Okay so first of all, I love writing for you guys but could you all be a little humble and leave comments and vote on the chapter as well? It motivates me so much. So please engage that's all I can ask of you guys.✨

After preparing the evening tea for everyone Taani went outside to sit peacefully at the swing.

Still feeling rather tired, she fell asleep with the cup clutched in her hands, her mobile phone kept beside her.

Yuvraj wasn't feeling all that well and was eager to finish everything quickly so he could head back home to his wife, whom he was missing dearly. She was all he could think of all day, he even spent hours looking at their wedding photos on his computer.

She was looking mesmerizing as a bride, he could never forget how his heartbeat had literally stopped for a few seconds when she walked down the aisle, looking like a fairy.

The intense feeling he had felt while putting on the vermillion on her forehead was one he can't even begin to describe. That day, she well and truly became his, and now he'll die trying to win her heart, for real this time.

He came back home around 7pm and excitedly ran up to their room, only to find it empty. He had a weird kind of desperation to see her, so he came back downstairs hoping to find her in the kitchen but no luck there either. Even Meenal and Divya were not around so he could at least ask them about her.

He dialled her number once but there was no reply, which made him a bit worried about her well-being.

"Asha taai, Taani ko dekha kya?" (Asha Taai, did you see Taani anywhere?)

"Bahurani peeche garden mein gayi thi lekin use to kaafi der ho gayi, par fir bhi aap ek baar jaake dekh lo." (Daughter-in-law had gone to the back garden, but it's been quite a long time since then, you can still go and check if you want.) Asha Taai replied while kneading the wheat floor dough.

"Thank you" He said and hurried outside.

True to her words, he found her in the back garden, fast asleep on the swing, glowing under the moonlight.

"So beautiful... I can spend the whole night admiring you like this baby." He whispered, entranced by her. "How could I not fall for you sweetheart? I still can't believe you're my wife and all mine, mine to love, mine to cherish, mine to pamper, mine to adore. I was so wrong to assume the worst of you and I am so sorry for that darling but you'll see how I'll make you believe in me and my love for you." He said moving closer to her.

There were no words to describe her beauty, she was looking absolutely beautiful, mesmerizing even, but she was pouting and had a slight frown, like she was dreaming about something unpleasant.

Yuvi silently walked forward and clicked a quick close up picture of her face before smoothening her forehead with a slight touch. He then dragged his finger downwards, tracing her nose and then her lips.

She unconsciously opened her mouth, entrapping his finger between her lips. Yuvi chuckled when she licked his finger then frowned yet again, apparently not finding the taste of it to her liking.

"My pretty little angel..." He whispered and then hastily snatched his hand back when her eyes started to flutter. She sleepily blinked a few times and looked around, before settling her gaze up at him.

"Hmm? Yuvi?" Taani asked, all the while rubbing her eyes to make sure he was really there and not a figment of her imagination.

Yuvi caught hold of her hand. "Stop it! You're going to irritate your eyes like that."

Her heartbeat quickened as she wordlessly looked up at him before looking down at his hand which was firmly gripping hers. All the thoughts which were going through her mind a few hours ago hit her all over again, making her snatch her hand away from him.

The abruptness with which she did it, surprised Yuvi. "Is everything alright...?" He asked with a little hesitation.

She gave him a short smile before replying. "Yeah... I was a bit tired and must have fallen asleep I guess." He raised an eyebrow and gave her a confused smile but nodded nonetheless. He noticed that she seemed a bit lost and didn't sound like her bubbly self but thought that it might be because she just woke up.

Taani stepped off of the swing and adjusted her saree pleats properly before wearing her slippers.

"Had a nice nap?" He asked.

"Yeah, if you consider sleeping for almost two hours, a nap then sure I had one hell of it." She replied giving him a sleepy smile.

He leaned down, making sure his lips brushed the shell of her ear, before whispering. "Well it certainly looks like it, you got some drool right over here." He said while sensually touching the corner of her lips.

She hurriedly slapped his hand away and wiped her mouth in embarrassment but found no such thing. "Haha very funny Mr. Comedian." She said and rolled her eyes as he started to laugh at her.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and said. "Come on my darling wife, you must be hungry now."

She longingly gazed at his hand on her waist before quietly replying. "Starving..."

They both went to their room first to freshen up. Yuvi walked out of the shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist while drying his hair with another. Taani, who was combing her hair in front of the dressing, looked at him with her mouth hung open. She was practically salivating at seeing his naked torso dripping with water.

Yuvraj really wanted to tease her for it but then decided not to ruin the moment and pretended he didn't see her practically eye fuck him. He had decided not to flirt with her in any way till he confessed his true feelings to her, as that would lead to things, they both were not yet ready for.

He wanted to win her heart and the first step to that was to get to know her, the real her. He wanted her to be comfortable around him and he knew if he stayed there for one more minute he'd end up kissing the hell out of her, so he quickly picked up his clothes and walked inside the closet to change.

Taani watched his reflection in the mirror in surprise. He always used to come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist whenever he'd see her getting ready in front of the dressing. 'Am I not looking beautiful today...? Is that why he avoided me?' She thought while pouting like a child at her reflection, and started combing her hair in aggression.

'Whatever! Why are you getting sad about it Taani? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? It's good that he didn't come near me. I'd have pushed him away anyways.' She thought with a frustrated huff and quite literally threw the comb back on the dressing table.

"Woah! Easy there my little angry bird!" Yuvi said with an easygoing smile.

She turned back to look at him in surprise and got even angrier at his nickname for her. 'Stupid him and his stupid nicknames!' She thought

"Can we go now? I'm starving!" She said.

"Clearly you are... Achhooo!" He was cut off as he sneezed loudly.

Now that Taani noticed, his face was all red, especially his nose. "Do you have a cold?" She asked

"It's nothing, probably because of the change of weather maybe." He said while sneezing once again, forgetting all about her anger, she was already on her way to check if he had a fever as well.

"Let me check!" She said, placing the back of her palm on his forehead.

His heartbeat quickened at her slightest of touch and their close proximity didn't help it either.

"Yuvi! You are burning up! Why didn't you say anything earlier!?" She asked in exasperation.

That was when he noticed his nose was blocked as well since he couldn't even smell the mouthwatering fragrance his darling wife was always surrounded with, and now it well and truly sucked.

"Ahh fuck!" He said with a pout, referring to his blocked nose which Taani cluelessly took it for him complaining about the fever.

She pouted up at him in pity and clutched on to his hand. "Aww it's alright, no need to worry, I'll give you some meds and a cup of tea after dinner, that would definitely help. Come on now, you should eat something before taking the medicine."

He silently followed after her with a smile on his face. 'Who knew just a bit of fever will make her so worried about me? Ahh what an awesome time to have fever! I hope I have it for a few days so that I can enjoy her fussing about me like this all the time! What a beautiful day it is!'

They both came downstairs to have dinner, all the other family members were already seated at their respective seats.

"Good evening everyone" Yuvi said with a hoarse tone as he pulled out the chair for Taani, making sure she was properly seated before taking a seat beside her.

"Yuvraj what happened to you? Are you running a fever?" Divya asked as she looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"It's nothing maa, Taani will give me some medicines after dinner and everything will be just fine." He replied while serving dinner to Taani first, which didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Yeah right! It is never that simple when it comes to you. Your fever is just as stubborn as you are! I bet on anything that you'll be laying on your bed with a red face and running nose tomorrow." Divya replied with a mocking smile on her face.

"Is that really what happens maa?" Taani asked with undisguised concern.

"Yes, every time the weather changes he's the first one to get affected and very badly as well. And the stubborn person he is will always fight with me to go to the office the next day." Divya replied.

"As I said I'll be just fine no need to worry.... Achhoo!" He was cut off with a loud sneeze yet again, his whole head throbbed with a dull ache as he sat there with his eyes closed for a few seconds.

"Yeah you bet you're not going to the office tomorrow!" Taani said while rubbing his back to soothe him.

"I am going... It's important." He said with a rough tone, having difficulty in speaking because of the sore throat.

"When is it not? You are not going anywhere!" Taani stubbornly replied

"Yes I am!" He replied, being equally stubborn.

Everyone looked at them in amusement, enjoying their banter but they knew the outcome already, Yuvi always manages to sneak out of the house, especially when he is told not to.

"Don't be stubborn brother dear, I'll manage tomorrow, you should rest." Rishi said

"Yeah right! You manage to mess it all up when I'm right there with you, god only knows what you'll do in my absence." Yuvi replied with a roll of his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at him, he's trying to help! And you are not going that's it!" Yuvraj glared at Rishi who was wiggling his eyebrows at him with a large smile on his face.

"Taani partner, trust me, I'll be alright." He patiently replied with a pleading expression on his face.

"Of course you will be alright, I'll make sure of it by keeping you at home, right in front of my eyes!" Taani said while making a large morsel of food and extended it in front of his mouth. "Say aaa...." Yuvi automatically opened his mouth so that she could feed him. "Now be quiet and eat!"

Everyone started laughing at the bewildered look on Yuvi's face. Divya and Meenal even high-fived each other with a loud laugh, thoroughly enjoying his misery.

"Get well soon brother!" Rishi said with a mocking smile on his face and Yuvi could do nothing but glare at him, scared that Taani would scold him again if he dared to say something to him.

***

Yuvraj was resting in his room, waiting for Taani to bring him his medicines and a cup of hot tea. He could feel his fever going up now, his eyes were getting red and he knew it would be a task to convince Taani to let him go to the office tomorrow.

After ten minutes he got bored and decided to just go downstairs instead. Since it was almost midnight, all the lights were off, except a dim light in the kitchen. He could see Taani's silhouette from afar, what surprised him though, was her melodious voice.

Taani was singing a song and seemed to be in her own world. It was such a deja vu moment for him, since he met her in the exact same way at her home before marriage and God! What a sight for sore eyes she was, even that day.

Song - "Pyar kar"

Taani...

"Jispe hum mar mite...

Usko pata bhi nahin!

Kya gila hum karein...

Woh bewafa bhi nahin!

Humne jo sunn liya...

Usne kaha bhi nahin!

Ae dil zara soch kar..."

Yuvi wrapped an arm around her waist, going against all his instincts of keeping his distance from her. Taani looked back in surprise but soon relaxed when she realised it was just Yuvi. He grazed his lips at the side of her neck and slowly made his way towards her ear before sensually singing the last two lines of the song.

"Pyar kar...

Oh ho ho pyar kar..."

They both remained in each other's arms for what felt like an eternity but was actually just a few seconds. "Yuvi..." Taani murmured, trying to pry his hands away from her waist, even when all she wanted was to turn around and throw her arms around him in a tight hug.

Yuvi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to bring himself back in control. After a few seconds, he placed a light kiss on the side of her head and slightly stepped back, letting go of her against all his wishes to keep her close. He put his hands in his pockets, afraid that he'll do something he wouldn't want right now.

Taani turned around and leaned against the counter as Yuvi stood in front of her. They kept looking at each other, with so many different emotions dancing in both their eyes. The sexual tension between them was so high it could be sliced with a butter knife.

'Oh how beautiful it'd be, to be the one you love Yuvi...' Taani wishfully thought.

'Just how do I tell you I'm falling in love with you Tani...?' Yuvi thought in his mind.

He gave her a small smile and said. "Heard you sing after so long..."

Taani just shrugged her shoulders and replied. "I sing all the time... When no one's around."

Yuvi nodded with a melancholic smile on his face. 'What all beautiful moments like these have I neglected my darling wife?' He thought with a heart full of sadness.

He then cleared his throat. "Remember the last time I heard you sing?" He said, gesturing at their surroundings.

Taani looked around and then laughed in surprise. "Ohh what a deja vu moment!"

Yuvi chuckled before nodding his head in agreement. "Indeed!"

They both were lost in each other once again when Yuvi said. "I think the tea is boiled enough Tani..."

"Oh shit!" She said, snapping back to reality and hurriedly turned the gas stove off and filtered the tea in two cups, meanwhile Yuvi arranged a plate of biscuits and snacks on a tray. She moved forward to take the tray from him but he moved it away from her reach and said. "Let me." Taani nodded, keeping the tea cups on the tray as well and turned the lights off.

***

Taani gave him his medicines and quickly changed into her night dress before settling down on the bed alongside him. She took out the book she was reading last time, intending to finish it tonight.

Yuvi's mouth dried as he looked at the long toned legs of his wife and to distract himself he asked about the book instead. "Haunting Adeline...is this some sort of a horror novel?"

Taani who was gulping the tea, started coughing violently, Yuvi hurriedly took the cup away from her hand and rubbed her back to soothe her, looking at her in confusion. "I'm fine! I'm fine!" She rasped, taking a deep breath.

"What happened?" He asked in suspicion, as he remembered how quickly she had shoved the book beneath her pillow, the last time he had caught her reading as well.

"No... nothing, you just caught me off guard that's all..." She stammered closing the book and shoving it beneath her pillow yet again. Her face was flushed red, as if someone had caught her doing something illegal.

He narrowed his eyes at her but did not comment on it. "So you like reading as well huhh?" He asked instead.

"Hmm sometimes." Taani replied, still avoiding any eye contact with him.

'God forbid he gets to know what that book is all about! I'm going to be so damn embarrassed!' She thought in her mind, trying to get her heartbeat to slow down.

"Right..." He replied and suddenly started to cough violently.

Taani rubbed his back and poured him a glass of water. "Drink it slowly."

They finished their tea then Taani placed the tray on the side table before turning back towards Yuvi, who was already looking at her.

His face was all red, especially his nose and eyes and she could see how much he was struggling to keep his eyes open. She put her palm on his forehead yet again to check his temperature. "Your fever hiked up... Try to sleep and get some rest, I'll put a cloth dipped in cold water on your forehead a few times, it will help with the fever." She said while lovingly caressing his head.

"Don't worry I'll be fine..." He sleepily murmured and he was out like a light the very next minute.

"Yeah, I can see that Mr. Stubborn!" She whispered and kissed him on his forehead before getting up to bring a cloth and a bowl of cold water for him.

Taani came back and put the cloth on his forehead, and kept changing it until the water turned warm. She did it one last time before cleaning his forehead with a dry towel.

She was about to get up to put the bowl away when Yuvi clutched on to her hand and sleepily shifted closer to her. She tried to free her hand but he wouldn't let go. "Oh Yuvi..." She murmured putting the bowl on the night stand.

She sat beside him with her legs stretched in front of her and then carefully put his head on her lap. He wiggled a bit before finally getting comfortable and let out a deep sigh as he wrapped his hand around her waist. "Don't leave...me" He sleepily murmured.

"I'm not going anywhere Yuvi, I'm right here with you." She said while gently patting his head. 'How could I ever leave you baby?' She thought with a melancholic smile. She tried to stay awake but soon fell asleep, still patting and caressing his head.

Yuvi woke up the next morning around 6am, with a severe headache and puffy eyes. He knew the day was up to no good but he had to go to the office today anyhow.

He found himself sleeping on Taani's lap, who was sleeping in an awkward position with her head resting against the headrest. Her hand was still placed on top of his head and Yuvi's hands were locked around her waist, as if afraid that she'd disappear if he let go of her.

"Oh darling you remained awake most of the night for me... I told you not to do so." He whispered, gently prying her hand away from his hair.

He then picked her up bridal style and properly laid her down on the bed before covering her with the blanket. She stirred in her sleep while fumbling around for something, then clutched on to his pillow and took a deep breath before going back to sleep.

"Aww my little baby." He murmured.

He tried sneaking out of the bed but abruptly let out a loud sneeze then turned to look back at her in alarm. He took a breath of relief when she didn't even stir.

"Rest my princess, I'll be home soon." He said kissing her on her forehead one last time before getting up to get ready for the day.

He took a quick hot shower and then got dressed. Although he did look a bit better than before, his eyes were still a bit red and so was his nose, which was still blocked.

Divya shook her head in resignation when she saw him coming downstairs. She already knew this would happen as usual.

"Mom, Taani was awake most of the night to take care of me and just went to sleep a few hours ago, so let her sleep alright? Don't wake her up." He said in a rough tone, as he was having difficulty speaking with a sore throat.

"Of course I won't... But you should consider taking some rest as well Yuvi, just look at you! You can't even speak properly." Divya said.

"I can't stay back maa, it's important to go today." He replied, sipping on his tea.

"When is it not!?" Divya begrudgingly murmured but dropped the topic nonetheless.

No one said anything else knowing the outcome won't change and Yuvi and Rishi headed to the office after having breakfast.

***

Taani woke up a few hours later and stretched her hand, hoping to find Yuvi but her palm was met with a cold bedsheet instead.

She abruptly sat up and saw that it was almost 11am now and she was all alone. "I hope you didn't do what I think you did Yuvi!" She angrily murmured while getting up to get ready for the day.

She wore a black coloured saree, did minimal makeup and literally ran downstairs to ask about Yuvi's whereabouts. "Maa where is Yuvi?" She asked Divya who was sitting on the couch reading aloud a mythological book to Meenal.

"Uhh... He's not at home Taani." Divya replied with a look of pity on her face.

Taani narrowed her eyes in anger. "Tum chaho to call karke use wapis bula lo mera bachcha, tumhari baat ko mana nahi karega wo." (If you want you can call and ask him to come back my child, I'm sure he won't say no to you.) Meenal said, trying to make her feel better.

"Oh I won't call, I will go and drag him back home myself! He had a fever for most of the night dadi maa, how could he be so careless with his health?" Taani said out of frustration.

Meenal and Divya both nodded their heads dutifully. "You're right! Go and drag that stubborn head back home!" Divya said, encouraging Taani as well.

Taani nodded and asked the driver to drop her off at the office.

"Subha hum achche se samjha rahe the to laad sahab ko samajh nahi a raha tha na, ab sabak milega ise." (In the morning, I was requesting nicely to his lord to stay back but he wouldn't listen, now he'll learn his lesson!) Divya said while high-fiving Meenal.

"Asha Taai! Do cup chai to bana dijiye, ab jaake sukoon mila hai." (Asha Taai, please prepare two cups of tea for us, I'm feeling so relaxed now.) Divya said as she and Meenal rested their heads against the headrest with satisfied smiles on their faces.

***

The driver dropped her off in front of the office and Taani walked inside, turning several heads towards herself, some out of sheer interest and curiosity while some out of jealousy as well.

She walked straight up to the reception, where a girl was busy typing on the computer. "Hello there." Taani said to gain her attention.

The girl looked up and blankly stared at her for a few seconds then gave a small smile. "How may I help you?" She asked in a gentle tone, which surprised as well as impressed Taani.

'Where is the bitchy receptionist who would talk rudely just for the hell of it? Where is the drama???' Taani whined in her mind.

'Focus Taani partner! You're on a mission right now, you can't get lost in your fictional world. Come back! Come back!' She thought while clearing her throat.

Now though, she was feeling rather devilish and wanted to see how long this cool facade of the receptionist could last, so she deliberately didn't introduce herself. "Uhh...Ms. Mataani!" Taani said looking at the name tag of the receptionist, which read Samita Mataani. "Where can I find Mr. Singhania?" Samita's eyebrows raised in surprise but for the most part she tried to act aloof.

"Mr. Singhania... As in the CEO?" Samita asked in a rather incredulous tone, which clearly showed that she was thinking, Taani had clearly gone mad to be asking about him so thoughtlessly.

"Yeah...or his younger brother will do as well." She replied shrugging nonchalantly while checking her nails to give off a careless vibe.

"Ma'am, may I know your name? And do you have an appointment?" Samita asked, still trying her best to remain professional.

"I'm Tanisha...Mittal. And not particularly, no!" She replied and could very well see that the receptionist was doing her best to remain calm.

"Then I'm sorry I cannot allow you to meet anyone ma'am but if you want I can schedule an appointment with our head, provided you tell me the purpose behind it." Samita said impressing Taani even more than she already was.

"But I really have to meet him, it's really really urgent!" Taani whined trying her level best to play the role of a dumb whiny girl.

"Uhh... I can see that by the number of times you used 'really' in your sentence, but I really really cannot allow it." Samita replied, and Taani almost burst out laughing at the pun behind it but controlled herself and frowned at the receptionist instead.

"You don't..." She was about to reply with yet another ridiculous reply when she saw Yuvi, Rishi and one other man walking out of the elevator. Yuvi's face was still red and he sneezed as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.

"He is clearly not well and should have stayed back at home but the stubborn head that he is just won't listen!" Taani muttered angrily.

Samita looked up at her in confusion and asked. "What?"

"Oh nothing darling... Absolutely nothing." She replied and angrily stood there with folded hands waiting for his highness to notice her.

Yuvi's eyes widened when he saw Taani standing there in the reception area and although she was looking like a dream in that saree, he could see how angry she was at him and his first instinct was to turn around and run away...and guess what? That's what he did!

"Yuvraj Singhania! Stop right there!!!" Taani loudly shouted as soon as Yuvi turned around to walk away.

All the heads turned towards her in shock and alarm, even the receptionist stood up in surprise, the pen she was writing with, fell down on her desk with a loud clatter.

Hello guys! I had so much fun writing this chapter! I hope you had just as much fun reading it as well!

Please vote and comment, I love reading them!

"Also, whosoever's birthday it is today, I wish you a very happy birthday love! Always stay happy and healthy! Enjoy your day✨"

Shukriya!

-Your Taani