"Time for bed Mr. Malhotra."

He looks up from his phone and gives me a smile.

"Indeed, Mrs. Malhotra."

We both stand on each side of the bed and staring at it. The realization of first night suddenly hits us. Do we have to have sex? Does he want to have sex? Do I want to have sex?

"Sweetheart, enough of this awkward let's-stare-at-the-bed-and-ponder-over-first-night expectations! We both need time and quite frankly I don't want to move forward in this relationship until we have accepted each other completely,  even if that means a year or two or more than that. We have all the time in the world, remember?"

I feel myself instantly relaxing and exhaling a deep breath I didn't know I was holding.

I move forward and get in the bed. My hand reaches out to him. He gives me his sweet smile and grabbing my hand, he climbs up next to me.

Laying down next to each other with our arms touching, we stare at the ceiling for a moment.

"Why did you call me afreen when you saw me walking down the aisle?" I finally broke the silence.

He shifted and lied down on his left side so that he can look at me. I mirror his actions, we are both so close with just few inches gap between us.

"Because you were looking so divine and the only word that would do justice to the beauty you are is afreen. When I saw you walking down, I couldn't believe you would be mine. I can't even tell you how lucky I felt. You are a beautiful smart woman Nandini, remember that when you ever doubt yourself."

My hand reaches his cheeks, I caress them for a second before leaning forward. His eyes look into mine like he is confirming what he is seeing. And in a moment his lips are on mine. His hands move to hold my face, cupping it into them.

When we get comfortable, he moves his hands down my waist and pulls me on top of him. Slowly, he deepens the kiss and I uncertainly, mirror his actions. Our tongues collide, I discover the taste of our wedding cake in his mouth. I touch the stubble on his face, I always wanted to do that. I run my fingers from his stubble to his neck.

When we finally pull apart, we look at each other. Passion. Admiration. Amazement. Clearly visible in our eyes.

He leans and places one more kiss on my lips. Smiling at him, I place my head on his chest. I'm basically lying on him. Am I heavy? Should I move?

I make an attempt to get off of him but he pulls me to himself and holds me tighter.

"Sleep sweetheart."

I slowly close my eyes and let sleep take over me.

~~

Bright light is hitting my face, pulling the duvet over my face, I try to stay asleep. I'm way too tired to wake up right now.

I hear sounds of drawers opening and closing and then footsteps going around.

I half open my eye and hold the duvet tighter. Who is in my room?

I always lock my door before going to sleep. How did they enter? Is it a robber? I wonder if I have a knife in my room.

I try looking through the duvet but it's way too thick. This is not my duvet. It doesn't smell like my duvet. The smell. This smell. It reminds of Manik. Manik! I'm married!! This is not my duvet or my room. Well, technically this is my room now.

Pulling down the duvet slowly, I look around the room to find Manik. He's nowhere to be seen but I hear sounds coming from the walk in closet, which is more like a whole room dedicated to a closet.

"Manik." He walks out of the closet, all dressed up.

"Yes, sweetheart." He sits near me on the bed and pulls down the duvet to uncover my whole face.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?" He kisses my forehead and strokes my hair.

"I did. The bed was very comfy." He chuckles and whispers I'm sure it was.

I turn to grab my phone to look at the time.

"Oh damn. It's pretty late, I slept a lot. I should probably get ready now and then we have to go back to my house. Oh that reminds me, can I bring Smurfy?"

"Sweetheart, this is your home you can bring anyone and do anything that your heart desires. Besides I really like Smurfy."

I give him my big smile and get up from the bed.

~~
"I have to make a dessert as per rituals so what should I make?"

"Kheer."

Shit. How do we make kheer? It's rice pudding so we obviously need rice and milk.

I'll have to google the recipe and hope I don't mess it up. I mean it's kheer, what can go wrong?

~~

Fvck. Trust me to mess up the simplest recipe.

I knew doubling the recipe would ruin everything then why exactly did I go ahead with that brilliant idea?

I jump on the kitchen counter to sit and think about ways to fix my kheer.

Maybe I should call my mom. No. She would first yell at me for not listening to her when she was going on and on about cooking classes.

Oh god. Manik's whole family is outside, waiting for my delicious kheer.

I was about to start crying when I suddenly felt someone walking in the kitchen.

"Nandini. What happened?" Manik glances around the kitchen that is full of dirty dishes, spatulas and spoons. Rice is spread everywhere. The counter has some of the spilled milk from when I was adding it to the pot.

He stands in front of me and cups my cheeks. Tears start flowing down my eyes.

"I messed up."

"It's okay sweetheart. There is no reason to cry."

I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tightly while crying loudly now.

"Kheer is the simplest dessert and I still managed to fvck it up."

"Shhh. It's okay. Wait let me get the chef to make it. Nobody needs to know you didn't make it."

He pulls out his phone and I immediately snatch it from his hand.

"No. That's cheating. I'll make it again."

I gesture him to put me down from the kitchen counter. Picking me up, he puts me down on my feet.

"Nandini, you don't have to worry about this. Nobody cares about this ritual. You could just let the chef make it and nobody will notice."

"Manik, that's cheating and lying. I'm not going to do that. It's my first time making something for you and your family."

"Our. Our family."

"Yes. So that means no lying or cheating."

"Okay, let me at least help you make it."

"Do you know how to make kheer?" He nods his head and I give him my "I'm impressed" look.

"But if you help me, that would be cheating too. I'm supposed to make this alone."

"It's not cheating sweetheart. I'm your husband, remember? We are equal and we are supposed to share and help each other. I'm not going to forget my vows and let you "suffer" in this situation alone."

"Point well made Mr. Malhotra. Let's start from the beginning then. I'll grab the pot."

I watch him in awe as he moves around the kitchen grabbing the ingredients and instructing me to add them to make me feel like I'm cooking. He never fails to amaze me. His simple gestures remind me why I decided to marry this man that I now call my husband.

"Here, taste this." He puts the spoon full of kheer in front of my mouth.

Damn Malhotra, you do know how to make kheer.

"This is delicious Manik." A moan escapes my mouth and I feel him taking a deep breath.

"Mrs. Malhotra, let's get this kheer to our family before I lose control over my senses."

I look at him in confusion before it hits me. My eyes widen and I feel my cheeks warming up.

I look around trying to avoid eye contact with Manik.

He puts the kheer in a bowl and moves out of the kitchen, leaving me in an immense state of embarrassment.