A day earlier.

"SHIVAAY!" The familiar sound jolted him from his reverie, pulling his attention away from his stunning wife who glittered uniquely at the party. Wherever he looked, his eyes invariably found their way to her, as always.

"Hey, Malika!" He called her name after a brief pause, struggling momentarily to recall his friend's name. A smile graced his lips at the irony.

"Anika really has that magical wand on you, Shivaay. Like Rudy says," Malika remarked. Despite his resistance, he had to concede—Anika wielded an enchanting influence over him. Her mere gaze had the power to bring him to his knees, a fact he reluctantly accepted. Recalling the past had lost its sting, replaced by an eager anticipation for their shared future. Shivaay even found himself contemplating how their children might inherit her spirited personality, envisioning a life that resembled a captivating circus.

"Like you don't use your magic wand on your husband?" He replied, a wide smile illuminating his face.

"Oh my god! Never saw you laughing like that. By the way, answering the question, I had to put in much effort to use the magic wand with my husband. Unlike Anika, who just has to turn around and smile at you to get whatever she wants," Malika revealed, leaving Shivaay slightly shocked. He began to wonder if his feelings for his wife were so apparent that even his ex-girlfriend turned best friend could discern them.

"Am I disturbing these ex-lovebirds?" Anika's voice, cheeky as ever, reached his ears from behind. A sudden tension gripped him, though she seemed nonchalant, especially in Mallika's presence. He knew Anika wasn't here out of jealousy but to tease him and test his self-control.

"Why? Feeling jealous?" Mallika countered.

"Obviously," Anika replied, casually intertwining her arm with Sh's and linking their fingers.

"Sorry to break this, Anika. The only one who should feel jealous in this trio is ME," Mallika teased. "Don't know where's my husband," she added, walking ahead.

"You know, Mr. Oberoi!" She began once she left. Shivaay found himself perplexed by her alternating naming conventions. During the day, she willingly called him by his first name, but at night, it was Mr. Oberoi. Not only in regular conversations but also during intimate moments. He never questioned her about it, knowing that if he did, she would counter with questions about his cold demeanor in the morning. How could he explain when he didn't understand the reason behind his behavior? Initially, he adopted it to make her realize the lack of room for romance in their lives, but now, he acknowledged that no matter how hard he tried, he eventually wanted to end the day in her arms. Every morning became a struggle.

"But why the hell were they asking tips from me to woo their husbands?" Anika asked, her tone filled with doubt.

As if you didn't know, he thought, choosing not to say it aloud and risk giving her the upper hand in their ongoing battle of self-control.

"Do I really have to remind you about your profession?" He replied. At times, he wondered if she experimented with ways to woo him, prescribing them to her patients afterward.

"I am not a marriage consultant but help my patients in grief management and provide counseling for addiction," she explained, her tone softening as she spoke about her profession. Shivaay couldn't help but feel proud of her.

"I know, but these people don't, right?" He told her. She chuckled in response, causing his heart to somersault.

"But Mrs. Thakur was very keen. She asked what I love to do with my husbands?" She shared. He got curious, although he wasn't usually interested in women's conversations. But everything became interesting when it involved his wife.

"What did you say?" He inquired.

"I told..." She leaned in close to his ear, his anticipation reaching its peak. "I love to frustrate you. Especially in the mornings..." She said before bursting into laughter, holding onto his shoulder for support. Unfazed, he didn't move away, even though he knew she was poking fun at him.

"Not funny!" He declared.

"Then why couldn't I stop laughing?" She asked.

"Because there's something wrong with you," he stated, remaining in the same spot as she held onto his shoulder. Before she could stop laughing and regain her composure, her stomach growled, a clear sign of hunger that made him chuckle. Her face turned red in embarrassment.

"Let's go to the buffet; I am famished," she suggested, pulling his arm to intertwine with hers. Their dinner turned into a chaotic affair as Malika and her husband Sid joined them, relentlessly teasing the couple. Shivaay and Anika remained composed, with Anika focusing more on the food than the banter, even though she acknowledged it. Observing her absolute love for cheese balls, Shivaay loaded some onto his plate and fed her, paying little attention to his business associates in the group. Despite the ongoing conversation, he found himself captivated by the enchanting presence of his wife.

***

He silently expressed gratitude for his patience as they finally arrived home, nearing eleven. He had no objections when he suggested leaving the party early, citing her discomfort in those heels from the start. However, she hadn't complained until her toes turned red, and he was the one to notice. Inside, he simmered with frustration over her choice to endure the party in uncomfortable shoes. Yet, he couldn't ignore the allure of her off-shoulder, glittery blouse and the translucent saree that accentuated her curves, doing justice to her figure in a way nothing else could.

As she stepped out of the car, he hurried to the other side, enveloping her in his arms. Though there was a slight protest from her, it quickly transformed into a radiant smile that graced her lips. She understood his intentions, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in the nape of his neck as he carried her up the steps to their room. He opened the door with a nudge of his leg, gently placing her on the bed. Moving to her feet, he cradled them in his lap, carefully removing the straps of her heels. He then trailed wet kisses from her toes, evoking gasps from her. Knowing his wife's profession mainly dealt with addicts and counseling, he mentally planned a visit to her hospital. He, too, was addicted – addicted to the sounds of her gasps and moans. To him, too much was never enough.

As he played his tongue in a rhythmic dance, her saree floated up, her inner self throbbing with desire. Despite her attempts to muffle her cries, nothing worked. His hands moved upward, gripping her breasts through her clothing, continuing until he sensed her sweet release, not once, twice, thrice, until she began to protest, unable to take more.

Her breaths came out in gasps as he moved up and observed her. She struggled to catch her breath, and he didn't move but admired the beauty beneath him with a twisted smile. When she finally opened her eyes, he seized her mouth hungrily, kissing her like a starving animal. Her soft lips allowed him to explore her like her entire body. She didn't resist, even as they made love until dawn many times. However, even now, his body burned with desire, and she catered to it. Her appearance was disheveled, but for him, it was only his hair that was tousled. Her eyes widened in irony as she began to undress him. He didn't intervene as each piece of clothing was shed until she felt the rawness of him above her. Consuming her mouth, he entered her, and she dug her nails into his bare back.

A groan of her name escaped him as he climaxed, the sixteen hours of patience finally paying off when he heard his angel's pleasure cries. He had mentally recognized her as an angel many times but never dared to address her directly. Kissing away the sweat on her forehead, he drew her close and held her captive..

***

He found himself smiling throughout the day as his mind replayed the morning's events—the usual cheeky banter, waking up to her romantic yet energizing playlist. A sweet smile adorned his face as he recalled her mapping his body with kisses in the bathroom, accompanied by a background melody. A quick change in mood followed her playful double entendres, and he barely managed to maintain a thread of self-control when she deliberately sat on his lap to pamper his skin.

Chuckles escaped him as he pretended to be engrossed in his laptop, earning a puzzled look from his personal secretary. Clearing his throat, he decided to proceed with his day's schedule, the only thing keeping him from rushing back to his wife. Engaging in meetings with the creative and finance teams drained his energy by 8 in the evening, even without external engagements. Yet, the sight of his wife could recharge him in an instant. Smiling to himself, he set off for home—his wife's welcoming arms.

The idea of picking her up from work struck him, but when he reached for his phone, he discovered it was switched off. After turning it on, he noticed missed calls from Gauri. Attempting to return the calls yielded no response. Dialing Anika's number was equally futile; her phone remained unreachable at the moment.

"Khanna, go to the hospital. Let's pick up Anika and go home," he instructed, feeling a sudden tension as he couldn't reach his wife's phone. As the car parked in front of the hospital, Khanna went inside, leaving him anxiously awaiting Anika. However, Khanna returned alone.

"Sir, Bhabhi left before lunch, and they mentioned she's working part-time here," Khanna informed him. This revelation puzzled him—she hadn't mentioned working part-time. The tension increased as her phone remained out of reach.

"Anikaaaa..." he whispered, surprised at how a small piece of information about her could affect him so deeply. Shivaay hurried inside the mansion. Although he noticed his family members having dinner, Anika was conspicuously absent. He didn't pay much attention until his grandma invited him to join them.

"Let me freshen up and join with Anika," he excused himself.

"Shivaay, Bhabhi isn't in the room," Om informed, silencing everyone present.

"I don't understand. Where is she?" he asked.

"Actually, Bhaiya, she mentioned an important clinical psychology conference in Hyderabad. She got the invitation in the afternoon, and we tried to inform you, but you were unreachable," Gauri explained. His heart sank with the news, realizing he had received a call only from Gauri, not Anika. Their expressions hinted at something more.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, disappearing into his room. The room felt suffocating—every moment and place had become memorable in the past three months. Taking a cold shower, he washed away his makeup, revealing purple hickies. His stomach quivered as he already began to miss her.

Entering the room, he encountered remnants of her presence—moisturizer, primer, concealer, and a note secured under the mirror. Rushing to the note, he eagerly read it.

Mr. Oberoi,

I know you must be on cloud nine with me gone from your room suddenly. If it's not urgent, I wouldn't have let you enjoy your privacy. Yes, I tried calling you before leaving but couldn't. Sorry, I'm not good with goodbyes. This privacy will last only a few days until this monster comes back. Enjoy it now.

Also, I think I've left the essentials for you. Don't forget to blow after using the primer. Oh, I forgot, for that, you need me. It's okay; you can use your hands instead. I mean to fan it and dry it, nothing else. I'll call you once the flight lands. PLEASE KEEP YOUR PHONE CHARGED."

He found himself grappling with a mix of emotions, surprised that she had referred to herself correctly as his "Monster," yet his irritation seemed to have vanished. Hastily checking his phone for missed calls, he couldn't help but smile at the sequence of events—from her addressing him by his last name in the letter to the playful reference to using his hands. Her ability to get under his skin and make him blush never failed, and as his phone remained silent, it soon began to ring. Of course, it was her calling, and he promptly answered on the first ring.

"Planning ahead and arranging everything beforehand is a concept Mrs. Oberoi seems unfamiliar with," he playfully blabbered as soon as he answered her call.

"Can you switch to a video call?" she requested. His smile persisted as he quickly checked his reflection in the dressing mirror and initiated the video call. Answering the second ring, she appeared on the screen, seated on a steel bench at the airport, with messy hair tied in a bun. Dressed in a bottle green shirt and black pant combo, her tired eyes conveyed the weariness she felt, and he swiftly analyzed the situation.

"Long day at the office?" she inquired, frowning at him.

"Yes, but not as tired as you!" he replied, his hand instinctively wanting to tuck her hair behind her ears.

"I am not tired anymore!" she declared while grabbing a burger and taking a huge bite.

"Reached Hyderabad?" he asked.

"At Hyderabad!" she responded.

"As I was saying earlier, wouldn't you plan a bit earlier, or a day before, if you have an important conference?" he asked her in a slightly cold tone.

"But I planned it a month before, even applied for a visa right then, but I completely forgot. I remembered only in the afternoon after I got a reminder from a friend," she explained. Confusion lingered as he wondered why she needed a visa for Hyderabad.

"Why do you need a visa to go to Hyderabad?" he inquired.

"Not for Hyderabad; the actual conference will be happening in the US, where I have to submit my research papers. I came to Hyderabad to collaborate with my fellow researchers and prepare for the conference," she revealed, and his heart dropped with the news. He remained silent, a part of him yelling at her for forgetting such important details.

"What happened?" she asked him.

"Nothing. You just found an absolute way to inform your husband," he replied in a slightly cold tone.

"Mr. Oberoi..." she called, a tone that he might have ignored if she had used his first name, but not now. He looked at her.

"I am sorry!" she apologized, and from her expression, he could tell she genuinely felt sorry for him.

"It's okay! Concentrate on your work. Make me proud," he said with a smile.

"Awww... I would have kissed you for those words. Don't worry, Mr. Oberoi. Mrs. Oberoi will never leave you in a situation to complain, and you will always be proud of me. I love..." She stopped abruptly, and his heart somersaulted at hearing half of it. "I LOVE YOU TOO, MRS. OBEROI." Before he could inquire further, she pouted her lips to the screen and gave him a virtual kiss. He couldn't help but smile at her antics.

"Shivaay, the car has arrived; I have to go!" she said and walked away.

"I know you must have rushed to pack your things. Do a quick analysis before leaving Hyderabad and buy the things you left out," he said, his reluctance to hang up evident.

"Okay," she replied, nodding her head.

"Leave that. Tell me which hotel you are staying in, and I will bring everything and help you with that," he offered. A smile soon covered her tense face.

"I really love this version of you, but definitely sorry for disappointing you. I have an early morning flight to catch," she told him. Her smile disappeared, and he was clearly frustrated.

"By the way, I never meant this kind of frustration when I told you I love to frustrate you. I am sorry!" she apologized again.

"Have a proper dinner before going to sleep," he advised.

"SHIVAAY..." she called him.

"What?" he asked.

"Won't you say, 'Happy journey'?"

"Have fun, and happy journey," he said and hung up the call. He was clearly frustrated. Before he could process anything ahead, Gauri knocked on his door.

"I want to talk to you, Bhaiya. Are you free?" Gauri asked him in an unusual tone.

"Yes, Gauri. Is anything important?" he asked.

"Yes! I wanted to bring an important thing to your notice," she said, and he was confused.

"It's about Choti-maa," she started, recounting everything that happened throughout the day—from the breakfast where Choti-maa scolded Anika for his sake to the emotional breakdown at lunch.

"Bhabhi asked me not to share it with you, but I couldn't do so since I saw her breakdown, and she took time to gather herself together," Gauri revealed.

The last thing he could imagine was tears in his wife's eyes. But when Gauri told him that Anika had cried for hours, anger welled up inside him. More than anyone, he felt angry at his wife, who had never complained about anything until he heard it from Gauri. That's it—his mom had to answer.

***