Recap:

He just took a sharp breath. With the no involvement in physical act thing, it really was hard on him. I immediately fixed back my saree and pulled out my shawl.

"Yeah, that helps-", he mumbled sarcastically.

I smiled and slightly blushed.

We almost reached the shop that Ma ji wanted us to visit. Actually, being here for almost over a year, I hadn't heard of this shop.

And when the auto stopped right in front of it, my husband and me sat shocked with our jaws dropped.

We were sent to do western clothes shopping!

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Shocked with where we had landed ourselves, I turned to look at Raj ji. He looked pretty confused himself.

Why would Ma ji just send us here? It all just puzzled me.

We checked ourselves in into the big shop and with a 360 degree view, all I could see was clothes!

It was literally raining clothes and they were nothing like what I have seen or worn before.

"Welcome ma'am, what type of clothing are you looking for?"

I blinked at her. Understanding my situation, she pulled me aside and whispered, "behen ji, kya aap apne honeymoon ke liye shop kar rahi hai?"

I blushed and somehow felt it's better to confess a nod. I felt she teasingly smiled at me, but I really didn't know whether was I reading too much between the lines.

She asked me what my size was and asked me to take a seat. Within ten minutes, she had a handful of unencountered clothes in her hand.

As she explained what they were, I sat there mentally taking notes. She spoke about all sorts of tops first and then the pants and skirts. Some of them looked really pretty while the others, no, didn't make any sense at all.

She pointed me to a small room with a lot of mirrors. It was the trial room. As I entered, I locked myself behind.

I felt like a sailor who lost the sea route to his destination. My husband on the other hand enjoyed my vulnerability and helplessness. Never have I ever worn such clothes or wanted to wear them. There were clothes which I couldn't understand how to even wear them.

What's the point of wearing an off-shoulder top?

Why are jeggings so freaking tight?

Why do some tops don't even have a strap?

What on earth is a crop top?

Why is just open everywhere?

Oh God no! I really can't do this. It's not my cup of tea to wear these tight clothes, not for me, or my husband. Can't I just spend my honeymoon in my most comfortable saree and chudidhaar?

Then, a thought just popped into my head that made me want to dissolve into oblivion.

I encountered the worst worst question creeped into my head, will my husband love me less because I am not comfortable with these clothes?

Draping my most comfortable saree back, I picked up the clothes and came out of the trial room.

I saw that Raj ji was sitting in a sofa nearby and I slowly walked towards him. Looking at my face, he immediately stood up and walked towards me. Even before I could share my thoughts to him, the lady who helped me with the clothes asked, "ma'am-"

I stopped her with just that one word and told her, " I'll talk to my husband and get back to you."

She silently took the clothes from me and walked away, giving us some privacy.

Holding my hand, he found a nearby sofa as we comfortably took out seats.

"Pavi, kya hua? Why do you look so upset?"

"Ji-woh-kya-"

His worry just intensified as I fumbled with words. I could literally feel him gripping my hands as his eyes narrowed.

"Bolo Pavi, kya hua? It's just me right? Will you pleas open up?"

I took a deep breath.

"Ji, is it necessary for me to wear these awkward clothes? Do you want me to wear them?" , I whispered softly.

Surprised, he just looked straight at me.

And lo, he started laughing, on my face, in a public place, with no prejudice of who would think what and just so carefree.

"Oh my God, you don't really know me, do you?

You idiot!

I don't love you for the type clothes you wear. Of course, you look the best in saree, I love it when you wear saree.

But that's not the point.

You wear a  pant and shirt or a saree, Pavi, that really doesn't matter to me. All it matters is, I want to have a marriage with you. I want a child with you. I want to be with you. I want to kiss you and you are all whom I need in my life.

My life's goal is to make your dreams our reality and I want a picture perfect family and in that, I don't care whether you are in these weirdly cut clothes or your comfortable saree.

I am just a stationary shop owner and a girl like you settled for a guy like me. That itself is a big thing for me Pavi-"

I immediately closed his mouth with my palm.

Controlling my emotions, I stood up and he followed me. Humbly, we sought out way out of the store with empty hands. Dragging him to a remote corner of the street, I said, "Never ever do you say that I settled for you, Mr. Rajeev Shukla. You mean the world to me. You are my world now.

Yes it took me some time to realise it, but you are my life.

I LOVE YOU.

Now, kiss me quickly, before anyone sees and let's take an auto back home."

Chuckling and then glancing at the road, he gave a quick peck on the cheek and hugged me by my waist in sideword manner and we walked to the main road in search of an auto...

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