Alankrita Abhimaan Singh Ranawat.

Sounds intimidating?

To Alankrita, yes, it was intimidating. That she was married at the age of 21. That her husband was a decade older than her, he was 31-year-old. That her husband was the heir of the Ranawat family, her foster family. That she was yet to talk with him face to face.

"Aloo!" Yuvraj barged into her room. "Yaar, what have you done with yourself?" He put his hands on his hips, looking amusingly strict.

"What did I do?" She asked, remaining seated in front of the dressing table.

"Why you have applied so much makeup? You look horrible. Abhimaan Bhai-sa will run back to London if he saw you look like this."

"Yuvi yaar, I didn't like this makeup and heavy jewelry. But Dadi Maa gave me a long lecture about how a newly married woman should put extra effort to look appealing to her husband, or he will lose interest in her very soon."

"This is ridiculous. Just ignore that old woman. You are too cute to be ignored." He pulled her cheeks while standing behind Alankrita and smiling at her through the mirror.

"Yuvi, umm... do you know what type of person he is?" Alankrita asked shyly.

"He? Who?" Yuvraj very well knew whom she asking about, but he loved teasing his best friend.

"My husband." She lowered her gaze.

"Honestly, I know nothing about him. He was five and I was not even born when Dad's elder brother and his father shifted to London to extend business there. And Abhimaan Bhai-sa came to India only now, for his marriage." He replied.

"He never thought to come back to India even after his parents' death?" Alankrita asked.

"No, maybe because London was home to him since his young days. He must be attached to that city."

"And because of that now I have to leave India." She pouted thinking she had to leave everything back for her husband of hers who hasn't shown up yet after the wedding rituals ended.

"Aye, think of it as an opportunity. You'll get to complete your studies at a prestigious British university." He ruffled her hair.

"Yuvi! Don't mess my hair. Dadi Maa will again scold me" She shouted at him.

"Your 70-year-old Dadi Maa is my granny as well if you remember. I'll manage with her later." He put his hands on her shoulder, as assurance.

"Yuvraj..." They heard him.

Abhimaan Singh Ranawat.

There he was standing at the entrance of the room, with a stern look. His eyes darted at Yuvraj who had his hands on Alankrita's shoulders.

Alankrita quickly got up and stood beside Yuvraj. She turned nervous seeing her husband.

"Yuvraj, I need to talk to my wife in privacy. Will you please leave your best friend alone for now?" His tone was polite yet stern in a very strange way. He was requesting from his cousin, but Yuvraj's consent hardly mattered to him.

Yuvraj nodded and walked out of the room. But before leaving he turned around and winked at Alankrita, beckoning towards Abhimaan whose back was facing him.

Alankrita tried hard not to react to Yuvraj's lunacy. Her husband was looking straight at her face.

Abhimaan could see Alankrita looked like a misfit wearing such heavy makeup, jewelry, and saree. She looked more appealing in her simple dresses.

He couldn't forget the sight of her running around in the verandah while wearing a white dress when he had just arrived. She looked so beautiful at that moment.

"Remove this rubbish and wear something simple." He spoke in a taunting tone. Not giving away the affection he had for her.

Alankrita bend her head low and nodded, hurt at his rude behavior.

What a romantic first conversation! Just great!

"And have you packed your stuff? We are leaving tomorrow morning."

She again nodded quietly.

"Good." Saying so he left.

Alankrita, he is even more complicated than your name. Wow!

But what she could expect from this marriage? Who was she? Daughter of a servant who used to work in the Ranawat mansion and who was adopted by Abhimaan and Yuvraj's grandmother when her parents died in an accident. That's it.

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Alankrita was a crying mess when the time came to leave her home forever. She was crying like a baby while hugging her Dadi Maa.

"Aloo, don't cry, Beta."

"I don't want to leave you, Dadi Maa." She cried.

"Beta, everyone has to leave each other at some point in life." She patted her adopted daughter's head.

Dadi pulled Alankrita's hand and put it on Abhimaan's palm, who was standing beside his wife.

"Abhi, I am trusting you with the apple of my eye. Don't disappoint me."

Abhimaan smiled and nodded.

And both of them were set to leave for the airport while Yuvraj came along to see them off.

Abhimaan opted to sit in the backseat, surprisingly. Because if he didn't, then Yuvraj would have sat there with Alankrita. And he just hates it when Yuvraj is with Alankrita. He feels a pang of jealousy seeing them together all smiling.

However, it only resulted in Alankrita getting bored throughout the ride.

Wow! Such a BORING husband!

Another episode of cries began when they reached the airport. Alankrita and Yuvraj were hugging each other and only Abhimaan knew how he was controlling himself. Can't they just wave and say goodbye like normal friends?

Well, they are best friends since childhood. They had a strong bond. And it hurt to part their ways.

Finally, the newlywed couple made it to the airplane.

Alankrita was a little scared because it was the first time she was sitting in an airplane. She feared if she panicked or felt suffocated.

But she tried her best to keep calm and followed Abhimaan to their business class seats. Luckily, Abhimaan sat on the window seat and Alankrita sat beside him. Where Alankrita was afraid of heights, Abhimaan loved heights.

"Are you comfortable?" Alankrita was genuinely surprised to hear him but managed to give a nod.

The nine-hour-long journey was spent reading books. Both of them had their heads dug in books. While Abhimaan was reading books related to business, economics, or self-development, Alankrita was reading Jane Austen novels.

Wow! What a bookworm couple!

And finally, they reached London after a tiring flight.

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The main door was opened by a British woman wearing a servant's uniform. She bowed her head as a welcoming gesture to see her boss and his new wife.

"Welcome back, sir. Welcome home, ma'am."

Alankrita returned her smile and mumbled a happy thank you.

The driver and a few other servants took their luggage to Abhimaan's bedroom.

Alankrita looked around Abhimaan's penthouse. It was simple yet magnificent with a calm atmosphere. Perfect.

Abhimaan moved to his bedroom which he was now going to share with his wife. Alankrita followed him like a lost puppy.

"This is my- our bedroom." He corrected himself.

Our bedroom?

Says the one who ditched her on their wedding night excusing he has some urgent paperwork to do.

Can you imagine how heartbroken she felt when she was informed about her workaholic husband's declaration?

Alankrita laid down on the bed, too tired to stand anymore. While Abhimaan went to the ensuite bathroom to get a hot shower.

When Abhimaan came out of the shower, wearing a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants, Alankrita was deep in sleep.

Abhimaan sighed, she hadn't even removed her shoes and was sleeping in layers of warm clothes. He removed her shoes, first of all. And then proceeded to remove her overcoat. Alankrita whined when she was pulled up against a chest. She put her head on the said chest and again fell asleep.

"Alankrita..." His tone was low.

She didn't respond.

"Alankrita..." He shook her arm.

"Hmm?" She opened her mouth but her other senses were still blocked.

"I can't wait."

"Hmm." Her sleepy mind couldn't process his words.

He frowned.

Alright, she was tired. But he was also tired, of waiting for so long. And now he was getting impatient.

And he kissed her. On her lips. His one hand was on the back of her head and the other one around her waist.

He slowly sucked onto the soft skin of her lips. Slowly enough for her to not feel anything happening. She was unaware of this kiss, and her husband's desires.

He moved to her neck, the collars of her total three sweaters irritating the hell inside him. He removed her sweaters, Alankrita whined again when someone tried to choke her out with the sweaters thrice.

She felt someone suck onto the skin of her neck. His sharp teeth sent shivers to her body.

Sucking!

Sharp teeth!

Vampire!!!

A vampire is sucking her blood!

"Vampire! Vampire!" She pushed the said vampire away from her and jolted her eyes open, only to realize that it was her husband sucking her neck.

Abhimaan was shocked as hell.

What happened?

Why did she call him Vampire?

"What happened?" He asked cautiously.

"I... I thought you were... a vampire." She lowered her head, expecting to be scolded for this childishness.

"Oh." That was all which escaped his lips.

Alankrita sighed, her husband wasn't as short-tempered as she thought.

"By the way, why were you sucking my neck?" She was confused. Her tired mind had blocked her logical thinking.

"I was making love to my wife." That was his straightforward reply.

"Say hello to your wife." And she fell back on the mattress.

"Alankrita, you are my wife." He was flabbergasted at her innocence.

"Hmm." That was her only response.

Abhimaan understood she won't behave or react logically unless she don't get proper sleep, so he held himself back for that time.

He laid down beside her, pulling her into his arms. His fingers played with her long hair that reached her hips. Her calm breaths warmed his chest. Soon sleep engulfed him as his mind began drifting away from his thoughts into deep oblivion.