Arranged Bhasad

12. The Morning After

The sudden urgency in him to drink water and pee woke him up in wee hours. It was just 4:15 and he was yawning very bad. Grabbing his tracks from the side of the mat, he quickly walked to the washroom and soon had water even, coming out of the washroom. Stretching his arms, he checked the bed and it was okay. Done.

He came back to the mattress as sleep pulled his eyelids and he covered him with the comforter when Nandini nudged with the comforter. s**t. He was married.

Sticking his tongue out, he giggled to himself and eyed Nandini. Her choodas were so heavy but looked so pretty on her hands. Slowly taking her hand, he kissed her palm when she took it away and wailed "Sone dijiye na!" He giggled eyeing her beauty and moving closer to him, kissed her forehead "Thand nahi lag rahi? Kuch Pehna nahi hai tumne!" She nodded with eyes closed "Main kuch Pehna du?" She nodded and yawned.

He got up and took a shirt from his cupboard and made her wear it while she pecked his lower lip in sleep and again slept hugging him.

"I love you!" He muttered before hugging her tightly and sleeping.

The alarm clock rang and he wailed like a baby, waking her up. She could see the sunrays falling on them and smiled remembering the dawn memories they shared. It was her first day in her new home, and the first day of a never ending journey with him.

She pushed the comforter away and smiled at the human sleeping just beside her. Her favorite human.

He was sleeping on his stomach while his face was turned towards her, giving a perfect start to her morning and his hand was on her belly which had pulled her closer to him.

She slowly sat up and turned off the alarm, sighing at the time. 5:30 am.

Rubbing her heavy eyelids, deprived of sleep, she stretched her arms only to blush, remembering their last night. Her body pained much but she cared less. All she knew was that she was being marked his, as his woman for life and he was only hers for the days and beyond.

"Manik, thora side hatiye na humein neeche jaana hai" She slowly ruffled his hairs to which he smiled and opened his eyelids a little "Abhi? Itni subah ko?"

"Haan Manik! Aaj pehla din hai, maa akeli hogi kitchen me. Accha nahi lagta na" She kept on ruffling his hair while he smiled and kissed her palm softly "Tum theek ho na?"

A blush spread across her cheeks and she nodded, only to bend a little to kiss his forehead. Feeling her lips on him, he smiled and moved away a little.

"Main thori der me aaun toh tumhe bura nahi lagega na?" She slowly widened her eyes at hus statement and shook her head furiously.

"Nahi, aap acche se soke aayiye! Hum tab tak sab dekhte hai" She said and he held her palm softly "I am really sorry. I will soon join you" She smiled and kissed his cheek "Aap so jaayein! Hume ekdum bura nahi lagega!" And she kept ruffling his hair until he turned around and slept again.

He was such a sweetheart. She had never heard this statement from any one or had never heard any experience regarding this from any other women. All she knew was that the new lady of the house had to wake up in the morning to greet the rest while the men i.e the husband used to sleep till late.

These small words from him made her day. With a never ending smile and an usual blush accompanying her face, she entered the washroom to freshen up.

Coming out of the washroom, she perfectly adjusted the red saree on her and applied some vermilion and was combing her wet hair when she looked at him from the reflection of the mirror. He was awake and was sitting on the mat looking intensely at her.

"Aap uth gaye?" She asked, amazed turning around to him and walking towards him.

"Haan, wo tum uth gayi toh meri bhi toh nayi shaadi hui hai, so why not be equal!" He spoke while asking for her hand in mid, to which she gave in and he pulled her onto him. She looked deeply into those eyes which spoke nothing but love and respect.

"Tumhe der nahi ho rahi hai na?" He asked nuzzling in her wet hair while she shook her head in no eyeing the clock which said 6:05 am. It would be okay if she gets downstairs by 6:30.

"Main kal raat thora zyaada hi hard hogaya tha! I am really sorry. Maine pehle se hi ointment kharid rakha hai, raat ko saare love bites and marks par laga dunga" She blinked her eyes triple the usual speed as she heard her husband. Why was he so sweet? Freak!

"Manik! Main theek hu. Aap chinta na kare! Yeh toh aam baat hai. Aap pareshan na hoye. And hume abb neeche chalna chaiye! Aap tayyar ho jayein tabtak hum maa papa se mil lete hai" Manik nodded and kissed her forehead "Tumhara pehla din hai! Kuch bhi pareshani ho be jhijhak mujhe batana. And aaj se, sab kuch share karna, thik hain?" He informed her to which she smiled and wrapped her arms around him "Aap bohot sweet ho!" Manik smiled and caressed her hair "Abb tum meri jaan ho, itna toh banta hai" She smiled and blushed at the same time while kissing her lips for the time being, he went inside the washroom while she descended towards the kitchen.

By around 7:30 all had assembled in the dining table and had their breakfast in time. Nandini made kheer for the cooking ritual and people appreciated her. Manik was silent all the way which did hurt her until he blinked his eyes and a smile spread across his cheek. Nandini was gifted with ornaments and some money by the rest while Manik didn't give anything. The youngsters would have teased them to the core had Avinash papa not been there with them.

Nandini, after learning some of the cooking tips from her mother-in-law(s) went to their bedroom to keep the gifts when she found Manik getting ready in formals infront of the mirror.

"Aap kahi jaa rahe hai?" Manik's attention diverted and he looked at her and nodded "Haa! Maine socha aaj tumhari pagpherein ki rasm hai toh obviously you won't be with me.. So maine socha aajka payday waste na karke kaam pe chala jaun taaki acchi chutti le paun baadme!" Nandini nodded with a smile "Theek hai, tab main aapka tiffin tayyar Kar deti hu!"

Manik smiled "Nandini, tum thak gayi hogi jaan! Tum rest lo. Main maa se khe dunga" Nandini pouted "Nahi Manik, mere hotey hue aap maa ko tang na karein! Main kardungi" And without even giving him time to say something she went away making Manik chuckle.

She quickly prepared two aloo ke parathes and some aloo-matar ki sabzi since it was his favorite. She was wrapping them in foil when Rukmini disturbed her "Arey! Bohot acchi Khushboo aa rahi hai!" Nandini blushed a little "Jee bhabhi! Unko office ke liye de rahi hun"

Rukmini smirked "Aha! Manik is a lucky man haa!" Nandini blushed and went away while Rukmini laughed from behind "Kitni pyaari hai dono ki jodi"

Nandini kept the tiffin in his office bag which was kept on the bed when suddenly two hands wrapped her around her waist "Itna kaam kaise kar leti ho?"

She smiled and said "Aap bhi na! Jaldi aayiyega!" Manik nodded and kissed her neck softly and moved away "Tumhe Mummy-Baba ke paas pahuchakar main chala jaunga! Jaldi ready ho jao and main aate waqt le bhi aaunga agar zyaada work load naa ho toh" Nandini nodded in understanding and went inside the washroom to get ready.

All the three updates are of 1k+ words but the comments are not even crossing 50 mark. Sad!! :((

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVELIES. ❤❤