The hustle-bustle was soon over and only family members were present. It was already 10 pm and a pick black darkness had etched outside like a blanket of black fur laced with tiny shimmers here and there.

Katherine saw Raymond fidgeting around Akira, and she could guess that he wanted his sweet lone time with her. So she quickly went close to them and said,

"I will take care of everything else. You can go now."

"How to go? She is still busy signing the thank-you cards that are supposed to be sent. She isn't budging. Do something!" pleaded Raymond.

"OK, OK!" said Katherine and walked towards Akira.

"Hey, sister-in-law!"

"Oh my Gosh! Are you going to address me like that?" chuckled Akira and placed the cap back on the marker pen that she was using to sign off the thank-you cards.

"Well, I am gonna if you don't move out right this moment."

"I am almost done, Kat. Hardly a couple of letters left. Will be done in a jiffy. I want to personally hand it to all of you," she said and uncapped the marker.

"Don't you dare Akira. Put the cap back on!" thundered Katherine.

"Erm... Okay! What's got into you?" asked Akira and placed the cap back and stacked the remaining thank-you card.

"If you trust me and if you want some really hot and wild happening to you, then you better scoot," spoke an unapologetic Kat.

And hearing her say those words, Akira turned all red.

"What… What are you saying? Please stop. We are going to honeymoon next weekend Kat."

"Gaahhh! I don't want to ruin his surprise. I really don't so just please will just leave for God's sake. Who says no to some monkey love?" and saying that he pulled her out from the writing corner and called out Raymond.

"You got a minute brother!"

Seeing Akira out from the corner and turning all red, Raymond couldn't imagine what Kat had said to her. He knew that she wouldn't ruin his surprise, but his heart was itching to know.

He walked up to them and then looking at Akira he asked,

"If you are done, then can we go?"

Akira looked at Katherine who rolled her eyes momentarily and then looking down at her sandals she said,

"Yep, I am done."

"Then come with me," said Raymond and took her towards the house, holding her hand in his own. And as they walked ahead he gently squeezed her hand to make her turn towards him.

"What did she say that made you turn all red?"

"Nothing!" replied Akira and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Seriously?"

"Well there might have been a reference to monkey love!" said Akira and clasped her lips between her teeth to avoid that laugh from escaping.

"She said what?" exclaimed Raymond.

Akira giggled and tapped on his shoulder and said,

"Will you let it go? You know how she is right?"

"Oh, I know I know... she is going to get her medicine back," he said.

"But I am kind of getting weirded out."

"Why?" asked Raymond as they entered the main door.

"You know... it's our first night after marriage and since everyone is staying together in this house, they must be... you know... expecting us to do things. That kinda is very unsettling."

She spoke whatever she had in her heart or her mind and Raymond loved her for that. He looked at her adoringly and then asked,

"What things?"

"Oh come on! You know!" said Akira rolling her eyes.

"What are you trying to insinuate?" asked Raymond with an 'Oh I am so not able to get you expression.'

"Don't tease me now. You know exactly what I meant."

"Aa Aa... I seriously don't know!"

"Raymond!" she exclaimed and punched on his chest softly as she knew it well that he was fond of playing with her.

He took a deep breath and kept on looking fondly at her and then said,

"Do you think I will let anyone or anything disturb us on our first night?" And then he gently brushed away the lone strand of hair from her face and traced the edge of her face with the back of his palm.

"So... So we aren't spending the night here tonight?" she asked with a childlike excitement written on her face.

A smile etched on Raymond's face, and he just shook his head.

"Where are we going? Our honeymoon tickets are booked for next weekend right?" she asked and then seeing the mischievous look on his face she went inside and opened the bedroom.

Five trolley bags were lined in the bedroom.

"What is all this? Where are we going? Are we?"

"Oh yes! Do you think I would let you have our first night anything less than memorable?" he said and then pulled out both their passports and tickets from the inner pocket of his jacket and handed it to her.

"Where are we going?" she asked and pounced on the tickets.

"Venice!" screamed Akira. "We are going to Venice?" she screamed and leaped on Raymond, hugging him tightly.

"We have just one hour to reach the airport on time. So you better hurry!"

"But is everything packed in here?" she asked and looked around.

"Yeah... everything..." said Raymond and smiled looking at her.

The house help started loading their trolley bags into the car and the driver sped through the darkness of the night.

Sitting in the back seat, the two love birds had their hands twined around each other. There was nothing better than spending their first night together just like the first time they had met. The Starbucks coffee, the adjacent seats in the business class, the first conversation, the first touch. It all kept flashing.

She softly smiled and cuddled him tightly. Then softly running the index finger on his chest she asked,

"What was your first thought impression about me? Tell me honestly?"

He looked down at her and kissed on her forehead and said,

"First impression? What's that? All I could think about was kissing your damn lips in the entire flight. Do you even know how torturous it was?"