Raavi stood beside the perfectly manicured hedges, staring dreamily at the sight before her. All day she had been looking for an opportunity to talk to that idiot husband of hers but that bhootnath is one slippery eel. Not that her family is helping matters.

Raavi sighed remembering the events of breakfast. Shiva's eyes had lit up the moment she entered their room with two plates of his favourite meethi ke paranthe and she couldn't help but smile widely at the childlike excitement on his face. She'd make paranthas everyday if only to see that heart-warming smile on his face. They had barely sat down with their plates when Krish rushed into the room, shouting for Shiva. Seeing them sitting with plates of paranthas, he pouted in that adorable way of his and Raavi melted. She can't say no to her eklauta pyaara devar. So the three of them spent the morning together sharing paranthas and swapping childhood stories. And even though she had a blast with them both, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling of procrastination in the back of her mind. Needless to say she was strung pretty tight.

That's why she was there, stalking her bhootnath while he chopped logs for the fire. Raavi never appreciated fully the fine specimen she's married to. His taut sweaty muscles rippled every time he raised his arms and brought down the axe, splintering the hard wood easily as if it were made of wax. His eyes would squint adorably as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Raavi was absolutely lost admiring from afar that she forgot she had planned to confront him. By the time she remembered what she was supposed to do, Shiva was no longer alone.

"Iss Gadhere Dev ko abhi prakat hona tha? Hey Somnath ab pata nai kya baatein karne baith jayega. Aise toh bohot shauk hai aangan mein kiss karne ka. Wahi karne chala jata. Aye Gadhera!! Jaake apni biwi ko pareshan kaar naa. Mere pati ko toh baksh de."

Raavi gritted her teeth and mumbled, glaring daggers at the "interruption".

*****

Shiva could sense someone's eyes boring holes into his back, as he stood there talking to Dev. He knew there was only one person right now who is impatiently waiting for him.

This morning when he saw Raavi, standing before him with his favourite food, his heart warmed and a smile tugged at his lips. But as the events of the previous night flashed before his eyes, he felt his confidence waning. And even though he felt really bad that they couldn't finish their talk, he couldn't help but be grateful to Krish for the interruption. How is it that facing 10 goons simultaneously doesn't frighten him at all and yet a conversation with his own wife scared the crap out of him?

Shiva shook his head, returning to reality when he saw his Chipkali walking towards him. He gulped nervously at the fire in her eyes and turned his eyes heavenwards. Maybe his time was up.

Dev turned to look at the newcomer smiling but his smile faltered at the look on Raavi's face. Oh she still had her signature smile on, but her eyes betrayed the storm behind the façade.

"Heyy Somnath! Ab Shiva ne kya kiya? Dev beta kat le yaha se isse pehle ki inke jhagre mein tu pis jaye!" Dev thought worriedly before mumbling an excuse and walking away as fast as he could without actually running.

Raavi watched Dev's retreating back with a satisfied smile and turned to look at Shiva, who stood frozen in front of her. She took a deep breath.

"Shiva mujhe tujhse baat karni hai."

"Huh? Haan bol."

"Yaha?"

"Nahi nahi. Taj Mahal chalte hai na. Kya mast atmosphere hoga waha pe, nahi?"

"Dekh tu bakwas karna bandh kar. Mujhe tujhse bohot zaroori baat karni hai. Tu chal mere saath."

"Ae Mami ke behen ki beti! Mere paas khali time nahi hai teri bakwas sunne ke liye. Abhi bohot kaam hai mujhe. Tu ne jo bolna hai jaldi bol. Mujhe Gaumbi ke saath bahar bhi jana hai."

Raavi's face fell at his words. Did he really think the moment they shared was 'bakwas'? She thought it was a step forward in making their marriage a real one. But if Shiva thought it was bakwas then there really was no point in talking, is there?

Raavi turned to go, hunched over in dejection when she felt a hand grasp her wrist, preventing her from leaving. She looked down at their joined hands before her eyes shot up to his face.

Shiva was mentally berating himself for his caustic tongue. Here she was, standing before him, being braver than he ever could be as she tried to figure out their position in each other's lives and all he's doing is ruining her efforts with his cowardice. Her eyes clouding over with unshed tears and confusion shot arrows at his heart as a crippling pain spread over him. He couldn't bear to see her looking so lost and he drew in a deep breath, mustering courage from every fibre of his being.

"Wapas aake baat karein? Abhi mujhe sach mein jaana hai. Gaumbi ko bohot zaroori kaam hai. Agar ruk sakta toh ruk jaata pan Gaumbi ko akele bhi toh nahi bhej sakte, na?" Shiva breathed gently, looking into her eyes.

Raavi felt a warmth wash over her and the knot in her heart eased with every word Shiva uttered. He wasn't trying to avoid her! He is actually willing to talk to her! She couldn't help but hug him with all her might, arms wrapping tightly around him.

Shiva was startled out of his wits when he felt her cling to him, engulfing him with her fragrance. Gardenias. She always smelled of gardenias and something else that's just uniquely her. He hugged her back, sniffing her hair.

Raavi loosened her arms, letting him go. She gave him a dazzling smile as she took his hand in hers.

"Apna khayal rakhna. Aur jaldi aana." Raavi whispered before she dropped his hand and rushed away from there, as he stood there staring at her retreating back, a smile playing at his lips.

*****

Shiva stood outside his bedroom door sweating bullets, his bravery from earlier evaporating into thin air.

"Poori raat bahar baitha rahega kya? Baat hi toh karni hai. Kar lenge. Chal Shiva aise fattu jaise harkat karega toh kal khudki shakal nai dekh payega. Gadhera."

Shiva pushed the door open and entered their bedroom, only to stop in his tracks, eyes bulging at the scene before him. He turned away immediately, planning to go back out when his wife called out to him.

"Shiva aa gaya tu? Sunn door lock kar de please."

Shivaa gulped nervously before complying with her request and turned to look at her.

Raavi was in the process of changing into a saree when Shiva entered their room. She looked at him shocked and then at the fabric pooled at her feet. Her first instinct was to cover up as soon as possible, lock herself up in the bathroom and never emerge. But she was trying to make progress in their relationship and so she pushed those feelings down, calling out to him instead.

"Ab aa hi gaya hai toh meri help kar de." Raavi turned away from him, facing the vanity.

Shiva's mouth went dry at the sight. The blouse she wore was held together by a few flimsy strings, the pale pink colour looking sinful against her ivory skin.

"Yeh dori ni bandh rahi hai mujhse. Tu baandh dega?" Raavi said as she fumbled with the strings.

Shiva moved closer to her in a trance and took over the job of tying the strings. Raavi's breath hitched the moment she felt his fingers ghost over hers. Shiva pulled at the string of blouse tighter and she whimpered, her eyes closing.

He traced a finger on her bare back and she felt a shiver down her spine. Shiva loved how her body would react, so wanton to his touch. He gathered her hair over one shoulder, peppering the other with kisses.

Raavi's heart hammered, her breaths laboured as he slid one sleeve off her shoulder and left an open mouthed kiss there. It was all too much for her, the sensations too much to bear and she turned suddenly, hugging him with all her might.

Shiva lost the last semblance of control, crushing his lips on hers and Raavi lost all sense of reality as she kissed him back ardently, fisting his shirt in her hands. His hand moved from the small of her back and disappeared into her hair. She felt his other hand rubbing circles on her waist, before it slowly slid upwards, stopping below her breast.

Shiva hovered above her breast and Raavi sensing his hesitation, grabbed his hand and guided him over to where she needed him. She moaned into his mouth as she pushed herself against him, needing him closer. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen and a coiling need of desire crawled its way from her overstimulated, tingling breasts to the apex of her thighs. Her hands blindly reached out, fumbling with the strings of his pants.

Shiva froze the moment he felt her hands on his waist. He pulled back from the kiss, breathless and gasping.

"Nahi ruk ruk. Ruk jaa Raavi. Yeh galat ho raha hai....."

I wondered how it'd feel if I stop right here!  😁

Apologies for the errors and reviews are appreciated.❤❤💖