Published on 30th September 2021.

_______________________________

50K reads!!

Thanks a lot.

,

Happy reading!

♡ And I wanna get drunk with you

When we lie so still, but you're taking me places

Holding me onto you

And we don't care who's watching us, baby ♡

– S H R U T I –

As the alarm rang, I opened my eyes and yawned— the result of a good sleep. A relaxing sleep is the only thing I live for. Okay, I take my words back. There are many more things valuable to me.

I leaned up and saw Rishabh's lip tugged up in a smile. Waving my hands infront of his face, I waited and when he didn't budge, I sighed. He was still sleeping!

Switching the alarm off, I lied back on the mattress and closed my eyes. "Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy Birthday-"

Wait!

It's Rishabh's birthday too.

I backed my hands off his chest and removed his leg which was over mine. Without disturbing his sleep, I walked to the bathroom and sat on the toilet.

I still couldn't believe that he woke up in the midnight, just to surprise me. I guess, it would've been better if I wasn't drowning in half-sleep when he did everything. I wanted to visit Mauritius from a long time, and God knows how he came to know about it.

Taking a warm bath —which was absolutely necessary on the first day of December— I changed into formals and walked out. I stepped towards the mirror and brushed my hairs while calling him out. "Rishabh! It's seven thirty. Get up."

I heard him groaning as I applied lip color on my lips. I again called his name, but this time louder. "I'm up. Good morning."

"Good morning. Go and have a bath. Ma would be waiting for us." I spoke while applying vermilion in my partition. I huffed when my gaze went towards a strand of hairs which was flowing away from rest of it's companions. Oh God! That's the reason I hate dressing up.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. You won't understand." I sighed in frustration and opened my hairs to start from the beginning.

"I can, if you tell me."

"Grow your hairs, tie them up, wear this mangalsutra and these bangles all through the day, apply makeup as a newly-wed bride should, and you'll now what I mean to say." I said and he opened his mouth to say something, but stopped abruptly.

"Okay. Do you need my help?"

"No. I'll manage it. By the time, go and get ready. Ma would be waiting for us." He nodded and I turned towards the mirror to concentrate on my hairs. Making myself presentable, I walked out and saw ma and papa bustling around the house. As she saw me, she sighed and walked towards me.

"Where is Rishi?"

"He's bathing."

"It's getting late for puja. This child won't ever be early!" She complained and I frowned. Child? Only if she knew that her child knows a lot of things a kid won't ever do and is notorious as anything! "Go and call him. I can't trust him with time." She told me and walked away for the preparations of puja.

What happened to the punctual Rishi who can't waste a single second?

Wait!

It's Rishabh who cares about the time, not Rishi.

The Rishi I know is like a bestfriend with whom I can do crazy things and can stay comfortably. The Rishabh I know is the perfect husband with whom I can share anything I want to, without fearing that he'd judge me.

Too much in a package!

I walked back to our room and knocked the door of bathroom. "I'm in the closet." I heard his voice and stepped towards the entrance of closet. Just when I was about to enter, I saw him selecting his shirt while standing in a towel. Just a towel in December!

Doesn't he feel cold?

"I'm sorry." I said and was about to turn back but his words stopped me.

"Stay! Don't move and look at me." He said and I widened my eyes. Has he hit his head on a wall? "There's nothing to be shy about. Keep your eyes on me." He pulled his towel off his body and I instantly closed my eyes.

I guess my husband has gone crazy!

I wanted to see him naked —blame the menstrual hormones not me— but I kept my eyes closed because of my conscience, which clearly told me not to take advantage of situation. Having enough of control, I opened my eyes saw him buttoning his pants up. Seeing the way his muscles moved, I felt my mouth watering and my throat drying.

Too hot to handle!

It's not that I haven't seen or touched him. I had. But one time can't compensate for another. I wanted to touch him again.

I'm going mad!

Mental asylum is not too far.

Shut up!

"Ma was calling you." I spoke when he was ready from head to toe. He nodded and pecked my head before holding my hands to walk out. As we went out, I saw ma looking angrily towards us. I'm gone!

"I can't expect anything from Rishi. But Shruti, you? I told you to call him, not to stay inside with him." She said and heard the man standing beside me chuckling.

"Ma... I..." I tried to find an excuse but nothing came in mind. "Subh muhurat is going to be over in an hour. Let's go." I mumbled and ran away, without waiting for her to scold me again. (Auspicious moment)

✨

"Thanks a lot for the wishes Akriti. Where are you?"

"Just returning from a school."

"You're going to study again?"

"What will I do in school, Shruti? I'm here for admission processes for Adit."

Time goes by so quickly!

Adit would be going to school in a few months.

"Oh! Akriti, I... actually..... Before being your sister, I'm your bestfriend. So, tell me honestly. What actually happened between you and Yash four years ago? You didn't even pick my phone when I called you yesterday."

"I was busy with work. And, as for your question, I'll explain everything to you later."

"Does your later ever come?"

"Yes, it will. Don't stress much and relax. It's your special day."

"You're pretty good in dodging the topic. Anyways. I need your suggestion. Rishabh surprised me with our honeymoon tickets to Mauritius. Me being a fool still doesn't know what to gift to him."

"You're right. You are a fool. Wait, did I hear it right? You're going on your honeymoon?" She asked and I hummed. "You actually need to give him something big."

"Yeah, I know. I mean something personal between us, which he would love without any doubt."

"Personal? Why don't you buy some sexy lingerie new in the market? Men do like it." She said and I widened my eyes.

"Lingerie for Rishabh?! You aren't joking, are you? He won't look good in it." I mumbled as I imagined Rishabh wearing something like that and heard her laughing from the other side.

He actually won't look good in it!

"Tell me you're joking. You can't be thinking that." She asked while laughing and I answered in negative. "Really? Where are your senses girl? Why would he wear it? It's for you."

"Me? Don't be silly Akriti! I won't wear it. I'm on my periods."

"You mean to say that you would've surely wore it if the situation was good?"

NO!

How could I even wear such things infront of him when we've had sex only for two times? Just twice! After that, my menses started.

"Akriti! I'm keeping the phone. Bye." I said and cut the call. Akriti never leaves a chance to tease me in such matters! I turned around with my chair to Aditi and asked her, "Aditi, do you have something in mind?"

"Something memorable, right?" She asked and I hummed. "How about gifting him a cologne? He could carry the smell with him everytime." She said and I nodded. "I know a place where you can have your custom cologne. I'm sending you the address. Go and have it."

✨

"Happy Birthday!" I widened my eyes as Radhika stuffed my mouth with a large piece of cake. Although she was not pregnant anymore, she carried the craziness with her. Post-pregnancy symptoms I guess! She turned around when she felt Rishabh sliding off the couch. "Bhai? Where are you running off to? You need to eat a bite. It's your cake too."

"I've already had it. Don't worry." He gave her a tight-lipped smile and she narrowed her eyes. Picking a giant piece of the red-velvet cake, she walked towards Rishabh and made him eat it.

"You don't get to skip your birthday cake." She mumbled and Ansh chuckled.

"I get to experience this everyday." He said and Radhika glared at him. "And I love it. I absolutely love it."

I didn't like the red-velvet cake at all. People say that chocolate flavour is the best and it always stays at the top. But not for me. I don't like this flavour a bit. For me, butterscotch is everything.

Having our dinner, we retired back to our places. I sat on the bed after using the toilet and sighed as the soft mattress touched my bottom. This entire day was tiring. When I felt two arms touching my shoulders, I jerked up and opened my eyes. I turned my head around and saw Rishabh sitting behind me while his hands were on my shoulders, busy in pressing my muscles.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh... Be quiet." He said and I nodded, "Aren't your muscles aching?"

"They are. But, you don't need to do this. You yourself are tired too."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me and think about yourself. I don't want a wife who's lethargic and can't do a work properly." He said and I narrowed my eyes. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as his hands did wonder on my shoulder muscles.

It felt so good!

The massage he did relaxed all the muscles of my upper back and I felt him trying to withdraw his hand back. He must've been tired too! I shifted forward to free myself from his hold and turned back to him. I was about to get up to do the same to him but he stopped me. "I'm sleepy. You should sleep too."

"But-"

"No buts. Let's sleep." He said in a matter-of-fact voice and I hummed. I lied down beside him and as my head hit the mattress, I yawned, ready to slip into sleep.

✨

Ring.

Ring...

Ring.....

Who the hell is that?

I opened my eyes and looked towards the bedside table to see my phone. Seeing the caller ID of Akriti, I picked the call up. What does she want to do at this time?

"What happened Akriti?"

"Nothing."

"Why did you call me? I was sleeping."

"I thought that you'd be awake. I was busy with some work and wanted to talk to someone."

"It's eleven Akriti. Can I sleep?"

"Hmm. Go. Bye."

I kept the phone away and lied back on the bed, trying to sleep but it was far away from. I thought I could fall asleep if I gaze the ceiling for a long time. But it didn't happen. I turned around and saw Rishabh sleeping peacefully.

Should I wake him up?

No.

I think I should.

Going with my morals, I let him sleep. I walked out to the kitchen to have something to munch upon. Filling a bowl with classic salty flavoured chips, I came back to our room and sat on the bed before switching the TV on.

Watching a mystery genre movie at night isn't bad!

"Shruti! What are you doing?" When I heard Rishabh groaning, I muted the volume of TV. He rubbed his eyes while adjusting to the lights of room and got up.

"I couldn't sleep." I mumbled and forwarded the bowl to him, "Do you want to have some?" He looked at me with disbelief and snatched the remote from my hand, switching the television off.

Relieving a sigh out, he leaned his back on the headrest and closed his eyes. "I can't sleep. Do you want to go out with me?" He flickered his eyes open and asked.

"Now? It's cold out there."

"We're not going naked." He said and I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it when I had nothing in mind.

Naked?

"Okay." I said and finished each and every piece of chips left in the bowl before going to the closet to fetch my sweaters. Pulling the band out of my hairs, I brushed them with my fingers and tied them back properly. When I turned back, I was startled by Rishabh who stood just behind me. "Rishabh! What are you doing?"

"Umm... Shruti, tell me honestly. You..."

"I?"

"Am I not getting any gift from you? I mean it's okay if there isn't one-" He said and I widened my eyes. Did I really forget to give him his birthday present? How could I be so careless?!

"Wait!" I ran towards the cupboard and brought the gifts I got for him. Walking back to him with the box and cologne in my hands, I saw him smiling as he eyed the presents. Anyone's mood would lighten up just after thinking about surprises. He and I are no exceptions.

I handed him the box and he opened it without waiting for a second. As the shine of glass struck his eyes, his lips twitched up in a smile. "How do you know I wanted this?"

"I saw your watch collection."

He kept the watch with other ones in his collection and raised his eyebrows while looking towards the flacon in my hand. I handed him the cologne and asked him to smell it. I was scared as I made it and I'm no professional.

Let's say, I liked the smell.

What if he doesn't like it?

He sprayed it on his wrist and smelt the fragrance. I kept looking at his face to know his expression and mood, which remained blank. Didn't he like it?

"Isn't it good?"

"What are the essences used?"

"I don't know." I said and he looked at me with shock, "I used it without seeing the names."

"You're sure I can use it? I mean, it won't react on my skin?"

"No, it won't. I promise." I said and he laughed.

"I'm joking. It smells great. Actually amazing. Can I get another bottle?"

"Umm... Sure. The fragrance would vary as I don't remember the ingredients."

"That's fine." He smiled, "Let's leave." I nodded and wore my sweaters. Just when I was about to step in the room, he pulled me back and placed a woollen cap over my head. He had a scarf in his hand which he kept around my neck.

"What are you doing?"

"You'll catch cold." He said as he tied the scarf in front.

"And what about you?" I said and he pulled a monkey cap out of his cupboard. Monkey cap? "You're going to wear that?" I asked and he nodded. "No. I'm disowning you if you do that." He started laughing and I raised my eyebrows in question.

"Just joking. I'm not gonna wear this." He spoke as he kept it back in the cupboard and pulled his hoodie out. He wore the jacket and said, "Let's go." This time I stopped him and tied a scarf around his neck.

"Let's go now." I said and he smiled as we walked out of home. As we walked ahead on the road, cool wind struck my face and I pulled my cap down to cover my ears. While rubbing my hands to produce heat, I heard Rishabh saying something.

"Cold?"

"Very much."

He clasped his hand with mine and kept our hand inside the pocket of his jacket. I moved closer to him as we walked and I felt him drawing patterns on the back of my hand.

"Shruti."

"Hmm?"

"You really want to go to Mauritius, right? I mean, we can change the destination if you want to."

"No, there's no need. Delhi's winter in not at all bearable and I really want to escape it." I said and he nodded. "Well, do you like the gift? There's no need to lie if you didn't."

"I liked the watch and I loved the cologne. Anything more to say to make you believe?" He asked and I nodded my head in negative. When I felt his steps halting, I stopped and turned my head towards him.

"What happened?" He shook his head in negative and placed a light kiss on my lips. I widened my eyes and immediately pulled away from him. "What are you doing? We're on streets." I whisper yelled at him and saw him smiling. "Why are you smiling?"

"You're my wife and I'm not doing any crime."

"What if someone sees us like this?"

"No-one sane would be roaming around the streets at midnight in winters." He said and I chuckled. He looked down towards his wrist watch and sighed, "Just thirty seconds are left for our special day to get over. Happy Birthday to us once ag-"

Before he could complete what he was saying, I stood on my toes, held his face in my hands and placed my lips on his. In an instant, his hand went around my back while the other one cupped my butt.

"Happy Birthday Rishi." I mumbled as we pulled back to catch some breath.

"Ri..." He widened his eyes at me and smiled, "You called me Rishi, right?"

I'm such a—

"No, I didn't."

"You just did."

"I didn't."

"You did."

"No."

"Yes." He said and broke into laughter, and I joined him too.