R I T I K A

"Oh, finally we are home!" He said as we both sat on the sofa.

My heart warmed at the word home. I hummed.

"What's the time?" I asked while putting my head on his shoulder.

"Almost 7." I closed my eyes and wrapped my hands around his biceps.

"I am tired."

"So you wanna sleep?"He asked as he slipped his arm around my head and pulled me closer to his chest, making my heart skip a beat.

"No, ab so gyi toh raat ko nind ni aayegi," I replied, while hugging him sideways.

He nodded, "So you rest while I will cook for us."

"No, let's cook together," I spoke, looking at him.

But I know he was going to deny.

So before he could deny, I added, "Please."

"Ah, Ritika," he groaned and chuckled, "Smart one."

I showed him my tongue and asked, "What should we cook?"

"What do you want to eat?" He asked.

"Roti and sabji, and you decide the sabji," I replied.

"Hard one, love." He chuckled.

"Let's go and cook!" I spoke while I stood up and pulled his hands, making him stand up.

"Ji, ma'am." He laughed while looking at my attempt to stand him up.

***

"Can we eat on one plate?" I mused while looking at him.

"No need to ask, Ritika." He spoke while his brown eyes lingered on me.

And my heart warmed at his words.

I served the food on one plate, and we both settled on the sofa.

"You know? I used to have the habit of eating with Rheya, but due to college, I had to shift to another city. I then gained the habit of eating with my friends in college, but after college, when I got a job, I had to live alone in an apartment." I looked at him, and he was already looking at me, listening to me.

"I started watching TMKOC while eating. It comforted me, made me feel less lonely."I continued.

And my heart ached at the memory of how, in the initial days, I used to cry, bury the loneliness inside me. TMKOC was not a show that I loved much because it was full of misogyny, but somehow it comforted me, made me feel less lonely.

"Ritika?" 

I looked at him when he whispered my name softly, "Hm?"

"For now, one time we are not eating separately, and we don't need TMKOC to bury our loneliness cause this time I am with you." He spoke softly while holding my hands.

I nodded and smiled, "What about you, it's your habit from childhood?"

"Not really, guess what, we have been in the  same boat." He laughed a little, trying to ease the tension.

"So loneliness does get us," I spoke while looking at his face.

"It does." He whispered, and with that we started eating the food that we both made, which tasted like the best food in my life, cause it had that homely feeling, and with advik beside me, everything feels safe and warm- just like home.

***

I was sitting on the bed, waiting for my husband as he was washing the dishes. But he asked me to wait because he had something for me before sleeping, but how do I tell him, sleep is far away from the body when he isn't beside me and his hands am not wrapped around me.

I shook my head and wondered.

What could it be?

I asked myself, but in minutes he came, and I looked at him- his hair was messy, yet beautifully settled on his face, a small smile carved on his handsome face.

"I love it when you stare at me like that." He smirked while settling on the bed beside me.

I rolled my eyes and stopped myself from smiling, "I was not staring at you, but the wall beside you."

"It must be beautiful."

"It is, but not only that, it's freaking handsome and sexy," I spoke while smiling, and his eyes glinted with my words.

"Interesting wall?" He spoke now that his lips were curled up in a smile.

"It is," I smirked.

"Leave all that, tell me what you wanted to give!?" 

"No patience?" He asked while frowning.

"When to gifts? Nope. Not at all." 

"Uhm..." 

"Why are you so annoying?" I asked while standing up and settling on his lap- the place that I love more than anything.

His hands encircled my waist, and he settled me on his lap while smiling.

"Wasn't I annoying?" He said, pulling me closer.

"You are," I whispered in his ear, sending him shivers down his spine.

"Such a tease? Hm?" He asked while looking at me, our faces so close, making my heart race, and a tension filled the room.

"For you," I replied.

He chuckled.

"So, my gift?" I asked.

He pulled out a box from the nightstand, which was wrapped beautifully in a purple cover, which was my favourite colour.

A smile broke on my face at how he notices small details about me.

A note was on the wrapper, I opened the note and in which was written in beautiful handwriting,

"For my wifey."

I smiled reading those words and looked at him, and he was already observing me.

"Thank you, hubby," I replied while gently kissing his cheeks.

He pecked my cheeks back and whispered, "Open it."

I nodded and opened the box only to find it full of my favourite things- my favourite biscuits, a small bracelet, a necklace, and many little things that I adored.

It was so beautiful and meaningful.

A wide smile formed on my face, and a warm feeling settled inside me.

"Advik, all this? It's so pyarri." I screamed while smiling like crazy cause it was all I adored, little cute things and the accessories. that I love to wear.

"Is it so?"

I nodded, "Btw, how do you know I love wearing accessories?" I asked because I never told him.

"I know, for not once have I seen you without them whenever we are on dates." 

I looked at him and spoke, "Advik, what should I do with you?" And with that, I started kissing his whole face and hugged him.

"Ritika?"

I looked at his beautiful eyes, "I am sorry. I couldn't give you something expensive-"

I cut him off, "Advik fucking stop. Expensive? You gave me everything I needed, I adored- my favourite biscuits, these beautiful necklace and bracelet, earrings, jhumkas, a set of rings and most importantly, your efforts."

"But-"

"No buts," I spoke while shuffling through the box, but my breath hitched when I saw a purple digital camera.

And an ecstatic scream left my mouth.

"WHAT?"

"OMG."

I was literally smiling widely when I saw those gifts, but now that I saw this, my heart was screaming, so was my mouth.

"Did you like it?"

"Like? I literally loved it."

"Thank you so much, advik. Thank you so much." I spoke while hugging him and left a peck on his chest.

"I always wanted this." I mused.

He smiled and kissed my forehead, "I am happy you loved it."

"I really did," I said while clenching his t-shirt in my hands.

How could I be this lucky?

How could I?

A/N

hey guys? How was the chapter?

do vote nd comment.

thank you for reading and luvv u all<3