With my heart in my throat, I step out of the elevator. My eyes meet with Hood who's capturing Coco and Oreo —he uses my dogs to get women in his bed— I'd stand up for the little fuckers but since they barely look at me these days, I give no fucks. They should be grateful I'm not putting them up for adoption for this step-father treatment with me. Let me deal with their mom and my mom first, and then I'll see these two.

When I breeze past the three, Oreo gives a woof at me as if I'm the stranger. I meet his eyes; fucker continues to look at me like he's not a Siberian husky and some dangerous Pitbull. You whine. Keep the attitude down!

My eyes glide around the living room and kitchen—empty? Huh? I turn around and peek in Mehrotra's living room. Heels stop right behind me, I don't turn to look, my eyes narrow at the view in front of me. My wife cooking with both the mothers. Zia pushes me out of the way and head inside, I'm just standing up straight when I'm shoved in the door again. My squinted eyes meet Falak's twinkling ones. "Jyada ho raha hai ab sabka." I warn her, she flips her hair in response and walks in the Mehrotra living room.

"Main murder kar doonga teri wali ka." I threaten as Mehrotra stops beside me. "Cute." The fucker flicks my nose, walking past me. All three of them head straight to the kitchen, I follow them. My wife has her back to me as she continues stirring something on the stove. My mother beside her chopping something. "Kya kar rahe ho sab aaj yaha?" Shika Maa notices us first, Falak kisses the top of her head and walks to wash her hands. Zia and Advik hops on the counter beside Shika Maa. I lean against it.

"Sahil and Ahaana had a fight, we're here to enjoy the show." Zia fills Shika Maa in, I keep my eyes on my wife, she's yet to turn around. And no, I'm not going to look at my mother who's glaring holes in my soul.

"Kyu? Aaj toh itni pyaari pyaari lag rahi hai meri nalayak chinu pehli baar." Shika Maa looks between us. "Dekh tere liye chole bhi seekh rahi hai." Shika Maa smiles at me and then her daughter. My wife still keeps her eyes hidden away from me. The saree pallu is now tucked at her waist, the bangles making sound every time she moves her hand. Her hairs in a messy updo.

"Tere papa na sahi bolte hai, Sahil, tujhe jyada pyaar karti hai na ye... isliye jyada tang karta hai tu isko." My mother stands between the gorgeous view of my wife. I focus my gaze on my mother. "Main kuch bola usse? Ask her who teased her first? Your to-be-SIL. He started bothering her, mujh par toh jabardasti gussa nikal raha hai." I walk to where my mother stand just steps away from her.

"She complained to you?" I stop beside my mother, but my eyes stay on her back. "She didn't. Hood did. He saw her coming out of your cabin in tears." In tears? Is that why she's hiding away from me now? She's not someone who cries at such small things, instead she gives it all back with interest. Or maybe it was because of the spice?

My mother's hand comes on my chest, I look down at her, she motions for me to lean down. She whispers in my ears, "We tried talking to her. But she said nothing. My best guess is either she's on periods or she's pmsing. Shika doesn't know her dates either, handle her with care." She pats my chest and goes to Shika Maa. I mentally check for her dates. Nope. Her periods are irregular but not so much. Her last period was before our wedding— 9th November to be exact. PMSing it is! 

Falak looks at me from beside her, I nod at her. She gently takes away the spoon that my wife's been holding. Shea still doesn't turn around, I walk the distance between us and put my hand on her shoulder and the other under her hips, the next second, she's in my arms bridal style. She hides her face in my chest. Never giving me her eyes. "We'll not have dinner here." I murmur walking past our mothers. Advik jumps down the platform and stands in front of us. "What's wrong?" He cups her cheeks and tries to make her face him. "You let him be mean to me." She complaints keeping her face hidden in my chest.

"Imma kick his fucking ass." Suhana grumbles pulling her phone out and typing on it furiously, I shake head at her. "These two will be back to their best friend's ways by tomorrow and you'll become the bad guy." I warn my sister, she looks at her phone and then her best friend. She nods to herself and keeps the phone away. "No, we won't. I'm no longer friends with him." My wife mumbles in my chest, her hot breath seeping through my shirt fabric and reaching my bare skin.

"We'll see that when he comes with something favorite of yours and that pathetic pout early tomorrow morning." Zia shakes head at the thought of these two being their usual self the second they see each other. "Ahaana ki icecreams nahi hai, Mom?" Falak's voice comes from where she stands in front of the wide-open refrigerator. "She ate the last one before we left for the wedding, uske baad I forgot to re-stock." Shika Maa replies, Falak slaps the door shut and comes to me.

"She's probably pmsing and she won't tell you that she needs sweets when she's--"

"No. I don't." This time my wife looks at where her Bhabhi stands. She glares, Falak ignores.

"She does. That's why I make sure to have ice-creams at all times, I don't know anything about her cycles now, so it slipped my mind." Shika Maa says. "Is that why she was going through the refrigerators in both the kitchens?" My mother asks. "Probably. She has sweet tooth, and she tries really hard to control herself all month so then she can have unlimited sweet things at this time of her month." Advik chuckles.

"Yeah, talk about me and my cycles as if I'm not here." My wife starts thrashing around in my arms. "And I'm not missing out on the chole I fluffing cooked myself." She continues wiggling, I keep my hold tighten. "Okay. I'll go buy her whatever she needs, and we'll come back for dinner here." I tell our mothers; my wife finally stops moving.

"Your usuals?" I look at Falak and Zia, they nod back happily. "What about me, Shai? You not getting anything for me?" I internally gag at Advik's baby voice. "Nope. My husband only spoils me!" Shea garlands her arms around my neck, "Hai na, Bub?" Finally, finfuckingally she looks up at me and gives me those brown orbs. My heart pounds harshly for a beat and then goes back to its usual rhythm, as if that one look of her eyes staring back into my own gave my heart life.

"Bub? Awe. Bub." Ye pitega mujhse. I ignore my best friends cooing and walk out of the Mehrotra's and towards the elevator. Coco, Oreo & Hood nowhere to be found. "I didn't complain to Mumma." She whispers when we are in the elevator. "Hood called her and then she asked him to bring me home." I lean down and rub our noses together. "Did he give you the flowers?" I question, she nods, almost uninterested. Huh? My wife is flower lover, she loves it when someone brings her flowers. Any type, but if it's peonies, she loves it more.

"Pasand nahi aaye tujhe?" I ask stepping out of the elevator, she doesn't reply. I take her to the car, and she unlocks it with the keys Advik handed her when we were coming. Clipping in the seatbelt, I shut her door and then walk to the driver's seat. She gives me the keys and I turn the ignition on. She turns the volume up and looks out of the window. "Flowers ache nahi lage?" I question again. She turns her head to me.

"Kitne busy ho na aap, biwi ko utha nahi sakte ghar se nikalte time, khud se biwi ko flowers nahi de sakte. Biwi ke diye huye nuts bhi nahi khaye jate aapse." Fuck. The nuts. Shit. I don't even know where they are. I look away from the road and to my wife, her eyes fixed on my face. Before I can say anything, she pushes forward and reaches for something on the back seat. My wife returns back with the nuts container that I forgot in the car. Fuck. The guilt crashes down on me like a cold-water bucket. I keep my lips shut, not having anything to say. She unclicks the container and picks up the almond, she eats one piece, averting her gaze back to the window. I reach for the container and snatch it from between her fingers.

"Mere hai na wo." Yes, petty, I know. But I forgot it, I didn't leave it intentionally.

"Main bhul gya tha, jaan. I'm sorry, baby." I hold the container in my fist and keep my hand between us. "Khila de please?" I gesture at the container in my hand, the light turns red—Thank fuck. "Please Jaan. You know I'd never not eat them on purpose, I got a call and then I had back-to-back meetings lined up. I'm sorry, baby." She keeps looking at me for a moment before believing whatever she saw on my face.

She picks up a piece and forwards it to my mouth, I kiss her fingertips after taking the almond from her. We're still waiting at the traffic lights; I spot the little girl selling roses. My wife's busy peeling the almonds so I scroll down the window and try to catch the girl's attention. She comes running to me. Ahaana looks up at us, confused.

"Kitne ke?" I ask picking up my wallet from the cup holder. "Bhaiya, ek 20 ka." The flower girl smiles forwarding one rose flower. She probably has 15-20 roses. "Sab doge?" I forward the 500 bill towards her. "Bhaiya change nahi hai."

"Koi baat nahi." My wife speaks before I can. The little girl rounds the car and comes towards Shea, I bring down her side of the window. Shea takes the flowers from her, and I pass her the cash.

"Khaoge?" Shea asks when she notices the little girl eyeing the almonds in her fist. Before the girl can answer, Shea takes her both hand and empties the container in her cupped palms. "Thankyou." The girl smiles at my wife, the car behind us honks and I look at the traffic lights. The little one runs back to her waiting mother on the sides, and I put my foot down on the accelerator.

Shea keeps the container away, removes her slippers and brings her legs up, sitting cross legged. She starts sniffing the roses. All the complaints vanished from her face. I turn the music volume up and focus on driving as my wife —with the attention span of a little kid— continues being in her happy bubble, gazing at the flowers like they are the love of her life and not me.

"Which one?" I ask making her look up at me. I jut my chin ahead, gesturing at her favorite ice-cream outlets side by side. It's going to take her some minutes to decide, then she'll choose Baskins and when we come out of Baskins, she'll go to naturals. It's always the same. She wants to have options first and then she ends up buying from both the places.

"Baskins." I hum, biting back on my smile. She keeps feeling the rose petals on her cheeks as I collect my phone, wallet and step out of the car. I open her side of the door and take the flowers from her; she holds the saree pleats between her fingers and slips on her furry home slippers. With my other hand, I help her down and then put the roses on her now vacant seat. Shutting the door behind her, my hand on her back we both walk side by side in the ice-cream place.

I wait for her as she continues looking at all the options. She'll choose the same Mississippi mud and cotton candy but after dwelling for an hour. I leave her to it and order everyone else's choice. "I want Mississippi mud." She mumbles to me. "And cotton candy." And yes, this is what we meant when we say she was dependent on us. She's coming back to her old habits; I just hope the insecurities doesn't return. She can be loud and blunt in front of us, but the second we are out in public, she goes back to her shell.

"Order yourself, meri jaan. I'm still choosing na?" I move her body towards the order counter. I feel her gaze on me, but I keep my eyes glued to the glass that displays the ice-cream varieties. My phone ringing saves me, both our eyes snaps to the screen. Yug Oberoi. She humps at the name and walks to place her order.

"Haan?" I speak on the phone, passing my card to her with free hand.

"Shea kaha hai? She ain't replying to my memes." My best friend cribs from the other side.

"She doesn't have her phone on her and she's also ignoring you." I point at the Banana caramel flavor, my wife orders that for me before handing the card to complete the payment.

"What? Why? My little She is ignoring me?" I stand behind her and punch in her birthdate—1611– as the card pin. She grins up at me.

"Yug. Koi kaam hai toh bol. If you called to speak to her, she's not interested. You hurt her. She doesn't want to speak to you or ever see your face. She also says to not call her little Shea as she's only my Shea." My wife looks at me in 'haww' face and snatches my phone.

"Yes. I'm angry with you but that doesn't mean I won't ever see your face. If you come meet me and give me a hug, I'll forgive you. And yes, you should stop calling me Shea, my husband doesn't like it." Shea sweetly coos on the phone; I roll eyes at the duo. I knew these two brats will be back to their old ways by evening and now I'll be the bad guy.

I'll give her a kiss for asking him to stop calling her Shea when I have my hands on her tonight, in our bed.

I let her speak to him and collect all the orders. She walks ahead of me and turns towards the other ice-cream outlet. Called it. I stand behind her as she continues complaining how much his words wound her. I don't know what the fucker said to make her smile so bright, she finally cuts the call and focuses on the ice-cream varieties.

We head to our car. She gets in the passenger seat, and I hand her all the packages before rounding the car and settling down on my seat. "Shai." She murmurs softly when we are on road.

"Haanji, Shai ki jaan." I grin at her, her face flushes. "I need something." She murmurs lowly. I slow down the car.

"Kya chahiye bolo?"

"We—I don't have necessary stuff for my periods at our home. I have been using Suhana's." She speaks with her head down. I won't ever understand why she goes all meek and quiet when she's speaking about this topic in front of me. And I have noticed this only happens around me. I have heard her blackmailing my father into giving up his brownie just last month, because she's on her periods and she's allowed to steal everyone's brownie.

Our parents—fathers actually— taught us about this phase of women's life, really early. I remember Advik and I being seven when our fathers told us about how Mumma is allowed to yell, cry and be mean somedays every month. When we grew up, our mothers explained us everything and then they again told us all about it when Ahaana and Suhana started their cycles. This topic was never a taboo in our lives, like it generally is in India. But I don't know why Ahaana always shys away from this when she speaks to me. It only, only happens around me and it irritates me to no ends.

"You need to go to the chemist?" I question, she gives a slight nod. I keep my eyes away from her, focused on finding that shop but also because it just pisses me off when she behaves like this with me. She can ask me for sex and other all stuff, but this is where she draws the line between us? Wow.

I park the car; she picks up my wallet. "I'll just take a minute" She's flying out of the car before I even unclip my seatbelt. I shake head at the brat before stepping out of the car and following her in the shop.

My gaze quickly glides around to spot that little thing of mine. I shake head when I don't see her. The aisle height must be of more than 5'3. Tiny brat! I spot the feminine stuff on the fourth aisle and head to it; my wife comes into view a second later. She gasps turning around when I stand behind her, my chest touching her back.

"Did I take long? Shitz. I'm almost done." She turns back to reading the... price label? She's just making things worst for her. I call bullshit on the fact that I love her more than my next breath, my fucking life. She can spend my money on ice-cream without blinking an eye but now she's all about money and shit? I grind my molars together, snatching the packet from her and throwing it in the small cart.

She continues looking up at me in shock as I reach for all the things Zia gets. If she's using her stuff means they use the same brands. I throw some more packets of tampons and napkins, then the intimate wash she uses. "I have this." She tries to take the bottle away from me before I can drop it in the cart. I look at her with my eyes void of any emotion and jaw clenched. She drops her hand; I throw the bottle in the cart and then another one just because she pissed me off.

"Anything else?" I ask, she shakes her head in negative. I thread our fingers together and tug her with me. Her eyes go wide when I pick up the lubricants from the aisle and throw them in our cart. She keeps her lips sealed while I complete the payment. This time I don't open the car door for her, she gets in and I keep the stuff on the backseat making a mental note to take this car when we return back to our place. I'd pass on having someone see the lubricants.

"Kya hua?" Her hand comes on mine on the gear. I don't look at her and keep driving.

"Sahil?" She taps my biceps with her index finger. I don't reply.

"Bub?" The finger comes on my jawline, moving side to side, trying to be seductive.

"Bubba?" She pinches my lips between her index finger and thumb. I turn my face making her hand fall down to my chest. I hit on the breaks with a jerk, she gasps fisting my shirt. I finally look at her. "Chal tu, aa rha hoon main park karke." I motion at the security guard of our parents' tower. He opens her door and takes the ice-cream packages from her; she keeps looking at me for a few moments before taking her roses and sliding down the car.

I find her beside the guard table. She keeps the roses and lets me collect the ice-creams, her lips curled up in a pout. This woman has no idea why I'm behaving the way I am, hai na? She has so many complaints for me, but what about these little things that she breaks my heart with?

We get in the elevator, and she stands facing me. "What's wrong? Why you angry on your cute, gorgeous wife?" She makes a pout at the end of her sentence to make sure she looks cute. She does, but I'm pissed. The elevator opens on our floor, and I breeze past her without answering her question.

"My babiesss." I glance at Coco and Oreo who runs to her. Hood stands beside me as we watch my wife get showered with howls and licks. Coco and Oreo have never loved anyone as much as they love her. They are so snarky and sassy with everyone but her. Their sassy souls speak with hers.

"I'm done for the day?" Hood sounds desperate to be out of here— another one-night stand target fixed—I nod, my eyes still stuck on her. "Bye Bhabhi." Robin says walking past her; she waves back at him. "Go. Play in your corner. I'll bring your dinner." She kisses both their heads and gives them soft rubs and scratches before taking them to the corner our parents made for them.

They decided to rent out the flat on ninth floor and so created a corner here in the waiting area for when they come here. Rudra Uncle and my father happens to love my dogs--more than they ever loved me and Adv-- so when Shea and I'm at work, Coco and Oreo are here.

I leave her to her babies and take her stuff in Mehrotra house. Rudra Uncle and my father are back from wherever they were off to. I stuff the ice-creams in the freezer and turn the temperature to highest. My wife walks to the kitchen counter and empties the flower vase she picked up from somewhere on her way here. She sets the roses in it, fills water and showers kisses on the petals. Our families look at her lovingly--to be read as weirdly. She starts getting Coco and Oreo's dinner ready. Rudra Uncle and Papa help the mothers set the table and I walk to Advik's room. I find Falak, Advik and Zia in there. "Dinners ready." I lean against the door frame. Advik meets my eyes from where he lays with his head in Falak's lap. Zia beside him with her head in Falak's lap as well. She has ruined everyone. She babies them all so much, I can't stand it. She's the reason Shea & Zia are so spoiled.

"She went with pouty face, why did you return with it?" Advik chuckles, looking at my face for a few seconds. "I did nothing, Bhai. Your best friends being angry for no reason at all." Her arms snakes around my torso and stops on my stomach, I side-glance to see her glued to my back. "When are you guys starting the interior work?" I turn back to my sister and best friends, ignoring my wife who is now showering kisses on my back. When her breaths start getting shallow--I feel those to my fucking toes-- I bring her to my side with my arm on her shoulder, she hides herself in my sides.

"Day after tomorrow." Falak replies. Apparently, they loved whatever Shea did to our house so much that they asked for her help in their houses as well. Advik and Yug give no shit about what happens to the house as long as they get to share it with their woman's, just like me. So, it's all going to be the girls department, which means busy wife, sad life for me. "Hood's been whining about us missing the basketball game." Advik gets up from his spot and walks to me. "I want to go the game." My wife jerks at the mention of the game. We used to play daily but after the Leh trip we all got so busy.

"Kal se? And let's shift the game to our society now?" I suggest, Mehrotra agrees pulling his sister away from my arms and to himself. We three follow the Mehrotra siblings to the dining table. "When are you guys leaving for that vacation?" My wife wiggles her eyebrows at our parents.

I'm reminded of the conversation from this morning and my shoulders drop in tiredness. A guy just can't catch a fucking break! I haven't had a single calm, peaceful meal and now if my migraine comes knocking, they'll call me out on my bitchy behaviour.

"Drop it." I glare at the tiny brat. She looks at me with her forehead scrunched. "Seriously Ahaana! Drop. It." Zia glares at her bestie. I nod at my sister for the support. I reach for the chole bowl but my wife beats me to it. I pull my hand back to let her server herself first. She doesn't. She serves my plate. I look at our mothers. My mother is pleased and grinning to her brightest. Her mother is in shock. My shoulders shake as the chuckle escapes me.

My wife ignores all the stares—her flushed cheeks tells me she is aware of the eyes on her. She puts the chapati in my plate and then serves me daal —just the way I like— without any tomatoes. It's not like I hate tomatoes, I just don't like them in my daal. "I know I'm beautiful, stop gazing at me like this. It's creeping me out." Shea mutters, still busy scooping out the few pieces of tomatoes that came in my bowl.

"Sahil. Kya kia tune meri bachi ko? Did you threaten her with her icecream addiction? Dance? Clothes? Songs? What did you threaten her with?" My father grits out angrily at me.

"Haan jaise ki aapki bahu ko main daraunga or ye darr jayegi mujhse." I shake head at the thought. Everyone starts the dinner after our mothers says the thankyou prayer. My eyes goes back to my wife's plate every few minutes. She's not had a single bite of the chapati or rice. She's nibbling on the cucumber slices like a rabbit. I look at her face when she tsks and wiggles in her chair.

"I'm going to go change." She mumbles to Falak on her other side, I quickly keep my foot on hers and my hand on her thigh. She looks at me, I keep my eyes on my plate. Falak chuckles quietly under her breath understanding what's happening between the two of us.

"Hm?" I give a slight shake of head in negative. She huffs but starts nibbling on the cucumber slice, giving up the thought of changing. "Ahaana." My mother snaps at her. Oh, did I mention who's the strict one out of both the mothers when it comes to food? Yes. My mother. She hates when we leave food. She always make sure we all eat, especially the girls since they are such fussy eaters.

"Ji Mumma." Her spine goes rigid. I pull away my hand from her thigh. I don't like it when she's getting scolded but I don't want her to go back to her old habits. It's the second thing in one day. And I do not like this at all.

"Why is your plate full?" Mumma Sahdev narrows eyes at her daughter in law. "I wanted to finish the salad first." Shea mumbles now going to take the first bite of chapati. "You better finish this, or there's no icecream for you for the next ten days." Shea says nothing but looks at my father, who motions at her to finish the food quickly. I look at her parents to see them murmuring sweet nothings to eachother completely unaware of their daughter's angry stare on them.

Shea finishes her dinner. My mother stands from her chair and comes to us, the same time one of the staff comes with all the icecreams served in bowls. "My good and favourite bacha." Mumma kisses her crown and hands her the mississipi mud icecream.

"Mumma." Shea says suddenly making all the eyes turn to her. Rudra Uncle and my father stop the heated argument they were having before she interrupted them. "Avni Mumma." She clears when both the mothers look at her in question. Shika Maa goes back to supporting my father and fuelling her husband's anger. She loves doing that, yes, my wife got her ability to passionately piss her husband off from her mother.

"Wo inke migraine files kaha hai?" I turn my head, facing her, she keeps her eyes on my mother. "Inke? Inke kaun bache?" Mumma teases her. Shea bites on her bottom lip, her eyes flicking to me for a second before turning back to my mother. "Sahil ke." My wife whispers.

"Ask Adv and Suh, bacha, they keep track of his medical records." My mother tucks her hair strands behind her ears. She kisses her head and then mine. "Aayi main. Warna meri hi nazar lag jayegi mere bachcho ko." Mumma goes to the kitchen—to bring red dried chilli for the evil eye thing. I'm sure.

"I'll share the pdfs with you. Files are in Advik's bedside drawer." Zia says, her hands already working on her phone.

"Chalein?" I ask my wife, she nods getting up and running towards Advik's room. Falak stands up as well. When Advik starts to get up, she keeps her hand on his chest. "I'll go." She quickly brushes her lips against his head. Ahaana returns back with all my medical history and keeps them with her handbag. "Main kar deta hoon na drop." My best friend whines to his fiancée. She shakes head in negative, giving him scratches like I do with Coco & Oreo.

My mother returns with the dried red chillies. She motions at Falak and Advik to come closer. When they are standing side by side in front of her, she starts to rotate the chillies from their head to toe, seven times. Mumma drops them in the plate, before taking some more dried chillies and motioning at my wife and me. She repeats the same thing with us, then Suhana, and then Rudra Uncle and Shika Maa. Then Shika Maa does the same with my parents. "Burn them." Shika Maa instructs the house help.

Falak hugs her bestfriend's and her parents in laws—she addresses my parents as her parents in laws as well. "Call me when you reach." All of us, like all seven of us except Advik —because the fucker will obviously be on call the whole time—yell the same words to her. Falak smiles nodding. "I'll drop a message on the group."

Shea takes her handbag and the files. I walk ahead of both the girls and take Coco and Oreo. We get in the elevator. Shea wraps her arms around her bhabhi. Like I said, Falak babies her the most. Falak's car is parked beside ours, so I open her car door and help her in, her phone rings and she answer's my best friends call connecting it with the car Bluetooth. "Don't forget to drop that message this time, or I'll come to murder you." I mutter shutting the door, she grins at me from the window and reverses her car out of the parking. Shea, Coco and Oreo are all settled in the car when I take the driver seat.

"Oreo. Behave." I snatch the chemist bag from between his paws and put it in my wife's lap. He gets between the seats and starts growling —to be read as yelling— at me for trying to scold him. I flick my eyes on the back seat to see Coco looking out of the window, calmly.

"Oreo." I warn him when he tries to get on my lap from the back seat. Shea turn sideways and cups his face. I focus back on the road. "Oreo. Just a minute, baby." She scratches behind his ears, he continues whining. I park the car in our spot and get down first. While Shea collects all the stuff, I hold both Coco and Oreo with their harnesses and we get in the elevator.

•

"Don't change." I look at her before taking Coco and Oreo to their room. After their night routine, some scratches and belly rubs, I finally leave their room and head to my wife. I find her on bed still in her saree going through my medical records, the door being locked makes her turn around. She opens her arms wide, calling me. I lean against the closed door. "What if Coco Oreo needs us?" She asks. "We'll unlock before sleeping." I start walking to her, my fingers working on unclasping the wristwatch. The belt and shoes go next. I gesture at the closet door with my eyebrow, she bites on her lips but crawls down the bed. I walk ahead of her and take the vanity chair. My fingers working on my shirt button. "You going to whip me, Bub?" She teases looking at the belt beside my foot.

"Come here." I unbutton my pants and lower down the zip, still seated, my legs spread out. She stops in front of me, "On your knees, Ahaana." I keep one hand on the armrest and with the other hand pick up the sindoor box from the vanity. "My place is in your arms, Shai." She walks a step closer, standing between my knees, "Agreed. But it also is on your knees when I want. And I want you on your knees for me tonight, Mrs. Sahil." She lowers herself to her knees between my legs, her face flushed, and lips stretched in a smile.

I join our heads together. "You will stop me if I cross my limits and make you uncomfortable, hai na Shea?" I whisper softly. "There are no limits between us. It's just us... together, merged into each other's fluffing soul, Bub." She smooches my lips. I feather little kisses on her chin and neck, before pulling away.

The pull is sudden, she hisses in pain, back arching making her breasts touch my chin. "Sahil." My wife shrieks, I tighten my hold on her hairs making her whimper. Her glassy eyes meet my angry one. She grabs my shirt collar and her nails cuts into my skin. "The fluff baby?" She glares, her head tilted back, I take her chin in my mouth and bite on it. Hard. My wife thrashes in my arms. I suck on the same skin to soothe the bite, before leaving it with a pop. The harsh red bite makes me smirk. Our eyes meet, "I was going to fluffing give you a head, but you deserve a headshot, devil!" My little brat roars.

--Mature content--

"Who taught you all about sex? I don't remember talking to you about these things, who did you dirty talk with? Falak? Suhana?" I take her bottom lip between my teeth after speaking, she growls, trying to pull back, I leave her lip. "Ellie, you arsehole! Also, I read smut, a girl gotta look after herself when her husband can't." Can't? I will make her eat these words by the time I'm done with her tonight. I leave her hairs, she falls down on her heels, breathing heavily. She rubs the back of her head as I open the sindoor box. "Real romantic, Mr. Sahdev. Real fluffing romantic." Shea scoffs when I take a pinch of it. "I never got to--" my lips grazes her ear, "--fuck you as biwi."

"That word exists in your dictionary? Remember Sahil the gentleman only makes loves." She rolls her eyes, I put the sindoor back to its place before pulling my wife close to my stomach. Her cheeks touch my bare stomach skin. I let my finger glide from her forehead to her crown. The red color stares back at me making my heart burst with utter love for this spoiled princess of mine. She did apply the vermillion, but it's almost wiped off by the end of the day. I kiss the bindi spot on her head and then her nose. "Lose the panties." I grumble on her lips before leaning back on the chair. She keeps looking at me, I work on sliding my pants and boxers down my legs and throwing them away. I hold it in my hand, her eyes snap down and then back at my face. I see her throat moving as she swallows, her breath deep and slow.

With our eyes connected, she brings her hand up to her shoulder-- to unpin the pallu-- I tch, making her movement still. "When I say the fucking underwear, I mean only the fucking underwear." I grit out through my clenched jaw. My fist tightens over my member making the sensation run to my toes. She finally stands up. Bending down, she takes her hands under the saree her knees come in my view, but the rest is covered with the saree fabric. Her fingers return back to my view with the black cotton briefs. My hardness jerks on its own in my fist just at the view of her briefs. Fuck. The hold this woman has on me.

She steps out of it; the saree falls down covering her feet. I open my palm; she retrieves the brief and hands it over to me. I bring it to my nose and take a long sniff with my eyes connected with hers, her cheeks turn the darkest shade of red and she looks away. I look down to my fist and wipe away the leaked precum with her panties before dropping it to the floor. Pushing my hips to the edge of the chair, I gesture at my lap. She bridges the distance between us, her confused gaze meet mine. "Bed?" She whispers softly. She can be all sassy, snarky and blunt but when it comes to actually doing this, I don't know how she manages to get so shy and blush-y.

I close my legs a little, she walks another step her, our feet touching. "Gather the fabric up and sit on it." I order, my hand stroking the hardness as more wetness trails down the length. Her eyes follow the drop from the tip to the base. I take it back to the tip and rub it in with my thumb, a hiss escapes me at the feeling. "Jaldi baby." I groan out, my hips thrusting in my fist. She starts pulling up the saree, when it almost to her mid thighs, she takes a step coming over my knees. I put my hand on her waist and pull her down on me. She gasps, I cover her lips with my mine and then do it. Thrust in all of me in her, in a mini-second. She growls in my mouth loudly. I pull down just a tiny bit before thrusting up again, my wife mewls in my neck. Her teeth cuts in my skin and I try to move but the small chair makes it hard for me. I get up from the chair and she clings to me. With me still buried deep inside her, I walk us out of the closet and to the bed. I start thrusting in hard and deep before her back even touches the mattress. She muffles her scream biting on the back of her hand. I slap it away and then pull my arms out of my shirt sleeves.

"Sa--hil.." She growls trying to touch my chest, but her hand falls down with the continuous jerky movements. Tears slides down the corner of her eyes, lips parted as huffs of breaths escapes her. She decides against touching me and pulls the blouse down her shoulder making her breasts spill. I growl knowing what she did here. This time when I thrust in her, I make sure to push her back on bed making place for my knees on the edge and then I finally give her what she wants. My body over hers. She can complain all she wants, but my woman needs missionary and only missionary. I continue my movements and then take her breast in my mouth. Her fingers comes on hips and she tries to pull me more into herself, I widen her thigh more and then shove in hard. "FUCK!" My wife roars under me. I chuckle sucking on her buds. She always, always curses when we are doing this. When I say curse, I mean proper cursing and not one of her weird words. Yes, it makes my pathetic heart happy that only I have heard her saying this.

"Sha--" I slap my hand over her lips, my movements stop. She looks back at me in question. I look at the door. The huff and howl comes again. Shea tries to shove me off her, I push her down with my weight. "Sahil.. they need us. Leave me." My wife thrashes under me. I can't fucking believe my own dogs are cockfuckingblocking me. That's it, they are going tomorrow. I pull my hips back, Shea thinks I'm pulling out of her, but when I shove all the length back in her, she covers her gasp and her eyes widen. I go to take her lips, she turns her face away, scowling at me. The door thuds loudly. I groan irritated, in her chest. She continues pushing on my shoulder blade. I put my hands under her thighs, roll us and stand up with her legs wrapped around my waist and my length still buried deep inside her. I walk us to the door and push her back against the wall.

"Sahil. Pagal ho gye ho? You're going to scare them." My wife slaps my biceps as I unlock the door and just open a little. "Tell them you're fine and ask them to go back to bed. Order them." I grumble lowly, she shakes head at my audacity. I smirk pulling back and driving into her with force, her fingers wrap around my hairs as she bites down on her lips to control her cries. I gesture at the now being pushed inside door with my eyes. My hand keeps it ajar. "Coco. Oreo. I'm fine. Go back to bed, bachas. Dadda gonna take you for walk tomorrow morning." This brat! I squint my eyes at her, Coco and Oreo grumbles but I slap the door shut on their faces, knowing they'll leave after their whining and purring.

I drop my wife on the bed. She chuckles looking down at my nether region. "Ache khaase mood ki aisi taisi karwa lo bas tum teeno se." I grouse falling down on the bed and pulling her close to me sides, she keeps her head on biceps. "Should I..?" She trails off, her fingernail running up and down my bare chest to stomach. "We are getting this room sound proofed." I tell her, she just chuckles near my jawline. I huff out a tired exhale. When we got the house ready, we decided to soundproof the entire flat--so others don't complain about their howls-- and not the rooms thinking what if we can't hear our babies. Babies, my foot. The sound proofing work starts tomorrow, babies be damned.

When I feel her going silent, I move my arm that is under her. "Hm?" Our eyes meet. "Let's get you cleaned up." I get up with her in my arms and walk in the washroom. Making her stand, I start undraping her saree. When she's bare, I lightly slap her cute tiny ass and gesture at the toilet. I leave her alone in there and head to the closet to get something for us to wear. She's in front of the mirror removing her makeup when I return. I put on the old t-shirt of mine over her and pick up my brush. While she does her night skincare, I clean my teeth and wash my face. I suddenly realise we are doing this in our home for the first time, we did our night routine together back in Greece but here at our home, it's our first time. Yes, I'm sappy as fuck at heart for this woman.

She leaves the bathroom first. I use the toilet and head into the bedroom. She's already settled with all the extra pillows and cushions shoved on the floor. She leaves only one pillow on the bed for me. She doesn't use any herself, she hasn't ever and she doesn't now. Pillows always gave her stiffness. "Why were you upset with me when we were returning from the chemist?" She asks even before I reach her.

"Because I hate how you behave around me when it comes to your periods." I say crawling under the covers. My eyes go to the door and I sigh looking at it ajar.

"Behave how?" She keeps her chin on my shoulder, near my collar bone. "Like it's such a taboo thing, but just between us." I turn sideways making her face slide down on the bed from my body. "Why?" She comes closer and nuzzles in my chest, hiding. I cup her nape and bring her to my face.

"I don't know I get shy." I roll eyes. I do. Seriously. "Whattt? I do! It's just such a intimate thing and not to mention dirty." I slap her head upside down. She whines rubbing the spot.

"Sahi hai na yaar tera bhi, agar main humare beech mein itni dooriyaan rakhu toh tu jaan le le mere, but everything is fine if you do the same?" I plop down my back and stretch my hand to turn the night lamp off, the room goes black. She comes closer but stays silent. She's still scared of the dark and I turn the lights out after she's asleep, but sometimes I try to be my meanest self when she angers me.

"And since when you've started reading the price labels?" I crack my eyes open and look down. Her pouty face is already looking up at me. She flips her hairs back that falls on her face. We both realise at the same time— I forgot to braid her hairs. She grins when I sit up on the bed. She doesn't know to do it and if she sleeps with her hairs open, they'll probably damage and she'll throw a tantrum when she can't brush them tomorrow. She settles between my legs and I gather her hairs and run fingers down the length, both of us lazy to get the brush.

"I wasn't checking the price, meri jaan. I was checking how many pads the packet has and what is the length." I feel the lie straight to my fucking heart. It's a habit. She was checking out of habit and I caught her at a bad time. I stop my movements, wanting to force the truth out of her—she knows I hate lying and being lied to and yet she's doing this—but I just keep my chin on her shoulders. She chuckles—thinking I'm eating the lie out of her hand— grazing her nose against my jawline before pecking my cheeks. I huff out a deep sigh and focus on the work in hand. Reaching out for the scrunchie on the bedside, I tie her hairs.

With my hands over her waist, I pull her down on top of me as my back meets the mattress. I stretch my legs and she covers us. Lightly patting her back, I watch her go to sleep. Her breathing evens out and lips part as she starts huffing out breaths, snoring. I kiss her upper lip and nose.

My eyes stays on her as I feel worry gnawing at my heart. What has she faced that turned her to this? She made sure I let my anger out. I did, and she handled me. Even when I was so rude to her she continued fighting for us. Never giving up.

But I just can't let the fact go that her past is a dark canvas to me. I don't know what she fucking went through! She told me bits and pieces, but all those pieces were happy, proud and everything good. I want in. I want in, in her everything. Her fears, her worries and her sadness. I want to know her story of the five years we were apart but how do I do that without... without loosing something of hers? Without pushing her in the fight or flight mode? She has hidden herself so well, it fucking scares me on how good she has become on hiding things.

I won't have an incompleted, only happy Shea. I want the whole of her. The complete, bare her. Like the one I had access to whole life before these five fucked up years. Zia and Falak's been her bestfriend but I knew about things before they knew. She came running to me first for everything. Be it her catching her parents kissing for the first time when she was six, be it her finding where our mothers hid this months snacks, be it how Advik beat the shitz out of her and now she wants help with the revenge. It was always me first. She came to me. I want that back. I want my Shea back and not this... whatever she has pushed herself to be.

And I'm going to fucking wrench it out of her. I'm not going to settle for whatever she's offering to keep me happy. I want the unveiled her and I will take it out of her. Like I always did. With my love, affection, trust or with my anger, I'll bring it out of her just like she brought the worst out of me and helped me heal my scars. Just like she still does.

I know why she never leaves the bed even though she wakes up before me sometimes, because she saw me look for her back in Leh and she thinks her absence will trigger me. I know she's reading about migraines day and night. That basketball game thing? She knows that makes me happy and she hates it when I go to the gym, so biwiji will take what she can get—me in bed with her every morning and then watch me play at night. All her strong fragrances are now in the back of our vanity, she has kind of stopped using any sort of perfumes because she thinks it's going to kick my headache. I have tried telling her she's not going to because she never uses anything so harsh, but she doesn't want to take any chances.

But what about her? She's doing all these things out of love for me and I want the same, I want to take her fears out of her heart because I fucking love her. I love her more than I can ever find a way to express.