She woke up to find the other side of the bed empty. She sat up stretching herself and remembered she had to hurry to get ready. Getting off the bed she walked to he washroom. Last night's events revolved around her head as she brushed her teeth. No wonder, the headache. 

Understanding that she had ample of time to get ready she quickly ran down. The previous morning and afternoon she had made a little time to meet all neighbors and bid them farewell. But her two loyal friends - Tobby and Bozo were left out. She greeted Pinky. 

"Madam, where are you going ? You do still remember right, we.." Pinky began in her usual teasing tone.

"I am running away. " Anika laughed. Pinky made a rather funny face expressing disapproval. 

"Will be back in few minutes!" She laughed waving the box of rusks, and Pinky understood. Putting her dupatta properly Anika walked out to be greeted by the fresh morning air. Aah, Lovely morning! 

She walked around the complex where she knew she'd find the two dogs. She had barely stepped after turning when she almost banged into someone. 

"Hey, watch where-- !" She scolded, immediately looking up. Her eyes settled on her favorite pair of eyes. Her husband stood right before her, close to her. He was panting. Sweat trickling down his forehead and neck. His eyes that held intensity, staring at her. He leaned closer and her eyes grew wide. A smirk formed on his face, shaking his head he wished her a good morning. Yuck! A few droplets of his sweat fell on her. 

She frowned wishing him back. But the minute she had taken her eyes off his, her frown disappeared. She stood their looking at his biceps, his perfect abs beneath the tight fitting black gym vest. She gulped how wonderful it would be to run her hands over them. No, no,no. Anika get a hold. She reminded herself. A few young girls jogging past them gave her husband looks. Anika straightened her lips. He was 'her' husband - she was tempted to tell them. Before she could turn back at him, Tobby & Bozo were beside her leg. She used to often come down and talk her heart out to them. She did not know whether they understood what she said but they showed affection.

She smiled widely bending down. Shivaay looked amused, these two got such welcoming wide long smile and he ? But, he did notice that grimace of his jealous wife. Grinning, he too knelt down, facing her trying to get the dogs' attention. Strangely the dogs did not turn to him. They continued to lick her hands and eat the rusks nonchalantly.

He tried again and the dog looked back at his wife. He furrowed his brows. They didn't seem to give a damn to him.  He simply continued to stare at her smiling at them.  He felt left out. He felt rejected. Ever since he had come, he felt so aloof from her. Now, even these two pets. He gave a last attempt to get the dog's attention. He failed. He decided to give up and head back up. Yes, he was angry. He never knew pets showed tantrums too. He was about to rise when she held his hand. Taking his hand, she shifted slightly closer to him. The dogs finally looked at him and licked his hand. He stared at her. She looked at him. 

"Are they upset too? With me?" He asked in a soft voice.

"Maybe!" She said cuddling the dogs. She was going to miss these two so much. Whenever she felt lonely she would come down and play with them. That was about these loyal friends. They wouldn't leave you. But, now that she was leaving them, she felt bad. She knew there were other people in the apartment who loved them and would take care. But, still she knew they would feel her absence. Who better than her could understand what someone's absence felt like? 

"I will miss you both." She said softly, running her hand over them lovingly. He turned to her appalled. She had grown so close to them. It was surprising because she was one person who didn't even like the sight of them. No wonder they were of a disposition similar to hers - ignore him!

They both walked away in silence.The dogs kept trailing them. Like they understood. Maybe they did. They barked for attention but Anika walked without looking at them. He simply followed her. 

* * *

He stepped out of the bathroom in his vest and a towel around his waist. His hair was wet. He looked up to find his wife staring at him through the mirror. But he couldn't look into her eyes. For his eyes moved everywhere on her. She was looking gorgeous in a red saree. The sight of her tying the dori of her blouse was a freaking turn on. He had to tear away his eyes with much effort.

He grabbed his red kurta from the bed. His mother had bought the clothes for him to wear. He hadn't even bothered to have a look at them, he was too busy figuring out his wife. Unable to refrain from temptation he looked up again. This time she was wearing her earrings - round loops with jhumkas. Her hair on one side in the front have her ample view of her back covered with the fancy blouse. That perfect skin on her neck, as she tilted her head over to one side. Why were his lips so away from that? 

He was caught, when she stared back at him. He could see the color of her cheeks grow pinkish. A swift grin crossed his face. She knew. 

Looking away yet again, he did a little mental dance. His wife knew what was on his mind. But more than that,he saw his desire reflect in her eyes. He pulled the kurta over his head and then down and once again he looked up. She was staring at him. Perhaps ogling. His final line of threshold vanished when he noticed her struggling with the nuptial chain. He walked over to her.

Anika usually wore a simple nuptial chain with her regular dress. It was a gift from him, she had received a few days after the marriage when he found out that the one he had made her wear during the ceremony was awfully heavy and too much for her to wear on a normal day. She actually was happy that her in laws weren't particular about her wearing the nuptial chain or applying the scared vermilion on a day to day basis. She only took all efforts to get ready on religious and social functions. Right now she was trying hard to get the hook into the loop.

She almost froze when she saw him approaching her. She had noticed him check her out as much as he wanted. As much as she had wanted to disappear, she wanted to stay right there and stare back at her handsome husband. Just, how handsome he was? The fact that she had kept herself physically away from him last night pinched her. A little sex would be okay. She smacked herself for that. Remember, you are not desperate for sex you are desperate for love?

More, you don't want to be depending on him, again.

Before she could flush her thoughts, he was right behind her. How could she practically think clean? He moved his hand to the hook. She let him, slipping her hands away and down by her side. As he tried, his hand moved against the skin on her shoulder, back and neck. Shivers ran down her spine. Well in her defense she had been deprived of his touch for - too long. 

He stared at her through the mirror occasionally. He was trying hard and it did not work. Of course, because only a little attention was at the task and more at his wife. Had this been any other day and not there home warming, he would have forgotten everything and stripped the saree off her. Taking her right there at the dressing table or against the wall. 

He slowly bent down his lips to the hook. Using his teeth he tried to make a small gap between the walls of the hook. In the process his stubble rubbed against her neck. She fisted her fingers, her toes curled up and she bit her tongue to not gasp. God, today morning was crazy. Right from the morning, her thoughts were about him. There was a thick sexual tension between them right since the time she had almost banged into him. So much for pushing him away the previous night! 

He finally succeeded after what seemed like eternity to her. She said a quick 'thank you' and left the room quickly. Last thing she wanted was to make things more awkward, when he would remove that towel around his waist. She shook her head as though to dust away those lustful thoughts in her head.

He groaned once she had left. Not fair. She practically could turn him on with one gaze. He made a grumpy face walking back and grabbing his bottom. Why was he behaving like a hormone ruled teenager? Well the best part was, it was mutual. He grinned. She would never tell him she needed him as much as he needed her. Well he should certainly do something about it. Before that it was her heart she had to take care of. He hated to see her heartbroken. 

He looked at the clothing in hand. Oh no! "Anika! Mom!" He screamed. Did his mom really expect him to wear that?

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-Anami!