We were wandering through the bustling streets of Mussoorie, exploring the local shops.
But I found myself completely captivated by my Sunflower. Every time she stopped to admire something, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
When we reached a small cutlery shop, her eyes sparkled with such excitement, it took everything in me not to buy the entire store right then and there, just to see her smile.
Everyone was scattered around, lost in different local shops, when my eyes fell on a small, humble stall tucked away in a corner.
A local old woman sat there quietly, her wrinkled hands arranging delicate silver toe rings on a cloth spread out before her.
There was something simple yet beautiful about the way she carefully displayed her work.
I slowly made my way to the shop, the soft clinking of silver catching my attention as I approached. My fingers gently grazed over the array of items on display, each one simple yet intricate in its own way.
Then, my eyes landed on a beautiful pair of toe rings—delicately crafted, with tiny, intricate patterns that seemed to hold a quiet elegance.
Something about them just felt right, as if they were meant to be hers—my Sunflower!
Without a second thought, I purchased the toe rings, slipping them carefully into my pocket as if they held a secret meant only for her.
“Kiske liye le rahe ho, beta?” The old woman asked me.
“Umm…meri biwi ke liye!” I replied coyly.
“Bahut achi lagegi tumhari biwi par ye!” She commented while I was paying her the amount.
“Haan! Uss par sab acha lagta hai!” I replied and thanked her.
With a sense of excitement bubbling inside me, I made my way back to her, eager to see her again.
Reya was busy buying so many things, her arms full of little treasures, but I was completely lost in her.
Watching the way her eyes lit up with each new find, her laughter echoing softly through the busy streets—it was like nothing else mattered.
Not the shops, not the people, just her.
After some time, I finally spotted her alone in a small shop, away from the rest of our family, who were busy browsing elsewhere.
It was the perfect chance to steal a quiet, romantic moment with her. I slipped in behind her, gently wrapping my arms around her waist.
She jumped slightly, startled at first, “You scared me, idiot!” she whispered, but then relaxed as soon as she realized it was me.
A soft smile crept onto her face as she leaned back into my arms, the warmth between us growing, turning that small, crowded shop into our own little world.
I leaned in closer, my voice low as I whispered, “Chal na Sunflower, abhi shaadi kar lete hai!”
Her eyes widened in surprise, but before she could say anything, I added, "It's getting harder to stay away from you."
“Have a little patience, Captain Kashyap!” she said smiling. I shook my face, dipping it in the crook of her neck.
“This patience is literally killing me!” I whispered over her skin.
“Bacha mat ban Kashyap. Let me go, koi dekh lega!” She giggled in my arms.
“Main thodi bacha ban raha hu, bache to hum milke banaenge!” I whispered, nibbling over her neck making her push me away.
“Shut up, idiot!” she glared at me.
Before she could do anything more, I gently led her to sit on the small wooden stool.
Her brows furrowed in curiosity. Kneeling before her, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the delicate toe rings. Her eyes widened as she saw them.
"What's this?" she asked, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
I grinned, taking her foot into my hand. "A little something for my biwi" I said.
Her bare feet rested on my lap, and I was ready to slide the ring onto her toe, a simple gesture of affection. But just as I reached out, she pulled her legs away, her expression suddenly serious.
“I can’t wear this before marriage, Vayu!” she said softly, her voice hesitant but firm.
I paused, caught off guard. “What?”
She shrugged slightly, her eyes dropping to the floor. “It's a tradition!”
I took a breath, nodding. "Okay. I respect that."
I set the ring aside, but something in me stirred, a feeling I couldn’t quite shake.
As I stood up, my eyes wandered over her, taking in the delicate details of her face, her expression, until my gaze landed on the small pin holding her dupatta in place at her shoulder.
Without thinking, I reached for it, unpinning the fabric.
She looked up, surprised, but didn’t stop me. I held the pin between my fingers, staring at it for a moment.
Then, in an impulsive move, I pricked my thumb with the sharp end. Blood immediately welled up, a small drop of red that seemed to pulse in the silence between us.
“Pagal ho gaya hai kya, kya kar raha hai?” she asked, her eyes widening pulling my hand in hers.
I didn’t respond.
Instead, I leaned forward, pulling back my hand and with the blood still fresh on my thumb, I gently pressed it into the partition of her hair, staining it with red.
She froze, her breath catching as she realized what I had done.
"You're married now," I whispered, my voice low and steady. "To me."
Her hand instinctively went to her hair, touching the blood at the part.
Her lips parted in disbelief, but she didn’t pull away, didn’t protest. Instead, she looked at me, her eyes shimmering with something I couldn’t quite name—shock, awe, something deeper.
Before she could say a word, I knelt down again.
This time, with no hesitation, I picked up the toe ring and gently slid it onto her toe. She didn’t stop me, her eyes fixed on mine, as if waiting for the next breath to speak but finding no words.
I looked up at her, smiling softly. "Now, it's done," I said.
She stared at me, her breath shaky, eyes wide with disbelief, and something deeper—something that lingered between us.
"Did you just..." She stopped, as if the words were too heavy to finish.
"Yes," I whispered, still kneeling in front of her, my gaze never leaving hers. "I couldn’t wait any longer, Sunflower! You’re mine now... in every way that matters."
For a moment, she just sat there, silent, processing what had just happened. Then, a soft smile spread across her lips, hesitant but filled with a warmth that made my chest tighten.
She leaned forward, her fingers gently brushing my cheek.
"You’re crazy," she whispered, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
I took her hand in mine, feeling the soft warmth of her touch. "I couldn’t let this moment slip by. I didn’t need a ceremony or witnesses. It’s you and me. Right here, right now."
Her smile deepened, she lowered her gaze, looking at the toe ring I had placed on her. “So... does this mean we’re really...?”
I nodded. “We are. I’ve claimed you, and you’ve claimed me, even if you didn’t say it.”
Her laughter was soft, tender, as she looked back up at me. “You're unbelievable, Kashyap!”
I pulled her closer, resting my forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her skin. "And you're irresistible!”
As we sat there, still lost in the weight of what had just happened, my gaze drifted down to the toe ring glistening against my skin.
I wanted to tell Vayu everything. I wanted to tell him right then and there that I was carrying his child—that we were not just bound by this unspoken vow but by something much deeper, growing inside me.
I looked at him, my lips parting as the words teetered on the edge of my tongue. "I—" I started, my heart racing.
But before I could say it, we both heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
Instinctively, we pulled away from each other, our connection suddenly interrupted by the reality around us.
I quickly slipped my feet back into my juttis. Luckily, the juttis hid the toe ring well enough.
I straightened myself, glancing toward the door. He gave me one last, lingering look, his eyes silently asking me what I was going to say before we were interrupted.
I just smiled softly, promising myself I’d tell him soon—when the moment was ours again.
But for now, our secret would stay with me, hidden beneath the delicate fabric.
Just as we were about to leave, my heart was still racing. The weight of everything—his words, the toe ring hidden beneath my juttis, the secret I carried—it all bubbled up inside me.
I glanced around, making sure the footsteps had passed, and before either of us could think twice, I reached for him.
In one swift motion, I leaned in and pecked his lips, my heart pounding with urgency. It was quick, soft, but full of everything I couldn’t say.
His eyes widened in surprise, and before he could react, I pulled away, my face flushed with excitement and nerves.
Without a word, I turned and ran outside, the warmth of the moment still tingling on my lips. I glanced back coyly, catching a glimpse of his stunned yet amused expression.
His fingers touched his lips as if trying to understand what had just happened.
I gave him a playful, almost teasing smile before disappearing out the door, feeling lighter, my heart full.
I slowed my steps as I approached Navi, trying to steady my breath and calm the rush of emotions swirling inside me.
“Bhabhi let's go back!” she asked, her voice light and casual.
I nodded, forcing myself to act as if nothing had happened. “Yeah, let’s head back.”
As we walked together, the cool evening air began to settle around us. My mind, however, was still racing—flashing back to that brief kiss, the feel of the toe ring hidden beneath my juttis.
I smiled softly to myself as we stepped inside the cottage. As we gathered around the dinner table, the air filled with laughter.
Our parents exchanged stories of our childhood, and every now and then.
The table erupted in laughter, the mood light and cheerful. It felt like a perfect evening with the lingering warmth between me and Vayu, something only he and I could feel, hidden beneath the laughter and stories.
After dinner, everyone began to rise from the table, while I was still feeding on my favorite sweet.
“I’ll be sharing the room with you bhabhi,” Navi said casually.
“Obviously you are!” I said, smiling at her.
Just as the words left my mouth, I felt a sharp stomp on my foot from under the table.
I gasped quietly and looked up in surprise to see Vayu staring at me, his eyes wide with mock frustration.
“Ye galat hai Sunflower!” he whispered, his eyes seemed to say as he subtly raised his brows.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh, and glanced away, pretending to ignore him.
He wasn’t letting it go, though. I felt another gentle nudge under the table, this time his foot sliding against mine, almost teasing.
"Can't you wait for two days? We're getting married in the next 48 hours, Vayu!" I whispered, shooting him a glance across the table, narrowing my eyes in playful warning.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice low so only I could hear. “First thing, we're already married. And secondly I can't sleep alone!”
I shot back with a quick whisper, “Stop acting like a child, Kashyap!”
He shrugged, eyes gleaming. “I don't know, I will sleep with you!”
I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile. “Okay, tell this to Navi. Deal with your sister on your own!”
Before he could reply, Navi walked up beside me and looped her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s head upstairs,” she said brightly.
I glanced at him one last time, his eyes locking with mine, silently pleading. But all I could do was give him a playful shrug as I was whisked away.
As we walked toward the room, I couldn’t help but feel the tug of his gaze still on me, and I knew he wouldn’t let me off that easily.
Entering the room, I let out a soft sigh, feeling the day's events settle in. I slipped into a loose kurta, feeling the soft fabric against my skin, and climbed under the duvet as the night grew colder.
Navi plopped down on the bed beside me, stretching her legs. She snuggled under her own blanket and yawned.
Sleep soon began to creep over me, the warmth of the duvet and the stillness of the night wrapping around me like a cocoon.
As I nestled deeper into the blankets, the room fell completely silent, and slowly, sleep engulfed me, pulling me into its peaceful embrace.
…….
I stirred in my sleep when I felt a weight pressed gently across my waist. I blinked slowly, trying to make sense of the sensation, my heart picking up its pace.
In the dim light of the room, I shifted slightly, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. The weight was familiar, warm, and as I turned my head, I felt a gentle tug—a presence beside me.
Vayu!
His arm, draped across my waist, held me close, his warmth seeping through the layers of the duvet.
As I blinked through the haze of sleep, something felt unfamiliar—this wasn’t the same room where I had drifted off to sleep.
The soft glow from the window cast a faint light across the space. The room was quieter, more intimate, and suddenly I realized where I was.
I was in his room.
His eyes were closed, his breathing soft and steady, as if he had been lying there for hours. A smile tugged at my lips, a quiet sense of comfort washing over me.
His presence was soothing, his arm around me grounding in a way that made me feel safe, like he belonged there.
Just then, he stirred, shifting slightly under the duvet.
His eyes fluttered open, and before I could say a word, his lips were on mine. The kiss was unexpected, leaving me breathless and completely caught off guard.
His warmth enveloped me, and for a moment, all thoughts slipped away, replaced by the dizzying sensation of him so close.
When we finally pulled apart, I gasped softly, trying to regain my composure. “How... how did I end up here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, still reeling from the kiss.
He just looked at me with that familiar, mischievous smirk.
“I brought you here,” he said casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I blinked in surprise. “You brought me here?” My voice rose slightly, startled by his confession.
“Haan, aur kaun laayega!” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Aur kisi ne dekh liya hota to?” I asked keeping my hands on his shoulder.
“To kya? Ab apni biwi ko le jaa bhi nahi sakta!” He replied casually, making me laugh hard.
I giggled softly in his arms, feeling the warmth of his embrace as he held me close.
His hand gently rested over my stomach, and suddenly, something shifted inside me—an indescribable connection, a flutter that made my heart swell with emotion.
For a brief moment, I closed my eyes, placing my hand over his, feeling the life growing inside me.
My thoughts whispered in a secret dialogue to the tiny being within me, "He's your father, baby. The man who will love and protect us both."
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