The Pushbhoomi truly lived up to its name. There were rows and columns of vibrant flowers, each glistening in the morning sun as if they were the colours of the rainbow itself.

The air was blooming with multitudes of floral scents  from roses, lillies, peonies, marigolds jasmines and more. They brought with them the sweetness of the nectar hidden in the petals of the flowers and bees who sat  on them, hoping to make their liquid gold.

"This is beautiful. " I said, looking up at my husband.

" It is, I am glad you are enjoying this place. " He said, tugging my hand as we moved towards the canopies of jasmines and blue carnations.

" What are you upto? " I asked, laughing, as he quickly sat me on what seemed like a swing.

" Well, I'm looking at the most beautiful flower in the field. " He said nonchalant, moving behind me to push the swing.

" Which one is it? " I asked, straining my neck to see what had caught his attention.

"Silliy woman. It's right in front of me." He said and I looked back at him confused.

"Where? I don't see it. "

He looked at me amused and stopped the swing, sitting next to me on it.

He brought his hand to my neck, holding it gently.

"It's right here. In front of me my love. My flower. " He said and the cogs of my brain finally caught up.

To say I looked red would be an understatement, for even amongst the darkest of roses, the most deep hibiscus flowers, you could spot my blushing face from a mile away.

"Do you really mean that? " I asked, laughing.

" Why not? I don't lie. So where is the doubt in it? " He answered, pulling me into his side, a hand across my shoulder as we sat on the swing, moving through the flowers.

Two swans,on a swing, a life ahead of them, a life behind, yet what matters most is what they had now, for life gave them the chance to become the swans in their own story.

It might have been about an hour, walking through the fields when I realised.

"Yudhishthir! The kheer! " I shouted, looking at him with wide eyes, which were reciprocated, even if his persona of tranquility still sat on his beautiful face.

We ran inside to see the slightest smell of burning milk.

Rushing to the kitchen, I lifted the lid, to see, a kheer, or what would have been a kheer, if we weren't so lost. Merely a handful of it was left while most of it was stuck on the walls of the pot.

So I scooped out whatever was and brought it out.

" We have, Yudhishthir and Sagarika special, too sweet and slightly burnt... Kheer! " I said, sitting down next to him in the verandah.

"It's alright, we'll learn.. One day we'll make the best kheer there is. " He said smiling.

Picking up a bite, I placed my hand in front of his mouth.

" Eat. " I asked, as he opened his mouth to take it in. He closed his eyes in bliss, as if it was one of the tastiest nectars in the world.

"Is it truly that good? " I asked, thinking he was just doing this to keep my heart.

" Yes, why don't you try. " He said, scooping a bite for myself.

The minute the kheer touched my lips, it's sweet mature, the beautiful warmth of the milk and the brilliance of the sweet rice made my day better.

"It is delicious. But how? " I asked.

"It's made with love , why wouldn't it be? " He asked.

We finished the kheer, washing out hands and mouth.

"Well, now what? " I asked, looking at my husband who stared at the setting sun. I embraced him from behind, hiding my face in his shoulder blades.

"Well, I do have something... But I am not sure you'll agree. " He said and although he was the epitome of serenity and tranquility, his eyes looked worried, fearing rejection.

I kept my hand on his cheek to turn his face to me.

"What is it? " I whispered.

"Well, it has been a year since our marriage. " He managed out.

Well, what is he going with there?

"And I was hoping. No not hoping, wondering... No. I don't know. " He said, turning back around.

Arre, aise thodi na hota hai. (This isn't how it is supposed to be.)

"What is it Yudhishthir, you know we can tell each other anything right? " I asked and he sighed heavily.

"Come with me. " He said, offering me his hand as we made our way into the room.

"What is it? " I asked, sitting on the bed.

"Well, as I said, it has been a year and I. Well I know that -" He stopped again.

"You do realise you're blushing worse than a newly wed bride. What's wrong. Alright. We'll ask questions. Is this pertaining to us as a couple? " I asked.

"Yes, it is. "

" Well, is it something important? Is it threatening our relationship somehow? "

"What! No! " He said, holding onto my hand.

"Well, out with it. What is it? " I asked.

"I want to.... Share relations. " He muttered.

"What? " I asked. Honestly... Why is he mumbling.

" I want to have....no. I want to share relations with you. " He said and I looked up at him in surprise.

"Relations? Don't we already do that?" I asked.

"What? How? "

"Well, I -you know, your brothers are mine, my sisters yours, your mother is my own, blah blah-" I felt a hand on my mouth.

"No. That is not what I am talking about. " He said, eyes disappointed.

"It's fine, let's just sleep. " He resigned and I sighed.

Look, I know what he's saying, I understand very clearly. I'm not dumb. Two years of biology have taught me more than I ever wanted to know... But I do. So.

It's fun to tease him, I saw how shy he was at the pond.

" You know you could just tell me clearly. " I asked, looking at his face. I think I should stop now.. Troubled the poor dear too much haven't I.

" I- fine. Sagarika, I want to love you as a man is meant to love his wife. "

Idiot. Please be clear.

"You do that. You do love me -"

" No no. You can't fool ne anymore. You know what I am talking about. I saw your books, about the knowledge of human body and the environment. You know vey well what I am talking about. " He said, now looking a bit more confident.

"Oh do I? Why don't you find out if I really do know. " I said, as I kissed his cheek, running out into the flower fields.

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I had been hidden under the canopy for five whole minutes. I could hear Yudhishthir calling for me too, but I stayed put. It was only when I didn't see him anymore that I was worried. Where was he?

So I stood up, when immediately I was pulled into a close embrace.

"My dear darling wife, rule number one of hiding and seeking, never give up your hiding place if you don't see the seeker. " I heard, whispered into my ears.

"Oh. You've caught me. Now what? " I whispered back. Now, I could act all indifferent and tell you people how I was totally calm the whole while...

I would be lying, my heart was beating so quick I could hear it in my ears.

" Well, first I would ask you a question, based on which we decide the course of tonight. I will accept either answers in good spirits, but I would be lying if I said I hope for one answer more. " He answered back. One of  his hands made it's way to my neck, staying there.

"Well, ask away, the night is still young, but it won't be if you keep evading like before. Be upfront. " I said, attempting to turn around when another hand clamped me back by the waist.

" Alright, my dear wife Sagarika, would you agree if I told you that I want to make love to you? " He whispered and the thought finally settled any doubts I ever had.

You see, the point is, my teasing had more to do with my own trepidations on the topic then what I was telling you.

I am just a child, now nineteen, but still, this isn't how I ever imagined my life to be, but it was and I was forced to confront it when he began his tirade of not saying things clearly. His  worry reflected my own, so I couldn't even say anything about it, but now, I was clear. I knew what I would be doing and it wasn't wrong either, even if it wasn't according to my plans.

So I strengthening my resolve, I pulled his hands closer and answered, with open, clear eyes, " Yes. "

I couldn't see his face, but I could feel how happy he was, with his hands that turned me around to place the gentlest of kisses on my forehead, eyes, my nose.

"Come, the night awaits us. " I said, as I pulled him into the house.

(INTIMACY AHEAD. NOT EXPLICIT.READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED)

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As we walked into the room, I was suddenly reminded of what I was truly getting into. It must have showed on my face, for I was sat on the bed, with my hands in his.

"Sagarika, I am willing to wait till eternity for you. If you are scared, nervous or uncomfortable, we can stop now or rather anytime. You must be honest with me. " He said, caramel eyes boring into my soul.

One cannot think clearly in such situations, which is what was happening to me. I wasn't uncomfortable. Just nervous.

"I'm not uncomfortable. It's you. I'd recognize you from miles away, among a million people, so fear isn't what I have. It's just nervousness. I, as you pointed out have read my books. You understand my dear don't you? "

" I do, it's why I am giving you the choice, whatever we do, is as per your wishes. " He said, pulling me close.

"May I? " He asked, as he held his face close to mine.

When one has the power to say no, it's easier to think of the consequences, the ones that are good and bad.

So, encouraging myself, I answered with a yes.

Gently, he brought me in for a kiss, one that held a different meaning today. All the ones before were of only love, affection and sent as a marker of what we hope we'd have till eternity.

Now, this one held a new set of emotions, yet the tenderness of the ones that preceeded it. It held our hopes for the future, our nerves as we sat here in each other's arms. It held a passion which remained unexplored but was only lit today in the pond..

" You alright? " He asked, as he pulled away.  His eyes, which still reflected his love held a deep passion in them.

I on the other hand was at loss for words, so all I could do was nod my head.

He took me to bed, vestments and jewellery making their way off, as we embraced each other with our love.

(SAFE ZONE BEGINS)

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I woke up in the morning, as I usually had been doing on a moving soft yet hard surface.

Oh well, I was still redfaced wasn't I.

"I can feel you smile. I know you're awake. " I heard a rumbling voice as I cracked open my eyes to look at my husband.

"Well, what would you say then? " I asked, smirking.

"That I love you even more, now, that I truly have seen you, unashamed, unrestrained and -"

"Shh! What are you doing! " I asked, pressing my hand against his mouth.

"What wrong have I said -I "

"Shut up. I'll get dressed, you know we need to leave for Varnavart tomorrow. "

" Do we? I don't see why we must. This is our little world . Isn't it? " He asked, as he held on to my hand.

" I know and I wouldn't trade this place for the world, but mata said that we must return to Hastinapur soon, for we'll be leaving for Varnavart. So come on up husband. " I said, as we dressed for the day.

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..... Do I really need to add an author's note today?.... 😳😳😳

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Much love
Radhekrishn ♥