Chapter-32

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The evening light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft shadows across the bedroom. Abhimanyu stood by the couch, setting his pillow down.

The fabric felt cool against his fingers, and as he adjusted it, he heard a soft voice"Suniye"

He turned, his brow slightly furrowed as he faced Aarushi, who was sitting on the bed. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and there was an inviting warmth in her eyes. "Sunaiye" he replied, folding the blanket with deliberate movements, his heart racing inexplicably.

"Sleep on the bed," she suggested, her voice a gentle command, but there was a hint of something more—a softness, a vulnerability.

Abhimanyu paused, his hands stilling as he processed her words. He turned fully towards her, his expression shifting from surprise to curiosity. "You know we already talked about that," he reminded her cautiously, his heart thumping louder. "You don’t have to do this because of guilt "

Aarushi frowned, her gaze dropping for a moment. I am not doing this out of guilt; I want him to sleep here, she thought.

Abhimanyu thought she was just joking and sat down on the edge of the couch, the weight of her words settling over him. He thought to tease her and said, "I’ll come there if you say that you want your dear husband to sleep there with you." The playful smirk on his face belied the sudden surge of hope that flickered within him.

Aarushi rolled her eyes, but a half-smile tugged at her lips. "Acha khasa moka mil raha tha idhar sone na , ab pade raho wahi puri zindagi. Koi jarurat nahi idhar aane ki ,maine to bulaya tha, aapne moka kho diya waise bhi aap sofe per hi ache lagte ho"  With that, she turned away and curled up under the duvet, her expression unreadable.

He watched her, shock washing over him. Did she really mean that? He stood, stride firm as he approached her, pulling the duvet from her face. "Yo–u , Really " he pressed, a mixture of disbelief and excitement dancing in his chest.

Aarushi bit her lip, nodding, a rush of shyness flooding her cheeks. It was an admission that made Abhimanyu’s heart race. A grin broke across his face, genuine and bright. "Wait a minute," he said, slipping away into the bathroom.

"What happened?" Aarushi called after him, confusion knitting her brow.

"Just a moment" Abhimanyu shouted back, his voice muffled as he stepped inside. His heart raced, and he could barely contain his excitement. "Yes, yes, yes…"he chanted to himself, pacing in the small space "Ab sabse pehle ja ker us pillu ko fhek dunga , bada aya meri biwi ke sath sone wala"

He stepped back out, still riding the high of adrenaline. "So, what’s going on?"Aarushi asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head, but the grin remained plastered across his face as he moved to the other side of the bed.

Aarushi lay back down, her heart fluttering nervously. They both stared at the ceiling, the tension between them crackling like static electricity. Aarushi glanced sideways at him, and he turned his head, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before both quickly looked away.

She reached over, grabbed her pillu  and hugged it close. "Now you also got the bed," she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Don’t throw my pillu like always."

Abhimanyu shot a glare at the innocent plush toy, feeling like it was a third wheel in a situation that should have been theirs alone. "You know, I finally got the chance to sleep on the bed with my wife, and there’s that thing," he grumbled under his breath, glaring at the soft toy.

Aarushi rolled over, her back to him, a smirk dancing on her lips. Abhimanyu couldn’t help but reach out, his fingers playing with the strands of her hair.

Minutes passed in silence until he propped himself up on one elbow, looking at her. She was peaceful, her breathing even, the plushie nestled against her.

He couldn’t resist reaching for it, slowly pulling it from her grip and tossing it aside onto the couch. "Ab ja tu udhar ja ker so"  he said, laying back down.

After few minutes Aarushi turned, placing her hand on his chest, her touch gentle yet possessive. Abhimanyu looked at her, his heart swelling with a feeling of peace and contentment. He closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips.

The next morning ~

The next morning, the world outside was waking up with soft sunlight spilling into their room. Aarushi stirred slightly, stretching her limbs but quickly realizing something was holding her tightly.

Groggy, she opened her eyes to find Abhimanyu nestled against her, his face pressed into her chest, mouth forming a small pout.

A wave of warmth washed over her, and goosebumps prickled her skin. "He looks so cute" she thought, her heart fluttering. She raised a hand, brushing some hair from his forehead, her fingers lingering for a moment.

As she glanced around the room, her eyes fell on her plushie , unceremoniously tossed on the couch.

A sigh escaped her lips as she thought of the plush toy’s unfortunate fate. "Kya karu mai inka "she murmured, looking down at the man who was sleeping soundly beside her, oblivious to the world.

"Good morning" she whispered, unable to resist the urge to tease him.

Abhimanyu stirred, a low hum escaping him, his eyes still closed. "Mmm"he mumbled, pressing closer to her warmth.

"So rahe ho" she asked again, her voice playful yet soft. He merely hummed in response, burrowing into her chest like a contented child.

Aarushi chuckled lightly, her heart swelling with affection. "Bade aaram se so rahe ho" she teased, noting how peaceful he looked, a stark contrast to the energy he usually exuded.

"Mmhmm,"he replied.

Aarushi poke her tongue in her cheeks. "Aaj bhi yaad se pillu ko phek diya na " she asked sweetly, her voice dripping with mocking tone

"Mmhmm," he mumbled, his grip tightening around her waist as he sought to hold onto her.

She released a deep breath, feeling utterly enchanted by his sleepy demeanor. " You are such a good boy .Itne ache kam kaise ker lete ho" she cooed in an extra sweet voice dripping with sarcasm,brushing her fingers through his hair.

A grin broke across Abhimanyu’s face, still half-asleep. He hugged her tightly, murmuring something unintelligible.

She pinched him on the arm, and he groaned, blinking his eyes open to meet her gaze. "What" he asked, his voice hoarse and thick with sleep.

"Good morning," she s,aid giving himtight-lippedped smile "Good morning " he replied, stretching his arms above his head. "Wait…" His gaze darted to the clock, eyes widening with shock. "It’s already seven o’clock?"

Aarushi nodded, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "Get up. You’re going to be late!"

He rubbed his eyes, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "I can’t believe I slept this late after all this time," he mumbled, a hint of disbelief coloring his tone.

Aarushi went to the couch and placed her plushie on the bed passing him a playful glare and headed toward the washroom, leaving Abhimanyu to process the warmth of the moment they had shared.

He smiled softly to himself, his heart full as he watched her retreating figure.He also finally slept peacefully after all those years. " Kitni mast subh hai " he mumbled again laying down on the bed.

He picked up the plushie and looked at it upside down, from all the directions and said " Isme aise kya hai ki , jo meri biwi mere se jyada isse chipki rahti hai "

He sat down and smelled that toy.  "Why is he smelling like my wife" he said in a possessive tone and tightly clutched the poor plushie. He raised his hand again to throw him but stopped when he noticed aarushi standing at the bathroom door, glaring at him.

He gulped and smiled nervously and stood up from the bed , placing her pillu carefully on the bed.

Aarushi stepped aside from the bathroom door still glaring at him. He silently went inside the bathroom. As he closed the door, a smile came on her face. She shook her head at his acts.

After some time ~

Abhimanyu stood behind Aarushi, his gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow around her, accentuating the delicate features of her face.

(His outfit)

(Her outfit)

Her hair fell in gentle waves, framing her smile as she applied the final touches of makeup.He couldn’t help but marvel at the effortless beauty that seemed to surround her.

"How can my wife look beautiful in everything?" he asked, his voice a low murmur, almost a whisper.

Aarushi turned to face him, her smile widening as she raised an eyebrow. "It’s a secret you want to know?"

He nodded, leaning in slightly, his curiosity piqued.

With a playful glint in her eyes, she moved closer, her breath warm against his ear. "Because I am Abhimanyu Rathore's wife."

A soft chuckle escaped him. "That’s a big secret."

Aarushi grinned, the corners of her lips turning up mischievously. She reached for the tie in his hands, her fingers brushing against his skin as she took it from him.

As she began to adjust the tie around his neck, Abhimanyu placed his hands on her waist, pulling her a bit closer. He gazed at her, lost in the moment, feeling the warmth radiating from her body.

A contented sigh escaped his lips; it felt as if he was truly living for the first time in years. It felt really good...more than good. He couldn't believe she was real , a gift he didn't deserve ,yet one he'd cherish till his last breath.

"There " she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Not bad"she muttered, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction as she straightened his coat.

Abhimanyu watched as she took a step back, her expression a mix of pride and mischief."I had such a remarkable wife." He said smiling a little.

She laughed lightly, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Rathore"

With their banter still echoing in the air, they made their way down the grand staircase. As they entered the dining room, the smell of breakfast filled the air, a warm and inviting scent that spoke of home. They also joined everyone and started having their breakfast.

After some times Aaryan, sat at the table, an amused smile plastered on his face. "Bhai, you missed today’s gym. What’s going on with you?"He asked in a teasing tone.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Abhimanyu with a hint of curiosity. He was known for his strict adherence to his schedule, always the disciplined one.

Abhimanyu glared at Aaryan, irritation flickering in his eyes. "I’ll tell you personally in my cabin. Meet me first when you reach the office." He stood, finishing his breakfast with a decisive clatter of his utensils.

"Tu kyu chup nahi rah sakta , hamesha apne sir per musibat le leta hai pagal kahi ka " Vivaan said shaking his head at his sulking face.

"Abe yrr mere se raha nahi jata, or waise bhi vo bhi to chup chap jawab de dete " he said and looked at Aarushi with hopeful eyes.

As Aarushi finished her meal, she stepped outside, noticing Abhimanyu leaning against her car, his phone pressed to his ear. The sight made her heart swell. She smiled and approached him, her footsteps light on the gravel path.

He glanced up, spotting her, and immediately ended the call, a slight frown replacing his earlier amusement. "Don’t scold Aaryan," she said teasingly.

"I never scold anyone," he countered, his scowl deepening. Aarushi rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes. And I am the Prime Minister, right?"

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite himself.

After a brief pause, Aarushi’s expression shifted. "By the way, did you talk to Kabir? He hadn’t bothered me until yesterday." She asked as she was little curious how Abhimanyu handled him.

Abhimanyu nodded, his demeanor turning serious "Maine usse aaram se samjha Diya. Now he will never  disturb you"

Aarushi frowned, curiosity knitting her brows. "He listened to you, but I kept saying no, and he didn’t listen to me" The bitterness in her voice was palpable, the mere mention of Kabir’s name bringing a wave of frustration.

He reached out, caressing her hand gently. "Don’t put pressure on your little brain,baby" he said softly. "Or kaise nahi samjhata vo, usko pahle nahi pata tha na aapke patidev kon hai "

Aarushi lifted her chin defiantly. "First of all, I have a big brain. And second, what if he tells anyone that I am your wife?"

"Don’t worry," Abhimanyu reassured her, his grip tightening around her hand. "I handled everything. You trust me, right?"

She looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, but all she found was sincerity. Nodding, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace. "I do"

With a lingering sigh, she pulled back, their hands still intertwined. "I guess I should get going then," she said, her voice slightly softer.

"Be careful and Let me know if something bother you” he said, his tone shifting to one of concern. Aarushi chuckled, her heart warming at his protectiveness. "I will. You take care of your gym schedule, Mr. Rathore."

The school corridors buzzed with the usual chaos of students rushing to their next classes, but I felt a rush of relief as I exited the restroom after what always seemed like an eternity during my period.

I glanced at my watch, realizing I had just enough time to head to the staff room before the next bell rang. As I walked, my mind drifted to the grading I needed to finish.

"Aarushi" Priya's voice broke through the din, and I turned to see her hurrying towards me, her brows furrowed in a frown that looked out of place on her usually cheerful face.

"Hey, what’s up?" I greeted her, matching her pace.

"You wouldn’t believe it," she said, shaking her head as if trying to physically rid herself of the stress. "Exams are starting in two days, and half of my class isn’t prepared at all! They’re skipping the extra classes like they’re going out of style."

I nodded, understanding the frustration in her tone. "Every class has those students, Priya. It’s not like they just started slacking off now. They should have been serious about their studies by now."I paused to catch my breath. "Maybe talking to their parents could help?"

Priya sighed dramatically. “I did just that. I called their parents earlier, and they’re supposed to come in sometime today. I hope they actually show up."

We entered the staff room, where the aroma of snacks wafted through the air. I caught sight of Mrs. Ahuja, already settled in her chair, munching on what looked like a packet of chips while scribbling in her register.

I greeted her, but she simply waved us off, her attention fully absorbed in whatever she was doing.

"Wow, she’s in a great mood like always," I muttered under my breath as Priya and I exchanged a glance, then silently poked our tongues out at her from behind. It was our little rebellion against her strict demeanor.

Finding our seats, we got to work, but Priya was clearly not done venting. "You still haven’t shown me those wedding pictures. What are you hiding? I want to see how my jiju looks"

I halted mid-sentence, my heart skipping a beat. Not this topic again. "I’ll show you later. I’m busy right now. Besides, I already shared some with you. Forget about your jiju—he’s camera shy."

Mrs. Ahuja looked up, smirking. "Aarushi, why are you keeping your husband’s pictures a secret? It’s not like he’s the king or the prime minister."

I shot her a tight-lipped smile, forcing down irritation. Why was she so eager to know about my husband?Apne kam se kam nahi rakh sakti

"It’s my wish, Mrs. Ahuja. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression teasing. "Or maybe your husband is so bad-looking that you’re afraid to show us?"

I mumbled under my breath, "Huh, my husband and ugly? She’ll never see someone as handsome as my husband."

I plastered on a smile for Mrs. Ahuja. "Please, don’t call my husband ugly. It’s my choice not to share his picture for a reason."

Rolling her eyes, Mrs. Ahuja returned to her register, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Turning to Priya, I leaned in. "I promise I’ll tell you who my husband is when the time is right. Just trust me."

"Okay, fine," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But at least tell me—how handsome is my jiju?"

I couldn’t help but smile a little at the thought of Abhimanyu. “I don't want to brag, but he’s super duper handsome. Pata nahi aisa kya kya kha ker paida kiya hoga.”

"Ohooo" Priya teased, wiggling her eyebrows as if she had just uncovered a great secret. Just as I opened my mouth to retort, the bell rang loudly, cutting off our banter.

Priya grabbed her bag and shot me a thumbs-up before darting out. I stayed behind, knowing I had a free period to catch up on grading on project files.

Settling into the familiar chaos of papers and pens, I pushed thoughts of Priya’s relentless teasing aside. The silence enveloped me, interrupted only by the scratching of pens and the occasional crinkle of paper.

My phone buzzed on the desk, and I glanced down to see the name "Bad Man" flashing across the screen. My heart raced a little–he always managed to do that to me.

I looked around the empty staff room before picking up the phone. "Jaan" he greeted me, the warmth in his voice sending a shiver of delight down my spine."What are you doing"

I hummed in response, feeling a smile tug at my lips. "Just some work in the staff room. What about you?"

"Just finished up with a meeting. I was wondering what you were up to" he replied, a hint of hesitation creeping into his tone.

"Hmm…" I prodded gently, "you sound like you want to say something."

He sighed, and I could almost picture him running a hand through his hair. "Let’s go out for dinner tonight."

I grinned, feeling giddy at the invitation but thought to tease him."Who’s going?"

"Just us. You and me,alone" he said, a light chuckle escaping him.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress my excitement. "Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Rathore?"

"Am I?" He chuckled again, the sound rich and inviting. "Well, yes."

"Then you should ask properly.Then I will think if you had a chance of a date with me " I teased, feeling my heart flutter. I could almost feel the warmth of his smile through the phone.

"Mrs. Aarushi Abhimanyu Rathore, I’d be honored if you’d allow me to take you out to dinner date ?" he asked, his voice dropping to a playful tone.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach, making it difficult to respond immediately. After a moment, I managed, "Chalo aapko diya moka  aap bhi kya yaad rakhoge Mr Rathore"

" Great, I’ll pick you up around seven,"  he said, excitement bubbling in his voice.

"Okay," I murmured, feeling a soft blush creep across my cheeks. "Bye."

"Bye baby"  His voice lingered as I hung up, and I couldn’t help but smile like a love-struck fool.

With dinner plan lined up, my mind raced with thoughts of him and how the evening would unfold. I returned to my grading, but even the papers could do little to distract me from the buzz in my chest. Each tick of the clock seemed to stretch the anticipation, my heart dancing in time with the seconds.

____________________________________________________________________________

Abhimanyu and Aarushi being all romantic romantic 💗

Next update on 17 feb....

I am not giving any target because currently I am little busy with my studies.....

Thank you everyone

Love you 💌