Bengal, Chatterjee House

Anirban was busy folding the cuff of his kurta, while discreetly eyeing his wife.

Saudamini was gazing at the mirror, her wet tresses parted to one side. Her torso was draped with a simple crimson saree with golden borders, hugging her delicate curves. She leaned forward, meticulously smearing the liquid vermillion in between her partition. She cleaned away the excess liquid, and blinked in satisfaction with a little smile. 

And a small smile etched on Anirban's lips watching her. Her innocent ways to achieve perfection seemed so adorable at times. He noticed she was particular about certain things. She didn't even waste a single day to adjust her clothes into the cupboard, arranging his and her own clothes carefully and stacking them properly. 

She further opened a wooden box, where colorful bangles and bracelets were stacked. A few she received as gifts during her wedding, and the rest were given by her family. She breathed out for a while, her eyes lowered upon the stack of ornaments. Perhaps thinking about which pairs to mix and match with....Anirban curiously gazed at her through the corner of his eyes. Her lips were twitched into a curve, eyebrows thinned down and then immediately relaxing as she found a pair. She folded her fist, and slipped a few thin bangles and then two thick bangles in each of her hands. It rustled delightfully all the while. 

His quiet room had suddenly been warmed by another soul now. Every silent activity of hers breathed life. 

He remembered how in his childhood he was afraid of sleeping alone, and ocassionally his mother would come and put him to sleep, and even slept beside him. And that bed never graced her presence after he turned eight.....and although he used to sleep with Tripti at times when she was a child, things finally stopped after she had hit puberty. 

And though he felt afraid, he learnt to conquer that fear in him gradually. Or rather, he was used to it by time. 

Time teaches a lot. 

But now, there was that constant tinkling of anklets and bangles that rustled in his ears now and then, and he did not mind that at all. 

Saudamini began to fasten the earring on her ear with a chain, and pinned it behind on her hairs. She was about to dangle the other pair, when it slipped it on the floor with a clink. 

"Oho...." She mumbled and crouched below to pick it up, but another hand grabbed it from the floor before she could. She raised her brows as her earring was in her husband's hand, with a smile crawling on his lips. She tried to hide the little smile formulating on her lips, and tried to take the earring back from his hand.

But Anirban was quick enough to sway away his hand before her, causing her to fluster at his sudden move. 

She stood up, and scanned him for a while with a perplexed expression, and then further leaned forward to grab it back but in a jiffy, he shifted away. Saudamini clicked her lips, trying to formulate a frown and take it back, but failed again as his smirk widened. 

"Ani..." She deadpanned, stepping forward, "Give it back!" 

"It's getting late...." Saudamini huffed, failing again as Ani moved away, biting the corner of his lips with a mischievous smile, "Ani....please give it back-" Before she could finish, Anirban's hand wrapped around her waist, tagging her closer. She gasped softly, wrapping her hand around his neck and gazed into his eyes.

The way he smiled through his eyes was really contagious. 

There was a soothing glow within them, though it hinted a sense of mischief and tease. As she stared back into those brown irises, warmth rushed through her cheeks at his gaze unabashedly jammed on her, and that smirk of mischief. Unintentionally, her eyes lowered to his lips, and she had to cuss her mind. 

Oh God! What was Anirban turning her into?

Only a week had surpassed, and here she was having a hard time from stopping herself from desiring him. She didn't knew what miracle he was casting upon her each time, that erupted unhinged flames of desire within her. And she was craving for it by now. It felt so sinful yet so pleasuring at the same time, she felt like that something secretive within her had been arisen. 

It was their little secret.

Theirs.

No one could ever imagine the restrained and collected Saudamini being so unhinged and wild with Anirban. Moaning uncontrollably under his wicked touches, cussing with him and being feral. Enjoying everything he did to her, even though she had promised to restrain herself. Giving into his desires everytime. 

It was not what she was.

She was never like that. 

She was a collected woman, always. She was never like that.

And now? She couldn't even recognize herself...

Anirban drew her closer, till their noses were inches apart from each other. She lowered her lashes, looking down, inhaling his soothing sandalwood scent. A slight shiver ran down her spine as she felt him brushing his nose on her cheek. Again.... An inaudible breath escaped her lips as he trailed towards her bare earlobe, feathering a kiss. Her palm slithered from his shoulder to his arm, as he kept pressing his lips underneath her ear for a longer time, "First say the truth....?"

"Wha-what truth?" She timidly gazed at him through the corner of her eyes.

 Saudamini's breath hitched as he trailed his palm further on her waist, drawing her even closer, cozily. Their jaws brushed against each other, as Saudamini's grip over his kurta firmed. It felt so warm, passionate and soothing. Unconsciously, she wrapped her other arm around him, hugging him completely while he traced patterns on her waist with his fingers, "That you like me?" He whispered softly against her ear.

She.....liked him? 

Saudamini gulped slightly, as she bit her lips. It was hard to concentrate sanely on his words. 

She liked him? Well....

 Saudamini had never thought that she would be marrying such a man ever in her life. She was attracted to Satyakaam's calm and composed demeanour once upon a time.....he was collected and demure. 

He never worshipped her beauty; in fact he was the one who admonished her, openly told her that she was worth nothing but hate. He was truthful. He always was. 

And Anirban? A part of her definitely knew he was after her beauty; like many were. He flirted, flattered, feral and was unabashed in his opinions. He hardly had filter in him when it came to her. He worshipped her, promised to love her--he worshipped her beauty. 

But did he really saw something beyond her beauty?

What if he started to dislike her like Satyakaam did? 

Her heart began to thud faster at the thought. What was there to like within her beyond her beauty? 

Was there....anything?

Saudamini gasped softly, feeling him kiss her shoulder tenderly, "Say...."

 How did it always happen that whenever she would be with him, a surge of tumultuous emotions would attack her every now and then? Make her question herself the deepest? Once upon a time, she never bothered that if anyone would like her or not, because she was too confident. Too confident that someone could hardly have an opinion otherwise of her.

She was beautiful, breathtaking; how can someone not like her? 

But whatever happened with her, made that string of questions erupt within her. She had sub- missed them somehow, without pondering much. But now Anirban's presence, his words, his actions, everything resurfaced her deepest of fears, dubiousness and emotions. Something she had been trying to run away since two years. 

She was feeling raw in front of herself. 

Why was it happening? 

"Ani," Her words were suppressed in a moan, she tilted her head to rest against his shoulder. He must stop. He should. 

His actions everytime made her resurface what she was hiding. 

She sucked in a sharp breath, feeling him kiss her cheek and feather it with his lips; why was that soothing balm after the brim of emotions? 

"Say Mini...." 

"Hnnn-I-" 

"Master!" There was a knock on the door, causing Saudamini to jerk away from him with a gasp.

Not again!

Anirban for a moment felt like grabbing his hairs. Oh God, why does it always happen with him?

"Master! Master Manikant is calling you and Bouma, downstairs!"

"Y-yes! We are coming!" Saudamini immediately responded, not letting Anirban respond that time, "Just now!" She lowered her lashes, grabbing the earring from him and walking away from there, hiding her red cheeks.

Anirban shook his head lightly, snickering to himself.

.

.

.

The scent of the incense and florals captivated the entire chamber.

The priest was busy clanging the holy bell, chanting verses of Lord Krishna, while allowing the smoke of the incense to waver to the idol of the Lord. A ritual taken up by the Chatterjee household after someone in their family is new wed, where the responsibility of handling the pooja  would be shared by the eldest daughter-in-law of the house, aka Saudamini. 

Though in Bengal, there were rare scenarios of Brahmins involving in the culture of worshipping Lord Krishna, but the Chatterjees had taken it up years ago, on the advice of a knowledgeable Pandit. To ward of danger and bring in peace to the Raajbari of the Chatterjees. No one knew whether it was a coincidence or not, but after that, things really settled down in the palace. And since then, the ancestors of the households were worshipping Lord Krishna. 

Everyone was deeply engrossed in the worshipping ritual.

Saudamini was closing her eyes with demureness, uttering the syllables softly, whatever she could catch up with the Pandit. 

"You won't ask anything for your husband....?" Anirban side eyed her with his half-closed lashes, whispering as he nudged her with his elbow. Saudamini opened her eyes and mock-glared at him shortly, not before pursing her lips into a small smile, "Keep quiet and pray." She closed her eyes back.

"I have got what I prayed for...." He half-smiled, whispering further.

"Hnn?" Saudamini blinked at him discreetly for a while. 

"Now you don't want to pray?" He blinked back at her, causing her to fluster for a moment and look ahead, closing back her eyes, "Mad man...." And Anirban slightly snickered at her words.

The chanting was over, as the Pandit turned around to sprinkle holy water upon everyone present.

"Please, may the bride and the groom come forward," He ushered with a smile. 

Saudamini glanced at Anirban for a while and stepped forward, while everyone looked on. The Pandit smeared a holy saffron paste on their foreheads, "May Gods keep you both happy forever. Hope you both fulfil your duties responsibly." He blessed, touching their heads. Anirban briefly looked at Saudamini, who's eyes were downcast, he felt something flutter in his stomach. A little feeling of nervousness swirled within him at the priest's words. 

Such words of gravity would suddenly put him to a grounded reality. That they were married, and he as a husband and the eldest son of the house had to be responsible. Being a carefree boy all these years, such words sometimes made feel heavy. 

Just now he had been married, why was the weight of responsibilities put so early upon him? 

He breathed in for a while, as the Pandit asked them to touch the feet of all the elders present. Manikant happily gazed at Anirban, kissing his forehead, finally satisfied that his son had made a home for himself. Seeing his haywire nature after returning from London, the elderly man had turned skeptical about his son. But now that he was married, he could breathe a sigh of relief. 

"Daughter Saudamini, now touch your husband's feet for blessings as well!" The Pandit ushered, and both Anirban and Saudamini snapped a look at him.

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Ayeee hayeee 🤣🤣🤣🤣ye kispe pairi pauna karwane ko bolre?

Signing off for today!

Nushkie