He was busy gazing at her as she got dressed. She particularly took care to be slow and give him a spectacle to have eyes for. She looked at him through the mirror. His phone broke the romance between their eyes. He walked over to the table and picked the call. As usual he waited to hear from the other person first. 

"Mishra what?" His irritation was evident on realising who the caller was.

"Sir. We have a meeting in ten minutes. I've been trying to get in touch but your phone was unreachable!" The man on the other end said wiping the droplets off his forehead.

"Oh the K.R.Architects!" The blue eyed man closed his eyes. How could he forget!

"Tell them I was there but had to go back home for something personal came up. Push it to lunch time." He said staring at his wife who was now standing so close to him with her hands playing with his buttons. He pushed away her hands trying to focus on the piece of news his employee was giving him. She smirked pressing her lips against his jaw. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. Those almond eyes filled with naughtiness, those luscious lips that she pouted looking at him with mischief shining in her eyes.

He grabbed her hand which was now tracing patterns on his face. "Mishra, your voice is breaking. Text me whatever you were saying!" With that he kept the phone on the table and is now free hand wrapped around his wife's waist. Pulling her closer. 

"Mr. What's wrong with you?" She arched backwards trying to push his hand away.

"What's wrong with you Mrs.?" He cocked up a brow kissing her arched neck.

"Shivaay!" She said pushing his face away. She couldn't believe this man was for real. He could practically start anywhere anytime.

"What were you doing!"

"Revenge." She said slowly pushing him away, adjusting his collar. "Now you get, how annoying it is. You did when I was talking to your Mom!"

He laughed, kissing her forehead. "I don't want to go. Let me call off everything and stay home."

"Mr. I need to go to office. So ....you can stay home and..."

"Mood spoiler!" He exclaimed, nibbling her ear, hugging her and swinging her.

"Now. Enough. Go. I don't want your employees to say that SSO is Joru Ka Gulaam." She said breaking away from his hold.

"Excuse me. I am not. " he said rubbing his nose over hers.

"Really.?" She said pulling his nose. "See your nose is growing like Pinocchio's."

He chuckled. "Let's go."

"No you leave. I need to clean the mess we made in the bathroom and also the mattress outside"

"Okay let me help."

"No.no. there won't be any help I know. Off you go to work. You are already late, Darling." She said pushing him out of room. 

"This is too much. I am offering help and you..."

"Bye Shivaay!" She cut him off.

"Fine. bye!" He pretended to be angry, walking down the stairs.

"Listen.." She said leaning over the railing. 

"Hmm." He stopped and turned at once. She smiled.

"Come home early." 

"Why?" He asked giving her a teasing smile.

"Because I am going to eat you for dinner." She said giving the expression of a tigress.

"Ouch! Eat me now!" He opened his mouth wide biting the air, copying her.

She laughed. "Take care!"

"There she changes the topic again. Miss me!" He said turning to head down again.

"Same to you!" She screamed entering the room with a stupid smile on her face.

* * *

Two days later :

"God Shivaay. Can you stop staring."

"Anika, you look so gorgeous. Not my fault if I can't take my eyes off you." He grinned cheekily.

"That's an amazing compliment. Now look away.Before people take notice." She said looking around. Everything seemed in place except her husband's behavior.

He looked away but his hand rested on her back.  She glanced at him rolling her eyes. He could be such a kid at times.

The function - Viren's niece's baby shower was going well. She was happy to be around him as they met many of their family friends. They all seemed equally happy to see her with him. She had honestly lost interest in such functions. The only question she used to be asked was– when is he coming? At a time when she herself had no clue, that question tormented her. But now she couldn't be more happy.

A while later they were seated at a table busy talking about the florists. She was telling him about the rates they quoted. He put forth his suggestion of buying one and keeping it for Oberoi hotels and functions exclusively. 

"That's a nice idea." She said smiling at him. She liked how he had the confidence to buy the whole world. They suddenly fell silent, staring at each other as they heard three women gossiping about them. 

"It's been more than two years. Still no good news from them. " Remarked the first.

"They weren't living together I've heard. For one whole year. God knows what kind of relationship they have." Said the second.

Shivaay clenched his jaw. She held his hand squeezing it gently. 

"It's simple. Either the marriage is not going good or maybe one of them can't contribute to baby." said the third with an air of superiority stuffing the paneer tikka in her mouth.

Shivaay lost it. He kept his glass on the table and was going to walk to them and shut their mouths. How dare they comment on 'their ' relationship? What was between him and his wife was theirs not the public's to discuss. She held his hand and dragged him to the corner of the room. 

"Anika. You heard them, right? Who the hell are they to talk about us?" He spoke between gritted teeth 

"Shivaay relax. It's natural. Forget it. It doesn't matter to us. It shouldn't!"

"Are you kidding me. I will not tolerate them speaking about us that way. Let me ..." He said trying to walk but she held his hand.

"What will you get out of it? How many mouths will you shut? It doesn't matter Shivaay. People will have something or the other to say anyway. It's human nature. Forget it." She said relaxing her hold on his hand.

He was frustrated. "Anika how can you be so.." 

"Because I've been hearing all sorts of nonsense from past one year. " she blurted out and then regretted. "Look Shivaay..."

"What? What have you been hearing?" He asked looking into her eyes. He was annoyed. Very annoyed. No Tom Dick Harry could comment on his relationship with his wife.

"Doesn't matter Shivaay. It's really not imp-"

"What have you been hearing?" He repeated himself looking into her eyes.

"Shivaay its..." She looked away. 

He pulled her closer. "I am waiting for the answer. " she looked at him. His eyes appearing more greenish like they did when he was angry.

"They kept saying things about us, our marriage, they said you probably weren't interested in me. They said I was probably not a good wife. They said a lot on the same lines. How does it matter? At first it was annoying but after a point I stopped bothering." She said in a single breath.

"Why didn't you tell me this?" His blood boiled. How dare they! 

"Because this wasn't important. There was barely little time I spoke to you for. Why would I tell you this and upset you over it?"

"Anika, I have you been hiding things?" He spoke annoyed.

"What! I have been hiding things? Shivaay. You didn't have time for it." She spat, not able yo put up with his annoyance and angry tone.

"Ani--" he stopped midway when he saw Viren uncle approaching them. He stepped slightly away from her, smiling. She understood in seconds. She looked away trying to pretend as though they weren't arguing. But she hated it. Every conversation turned into an argument. This never happened before. First about the letter now this. She need space. She walked away greeting uncle on the way. 

Shivaay looked at her walk away. He felt bad. He shouldn't have expressed his frustration on the gossip, at her. But why the hell hadn't she even made a mention about it? How much had she put up with in his absence?

A while later, Shivaay was trying to get her attention while she was clearly ignoring him. Lunch had began. He saw that she was least bothered to see him and still least bothered about having lunch. He took a plate and walked up to her. She was in a conversation with a lady. He interrupted their conversation pulling her aside. 

"What? " she asked cross.

"Eat!" He said in the same tone.

"I don't want to." She said preparing to walk back.

"Don't you dare walk back. I won't think twice before creating a scene. Now. Eat. Or I will feed you. Choice is yours."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't want to."

"You have to. Because we need to complete our argument. You need to eat to fight me. Eat."

She took the plate from his hand. " I don't want to fight. Certainly not you. And you shouldn't try being cute. You fail at it miserably." She remarked sitting down and placing the plate on the table.

He smiled. "Who wants to be cute when one can be sexy?" 

"Don't you Mr.SSO. I am angry. Really angry." She said irritated at his cocky attitude. What did he think of himself?

"Ouch!" He slipped away, to bring himself a plate. There was no way she would share.

He settled on the chair beside hers. "I am sorry!" He said placing his plate beside hers. 

She remained silent, not sparing a glance.

Dejected at her response he quietly began eating. His appetite was lost. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Don't be mad at the lunch. It's from my favorite craters."she said without looking at him. His smile was back. This woman couldn't stay mad at him, just like he couldn't!

" I care Anika. I just get mad at you for keeping it all within yourself. I am sorry for talking that way."

"Don't say sorry!" She warned.

"Oh yes. I had to kiss you!"

She shook her head. This man was impossible at times. Nonetheless she couldn't stop loving him.

"By the way, what exactly do you women do shooing away the men?"

"Nothing illegal. We just dance." She said in a clipped tone.

He slowly nodded his head. "I wonder what kind of dance is that. "

She did not respond.

"You are still mad at me?"

"When am I not?"

"When you are mad about me!" He said knowing she was already melting.

"I am not mad about you." She said in a serious tone. This man had his ways, to get to her heart. He freaking knew all the routes!

"Give me a hug and quit this drama!" He said moving closer.

She immediately glanced at him. Showing him those eyes. The typical way a wife looks at a husband when she is threatening him.

"Those eyes won't work me on Darling " he said looking lovingly at her eyes and then drifting his gaze down to her lips. That did it most times. And it did. She parted her lips gasping inaudibly.

"Let me just kiss you right on your lips, those ladies are looking at us. They will have better gossip." He said seductively.

"Hold your horses Shivaay. I have spoilt you big time I guess." She said trying hard to maintain her cold pretence. He was a tease. A terrible tease.

"Yes you have. " he said, playing with her bangles. 

"Shivaay. Behave."

" I have been. "

She stared at him. 

"Hug or kiss. Choose one fast."

"That's not fair."

"Anika, hug or kiss?" 

She quickly gave him a side hug. "I don't like arguing with you like that!" She said softly.

"I don't like it either!" He said tightly holding her.

She pulled back but he didn't let her. "Shivaay!" She whispered.

"That wasn't a hug."

"I will hug you at home. Now leave"

"Nope. Now. Proper hug. Or penalty."

"You are such a...cheater."

"You know that well, don't you? I will leave you now on one condition." He leaned closer. "Tonight... Strip dance or lap..whatever you prefer!" 

She widened her eyes, her cheeks heating up at his words.

"Shivaay!"

"I am not leaving you."

"Fine. Deal." She said and he released her, she adjusted her saree embarrassingly looking around. Hoping no one took notice. If he was smart she was smarter! Let the night come.

This story is an addiction!💕

Thanks for all the love.

And yes prepare yourself for ⚡ last storm of the year! 

-Anami!