"Hi, Rishab!" Madhu greeted Rk who was sitting on the couch in the living room & watching Cricket match.

"Hey! You are late." Rk said casually.

"Sorry. I had few last minute appointments." Madhu said apologetically & sat on his lap as she flung her arms around his neck & kissed his cheek.

"It's okay, baby." Rk said & pecked her lips.

"When did you come?" Madhu asked him who. He had his full attention on the TV screen.

"Hun?" he asked.

"Shit!" He cursed when the bowler bowled a no ball.

"Rishab!"

"I rushed home by sharp 7.30 but still missed the toss." He said feeling little upset.

"You missed the toss. Not the match." She said in a pissed off tone. Her husband was not paying attention to her but was so focused on the damned cricket match! She didn't like that.

"Yeah, I know... but still..."

"You like cricket so much?"

"Like? Madhu, I am crazy cricket fan. I am a state level cricket player."

"Oh!" That was news to her.

"Where are mummyji & daddyji?"

"They have gone to Pune for a wedding. They didn't tell you?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot. My bad" She shook her head.

"So just the two of us?" Madhu asked in a seductive tone as she trailed her index finger down his cheek.

"Howzat!!!" Rk shrieked making Madhu jump off his lap in fear.

"Rishab, you scared me."

"Oh! I'm sorry. It's just our team got a key wicket and I got so excited." Rk said feeling embarrassed of scaring her. This time Madhu didn't bother to sit on his lap as she feared her husband might throw her down on floor in his excitement. She sat on the couch beside him & rested her head on his shoulder.

"Rishab, I am hungry."

"Here" He passed her the pop corn bowl.

"Shall we have our dinner?" She asked him.

"I had my dinner, Madhu. You go eat." He said casually not even looking at her.

"But we eat together nah?" She asked him feeling hurt. It was she who come early to home daily & waits for her husband till he reaches from office & they eat together.

"You got late... I was hungry... Besides, I didn't want to miss the match so when the first innings got over I had a quick dinner to watch the second innings without any disturbance."

"So I am a disturbance?"

"I didn't tell anything like that."

"Every single day in the past four months since our marriage I waited for you till you reach home so that we could have our dinner together but you? Can't you wait for me for a day and have dinner with me?" She asked and turned her face other side in anger.

"I didn't ask you to wait." He said in his defense.

"Oh yeah right! You didn't because you don't care for anything... and I am the fool here."

"Why you are overreacting for this silly issue? If you are hungry then go have your dinner or wait for ten minutes. Drinks break will come then I will come & serve you dinner."

"No, thanks."

"Okay cool!" He said & went back to watch the match.

Madhu stomped her foot & marched to her room.

"Madhu, wake up." Rk patted her shoulders. She was actually not sleeping but pretending as if sleeping. She had gone to bed without eating feeling sad that her husband didn't care for her.

"Madhu... Come on, up." He pulled her up holding her arms.

"What?" She barked at him.

"Here, I got your favorite black current ice cream." He said & gave her the ice cream bowl.

Madhu shyly smiled feeling happy thinking her husband really cared for her and he was taking some effort to make it up for not having dinner with her by getting her favorite ice cream.

"Why suddenly ice cream & all?" She asked in a disinterested but she couldn't hide her joy swelling up in her heart. That was what she wanted! Her husband's care! His love!

"India won the match and to celebrate the victory I got us ice cream." His answer washed away the bliss she felt a moment ago. Why the hell he can't keep his big mouth shut? Why the hell he spoiled everything when things were getting better? No wait! It was me who asked the question first hoping to hear something sweet... But I should have known well not to expect anything lovey-dovey from this devil.

She was about to take a spoon full of ice cream to her mouth but then she sets it back & pushed it away.

"What? You are not going to eat?" Rk asked wondering why she pushed the bowl away.

"Ice cream is melting, Madhu." He told her as he took a spoon close to her mouth to feed her but she turned her face.

"What?"

"I don't eat ice cream and chocolate at night times. My teeth will get cavities."

"Oh yeah. I actually forgot my wife is a dentist. Okay fine. I will have your share too. If I get cavities then you will treat me nah?" He said grinning & started having her share of ice cream too while Madhu gapped at him in disbelief.

"You didn't have your dinner?" Rk asked Madhu. He had gone to the kitchen to put the ice cream bowl in the sink & found the food sitting on the dining table untouched. He realized she hadn't taken her dinner so he dished out the food on a plate & brought it to their bedroom.

"I am not hungry." She lied & turned to the other side to sleep.

"You said you were hungry when you came home?" He asked her as he walked to her side with the plate.

"Here, eat." He ordered placing the plate on the bed.

"I am feeling sleepy."

"Eat & sleep, Madhu."

"I don't want."

"Don't behave like a child." He scolded her. "Eat."

She remained stubborn & covered her face with the duvet.

"Eat, baby." He said softly as he pulled the duvet down.

"What do you care?" She asked him irately.

"I don't like good food going waste."

She wished to hear him say 'I don't like you sleeping empty stomach' but he cared so much for the damned food than her.

"I am going to my parents place." She suddenly declared.

"Now?" He asked with a frown.

"No! Tomorrow. I want to spend this weekend with them. Anyway daddyji & mummyji will be coming from Pune only on Monday morning... So I..."

"You said it's just the two of us?" He asked her disappointed.

"You should have thought before ignoring me & watching that God-awful match." Madhu screamed in her head.

"So what?"

"I thought we could... You know..." He trailed off as he took her hand in his and squeezed it.

"I want to see my parents. I miss them." She said gulping down her sob. She wanted someone to show her love & care for her.

"Okay!" He granted her permission.

"I didn't ask for your permission. I just informed you." She said feeling a strange urge to hurt him in any way possible.

"Whatever. Now eat & sleep. Tomorrow, I will drop you at your parents place."

"No, thanks. I will go on my own. And I don't want anything just let me sleep."

"Madhu, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I am too cool." She faked a smile.

"Please eat." He said now feeling concerned for her.

"If you don't want this food to go waste then you eat." She said lying back on the bed.

Rk sighed at her stubbornness but then he did eat the food as he hates wasting good food.

~~0~~

"Hey! You here?" Rk asked in surprise seeing Madhu at their home. Yesterday, she had gone to her parents place & said only after two or three days she will return home but now seeing her at their home & welcoming him with a bright smile shocked him to the core.

"I missed you." She said throwing her arms around his neck and hugged him hard.

"Ahaan!" He said & nuzzled her neck inhaling her scent. "Hmm... You are the best drug for me. You intoxicate me, Madhu" He took her head between his hands & started kissing her all over her face.

"I am sorry" Madhu whispered.

"Why?" He asked looking at her puzzled.

"For leaving you alone & going home"

"Oh come on, biwi. I am not a baby. I can take care of myself. Is that why you are back? You should spend some time with your parents too."

"But I have a reason for returning home soon."

"What reason?"

"Sorry, I came to know about it little late. Thanks to Trishu for informing me... But why you didn't tell me before?"

"What you came to know? What Trishu informed you? & what I didn't tell you? Why are you talking in puzzle?"

"You didn't tell me today is your birthday!" She accused him.

Rk chuckled. "What's there to tell?"

"It's your birthday, Rishab"

"So? It's just a day like any other as far as I am concerned and all it means I will be one day older." He said with a casual shrug.

"Not for me. It's a pretty special day for me. Happy birthday, love" She said & kissed his lips.

"Thank you." He smiled at her. "Every year my parents & Trishu say the same... But I don't feel like celebrating."

"You know... You are so dull & boring." She chided him. He laughed & pulled her closer in his arms. He liked the closeness.

"Here, this is my gift for you." She said & showed him a gold bracelet with the word 'Love' inscribed on it.

"Love?" He smiled as he closely looked at the bracelet. "I like it."

"Show me. I will put the bracelet for you." Madhu took the bracelet from his hand & clipped it around his wrist. "Perfect!" She said grinning as she caressed the word 'love' with the tip of her finger.

"Thanks, Biwi." He kissed her forehead.

"Pleasures all mine, husband" She whispered in a sexy voice, while she loosened his tie & slowly slid it off from being tied around his neck.

"Dinner is ready." She said as she started unbuttoning his shirt all the while planting kisses from the base of his throat to his chest.

"You know you are a seductress." Rk said with a soft chuckle enjoying her seduction.

"Dinner?" She asked him batting her eye lashes.

"I am not hungry - for food" he said circling his thumb over her blushing cheek. "But I am starving - for you" he said in a husky tone.

"We can't have you starving, now can we, birthday baby?" Madhu asked him sweetly. He grinned at her and suddenly he scooped down & grabbed her by her thighs & lifted her up he threw her over his shoulder making her squeal, he walked straight to their room.

He dumped Madhu on the bed. "Take your clothes off, now." He ordered her as he stood there folding his arms admiring her sexy figure.

She shot her eye brow up surprised by his rough tone as she laid on the bed all sexy rumpled hair & disheveled cloths.

"Stripe for me" He ordered her again.

"I will stripe for you but only if you stripe for me."

"It's my birthday baby... So you should please me."

"No! You will do what I do." She said & took off her shirt.

"Okay, baby." He smirked at her. He quickly undoes his cufflinks buttons and took off his shirt.

She knelt up & unzipped her pencil fit jeans.

"Stop!" Rk said & he walked towards her & pushed her back on the bed. She looked at him curiously & then smiled when he removed her shoes. "It will get really tricky if you remove your jeans with your shoes on." He said. "Okay now proceed" he stepped back. While she struggled with her jeans he quickly kicked off his shoes, pants, boxers & socks in one swift action.

"I win!" He grinned at her & jumped on the bed.

"We didn't have any contest."

"We had. Striping contest. I showed off my body first to you so I won the contest."

"Okay! So what you want as prize, my dear sexy devil?" She asked him as she dig in her nails on his chest & dragged it wildly making him wince. He clutched her neck firmly & pushed her back onto the bed.

"I want the Sexy Devil's wife as prize." He smirked. She stared at him intensely. Their eyes blazed with passion. Rk couldn't resist himself so he roughly grabbed her head with one hand & kissed her passionately.

"Love me, Rishab. Please!" She whispered suddenly getting emotional with the intensity of love she felt for him. Rk looked at her stunned. He could feel yearning in her voice. Her need to be loved by him was palpable in her eyes.

"What's it, darling?" He asked her softly caressing her cheek.

"Rishab... I want you to love me..."

"I guess I am!" He said & kissed her.

"Not this way." She gently pushed his body off her. "Sex is different from love, Rishab" she said in a whisper. He frowned at her.

"This is what I know, Madhu."

"Then learn to love, Rishab. I want you to love me... I want you to look after me... I want you to take care of me..."

"Are you pregnant?" He asked her.

"No!" She said with a curious frown.

"Are you sick?" He asked again.

"No!!!"

"Are you a child?"

"No! Dammit!"

"Then why should I do all that when you are grown enough & healthy enough to take care of yourself? Why should I pamper you like a baby?" He asked in confusion.

"Seriously, you are hopeless... Ruthless... Heartless... I just hate you." She rudely pushed him off her & clambered out of the bed. She hastily twisted her hair in a bun & grabbed her cloths from the floor & put it on. He stared at her in disbelief not getting what was wrong with her.

"Hey, where are you going?" He asked her when she was about to leave their room.

"To hell!" She shouted at him. "You wanna come?" She asked him angrily.

"It's my birthday and you are calling me to hell" He reminded her faking sadness.

"So what? It's just a day like any other as far as you are concerned and all it means is you will be one day older." She threw his words back at him & left the room.

"Madhu..." Rk gently called her. She was standing in the terrace garden & gazing up the deep dark night sky.

"Madhu... Look at me." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder & turned her to face him. She held her head down & sniffed.

"Hey! Are you crying?" He asked her in a pained voice as he tipped her chin up to meet her eyes.

"God! I am sorry." He groaned seeing her tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please don't cry. I can't bear seeing you cry... please Madhu" He pleaded but she sobbed loudly.

"Madhu, please... Stop crying and say something... Shout at me or hit me but just don't cry like this." He pleaded again

"I am sorry for what I said down. It's your birthday & it's so rude of me to shout at you..." she finally spoke in a meek voice.

"It's okay." he hugged her tight.

"You are hurting me, Rishab." She whispered her voice choked. He loosened his grip around her but still held her in his embrace.

"Not by hugging me but by your words." She clarified him.

"I know... I know... I am sorry."

"Like every girl I do have some expectations in this marriage." She said softly against his chest.

"What are they?" He asked dumbly.

She shook her head in disbelief. He can't still find out what she wanted or desperately need when she literally spelled it out down in their room. She wanted to be loved by him!!

"I want my husband to be possessive for me... If I ask him can I wear a bikini in beach then he should say 'over my dead body'..."

He laughed at her & stopped when she glared at him murderously.

"If I get little close with my ex-boyfriend then he should feel jealous but not let her go & dance with him..."

He scratched the side of his head grinning.

"I don't want my husband to flaunt with other girls in front of me or behind my back for that matter... because I will just combust & burn down the place..."

He chuckled at her fieriness.

"If I get late to return home then he should wait for me & have dinner with me. I know he is grown up enough to bear his hunger for a while till his wife joins him."

He folded his arms & adored her complaining like a small kid with a loving smile.

"If I am near him or if I am talking to him he should pay attention to me... Not to the damned cricket match..." She stopped & looked at him for him to say something.

"Go on!" He encouraged her to finish her complain list.

"If I sleep empty stomach then he should coax me to eat or just force feed me... No he shouldn't let me go empty stomach to bed in the first place..."

"Then?" He asked pressing his lips to control the bubble of laugh.

"If I say I wanna stay with my parents he should try to stop me saying he can't stay without me not even for a day... In case I go then he should call me & tell me how much he misses me & urge me to come home soon..."

"Hmm... that's all?"

"No, I have more"

"Okay, carry on"

"If I say I am here to celebrate his birthday then he should fucking celebrate it with me..."

"I guess I was starting to celebrate my first birthday after our marriage with my beautiful wife but she left me alone in bed & came here..." He voiced for the first time after hearing her long list of complains. She glared at him.

"Okay, continue."

"Your wife need not be compulsorily pregnant or sick to be pampered. You can still do as her husband."

"Oh! Then what I will do when she is actually pregnant or sick?"

"You have to over pamper her. Oh and you have to suck up all her tantrums & mood swings."

"Oh, I see. Then what else are you expectations?"

"Above all I want him to love me and also propose me... I want an old fashion proposal!"

"What's that?"

"Going down on your knee & propose me in a filmy way & present me a ring. If not ring at least a red rose will do."

"Why should I do that when you are already mine, my wife? Don't forget we are married & we did a lot more than a silly proposal, Madhu" He winked at her.

"Oh God! you & your big mouth. I hate you!"

"If you love me too much then you will find flaws in me... If I didn't change for you then you will start hating me... See, for now itself you have said 'I hate you' twice..."

"No, Rishab. I didn't mean it. It's just a word. A meaningless word." She can never hate him. Ever. She loved him more than her life.

"That's what I am saying Madhu. 'Love' is also a meaningless word just like 'Hate'. Don't love me or anyone too much... because love is pain. Love gives you pain when you lose it!"

"Rishab, you are not a love failure, are you?"

"Nope! I never loved anyone then how I will fail in my love? But you loved someone truly & felt so hurt when your love didn't succeed right? Then why do the mistake again?"

"Rishab, that doesn't mean my love with fail forever... everyone loves... Even your parents love each other in their own way."

"Then this is my way, Madhu. I guess you are a dreamer but I am living in reality."

"Rishab... It's just I want you to be little expressive. I want to hear you say you love me at least once in blue moon... It gives me reassurance that you are still mine."

"That means you still don't trust me. I don't need any reassurance, Madhu... If you say it's all over between you & Christian I simply believe you. You told everything openly about your past & then you didn't even like to take his name in the privacy of our room when we were in our own bliss... that's the moment I started trusting you, Madhu... If I let you dance with him then I see him only as your friend not as your ex-lover. My instincts are always right in judging people, Madhu... Just by seeing Chris here at our home for the first time, I knew he was a nice guy because you chose to love him." Rk reasoned in a gently tone. Now it was her turn to gap at him.

"You want me to be possessive for you & feel jealous but you never gave me a chance. You are not a flirt like me." He chuckled. "And that bikini issue... Well, I knew a respectful doctor that too from a conservative family will never wear bikini ever in beach."

"Such a confidence huh?" She raised her brow.

"Yeah. See just because I am your lawfully wedded husband I can't dictate you what you should do, what you should wear, how to talk, where to go & all... You are an independent woman, Madhu... You have all the right to do all the righteous things with or without my consent"

Madhu eyes started brimming with fresh tears hearing him say all that.

"You have your own life & identity. Your identity is your name 'Madhubala' not your surname 'Kundra'... But remember one thing this Rishab Kundra will always stand by your side & protect you when the need arises." He said with sincerity. Yes, he protected her & saved her from a creep when she got drunk at the bar. He looked after her & pampered her like a baby when she was comatose.

"About my flirting... I like some fun & entertainment in my life, Madhu... You might think I am dull & boring but I don't feel so... I'm not a too serious guy and you know that." She nodded in yes. "I do remember I have a wife back at home who implicitly believes me & loves me like crazy... so I will never cheat on her" She blushed hearing that.

"Look, I am not as bad as you think. You gave me you heart, soul & body... An exquisite body then why should I go behind another girl? I am yours, Madhu... Forever & more... so don't feel insecure of losing me." He told her but she didn't know what to reply back so she just remained silent.

"If you ask me to give you company then I would just have had my second dinner with you but I can never stay hungry. I have huge appetite & I keep munching something all the time."

"I know that." She whispered as her cheek started heating up. "He indeed has huge appetite not only for food but also for... Her!" That thought made her blush.

He smirked knowing the reason for her blushing & continued "I coaxed you to eat your dinner the other day." He reminded her.

"Hey that wasn't because I was going to bed empty stomach but you didn't want the food to go waste."

"Is there a difference?" He asked with a frown.

"Yes, there is."

"Okay. But then you didn't go empty stomach... you had an apple that night right?" He asked her.

"How do you know that?"

"I was awake when you stealthily went to our kitchen & came back to our room with an apple & ate it covering yourself from head to toe with the quilt." He said grinning. She bit her lips in embarrassment for getting caught.

"Don't feel bad, Madhu. It's your home & you can eat anything at any time."

She smiled.

"Hmm... What else were your expectations & complains?" He asked her as he tried to recollect her words.

"And haan... I did miss you when you stayed a night with your parents... Our bed was so big & empty without you. I was just twisting & turning in our bed wishing I could have you back in my arms & get a fix of your heavenly scent... But I know your parents are missing you too... After all they raised you for nearly 22 years & suddenly they got you married to me... So I didn't want to nag you to come home soon... I wanted you to take a break as I know I really wear you out with my shenanigans. So I was actually happy for you to spend time with your parents." He sighed. "Then you came back the very next day literally shocking me... I was so stunned & surprised when you said you came to celebrate my birthday. Even my parents didn't bother to return from Pune to celebrate my birthday. They just wished me this morning by sending me a text message... But you came running to me... The smile you had on your face when you welcomed me in... My heart stopped a beat you know. Then your gift..." He said & looked at the bracelet wrapped around his wrist. He took his wrist closer to his mouth & kissed the word 'Love'

"You are right, Madhu... I am not at all expressive like you... I don't know to express my love... I just know to worship you with my body... You trusted me & you gave yourself to me the very first night we got married. That's what I call as trust, Madhu... The intimacy we share is so pure. I might call it "sex" because it is what it is, right?" He asked her. She nodded her head automatically. "Yes, I prefer sex... only with you... because it connects me to you. It's stronger than the word you often say 'Love'..." She shot her eye brow up. "... No offense! It's just my opinion." He raised his hands up in defense.

"Well, rest assured, I will over pamper you when you are pregnant with my child because that way I can be part of the pregnancy. If you fall sick... I hope you don't and you always stay hale & hearty... But still if you fall sick then I will support you to recover soon... But please don't expect me to pamper you all the time... I have better things to do than wooing you" He grinned at her sheepishly. She pouted hearing that.

"You said you are not expressive but you expressed your true feeling to me?" She asked him in wonder.

"Yeah, I am forced to express my feelings with my big mouth or else my wife will fucking kill me. You know she is one wildcat" He said acting scared of her. She hits his arm playfully & hugged him. "I am sorry Rishab"

"Sorry? For what?"

"For not understanding you... I behaved like a bitch...I am a total fool."

"That you are. A fool!" He said in a teasing tone & earned another smack on his arm from her.

"You say you don't love me then what's all this?" She asked him holding her hands on her hips.

"I never said "I didn't love you" I just said "I didn't believe in love or in that word" If today I say 'I love you' then tomorrow I can easily say 'I hate you'... Which I don't want to, Madhu..." Rk said softly. Madhu gapped at him, her eyes stung with tears, now understanding him truly. "But still if you want a filmy style old fashioned love proposal then I will propose you... only for you... to make you happy... I'm ready to go down on my knees... though I don't find what the need for it is" He shrugged & took out his mobile phone to dial a number.

"Hello, dad, it's me"

"What's it, Rishu? Why are you calling this late? Is Madhu okay?" Mohan asked in a worried tone.

"Yes, she is fine. We are fine. Sorry, I know it's late... But I need your permission."

"Permission? For what?" He asked.

"I want to pluck one red rose from your garden. Can I?"

"Oh! Wait! I will ask you mother or I will just give the phone to her you ask her permission because I grow that garden for your mom just because she love roses." Mohan said & passed the phone to his wife, Radha.

"Yeah, Rishu... Tell me?" A sleepy Radha asked him.

"Mom, can I pluck one red rose from your garden for my wife?"

"Of course you can. Is there a need to ask? Stupid!" She scolded him & cut the call.

Then Rk put his phone back in his pocket & plucked a beautiful red rose. He knelt down in front of Madhu & called her gently "Madhu..." Hearing him call her she snapped out of her reverie & looked down to find him bending down on one knee holding a rose.

"Madhu... I..."

"No, Rishab" Madhu slumped down in front of him & cupped his mouth with her palm. "No, please don't propose me. Don't say 'I love you' to me...Ever! Because I know you do."

"But still..."

"No, please. I don't want to insult your way of love. I know you love me, you trust me & you care for me... & that's enough, more than enough."

"You wanted a filmy style proposal."

"Yeah... but not anymore. I don't want to be a dreamer anymore. I like to live in reality with you... I like the real in you. I like the uniqueness in you. You are you... So cool... So funny... So honest... So full of life... 'All of me loves all of you', Rishab. I love you!" She said with tears streaming down her cheeks. Happy tears!

"Still so much of filmy dialogues from you, Madhu... Nothing can change you... But then I don't want you to change ever. I like the way you are." He said. "And please don't cry ever in your life." He said. She nodded her head in yes. And he with the rose in his hand wiped her tears & then placed it on her side bun. She laughed & launched herself at him knocking him off balance and she fell on top of him.

"Kiss me!" She ordered him.

"You are a bossy little thing, aren't you?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Yes. I am. What are you going to do about it?" She asked.

"I'm just going to enjoy your bossiness, baby" He said coolly. She laughed. He will never change his cool attitude. She leaned forward & slowly nibbled his lower lips while he nibbled her upper lips, then she slowly parted her mouth a bit so that he could inject his tongue in her mouth & their tongues did tango.

"You. Are. So. Sweet." He breathed. "Come let's go down to our room & finish what we have started a while back." He said with a sexy grin.

"God! I love you so much." She moaned & hugged him tightly.

"So do I" he whispered near her ear. Though he didn't use the word 'love' he did agree he loved her & that made her heart swell with ecstasy.

"Come!" He tried to lift her off his body but she protested.

"What?"

"I want us to do it here... in the open terrace... Let's pluck some more roses & put the rose petals on the floor & make a flower bed & on top of it we will make love... What say? That will be so dreamy & romantic nah?" She asked him giving him a dreamy look.

"My parents will get heart attack if they find out about your flower bed idea." He said chuckling.

"Oh! Then 'sex on rose petals' idea cancel" She said coolly. Now, she had started taking things so coolly like her husband.

"Good!"

"Now come on make love to me, my dear 'Sexy Devil'" She said huskily & without a word he sealed her mouth with his as they started kissing wildly & they made passionate love all night.

THE END

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