40~ The Gifts
"What if I say yes?", he asked and I smirked. I was teasing him throughout. He knows we both aren't ready for having an intimate relationship but what is wrong in teasing him?
"Who cares? I am tired and now I want to have just eight hours of sleep", I said and his jaw dropped. I laughed at his bewildered expressions and collecting my saree went towards the dressing table.
"What? B-but you asked, right?", he stammered and I laughed. It was mom's plan.She and Ridhima aunty asked me to tease him and his reaction was exactly what they had predicted to be. It's such a surprise that they both knew he would be irritated.
"Adhyay you must be tired, hubby, take a warm shower and sleep", I buttered but he snorted and opened the wardrobe door with a bang.
I tried to peek at his front to have a look of the trouble I had caused but he stormed inside the bathroom with the speed of the light.
I giggled and shook my head. That's highly impossible that he got aroused or did he? But we didn't do anything? Who knows, male anatomy is out of my course.
I slowly removed the veil so that I wouldn't hurt myself and then removed the hair pins when the bathroom door opened.
"Do you need any help?", I heard his raspy voice. I turned my head towards him to say no but my eyes popped out of the socket as I saw him in just a towel. I gulped as my eyes raked from his face to bare chest. He looks delicious.
"Well wifey there is no harm in complimenting my looks", his teasing voice shook me. My eyes widened as I instantly looked away in embarrassment but my dirty brain kept on replaying the picture of his sinfully built body.
"Are you trying to lure me to do it? No use Adhyay, I am not aroused", I sarcastically uttered and heard him chuckle. From the corner of my eyes I saw him wearing a t-shirt as he said, "Who am I to lure you Mrs. Bansal, you do what you want".
"You play well with words hubby, but unfortunately I know better", I boasted and removed the makeup which my mother had forcefully got me to do. I checked myself in the mirror and felt him looking at me as well.
"I know how you trick others wifey, I have read your books", he said, rather in a calm voice. It was shocking that he had read my books, I didn't expect it. Glancing at him I asked, "Really? I don't believe you".
He smirked and said, "I have proof milady". I raised my eyebrows and saw him moving towards his study table. There was a big bookshelf full of books which were neatly placed in a systematic manner. Curiously, I followed him and stood beside him.
He pointed at the uppermost shelf and with a smirk said, "You can check, I have the signed copies and I annotated every book".
Shocked, I glanced at my husband who now smiled as if he was the most innocent person in the world.
I tiptoed and took the first book out of the three and flipped the pages.
I nearly lost my mind when I saw that he had the limited editions of my book and that too was signed by me and I had even written a small note!
But how come I never got to know that he had bought the book?
"It was my PRO who always visited you so you wouldn't know", he said normally and I took a deep breath. How does he know that I was thinking the same?
"That is understandable but why do you have a separate shelf for my books?" I asked, looking at the three books I have written. The rest of the shelf was empty, which signified that he had dedicated the whole shelf for me only.
"Because the author is gorgeous and I want to collect all the books written by her", he said and I smiled lightly, raking my thumb over the hardcover of my book.
"I never expected you to do this". I whispered looking in his eyes. He doesn't fail to surprise me. I never knew that he read all of the books, and I know it's not to impress me, this is genuine.
"Well, I was your fan before I became your husband", he cheekily said, poking my nose in affection. I smiled and kept the book back in its place.
"Kya matlab, pankha the tum pehle?", I mischievously asked and he chuckled.
"Pankha to nahi pata but I genuinely love what you write.
Mind that I am a choosy reader but you know, your every book has something unique.
While in one you narrate the pain of a mother, the second one says how important suffering is in one's life.
I-I don't know what else to say but never stop writing, you are doing something unique.
Coming out of the league, leaving a corporate job and devoting your time to writing is just wow. "
My heart bloomed with unknown happiness as he said these words, I feel lucky to have him in my life. He shouldn't change, that is my only wish.
"But the genre I write in is less popular, no one wants to read such books", I said as self doubt creeped in.
It is true, people usually read mystery or romance and I don't write either of them.
At first I had to face a lot of troubles because my book didn't sell but after three years I became famous, very slowly.
He smiled and took my henna cladded hands in his.
"It doesn't matter, Akriti, all that matters is that you had the courage to do something that not everyone does and I am so proud that I have known such a woman.
And you know, I will always read your books even if no one does", he said and kissed my knuckles.
Butterflies was all I felt when he did this and I did nothing but throw myself in his arms, tears of happiness cascading down my eyes. He chuckled and hugged me tighter, not wanting to part from each other.
"Thankyou so much Adhyay for everything, I-I can't tell you how much lucky I feel to have you with me", I cried and felt him smile. He kissed my forehead and said, "I am lucky to have you, it is like a dream come true."
We both parted and cried with each other. Maybe that is what true love is. The truth is that he had changed my life, he changed me and made me fall so hard for him. The only thing I am scared of is that he might change in future and I certainly don't want that.
"Now don't cry Akriti", he said cupping my cheeks. I nodded and brought my hand to his. Closing my eyes, I tried to live in the moment and the comfort he was giving me. This man is all I need to survive, he has now acquired the most important position in my life and I doubt that anyone else would.
"Shit! I forgot to give you something", he suddenly exclaimed and rushed towards his wardrobe , trying to find something. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion and then saw him taking out a rectangular box in brown.
He grinned and handed me the box which made me glance at him with confusion. I opened it curiously and found a beautiful diamond pendant with matching earrings. I quickly closed the box and said, "Y-you didn't needed to buy this"
His smile dropped as he nervously asked, "W-why? Did you not like it?"
"No! I love it, Adhyay but it must be costly", I said and saw a smile gracing his face gain.
"So? What is wrong in gifting my wife costly things? I earn for her only, I think", he charmingly said and I sighed.
"But Adhyay-
"No ifs and buts, I bought this for you and you are keeping it. Wait I have a better idea, wear it tomorrow", he said and I glared at him. Is he stupid or what?
"Now don't utter nonsense, go and change", he commanded and pushed me in the bathroom, taking the box from me. I rolled my eyes and said, "At Least let me take my clothes".
"Oh sorry, take them", he apologetically said and I came out of the bathroom. I opened my suitcase and took out a comfortable cotton kurti with pyjamas. He was constantly looking at me, which made me more nervous. I usually don't feel this but I don't know why his gaze makes me nervous.
I took a breath of relief when I came out wearing my comfortable clothes and found him scrolling on his phone with his spectacles on.
Shaking my head, I folded the saree and neatly placed it in a packet so that it wouldn't get damaged.
I opened my suitcase again when I remembered that I forgot to give him his gift!
Hastily, I took out the folder from the bottom and hid it behind my back. I slowly took steps towards him and said, "A-Adhyay I have something for you as well".
He smiled and removed his spectacles, the action itself was too much for me. I don't know how he manages to look hot without even doing a thing. I gulped and climbed on the bed and presented him the document. His eyebrows scrunched as he said, "Are these divorce papers?"
Bewildered, I smacked his bicep and yelled, "Are you insane? We can't take divorce before six months and do I look stupid to you? Why would I gift you divorce papers on our wedding night?"
"Then what else could it be? Did you buy me a house?", he said and I facepalmed. I shoved the folder in his big hands and said, "Read yourself stupid"
He rolled his eyes and wore his spectacles again. His eyes raked on the papers and he shouted, "Are you serious Akriti?"
I nodded and with a smile I said, "I am more than serious on this Adhyay".
His lips curled into a huge smile as he engulfed me in a hug with so much impact that I nearly fell down.
"Thankyou Akriti", he whispered.
"Adhyay, don't thank me. Amayra belongs with us and that is the least I have done for you, you deserve so much more but I don't know what else to do for you", I said with tears brimming in my eyes.
Such a small thing made him happy, I wonder how elated he would be if I had done something more pleasant for him.
Adhyay is a man with a golden heart but I don't know how to make him happy, he rarely becomes sad. Even the tiniest of good things can uplift his mood.
"You don't need to do anything Akriti, you are enough for me", he croaked, making me smile. I pulled back and looked in his brown eyes intently. It was magical as if he was a magnet and I an iron piece. I am attracted to him like iron.
I leaned closer, my breath getting heavy and closed my eyes. His hand went to my waist and he pulled me closer, leaving no space between our chests. I gasped when I felt his cold hand on my neck as he pulled my face towards him. His warm breath fanned on my lips as he huskily asked, "May I?"
I eagerly nodded and my hands went onto his neck as we leaned to close the distance between us. We were just a second away from kissing each other when I heard a crashing sound. Both of us opened our eyes simultaneously and looked at each other confusingly.
"Did you hear it?", I asked and he nodded standing up. I followed him outside the room to know what happened when my eyes popped out of the sockets as I witnessed the scene in front of me.
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