Dhruv's POV

The corridor was quiet, bathed in the soft golden glow of the lamps. The chaos of the wedding had finally faded into the background, be it music, laughter, or the buzz of my siblings, now just a distant hum outside the closed door.

I pushed it open gently, half-expecting Aakriti to be asleep already, exhausted from the endless ceremonies.

But there she was.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, still in her bridal lehenga, the crimson and gold catching the light like fire. Her dupatta was draped carefully over her head, one delicate hand resting on her hip, the other adjusting an earring as she tilted her head, admiring the way her maang tikka shimmered.

She didn't notice me at first.

Or maybe she did and just didn't care.

I leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching with a growing smile.

Aakriti turned slightly, now examining herself from a side angle, eyes wide with genuine admiration. She looked like a painting come to life—graceful, glowing, and utterly unapologetic.

"Are you planning to frame yourself too?" I asked teasingly. "Or just staring until the mirror gives up and agrees you're the most beautiful bride ever?"

She turned toward me, unabashed, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Well," she said, flicking her hair back gently. "I do look like a goddess tonight. And it's not like I'm going to get married again and again, so let me enjoy this moment in peace."

I chuckled, walking in. "A goddess, huh?"

She nodded solemnly. "A once-in-a-lifetime goddess."

I stopped behind her, meeting her gaze in the mirror. My fingers brushed the edge of her dupatta as I leaned down just enough to whisper in her ear.

"You're right." She stiffened instantly. Her ears are too sensitive. I smirked to myself.

She turned around slowly, raising an eyebrow at me, trying to play it cool.

"You do look like a goddess," I said, watching her expression soften slightly.

"True. I have never looked so beautiful in my entire life." She said, again engaging in admiring herself.

"True, Miss Aakriti Nanda might not have looked, but I am pretty sure Mrs. Aakriti Dhruv Singh Rathore will somehow manage to look more beautiful than she looks right now." I said, and a blush crept across her cheeks.

"Flirting doesn't suit you, Mr. Rathore. You must maintain your image. Raja Sa."

"I don't think I need to maintain an image in front of you. Rani Sa." I said, and we both burst out laughing.

"But on a serious note, the money spent on makeup artists was worth it."

"Instead of giving all the credit to makeup artists, why don't you praise your good genes and beauty?" I said, smirking.

"I am not a narcissist like you," she replied, her tone playful.

"From where did you conclude that I am a narcissist?" I narrowed my eyes.

"From your behavior." She said, teasing me, tapping my chest with a finger lightly.

I laughed, shaking my head, watching the woman who somehow managed to be both divine and infuriating in the same breath. My wife.

And in that moment amid laughter and soft light. I realized I wouldn't trade this woman for anything in the world. How right I was to convince her Dadu to get her married to me! But let's not tell her, or else she will kill me.

Aakriti looked up and then asked doubtfully, "Why do you have that look on your face?"

"What look?"

"That 'I just did something and I'm very pleased with myself' look."

I raised an eyebrow, biting back a smirk. "Must be your imagination, Mrs. Rathore."

She narrowed her eyes. "Hmm. Sounds suspiciously like guilt."

She shifted and looked in the mirror and got busy, removing her jewelry. She removed the nose pin and winced in pain. Look at its size. How was her nose able to withstand it? Then she removed her pair of earrings and placed them on the dressing table. She moved on to the bangles, sliding them off one by one, the crimson and gold clinking gently into a velvet-lined box.

I wanted to ask her about the question that was running in my mind during the entire wedding ceremony. But I don't know how.

"Aakriti," I said, my voice barely above a murmur.

She looked up, her hands pausing mid-motion. "Hmm?"

"You look so happy today." I said softly.

Aakriti blinked as if surprised by the change in tone. She tilted her head but didn't speak.

"I mean... more than I expected. Considering how this marriage came to be. It's not exactly something that you wished for, right?" I know she isn't exactly hating this. But her fears wouldn't have allowed her to be at ease.

Aakriti meets my eyes in the mirror.

"I didn't think I'd smile today, either. Not genuinely, at least."

"But..." she hesitated, her fingers clutching lightly at the edge of her dupatta. "Her decision to not come... changed everything."

'Her.'

I felt a stillness settle between us. She didn't say the word mother, but I could hear it. Feel it.

"It hurt at first," she said softly. "But then it made me... determined. Determined not to let her absence control how I felt on my wedding day. I didn't want to look empty in photos. Or carry bitterness into a new beginning. I decided to let go of her and embrace a new life. The way Dad taught me. By being confident and positive."

"But somewhere between the ceremonies... the chaos... and your stupid jokes... I don't know when that determination turned real." She said.

She looked down for a second, then back up. "I was happy. Genuinely. Without even realizing it."

Something in my chest softened, an invisible knot loosening without me noticing it had even been there.

I stood behind her now, not too close, but near enough for her to feel my presence.

"I'm glad," I said quietly. "That you let yourself have fun at your own wedding."

She didn't answer. But the corners of her lips curved, and her reflection in the mirror held something gentle. Unspoken.

She removed the veil from her head, then began taking off her necklace, one piece at a time. Her fair skin caught my eye. I tried to look away—her cleavage was distracting. With all the remaining sanity I could muster, I fought hard not to gawk like a shameless teenager.

"Stare any longer and your wife will kill you on the first night itself." My inner voice warned me.

I escaped into the washroom to change. When I came out, shirtless, she was still undoing the last pin from her hair.

"Removing all these accessories is more exhausting than the wedding ceremony," she complained, tossing the final pin aside.

And then her hair performed some kind of sorcery—falling in waves, dancing in the air, and settling gracefully down her back. She turned to look at me, eyes lingering a second too long on my bare chest.

"You are..." she began.

"I sleep like this. If you have a problem, feel free to sleep on the couch," I said casually, knowing full well she wouldn't.

She narrowed her eyes. "You sleep on the couch. I'll take the bed."

"Why would I? This is my room." I emphasized 'my room' to tease her.

"That's what a gentleman would do." She said dramatically.

"You've clearly watched way too many TV serials," I mocked.

She glared and brushed past me, her shoulder bumping mine as she marched into the washroom.

I chuckled to myself as she slammed the washroom door. So much fire on day one. This is going to be interesting.

I fluffed a pillow, casually claiming the right side of the bed like it was a throne. Let's tease her a little; she might be nervous right now. Later I will shift on the couch.

A few minutes later, she emerged and changed into my white shirt. What the! It was loose on her. Too loose. Like it is placed on a hanger. Falling on one side. Her collarbone was visible along with a hint of her cleavage. I barely covered her thighs. Is she planning to kill me like this? How am I supposed to stop myself from hugging her or even touching her when she looks like this in front of me? It's a sin to...

"My clothes are not here, so I borrowed your shirt." She said, pulling my fingers. I gulped hearing her words. Does that mean she is not wearing anything beneath my shirt? My mind went blank.

"What is wrong with you?" She came forward and touched my forehead. I tried to move away, but she grabbed the back of my neck. I closed my eyes because of a weird sensation flowing through my body. I could feel her fingers tracing my skin. What are you trying to do, my wife? I slightly opened my eyes and saw her moving on top of me.

She sat on my knees and stared at me. Her fingers are still doing their work. She moved her face closer to mine and, at the same time, pulled me towards her. She leans towards my ear, blowing air. My goodness, what is happening to me?

"Are you alright, Dhruv?" Is she concerned about me or trying to seduce me by using this voice?

I tried to collect myself and looked at her. Only to see a mischievous glint in her eyes. My goodness. I am being played. Dhruv, today is the test of your sanity. Don't you dare touch her. She is testing your patience.

She started tracing her finger on my face. She started with the forehead and went slowly towards the lips. Grazing it with her thumb. She traced her fingers down and stopped at my Adam's apple. She pinched it lightly. I took a deep breath. At this moment I just wanted to flip her beneath me. I was fighting with my inner demon.

Moving her fingers down on my naked body. She counted my abs by poking her index finger on them.

She continued tracing and stopped just above my pant's waistband.

"Goodnight, Dhruv." She said with a cunning smile, and before I could understand anything, she quickly stood up, and the shirt rose up, and I saw her wearing jean shorts. She said her clothes were not here, so where did the shorts come from? Was all that a lie to torment me? She moved to the other side of the bed and covered herself with the blanket.

"You... Do you have any idea about how much you tortured me? God knows how many cold showers I need to take. You are messing with my mind, baby." I said in a deep voice.

"Get lost. This is for teasing me. I told you I hold grudges very deeply." She said, still covered completely in the blanket. I didn't know you would take revenge in this way. God, give me strength. How will I survive my wife's torture?

"She'd be the death of me and not even feel guilty about it." I murmured to myself and ran to the washroom like a man escaping both heaven and hell.

**************************************************

🥰🥰💕💕

Hello! I hope you liked this chapter..................

Do vote and comment.....................

Share this story with your friends.................

Do follow me...............

Take care bye..........