in law are too pretty, especially Kiara." Nidhi passed a forced smile, but she felt irritated as people called Ekansh's wife prettier.
As much as Ekansh hated Nidhi, Nidhi hated Ekansh more. Because he wasn't her son and the CEO of their business. But he was the one who developed that business to renowned one, because his father was busy in cheating.
...............