~•} C H A P T E R|27 {•~
"Hello,"
Ruhanika swallowed hard hearing that one word from her husband she had sworn to run from today.
"Hello?" His gravelly calm voice once again reached her eardrums making her fully conscious of herself and her surrounding.
"Yes," She breathed out.
"Who is this?"
She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at his question.
Seriously! This was the best thing he could come up with?
Sighing heavily to herself she murmured, "You already know..."
"Yes, I do." His tone oozed with confidence and she scrunched her nose being irritated but kept her mouth shut.
"I'm busy." She told after a minute of awkward silence glancing at her half uneaten burger which was getting cold.
"So?"
"Maybe cut the call?"
"Or maybe not." He stated and she mentally pulled his hair till no hair was left in frustration.
She felt better even if it was just in her imagination.
Afterall he was annoying her today!
"Yuvraj jiii," she screeched in a high-pitched tone.
"Yes?"
"Uff... Don't you have any work today?" She let her frustration be visible though made sure her tone wasn't pointed or else...
"I've. And a lot of that." He answered with his voice as calm as iced-cold water.
"Then maybe do that?" Her voice was sweeter like her favorite sweet, Rasmalai.
"Or maybe do another important work, hnn?"
"Does that work involves me?"
"Nah, it involves your daughter. And I want you to come home if you are done from your little hide 'n seek game."
Ruhanika frowned slightly hearing him and glared at her half-eaten burger which was for sure now cold.
"Isn't Shweta aunty at home?"
"No, her caretaker took a half-day and left early to see her son who got beaten by his wife."
Ruhanika exhaled deeply hearing his last sentence. Shweta's aunty who was Yuvika's caretaker was so stressed from this issue for a month or so. Her son would fight with his wife every now 'n then and then his wife would use violence as a weapon...
It might sound funny how a grown-up man was getting beaten by his wife but it wasn't.
Any form of abuse or violence in a relationship from anyone is wrong!
Just because he was a man didn't make it funny, right?
"So, you want me to come home and take care of Yuvika?"
"Yes, she is becoming demanding and perfectionist."
"You made her so now take care of her."
The vulgar words rolled off her tongue smoothly without any hesitation catching Yuvraj Rathore by surprise and for a second he felt tongue-tied.
Gaining his composure he replied back, "My, my, someone is so curious in making Yuvika I see... Will see your curiosity in our room and kill the cat tonight,"
Shock flew through her veins as all the blood from her body ran cold hearing those words of her husband. She stood frozen in her spot still not believing if she heard him right while a beep resonated in her ear indicating the phone was cut from the other side.
She kept the phone on the table with a thud and stifled the remaining burger inside her mouth in a trance.
She drank the whole glass of water gulping down the big bite as she tried to focus her attention on her nail which was breaking...
He was joking, right?
All this was just a reaction to my words... He wasn't serious by any means...
Yes, He. Wasn't. Serious.
...but what if he was?
Ruhanika anxiously fiddled with her fingers at her thoughts.
Taking her bottom lip under the mercy of her teeth, she furrowed her brows thinking of a solution to her this problem.
Unfortunately for her... She wasn't that innocent to not understand those words with a double meaning.
On the other hand, she had way too much mind that every other word in daily life seems to be doubled meaning, and this one,
How could she miss this one!?
This was purposely said as doubled meaning one to frighten her.
And she would be lying if her skin wasn't crawling with fear already as her mind was, again and again, throwing images of Yuvraj initiating something to her... The same something that she would be throwing her head on the pillow with a mad smile like when the male lead did to her female lead.
But now, she wasn't feeling the same anymore...
Her skin was twitching with sudden fear even though she was aware that he would not by any means force himself on her but the problem was she, herself!
Her mouth would shut up, vocal cords would refuse to move and her mind would freeze whenever she was near him.
Yes, he has that kind of control over her.
Maybe I need to hide more then,
She thought nipping harder breaking the delicate skin of her lip and hissed feeling the sudden pain.
She groaned annoyedly and stuffed the panipuri kept at the table in her mouth angrily and smiled sheepishly realizing it wasn't hers but of the person sitting in front of her who was glaring at her.
"Sorry," Ruhanika mumbled to which Ishani rolled her eyes ordering another plate of panipuri.
"Shouldn't you be full?" Ruhanika asked glancing at the empty plate of pasta as she remembered Ishani eating it forcefully with an annoyed expression simply because she didn't want to waste food.
"I am full." Ishani replied placing another panipuri in her mouth and added, "But never too full for panipuri."
Ruhanika just shrugged savoring the taste of panipuri that was melting on her tastebuds.
It had been so long since she ate them and her favorite Street foods.
Life had changed a lot since she married him.
She wasn't sure if it was for good or bad... She just accepted the changes...
The waiter then served another plate of panipuri to which Ishani thanked him. She knew a single Thankyou can make a worker's day and she knew how it feels like. Again the first interaction with Vardhaan revolved in her mind and she could once again feel herself cursing and beating the shit out of him. He was an arrogant, spoilt, and thankless brat.
She took a deep breath calming herself down and murmuring, This is not the time, in her mind.
She yanked the plate to her side and took out one piece from the plate then slid it back to Ruhanika's direction.
Ruhanika blinked her eyes not understanding but Ishani just shrugged.
Food sharing wasn't her cup of tea. If you take one, you need to give one back too. Clear as air.
Once they were done eating, the bill was paid and they walked back to the car. No words were exchanged in-between leaving them in awkward silence which they preferred.
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Stepping inside the Rathore mansion Ruhanika drew in sharply as once again Yuvraj's words resonated in her ears unaware of two eyes that were fixed on her and Ishani.
Her trance was broken by Bhavna's yell, "See, I told you, Mummyji. These two were out the whole time without informing anyone... Hey Bhagwan! kapde dekho inke! (Oh my god! Look at their clothes!)"
Ruhanika violently flinched and fisted her hand preparing herself for the pair of taunts coming in her way even though she knew that the clothes taunt was thrown towards Ishani more precisely.
She glanced towards Ishani who had a bored expression on her face and she clicked her tongue towards Bhavna's direction.
"What is this?" Gayatri's voice boomed in the hall making Ruhanika sigh...
"We are sorry," Ruhanika told flatly looking sidewards towards Ishani who just shrugged with a frown.
"I don't really think you both are sorry." Gayatri taunted looking at Ishani's bored expressions.
Ruhanika groaned inwardly looking at Ishani's expressions. Because of Ishani, it would take a long to get rid of this session.
But the next thing she heard, made her eyes almost come out of the sockets.
"Dadi Ji, I just went out to purchase decorative materials. Main nahi chahti thi ki koi aur unke kamre ko sajaye. (I didn't want someone else to decorate his room.)"
Ruhanika didn't fail to notice the way Ishani didn't take Vardhaan's name in front of Dadi Ji. It was a fact that Dadi Ji disliked that daughters-in-law called the heirs by their name even though Ruhanika added Ji.
Also, the innocent face Ishani made didn't digest well with Ruhanika.
"Also, I thought we were allowed to wear such clothes... At least my waist ain't showing..." Ishani trailed off in a convincing tone and Ruhanika's breath stopped for a moment looking at Bhavna's furious expression who was going to say something, "Mu-"
"She is saying correctly. The daughter-in-law learns from her mother-in-law. Before pointing out at her look at your sleeveless blouse. What else did you expect your daughters-in-law when you are wearing all this." Gayatri cut Bhavna off and stormed into the living room.
Ruhanika's jaw was touching the ground seeing the odd scene unfold before her while Bhavna was brewing with rage at the taunt thrown at her.
Bhavna huffed angrily turning towards Ishani who no longer had the innocent expression and head up with chin tucked out.
"You-" Bhavna was cut off again by Ishani, "Good evening, Mummy Ji." her tone dripping with fake sweetness and a slight smile played on her lips as she hurried towards her room without turning back followed by a raging Bhavna Rathore who too went towards her room stomping her foot angrily.
Ruhanika finally tilted her head up and shrugged nonchalantly going towards Yuvika's room and silently praying that Yuvraj shouldn't be there.
Her prayers were answered when she found the room empty but she didn't wish for this.
She came here to see Yuvika and Yuvika wasn't here.
Just when she was about to turn, her gaze got stuck on the drawer which held Yuvika's chocolates.
Once again she could feel that sugary urge inside her to grab one from there as there were so many!
Also, she wasn't going to do this the first time.
She had done this in the past and by the grace of God Yuvika never came to know as Yuvraj always brought so many chocolates for her that she couldn't even count. Though Yuvika was an obedient child who didn't eat chocolates without permission and that's why the chocolates were still in her room and not shifted to some locker.
Ruhanika opened the drawer and took the chocolate with the pink wrapper out and opened it without any hesitation.
I've done this many times. She thought taking the first bite and moving out of the room.
But suddenly her feet froze in their spot in the hallway as all the blood in her body ran cold seeing the man in front of her from whom she was running.
Hurriedly she hid the wrapper in her fist as her body posture turned stuff as he neared.
His dark eyes punctured right into hers as they kept staring at each other without uttering a single word.
Slowly he stepped closer while she stood frozen with her hands fisted together.
His cold hand held her jaw as she closed her eyes feeling the touch of his skin on hers.
Her heart thumped wildly in her ribcage and her breathing shallowed not sensing anything.
With every passing second, her heart was beating faster in anticipation and then she felt,
The brush of his thumb on her bottom lip.
Her lips parted a little as he rubbed his thumb on her bottom lip whereas she could hear her heartbeat in her ears due to how loud they were!
She hissed feeling little pain on the cut she made earlier which ceased Yuvraj's movements while she opened her eyes and once again she froze in her place as he retracted his hand back.
Finally, when he stepped a little away, she released a breath she didn't know she was holding till now.
But his next words made her breath hitch,
"Stealing isn't a good habit, dear wife."
With this, he was gone with the speed of lightning while she dumbly stared ahead with her cheeks flaming bright red in embarrassment.
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Raina yawned looking boredly at Aakarsh who just come back from the office and directly got involved in packing his bag for what she felt the third time?
"Raina, I'm again asking you, are you sure you want to just take that on the trip?"
"Yes, I'm one hundred and one percent sure Aakarsh. I will only need that much."
She answered his question while he ran his hand through his hair in frustration indicating a building headache.
"What happened?" She asked gently looking at him with a concerned expression. He did over time and after that was directly indulged in packing his stuff.
"ARGHH!" She heard him groan angrily while she flinched a little hearing his angry voice...
It would take time for her to not flinch around him.
Then finally he turned towards her with his slight red eyes and she swallowed hard moistening her throat.
"I want to take this red shirt with me too but all my bags are full!" He whined-yelled in a frustrated voice while pointing towards the red shirt kept on the bed and the three packed bags kept on the ground.
Raina stared at him then his bags then again at him and again at his bags while he sulked.
She sighed deeply shaking her head then uttered, "Give your red shirt to me. My bag still has some space left."
To which Aakarsh gaped at her in horror and gasped looking at her one packed bag kept on the ground, "No way woman!"
"Do you want to take that redshirt or not?" Raina asked sharply not in a mood to argue to which he nodded his head throwing his not so well-folded shirt towards her.
Raina frowned looking at the condition of the shirt. She gritted her teeth whilst fisting it tightly as she made her way to iron the damn piece of cloth so that it didn't ruin her bag.
"A little gently please," Aakarsh pleaded feeling bad for his favorite shirt.
To which Raina swirled her eyes in response.
Drama Queen! She thought.
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Everyone was seated at the dining table for dinner waiting for Yuvraj and Yuvika to make their presence so that they could finally start their dinner.
Yuvraj finally arrived with an angry Yuvika in his arms who has a grim expression on her face making Ruhanika frown along with Aakarsh.
"What happened,?" Aakarsh questioned Yuvika who today sat down between him and Yuvraj.
"Someone stole the pink chocolate that I wanted to eat!" Yuvika screamed in an angry tone and instantly Ruhanika who was sitting in front of Yuvraj tightened her grip on the serving spoon
"Oho, you must have eaten it." Aakarsh shrugged taking his chappati from the bowl.
"I know I didn't eat it and I know!" Yuvika yelled.
"Princess, don't worry. I will bring another one for you." Yuvraj cooed to which Yuvika pouted.
"Maybe some bad, ugly, and fat witch took it. I will bring loads of another one for you." He added staring into Ruhanika's eyes directly and she coughed hard as a morsel got stuck in her throat.
"Drink water, Ruhanika." Yuvraj gave the glass of water to Ruhanika which she accepted with shivering hands.
Bad,
Ugly,
Fat,
Witch!
Ruhanika glared at the food on her plate as his every word swirled in her mind.
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Ruhanika drank water in the kitchen as she kept thinking about; bad, ugly, fat, witches.
She sighed rubbing her hand on her face when suddenly her fingers made contact with a hard and swollen bump, a pimple!
She groaned annoyedly glaring at her front on nothing.
Once again she touched it, then once again and again and again until she felt very irritated.
She huffed raising both hands all set to burst it.
One,
Two,
And three!
She counted in her mind and just when she was about to apply pressure she heard a feminine shriek, "No, bhabhi! Don't pop it. Don't!"
Ruhanika looked ahead to find Naina and Raina.
"Bhabhi, why were you poping it out! You know once you pop the pimple, it exposed your skin more vulnerably instead of that try applying-"
Ruhanika nodded her head half-listening to Naina's rant and half-not.
"You know or else it would lead to scarring. See, Raina never listened to me and it lead to scars." Naina finished pointing at Raina's forehead to which Ruhanika raised her brows at the non-existent scars and Raina shrugged giving Ruhanika a look.
Not new for her afterall.
"Oh my God!" They heard Ishani's scream as she entered the kitchen keeping a hand on her chest.
"You three scared me!" She pointed out.
"How so?" Raina asked.
"I thought someone sneaked inside the mansion. Especially when your shadows were in a group." Ishani replied filling her water bottle.
"Between what are you doing here at this time?" Ishani questioned.
"Oho. I was just telling them the importance of skincare. That how they should follow a skincare routine for good skin." Naina told proudly to which Ishani rolled her eyes in a denial.
"Not necessarily. You should see Vardhaan's skin. That man washes his face with a shampoo yet has the skin we could only dream of." Ishani completed with a frown.
She was the one who noticed every single thing.
"Men's skin is used to this... They don't care much about skincare." Naina agreed with a frown to which Raina rolled her eyes this time.
"Not every man then. You should see Aakarsh getting ready. That man spends a whole hour on applying god knows what!" Raina told shrugging slightly.
Naina's eyes twinkled hearing that "That's great! Everyone should take care of their skin. Aadarsh only applies the things I force him to."
Ruhanika who was listening to their talk intently frowned to herself.
Yuvraj didn't ask her to notice him so she simply didn't!
Was she supposed to?
She shrugged but seeing everyone talking about it, she felt bad. Even Ishani knew but she didn't.
She tried to remember about Yuvraj's daily routine but all she could remember was he didn't apply anything to his skin in their room...
Maybe in the bathroom then?
Maybe she should peek inside one day to see what he applies to his skin or what skincare routine he follows...
Yes, she would peek-
Ruhanika's eyes widened at her absurd thoughts!
God! She was becoming shameless! No way she would peek inside his bathroom!
A warm blush crept through her neck and flooded her face at the thought.
"What happened, bhabhi?" Naina asked to which Ruhanika nodded her head in no while gesturing for them to continue their talks.
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"Ruhanika Ji, Yuvraj Ji is calling you." A maid informed Ruhanika when she was standing in mid-corridor contemplating whether to go or not.
Her pulse rate heightened as she anxiously fiddled with her thumbs.
Inhaling a breath of encouragement, she calmed herself down and walked toward the room she shared with Yuvraj.
Swallowing hard to drench her dried throat she opened the door to find no one inside and she sighed in relief.
She walked inside and sat on her side of the bed.
The previous talk with Raina and Naina swirled in her mind.
How they informed her about the trip they were going in!
She sighed irritatedly to herself and groaned, "Even I want to go on a honeymoon!."
"Oh, really dear wife?"...
--
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