While I was in the shower, my thoughts kept racing about Ansh's behaviour. Why is he acting like this? What is he doing? Should I ask him? No... he'll only tell me if he wants to. But what is it? Aaghhh...

I pushed those thoughts away as I stepped out of the washroom. Tying my hair into a loose braid, I made my way downstairs. As I approached the dining room, I saw Ansh busy on his phone - again. My curiosity grew, so I tiptoed closer, wanting to know what he was up to. But the moment he noticed me, he quickly closed the screen.

Freak!! He had seen me... how attentive is he? Aaghh, how could I forget he's a trained IAS officer working under the Home Ministry of India?

"What were you doing? Why did you hide your phone?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"It's nothing like that, princess..." he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

I glared at him as if that would scare him, but as expected, he didn't even flinch. Instead, he said, "Let's have food... I'm very hungry..."

"Okay... but give me your phone first..." I demanded, furrowing my eyebrows and extending my hand to take it from the table.

But he was faster. Without much effort, he grabbed the phone before I could reach it. My curiosity was now at its peak, so I tried to snatch it from him. But he held it above my head. I jumped, he took it behind his back, and he kept shifting it playfully. He had engaged me so well that I hadn't even noticed how close I'd gotten to him.

It was only when he held the phone high above that I realised there was almost no space between us. He knew I could manage anything - unless it was too high. And of course, he used the advantage of his height.

We were so close that my chest brushed against his, our breaths mingled, my hands had curled up near his neck, and I was on my tiptoes. The moment I realised how much heat radiated from his body, I stumbled back abruptly, my breath coming out ragged.

I started serving dinner with my gaze fixed on the plates, as if making eye contact would make the situation worse. That sudden closeness had completely blanked my mind.

We ate in silence for a while until he finally broke it. "It's okay, princess..." he said with a reassuring smile.

Could he sense what I was feeling now? Was everything written all over my face? I always thought I was good at hiding my expressions... Oh God, please... please... help me. I want to stop overthinking this.

"Kavya... are you okay? Why aren't you eating?" his voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I nodded and focused on the food on my plate, trying desperately to push away the whirlwind in my mind. Somehow, I managed to finish dinner.

After we were done, I cleared the table while he prepared the coffee. Once the kitchen was set, we headed toward the staircase. I was about to go upstairs to our usual terrace spot when he stopped me.

"Kavya... why not watch a movie?"

"Movie? It's already 10 p.m.," I said, confusion lacing my tone.

"I'm not asking you to go out," he interrupted.

"Then?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Come... I'll take you to the home theatre," he said with a small smile.

"Home theatre?" I looked at him with curiosity.

He chuckled. "Yes... we have a home theatre system. Come, I'll show you."

I was still confused, but more than that, I was curious to see how it looked. I followed him. It had been over five months since I'd moved into this house, and I thought I had explored every corner of this mansion. But where was this place hiding all this time?

He led me down to the basement, and to my astonishment, I saw a swimming pool, a gym room... and a home theatre. It had a huge screen with a surround sound system. For seating, there were four recliners and a large couch you could practically sleep on while watching movies.

I was curious about the gym because I had never seen Ansh working out. "Ansh... who works out here?" I asked.

He smiled. "I do, princess. Who else?"

I stared at him, surprised. "When?"

He chuckled. "I usually come back by 7:30 p.m., and before I come to pick you up, I finish my workout."

I was amazed. He seemed to manage everything so effortlessly, while here I was... just running back and forth from home to hospital and back.

My thoughts were interrupted when Ansh asked, "Where would you like to sit?"

I walked over to the couch and sat down. He followed. After scrolling through Netflix and Prime for more than twenty minutes, he finally settled on Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

About half an hour into the movie, my eyelids grew too heavy to fight, and I dozed off.

"Kavya... get up... let's go..." I heard his voice calling me from somewhere far away.

"Hmm... did the movie end?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

"No... get up..." he said again.

I checked the time on my phone with half-open eyes - it was just 11:56 p.m.

"Ansh, let me sleep... you also come and sleep. It's too late to go anywhere..." I mumbled, tossing myself to the other side. He groaned - loud enough for the whole neighbourhood to hear - but I didn't care at that moment.

"Kavya... get up... or the consequences won't be good..." he warned, his voice dangerously low, sending shivers down my spine.

But I refused. "I'm not getting up. Do whatever you want."

He smirked, clearly accepting my challenge. And in one swift motion, I was off the couch - in the air. He had scooped me up bridal style, and I instantly regretted the challenge I had thrown at him.

We climbed the stairs from the basement, and we were about to enter the hallway when I finally snapped back to my senses. "Ansh... please put me down... I'll walk on my own..." I stuttered, now fully awake and painfully aware of his actions.

"Are you sure, princess? Because if you back out, you know what happens..." he said with a teasing smirk.

I nodded and gulped nervously as he finally set me down. I'd watched countless movies and series where men acted boldly with the women they loved. And now... he was doing the same in real life. I had always believed these things only happened on screen, so why was he doing this here and now?

"What are you thinking, princess? Are you coming on your own... or..." he said, snapping me out of my thoughts again.

I just nodded. Words had deserted me, and his smirk deepened in triumph. I followed him silently.

We had reached the living room when he abruptly stopped, and I bumped into his broad back. The lights were off, so I hadn't noticed he'd stopped walking. And before I could even react, I heard a chorus of voices shouting, "Happy Birthday, Shree..." as the lights suddenly flickered on.

The voices belonged to the family members. I stood there, frozen - happy, shocked, overwhelmed - all my emotions colliding together and twisting my stomach into knots.

Since childhood, no one had ever cared about my existence... except Sakshi, who used to celebrate my birthday during college. But today... my in-laws and Ansh made me feel so special, so seen.

I was so overwhelmed that I hadn't realised tears were streaming down my cheeks. Maa and Shivansh noticed them immediately.

"Why are you crying, beta? It's your special day... don't cry..." Maa said gently.

I couldn't control my emotions any longer. I hugged her tightly and let all the tears flow freely.

"What happened, bacche? Didn't you like the surprise?" Maa asked, her fingers gently stroking my back.

"Maa... till today, except Sakshi... nobody... not even my own parents wished me on my birthday... but you all made it special for me. Thank you... thank you so much..." I said, my voice muffled against her shoulder.

"How could we not celebrate our daughter's birthday?" Chachi Maa said as she rubbed my back.

"Beta... now stop crying, and let's cut the cake," she added, wiping the tears off my face.

A few moments later, Nikhil bhai entered with a cake box in his hands.

"Happy birthday, Bhabhi..." he said, placing the cake on the table.

"Wow... chocolate cake..." I said, excitement lacing my tone. Chocolate cakes were my absolute favourite.

"Bhabhi, it's Shivansh's choice. I'm just the delivery boy," Nikhil bhai said with a grin as he took the cake out of the box.

"And the whole party plan was his idea too," he added while setting the cake down.

Oh God!! Ansh planned all this. I don't even know how to thank him. Now I understand all the strange things he's been doing since I came back from the hospital - constantly checking his phone, suggesting the home theatre... everything. He planned and executed it all so perfectly.

"Kavya... where are you lost? Come, cut the cake..." Ansh said, snapping me out of the whirlwind of my thoughts.

I took the knife from Nikhil bhai's hand.

"Ansh... will you help me cut the cake... please..." I asked, my voice barely above a whisper so only he could hear.

He nodded and held my hand. Together, we cut the cake. I fed the first piece to Maa, then one by one to everyone else.

I know I should have given the first piece to Ansh... but it's okay.

Once the celebration was over, everyone retired to their rooms. I was the first to return to ours, and Ansh followed shortly behind, carrying a big piece of cake - because I had mentioned it was my favourite. As he entered, he quietly closed the door behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, something inside me took over. Without thinking, I clung to him in a hug. He froze, clearly caught off guard by the sudden action.

"Thank you, Ansh... thank you so much... I don't know how to express my gratitude. All I can say is thank you. Thank you for making this so memorable for me..." I murmured, holding onto him even tighter.

But his body stiffened even more beneath my touch.

Did I make him uncomfortable? Maybe I was being too much... too sudden.

I was about to step back, sensing his discomfort, when he suddenly pulled me back by my waist.

💞💞💞💞💞💞

I was truly happy seeing how much she loved the surprise. The way she hugged me so suddenly - I froze, caught a little off guard. When I felt her begin to pull away, I was quick enough to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back to me.

"Anything for you... princess..." I said, setting the cake aside and gently lifting her face by holding her chin.

She smiled softly. "But tell me... how did you know that my favourite flavour is chocolate?" she asked, pointing a finger at my chest.

A chuckle escaped my throat. "That's none of your concern, princess... I found out through one of my sources," I said, though I didn't tell her that the source was her best friend - Sakshi. I had called Sakshi to learn about her likes and dislikes.

She frowned slightly at my vague response.

"Did you like the party?" I asked, twirling her gently so that her back rested against my chest.

"Liked...? I loved it, Ansh..." she said, leaning back against me.

Wait... did she just say she loved it? Thank you, Bhagwan ji... my wife loved the surprise. I hope she likes the other one too.

A comfortable silence settled between us - the kind that spoke louder than any words. I pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, and that was when I noticed a tear slip down her cheek.

"What happened, princess?" I asked, concern lacing my tone.

"Ansh... my parents don't even remember me... They haven't called since the pagphera... and even on that day, they only called to convince me to quit my job. I miss them, Ansh... They never wished me before either, but at least they were physically around me..." she said, as her tears began falling more freely.

"I understand, princess... they're your parents, after all. However they are, it's hard to not miss them. And I'm sure they'll call you. Don't worry..." I said, trying my best to console her.

I knew how deeply she loved her parents. And I hated seeing her like this. My heart ached watching her cry, yet I was helpless - there was nothing I could do right now.

"Princess... please don't cry... it's your birthday," I said softly, cupping her face. "Come, have this cake... it's your favorite, right?"

I wiped away her tears, and she sniffed lightly.

"Ansh..." she scoffed.

"What?! What did I do?" I asked, utterly confused.

"You've brought such a big piece of cake..." she frowned.

I cocked my brows in confusion, and she continued, "Oho, Ansh... how will I finish such a big piece alone?"

Saying this, she took a spoonful of cake and brought it to my mouth.

"Please help me finish it..." she said with a pout.

She looked so adorably cute that I couldn't deny her. And, to be fair, the piece was huge - I realized that because it took us almost an hour to finish it.

It was around 7 a.m. when I woke up. After taking a shower, I carefully placed the gift and a bouquet of roses inside Kavya's wardrobe, along with a handwritten letter. I made sure to keep them where she'd easily find them when she came to pick her clothes. I'd even switched off her alarm the previous night so she could sleep in - the least I could do on her special day.

I hadn't slept a wink the entire night, my mind looping around one single thought - Would she like the gift? That question kept me awake until dawn. Maybe that's why, for the first time, I was up and ready before she had to push me out of bed like every other morning.

With that thought still lingering in the back of my mind, I walked downstairs, greeted everyone with a soft "Good morning," and headed straight to the car. No one questioned where I was going; I'd already told them I'd be taking Kavya out on a date and we'd be back by nightfall.

I don't know why I felt so nervous. I wasn't even this jittery during my UPSC interview - after clearing the mains. My palms were sweaty, my heartbeat erratic, and my breaths shallow. Resting my forehead against the steering wheel, I tried to steady my breathing, to calm the adrenaline rushing through me.

Questions kept swirling in my mind - Will she accept the date? Will she like the dress I chose? Will she even want to come with me?

And then, a soft click of the car door snapped me out of my thoughts. I lifted my head - and there she was.

Standing there, in the very dress I'd picked for her, a rose from the bouquet tucked delicately into her hair. The sight knocked the breath right out of me. The mangalsutra resting against her skin and the streak of red sindoor in her hairline and the oxidised jhumkas we had bought while we went to collect my customized watch only made her look more divine.

She was always beautiful - a quiet kind of beauty that bloomed with dusk - but today, she looked breathtaking. Ethereal. Like a dream I never wanted to wake from. For a moment, time stood still. I just wanted to sit there and look at her forever.

"Where are you taking me for the date, Ansh...?" she asked softly.

"Wherever you say, princess..." I replied, finally pulling myself out of the trance.

"Can we go to the temple?" she asked after a moment's thought.

I nodded silently, started the engine, and drove towards the temple - my heart still racing, but this time for an entirely different reason.

💞💞💞💞💞💞

It was around 7:30 a.m. when my eyes fluttered open, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. I yawned and quickly checked the time before rushing to the washroom for a shower. I hadn't been able to wake up early - I had stayed up late the previous night.

Stepping out of the bathroom, my bathrobe clung to my skin, and water dripped from my long hair. After taking a head bath, I went to the wardrobe to pick a dress for the day.

As I opened the wardrobe door, the delicate scent of roses immediately filled my nostrils. Beneath the bouquet lay a letter.

I carefully placed the roses on the nearby stool and unfolded the letter. It was handwritten by Ansh - his handwriting so neat, so precise - I thought to myself, I'm definitely going to frame this letter.

After closing the letter, I picked up the gift that had been kept beneath it. My eyes widened as I saw the dress he had bought - a beautiful brown and beige kurti-style co-ord set. I didn't have anything in this combination, and a smile crept onto my lips, thinking about how much effort he had put in for me.

He bought a dress, my favourite roses, threw a midnight surprise party... He notices me so much that he knows what I like and don't like. He takes care of everything I want, something my own family never did.

I shook myself out of my thoughts, remembering that he would be waiting. I quickly got ready, and the dress fit me perfectly. I accessorized with the oxidized jhumkas he had bought the first time we went to collect his customized watch. I adjusted the mangalsutra, making sure the "S" of his name rested perfectly in the middle of my neck. I completed my look by applying vermillion in my hairline, leaving my hair half open with a rose tucked in from the bouquet.

Once ready, I made my way downstairs, where the family was enjoying their morning tea. I greeted everyone with a cheerful "Good morning" and a smile. I received their blessings and the thoughtful gifts they had brought for me - each one carefully chosen, and I loved them all. They told me to go out, mentioning that Ansh was already waiting.

I wore the heels Ritu had insisted on, and as I settled into the car, he asked where I wanted to go.

I want this day to start with the blessings of God, I thought, and told him so. We headed to the temple. Once there, I let the divine energy wash over me, spending half an hour in quiet prayer before we left for breakfast.

I had told him we would go to Seeta Ram Deewanchand Chole Bhature Center.

"Kavya, are you sure... we're having breakfast here?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. His grumpiness was obvious - a street-side stall didn't sit well with my disciplined, IAS officer husband. Sometimes I wondered, is he even from this planet? How could he not like street food?

"Ansh... I promise... you've never tasted chole bhature this good in your life," I said, grinning widely.

"And I would never be able to have it again... if I have it here..." he shot back, making a face.

"Ansh please... just try it once. If you don't like it, we'll go wherever you say. Promise..." I said, my lips curling into a puppy face.

He stared at me with furrowed brows, and I pouted even more dramatically.

"Aghhh... look at the place, Jasmine... they don't even have space to sit..." he groaned, sounding completely frustrated and helpless because of my antics.

"Ansh... stop being that typical grumpy-head IAS officer..." I shot back, trying to drag him towards the stall. But he didn't even budge - he was far too strong and tall, and I was far too small. Even with these four-inch heels, I barely reach his shoulders.

"And if you come now... I promise we'll have lunch and dinner from your choice of restaurants," I said, knowing physical strength wouldn't work on him. This 28-year-old, soon-to-be 29-year-old kid can only be pacified through deals and promises.

"See, you're promising it, princess... and you know there's no going back now," he said, leaning a little closer. His voice was deep and husky - the kind that could make anyone's heart skip a beat.

"Yes... I never go back on my promises," I said, raising my chin stubbornly.

And finally, he agreed.

"Two plates chole bhature..." I ordered as we reached the stall.

"No... only one is enough, bhaiyya..." he cut me off from behind, earning a sharp glare from me.

"I know, princess... you won't be able to have more than one bhatura," he whispered, leaning down close to my ear.

"What if I finish both the bhaturas...?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly.

"Then... I'll do whatever you say..." he replied, completely confident - perhaps too confident.

I accepted the challenge in full swing, but little did I know I would regret it soon. Yes, because by the time I was finishing the first bhatura - I was already full. How was I starving a few minutes ago and now feel like I can't take another bite?

I looked at him with wide, pleading puppy eyes.

"See... I told you, you'd be done with only one..." he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Yeah... yeah... don't act too smart now... these are fried and heavy too..." I said, trying desperately to defend myself.

He burst out laughing at my response.

"Now stop laughing... I didn't crack a joke..." I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You... you don't even eat properly on normal days, princess..." he said between laughs, holding his stomach.

I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Your appetite is already low, mohtarma... you only eat two small rotis with a little bit of vegetables... and by the time you start with rice, you're already full..." he teased, still struggling to breathe because he had laughed so hard.

"No... it's nothing like that..." I tried to defend myself, but my words fell short. Okay, maybe he wasn't completely wrong...

"Oh really... then finish this..." he said, pushing the plate towards me.

"Ansh please... I'm really full..." I pouted, trying my best puppy face.

He just shook his head and started eating the rest himself. He's usually such a diet freak - barely touches oily food or sweets. And yet, ever since last night, I've completely broken his routine.

After finishing breakfast, we spent some time strolling through the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk, picking up little things as we shopped.

💞💞💞💞💞💞

Today, my diet was officially on strike. I had eaten more than half of the cake I got for her, and even chole bhature. After breakfast, we strolled through the streets of Chandni Chowk, hands intertwined as we bought a few little things here and there. And now, we were standing at an ice gola stall - because she wanted one.

Ye ladki duniya bhar ki faltu cheezen khati hai... phir bhi itni dubli patli hai... iske shareer pe kuch chadhta bhi hai... kitni halki hai... jo khati hai vo jaata kahan hai...??
(This girl eats every useless thing in the world, yet she's so skinny... nothing shows on her body... how is she so light... and where does everything she eats even go??)

"What happened, Ansh? What thoughts are you lost in?" she asked, breaking my chain of thoughts. I just shook my head, denying it silently, and she turned her gaze back to the road.

"Where are we going now?" she asked as we approached the car.

I checked the time - it was already 1 p.m. "It's lunchtime... we'll go for lunch," I said, placing our shopping bags in the back seat. She nodded, and we drove to one of the best-rated Italian restaurants in Delhi.

"She's crazy about Italian cuisines..." - that's what Sakshi had told me during one of our calls.

Once we reached, we ordered a cheese burst pizza and creamy white sauce pasta.

This woman has pledged to ruin my diet today. Aghhh... anyway, she's the only one who can do this to me. No one else even has the audacity...

While she was busy admiring the restaurant's aesthetics, I was busy admiring her. I don't know what happens to me whenever I look at her - I forget everything around me. She keeps invading my thoughts even when I'm at work. And at this moment... I just want to keep looking at her like this for the rest of my life. I'd never get bored.

My thoughts broke when the waiter served our food. "Thank you," I said, snapping out of it.

"Ansh... what kind of cuisine do you like?" she asked, taking a slice of pizza into her hand.

"I don't have any particular preference... but I do know you love Italian cuisine. Am I right?" I asked, leaning slightly forward on the table.

Her eyes widened at my words. "H... how do you know all this?" she asked, swallowing hard.

"You are my sweet chhutki wife, so why are you so shocked that I know about you?" I teased with a smirk tugging at my lips.

"Aghhh... I'm just tired of asking you how you get all this information... but you... you never spill it out!" she groaned, completely frustrated.

My smirk deepened at her reaction - I was thoroughly enjoying teasing her.

We spent the entire afternoon in that cozy restaurant, talking and laughing with each other. To be honest, she looked so happy - stress-free and completely relaxed. And that was all I wanted - to help her breathe freely, even for a day, away from the exhausting schedule of a medical resident.

It was around 5 p.m. when we reached the concert ground. It was her favorite singer's concert - I had bought the tickets long ago, even before I planned the surprise birthday celebration. I'd wanted to take her to this concert for a while, and luckily, it was scheduled on her birthday itself.

As the concert began, I watched her dance freely to the rhythm of the music - her laughter, her energy, her joy lighting up the night.

By the time the concert ended, it was already 11:30 p.m.

"Where do you want to go for dinner, princess?" I asked as we settled into the car.

"Can we go home, Ansh?" she asked softly, leaning back in her seat.

"But what happened? Don't you want to-" I started.

"We've been eating out since morning... I want to have something light and homemade. I'll make khichdi, please..." she interrupted.

I didn't argue further - even I was too full.

"Do you want ice cream? Maybe for dessert?" I asked, starting the engine.

She shook her head in denial, and I drove us back to the mansion.

Author's Note

Sometimes, love doesn't arrive with grand gestures or dramatic confessions... it tiptoes into our hearts through the simplest days - a shared plate of chole bhature, a teasing smile, or a concert under the stars. 🌙💛
Did you feel the warmth of their world too? Because while I was writing this chapter, I poured a piece of my heart into every moment. 🫶
Tell me, which scene made you smile the most - the silly food challenge or the quiet admiring glances? 💭
Your thoughts mean more to me than you know... and they're the heartbeat that keeps this story alive. ✨💌
And please don't forget to vote. Love you all🫶
See you all in the next chapter on Saturday.