Anav's POV

Sanath screamed, "I will sleep with Mimi!"

He had been asleep the entire journey and even when we reached home, but woke up the moment Ma laid him on the bed. From then on, he was adamant about sleeping with his new aunt. Despite Didi's many attempts to tempt him, he remained resolute.

At this moment, he was sitting on Dharini's lap. Though shy around her, he still wanted her company. "Sanath baby, go to Mumma, she has a fascinating tiger and cub story," I tried to entice him.

"NO... Mimi!"

"Sanath, that's enough. Mami is tired. Let's go, or I will scold you," Jijaji warned, making Sanath cry.

Dharini, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "It's okay, Jijaji. I don't mind."

"No, Bhabhi, this isn't right," he reasoned.

"Please, Didi, let him sleep with me," she insisted again.

"Bhabhi, he needs me when he wakes up in the middle of the night. If he sleeps with you, then I will have to sleep here as well," Didi replied.

I stood there, staring at them in bewilderment. Great. Just great.

Why is everyone trying to separate us? First Grandmother, now Sanath.

I grabbed a pillow and left with Jijaji. Why did Dharini ask Didi to let him stay? Does she not want to spend quality time with me?

*****
Dharini's POV

He left, but not before giving me a sharp glare. Is he angry? What did I do wrong? If I had denied Sanath the chance to sleep here, he would have been upset, and now that I accepted it, Mishra sir seems displeased. It must be because he has to give up his room.

"Bhabhi, you look tired. Change out of your saree and wear something comfortable. If you have a suit, you can wear it here; Ma and Baba don't mind."

"Okay, Didi."

I took my suit from the luggage and went to the washroom.

"Bhabhi, sleep comfortably and wake up whenever you feel like it. There’s no need to wake up early."

"Okay, Didi."

I closed my eyes and didn't know when sleep took over me.

*****

I woke up and glanced at the clock. 7 AM. Wow, I woke up early. I saw Sanath beside me, but Didi wasn't here.

I went to the washroom to freshen up. As Didi suggested, I wore my lavender bandhani print suit.

When I came out, I realized I was late. Ma and Didi were in the kitchen, Baba had gone to the farm, and Jijaji was out for a walk.

"Ma," I said, approaching her and taking her blessings. She placed her palm on my head.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Ma."

"Good, the tea is almost ready. Go and sit."

"I want to help, Ma."

"Everything is ready, dear. You can help some other time. For now, enjoy my homemade food," she replied.

******

Today, we are going back. Just me and him.

Didi left two days after we arrived, but then Baba went to another village for some work, and during that time, Ma fell sick. So, I slept with her because when else would I get to spend time with her and take care of her?

We are on the bus, and he isn’t talking to me but holding my right hand possessively with his left.

We reached home in the evening. He opened the door and stopped me before I could enter.

"Wait here, don't come in," he said and ran inside. I waited for five minutes.

He returned with a plate filled with vermillion water.

"Welcome to my house, Dharini. Now put your feet in this plate and come make this house our home."

His small gestures made me feel so special.

I came inside, leaving red footprints behind. He quickly brought in the luggage and locked the door.

"Come this way," he said, and I followed him. "This is our room, Dharini." He stared at me, expecting a response.

"So beautiful," I replied.

"It will be... Let's go see the other rooms."

"This is the study room, where I do all my school work." He showed me a medium-sized room with a single window, a study table, a chair, and a shelf.

"This is the kitchen, where I used to cook for myself and sometimes for Rajeev." The kitchen had a large window that opened to the garden.

"Initially, before I moved here, I was looking for a one-bedroom house. One of my students lived here with his family, but his father got a job in another country, the whole family decided to move, and they wanted a tenant. So, I ended up living here."

"Okay."

"I'm hungry. Let's have dinner. I'll bring the tiffin Ma packed," he said, and I nodded.

After dinner, I went to the bedroom and stood by the window, seeing the garden.

The weather was getting chilly, and it looked like it was going to rain. He entered the room and went to the washroom. It started raining, so I closed the window. He came out and I felt his gaze on me. He opened one of his bags but I didn't turn. He approached me slowly and wrapped his arms around me. My breath hitched, but I managed to keep my composure. This felt unreal.

"This feels unreal," he echoed my thoughts aloud.

I didn't know how long we stood like this before he turned me around.

"I didn’t give you anything when you made the sweet, this nose ring is for that. I wanted to give it to you when we were alone."

He opened another box.

"These anklets are a gift for our... first night."

"Both are very beautiful... th-thank you."

"Dharini, I didn't tell you then because I was too mesmerized to respond, but you sang so beautifully. I loved it."

My heart skipped a beat.

"And one more thing. Mumma and Papa call you Rini, but I will call you Dhara from now on.

My Dhara."

I blushed and nodded.

He turned and was about to place the anklets on the table.

"Sir, I c-can wear them now."

He turned with a serious expression and quickly approached me.

"What did you say?"

"I... I can wear them..."

"No, not that. What did you say before?"

"Sir?"

"Oh my God, you still call me that. Dhara, I'm not your teacher anymore. I'm your husband, so don't call me sir."

"Okay... but what should I call you?"

"Anav."

"No no no... you are much older than me, and people say a woman should never call her husband by his name, as it shortens his lifespan."

"Bullshit," he said.

"Huh?"

"Uh..." He held my shoulders. "I don't believe in that, but if you do, then I won't take your name either because I don't want your lifespan to shorten. I want you to live long with me."

"No, sir..."

"Again, sir? Call me Anav or I won't talk to you," he said, turning to sit on the bed.

"Okay... A..nav."

"That's my girl," he said, and my stomach did somersaults. He called me his girl. I must be crimson red by now. Thank God the room was dark, illuminated only by the streetlight.

"Let's sleep, Dhara."

"Okay."

"No, wait!"

"What happened?"

"Why do you stutter when I talk to you? Are you scared of me?"

I shook my head in denial.

"Then why, Dhara? Do I intimidate you?"

I nodded slightly.

"Dhara, if you stutter again, I will kiss you."

My eyes bulged out, and my mouth fell open. I didn't see that coming. I don't mind him kissing me because I love him, but how can I tell him that? I can't. I'm too shy. But how long can I hide it? My eyes caught his lips as he licked them.

"Wait... you want it," he said, almost as a statement.

Before I could react, he grabbed my waist with both hands and pulled me close. I held his shoulders to steady myself.

"May I?" he asked, and I forgot how to speak. I closed my eyes and nodded.

He moved closer and gave me a peck on the forehead. For the first time, someone other than my parents kissed me. He took me in his embrace, and I took a deep breath, inhaling his natural scent. I wrapped my arms around his lower back, given our height difference. We stayed like that for an unknown amount of time.

We parted, and I felt so content. I can't describe the feeling of having the one I love so close.

"Don't think too much. Leave everything and sleep. We are both tired," he said.

I nodded and lay down on the left side of the bed while he lay on the right. There was only one quilt. Were we supposed to share it, or would I have to shiver throughout the night? He lay comfortably, and I lay awkwardly. I closed my eyes because he was awake, and I didn’t want him to know that I wanted to stare at him.

I felt something on me and opened my eyes to see that we were sharing the same quilt. He had covered me with it. In a few minutes, I heard his even breathing, indicating he was asleep. His scent was so good. Did I smell good too? I badly wanted to hug him again. As if he read my thoughts, he turned towards me, wrapped his right arm around my waist, and nestled his head in the crook of my neck. Oh my God. Now sleep was far from me.

■■■■
Fun fact:

Smell plays an important role in attraction and is an indicator of genetic compatibility. When you're attracted to someone's natural scent, it means that you are compatible on a sexual level. And you don't like someone's natural scent if they are not compatible biologically to you.

If you don't believe, try smelling your partners and your family members.