All Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Seven

I find myself nodding earnestly at his words. "She is my eldest daughter-in-law, the second most important person in this family after your mother. Any hurt or threat to Sita is a threat to this family. Her happiness will bring us good fortune. If tears fall out of her eyes, that is misfortune enough, we need not suffer any further. Do you understand?"

And then I understood why my mother always said my father could not have survived having a daughter. Wouldn't it have broken this man for his daughter to be someone else's wife, if it hadn't been that he wholeheartedly welcomed another man's daughter to be is own?

"Yes, Nanna," I confirm. Sita is more important than me, or Dhruv, or even himself.

"You are her person, whether she realises it or not. Whether you realise it or not. You must be."

"Okay."

"I raised you to be a good man, Dhushyanth. I need you to be the absolute best for Sita."

"Okay."

"You're lucky she loves you so."

And my heart leaps out of my chest. I need to physically place a hand on my chest to calm myself. It's just what he thinks. It may or may not be true.

My father tilts his head slightly, noticing my features. "It will take some time," he says, "don't worry about it, everything will come to be when the time is right."

I merely nod, absorbing the words.

"Go on, then, she must be waiting for you, yes?"

I nod, and stand up to leave. "Goodnight, Nanna."

"Goodnight kanna," he responds, raising a hand to beckon me over to him.

When I bend, he pulls me down to press a kiss to my forehead. "I will always love you, Dhushyanth."

"I love you too, Nanna."

My father smiles brightly. "Vellu." [Go.]

I don't need to be told a second time. I walk up the stairs to Sita, trying not to appear too hurried in my pace.

I let myself into the bedroom, expecting to see her comfy in bed, but find her in the balcony, still wrapped in her maroon saree. Her long hair is let down to below her waist, and she's looking up at the moon, while a soft song I don't recognise plays in the background.

My eyes travel down to the curve of her waist, partially hidden by her hair, that curves outwards onto her full hips, and I can feel the blood rushing down to my member, merely at the sight of her.

God help me, I cannot get enough of my wife.

I tip toe out onto the balcony, sneaking my arms around her waist before she can turn around to look at me.

"Hi, wifey," I whisper to her, when she jumps up, startled.

"Reddy," she admonishes, turning in my arms to look at me.

"Hi, Mrs Reddy," I lean down to peck her plump lips.

Sita pushes me back, both of her hands resting firmly on my chest. She looks up at me with her Kajal-lined eyes. "Seem to be in some sort of a mood."

"I'm always in some sort of a mood when I see you," I respond, truthfully.

She looks away, bashfully, biting her lower lip that quirks up into a shy smile. "What should that mean?"

I find myself lost for words at her question. "Let me show you," I offer, pressing myself against her, and tilting her chin upwards to pull her into a deeper kiss.