Aakarsh's POV:-

My eyes widened in horror as the words sank in. Tomorrow morning? Are they kidding me? No this can't happen. I didn't realise when my feet drew me close to them. 

"What do you mean? Aren't husband and wife supposed to stay together after the wedding?" My voice sounded more desperate than curious. 

The ladies started giggling looking at each other. I couldn't comprehend what they whispered to each other but these sweet, or better, naughty feminine conspiracies I smell here are giving me vibes that all my beautiful plans for tonight are going to be spoiled brutally. Oh! So much for asking for one peaceful moment alone with her! 

"Of course, beta, but, you see, we have this one of the post-wedding rituals where the bride has to sleep in front of your Kuldevi Maa (clan deity) to seek her blessings for a happy married life. So, Diksha will have to sleep in the puja room for tonight and from tomorrow you can start your life as a married couple." Nani Maa, explained, making my heart drop lower and lower, throughout her explanation. 

I was gawking at her and my mother like a fool and the other aunties were giggling at my reaction. Of course, they will! I scoffed at them internally.

Why the hell did nobody tell me earlier? I glanced at my wife who was looking everywhere but me and if I'm not wrong then she was trying to suppress a smile there. Very good, only this was left. My own bride was enjoying my miseries.

"But you didn't tell me earlier?" I voiced out my frustration, keeping my tone flat somehow.

"We are telling you this when we still have some hours left for dinner. Isn't it early?" Mumma said in a matter-of-fact tone. I know what she is trying to do here. I narrowed my eyes at her only to get a witty smirk in return. 

Mothers these days! 

Annoyed at everything, I couldn't stop myself from questioning the obvious, "But why does she need to sleep alone there? I also got married. I must sleep with her!" 

As soon as those words left my mouth I saw Diksha snapping her head at me and the ladies, who were just giggling till now, bursting into full-fledged laughter. 

Had they inhaled laughing gas or something? Why are they laughing so much today?

It all confused me until I saw Diksha gritting her teeth at me. Wha— Shit! wrong choice of words! The realisation made me believe how I can be utterly stupid at times.

Diksha had this look on her face which said ‘I'll see you later’ and her eyes threw daggers at me. What an embarrassment my mouth has brought to us!

"We know you're eager, Krish, but behave; you have all your elders sitting here." Mumma scolded, softly though. However, the ladies didn't stop giggling. Even Nani Maa was enjoying it as she nudged Diksha, making her shy.

"It's okay, Bhabhi, we understand his situation. He has got such a beautiful wife. How can he not be restless?" Geeta aunty, one of Papa's distant cousin's wife, said to Maa. With that, they continued their laughter. I don't know what's with these women continuously giggling and teasing us. 

I saw Diksha was getting red again… the only difference was, this time it wasn't just blushing but embarrassment too. Of course!

Sighing at my utter embarrassed state, I shifted my concentration back to Maa and tried one last time to grab an opportunity, if I can, to be with my wife, "Uh, I'm sorry it came out the wrong way. What I meant was, being her husband, shouldn't I join her in seeking blessings? We both got married." 

"No, the bride has to sleep alone, and if anyone can stay with her, that too when it's urgent, then it will be her mother-in-law only as they both are daughters-in-law of your family." Nani Maa again answered my question with a tinge of strictness in her voice, making my frustration level go up mentally. 

"Who made such ridiculous rituals?" I couldn't help but mutter under my breath. But much to my bad luck, Nani Maa heard it and scolded me.

"Krish, no arguments. These are traditions and you have to follow them!" Her eyebrows twisted together as she glared at me.

Her tone made it clear that no insistence of mine would work. I sighed dejectedly, throwing one last glance at my wife who has certainly softened her gaze for me. 

"I didn't argue! I was just — well never mind. I have some so I'll take my leave!" My mood was soured for the obvious reason. Although I don't let it affect my expressions and with that said I turned and walked towards my room, leaving the ladies giggling and teasing Diksha.

God, one more torturous night without her!

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"I wouldn't have cared much had it just been Neel. But Palash was also sounding quite confident." I told Neev who was sitting in front of me. 

Vidyut was on a call with his senior for the past five minutes and hence was standing in the other corner of the room.

I called them half an hour ago to talk about Neel and Palash's warnings. They aren't stupid to threaten me without any backup. 

"Perhaps, someone powerful is supporting them. Does Neel or Abhay uncle have any acquaintance with any minister?" Neev asked, 

"I'm not sure. But I don't think it's political." 

"We have bad news!" Vidyut announced, tensed.

"Don't tell me they are getting a freaking bail!" My response was agitated , but I can't help much.

"Not all of them, but Abhay uncle. Since, Neel had denied any involvement of his father in anything neither police could find anything that can hold him responsible." He sighed, sitting beside me.

"It is still bearable. But, make sure they don't get a bail at any cost or I'll be compelled to punish them myself." I was seeing red and wanted nothing but to finish it off at once. 

"Krish, we understand your anger which is very justified, but you need to know that doing things recklessly will only put us in more trouble. You have a press conference tomorrow. Your board members would be attending the reception party. And we all know what they are waiting for. You need to calm yourself down or a single mistake will cost you your position." Neev kept a hand on my shoulder, as he reminded me of our plan of coming out clean to the board members. 

I nodded my head at him not wanting to say anything. 

"Neev bhaiya is right, Bhaiya, you can't lose your efforts of these years on an impulse. Besides, let me meet commissioner Sir tomorrow I'm sure they'll help us find out Palash's source of threats." Added Vidyut, drawing my attention back to Vidyut's words.

Let's see what tomorrow unveils.

❃❃❃❃❃

Diksha's POV:-

"You're here?!" Aakarsh asked in a deep voice, opening his eyes half. 

God, his morning voice! He can have my life at his mercy with his morning hoarse voice.

"What do you think?" I asked, shifting half of my weight on his chest as I got close to him inside the duvet. 

It was early morning, a bit of darkness left in the sky, and I was allowed to get back to our room after dawn. So, Maa came to drop me here and instructed me to get some sleep; then be ready by 9 am as I have this ritual of 'pehli rasoi' in which the new bride prepares food, sweets especially, for her new family. So, I used this opportunity to pacify my husband who was angry like a kid last night for not being with me. I had even tried to talk to him on the phone after we called it a night, but my Mr. Grumpy here was so annoyed that slept early.

"You're really here!" His sleepy eyes opened fully as they shone with excitement.

Realising it's not a dream that I'm really here, he rolled us over and took me beneath his large frame. An involuntary squeal escaped from my throat at his action.

"Aakarsh!" 

"Exactly this is what you were chanting in my ears when I was loving you in my dreams the whole night." He mumbled, keeping his face in my neck. 

Shocked would be an understatement for what I felt at his reply. God, how can he be so blunt? He seriously has an unfiltered mouth.

"Seriously this is what you chose to say as the very first thing in the morning?" I wondered, loudly.

There I was thinking of pacifying him, here he was having erotic dreams of our union. Great. Just great!

He chuckled right there on my bare skin, causing the goosebumps to make attendance. As I was wearing a saree, the blouse neckline left quite an area left uncovered on my shoulders and neck. His warm breath was falling and hitting me directly at the crook of my neck. 

"I just wanted to let you know the truth." He whispered, just below my ear, blowing some air on the spot. 

My body shuddered at his naughty action. I felt his hands sliding on my bare stomach under the saree, and squeezing the sides of my waist.

"You must know how restlessly your husband slept last night." His words came out denser, as his fingers kneaded my skin. 

"Mmmm…" I couldn't stop a moan coming out of me when suddenly his lips captured my earlobe, sucking it slowly. I felt another vibration travelling through my spine when his tongue touched my flesh and suddenly I was panting heavily. My body felt heated up at his touches and surely it wanted more.

Eyes shut on their own and with my hands going around his back automatically, I didn't realize when I held him so tight… so close to myself. 

"Just how you moaned loudly in my dreams too when my hands explored all your hidden treasures, baby." With his words, his hands slipped up on my back, sensuously, until they reached just at the hooks of my blouse. He didn't open then but slid his hands crossed and caged me in his strong arms.

God, I never knew I wanted his hands around me like this so badly until now.

And not only his hands but his lips also changed their place, drowning me into an ocean of euphoria. He traced my jaws till my bare neck with his lips, placing wet kisses all the way on my skin. I don't know why I was feeling so hot and fuzzy. But it felt right and good. 

"Aakarsh, what are you… ahhh!" I couldn't complete my sentence as another moan rippled through my throat. He had bitten the junction of my neck & left shoulder and pressed his fingers deep on the swollen sides of my bosoms. 

"Keep making these sounds, Jaan, and I swear I won't let you step out of our bed till tomorrow." 

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