23 | husband promotion
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The bottle stopped right in front of Avyukt.
Ruhi and Krish exchanged a dangerous look.
Avyukt immediately regretted agreeing to this game.
"Truth or Dare?" Krish asked.
"Dare."
A wicked smile appeared on Ruhi's face.
"Perfect."
Avantika suddenly felt suspicious.
Krish leaned forward. "For the next two minutes, you can only speak the truth. No avoiding questions."
Avyukt looked completely unbothered.
"Easy."
"We'll decide that," Ruhi replied.
She immediately pointed at him. "Who is your favorite person in this room?"
"Avantika."
The answer came so fast that nobody even had time to react.
Avantika blinked.
Ruhi smirked. "How surprising."
Krish jumped in. "Who do you trust the most?"
"Avantika."
"Who can make you leave an important meeting?"
"Avantika."
"Who can make you smile without trying?"
"Avantika."
Everyone started laughing.
Siya shook her head. "This game is pointless."
Ruhi wasn't done. "Fine. One last question."
She leaned closer. "If Bhabhi suddenly said she wanted to go back to her parents' house for six months, what would you do?"
That question made Avyukt pause. Then he looked directly at Avantika. "Buy the house next door."
The room exploded with laughter.
"THAT'S NOT NORMAL!" Krish shouted.
"Neither is he," Siya replied.
Avantika tried to hide her smile.
Ruhi clutched her stomach. "Poor Bhabhi. She married a billionaire stalker."
Avyukt didn't even deny it. "Anything else?"
Now everyone was staring at him.
Krish suddenly grinned. "Okay then. Since you're being so honest... tell us when you started liking Bhabhi."
The room went silent.
Avantika froze.
Ruhi's eyes widened.
Siya looked between them.
Avyukt calmly picked up his glass of water.
"The dare is over."
"CHEATER!" everyone shouted together.
----------
After coming to the room, Avyukt lay down on the couch while Avantika settled on the bed.
Avantika was secretly waiting for him to fall asleep first.
Unfortunately, Avyukt had no plans of sleeping. He wanted to see what his wife was plotting this time.
After a few minutes, Avantika finally spoke. "Aren't you going to sleep?"
"No. I'm not sleepy." Avyukt replied, hiding his smile.
Avantika immediately got irritated. "Well, I am sleepy."
A chuckle escaped him. "Then sleep."
Avantika glared at his back. As if she could sleep.
She turned to one side.
Then the other.
Then back again.
Meanwhile, Avyukt was enjoying the entire show.
A few minutes passed.
Then another few minutes.
Finally...
"The couch is uncomfortable." Avantika said casually.
"Not really."
"Your neck will hurt tomorrow."
"I'll survive."
"You'll get back pain."
"I'll manage."
Avantika clenched her jaw. Why was this man making everything difficult?
She sat up on the bed. "Fine."
"Fine." Avyukt replied.
Silence.
Two minutes later- "What are you even doing awake?"
"Thinking."
"About what?"
"My wife."
Avantika immediately looked away.
A smile appeared on Avyukt's face.
Caught.
After another minute, Avantika finally threw her pillow at him. The pillow landed directly on his face.
Avyukt blinked.
"Violence?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you're annoying."
"Fair." He actually looked proud.
Avantika stared at him in disbelief. Who gets happy after being called annoying?
Finally, unable to take it anymore, she pointed at the empty space beside her on the bed. "Just come here and sleep."
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then a victorious smile slowly appeared on Avyukt's face.
Mission accomplished.
_________________________________________
The next morning, I woke up feeling strangely comfortable.
Too comfortable.
For a few seconds, I stayed half asleep, wondering why my pillow felt unusually warm.
Then I realized...
My pillow was breathing.
My eyes flew open.
O God.
At some point during the night, I had completely abandoned my side of the bed.
One of my legs was thrown over Avyukt's waist, my arm was wrapped around his stomach, and my face was buried against his chest like he was some luxury mattress made just for me.
I froze.
Absolutely froze.
Slowly, very slowly, I looked up.
Avyukt was already awake.
Of course he was. And of course he was looking directly at me.
There was amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Good morning."
I immediately moved back. Or at least I tried to.
His arm was still around my waist.
"Interesting sleeping position." he said.
My face instantly heated up. "I-I don't sleep like this."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then who is currently using me as a mattress?"
I opened my mouth. Then closed it.
Because unfortunately, he had evidence. " Me."
Still half lying on top of him. Avyukt looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"You know," he continued thoughtfully, "I spent years building the Vardhan Group. Never imagined my greatest achievement would be getting promoted from husband to mattress."
I grabbed the nearest pillow and hit him.
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
Which only made me more embarrassed. "Stop laughing!"
"I'm trying." He was clearly not trying.
At all.
And the worst part? I wasn't even sure when I had moved so close to him during the night.
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Author pov...?
*********
Meanwhile, Mr. Avyukt Vardhan was having one of the best mornings of his life. His wife had voluntarily cuddled him in her sleep.
She was blushing.
She was embarrassed.
And she was hitting him with a pillow.
In Avyukt's opinion, life was perfect.
Renuka Mom smiled. "All the staff are on leave today."
Everyone immediately looked suspicious.
Avyukt narrowed his eyes. "And?"
"And today's breakfast will be made by the husbands."
The room fell silent.
Then chaos began.
"What?" Ruhi laughed. "This should be interesting."
Before anyone else could react, Krish shot up from his chair. "I'm in."
Everyone looked at him.
A little too quickly.
Krish cleared his throat and tried to act normal. "I mean... someone has to help."
Ruhi smirked. "Someone or Siya?"
Siya almost choked on water. "Ruhi!"
Krish ignored everyone and proudly rolled up his sleeves. "Don't worry, Siya ji. Today's breakfast is on me."
Siya immediately replied, "I didn't ask for it."
"You don't have to."
"That's exactly the problem."
The entire table burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Avyukt calmly pulled out a chair for Avantika and made her sit before taking the seat beside her.
Dad looked at him. "And you?"
"I'm participating."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "Participating or supervising?"
"Depends on whether I want everyone alive after breakfast."
Krish looked offended. "Bhaiya, my cooking isn't that bad."
"That's not what your hostel friends said."
Ruhi nearly fell off her chair laughing.
Krish pointed dramatically. "Character assassination."
Avantika hid her smile while Siya quietly looked down, trying not to laugh.
Unfortunately for her, Krish noticed.
And the moment he saw Siya smiling...
He looked ready to cook a five-star breakfast.
Avyukt watched the entire thing and sighed. "This is going to be a very long morning."
______
A few minutes later, the kitchen turned into a battlefield.
Krish, Avyukt, and Avyukt's Dad were standing near the counter trying to prepare breakfast while the rest of the family sat comfortably at the dining table, enjoying the free entertainment.
Avyukt's Mom was sitting proudly like a queen.
Ruhi had her phone ready.
Avantika and Siya were watching the disaster unfold.
Avyukt Dad was making tea for Mom. Every two minutes he would ask,
"Sugar is okay?"
Renuka smiled. "Whatever you make is fine."
His Dad immediately looked ten years younger.
Meanwhile, Avyukt was quietly preparing breakfast. But every few minutes his eyes would drift toward Avantika.
"Do you eat sandwiches with tomatoes?"
Avantika blinked. "Yes?"
The tomatoes went in.
Two minutes later- "What about cheese?"
"Yes."
The cheese went in too.
Ruhi groaned. "Bhaiya, you're making breakfast or conducting a survey?"
Avyukt ignored her. "Avantika, spicy or normal?"
"Normal."
"Okay."
Ruhi looked at Siya.
"See? This is what obsession looks like."
Avantika immediately looked away to hide her smile.
On the other side, Krish was trying equally hard. "Siya ji, do you like pancakes?"
"Stop calling me Siya ji."
"Why?"
"Because it sounds weird."
Krish looked thoughtful.
"Fine."
Siya relaxed.
Then he added, "I can call you by many names."
The entire table went silent.
Siya nearly dropped her glass.
Ruhi's eyes widened.
Avyukt slowly turned around.
Krish continued as if nothing had happened. "But for that, you'll have to wait. For now, Siya ji is fine."
"KRISH!" Siya exclaimed.
Everyone burst into laughter. Krish looked very pleased with himself.
Avyukt shook his head. "You have courage, I'll give you that."
"Thank you, bhaiya."
"It wasn't a compliment."
More laughter followed.
___
A little while later, breakfast was finally ready.
Avyukt's dad proudly served tea to Mom.
Avyukt placed Avantika's plate in front of her before serving himself.
And Krish rushed to place Siya's plate first.
Siya stared at it. Then at him.
"You know I can pick up my own plate, right?"
"I know."
"Then why did you bring it?"
Krish smiled. "Because I wanted to."
Siya immediately looked away.
Ruhi leaned toward Avantika and whispered, "One couple is already married. The other one is trying very hard."
Avantika nearly laughed while Avyukt calmly continued eating as if he couldn't hear every single word.