Chapter - 14

AROHI'S P.O.V

I woke up to the usual sight of the curtains drawn tightly shut, as if to shield me from the world outside.

I tried to push the thought aside, but yesterday's encounter with Ayushman lingered in my mind.

While I'm grateful that he at least made an effort to befriend me, it still stings that he refuses to accept me as his wife.

But I suppose, that's just the way it is. When I asked him about the curtains, he completely avoided my question, his voice faltering, stammering in a way I never thought possible from Ayushman Suryavanshi.

The person who never looked down is now stammering due to a little question.....

Feeling in a happy mood, I got out of bed, heading to the washroom to start my morning routine.

As I stood under the shower, I assumed Ayushman had already left for the office, so I took my time.

I chose a simple yet elegant pink silk saree, carefully draping it around myself.

I applied vermillion to my forehead, feeling the weight of tradition settle upon me as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

In that moment, memories flooded back - the woman I was before the marriage, and the woman I am now.

At least I could say I was smiling, something I never did back then.

This 'wife' look... I was beginning to love it. I straightened my saree, grabbed my bag, and made my way downstairs.

But just as I reached the bottom step, I froze, for what I saw there was nothing I expected...

Ayushman sat there, casually having his breakfast at the dining table, causing my eyes to widen in disbelief.

What? He hadn't left for the office yet? My thoughts raced as I quietly took my seat at the table.

Maa entered the room with her warm smile and wished.

"Good morning, Aru beta."

I returned her greeting with a smile.

"Good morning, Maa."

Then, I turned to Papa, who smiled and wished me back.

But it was when my gaze landed on Ayushman that my heart skipped a beat-his intense eyes were already fixed on me.

I quickly looked down, a blush creeping across my face, but then I remembered yesterday's conversation. With a shy yet determined breath, I greeted him,

"Good morning, Ayushman."

He took a sip of his juice, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn't respond.

The old Ayushman is back again, I thought sadly, as my smile faded and I looked down in disappointment.

But just as I was about to sink into my thoughts, his voice broke through, smooth and teasing.

"Good morning, wife."

I froze, my eyes shooting up in surprise. Everyone at the table turned to look at him, and Misha couldn't help but tease.

"Wife, huh?"

My cheeks burned crimson, and I quickly buried my face, my heart racing. Ayushman, ever the confident one, simply shrugged and said.

"Yeah, she's my wife, right? So I called her that."

His words only made me blush harder.

Misha, trying to ease the tension, laughed and teased.

"Stop now, Ayushman... otherwise, Aru won't be able to eat properly!"

But as she spoke, Ayushman's gaze softened, and the corner of his lips curled into a playful smile, sending my heart into a flurry.

After finishing our breakfast, we chatted for a little while, but soon it was time to head to the office.

I stood up and made my way towards my car in the parking lot, but just as I was about to get in, Ayushman stopped me.

"We're going together"

He said, his tone casual.

My jaw literally dropped in shock. Together? I repeated nervously, trying to process what he just said.

Ayushman nodded, his expression playful.

"Yeah, friends can go to the office together, can't they?"

The word friends hit me like a wave, breaking my heart all over again. But then, at least, I realized he wasn't being rude or harsh.

He wasn't treating me badly, which gave me a small sense of relief. Still, I managed to reply, trying to hide my disappointment.

"Yeah, sure. But friends do one more thing too."

Ayushman raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"And what is that, wife?"

His voice dropped to that deep, husky tone, making my heart skip a beat.

I felt my face flush, knowing exactly what he was doing-he knew exactly how to make me nervous.

But I pushed through my embarrassment, summoning the courage to speak.

"Roasting each other and leg pulling."

Ayushman threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and teasing.

"Oh really? I'd love to see you roast me."

He said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I pouted, crossing my arms.

"Yeah, yeah"

I muttered, trying to act nonchalant, even though my heart was racing with both excitement and nerves.

We arrived at the office and stepped into the building, the familiar eyes of colleagues immediately turning toward us. But this time, I didn't feel the usual nerves.

Why? Because today, I had my Ayu by my side... Wait-my Ayu? Was I really marking him as mine? The thought made my heart flutter, and I quickly shook off the wave of emotions, trying to focus.

As I looked around, I couldn't help but notice the jealous, piercing gazes of the women in the office. I knew exactly what they were thinking-they all wanted to be the one standing next to Ayushman.

After all, who wouldn't dream of being the queen of the Suryavanshi family? But here I was... I never imagined I'd be in this position, but somehow, it felt like it was always meant to be.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize we had stopped right in front of Ayushman's cabin. His voice, smooth and teasing, pulled me out of my daydreams.

"Won't you come inside?"

He asked, his words snapping me back to reality. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, before I gathered myself and followed him inside, heart still racing.

I quietly settled into Ayushman's cabin, my gaze fixed on the floor, trying to avoid the prying eyes of the world. Ayushman, as if sensing my unease, spoke up, his voice calm but firm.

"Don't worry about them"

He said, his tone almost protective.

"They're just envious of you... All they care about is my money and my handsome face. Gold diggers, the lot of them."

I nodded, absorbing his words, but then, something hit me.

Wait a second... How did he know I was watching them?

Had he somehow read my mind, or was I being too obvious with my thoughts or I'm thinking too loudly?

Before I could voice my confusion, Ayushman said.

"The third one"

He replied, as though reading my thoughts.

"You're thinking too loudly. I can hear it all, which is why I'm saying-don't let them affect you. You're far better than they'll ever be."

"You are pure, with a heart full of innocence, and your love knows no bounds. It is unyielding, unconditional-I've witnessed it firsthand, especially in the way you cherish my mother."

"I must say, you're just like my mom-both of you love unconditionally."

His words melted a little piece of the tension in my chest. He didn't see me as just another girl, a passing fancy. He actually valued me. I couldn't help but smile, feeling warmth spread through me. And he said I'm just like Maa.... I should cry because I never got compliments like this. When I finally looked up, I found him looking at me with a gentle smile of his own.

Every girl dreams of hearing her husband say this to her, because those words truly hold meaning. Maybe he didn’t say it by considering himself as my husband , but he did say it, didn’t he? And that's what truly matters. Right now, I’m beyond thrilled, and my heart is overflowing with happiness.

But before the moment could linger, the door suddenly swung open, and as usual, it was at the most inconvenient time.

"Again!! Shit, yaar... I always walk in at the wrong moment"

Aryaan said dramatically, his hands instantly covering his eyes.

Ayushman groaned, rolling his eyes.

"Stop with the drama, Aryaan."

Aryaan chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation.

"Good morning, Ayu and Bhabhi,"

He said, his voice teasing.

I flashed a bright smile, a little embarrassed but still warm from Ayushman's words.

"Good morning, Aryaan bhaiya"

I greeted him cheerfully.

Ayushman cleared his throat and gave me a pointed look.

"Wife"

He said, his voice dropping in that familiar tone.

"You can go to your cabin. I'll send you the schedule for today's meetings."

I gave him a quick nod, still feeling the flush from the earlier exchange, and left his cabin with a smile on my face. My heart was still racing, but in the best way possible.

I walked into my cabin, my mind still buzzing with the events of the morning. Automatically, I reached up to gather my hair and tie it into a neat bun.

But then, the memory of Ayushman flashed before me-the way he'd gently let my hair fall loose that morning, his words soft but clear:

"Now it's perfect."

A rush of warmth spread through me, and before I knew it, I had let go of my hair tie and let my hair cascade down, just the way Ayushman liked it.

The thought of him made my cheeks flush, and I couldn't help but smile softly to myself.

Meanwhile, back in Ayushman's cabin, Aryaan, ever the troublemaker, leaned in with a sly grin.

"What was that, Mr. Suryavanshi?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Were you feeling jealous?"

Ayushman, ever the cool and composed one, rolled his eyes with a sigh, trying his best to hide the slight flush creeping up his neck. But anybody could tell he wasn't as unaffected as he tried to appear.