'Her eyes
stole my heart,
Her smile
gave me life,
Her presence
made me high,
Her touch
left me breathless."
-Perry poetry

____________________

Kailash

Sadhvi's POV

It was ten- thirty when every ritual was completed and dinner was served and eaten.

Most of the relatives were gone only the people living in this house were here. We were sitting in the living room, opening gifts and looking at the pictures we had on our mobile phones.

I was dead meat by then.

I was tired, the whole of my back was aching, my ankles felt swollen, I wanted to move them but everytime I did, the anklets I was wearing made a sound and I did not wanted to catch more attention than I was already earning.

"Our aunt from mom's side from Jalandar gifted a box of casserole" Jiya didi said tearing the wrapper off

Giggling to myself I shook my head, what use will I make of it?

The ceramic casserole looked very delicate though.

I tried to stretch my neck a little and looked to the corner where almost 17 bouquet of a variety of flowers kept for decoration.
They made the house look like a flower shop.

Most of them were white lilies. I smiled even though I wanted rested I didn't wanted to leave the fantastic company.

I was sitting sandwiched between Bua ji and Mom, they were both either complimenting me themselves or telling me what their friends said about me. Jiya and Jagriti were opening gift and showing them to us in between.

I sighed silently and tried craning my neck to stretch it a bit again, my head was feeling heavy on my shoulders. There was a point in between my right shoulder which was aching badly.

Burning, it was feeling like set on fire.

My head was foggy, maybe I needed sleep. I didn’t wanted to say that out because they looked very happy. I was the new member of family, all the attention was meant to be bestowed on me.

I smiled looking at mom when she showed me a picture of her Maasi from Amritsar, she was telling me about her nature.

“Madam, shall I serve the dessert?” the maid asked mom and she turned to her almost as if just remembered

“Oh yes, yes. Let me help you”

Mom disappeared inside the kitchen soon and I took that as an opportunity to move my ankles a little but once again the anklets made sound. Nobody paid attention though.

Mom walked out of the kitchen with a tray in her hand of dessert and a maid behind her holding another,
“You go serve these to the people inside library”

She said standing at the threshold of the living area pointing the house help towards the library when her eyes moved up,
“Avrudh? What are you doing here son?”

My breathe hitched. Has Avrudh been standing there for a long time? Was he waiting for me?

Mom looked at the clock and almost whined, “I am really sorry bacche.” She looked at both of us

“I almost ruined your first night”

Bua ji gasped too looking at the clock

“Its 10:30 already it was just 9 awhile ago” Jiya said in horror keeping the box on the table

Beside me Bua ji pushed me to stand up and said,
“Bhabhi give her her’s and Avrudh’s phirni,  they will eat it in their room and we are really sorry kids” 

I stood up and felt the circulation of my feet disturbed, they felt heavy now—I almost wanted to be carried

“Here” Mom handed me the bowls and beckoned me to go upstairs.

First step up the stairs, I looked up and saw Avrudh standing there with his forearms resting on the balustrade. He watched me walking up with no reaction and turning his head he watched me entering his bedroom too.

I stood there at the center and counted to ten. I needed to calm myself a little.

I don’t know what I wanted but I definitely knew what is to be done on the first night. I was no kid.

Oh! you definitely are not.

You horny cockroach!

I widened my eyes realising what I just called myself.
From outside I heard mom saying,
“What are you waiting for? Go inside your room”

Thats when I heard his footsteps.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Or was that my heart only?!

With the bowls of dessert in both of my hands I walked upto the seat near the window, before I could sit he entered the room and locked the doors.

That definitely was my heart!

He stood there with his back pressed to the door, hands crossed on his chest looking at me.
Although my back was facing him, I saw his face through the window glass.

My heart was beating inside my chest wildly, waiting for him, if he wants to say something I was all ears, if he wanted to do something maybe I was still there.

Maybe a minute passed by when without any word said he kept looking at me, I watched the condensed water droplets slipping through the ceramic bowl.

“You…you want phirni for dessert?”
I said separating the two bowl, one to my side and the other opposite to mine

  He sighed and it looked like all he needed was my words because he moved and stood leaning sideways against the opposite wall, facing me
“You have a habit of keeping me waiting”

I looked down.

“Not intentionally though, it is because you don’t know how to say no” he continued

I shake my head reasoning, “I can’t just tell them, it’s time and you should let me go to my room ,it’s my first night”

“That... and sure you can tell them how tired you are. I bet the moment your head hit the mattress you will pass out.”

I started eating the dessert. My tongue savoring cool condensed milk flavor with dry fruits. Pistachio only tastes better when served with milk dishes.

I am more like a walnut person. If that's even a thing.

You like raisins? Why?

He sighed again and crouched down in front of me, when his hands landed on my lap, my breath just left me.

I looked at him with wide eyes, “relax I am not going to do anything unless you ask me to, remember the promise? Our engagement night?” he teased

I narrowed my eyes at him, though the breathlessness was evident by then, he only laughed shaking his head and touched my feet.

“What are you doing?” I whispered yelled

“shush… just give me your foot”

I stared at him remaining unresponsive and losing patience he took a hold of my one foot and started massaging it

I heard something explode. Was that my heart? Again?

I only had one, and I lost it to him.

He was massaging my foot with such firm and confident finger pads that the pressure application was swoon. I was nearly falling asleep.

I am ticklish, very ticklish that one finger in the web space of my toes and I would jump. Here why my tickle sensors were not responding I would absolutely love to know.

My fingers moved on their own and I held the phirni in front of his lips to feed him, “Thank you” I said with a deep blush.

He was touching my feet on our first night, what more reason is needed?

He just smiled at me accepting the bite.

.
.

After eating the dessert Avrudh decided to call it a night and I couldn’t build the courage to protest and the reason I wanted to protest for, was something I was too shy to admit.

I lay flat on my back after changing into my pajamas, beside me Avrudh was lucky enough that he was wearing the same sweats and sweater from before.

He just took the sweater off when his naked torso fell on bed.

The centralized heated room was deliciously warm and I was feeling hot anyways.

I was very very aware of the male specimen lying beside me to my left. First time ever.

I was counting sheep, the idea of falling asleep under new roof was not easily digestible.

Just last night I slept beside my sister, cuddled to each other cherishing the last night in the same room, and now I was to sleep here, beside a man totally stranger to me yet someone I was destined to call mine.

I wasn’t known to tell my misery to people and I wasn’t going to change that anytime soon, my miseries are what make me, ME. Avrudh was someone I was to share my ups and downs with but giving him my vulnerabilities this soon, doesn’t feel like it.

I will share my happiness first then learn to give my sorrows too. I was determined to make him love me, accept me like everybody else too just a little deeper from his side I wanted to be loved.

Ten minutes of lying when sleep was not there to meet us both, even though I was sleepy, I said,
“Avrudh?”

He hummed.

“Your…um… you have a big nose” I said smiling like crazy and turned my back to him.

There I said it.

I counted to ten and nothing happened.

Just when I was about to turn and look for his reaction he attacked me with a bear hug.

I gasped. He made me turn to right, sideways and hugged me from the back

“You left me no choice” he said hugging my person tight, burying his face in my hair

I bit my lips to hide my blush or smile I don’t know what.

“Avrudh?”

“I know about my nose, Sadhvi and I also know you love that” he said cockily, his chest rumbling against my back.

Fuck! That was delicious.

Thanks to god I am not male.

You know what I mean right? No fear for tenting?

Yeah that!

“Avrudh… congratulations”

He was about to say something when he paused and pressed hard against me, breathing in my hair,
“Congratulations to you too Mrs. Sadhvi Avrudh Dhillon”

And if now my heart wasn’t going out to him, I was willingly going to escort it there.

Leave me. Leave me you all.

We belong to him.

.

.

Avrudh’s POV

We rode the car early morning to go meet our family guru.

The temple they resides in is at the outskirts of Delhi. A big temple.

We touched the first stair of the entrance of the temple and made our way inside.

After offering our prayers to the god we moved towards the resident’s quarters. We were escorted by guru ji’s students to the waiting area.

I sat there with Sadhvi on the same two sitter couch; in front of us were Mom and Bua ji with my nephew on Bua ji’s lap. The cousins of mine were planning to go out for shopping.

The sitting area was simple and sober, bamboo couches and bamboo center table with glass table top.

There was shed on our heads otherwise the surround was all in open. The open area was trapped from the north and south directions with the temple's back and residential area respectively.

The east direction was open leading further into the forest or more like government land. The west direction was shelter for domestic animals.

I always loved this place, when I was young, we used to come here often because of my grandparents. The guru ji’s family has been our teachers since our ancestors.

With a kid me playing around and my grandparents offering prayers to god with them, almost half of my primary schooling years went.
I was told I am Lord Shiva’s blessing to my parents, so they named me my name, Avrudh, the descendant.

I am not one of those people who believe in god blindly, but I do believe in destiny and fate.
I believe there is someone who has written something for you. We pray to not to end the inevitable we pray for enough strength to face it.

I like listening to Guru ji because his words make me realize and often accept what is served.

We were served water as soon as the students escorted us here.

Guru ji joined us within few minutes of waiting and both Mom and Bua ji went to touch his feet.

“Khush raho”
he blessed them both smiling and when Bua ji’s grandchild touched his feet, he smiled running a hand through his hair,

“Excel in everything that comes ahead, you have a journey full of adventure ahead”

I walked taking Sadhvi’s hand, led her to him and we both touch guru ji’s feet too, “Saubhagya shaali bhava”

He said to us both.

I don’t know but I wanted to know what he has in store for both of us.

He who writes, the one who has written my destiny with her. I was curious to walk with her on a long path holding her hand, no matter how the paths going to be I wanted us there, together.

“Congratulations to you on your wedding” he said to both us

“Thank you” said I and Sadhvi smiled nodded shyly

Shy Sadhvi was sight to behold.
That was something I witness rare.

“Sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding, I was in Mathura just arrived this morning”

“That’s why we brought them here for your blessing”

Guru ji smiled nodding to himself.

He has a calm face, peaceful eyes, there was a small smile always resting on his lips. Guru ji had long hair, longer than mine, wavy they appeared, his beard was long till his sternum.

The greys showed his wisdom.

“My son is finally married guru ji, like you said he will find his life partner this year” mom beamed at me and looked at Sadhvi with so much love

Even my Mom was whipped.

I was suddenly shy for no reason.

What if I just hold Sadhvi’s hand?
Will she bit my head off or retract?

The night of our engagement I said, I will not touch her until she ask me to, only I know how much I stopped myself from kissing her last night.

The erotic memory woke me up for weeks.

She left that bold impact on my lips that it reached my heart with the speed of electrons.

Speaking of last night, I realized one more thing about her, she doesn’t know when to say no, she never wanting to disrespect others even if her health is on stake, stays with them to please them.
That os what makes her happy.

“I was looking into his Kundli, when you asked for dates. They have a good life waiting ahead. A long beautiful journey, they remind me of Kailash residents. Late he might be to find his fate but this made her lucky for him. They were both learning to grow and share and nothing can best that"

He said looking at a long distance. I remembered again just then, he out of respect never look at women for long.

“Avrudh was Lord Shiva’s blessing to you, he was born after Maha-mrityunjay pooja.”

Sadhvi looked at him suddenly too much interested; she maybe, wanted to hear what he was about to say all in alertness.

Bua ji and Mom were happy about what Guru ji was about to say too they were sitting there with their hands joined and lips smiling.

“She is Sadhvi, just like her name simplicity, a nobel woman, goddess Parvati’s reflection. If anything she’s going to complete her life partner like pieces of puzzle. Goddess shakti”

Sadhvi’s eyes widened and she looked at her joined hands resting on her lap in embarrassment.

Her cheeks turned red. And I was sure if I was to point it out, she was to blame the cold air.

The words of appreciation coming from Guru ji’s mouth did nothing but boosted my ego. I was proud of myself earlier but now I was even proud of my wife. I was confident of us.

I never needed assurance but few good words are always welcome.

Sadhvi wanting to hide her face started scratching her forehead, looking at my hands resting on my lap, I held my palm up.

I wanted her to hold it but decided otherwise asking her with gestures what happened.

She just shook her head.

And I wanted nothing but to pinch her cheeks, Sadhvi never looked this nervous before.

After eating Langar in the temple we all left for our house. Today was our wedding reception, another evening where Sadhvi will be too exhausted when she will join me in bed.

Ride back home was torturous, I don’t drive often, we have drivers for that. I drive only when it is some family affair, I have a driver to drive me to work place and fro.

Only on personal occasions I drive and me driving with my wife sitting beside was an emotion I was yet to experience.

I was a gone cases ever since the night I found myself seated beside her, on her passenger seat but the other way around was yet for me to experience.

Looking at Sadhvi, feels so complete, she feels so much like me. She is a part of me I never knew I was to find, and now that I have her I feel complete. How strange does that sound.

We might be feeling hundreds of things too soon but real things feel just this way.

It happens just like this, one day you meet someone and for some inexplicable reason, you feel more connected to them. Like they were what you wanted for so long. A part of you, you realized is lost when you learned what that feeling feels like.

Sadhvi felt that part for me.

I find myself wanting to spend an evening with her, where she isn’t tired like last night, where she will listen to everything I have to share with her.

I want to know her opinion about everything that matters and everything that don’t.

I want to see how her eyes light up when I talk about my passion, I want to watch our lips share the words and tell the stories I will never forget.

I want a routine with her now that I have her I want to wake up in the morning with her to the sun shining. I want its rays touching her flawless skin, I am curious to see how its rays can make someone shine who always glows.

I want to make the sun jealous because I have one of my own.

Watching an old couple crossing the road while we were stopped on a red light, I wanted to have that with Sadhvi. I pictured us growing old holding hands crossing roads.

Although with wrinkle we were both looking at each other like we did on our first date. All blushing and mushy.

When we parked the car and made our way to walk inside the house, Bua ji and Mom got carried with their conversation where I decided to walk by my wife’s side.

Sadhvi was fumbling with her dress when she noticed me matching her steps. Sadhvi was wearing anklets that I’ve seen my Mom, Bua ji and even cousins wearing but Sadhvi is the only woman who is conscious about its sweet sound.

She was walking taking each step consciously.

“Why are you conscious so much?” I asked walking close almost our arms touching

“I am not”

“I like the sound of your anklets”

She looked up into my eyes with a blank face, and I like to believe I have read her once again.

“I don’t like to gain attention for no reason. Sure I love it, but these are making me feel like asking for it”

She said with a wrung of her foot to cause the sound

I chuckled, “they all wear it and you are the only one I’ve seen worried about the sound”

Sadhvi smiled offering one of her dazzling eyes walking inside the house.

What was mine was hers now and she welcomed it gracefully.

_________________

'You are every word I want to speak,
but you left me
breathless'
-Perry poetry
__________________

The next update is going to be a little late because I have joined my intership program in a fantastic hospital that they are asking for my complete attention.

I have been hell busy lately.
So read the story, re-read the story.
Lol.
Let me know how do you feel about my characters and have a blast.
A

nd really I would really like to know your views on both Sadhvi and Avrudh.

With love,
Ankita 🐿️