Rudra and Adhya stepped onto the lawn, greeted by their waiting family. Together, they sought blessings from the elders before proceeding to the dining table for breakfast.
"We missed you, bhabhi," Arohi exclaimed, clutching Adhya's hand as they walked. Adhya reciprocated the sentiment, rubbing noses with Arohi, eliciting a smile from her.
As they all settled at the table, the butlers began serving. When a butler approached Rudra, Adhya intercepted, insisting on serving him herself. In the Rathod household, it was customary for the queen to serve the king, a tradition Rudra upheld diligently. In Adhya's absence, his mother would fulfill this duty. Once Rudra was served, Adhya took her place beside him, on his left.
"Jaise ki sabko pata hain, Krishna Ashtami aa rahi hain," (As everyone knows, Krishna Ashtami is coming)Kalyani Dadi announced, capturing everyone's attention.
"Ji maa, aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye. Iss baar bhi hum sab badi dhum dham se manayenge," reassured Anamika (Choti Maa), earning agreement from Shruti (Maa) as well.
"Haa, bilkul, par iss baar saari taiyari ki zimmedari Adhya pe hogi," (Sure, this time Adhya will be responsible for all the preparations)declared Kalyani, directing her gaze towards Adhya.
The room fell into stunned silence at Kalyani's words. It was unexpected, as Kalyani Singh Rathore was known to harbor dislike towards Adhya. She had never entrusted Adhya with significant responsibilities before, believing her to be imperfect for the family, particularly for Rudra. Despite her opposition, Adhya had still become queen, a decision Kalyani had vehemently opposed. But Rudra, aware of his grandmother's intentions, had disregarded her objections every time.
Adhya had consistently proved herself worthy over the past year, yet she always seemed to fall short in impressing Kalyani Singh Rathore. Despite her repeated efforts, Adhya couldn't seem to win over her grandmother-in-law's approval. When Kalyani asked Adhya if she would handle the upcoming Krishna Ashtami preparations, Adhya agreed with a tinge of uncertainty, casting a quick glance at her husband, Rudra.
"Kyun Adhya, karoge na?" (Why Adhya, will you do it )Kalyani inquired with an extra sweet smile, her tone masking any hint of skepticism.
"Ji," (yes)Adhya replied obediently, though her gaze lingered on Rudra for reassurance.
"Toh theek hai, saari taiyari acche se karna. Mera kuch khaas dost bhi aane wale hain," (Okay then, make all the preparations well. Some special friends of mine are also coming) Kalyani ordered, implying the importance of the task at hand as she mentioned the arrival of some special guests.
Kailash, observing his wife's expression, understood that she must be plotting something in her not-so-stupid brain. He couldn't comprehend why Kalyani harbored such dislike towards Adhya, especially considering that Adhya had been his choice. He had even resorted to blackmailing Rudra into marrying her. Now, as he observed Adhya and Rudra together, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
After Kalyani departed, the rest of the family gradually dispersed, leaving only Adhya, Rudra, and Kailash (Dadu) behind in the room. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation, as they awaited the next move in Kalyani's grand scheme.
"Dadu," Adhya whined, her eyes widening into a pleading expression as she flashed her best attempt at puppy eyes, her lips curved downward into a mock pout.
In response, Kailash couldn't help but grin mischievously, his eyes twinkling with amusement at Adhya's antics.
"Kya hua?" (What happened)Kailash asked, feigning seriousness as he addressed his younger daughter-in-law.
"Kya kya hua, yeh dadi kya plan kar rahi hain?" (What's happening? What plans is dadi making?)Adhya responded, her chin resting on her hands as she leaned forward, curiosity evident in her voice.
"Mujhe kya pata, waise bhi tujhe bada shauk hai dadi ko impress karna ka. Toh kar abhi," (How would I know? Anyway, you seem to be quite eager to impress dadi. So go ahead and do it now) Kailash replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders in a casual manner.
Upon hearing Kailash's response, Adhya's mind immediately went into overdrive. She knew that Kalyani (Dadi) was up to something, and it was likely something big. With determination in her eyes, Adhya began to brainstorm, preparing herself for whatever challenge lay ahead.
As Adhya continued to think over Kalyani's intentions, Kailash couldn't help but sigh, feeling a pang of sympathy for his dear granddaughter-in-law. He approached Adhya with a gentle stride. Sensing a comforting touch on her hair, Adhya glanced up to see her beloved dadu, his reassuring smile melting away her worries. She knew that with him by her side, she could face any challenge that came her way. Kailash had always been her pillar of support, standing by her through thick and thin, even when Rudra was hesitant to accept her as his wife. With a grateful smile, Adhya felt a sense of calm wash over her as Kailash silently conveyed his unwavering support.Having imparted his assurance to Adhya, Kailash left them alone, giving them the privacy they needed to resolve their issues.
Meanwhile, Rudra remained focused on his breakfast, seemingly indifferent to the emotional exchange between Adhya and Kailash. However, he couldn't ignore Adhya's persistent gaze, prompting him to abandon his meal and make his way towards the parking lot.As Rudra reached for the car door, ready to retreat from the situation, Adhya sprinted after him, launching into a flurry of apologies.
But just as Rudra attempted to escape into the car, Adhya swiftly slammed the door shut with a resounding thud, effectively blocking his exit.
"Leave, Adhya," Rudra demanded, his voice strained as he pinched his nose, attempting to rein in his anger.
"No," Adhya replied defiantly, her resolve matching his stubbornness. "If he is the king of stubbornness, then she is also the queen of stubbornness."
"Out!" Rudra's shout echoed through the empty space, causing the surrounding bodyguards and security personnel to swiftly exit, leaving the couple alone.
With Adhya pinned against the car door, Rudra glared at her, his anger evident in his intense gaze. "What is your problem?" he demanded, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
"You, you are my problem," Adhya replied with an innocent smile, her words softening the edges of his anger. Rudra felt himself begin to melt under her gaze, but the memory of their earlier disagreement resurfaced, fueling his resolve.
"Okay, sorry baba," Adhya apologized, her hands moving to rub soothingly against his chest. Rudra felt himself relax in response to her touch, her presence casting a calming spell over him.
Despite his anger towards Adhya for not giving him the time he had hoped for, Rudra couldn't deny the jealousy that flared within him. He envied the bond she shared with his dadu and felt possessive of her in the presence of his family members also.
"Kiss me," Rudra commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Adhya's eyes widened in surprise, but she complied without hesitation, crashing her lips against his in a fervent display of passion, erasing the lingering tension between them.
Rudra's desire reached its peak as he hungrily nibbled on Adhya's lips, the taste of blood only fueling his passion further. With one hand gently cradling her face to angle her perfectly for their kiss, and the other gripping her waist possessively, he pulled her closer, their chests colliding with an intense force. Adhya tightened her hold on his shoulder in response to his abrupt pull, her heart racing with anticipation.
To tease him, Adhya resisted his tongue's entry into her mouth, relishing in his frustration, until a sudden pinch on her waist elicited a gasp, causing her to part her lips. Rudra smirked triumphantly before delving deeper into the kiss, his tongue exploring every corner of her mouth with a wild fervor. Despite her need for oxygen, Adhya found herself lost in the intoxicating sensation of Rudra's lips on hers, her attempts to tap his shoulder for a break going unnoticed. Desperate for relief, she began to softly caress his hair, hoping to soothe his relentless passion.
Finally relenting, Rudra released Adhya's lips with a satisfying pop, his eyes opening to meet hers, filled with adoration and longing. As their gaze locked, Rudra's guilt washed over him as he noticed the bruises he had left on her lips. Sensing his remorse, Adhya gently caressed his stubble, drawing his attention back to her eyes. With tender care, Rudra held Adhya in his left arm, while using his right to delicately clean her bruised lips with a kerchief, his touch gentle and loving.
While Rudra meticulously attended to her, Adhya found herself admiring the man before her, overwhelmed with love and affection. As he finished cleaning her lips, Rudra pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment longer, cherishing the connection they shared.
After the intense moment between them, Rudra gently smoothed down Adhya's hair, his touch tender and affectionate. With a soft smile reserved only for his wife, he conveyed his love and reassurance without words. Adhya's heart swelled with warmth as she returned his smile, feeling the depth of their bond in that simple gesture.
As the moment passed, Rudra reluctantly left for his company, his mind still lingering on the passionate exchange with his beloved wife. Adhya, too, had her own responsibilities to attend to, and she headed inside her house with determination. With Krishna Ashtami approaching, there was much to prepare for, and Adhya was determined to ensure everything was perfect for the upcoming celebration.
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