Namaste
Chapter 11

"Good morning, Bhaiya, Bhabhi!" came Dhruv's cheerful voice over the phone.

Nitara stirred awake, propping herself up on her elbows, her hair slightly disheveled. "Good morning, babu," she replied, her voice warm and soft. "Are you doing well?”

As she spoke, the duvet slid down slightly, revealing the faint marks Anubhav had left on her neck and chest. His gaze drifted to the evidence of their night, and unable to resist, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against her skin.

Nitara's eyes widened at the unexpected sensation, a quiet gasp escaping her lips. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"Bhabhi, are you okay?" Dhruv asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Y-yes, babu," she stammered, glaring at Anubhav, who smirked mischievously, his lips continuing their trail lower. She placed a hand on his chest to stop him but couldn’t hide the blush rising on her cheeks.

"Did you take your meds on time yesterday and this morning?" she asked, trying to sound composed, though her voice wavered slightly.

"Yes, Bhabhi, I did!" Dhruv replied enthusiastically. "Is Bhaiya awake?”

Anubhav shook his head at her, silently signaling her to say no. Nitara rolled her eyes at his teasing expression and replied, "No, babu, he's still sleeping. He came home late last night.”

"Oh, okay! Yesterday, Chachi let me watch the Madagascar series! It was so funny, Bhabhi. You know that zebra and lion? They're best friends, but they’re so different! And the penguins? They’re hilarious!" Dhruv went on, his excitement contagious.

Nitara smiled warmly, letting him chatter away as Anubhav continued to quietly amuse himself, his fingers trailing lightly along her arm. Despite the chaos her husband was causing, she felt her heart swell with affection.

“That sounds like so much fun, babu,” she said, her tone soft and loving. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself. But remember to eat properly and don’t give Chachi too much trouble, okay?”

"Of course, Bhabhi! I'll be good. Tell Bhaiya I said hi when he wakes up!"

"I will, babu. Call me if you need anything," she replied, smiling.

After ending the call, she turned to Anubhav with a mock glare. "You’re impossible," she whispered, her cheeks still flushed.

Anubhav chuckled silently, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement as he leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. Without words, he had a way of making her feel cherished and completely flustered all at once.

Anubhav stood in the kitchen, carefully brewing tea.

The house smelled faintly of incense—Nitara had just finished her morning prayers.

A soft rustle broke his focus, and he felt her slender arms wrap around his waist from behind. She rested her head against his back, the faint scent of vanilla and roses filling his senses.

"Good morning, Mr. Hubby," she whispered playfully, her voice sultry and teasing.

He turned his head slightly, glancing at her over his shoulder with a soft smile.

"I want to have sex with you again so bad," she whispered directly into his ear, her voice low and filled with mischief.

Anubhav froze, his eyes widening in surprise as his cheeks flushed a light pink. He carefully set down the spoon, turned around to face her, and gave her a look of disbelief. Taking out his phone, he quickly typed a message and showed it to her:

"I’m tired.”

Nitara burst into laughter, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don’t worry, Mister Hubby," she said, leaning in closer, her tone teasing. "I’ll do all the work. You just lay back and chill." She winked at him.

Before he could respond, she winked at him and sauntered over to the table, sitting down like she hadn’t just thrown his entire morning into chaos. He shook his head, chuckling softly, and joined her with their tea.

As they ate breakfast, the conversation shifted. Nitara set her cup down, her voice turning thoughtful. “You know, I love kids,” she said, glancing at him. “I really want to be a mother one day, but not yet.”

Anubhav looked at her, curiosity in his silver eyes, waiting for her to explain.

“There’s just so much going on right now,” she continued, her voice soft but steady. “Dhruv needs us. He’s still so little, and I want to focus on him. He feels like my first child in a way, you know?”

Anubhav’s heart tightened at her words. The love she had for his brother was so genuine, so selfless. He reached out, taking her hand in his. His fingers squeezed hers gently, his eyes conveying what he couldn’t say out loud: gratitude, love, and admiration.

Nitara smiled at him, her eyes glistening slightly. “I just want us to build a stable life first, for Dhruv and for us. Then…when the time is right…”

She trailed off, but Anubhav nodded, letting her know he understood. He gave her hand another squeeze, his gaze soft and steady.

“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder, her heart full of gratitude for the man sitting beside her.

As Anubhav laced up his worn-out shoes near the door, Nitara handed him his bag, making sure he had everything he needed for his long day ahead. “I’ll go pick up Dhruv in the afternoon,” she said, watching as he straightened up. 

Anubhav nodded and quickly pulled out his phone to type: 
*"I have two shifts today—café in the afternoon, fuel station at night. Then the call centre tomorrow morning. I’ll be home by tomorrow evening. Take care of yourself."* 

Nitara’s heart squeezed as she read his message. He was always on the move, working tirelessly to make ends meet, and yet, he never complained. She hugged him tightly, pressing a gentle kiss on his cheek. 

“Come home safe, Anubhav ji,” she said softly, smiling up at him. 

He gave her a small nod and walked out the door. From the balcony, Nitara watched him climb onto his old bike and ride off into the distance. She stayed there a moment longer, a faint smile lingering on her lips as she thought about him. 

The rest of her morning passed quickly. She attended her online lectures, her mind occasionally wandering to Anubhav’s exhausted face. After finishing, she cooked a simple lunch, setting aside some food for Dhruv and cleaned up the house. 

By early afternoon, Nitara got ready to bring Dhruv home. She picked out a comfortable cotton saree, tied her hair in a neat braid, applied vermillion and slipped on her sandals. Grabbing her bag, she locked the door behind her and headed out.

Nitara reached Seema Chachi’s modest two-story house, the warmth of home evident in the lively sounds of kids laughing and chatting. As soon as she stepped inside, Riya, Chachi’s eldest daughter, spotted her. 

“Oh my God! Mom, look who’s here!” Riya called out excitedly. “It’s our new bhabhi!” 

Nitara smiled shyly, adjusting her dupatta as Riya rushed over. 

“Wait, wait! I’ll get the aarti plate,” Riya said, hurrying inside. 

Seema Chachi came out, her face lighting up when she saw Nitara. “Arre, Nitara bahu! Aao, aao!” she said warmly. 

Riya returned, grinning, and performed a quick aarti, pulling Nitara into a hug afterward. “Bhabhi, you’re so beautiful! Anubhav Bhaiya is so lucky.” 

Nitara blushed, laughing softly. “Thank you,” she said, unsure of what else to say under all the attention. 

Riya turned to her mom with a teasing grin. “Mom, Anubhav Bhaiya really hit the jackpot, didn’t he? Such a gorgeous wife!” 

Chachi chuckled, patting Nitara’s head. “And our Anubhav isn’t any less, is he? He looks like a hero! Poor boy just can’t speak, but he has the purest heart.” 

Nitara felt her heart swell with pride. “Chachi, where’s Dhruv?” she asked, eager to see him. 

“He’s inside with his cousins, watching *Kung Fu Panda*. Go, go,” Chachi said, waving her toward the living room. 

Nitara followed the voices and found Dhruv sitting on the floor, eyes glued to the TV. As soon as he noticed her, his face lit up, and he jumped to his feet. 

“Bhabhi!” he yelled, running toward her. “Come here, come here! Chinu, Anya, look! This is my Bhabhi-Maa! Isn’t she so pretty?” 

Nitara knelt down, pulling him into a hug. “I missed you so much, babu!” she said, ruffling his hair. 

“I missed you too,” Dhruv replied, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. 

Nitara smiled at the other kids. “Hi, I brought something for you all,” she said, taking out a bag of chocolates from her purse. 

“Chocolates!” they squealed, running over. 

“Thank you, Bhabhi!” they said, grinning as they grabbed the treats. 

Nitara sat down with them, laughing at their stories and answering their endless questions. For a moment, surrounded by their joy, she felt completely at home. She felt that she finally belonged somewhere.

***********************************
Target: 95 votes