Anika stepped out from the bathroom dressed in casual tees and capris. She hurried to her cupboard and pulled out the saree and blouse that her mother had purchased for her. She hadn't worn it even once. She pulled the drawer to find transparent bra-straps. She stacked it all in her hand and turned to find her husband looking at her with curiosity filled eyes

"I need to go to the temple with mom. She said she'll help me with the saree." She explained.

"Wow, red saree. Sexy!"

Anika's lips curved up and she looked aside momentarily and then pushed him aside walking towards the door.

"Anika!"

She turned around, "what?"

He simply winked. Anika parted her lips in disbelief and made her way out. Stupid man!

* * *

"There it's done. It's so simple to wear a saree." Pinky spoke analyzing the pleats of Anika's saree. Anika pulled her lips to smile. It was anything but easy.

"Woohoo, if Jiju sees her he's going to be clean bowled!" Gauri remarked sauntering into the room with a bright smile. Anika blushed at her remark."But, what's the occasion, aunty? Why are the two of you so decorated?"

Pinky let out a chuckle, "We're going to Mata's temple. It's a customary pooja."

"I am finally going to get rid of these!" Anika added raising up her hands to flash the set of red bangles with a few white ones in front of Gauri.

"That's a pity!" Gauri smiled sadly.

"Hey, if you knew how troublesome they are!" Anika muttered as Pinky bent down to settle her saree. Anika smiled warmly at Pinky's efforts. She indeed was very lucky in the mother-in-law department.

"Don't worry Anika, she'll know soon." Pinky turned to wink at Gauri.

Gauri smiled and met Anika's eyes. "you're glowing today!" Anika managed to smile casually. Was after sex-glow really a thing?

"Okay, Gauri why don't you put on some Indian wear too? " Pinky asked walking over to her dressing table to comb her hair.

"Why will the Goddess be mad at me for wearing jeans and top?" Gauri asked playfully to get Anika's glare. Any other day Anika would've said the same thing, but not now. Pinky was very cool, but Anika certainly didn't want Pinky to find anything Gauri said offensive. Weirdly, Gauri had changed a lot. She was more outspoken and easy-going than before. But that was a good thing. She was also much more lively and unapologetically cheerful.

"No, beta, but I thought you'd look the odd one out. Come on now, put on something desi!" Pinky spoke authoritatively.

Gauri sighed, "As you wish madam," she walked out of the room. Anika followed her out.

"Do you even have Indian wear?" She asked catching up with Gauri.

"Yes, I do, Mrs. Blushy!" Gauri passed her a smile and like she expected Anika blushed.

"Stop blushing, Anika, I am scared we'll have to name you Scarlet or Tomato!"

Anika was dying to confide in someone. She knew Gauri was the one person. She just didn't know how to put it in words. "Um, Gauri,"

"Yes, Anni!" Gauri spoke her undivided attention on her phone. Gauri looked aside at her when she didn't say anything.

She paused her steps and turned fully to face Anika. "What?" She asked narrowing his eyes at her.

"I wore that black thing last night!" Anika blurted.

Gauri's mouth fell open. "And..?"

Anika shrugged looking away.

"Oh. My. God." Gauri flung her arms around Anika hugging her. Anika's eyebrows furrowed in bafflement. "I am so happy for you!" Anika's bewilderment only grew. She wasn't pregnant for God's sake. Why on earth was Gauri acting like she was!

"Gauri, this is too much, I didn't get a scholarship," Anika muttered pulling away.

Gauri grinned, "I would have asked you for details, but Jiju is like a brother. So no details. But, are you okay? Are you in pain? Are you sore? You know there are ointments..."

"Gauri, shh, I am okay!" Anika answered softly touched by her concern.

"Is there something bothering you?" Gauri asked apprehensively.

"No," Anika brushed off her doubt.

"Sure?"

"positive!"

Gauri grinned, "I will change and be back. Go tell Jiju a goodbye until then." She winked.

Anika rolled her eyes and grinned walking away. Gauri's smile wavered she just prayed that the smile always stayed on her face. She bit her lip and took a deep breath walking to the room she was using.

"Shivaay," Anika entered her room to find him sitting on the bed with his legs stretched out and his laptop on a cushion over his lap.

"Seems like someone missed me!" he spoke and finally looked up. There she stood dressed in a simple deep red saree, her blouse was golden colored complimenting the golden borders of her saree. Her hair tied in a loose bun. Long jhumkas adorning her ears. Her almond-shaped eyes had makeup on, but they only looked more attractive. A tiny red dot decorated her forehead right between her two brows. Her look screamed married. Wow, that was his wife!

Anika caught her breath at the way he looked at her. He wouldn't even blink. He just kept looking at her as though everything else around him had ceased to exist. "Why are you so far?" He asked and that made her exhale sharply. She found herself walking towards him. Her feet stopped only when she was close enough. He tried to reach her wrist but like every time her huge set of bangles failed his effort. His hand finally gripped her shoulder and made her sit at the edge of the bed just beside him. "You look gorgeous!" he complimented and Anika smiled.

"Just came to say goodbye. We are leaving for the temple. The breakfast is ready and waiting. Dad is up!"

Shivaay nodded staring at her all the while as her lips painted in dark brownish-red moved. "Can you stop looking like that?" She mumbled looking down at his hand that was playing with her bangles, pushing it left and then right.

"Does it still freak you out?" he asked hoping to hear a no.

"No, but it's just.."

His lips curled up, "It's just unsettling." He completed and she lifted her gaze to meet his. "Nothing can be done about that because I think I love looking at you."

"You're flirting!" Anika pointed out enjoying his attention.

"because I can't do other things I have in mind."

Anika's lips parted and she inhaled sharply. "You have a dirty mind." Anika accused.

"Very dirty!" he corrected as a smug grip spread on his face.

Anika smiled widely, "Okay, bye!"

He intertwined her fingers with his, "Don't go!"

Anika watched their fingers. The sight of his fingers got clouds of memories in her mind. The same fingers were very skilled at causing her to tremble. She pulled her hand out of his hold and looked at him getting off. "See you later, Shivaay!"

"Anika," He called, "at least give me a goodbye kiss." He pursed his lips into a pout.

Anika blushed and bent over placing her hand on his cheek, inching her lips closer to his.

"I only meant one on the cheek, but this will do too!" he exclaimed playfully.

Anika was flustered and quickly kissed his other cheek and straightened up. "Sweetheart, you can kiss me anywhere you like, any time you please, you don't even have to ask!"

"Stop, with that sweetheart, it's annoying."

"Annoying or something else?" he asked cheekily.

"Bye!" Anika said aloud walking out of the room, smiling to herself. Sweetheart!

* * *

Anika was tired when they returned home, later in the afternoon. Gauri had bought her an after pill after she had asked Anika if they had taken precautions. Anika wasn't really dumb, however, she hadn't even thought so far. She was still trying to settle with the fact that she had consummated her marriage and that she actually enjoyed sex very much.

She was anxious at the mere thought of pregnancy. She didn't know how to request Shivaay to use a condom when they did it next time. She just hoped he took care of that little thing. She expected Gauri to tease her till her ears pained, but that wasn't the case. She seemed off since the morning. Anika didn't probe much if anything she knew Gauri needed alone time when she was off.

Anika entered the room to find Shivaay sleeping. An instant upward curve drew on her face. She quickly changed into something comfortable and slipped on the bed close to him to take a nap.

Anika was woken up with soft murmurs and kisses. She smiled without even opening her eyes.

"I know you're awake, so open those eyes!" He murmured, rubbing his thumb on her lower lip.

Anika gave in and parted her eyelids. He smiled closing the distance between their lips. He just couldn't have enough of her. He loved her scent that lingered around him. He teased her lips lazily, licked them even. He enjoyed her naivety. It left so much room for him to explore his fantasies with her. "Anika, I just can't stop thinking about those dirty things," he uttered breaking away from her lips.

Anika who was running her fingers through his hair stopped abruptly. Oh, she loved doing that. She stared at him admiring his eyes. They somehow appeared a darker blue this time.

"I am still exhausted," Anika informed him, she couldn't do it again right away.

He grinned, "Figured," he leaned down kissing her neck. Anika's fingers began moving once again until he abruptly stopped.

"I like this..."

"What?" Anika asked confused.

"Your hands in my hair."

Anika blushed gently moving her fingers through his hair. "Let me try that too!" Saying that he straddled her leaning down to run his fingers through her hair, gently massaging her scalp. "Do you like that?"

"It's called champi, Shivaay, and it's better done with oil!" She giggled.

"Way to spoil a sexy moment!" Shivaay exclaimed displeased.

"Move..." She ordered. Shivaay stared at her, he liked how she ordered instead of the, please. But hell, he preferred to be the one who ordered and demanded between the two, when it came to bedroom things.

"Say, please." He smirked.

"You confuse me, you asked me not to say it!"

"Yeah, but now I want to hear it!"

She searched his eyes wondering if he meant it or he was teasing her. She finally gave up and said, "please!"

He grinned ear to ear and slowly moved off her. "Sweetheart, become a little strict otherwise you'll spoil me. Later, don't complain that I always have my way with you." he winked.

Anika blushed. She needed just that, him to have his way with her! She felt out of character, longing for his touches and kisses that knocked her senseless, maybe even more than that. But, the last thing she wanted was to tire herself so much that she didn't enjoy it.

* * *

Later, that night Anika entered the room after chit-chatting with Gauri. The following day was a Monday and Anika and Gauri had decided to go to their house and see what was up with those officials digging up the entrance to her house gates.

"I thought you planned on sleeping with Gauri tonight!" Shivaay spoke continuing to type something on his laptop.

"Sorry, to disappoint you, I can find my way back. Do you want me to?" She teased he looked up looking at her intently. He shut his laptop and got off the chair leaning against the table.

"I don't think you'd like that!" he spoke and she smiled walking towards him.

"You're mistaken!" She said walking past him.

He held her wrist and pulled her into himself. She gasped at the sudden force, that caused her body to collide with his. "I am certainly not!" He said softly yet firmly, blowing over her face.

His hands slipped down to her backside pushing her more against himself. She stared at him struggling in his hold. He had always been very easy and poised around her. But, darn the tight hold and this forced proximity was anything but easy. It all happened to fast for her to understand anything. All she knew was she was pressed against the wall by the table that opened in the washroom on the other end. He gripped her wrists and pressed them against the wall. His eyes noticing the missing set of bangles. He was glad they were gone. 

"Shivaay!" She gasped and her parted lips were seized in a hard kiss. Anika moaned into his mouth as his hands pressed her wrists tighter against the wall. All the heat from her body seemed to be pooling between her legs. He broke the kiss looking at her. It wasn't a soft gaze, it was a hard demanding one. "Respond to the kiss..." He seethed before meeting her lips again. Anika's mouth gladly molded as per his need. Her tongue mating against his. She felt his grip loosen and quickly slipped her hands out and they reached his hair. She pulled his face closer wanting to deepen the kiss. Oh, his mouth! She loved every inch of his mouth.

Shivaay pulled away panting while his hands continued to hold her waist in position firmly. He cupped her chin turning her face, "undress for me..." he whispered in her ears. Anika's lips drew apart and she looked at him scandalized.

"Please!" He whispered kissing her ears. That was enough to melt Anika. She obeyed steadily getting her kurti off and then her slacks, while his eyes watched her hungrily. "Till the very last bit!" he muttered gazing at her intently. Anika stared at him her heart beating crazily. She felt excited yet nervous. However, the anticipation of what was to come spiked up her excitement. Her hands reached to her back and she unhooked the clasp, the material still hung loosely covering her modesty. His lecherous gaze reduced her to a puddle. Goosebumps lined her arms.l, as suddenly she felt cold and her heartbeat rocketed. She did what she felt was right. She snaked her arms around him hugging him.

Shivaay was taken aback. She was doing fine moments ago but suddenly gave up. He squeezed his eyes shut. Did he overwhelm her with his demands? He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to his chest. Her naked back felt so nice and smooth against his palm. He felt her accelerated heartbeat. He gently moved his hand to comfort her, but the feel of her soft skin drove him to the edge. Darn, this was a task. "Anika, you okay?" He managed to ask.

She only held on tighter to him, enjoying his warmth. She trusted him, but a part of her was still uncomfortable with going all commando before him. Gently his fingers urged to make her look at him. Anika shut her eyes, she really didn't want to disappoint him. Didn't he also deserve all those wonderful sensations that he made her feel? He sure did.

"Are you.."

Anika cut him off, kissing his lips with newfound courage. She wanted to make him feel the ecstasy that he made her feel. Her fingers reached the back of his head threading through his hair, taking a fistful in her grip and tugging at them gently.

Shivaay was clearly left surprised at her sudden passion. He wasted no second and kissed her back, his hand reaching to her thighs to wrap them around his waist. Anika stared into his eyes when he laid her on the bed. There was no smile on his face, but an intensity that said he was addicted to her. Anika's stared at him as he got his clothes off. Oh, she could get used to this entire thing too!

Quickly, let me know your thoughts so I can start working on the next chapter. I hope to complete this book in May. So I need all your support and encouragement!😊

-Anami!