-: Rajeshri :-

My eyes rove over the wide acres of swamp as the labourers did their work, pulling out weeds and taking out water to filter it. The work had been going on for 2 weeks and the progress wasn't really upto the mark. But nevertheless, something was better than nothing.

"Why didn't this idea hit me? I mean, fish cultivation ... that was a pretty good suggestion.Tourist attraction as well as employment opportunity for fishermen." Shamrat ji had his index and middle finger lightly grasping a cigarette, as he blew the smoke out.

"Becasue you were too caught up with everything. You had too much on your plate and this project has a deadline," I reminded him, again for the third time today. The elections were very close and he had been working harder now. He was barely home and spending most of the time having meetings with the ward heads and party members. The campaigns would be starting from next month, when he would be more preoccupied.

Groaning out in fatigue he threw the cigarette butt and smashed it with his boots. Those dark browm leather boots seriously looked hot on him.

"So, you would be going home today?" he asked, his eyebrows cocked. The black shirt, which he wore almost every day, was clamped around his frame like a glove, accentuating every muscle, bicep and tricep. I always wondered why did he choose me when he could have gotten any woman he wanted? Someone far more educated, intelligent, mature and more beautiful than me.

Though the mere idea of another woman, being near my husband or touching him left a bitter taste in my mouth, I was still curious.

"Darlin'?" he called out and my trance broke. Gently encircling his hands around my waist he pulled me towards him and touched my forehead.

"You okay? Your face is flushed." Cupping my face, his eyes rove over my face, worry flashing in them.

Why was this man so dedicated to me? Was it only because I was his wife? But men do cheat, all around the world. And we weren't really that intimate. Sure we do kiss from time to time and I love it when he touches me here and there, but that's the limit to the physical side of our relationship.

"Can I ask you something?" My voice was hardly over a notch and barely audible, but  due to the small distance between us, he heard it.

"Of-course."

"As per as your reputation goes, it's not a secret that you are addicted to sex." Shamrat ji's lip twinged, almost into a smirk but he nodded, his eyes darkening with every second.

"And we are married for almost 5 months now." Again, just above a whisper.

"Yes." He was being patient as I tried to speak my next words.

"And, we never really had sex ... ," I drawled unsure of how to say what was going on in my head.

Shamrat ji eyes glided down my body, stopping at my breast, as he swallowed audibly. Pulling me into him by my nape, he lips hovered above mine as he rasped, "We can change that anytime darlin'. You just need to say the words and a world beyond any pleasure you have known is waiting for you. You have no idea how eager I am, everyday, every minute, every second, to make love to y ..."

"Did you ever cheat on me?" I intervened cause this was needed to be said. The time was horribly wrong, so was the place, but I had to ask.

"What?" Shamrat ji's face morphed in shock and bewilderment, as if it the idea never came to his head. But did it never?

"What makes you think that I cheated on you?" he inquired, taking a step back from me, his body tensed with indignation.

"It's impossible that you stayed without sex for such a long time, and come on! Every one in the village knows how much you used to visit the whore cottages at the corner of the town. Did you never ever visit after we got married?" The truth was he was beyond perfect, and I wasn't getting any strong point to make him divorce me. My anger towards our supposedly forced marriage was vanishing every day due to everything he did. The was he took care of me, protected me, respected me, acknowledged my wishes and choices.

I didnt want to divorce him anymore, and that was the problem. It felt wrong. I wasn't fighting back to protect mine and Daud's love. I couldn't accept that I had fit in perfectly to the role of his wife and the daughter in law of the Rathore family, working side by side Ma.

"No Shri. If it puts your mind on ease, then I will say that again. No, I never cheated on you. That thought never even came to my head. It was just you from the moment I signed my name beside your's on the marriage certificate," he growled, his eyes narrowed in slits as his jaw clenched in annoyance, or was it rage?

"But how is that possible? Weren't you suppose to be the bad guy?" I shrieked out, my head pounding in frustration. I was pissed, not at him, but at myself.

His eyes went wild as he gritted his teeth and turned his face away. I knew I was over-reacting. He hadn't even done anything and I was being a bitchy brat.

"Shamrat ji ..." I dragged, going beside him but he moved away, rolling off his shoulder.

"Arnav will drop you off at your father's house."

He sauntered away, putting on his shades, his leather boots leaving sprinkles of dust behind.

*******

My old house buzzed with laughter, merriment and festivity as Adi blowed out the candles, which were perfectly standing on his pineapple cake.

"Happy Birthday little champ." Arnav clapped his hand and so did my parents as I smiled softly at the huge grin on little Adi's face. He was such an angel and today he turned 8 years old. I can't get enough of the fact that my little brother was growing every day.

"Didi ! Bend down, I want to feed you the cake first!" he ordered in his cute voice and I could help but yield to his demands.

"Aww! Mera sher bara ho raha hai."

(My lion is growing up.)

Mom was beyond happy when Adi fed him the cake next, but as soon as she looked at me her smile disappeared and she turned her face away.

I sighed and decided not to pester her. I was done trying to gain get favour. There were enough problems in my plate and I was here to enjoy the day. Not to convince my sulking mother.

"So, here's my hero's gift." I held out my hand which had a tiny box wrapped in a gift wrap. Adi picked it up, his nose scrunched in a frown.

"What is it didi? It looks so small," he grumbled but I playfully glared at him.

"What did I teach you Adi? You should never complain about anyone's gift."

"Sorry." Silenty, he picked up the tiny box, and his face fell, his lip jutting out in a pout.

But as soon as the box was opened, his eyes widened as his gaze fell on the pair of keys.

"Keys!?" he shrieked, his head whirling around.

"Yes little champ. Your bicycle is waiting for you at the courtyard." The moment Arnav finished his words, Adi dashed away screeching in happiness. All of us chuckled at his excitement.

Sakshi joined us soon. Her face was glowing with happiness. I pulled her in my old bedroom, not wanting to waste a single minute.

"How are you didi?" she asked as we broke our hug.

"Forget about me. How are you doing?" I asked, unable to keep my excitement at bay, meeting her after such a long time.

"Fine." she grinned, her cheeks coating in a thin layer of blush.

"Gurl, that blush is saying otherwise. Stop being reticent and tell me! Right now," I demanded, grinning. I was seeing her happy after a long time.

She giggled, biting her lip. "Papa is searching a groom for me."

My eyebrows skyrocketed. "And you're happy about this?"

"Yes. I am already 18 and now my only wish is to marry and have a small happy family of my own," she said wistfully.

"You do know there much to a woman's life that marriage and kids." I didn't want her to end up only as housewife. She had much potential than that.

"But I don't need much," she shrugged her shoulders and I shook my head. Sure this girl didn't need much. I was happy for her cause for a very long time she had suffered through depression.

It started last year around March, when she returned from school one day, really late. She stopped talking with everyone, stopped going out, even dropped out from school. I was worried about her so I decided to accompany her and teach her whatever I used to learn at school everyday.

She even had nightmares and anxiety problems but never did she ever opened her mouth and told anyone, the reasons. After 8 - 9 months, slowly she started recovering after restarting her classes.

"So ... who is the lucky boy?" I teased.

"I don't know. Papa hasn't make his final decision. But I have trust on his choice."

We were chatting when a knock interrupted us. Arnav poked his head inside the room and Shakhshi's breath hitched beside me.

"Hey Arnav, come inside." I smiled at him. We haven't had the opportunity to have a proper conversation yet, but I considered him a part of my family due to the strong bond he had with the Rathores. He was almost like my devar.

(Brother in-law)

"Shamrat sir is coming to pick you up. So I would be taking me leave now," he spoke. I eyed Sakshi and her gaze was fixed at Arnav, as if she was in a trance.

I cleared my throat to break her daze, and it worked. She quickly turned her head away and looked at me with a flushed face.

"Stay until dinner atleast," I requested him but he looked reluctant.

"Um, it's actually Leila. She is waiting for me." He passed me a thin lipped smile and I nodded. This man was another example of perfect husband.

As soon as Arnav was out of sight Sakshi chraged me, "Who is Leila?" She looked eager as well as nervous, worried about my answer.

"His wife." I smirked as her face fell.

"Oh ... " she drawled, pursuing her lips. I chuckled out at her sulking expression. "You're a little late there, girl. He is already taken."

"Lucky girl, whoever she is." Sakshi  whined, I nodded. Indeed Leila was.

She was just about to say something when another knock interrupted her. It was Baba.

"Mind if I have a word with my daughter?"

"Of course not chacha." Sakshi went out as Baba sat beside me, running his palm down my head as I smiled back at him.

"How are you meri bacchi? Has they been treating you good?" Baba asked and tears swarmed in my eyes. I missed him so much but the amount of work that had been dumped over me, I hardly got enough time to visit him.

(My child)

Taking his hand in my grasp I kissed his palm and kept in below my cheek, just like my childhood days.

"Do you still hate me, Baba?" I asked, unable to keep my emotions at bay.

His face morphed in a frown, etched with grief. "No. A father can never hate his children. I was just disappointed at that time."

"I know." And I regretted it everyday. He was the best father a girl could ever wish for. I had acted on impulse that day, wanting to elude from Shamrat ji, not even considering my actions.

"I hope you're happy with your husband. If not, you can tell me. I will do whatever is possible in my powers." Baba said, smiling at me nervously. It wasn't a secret that he wouldn't hesitate to do everything if I was in trouble. But I wasn't. Shamrat ji and his family was everything I didn't dare to imagine while getting married.

Perfect for me.

******

It was after dinner when Ma decided to talk to me. Pulling me into her room, rather roughly, she shut the door silently. But the words that came out of her mouth, spiked my annoyance instantly.

"When are we getting the good news?" Her eyes were squinted in a scowl as she impatiently tapped her foot on the floor. She was a fool is she thought I would play right into her hands.

"What does that mean?"

"Don't try to play a daft. You know exactly what I am talking about." Her tone turned vicious as she stepped towards me.

"No, I don't. Please elaborate." I smiled wryly at her, wasn't afraid of her tactics anymore.

"You need to conceive and have a baby soon, to seal this marriage forever. And I would suggest you to do this fast. It's not everyday you get a jewel man as your husband. On the top of that, he is really powerful and influential. You need to secure your position in his life." Mom lectured, trying to convince me. Was she seriously our of her mind? Her words were vile and with evey passing seconds my rage was flooding.

"For you kind information mother, I won't play dirty tricks to secure a position in my husband's life. I don't need to. Moreover we will have baby only when we decide the time is right. And not for any tactical purposes."

I was beyond pissed. What would she do if she found out that I haven't have sex with my husband?

"You don't have that much time! What if one day, God forbids, he gets bored of you and decides to remarry. A baby would prevent this and will also give you additional power over hi ...

"Mom! Stop! I never knew your mind was such filthy. You better stay out of my life, underst ... aah! "

I was beyond pissed and yelling at her when she grabbed me by my hair and slapped me across the face.

"How dare you talk to me like that. I am trying to look out for you!"

"Seema!" Baba's voice boomed in the room and my head whirled around. Shamrat ji strode inside the room, his face twisted in a malevolent scowl, his gait screaming violence, as he pulled me behind him gently.

"Shamrat beta ... " Ma's voice staggered as soon as she saw him. Arnav passed me his handkerchief to wipe the blood off my busted lip as Sakshi rushed into the room, an ice pack in her hands and pressed it softly on my aching cheek.

"This was the last time you rose your hand on my wife. If this happens again, I would forget any kind of relationship we share and wouldn't think twice before putting you behind the bars on the charge of physical violence," he growled, his voice sending waves of fear down my body.

Grasping my hand, he dragged me out of my house as Arnav followed hot on his heels. Tears stung my eyes as I swallowed a painful lump down my throat. Embarrassment was at it's peak.

The moment our car stopped, I pushed open the door and ran inside my room, locking it. Tears ran down my cheeks as muffled sobs broke out of my throat.

How could Mom slap me? On the top of that, Shamrat ji might have heard her words. What would he think of me now?

Different thoughts ran wild around my head as I tried to suppress my wailing. I knew Mom wasn't a good woman, but the spiteful things she said today was astounding. How could she expect me to trick Shamrat ji like that. A baby!? This was beyond disgusting. I didn't want my husband to be bound to me for a responsibility.

I was weeping in front of the mirror in the washroom, snot running down my nose, when the door of the room clicked open. I quickly sniffled, and wiped my tears with the sleeves of my kurta.

"Shri?" Shamrat ji appeared behind me, his face void of any emotions. It was just his eyes, which were begging me to say something.

"I am okay," I heaved a shallow breath, sniffling again. I wasn't but I didn't want him to worry anymore. The way he saved me, even after the crude words I rained on him this morning, was making me feel guilty.

He didn't make a sound but silently stood as I weeped more. This was a very ugly habit of mine. Once I started crying, it was very difficult for me to stop.

When I started wheezing, Shamrat ji decided to intervene. "Okay, thats enough." Turning me around, he tipped my head up by my chin.

My chin wobbled as fresh tears pooled around my eyes and I wailed out. Flinging my arms around his waist, I collided with his chest, my cheek resting above his heart. His arms tightened around me, one resting on my lower back and the other on my nape.

"Shh ... darlin'. You're stronger than this," he cooed.

"How are you so good? I insulted you this morning and you still came to my rescue. Why?"

"Because you're my wife. And I won't let anyone disrespect you." His voice was gravelly, almost on the verge of being angry, when I rigidified my grip on him.

"But the fight?" I peered up at him, as he stared down at me, his lashes creating the perfect shadows over his brooding cheeksbones

"That's our private matter. It shouldn't cloud my judgement when the matter comes to your safety."

I heaved a tired sigh and snuggled my face into his chest. The desire to question him regarding whether he heard my mother's words or not, was very strong. But what if he thought otherwise of me?

"I want you to know that if we ever have a baby, it wouldn't be any trickery. I would never ... "

"I know Shri, I know. You don't have to explain yourself to me."

●~~~~~~~< ☆ >~~~~~~~●

Hello fellas! 😃

How are you all doing?

So, about the chapter...

* Do you think Shri needs to stop being a brat now?  Or should she prolong her behaviour to make Shamrat suffer?

* Isn't Shamrat the definition of a perfect husband?

* Who hates Rajeshri's mother now and who thinks she was sort of looking out for her daughter?

* Want more Sakshi scenes in future?

If you like the chapter please don't forget to

VOTE 💬 and COMMENT 🌟

Lots and lots of kisses and hugs for all those people who votes and comment. ❣❤😍🥰 You people makes me soooo happy. Thanks to each and everyone of you.

Silent readers, your feedback are much appreciated so please don't forget to leave one.💖😍😇😊

◇ Random Question Time  ◇

i) Short hair lover or Long hair lover? 💇‍♀️

and

ii) Favorite actress?

Take care everyone. Love you all. See you soon ❤😘💕

Babye 😉🙋‍♀️