10.
Kiara woke up just to find him asleep, his hand resting on her waist. She admired his call features, his soft hairs falling on his forehead. She smiled and caressed his hair.
He stirred feeling her caress, his eyes fluttering open. He looked up at her through his eyelashes, a lazy smile appearing on his face.
"You're awake early," he murmured, his voice still groggy from sleep. His hand on her waist tightened slightly, as if to anchor her to him.
"Did I wake you up? I am sorry," she whispered. Her breath was heavy because of the proximity.
He could feel her breath on his face, warm and sweet. He shook his head slowly, his eyes still fixed on her.
"No, you didn't wake me up," he said, his voice huskier than usual. His hand on her waist moved up to her arm, his fingers tracing a lazy pattern there.
"I was half awake anyway." She was feeling butterflies in her stomach, "you took sleeping pills yesterday?"
"Yeah, usually I take them," he said, his fingers still tracing soft patterns on her arm. He could feel her goosebumps under his touch, and it made him feel strangely satisfied.
"But I didn't take them last night." She frowned, "does that mean you fell asleep on your own?"
He chuckled, the sound low and amused. "Yeah, I guess I did," he said.
He looked up at her, his eyes roaming over her face. Her frown made her look adorable, and he couldn't help but feel a strange desire to tease her.
"Maybe finally I spoke out about things I was holding back, and finally I trusted someone." She smiled at his words, "I am glad."
He could see the smile on her face, and it made his heart skip a beat. She looked happy, content even.
He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle and affectionate.
He got up from the bed, and she felt emptiness taking around her. "Office?" She asked.
He nodded, his expression a mixture of reluctance and resignation. "Yeah, I have to go to the office," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
..............
Kiara walked downstairs with Ekansh after getting ready, they both sat on the breakfast table.
"Kiara, today will be your peheli rasoi in evening." Ekansh's step mother said and Kiara nodded.
Ekansh focused on his food, not wanting to create a scene. Once he was done he got up and walked out of the house.
...............
It was already evening and Kiara was making sweet dish for everyone, she decided to make kheer and gajar ka halwa.
She was indulged in her work when Ekansh's step mother came inside the kitchen, "You know how to cook right?"
Kiara looked at Nidhi and nodded, "Then why don't you take all the responsibilities of kitchen, I mean you are the eldest daughter in law of this family."
"But ma she is younger than me," Richa said, "Richa in relation she is older, and you already have so manu responsibilities, what will change if she takes one." Nidhi said.
Kiara sucked a deep breath, "I will try my best, but once I started going to my studio it will be hard."
"Studio? Oh don't even think of working after marriage." Nidhi said making Kiara frown.
"Kiara will do whatever she wants, no one here can order her.
.. No one has the right to order her around, if she is the eldest daughter in law, the eldest son of this house is the one who takes care of the expenses, so no one should worry about anything.
.." Ekansh who was leaning on door frame declared.
He steps closer to where Kiara and Nidhi were standing, "And I definitely don't want other people to order my people..."
He looked at Kiara, "is it done?" Kiara got startled and looked at the stove before nodding.
"Come to the room, the servants will serve." He said and dragged her with him.
He led her out of the kitchen, his grasp firm on her arm. As soon as they were out of earshot of his stepmother and sister-in-law, he let go of her arm, his expression immediately turning dark.
He could feel the anger rising within him, the way his stepmother had treated Kiara so rudely and disrespectfully.
"Don't listen to them," he said, his voice gruff. "You don't have to do whatever they say."
"It's alright Ekansh, calm down... She was just saying-" before Kiara could speak he cut her off.
"No she was not, she hates me and she will eventually hate you too... I know her and I definitely don't want her to hurt you." He said, his voice gruff as he walked inside their room, with her following him.
She stared at him as he sat on the couch and opened his laptop.
He could feel Kiara's eyes on him, and he knew she was probably trying to understand his reaction. He glanced up at her, his expression softening slightly.
"I just don't want them to hurt you, that's all," he said, his voice quieter now. "They can be really nasty."
"Why will they hurt me? I haven't did anything wrong." She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at him.
He looked up at her, his gaze intense. "It doesn't matter if you've done anything wrong or not," he said, his jaw clenching. "They'll find a reason to hurt you, just because they don't like the fact that you're now my wife."
He closed his laptop and placed it on the table, his focus now completely on her. She bites her lips as he looked at her, his complete focus on her.
.............
Kiara was sitting on the bed and reading a book while Ekansh was in the bathroom, he was taking a shower when his phone rang.
She looked at the caller id, it says 'nani', she frowned she didn't know his grandmother is still alive... She didn't attend their wedding either.
The door opened revealing him, he was wearing a loose shirt and trousers. His hair were still wet, for a moment she kept staring at him.
"Um, nani was calling you, the caller id said 'nani'." She whispered. He looked at her, his expression solemn as he registered her words.
"My maternal grandmother?" he repeated, his voice laced with a mixture of surprise and something else that she couldn't quite place.
He walked closer to her and took the phone, his fingers gripping it tightly. He stood there for a moment, staring at the screen as if trying to make a decision.
Finally, he pressed the call button and brought the phone to his ear.
"Hello! Ekansh?" The voice of his grandmother came.
"Yes nani! How are you?" He asked.
"Good my child, You knew I won't attend your wedding, but you should atleast visit me with your wife right?" His maternal grandmother asked, ever since she lost her daughter she never met Ekansh's father and step mother. But she was very close to Her daughter's son, Ekansh.
And Ekansh loved her too, after his mother, she was the one he could go to.
He was silent for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew he should have visited his grandmother sooner, but with all the wedding planning and stress, it had slipped his mind.
He looked at Kiara, her eyes still on him, waiting for his response.
"Of course, nani," he said into the phone. "We'll visit you soon, I promise."
"Then come tomorrow... You know right? It's time for maha puja in my village, you loved it when you were a kid, and it's very good for newly weds, so come for a week. I know about your work, but being the CEO you can take a week off... For your nani right?" His grandmother asked.
After a few moments of internal debate, he finally made up his mind. He looked at Kiara, his expression softening as he spoke into the phone.
"Okay, nani," he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "We'll come tomorrow. And we'll stay for a week."
"Great! I will be waiting." She replied and hung up, Kiara looked at him, "your nani? You are close to her right?"
He nodded, his gaze softening. "Yeah, ever since I was a kid, she's been the only person I feel safe with."
He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. He was quiet for a moment, his thoughts seemed far away.
"She was devastated when my mom died," he added, his voice tinged with sadness. "It was just me and her for a long time."
Kiara took a deep breath, "so are we going?"
He nodded, his mind made up. "Yeah, we're going."
He looked at her, a small smile on his face. "It'll be good for us to get away from here for a week."
.................