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This chap is affectionately dedicated to - AnjaliPal9🖤✨

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~Shaurya's Pov~

"Trust is cultivated, not forced...."

After I finished speaking, I hung up the phone. The moment I looked up, my eyes met with Manjari's frightened eyes. Do I look scary??... I mean I won't deny that I'm a short tempered person, but I don't get angry without reason...Then why does she always fear. Our eye contact lasted for, I guess probably, a microsecond but that was enough for me to understand her fear and nervousness.

Taking a deep sigh, I called her name

"Manjiri"

She jerked her head up to look at me with her wide eyes. Hey, did I call the wrong name??...I recalled. No, how can it be...Her name is Manjiri only. Her nervous frightened eyes are confusing me now. Shaking off my silly thoughts, I continued

"There are few things that I want to discuss with you. Can I ??"

I could sense her hesitation, as she was avoiding our eye contact and was busy fiddling with the ends of her cotton chunni . Oh God! She is really scared, I literally wanted to ease her out of her unnecessary fear. Getting no response from her, I took some steps towards her but she automatically took a few steps behind. God! What's wrong with this girl?

I ran my hand through my hair thinking of what should I do? I wish Dev's quality of easily mixing up and making a girl comfortable to talk, would come in me for a while. Well it's not that I'm jealous of his quality or I admire him for his this quality. It's just that it is need of the hour rn. Taking a deep breath, I gently told her

"Look Manjiri, I would really appreciate if you answer my questions in words... there's no need to be scared or nervous. Ok?...

We are already husband and wife, what's done can't be undone. So it's better for both of us to make up our minds to live with each other for the rest of our lives. Are you listening to what I'm saying right?"

She glanced at me.

"Ji" (Yes)

She whispered while nodding. A warm feeling hit my heart when I heard her speaking, ok ok...I mean whispering. She still looked like a frightened rabbit.

"Are you fine with the reception party? If you want, we can postpone it... there's no such pressure." I asked her calmly.

"Ok...
I mean it's ok, no need to postpone.."

She again whispered in a low voice.

Good! At least she obeys, I mean responds without any tantrums. Unlike other girls. She isn't like what I imagined her to be, I used to think that she would neglect everything due her personal problems. But no, to my surprise she respects my family's happiness and expectations. I am damn sure that she is unwillingly accepting everything. That is why I asked her this question.

She is literally something different, so as per sharing my life with her. This seems a fair deal.

"Alright then, it's too late. Go to sleep....

Umm.. as you can see the bed is big enough for both of us. So I hope you'll not feel uncomfortable in sharing."

After saying this, I got on my bed and laid on the right side. My bed, my comfy bed....I missed it yesterday. I can sleep well only on my bed, nowhere else. Suddenly, I received a notification on my phone...Oh! It's a e-mail. I opened it and began reading.

Soon I observed her climbing and taking the other side of the bed. I sighed thinking that at least she trusts me. Unknowingly I smiled with this new fact. She covered herself with the comforter while turning her back towards me. I kept my phone aside and switched off the lights.

I guess she is feeling cold. Should I adjust the temperature of the AC?... But why? I like to sleep at this temperature only. Anyway it's my room and she's having her comforter. So Shaurya don't think too much and go to sleep.

We both drifted off to sleep while maintaining a clear distance or can say a respectable space between us....

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~Manjiri's Pov~

"Sometimes you gotta pretend that everything's okay...."

To be honest, I had never thought that my life would ever put me in these situations... I'm totally clueless of what life will show up next. I thought of the things that had happened during this period of time. The more I think about all this, the more I get perplexed....

I woke up as I felt morning rays entering inside the room. Stretching my arms lazily, I sat upright. I looked around and glanced at my husband. It seems that he is in deep sleep, as his soft snores are reaching my ears. He's sleeping on his stomach peacefully. Standing on my toes, I slowly got up from the bed and walked towards the wardrobe. I took my clothes and entered the washroom. I changed into a pink saree. After 20 minutes of struggle, I finally draped the saree on my figure upto my satisfaction. Uff! This was really a tough task.

Walking out of the washroom I again glanced at Shaurya, he was still sleeping. Thank God! I sighed in relief as I didn't want to fall in any kind of awkward situation and that to early in the morning. So without making any noise, I went out of the room and made my way down the stairs.

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I looked around. Looks like no one is awake yet.

Then all of a sudden I heard the sound of someone sneezing, I turned around and found Kaveri Dadi coming out of her room. I greeted her softly

"Good morning Dadi!"

She smiled and came towards me.

"Good morning bacche!"

She greeted me back while caressing my cheeks. She then made me sit beside her on the sofa and held my hands. Seeing her doing such sweet things reminded me of my Dadi, and unknowingly I got tears in my eyes. Maybe Kaveri Dadi understood the reason behind my tears that is why she said this

"Beta, sometimes people leave to make us learn how to live... I know it's hard to accept but in this case all are helpless..."

Taking a deep sigh, she continued

"I not only suffered the loss of my husband but also lost a son.... But you know what beta, support and love of my loved ones gave me strength to endure that immense pain. And by that see ....I'm still standing strong..."

She said the last sentence with a big smile. Suddenly she started coughing while speaking. I made her drink some water.

I felt bad for spoiling her mood in the morning.

Changing the topic, I asked her

"Dadi, I think you've got cold...would you like to drink my handmade ginger tea??"

"Baccha I would love to....afterall I never say no to my first love."

She answered jokingly while laughing. Her cute laugh made me chuckle.

Suddenly I saw Dii smiling from behind....

~~~

~Dev's Pov~

Holy crap!, I woke up late again.

Well I won't deny that I've ruined my body clock very badly and I am not sure if I can ever get back to normal. Yaa seriously.... Everyone would have eaten breakfast without me till now. I hurriedly went downstairs. I can see my entire family gathered at the dining table, or can say they were getting up after eating. Oh no poor me!

I took my seat after greeting everyone,

"Good morning peeps...sorry I'm a little late."

"Little??"

Ved Bhai said while narrowing his eyes. I sheepishly smiled at him and said

"Alright. Alright, I agree that I'm very late."

"Did you even brushed your teeth or not? Or are you coming straight out of your bed?"

Shaurya Bhai mocked at me sarcastically while being busy with his phone. Oh God, why can't he leave a single chance to taunt me? I replied him back saying

"Oh please Bhai, I'm not as messy as you think. Being a dentist, I know how important it is to brush before eating..."

Senior Mohans got busy with their usual respective works after leaving the table. Completely ignoring our little silly debate. Shri Bhabhi served me while smiling on our bros' banters whereas Manjiri Bhabhi was taking dishes back to the kitchen. All of a sudden Chhote Papa called Ved Bhai, so he went there leaving his belongings on the table.

Soon Ved Bhai's phone started ringing. Oh it's a unknown number, I picked up the phone.

"Hello"

"Hello! Who's this? And why my call is not being picked up since morning???"

A lady asked in a rough tone. Well it's rude, why is she talking like Sam... I chuckled mentally on my thought of comparing Sam to her. Shaking off my thoughts I asked her

"You've made a call and you are only asking who's this... with whom you want to talk Madam?"

"Manjiri"

The lady replied sternly. Then suddenly my phone started ringing. And in the process of picking up my call, I carelessly passed Ved Bhai's phone to Manjiri Bhabhi without even thinking. I told her

"Someone wants to talk to you Bhabhi..."

She gave me a questioning look and took the phone.

But to my surprise, something unexpected happened.... I don't know from where Shaurya Bhai suddenly came in between and snatched the phone away from Bhabhi's hand....

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