Lakshya and I are decorating the Puja Ghar(prayer room) for the Satyanarayan Puja which is being held on the occasion of mom and dad's 33rd wedding anniversary. We wanted to arrange a party but they refused saying that they are too old for such things. So, hence the puja and then lunch with everyone.

After completing the decoration, both of us go to our bedrooms to get ready for the puja. If we are late then mom will not hesitate to scold us in front of the guests.

Upon entering the room I notice that a blue color sherwani is lying on the bed, along with a note. So, I pick up the note and instantly a smile breaks out on my face seeing Ishita's beautiful handwriting.

I put the note on the nightstand and take the sherwani with me before going inside the washroom to get dressed.

After fifteen minutes I am fully ready for the day so without wasting more time I walk out of the room. However, my eyes widen in awe when they fall on Ishita. She is wearing a yellow and blue color salwar kameez which is making her look ethereal.

At the behest of mom and dad, she wears western clothes most of the time in which she looks very beautiful. But I have to say she looks a lot better in Indian clothes.

"It's good you come down. Aarav has come and is asking about you." Dad remarks making me nod at him.

"Is Sonia also here with him?" I ask still looking at Ishita who is now talking with the neighboring aunties.

"Not yet, but he told me that she will be here soon." He replies before going towards Shetty uncle who is calling him.

I go outside to see that Aarav is leaning against his car while talking to someone on the phone. Upon seeing me he cuts the call and gives me a bro hug.

"What are you doing outside?" I ask.

"I am waiting for Soniya so that we both can go inside together." He replies giving me a weak smile.

"Still not talking to you?" I ask although I know the answer well.

"She has given me an ultimatum which is that I have to accept the baby or she will never come back to me." He replies.

"Then why don't you agree with her? It's her baby too so if she wants to keep it you can't force her to abort it." I tell him in which he nods his understanding.

"I know that but I don't want to lose her. She is my everything and if anything happens to her I will die." He lets out looking lost.

"And I will die if anything happens to the baby." Someone say from the side and by the voice I know it's Soniya.

Both are looking at each other, so I think it's right to leave them alone. But before leaving, I tell them that they should come inside soon because the puja is about to start.

•••••••

When the puja is over, Ishita starts giving prasad to everyone along with mom. Sonia also wanted to help him but mom's one glare is enough to silence her.

Everything was going well but the saying goes that there will be some persons who can make the happiness bitter by their unwelcome remarks.

"I have to say one thing, You have given a lot of freedom to your daughter-in-law." Mrs. Joshi, one of the nosey auntie says out of nowhere.

"I am not seeing any problem in that as she is more than a daughter-in-law to me." Mom replies with a smile.

"Yet so much freedom is not good. Keep an eye on her or else she will get out of your hand." I clench my fist in anger hearing her nasty words.

"Mrs. Joshi, I don't think I need to learn anything from you especially after what you just said. My Ishita is my pride and about giving her freedom, who am I to do that? She is not a prisoner who needs to get freedom or permission. On the contrary, I would have scolded her if she wanted to stop her study in the middle because of the marriage." Mom answers looking like a mama bear who will do anything to protect her precious cub.

After that, no one comment anything knowing well about mom's anger. She is a very calm person but when she gets angry it is hard to be around her. That's why whenever she is like this we leave her alone to cool down.

"Today is such a happy day but someone had to hurt mom's feeling." Lakshya comments standing beside me.

"Don't worry, a smile from her daughter Ishita is enough to lift her mood." I retort pointing towards mom who is now laughing at something Ishita has said.

"Bhabhi is really an angel." He remarks happily.

"My angel." I mumble under my breath seeing the happiness in her eyes.

•••••••

The next day when I wake up I notice that the other side of the bed is empty which is unusual. Because it's me who gets up every day at first and then I have to wake up Ishita from her deep slumber.

Still, I get out of bed and go straight to the washroom to do my morning routine. After that I wear a three-piece suit as I am going to the office after having breakfast.

Upon arriving downstairs I hear someone talking so I get curious. But then I find Ishita and Soniya making breakfast in the kitchen.

"What are you guys making?" I ask putting my briefcase on a chair beside the dining table.

"Sonia is teaching me how to make pancakes." Ishita replies with her beautiful smile.

"That's good. But don't you think you need to rest?" I ask Soniya who gives me a sheepish look.

"I have rested enough and also I am only giving instructions so that Ishita can make the pancakes." Soniye replies making me shake my head.

"By the way, where is Aarav?" I ask.

"I am here." Comes a reply from behind to see that Aarav is standing behind me.

"Soniya, how many times do I need to tell you that you are supposed to be in bed? Also, you have forgotten to take your medicines." Aarav says while giving some medicine to Soniya who takes them with water.

"I am not handicapped that I have to be in bed all the time." Soniya replies with an assuring smile before kissing Aarav on the cheek.

Ishita and I give each other a curious look seeing the couple's sudden attitude change. Because last night they were adamant in staying in the same room and now they are being all lovey dovey. So, to know everything I clear my throat and that's when the two get out of their Lala land.

"Umm, you were saying something?" Aarav asks scratching the back of his head while Soniya's face is red like a tomato.

"Will you please enlighten me of what's going on with the two of you?" I ask while giving them a look that says 'dare you lie to me'.

"Last night we fought at first after going inside the room and then we made up with lots of sex." Soniya replies casually but to our horror, Ishita starts coughing. So I give her a glass of water which she declines politely before running away from the kitchen.

"She is too innocent to be around you both!" I exclaim in anger but the both of them only laugh aloud.

"She won't be this innocent when you will do the deeds with her." Aarav retorts making me groan in annoyance and I leave the two lunatics alone in there before going in search of my adorable wife.

Like I have thought I find her in our bedroom typing furiously on her laptop. I release a sigh and sit across from her on the bed. When she doesn't look my way I take her laptop away much to her protest.

"I have some unfinished work to complete. Please give me back the laptop." She says without making eye contact which I find cute but at the same time, I know that she only does this when she is uncomfortable with something.

"I will give it back but first you have to tell me what's bothering you." I tell her gently.

"Nothing is bothering me, now please give it back." She replies trying to take the laptop from me. But I put it on the nightstand before taking both her hands in mine.

"Maybe I don't know everything about you but I do understand when something bothers you. Ishita, we become friends before becoming husband and wife. So you should have enough trust in me that you can share your thoughts with me." I let out while rubbing my thumbs on the back of her hands.

"do you hate me?" She asks taking me off guard.

"Why will I hate you?" I ask with confusion.

"It's been so many months since we got married but I still haven't given you a chance to touch me. So I thought you..." She gulps without completing the sentence but I am glad she didn't or I don't know what I would have done.

"Have I ever made you feel like I hate you?" I ask calmly knowing well that I can't lose my control. She doesn't respond to anything for a few seconds but then she shakes her head in denial.

"Our marriage is not a normal arranged marriage and we both know this very well. I still remember how wrong you thought of me on the day of our wedding night. But I was not angry then and neither I am angry today. Because I understand you, I feel your hesitation, I can read the pain behind your smile." She looks at me with teary eyes as if can't believe what I am saying.

"I also know that something happened in your past that is stopping you from moving forward. But I won't ask you anything until you tell me everything because you are the master of your own choice. Yes, but I will definitely say that whenever it seems that you are unable to bear it anymore, remember that I am standing behind you to be your support." Now the tears that she has been trying to hold back are freely flowing down her face.

I open my arms for her and she doesn't hesitate to hug me tightly while crying silently. I pull her on my lap before rocking her like a baby while kissing the top of her head to assure her that I am here for her.

After some time she stops crying but doesn't get up from my lap, not that I am complaining. She has my blazer in her fists as if I will vanish. She is a mystery I want to discover but not without her consent.

"Can we give this marriage a chance?" She asks making me look at her in worry.

"Why are you asking like this?" I ask back.

"You said before marriage that this marriage will be a compromise which we will do for our families." She replies in a soft voice. I remember the words I have said to her when the first time I went to her house in Delhi.

"Look Ishita, I don't like to brag about anything so I will be straightforward with you. I am not ready for marriage and I can tell that you too are not. I come here today just because my mom wants me to get married so if you don't want to get married then please tell me and I will go away from here with my family."

"Whatever I said in anger because mom was not ready to listen to me. But now this relationship is not a compulsion because it has become my life now which I want to spend with you." I tell her before putting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"You really mean it?" She asks with hope which I can see in her beautiful hazel/brown eyes.

"I mean every word I just said." I answer smiling at her.

•••••••••••••••••••••••|||•••••••••••••••••••••

2055 words in total😇😇

This chapter is really close to my heart because the emotions I wanted to display here weren't easy to put in words. But I have tried my best to do justice as this chapter will be the turning point for this story.

Now, tell me about your opinion in the comment box.

The chapter will be up in two days. So, stay tuned and follow me to get notification regarding the story.

💖💖💖