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Mythili's POV -

In his arms, I found my home.

This was a line I found to be a bit overrated whenever I used to read those romance novels but I could feel this happening with me as I looked at this man, my husband who has brought me to the kitchen, placing me on the counter as he made his way to the fridge.

" What are you doing Shivaay?" I asked, picking up an apple from the fruit basket and playing with it as I found him fidgeting.

" Getting us something to eat." He hummed without really paying attention to me and my brows furrowed.

" But why? I've already eaten lunch!" I exclaimed, getting down and walking towards him.

" Have you?" He turned around, raising a brow and I immediately nodded.

" I have, promise! But now I know that you haven't." I realised and took his hands in mine, dragging him out to the dining table.

" Sit here. I will get something for you to eat." I told him and was about to get back into the kitchen when I found him holding my wrist, stopping me.

" You don't have to Mythili. It's your birthday. I will order something in." He said and I immediately found myself shaking my head in a no.

" Not a chance. You are rarely home for lunch or dinner these days. Besides, I am your wife and I want to cook for you and I will. So will you please sit down and let me do what I wish to Mr. Rathore?" When did I get so bold? What was going on?

" Mrs. Rathore, I knew that somewhere in there, this version of you was hidden. Had I known that it is going to reveal itself once we kiss, I would have done it sooner." His teasing smile made my heart flutter and his words raised heat under my skin as I squirmed under his gaze.

" Shivaay, let me go and get something for you to eat." I said, looking away, trying to take control over my racing heart. As much as the kiss was everything I wanted, I wasn't really sure that I was ready for something more just yet. I know that he would understand but at the same time, I didn't want to disappoint him.

" If you insist, Mrs. Rathore." He said, his smile still intact but it wasn't a teasing one anymore as he let go of my wrist.

" I will be right back." I said, rushing inside, away from him as I kept a hand on my racing heart in an attempt to calm myself down.

This man knows how to steal my breath away without even trying!

" Okay Mythili, get to work!" I talked to myself and started chopping onions and tomatoes for the gravy of Shahi Paneer after trying my hair in a bun and tying my dupatta at the ends but a few irritating hair locks made their way to my face and I constantly pushed them back while working.

As Shahi Paneer was almost done, I got to the fridge and found that there was no dough left so I began to knead more quickly, trying to blow away the stupid hair away again!

" I am going to cut you off if you don't stay behind my ears, I swear." I issued an ultimatum to them, moving my head when I found a hand come to my face, tucking them for me.

" I am almost done Shivaay. You must be tired. Just sit." I said, looking at him but he had made himself comfortable, leaning on the counter, crossing his arms as he looked at me.

I realised that he had changed from his suit to his track pants and a T-Shirt. He was athletically lean built and not bulkily as his arms told me and about his.....

" Are you checking me out Mythili?" His voice filled with amusement broke me out of my trance, bringing me back to reality as I found myself immediately looking away, completely embarrassed.

" Ummm....no." I replied, turning my face away from him but even I could hear the lie behind my words.

" Lies. I don't think you have a need to lie here Mrs. Rathore. You were only checking out your husband. I check you out and you remain so blissfully unaware that it's almost too easy for me now." His confession raised a gasp out of me and my eyes immediately found him which had a playful glint in them.

Mine, of course, widened at his words and I continued to look at him. He checks me out? Really? When did that happen?

Before I could think of saying anything else, at the corner of my eye, I found the curry almost coming out of the pan but I turned the stove off before it did.

" Shivaay, you are distracting me. Go and wait in the dining room please." I asked him before getting back to kneading the dough.

" I don't think so Mythili. You, distracted, is a sight to behold." He chuckled, not moving an inch away, holding his stand.

" Weren't you hungry?" I asked, raising a brow.

Before he could reply, I heard Baba's voice from across the hall.

" Is that Shahi Paneer that I smell?" He asked and Snowflake was following him.

" Yes Baba! Are you hungry?" I asked and he made his way towards us.

" Always, for Shahi Paneer." He told me with a toothy grin and I laughed.

" One plate coming right up for you too, then!" I replied and Shivaay distanced himself from me, going to Baba.

" Let's wait for it on the dining table Baba. In the meantime, why don't you tell me about Mythili's childhood a bit?" My husband asked him, taking Baba to the table and I did not fight the smile breaking on my lips.

This version of Shivaay Singh Rathore was just reserved for his family, for us. He was so different for the world and so different for us that I sometimes could not believe that they both are the same man!

" Mythili, quickly!" I talked to myself and continued to work when I heard Maa, Anamika and Nupur returning back home together.

" Mythili, why are you cooking on your birthday?" Nupur immediately came to the kitchen and looked absolutely revolted.

" Because Shivaay did not have lunch. I am making him and Baba an early dinner. You guys freshen up too. I will make hot chapattis for all of us!" I told her and she narrowed her eyes at me.

" Not happening. You have already cooked the curry. Anamika and I will take care of the chapattis. You go and freshen up and change. We got cake!" She took the rolling pin from my hands and forced me out of the kitchen.

I did not protest because I knew that I was going to lose this one.

I walked out and made my way to the bedroom. I also decided to call Amrita and tell her that I will take them all out tomorrow because honestly, all I wanted to do was spend some time with my whole family and she understood.

As I walked into my closet, my eyes fell on one of the beautiful white Anarkali suit with very light white embroidery all over and obviously, I had to chose something Indian. It was Anamika and Nupur's brand and I honestly loved it!

Mythili's Look ~

I immediately changed into that, put on a light make-up and then walked out of the room back to the hall where everyone was waiting for me.

" There she is! The Birthday girl." Anamika came to me and took me into a tight hug before dragging me to the centre table where these guys had done a bit of decorations quickly.

" You look beautiful, my child. Happy Birthday." Maa took me in her embrace and kissed my forehead and just like always, there was a lot of warmth in her voice and actions. Something so maternal, only she had given me all my life and I fought back the urge to cry! For god's sake, it was a happy day!

" Thank you Maa." I replied with a huge smile on my face.

" Now I know that you don't particularly enjoy parties so we did not throw you one but how could your friends not be here!?" She asked as my morons walked in with goofy smiles on their faces.

" Such a good actor Amu." I muttered as she hugged me. Eventually, Hritik and Viraj joined in too!

" Of course I am M!" She chuckled.

" Happy Birthday you." Hritik and Vir said, both holding each hand of mine.

" Yeah, yeah whatever. Where's my gift?" I asked the two of them, taking my hands away and placing them on my waist.

" We are here. Isn't that a gift for you?" Hritik asked, pretending to be hurt.

" No. Your faces aren't enough." I told them blatantly, grinning.

" Ouch woman, that is extremely rude." Vir said and I just shrugged my shoulders.

Then Amu handed me a wrapped box.

" This is from the three of us." She said, giving me a tight hug again.

" Amu you know you didn't have to. These two had to." I told her as she laughed.

" Sometimes I wonder how we are friends with both of you." Vir said, giving me the fakest smile possible.

" Talk for yourself man. Amrita will kill me." Hritik said to Vir just as quickly, trying not to offend his girlfriend.

" Okay, okay guys. Let her cut the cake now. Mythili special Shahi Paneer and the pizzas are waiting for all of us!" Nupur exclaimed, stopping our bickering and thank god she did or else we would have continued all night without fail.

" I will only cut the cake with Baba." I announced, holding his hand and bringing him to the cake.

" Just like earlier?" I knew he was trying hard to recall and even though I don't remember much of it, I agreed with him.

" Just like earlier times." I said. We both may not remember too much of how it was when I was a kid, but we sure could start new traditions together!

As I cut the cake, the first morsel that I fed was baba, followed by Maa and then Anamika and Nupur after them, my three friends and then there he was, waiting for his turn as I walked to him with a piece of it between my fingers.

I had brought it to Shivaay's lips but he took it from me and fed me instead, first.

" Happy Birthday, Mythili." He whispered, placing a small peck on my right cheek as I shivered with anticipation but I had a smile to give him.

" Thank you Shivaay." I took the cake back from him and then fed him.

I found it difficult to take my eyes away from him but I eventually did and then we started with dinner and a movie, my favourite.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Basically, it was playing in the background as we all ate and talked. I was sitting right next to Baba and refused to leave his side throughout because for some reason, I still thought that if I open my eyes, it will all turn out to be a dream and I wished to live it a little longer before waking up and finding out that this was nothing.

As the credits of the movie rolled, my friends left but not before telling me that I still owed them that party tomorrow to which I heartily agreed. Nupur and Anamika took the responsibility to clean over the hall and I took Baba back to his room. He needed a lot of sleep and rest for a few days so as to not exert himself.

" I need to talk to Shivaay about consulting a good doctor for him." I muttered to myself as I left Baba's room when he was asleep and made way to mine.

As I entered, I found Shivaay sitting on the couch with his laptop and I sighed. The London event was making him overwork himself to no end and I don't think I liked this at all. He wasn't even looking after himself.

" Shivaay." I got his attention to myself and dropped next to him on the couch.

" I have something for you." It eyes lightened immediately and he kept the laptop on the coffee table before standing up and going to his walk-in-closet.

As he emerged again seconds later, I jumped out of my seat in happiness to see what was in his hands.

A guitar!

I shrieked and ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

" Thank youu!" I said and found his spare arm wrapping around my waist.

" Why didn't you tell me that you enjoy playing guitar?" He asked me, still holding me like that and I made no effort to get away. I did not feel like doing it.

" I don't know." I murmured, closing my eyes in his embrace.

" Mrs. Rathore, you are going to let me know whatever it is that you want and you shall have it. Haven't I told you that already?" He asked me, playing with my hair, leaving shivers down my spine as I clutched into the hem of his T-Shirt even more tightly.

I had no response but to just hum in agreement.

" I can't wait to see it." I said, stepping away a little and he gave it to me with a smile and as I took it out of the case, my jaw dropped. It was a Fender Telecaster, one of the most expensive ones around.

" Shivaay this is too much!" I exclaimed, looking up to him in shock. I really couldn't believe him.

" What?" He looked like he knew this was coming and didn't even try to hide it.

" This is about two lakhs Shivaay! Why?" I asked, carefully placing it on the bed and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

" Because you deserve nothing but the best Mythili and people have made you feel otherwise for a long time. Not anymore." Was his answer and he held my hands in his, kissing my knuckles.

" I am not a professional Guitar player Shivaay. I did not need this." I confessed honestly to him, still unable to understand why he did this.

" I told to Mrs. Rathore, it's not just your needs I am here to take care of, I equally am responsible for your happiness and that is going to stay forever, even when you begin to earn more money than me." He responded with his answer, stumping me into silence.

" I don't know what to say." I confessed, lowering my eyes, taking a deep breath.

" You don't have to say anything. Happy Birthday, wife." He wished me once again, taking my face in his hands and placing a small kiss on my lips, then on my forehead and then, my temple as I closed my eyes once again, extremely content with my feelings currently.

For the first time today, I did not feel guilty for something Shivaay did for me.

" Go and change. It was an exhausting day for you and you need to rest now." He then asked me.

" No. I am going to help you with work." I replied, just as soon.

" Mythili it is late. You also have college and then work tomorrow." He tried to persuade me to sleep but this time, I was not going to back off.

" You have work all day tomorrow too. You literally have been over-working yourself and don't think we are not noticing Shivaay. Maa is worried sick for you." I said, trying to make him understand.

" I am fine Mythili. Besides, the London launch has to go well or else this multi-billion takeover will not garnish the market we aim for." He said, making his way back to the couch and picking his laptop back in his arms.

" I know that. That is why we are going to work on it together. Just give me five minutes!" I exclaimed, getting into my closet to change and then to the restroom to wash my face before taking a seat next to him again.

We worked for a while in silence before I decided to break it.

" Will you tell me how you found Baba and why was he there?" I asked, unable to keep my nerves in control for the whole truth.

" I will. But not tonight. It is still your birthday and I don't want you to stress yourself anymore than you already are with this work." He replied, still completely focused on the PPT in front of him.

" Okay." I sighed, not pushing him. I did not wanted to add another reason for him to be stressed and distracted tonight.

We again worked in silence but I could feel my head dropping as I stifled a yawn this apparently got me his attention again.

" Enough Mythili. Let's go to bed. Come on." He said, shutting his laptop down and taking mine away from my lap and closing it too.

" Thank god!" I said and finally yawned, finding an amusing expression on his face.

" You are never going to tell me what you want, will you?" He chuckled, dragging me to the bed and putting the lights off.

" I don't have to. You somehow read me pretty well." Were the last words I remember which came out of my mouth and I found myself throwing my arm around his torso, closing my eyes as I let sleep take over me.

" Thank you for the best birthday I ever remember having Shivaay." Actually, these were my last words.

" You don't have to thank you Mrs. Rathore, never." He said, pulling me even more closer to him and I complied in sleep, feeling his warmth by my side and the smallest of smiles on my lips.

I was technically not supposed to write till chapter before 25th June because I have my exams soon but I just couldn't resist myself haha!

Anyway, This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. To unlock the next one, at least 1000 Votes and 350 comments are required on this one but like I said, I will only be able to update post 25th June.

Please vote and comment! Motivates a lot!

I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!❤❤