DISCLAIMER: This chapter has mild sexual references however there are no sexual scenes in this chapter.

-S H R E E    P R A S A D-

I wake up at an odd hour on the softest bed ever, in a new room. Madhav's room- our room, and WHOA- I'm naked. The bedroom of Mr. Madhav Ramakrishna and his beautifully charming wife Mrs. Shree Ramakrishna. It was so good although I had trouble sleeping with the slight sore feeling between my numb and lifeless legs.

It was 1:47am when I last woke up from my quick spells of sleep. I never wake up this early! After a lot of tossing and turning, I wrap my arms around Madhav, resting my head on his shoulder. He groaned sleepily, turning towards me and pulled me until there was not even a millimeter distance between us. I stayed still under his tight, yet protective embrace, until I probably fell asleep.

The LED digital clock near the nightstand now reads 5:33am.

My legs still feel numb and lifeless while my core feels less sore, reminding me of the passionate lovemaking. Protected and passionate lovemaking, if I put it according to his words. Twice. I experienced the pinnacle of pleasure twice. I never felt something so wonderful ever. Jhanvi's theory on male endowment is indeed true, just as Ahaana's speculations were accurate too.

Madhav was sleeping soundly on his side of the bed, his bare chest rising and falling softly in a slow and steady rhythm. I turn to him, resting my head on my propped-up arm, studying his face in the semi-darkness. He looks so very dear and sleeps with the innocence of a little boy. He looks so peaceful and adorable when he is asleep, bereft all his sexiness and the irresistible arrogance. This man is a walking nightmare in the day, especially at work.

I run my fingers through his beard, slowly and carefully as not to wake him up, brushing away the petals of flowers on his hair and beard. I love this beard and I love it when it scratches against my skin. Never shave, okay?

I press a kiss to his cheek and with minimal movement I slide off the bed. Covering myself in his discarded veshti and run towards the bathroom. As I examine my reflection in the mirror, I notice how my face is still red from all the blushing, my lips look swollen because of all the kissing and biting.

I gasp at the uncountable number of hickeys he left on both my breasts. I notice a few on my inner thighs, he had left a few hickeys there before he proceed to- I shake my head in excitement at the memory of his tongue and fingers down there.

I brush my teeth using the only toothbrush I can find-his toothbrush. Ahaana would cringe to the highpoint if she got to know about this. I look around the bathroom as I finish brushing my teeth. Whitish grey Italian tiles are on the floor while the walls are a dark shade of grey. I push aside the ivory shaded shower curtains and step into the shower cubicle.

His shower cubicle has every latest Kohler fixture Ahaana and I have drooled over in the magazines we've seen at malls. There's a large and flat showerhead suspended above. Beside that is a hand-held showerhead with a flexible hose. And integrated on the four walls of the cubicles are flexible nozzles. I realize they are body sprays that spurt out water to the arms, legs and back. There are two more black valves integrated to the wall that is very close to the floor. I wonder what that ever is.

I look at the shower and all the wonder where all the knobs and levers are. However, there is a digital panel attached to the wall displaying the time and the date. I click the screen and there are so many options to choose from including water temperature, spray pressure, spray angle, steam outflow, steam duration, steam fragrance, music, water outlet selection. This is so confusing! I notice an option called 'Last shower setting.' I click that since he probably has adjusted all the settings to facilitate a proper shower.

Back at home it's a normal shower that dispelled water from the main water unit. The shower works were very simple, and I can manually adjust the temperature to accommodate my needs without wondering about the specific temperature.

The shower was marvelously soothing, with lukewarm water shooting out from the showerhead and the body sprays spray water to my back and my arms. There's a soft romantic Ilayaraja melody playing from God knows where. This is the second most relieving feeling ever. I close my eyes and imagine Madhav beside me, fondling and kissing me as I shower. Perhaps I should wake him up? Nah let him sleep.

This is probably the kind of shower that everyone should have to have a great start for the day. I feel so energetic and effervescent. How can Madhav look so moody and angry every morning after a shower like this? I use his Cinthol soap and large quantities of his shampoo to cleanse myself.

I click the 'End Shower' option when I finish. The time is almost 7 and I gasp. How long have I been in here? The music fades away and mild warm steam flows through the two black valves near the floor, the steam smells of lemon and mint. I take a lavender towel from the towel rack, pat myself dry and wrap it around myself. I take another towel and wrap it around my hair.

Opening the door, I softly tiptoe across the room and into the walk-in closet. I turn on the light and I see our discarded clothes scattered around the room along with the broken glasses of perfumes. We sure got wild and passionate. I blush and refuse to look at them.

I kneel to open the undergarments drawer and take out a black pushup bra along with a black laced underwear. As I stand up, I shriek in excitement as two strong arms wrap around my waist.

"Good morning, wife." He murmurs as he places a long and lingering kiss on my collarbone. He pulls me closer to him and I blush harder.

"Good morning." I say shyly.

"Slept well?" he asks whispering against my neck. I shook my head. "I slept peacefully, the best sleep I've had after so many years. But I'm upset because I had to wake up alone."

I turn to him. I didn't know he wanted me by his side when he woke up! I look at him, his hair is a mess and he looks a sleepy. He is wearing a pair of brown shorts that is resting at his hips, revealing the tattoo of an intertwined M and S. When did he get that tattooed to himself? Regardless, he looks like a delicious snack.

"I was expecting to wake up beside you." He says as he presses his forehead to mine "I had so many plans. I planned to give you a nice morning kiss and start our first day together with a morning ritual."

"Morning ritual?" I ask curiously.

"You know- recreating a few moments from last night- with you hovering over me for a change, followed by a warm shower, together." He looks at me. "Looks like you figured out the shower works by yourself!"

"I chose the 'Last Shower' option." I add. He looks at me impressed. "The shower felt remarkably marvelous, Madhav"

"You would have had a memorable and a very remarkably marvelous shower if I was beside you." I nod in agreement. "You are never to shower without me, understand?"

I nod again. He smiles and kisses my lips.

"I used your toothbrush because I couldn't find mine or an extra." I say as he breaks away from the kiss. "I hope that's okay."

"Definitely." He says and presses another quick kiss. "I should take you shopping for some toiletries too, I guess. Get dressed soon, we have a lot of have many post wedding rituals to do, and we need to go to your apartment too."

He walks away and I look at all the closed cupboards, wondering what to wear. I open the sari section and there are so much saris to choose from. I look at the kancheevaram saris. This should be most appropriate to wear. Kancheevarams can be expensive, and in my cupboards would be the most expensive ones which are usually kept on the topmost shelves in sari shops. The only one I owned before the wedding was a green kancheevaram which my Bhamma gifted to me a few months ago.

I pullout a pink coloured kancheevaram sari with a gold border. Attached to the hanger of the sari is matching gold blouse with pink artwork done behind. I drape the sari around me and once I finish, I use the blow-dryer to get my hair dried and apply a little bit of make-up to my face.

I fold my wedding sari along with his vest and shirt. I keep the undamaged cosmetics and perfume bottles on the vanity. The maids can clean up the broken ones, maybe. Then, proceed to look for the safety pins which he threw away in the attempt to free me from the confines of my sari.

I walk out to the room and notice Madhav fasten the belt through his jeans. His chest and arms are bare to my sight. An orange towel is hanging around his neck and his hair is wet from the shower. He notices my reflection in the mirror and smiles.

"Fuck! You look amazing." He says before I even ask him how I look. How does he do this? This is the ninth or tenth time. "I knew you would ask that, Shree. You are too predictable, and I also know you too well."

Stop penetrating my mind! I need a restraining order and Occlumency lessons, for real. He laughs again and walks to the oaken wardrobe. That's when I notice narrow red lines running down his muscular back. He pulls out a shirt and looks at me as I stand rooted to the ground, wondering how I never noticed them.

"What happened?" he asks, looking at my blank face.

"Those lines on your back. Are they-you know?" I have a gut feeling of an assumption about how it came. He walks towards me and holds my hands.

"I thought you'd be a harmless timid rabbit of a bride. I was wrong, you had a tigress, slumbering in you! Your beautifully manicured fingernails clawed in fucking deep!" He says as he rubs his thumb over my wrist.

"You should be considering it an equal exchange for the wild assault on my breasts and inner thighs. Also, I am no longer am a holder of the esteemed V-card, thanks to you, so yes, this is close to an equal exchange."

"Regardless, Mrs. Ramakrishna, I cherish these livid weal's, on my back as a souvenir." He pulls me closer and I shriek in surprise. His hand finds the way to my waist. "Is it rude to ask for more?"

"I must ask you that question, Mr. Ramakrishna!" I say boldly and he smiles. "Is it rude to ask for more?"

"Definitely not!" he laughs and hugs me. "Tonight?"

"Yes." I sigh-or rather moan with my eyes closed as I inhale the fresh smell of his chest.

* * * * *

Shree was greeted by her maternal uncle and his wife. She smiles excitedly as she descends the stairs quickly and jumps into their awaiting embrace.

"And it hasn't been more than twenty-four hours since we last saw her." Her uncle, Ajayan says. Ajayan, meant the one who would not die easily, and he lived up to his name, being a military man who had survived many wars and attacks, before he retired last year.

"Just think about how excited she would be to see her mother and Devi!" Her aunt Ayesha says. "And look at all that glow on your face! Your husband's love for you is being reflected on this beautiful face."

"Stop teasing me." Shree says blushing and Ayesha laughs.

"Remember all the teasing you got darling?" Ayesha asks Ajayan and her face turns red.

"His friends literally pulled his leg off when they got to know we were in love! I specifically remember one of his friends sing songs about mixing mutton with sambhar."

"It's not a bad dish, you know! Apparently everyone accepted this mutton sambhar and we were whole heartedly approved for marriage by both sides of the family." Ajayan says proudly. "And we didn't have to fight for it."

"Also, mutton sambhar is waiting for you at home!" Ayesha winked.

"Did anyone say mutton?" Madhav asks out of the blue as he descends down the stairs. "I love mutton!"

"No, Maddy! She's talking about my cousin, Vijay Abdullah!" Shree corrects him. "I am so angry at that goat for missing the train to Mumbai and eventually having to miss my wedding."

"You have every right to be angry at him, darling." Ajayan says and turns to Madhav "And yes, Lakshmi is making mutton sambhar for lunch!"

* * * * *

Shree and Madhav left for Chembur after the Sadva Puja finishes. The milk porridge which Shree made along with Yashoda's assistance was praised by the women who attended the ceremony. The couple was whole heartedly welcomed by Shree's family when they reached her apartment in Chembur.

The little apartment was simply decorated. After all the rituals were done Yashoda took Lakshmi to a corner of the apartment. She looked troubled.

"Lakshmi, I have to tell you something." Yashoda whispered. "Our astrologist discovered something in Shree's horoscopes. Something bad."

Lakshmi looked attentively at Yashoda. "What is it?"

"This is a little too harsh and too shocking." Yashoda said holding Lakshmi's hand in hers. "He found that Shree's horoscope would not harmonize and assimilate well for a married life. Shree's marriage will mostly bring her immense sorrow and grief."

Lakshmi looked aghast and so devastated- she could not believe what she just heard. "Why didn't he decipher this earlier?"

"I don't know. This foretelling had somehow gone undetected while he was reading their horoscope charts. He discovered this last night as he was preparing to return the horoscopes to us." Yashoda said as she tightened her hold on Lakshmi's hands. "Radha and I are distraught after learning about this."

"All I ever wanted was for Shree and Devi to lead a peaceful life. I was relieved when Shree got married into a wealthy family- your family. Finally she would have every materialistic thing she was denied of as a child." Lakshmi said as she looked at Shree who was on the sofa, beside Madhav, showing him the photos of her childhood, as she narrated the story behind each photograph. Shree caught Madhav who was looking at her in fascination, and she playfully commanded his attention to the picture. Madhav smiled and looked at the picture.

Lakshmi sighed. "I have taught her how to tackle her hardships. What is happening is happening just as it should be. What is meant to happen shall happen accordingly. Astrology should not tell you what to do. Isn't that what the Bhagavad Gita preached us? I have full confidence in Madhav too, he ought to keep her happy let alone cause her any sorrow."

"Madhav loves Shree too much. He can never be the reason to inflict sorrow and grief upon her." Yashoda says hugging Lakshmi. 

To be continued.....

Announcement

It's Dedication Time! As a way of returning your unwavering love and support to the story, I have decided to dedicate ALL the chapters of this book to each reader.

1: A question will be asked at the end of each chapter, regarding the story and/or the characters.

2: One person will be selected from all those who have provide the correct answer.

3: The lucky winner gets one chapter of this book dedicated to him/her. This process will happen repeatedly until all/most of the readers, active and silent, have chapters dedicated to them.

PREVIOUS WEEK'S QUESTION will continue since it was left unanswered: What is the profession of Shree's ex-lover?

Submit your answers with inline comments. May the correct and most accurate answer win!