Yuvaan's POV

I knew it was not a big deal, but I couldn't stop thinking about it — Reyna had moved into my room by herself. I didn't force her to do so or threatened her; she did it on her own.

I kept staring at her face after waking up, trying not to disturb her as much as possible. She looked so calm and peaceful. I wondered if she hadn't agreed to the challenge to stay with me, where she would have been now.

Of course, she would have divorced me and maybe found some other guy if she felt like it. I was a little bit scared after thinking about whether she was forcing herself to be with me just to win the bet.

I was still not sure about her feelings towards me: Did she trust me? Was she no longer uncomfortable around me? Did she still feel that I would hurt her? Did I do something, and she would lash out on me later?

Why don't you ask her directly, Yuvaan?

I want to... but I don't want to hear her say 'No'. What if she got agitated and left me? Was I doing the right thing by keeping her with me? Should I follow Shaurya's advice and let her go? I don't want to though...

But what if you end up hurting her? Can you even trust yourself?

I was a statue for a minute before I snapped up from my bed. I glanced at my wife and remembered that she always cooked for me even if she was tired after working all day. I knew I wouldn't be able to know what was going inside Reyna's head untill she told me herself, but that didn't mean that I couldn't do anything for her which would make her happy.

I went downstairs after freshening up and told the maids to leave the kitchen. They shot me a weird look but left without arguing. I planned on making four of her favourite dishes and some dessert. I got in action and put some rice in the cooker to heat up for the kheer.

After chopping onions and tomatoes for Daal, I started kneading dough. Not to get bored while sweating in the kitchen, I turned on the music and enjoyed preparing food. I was almost done with the dough when I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist and sensed a body, smaller than mine, clung to my back.

"Yuvaan..."

It was Reyna's voice! Why did she wake up so soon? And... she was so close!

I managed to look over my shoulder, and she stared at me intensely with her light brown eyes. She called my name again, but I couldn't respond.

"I want a kiss," she said.

I blinked rapidly.

"What?"

"Morning kiss." She smiled and leaned forward.

What was I supposed to do? She was asking for a kiss herself.

What's so great about it, idiot? As if you never kissed her before.

Even though I had kissed her before, I couldn't make myself move even an inch. I felt my heartbeat thumping in my ears and sweat forming on my temples as Reyna's face kept getting closer.

Do something before she gets angry!

I didn't want to enrage her, so I kissed her forehead. She froze, and I gulped nervously; she narrowed her eyes at me and glimpsed at my lips. She stood up on her tip-toes and was about to kiss me when the cooker's whistle went off.

"Fucking cooker," she cursed and detached herself from me.

She took out a plate from the cabinet and sat in her spot on the dining table. After gaining my senses back, I served her breakfast, and she ate without looking at me.

"Does it taste good?" I asked.

She gave me a short nod and finished her meal. She rushed upstairs and got ready for office, while I prayed that I didn't piss her off with my earlier action. I didn't know why I lost all control on my thinking whenever she came too close to me or tried to get intimate.

She was my wife — I should be happy that she was showing some interest, but I—

"I am leaving. If you need anything, then call me," she announced and exited the house without waiting for my reply.

I didn't have any important work, so I took a leave, but Reyna had some freelancing stuff to take care of; she had gone to Raghuveer's firm for the same. I decided to stop overthinking and hit the gym after emailing some briefs to Monkey.

Heena... why wouldn't that girl listen to me?

I had told her numerous times to analyse her relationship with her boyfriend, but she always waved me off. And after I got married, she had stopped telling me the details too.

And Advait. That guy should move on and find another girl. How long was he planning to have an unrequited crush on Heena?

Talk about yourself, Yuvaan. You like your own wife and still don't have the courage to tell her. I am sure you will die alone.

I pursed my lips and shook my head. In the afternoon, I focused on the workout and did some bench presses. Getting myself physically exhausted helped in distracting me from reminding myself of my shortcomings. I was lifting dumbbells when the memory from the morning hit me like a train.

Reyna only wanted a morning kiss, and I acted like a wimp. If I kept behaving like that, there would be no progress. And if I wouldn't show her that I was also invested in our relationship, she would misunderstand.

What to do...? How can I stop acting like a coward?

I turned my head towards the door when I sensed a familiar stare on me. Reyna was leaning on the doorjamb, staring at me like a hawk.

"When did you return?" I inquired.

"I have been standing here for last fifteen minutes. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to disturb you," she said.

Her gaze intensified, and I felt my body heating up. I felt overly conscious of myself under her stare, so I grabbed my tank top, but Reyna shot me a scowl.

"Why are your cheeks turning red, Yuvaan?"

I clutched the cloth in my hand tightly - she was burning holes in me and making my heart race without even moving an inch.

What's wrong with me?

"Are you shy of being naked in front of your wife?"

I looked at her in disbelief. She hadn't removed her eyes from me since the moment I noticed her — I felt intimidated.

Was she really my innocent Kitten or some imposter?

She roamed her eyes all over me and stepped back. "You must be tired after the workout. Come on, I will prepare some evening snacks for you."

I nodded and went to my room for a shower. After twenty minutes, I was in the living room, sitting beside Reyna, who was browsing through some movies. I took some kachoris from the plate and began munching on it. I wasn't thinking much and just trying not to make a fool out of myself again.

I placed my right arm around my wife's shoulders and pulled her closer to me. She didn't look at me and kept checking out the movies on TV. I thought of initiating a conversation but when I heard the weird sounds from the idiot box, I widened my eyes.

"I liked this movie when Keerti and I watched it together. Let's re-watch it," she said and played the film.

In the beginning itself, a girl was shown lying on the bed with very little piece of clothing on her body. I wished it wasn't what I was thinking it was, but I was wrong. Soon, a guy entered in the frame and jumped on top of that girl.

It was porn...

"You must have watched a lot of these, right?" Reyna asked innocently.

"Ummm... I... I won't lie that I haven't," I said.

"Then why are you so stiff right now? Are you uncomfortable watching it with me?"

"No, of course not. Why would I be concerned about it? I am an adult, and... married."

Somehow, I managed to go through the whole movie and one more without running out of there. It wasn't like I didn't like that movie genre, but I was feeling oversensitive because of Reyna being beside me. My hands were itching to touch her — I didn't know how I managed to control my urge.

On the other hand, Reyna was unaffected. She switched off the TV and got up from the couch. She stretched her limbs and told me that she was feeling drowsy, so she would go ahead of me and get ready to sleep. I agreed instantly and went to my room after her.

Why was I behaving like an idiot? Just like I told her, I was an adult. It wasn't like I hadn't done it before! I will die with all this overthinking.

Once I got inside my room, I grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down in one go. I poured more water and drank it like alcohol. I was on my third glass when I heard the washroom's door click open, and Reyna came outside. I choked myself.

What was she wearing?

My eyes registered the image of the woman in front of me, dressed in a short white shirt-styled night suit. Reyna flicked her hair behind her shoulder and walked seductively towards our bed. She laid down on her side and glanced at me.

"What are you wearing?" I squeaked.

"Clothes," she deadpanned.

"Go and change this instant."

She rolled her eyes. "Never dress up to impress someone, no matter how important they are."

I had no reply as she replayed the same thing I had told her. When she refused to change in other clothes, I got in the bed. Reyna opened her arms, and I hugged her. A jolt of current passed through me as her bare skin came in contact with mine. I closed my eyes shut and began singing nursery rhymes in my mind.

But Reyna shifted in my arms, and poked my cheek. I looked at her, and she batted her eyelashes at me.

"How do I look?" she asked.

"Gorgeous."

She smiled. "I do, right?"

She pecked my lips and buried her face in my chest. When I sensed that I was losing control, I told her to get changed once more. She refused and dug her nails in my back.

This was it!

In a snap, my vision darkened, and I straddled Reyna. I pinned her hands above her head and crashed my lips on hers. I bit her lower lip and didn't give her a chance to react. I moved to her earlobe and tugged on it. She let out a low moan, and my craving got stronger. I kissed her jaw and then moved to her neck.

I sucked on the soft flesh and trailed kisses on her collarbone as I moved my right hand on her waist. I caressed her skin and thighs. I moved my hand upwards, about to go under her shirt, but a sharp pain shot through my skull like lightening.

Yes, do it, Yuv. Hurt her too. She is so weak, so you can do anything to her. Look how small she is; she won't be able to resist even if you force yourself on her.

My inner voice froze me in the place and gleefully started the invisible tape recorder.

"Oh my god! Is he even human? How can he kill someone so ruthlessly?"

"I don't feel good around him. I think he will hurt me too."

"How can a person have so much hatred at such a young age?"

"That's what he will do in future too. We can't trust him — like father, like son. Better keep away from him."

What are you waiting for, Yuvi? Do what you were going to do and prove those people right. Yuvaan, are you listening? Hello...

I felt my head spinning and tried to focus on Reyna's face but the voices in my mind gripped me tightly. I saw my hand inching towards her, so I bit my inner cheek and jumped off from the bed.

"I can't hurt her. I won't."

I dashed inside the washroom and locked the door. I clutched the sink with full force and grabbed my medicine from the mirror cabinet. After gulping down the whole bottle, I sat down on the floor and grabbed my head.

Shut up! Stop calling me a monster. I am not that... Mom...

I quickly rushed out and came back after grabbing my cellphone before Reyna interrogated me. I sat down in a corner and called up Mom. Fortunately, she picked up within a few rings.

"Mom, I am scared."

"What happened, Yuvaan?" she asked worriedly.

"I am scared..."

"Calm down, beta. Focus on my voice; I am here."

I did as she said but my senses were still haywire. She asked me about her daughter-in-law, and I told her that she was outside.

"Go back to your wife," she said.

"No. I will hurt her."

I heard Mom sigh deeply before she advised me to go back to Reyna. I heard a knock on the door and flinched. Mom heard the sound too and told me to open the door. Slowly, I moved forward and unlocked the washroom door.

Reyna got inside and grabbed the phone from my hands when she heard her name from the other side. She didn't say anything and kept nodding to whatever Mom was saying. After a few minutes, she cut the call. I moved back in shame, but she took my hands in hers and made me stand in one spot.

"Look at me, Yuvaan," she said.

I looked at her but kept my gaze lower. She gave my hands a squeeze and told me to look her in the eyes. I glimpsed at her orbs, but my eyes automatically started getting lower and lower.

"Don't look down."

I gulped at her strict tone and matched my stare with hers. She pulled me closer and gave me a genuine smile.

"Repeat after me," she said. "Yuvaan is a good boy. Everyone loves him. Yuvaan's mom is proud of him. He is caring, kind and loveable."

"Yuvaan is a good boy. Everyone loves him. Yuvaan's mom is proud of him," I repeated the positive affirmations.

"Yuvaan is smart and has a lot of friends."

"Yuvaan has a lot friends."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Yuvaan is kind, caring and—"

"Wait! You said 'I love you' just now," I said in surprise.

Reyna shook her head, and I furrowed my eyebrows.

She did say she loved me, right? Or did I imagine it?