I had asked Ansh to go home because I knew he doesn't like to have outside food. I had seen him struggling earlier; he usually doesn't prefer such kinds of meals.

Before going to the kitchen, I took a short shower to relax my body after all the roaming around we'd done that day. He had insisted I shouldn't cook, but I wanted to. Sometimes, cooking is the best feeling-it comforts you in a way nothing else can. It gave me peace, and besides, I was just going to make my comfort food-vegetable khichdi.

By the time I prepared dinner, he had also taken a shower and joined me in the dining room. We ate in complete silence after such a long day. But today, more than exhaustion, I felt relaxed. I had been myself after so long. And he had given me the perfect day I'd been wishing for-I don't even remember since when.

Once we finished dinner, we cleared the dining table and kitchen mess together.

"Do you want to have coffee...?" he asked casually, washing his hands in the sink.

Oh God, please save me... he's been feeding me since morning. I can't take it anymore...

"No," I snapped.

"You can still have..." he said, looking at me from top to bottom.

"No. Not at all. You've been feeding me since morning... if I have even a drop of water now, my stomach will burst," I said, cutting him off mid-sentence.

He burst out laughing-loudly.

"Why do you always laugh at whatever I say? Am I a joker or what?" I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

But that only made him laugh harder. I furrowed my brows, scrunching my nose in annoyance.

"Are you sure? Because that should be my dialogue... I was the one who ate the king's share of whatever we ordered," he said, leaning down closer.

A shiver ran down my spine when those black eyes met mine. I wanted to reply, but my words betrayed me.

"Anyways, since you don't want coffee, let's go and sleep. We've got to get back to work tomorrow," he said, straightening his back.

I just nodded, still caught in those eyes. I don't know what happens to me whenever he comes close. Something in my stomach churns-so hard that I'm left speechless, completely speechless.

I like it when he comes near... but I hate it too, because it feels like he's cast some spell on my body-like it's not mine anymore. Yet, I also feel the safest when he's around.

I want to know what effect he has on me.

Dear readers, please tell me-what kind of magic is Ansh doing that makes my heart want to pop out?

It's been more than five months since we got married, but for the past few weeks, whenever he comes close, my heart beats so fast... it feels like it'll pop out any second.

But I can't deny the fact that I've grown so used to him-that I can't even sleep without him beside me. What are these feelings? I don't understand them.

I shook my head, trying to brush these thoughts away, and let sleep slowly consume me. He was so tired that he fell asleep the moment he lay on the bed.

The next morning, when I woke up, his face was so close to mine that I could feel his warm breath against my skin. His hand rested lazily on my waist.

I don't know what happened to me when I saw his face-his hair completely messy, a few strands falling over his forehead. He looked so adorable, so unlike the formal, composed officer he is during the day.

I brushed the strands gently away from his face and carefully removed his hand from around me. He didn't even stir-fast asleep, lost in his own world. I sighed softly and went to freshen up.

When I came out of the washroom, I had worn a simple maroon Anarkali, my hair tied into a loose braid. As I was getting ready, I noticed him through the mirror-his eyes fixed on me.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that...?" I said, snapping the comb down on the dresser.

"Like what, princess...?" he shot back, that teasing smirk playing on his lips.

"Like..." I started, but my words betrayed me again. No, not again... ughh, why does this always happen to me?

"Leave... now get ready, you'll be late otherwise..." I said, scrunching my nose in annoyance.

"As you say, Maharani Sahiba," (as you say, My Queen) he replied, getting down from the bed with that same casual tone.

Ughh, Shivansh and his obsession with giving me new names... one day I'm actually going to forget my real one, I thought, lightly tapping my head.

After a few moments, I pushed away those lingering thoughts and made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I greeted everyone with a warm, "Good morning!" and a bright smile, and they returned it with the same enthusiasm.

Maa and Chachi Maa had already prepared lunch and packed all our lunch boxes. So, I insisted on making breakfast myself-and finally, after a good twenty minutes of convincing, they agreed.

I prepared poha for breakfast, while as always, Dad and Chachu took charge of making the tea and coffee. Once everything was ready, I set the dining table.

Soon, everyone gathered for breakfast, and then Ansh came downstairs-wearing a crisp white formal shirt and grey pants, the same outfit I had chosen for him. The way those formals fit him... he looked effortlessly elegant and dashing.

Oh no... not again. Without even realizing it, the butterflies in my stomach started doing a disco dance. Earlier, they only fluttered when he came near me, but now... even when he just looks at me, they lose control.

I somehow managed to calm those butterflies and focused back on the breakfast on my plate. Once we were done eating, he and I set out for work together.

As always, he dropped me at the metro station before heading to his office. I soon reached the hospital, immediately welcomed by an emergency case. As expected, I had a hectic Monday after the birthday-bash weekend I'd just had.

But these days, one thing had definitely changed-I liked going back home. I never felt alone or overwhelmed, even with my busy work schedule. And he used to drop me off and pick me up from the metro every day. More than that, he always gave me company during dinner.

With all these thoughts lingering in my mind, I stepped out of the metro station. My eyes scanned for a brief moment before I spotted him. There he was... but wait-he had come on the bike instead of the car. Wow, nice. I love bikes too.

Lost in my thoughts, I walked up and sat behind him.

"What a change... from car to bike...?" I asked, a playful smirk on my lips.

"Simply... the weather is nice today," he said, shrugging casually.

Soon, we reached the mansion. By the time I freshened up, he had already set the dining table. As I entered the dining hall, the rich aroma of spices filled my nostrils.

After finishing dinner, we cleared the table together. Then he said, "Maharani Sahiba... if you don't mind, should we go for ice cream?"

Again, Maharani Sahiba. Why?

"Yes, but only if we go on the bike," I said, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.

"Sure... but when I came on the bike... you-" he started.

"No! Who told you I don't like bike rides? I know how to ride a bike too," I interrupted him.

"That's great... let's go then," he said, grabbing the keys from the key stand.

As we stepped out of the mansion, I asked, while reaching the parking, "Ansh... can I ride? Please..."

He passed me the bike keys without hesitating or arguing.

"You didn't argue... you know, that girls don't ride when guys out there are..." I said, a bit surprised and amused.

A chuckle escaped his throat. "Why should I say that... when I know you know how to ride?" he said, shrugging.

I nodded, kicked the bike to life, and got ready.

"And moreover... I'm not that kind of man who's ashamed of a woman sitting in front. Instead, I'd love to sit behind my Maharani Sahiba and enjoy the ride," he said, settling at the back.

I accelerated the bike, and together we set out from the mansion, the wind brushing past us as the city faded behind.

The bike ride was so much fun, but the butterflies in my stomach kept dancing every time his chest brushed against my back. A few moments later, he wrapped his arms around my waist and slowly rested his chin on my shoulder. His trimmed beard brushed over my bare skin, making the butterflies flutter even wilder inside me.

He didn't say a word, but my mind was completely occupied by his presence. The silence was so mesmerizing that I didn't even notice how the roads passed-and before I knew it, we had reached the ice-cream parlor.

"Which flavor would you like to have?" he asked after scanning the menu briefly.

"One chocolate... and... one more chocolate!" I squealed, practically vibrating with excitement.

"What?! You're having two scoops of ice cream...?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I nodded, pouting. I know anyone would laugh at my childish antics, I thought to myself.

"No, nobody will dare to do that, princess," he said, walking toward the counter with two cones of ice cream.

What?! Can he hear my thoughts now?

"Stop thinking so loudly, princess," he said, handing me my ice cream. My face completely turned crimson from embarrassment. He chuckled, shaking his head as if he was thoroughly enjoying my flustered reaction.

"Why did you choose chocolate flavor only? Here, taste this jamun flavor," he said, offering his cone to me.

I took a small bite and held my ice cream up in front of him.

"Oh, it's too sweet..." he said, making a face.

"And yours was bitter... did I also make a face...?" I shot back, grinning in playful defiance.

"It's ice cream, it's supposed to be sweet... but you- you even here managed to find your diet-friendly ice cream," I said, pointing a finger at him.

"It's not called being on a diet... it's called being health-conscious," he replied, narrowing his eyes.

I let out an exasperated sigh, completely done arguing with this diet freak-oh sorry, health-conscious guy.

Once we were done, we rode back home. I was sitting at the back, talking about our day at work, my voice occasionally mixing with the sound of the night wind. The moment we reached home, we both crashed on the bed, exhausted from the long day.

The next few days followed the same cycle-both of us busy with work, finding small pockets of time for each other during dinner and our late-night coffee talks.

It was a Saturday night. While we were having coffee, he got a work call asking for an immediate reply to one of his mails. We came to the room, and he told me to go to bed. I agreed, but I just couldn't sleep-not without him beside me.

I tossed to the other side, trying again and again to let sleep consume me, but it just wouldn't come. It had been more than half an hour, and he was still tapping away at his laptop, not even glancing once in my direction.

Ughh, that's it. I'm done.

Sleepy and slightly annoyed, I got up and walked toward his desk, my brows furrowed.

"What happened, princess?" he asked, his eyes still glued to the screen.

"When are you going to sleep?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"In some time..." he said, still typing something. I scrunched my nose in irritation.

"It's important, otherwise I would've completed it tomorrow," he added, briefly glancing at me before returning to his screen.

"Ansh, I'm too sleepy... please, let's go and sleep," I said, leaning slightly closer to his chair.

He didn't respond, and I was about to turn away when he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. I gasped as I landed directly on his lap, my breath hitching at the sudden action.

The butterflies in my stomach didn't waste a second-they started their dance competition right away. I blinked at him, wide-eyed, trying to get up, but his warm hands around my waist stopped me in place.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and just like that, I forgot everything around me. I quietly settled onto his lap. Without realizing it, my fingers began tracing lazy patterns across his chest.

"How much more time are you going to take, officer sahab?" (Mr. Officer) I asked, pouting.

"Just fifteen minutes more, princess," he said, his eyes still focused on the screen.

His face was completely expressionless, fully submerged in work. He was so focused that he didn't even notice my fingers drawing those lazy patterns over his chest. His body was broad, strong, and perfectly disciplined-anyone could tell by just looking at him that he was a man of control and precision.

Of course, he has to be. Working under the Home Ministry of India isn't easy.

"What are you doing, princess? Are you not sleepy now?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't realized he was done working. I looked up; his black eyes met mine, locking me in place.

"Y-yes... I'm sleepy," I stammered, my words betraying me under his intense gaze.

I somehow managed to pull myself together and walked toward the bed. He followed soon after, switching off the lights as the room fell into a peaceful silence.

💞💞💞💞💞💞

I knew she couldn't sleep without me, but I had received an order from the top to finish this work tonight itself. I had pulled her to my lap-she gasped, landing on me because of my sudden action. Slowly, she settled onto my lap as I continued working.

Soon, the work was done, but she was still lost in her own thoughts, her fingers tracing lazy patterns over my chest. If overthinking were a job, she'd be a billionaire by now.

I took a brief moment to admire that overthinking wife of mine sitting peacefully in my lap.

"What are you doing, princess? Are you not sleepy now?" I asked, snapping her out of her chain of thoughts. I was amazed by the power her mind held-she could create a whole world inside her head-but I couldn't let her stay lost in it for the whole night.

She looked up at me with those sleepy, big dark-brown eyes of hers.
"Y-yes... I'm sleepy..." she stammered, her words betraying her.

She walked toward the bed, and I followed, switching off the lights as the room fell into peaceful silence. Pulling her closer, I felt her snuggle against my chest, looking completely adorable even in her sleep. I turned off the bedside lamp and let sleep finally consume me.

It was around 6:30 a.m. when she stirred awake-as always. I really don't get what she plans to do waking up this early, that too on a Sunday.

She was about to get up when I tightened my grip around her waist, pulling her back into my embrace.

"Ansh, I know you're awake... let me go please... I'll wake you up later..." she scoffed, lightly hitting my arm.

"What will you do waking up this early? It's Sunday today-everyone will still be asleep..." I murmured, burying my face deeper into the crook of her neck.

"Aghh... fine, I'm sleeping back..." she said with an exasperated sigh, and I smiled faintly before drifting back into slumber.

It was around 8:30 a.m. when I woke up to the soft click of the door. I rubbed my eyes and looked up-there she was. She had just stepped out of the bathroom, water dripping from her hair as her hands moved rhythmically, drying the wet strands.

Once her hair was nearly dry, she applied vermillion to her hair partition. Today, she had chosen a simple navy-blue sleeveless kurti paired with white palazzos-yet she looked effortlessly mesmerizing. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" she scoffed, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I was already out of bed. In one swift motion, I went closer to her.
"Like what, Maharani Sahiba?" (My Queen?) I teased, wrapping my arms around her waist as my lips brushed against her bare shoulder in a soft kiss.

"Like... you've never seen anyone else other than me..." she said, meeting my gaze through the mirror.

I chuckled, swirling her around to face me. She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks turning a soft crimson.

"Because... you're the only one I've seen-and the only one I wish to see for the rest of my life," I said, gently lifting her chin to make her meet my eyes.

Her eyes widened, and her face turned a deeper shade of red. She pushed me lightly and dashed out of the room in embarrassment.

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

I soon stepped out of the shower, and as always, I found my clothes for the day neatly placed on the dresser. She did this every single day without fail. How does she manage to remember even the smallest things?

Today, she had picked a chocolate-brown V-neck T-shirt and cream-colored sweatpants for me-comfortable, casual, and just my kind of Sunday outfit. I smiled faintly, got dressed, and headed downstairs.

There she was-setting the breakfast table, her hands moving swiftly yet gracefully, while everyone else was taking their seats. Her eyes met mine for a brief second, and her cheeks instantly flushed a soft shade of crimson. A smirk crept onto my lips before I could stop it. She really has no idea how adorable she looks when she blushes like that.

I joined everyone at the table, and soon the room filled with cheerful chatter, the clinking of spoons, and her soft laughter echoing in the background. Breakfast went on smoothly, and after we were done, we all shifted to the living area, talking casually about work, travel plans, and random things that didn't really matter but still made the moment feel warm.

It was around noon when everyone suddenly began excusing themselves one by one. Within a few minutes, the entire family had decided to head out for shopping.

As the last door clicked shut, I glanced at her. She looked equally confused, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. We stared at each other for a few seconds before I let out a small chuckle.

There they go again...

Ever since we got married, this had become their new Sunday ritual. Either they kicked us out of the house for some "quality time," or they conveniently decided to go out themselves-leaving the house completely to us.

Today was no different. The only twist was that this time, they were the ones who left us behind.

I leaned back on the sofa, a teasing smile playing on my lips. Well... looks like it's just the two of us again, princess.

Now that we were left alone, the house suddenly felt calmer-just the faint hum of the air conditioner and the sound of her soft breathing beside me. We sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before deciding to watch a movie.

As the movie began, she was completely immersed-her eyes reflecting every emotion on screen. Sometimes she smiled softly, sometimes her brows furrowed. And I... I was silently admiring her instead of watching the movie. How can someone look so peaceful and expressive at the same time?

As the scenes played out, a thought suddenly struck me like lightning. Should I confess what I feel for her? It had been over five months since our marriage, and yet... we hadn't gone on a trip together. Maybe this is the right time... I could take her on a small trip and finally propose to her properly.

My mind was in chaos with the thought, so I immediately texted Nikhil to clear my fuzzy head. As always, he replied within seconds-agreeing to my plan, excited even.

"Kavya..." I said, pausing the movie.

"Hmm..." she hummed, resting her chin on her knee as she turned to look at me.

"We have a long weekend coming up next week..." I began.

She nodded, looking so effortlessly cute and adorable at the same time.

"Why don't we go out on a small weekend trip?" I asked directly, not wanting to beat around the bush.

There was a brief silence as she got lost in her thoughts.

"Okay, let's go... I also want a break from my boring hospital schedule," she finally said after what felt like a thoughtful pause.

I blinked, surprised. I honestly hadn't expected a yes-definitely not this soon. Maybe she's right... she deserves a break too.

"Where are we going for the trip, Ansh?" she asked, resting her cheek on her knee.

"I was planning on Mumbai," I said with a grin, and she nodded with a bright smile.

"By the way... we can change if you'd like to go somewhere else," I added quickly, curious to know her dream destination or bucket list spot.

"No specifications, Ansh... anywhere is fine," she said softly.

"Are you sure, princess?" I asked again, to be doubly sure.

She nodded with a small smile in response, and we resumed the movie after our brief discussion about the trip.

Once the movie ended, she stood up.

"Where are you going?" I asked, watching her walk toward the door.

"It's about to be 7:30 p.m. I'm going to prepare dinner; everyone will be back in some time," she said, turning the doorknob with a soft click.

"Wait, I'll also come along," I said, getting up from the couch.

We entered the kitchen together. I helped her chop vegetables and set the dining table, but I stayed far from the actual cooking-I was a terrible chef. Honestly, if I tried cooking, I'd probably set the kitchen on fire. The only thing I could make decently was coffee.

Soon, dinner was ready. She had prepared mixed vegetable sabji and rotis, the aroma filling the air just as the family returned. Maa, Chachi Maa, and Ritu's laughter echoed through the house, while Dad and Chachu trudged in behind them, hands full of shopping bags.

I swear, earlier they used to send me with the ladies while they enjoyed cooking-and I'd be the one holding double the shopping bags they were carrying now.

Kavya served them water as they settled on the sofa.

"I'm not going shopping with these ladies again," Dad muttered, letting out a deep breath.

"Even I'm giving up, Bhai Sahab," Chachu said, setting down his glass of water.

We all sat together for a while as they shared stories from their shopping spree, their laughter filling the room again.

After everyone freshened up, we gathered at the dining table for dinner.

"Maa, Dad, Chachi Maa, Chachu... Kavya and I have planned to go on a small weekend trip next weekend," I said casually as we began eating.

"Wow! That's nice, Shivu!" Chachu said with a warm smile, while Maa, Chachi Maa, and Ritu showed a thumbs-up.

"And... which destination have you people planned to go to, Shivu?" Dad asked, smiling knowingly.

"Mumbai," I said casually.

Kavya's shocked expression made me lean closer and whisper, "Why are you looking like that?"

"How casually are you announcing that we're going on a trip?" she whispered back, clearly flustered.

I cocked an eyebrow in question, and she continued softly, "No asking permission or anything...?"

I didn't quite understand her point, so I smiled and said, "There's nothing wrong I'm doing, so why worry?"

"Ansh... they're your parents, and you're casually telling them that you're taking me on a trip. If my parents had been there, they would've created a wholesome drama... even if I just told them about my rural medical camps."

Her words left me momentarily speechless. I managed to mask my surprise with a teasing smirk and said, "No worries, princess... they know I'm taking my wife on a trip."

But even as I said that, my mind was racing. No parents behave this calmly... what must have happened with hers? Why does she say such things with so much pain hiding behind that calm tone?

I brushed the thoughts aside for now-my priority was something else. Planning the perfect proposal for my wife.

I know, usually people propose before marriage. But as you all know, ours was an arranged marriage. So yes-my plan was to propose to her properly on our six-month anniversary.

The days flew by in a blur of work chaos and trip preparations.

Finally, the day of our departure arrived. Both of us had taken a half-day leave since our flight was scheduled for 7 p.m. Nikhil had already arrived-he'd insisted on dropping us at the airport. Only he knew about my sudden plan and had coordinated the stay and proposal arrangements in Mumbai.

Soon, Kavya stepped out of the washroom wearing wide-leg jeans and a sleeveless black floral printed top. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat. She looked breathtaking. How does she manage to look so effortlessly beautiful every time?

"Ansh... it's about to be 4 p.m., we should leave-we might get stuck in traffic," she said, snapping me out of my daze.

I nodded, grabbing the suitcase. We both walked out of the room together, took blessings from all the elders, and finally headed out for our trip.

Nikhil drove us to the airport as we settled in-completely unaware that this trip was going to be the most beautiful chapter of our story or maybe the worst.

Author's Note

Hey dewdrops 💌
Before anything, a tiny confession - I couldn't post this chapter yesterday because of a few technical glitches on my side 😔💻
I felt bad keeping you waiting, but maybe... maybe this chapter needed a little extra time to find you - at the right moment.

You felt it too, didn't you?
That strange stillness... that fragile warmth that almost feels borrowed? Sometimes, when life gives us a rare pause of peace, it's hard not to wonder how long it'll last.

Tell me honestly - did your heart slow down while reading, or did it skip a beat somewhere in between? 💭
Because sometimes, stories whisper the loudest right before the silence begins to fade.

Until the next one, hold onto this calm - it might just mean more than you think. 🌙🤍