She tucked her hair behind her ear and blushed, not knowing how to meet his eyes.

“Good morning.”

He teased and she bit her lip.

“G-good morning. Aap…aapko neend aayi?”

(Did you…sleep?)

He hummed and rested his head back. She smiled seeing him sigh lazily before sitting straight and running a hand down his face. His hair were a sleepy mess and somehow that made him look even more hot.

Aanya controlled the urge to run her fingers through his hair and clenched her fists. Abhimanyu noticed the movement and held her hands in his. He planted a soft kiss over her knuckles and asked.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Nothing.”

She whispered and he looked at her seriously.

“I want you to promise me something today, sweetheart. Promise me that you’ll tell me if something troubles you.”

She nodded and slowly rested her head against his chest.

“I promise.”

“Good. Now tell me what it is?”

“It’s nothing. Really. I just feel nervous about…future.”

He moved his fingers in her hair in a soothing manner. Like her father used to do and she melted against him.

“I cannot promise you a smooth life. There are going to be ups and downs. There may even be times when we do not understand each other. But I promise you one thing today…”

He looked at her and she saw only sincerity and honesty in his eyes.

“Life ke har stage mai, mai hamesha tumhare saath hu, Aanya. Even if we have arguments, we will never go to bed upset with each other. We will communicate, sort out our differences, speak our hearts and minds to each other but never ever leave each other’s sides. I cannot lose you to something so stupid and immature as an argument. Or anything else for that matter.”

(In every stage of life, I am with you, Aanya.)

Aanya felt like she’d won the lottery. Aanya nodded and whispered her promise. Abhimanyu smiled and kissed her head.

The flight was a long one. It took them 17 hours to reach the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Aanya stretched her arms and sighed in exhaustion.

“Welcome to New York, sweetheart.”

Abhimanyu whispered against her head and she smiled looking around. 

“Abhimanyu, Aanya ko lekar pehle mansion aana. I have to welcome her.”

(Abhimanyu, come to mansion with Aanya first.)

Manya said and Aanya frowned. He lived separately? 

“Yes maa. Hum do hafte mansion mai hi rahenge. I’ll have to sort everything about her work also here.”

(We will stay in mansion for two weeks.)

“Good. We're leaving first. Tum log aa jaao peeche peeche.”

(You come after us.)

Abhijeet said and the two took off in their car leaving Abhimanyu and Aanya behind.

“I’ll take it from here.”

Abhimanyu told the attendant and took his car keys. They helped their luggage in the car and Abhimanyu helped Aanya settle in. He took his place on the driver’s seat and started driving.

Aanya tried to ignore how hot he looked while driving and asked her doubt.

“Aap alag rehte hai? Mummy papa se?”

(You live separate? From mummy papa?)

“Mansion se office dur padta hai. So I have my own penthouse near the office. Two hours of up and down every day is too hectic. Although I make sure to stay at the mansion for a few weeks every few months.”

(Office is far from mansion.)

He answered and Aanya nodded in understanding. The drive to the mansion was merely an hour. Abhimanyu parked the car in front of the mansion. Aanya looked around in awe. Just how rich was her husband? She knew her father-in-law owned half the city but this! This was a palace.

She felt Abhimanyu’s hand slip against hers as he intertwined their fingers. He smiled at her and guided her towards the entrance. Aanya smiled when she saw her mother-in-law and father-in-law standing at the entrance. Her mother-in-law held an aarti plate and a wide smile on her face.

She rotated the plate around both of them and welcomed them inside doing all the entry rituals. Aanya and Abhimanyu bend down to touch their feet but Manya stopped Aanya.

“Arre nhi nhi! Betiyan paer nhi chhuti.”

(No no! Daughters don’t touch feet.)

She said and hugged her lovingly. Abhimanyu narrowed his eyes on his mother and said.

“Aur bete chhu lete hai?”

(And sons can?)

“Haan!”

(Yes!)

Aanya chuckled and even Abhijeet laughed. Abhimanyu shook his head and held Aanya’s hand again as if it had pained him to let go of it earlier.

“Tumhari pehli rasoi ki rasam kal aaram se kr lenge. Just tell me what you want to make and I’ll get everything arranged tomorrow. Abhi tum rest krlo. Thak gye hoge flight ke baad.”

(We can do your rituals tomorrow….You rest now. You must be tired after the flight.)

“She’s right! Bhut dino se neend bhi puri nhi ho rhi hogi. Go get some rest. Abhi! Take her to your room.”

(You have not completed your sleep since so long.)

Abhijeet said and the two also retired to their room. Abhimanyu looked at Aanya and raised his eyebrow.

“Shall we?”

“Umm…pehle mujhe ek house tour de dijiye. Mai kahi khud se bahar nikli aur kho gyi toh?”

(Umm…first give me a house tour. What if I get out and get lost?)

Abhimanyu chuckled and leaned in mischievously.

“We can’t afford that now, can we?”

Aanya bit her lip to control her giggle and Abhimanyu tugged her hand taking her to the house tour. After a long hour they finally reached his room.

“And this….is our room.”

He whispered in her ear and she felt shivers down her spine. He could feel the goosebumps on her skin and his own heart beating wildly.

“You want to rest for some time?”

He asked and she exhaled before nodding. The feeling he evoked in her was thrilling and new but she was dead tired. First, because of the wedding and then because of the long flight.

She felt him kiss the back of head and whisper.

“Come on! Change if you want to and let’s lie down.”

Aanya nodded and changed into a simple cotton kurti and palazzo. Abhimanyu was already on his side and gazing at her. He patted the bed to his side, indicating her to join him.

She blushed and slowly got on the bed, maintaining distance between their bodies. Abhimanyu frowned and she raised her eyebrow.

“Kya hua?”

(What happened?)

“There’s too much distance. Come closer!”

Her heart skipped a beat and she slowly obeyed, moving just an inch. His gaze turned intense and she lowered her lashes.