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It had been four days since we arrived in Mumbai, and two days since Adhvik and I had been intimate. Over the past two days, Adhvik had been busy with a project his father was handling, often coming home late and spending little time with the kids.
I was in the kitchen, cooking, when the phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was Adhvik. It was unusual for him to call me unless it was something urgent. Quickly washing and drying my hands on my saree, I picked up the call.
"Ji," I answered.
"Adhya," Adhvik’s voice was brisk, "be ready in the evening. We have to attend a business party. I'll send a dress for you by the afternoon." Without waiting for my response, he hung up.
I sighed, slightly frustrated but continued with my cooking.
At 3 PM, a delivery arrived with the dress Adhvik had mentioned. By 4 PM, I started getting ready, slipping into the elegant outfit he had sent. It was a beautiful evening gown, something I wouldn't usually wear, but it made me feel special.
An hour later, I was ready. Just then, my phone pinged with a notification. Adhvik had messaged, saying he was waiting outside.
I handed Vrihanika to my mother-in-law along with a bottle of pumped milk. Vihan was busy playing with my father-in-law.
My mother-in-law couldn’t resist a comment. "Is this how you dress up for a party?" she taunted, her eyes critical.
I chose to ignore her, giving a polite smile instead.
Emerging from the house, I saw Adhvik leaning against the car, looking handsome in his suit. He glanced up and his eyes widened slightly as he took in my appearance.
"You look beautiful," he said, a rare softness in his voice.
I blushed, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness. "Thank you," I replied, smoothing down the fabric of the dress. "Shall we go?"
He nodded, opening the car door for me. "Let’s."
My outfit
His outfit
As we stepped out of the house, I couldn't help but notice how striking Adhvik looked in his suit. His shirt was perfectly tailored, accentuating his toned physique. However, I couldn't shake off the discomfort of seeing his first two buttons unbuttoned. I didn't want others ogling at my husband's perfect body, but I hesitated to say anything.
He glanced at my outfit for a moment, his eyes appreciative, before opening the car door for me with practiced grace.
Arriving at the party hall, Adhvik once again showed his gentlemanly demeanor by striding to my side and opening the door for me. Taking my hand in his, he guided me out of the car.
The moment we stepped out, the relentless flashes of the paparazzi's cameras assaulted us. Adhvik shielded me instinctively, his protective instincts kicking in as he led me towards the entrance of the party. Despite the chaos around us, his grip on my hand was reassuring, grounding me amidst the frenzy of the moment.
"Sir, there is rumour that you were spotted with your ex girlfriend Ruhani yesterday" one of the reporter shooted his question
"Sir are you still in contact with Ruhani mam" other reporter asked him
"Sir when are you going to reveal your kids"
"Mam you are looking beautiful"
"Are you having a happy life currently"
As we navigated through the swarm of flashing cameras and relentless questions from the paparazzi, I couldn't shake off the nagging doubt gnawing at my mind: "Does he still love her?"
Her image haunted me, a vision of undeniable beauty and success. I couldn't help but compare myself to her, feeling inadequate in her shadow. She was effortlessly elegant, a paragon of grace and sophistication. Unlike me, she was financially independent, her own firm ranking among the top 10 in the industry.
As we entered the party venue, surrounded by opulence and power, I couldn't help but wonder if I could ever measure up to her. The unease lingered, casting a shadow over the evening's festivities, as I grappled with my insecurities and fears.
Ofcourse my insecurities hit me thinking that she would also be attending the party.
I shrugged it off and me and him started posing infront of the camera.
After few minutes, we entered the party hall and the decoration literally screamed richness.
We were soon mingled with the businessmen, engaging in polite conversation.
Taking our seats after a while, a waiter approached us with a tray of drinks, predominantly alcohol. Before I could utter a word, Adhvik intervened, gesturing towards me. "Get her a juice," he instructed, while helping himself to a glass of the offered beverage.
I had never disclosed this aspect of myself to him, and I had refrained from drinking since our marriage, partly due to societal expectations and partly to avoid any potential conflicts.
"How would he know about these things when he doesn't even listen to me''My subconscious taunted me.
"I know you drink alcohol, but it's not advisable while you're breastfeeding, and besides, to avoid my mother's taunting, you better drink a juice," Adhvik's words cut through my reverie, startling me.
"Had he been reading my mind?"
Before I could voice my bewilderment, he leaned in close, his warm breath tickling my ear as he whispered, "Don't overthink it, wifey. I know more about you than you realize." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but blush at the closeness of his proximity and the depth of his understanding.
As we shared a fleeting moment of intimacy, our connection interrupted by an unwelcome intrusion, I mentally cursed the interruption. Glancing up, I saw Ruhani standing before us, exuding elegance in her sleek black bodycon dress.
"Hey, Adhvik," she greeted, her voice smooth and composed.
"Hi," he responded, his tone polite but distant as she approached him, offering a hug. Adhvik reciprocated the gesture with a polite smile, but I was hit by jealousiness seeing them
"Bitch he is mine" I muttered to myself
"Oh my god I didn't see you Adhya" she said with a fake smile while scanning my outfit.
"Liar, was I small to not get noticed" I told myself but I just facade my smile to her
"You are looking hot Adhvik" she said
"Tell him something new bitch" my subconscious said
"Oh you too ruh" he said.
"What? Is Adhvik Singhania complimented someone and he has a nickname for her . He didn't even compliment me. Was I looking bad?"my subconscious spoke
"So for how many days you gonna stay here" she asked him
"2 days" he uttered
"Great. Actually adhvik Next week I am coming to Bangalore for a project"
She said
"Oh that's great" he said
"Great.. my foot"
"We should catch up that time" she said to which Adhvik nodded
"Ok I will talk to you later, I have to go and meet others" she said and went but not before hugging him again.
I scoffed again
"Jealousy is a disease, wifey," he whispered softly in my ear before excusing himself to engage with other business partners. His words lingered in the air, leaving me momentarily stunned as I processed the unexpected remark.
As he drifted away, engrossed in conversation, I found myself pondering his words. Had my jealousy been so apparent? The thought left me unsettled, prompting a wave of self-consciousness to wash over me.
Adhvik's pov:
Today, my wife looked stunning, and for a fleeting moment, the allure of cancelling my plans and fuck her hard tugged at my thoughts. However, the party was important to me.
With a sigh, I pushed aside the tempting notion, reminding myself of the important party
As we stepped out of the car, we were immediately engulfed by a flurry of flashing cameras and intrusive questions from the paparazzi. Amidst the chaos, a reporter mentioned Ruhani, causing Adhya to visibly tense. I could sense her insecurity, and without a second thought, I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, offering a silent gesture of reassurance.
Together, we navigated through the sea of reporters, their incessant chatter fading into background noise as we entered the grandeur of the party hall.
We settled into our seats, surrounded by partners and acquaintances. I Ordered a juice for Adhya, despite knowing her past habitat for alcohol .
After all, thorough background checks were important for the course before our marriage.
Our moment of intimacy was abruptly interrupted, and inwardly, I cursed the intrusion. Raising my eyes, I spotted Ruhani approaching with a smile.
Glancing at Adhya from the corner of my eye, I noticed her stoic demeanor during our conversation, a subtle scoff that escaped her lips when I complimented Ruhani. Her reactions amused me, fueling a sense of satisfaction that compelled me to be overly attentive to Ruhani' presence
In the midst of our interaction, I couldn't ignore the palpable aura of jealousy emanating from Adhya.
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Sitting on the bar stool, I felt a wave of boredom wash over me as Adhvik engrossed himself in conversation with our business associates. My gaze lingered on him, admiring his presence.
Suddenly, Ruhani inserted herself into the conversation, her sudden appearance drawing my attention. My heart quickened as I watched her lean in, her movements deliberate as she clung to Adhvik, her touch tracing a tantalizing path along his body.
Despite my best efforts to conceal it, a surge of unease coursed through me, my grip tightening on the edge of the bar stool.
It was a familiar sensation, one that I had grown accustomed to in Ruhani's presence,a blend of envy and insecurity that threatened to consume me.
"Bitch that's my man" I screamed mentally
Adhvik, gently extricated himself from Ruhani's grasp before making his way towards me. As he approached, I mustered the courage to voice my discomfort, my gaze fixed downward as I fidgeted with my fingers.
"Can you button up your shirt?" I asked softly, my voice slightly quivering
He chuckled softly, his amusement evident. "Why, wifey?" he inquired, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Struggling to conjure up a reasonable excuse, I was unable to find the words. With a defeated sigh, I abandoned the attempt. "Nothing, forget it," I murmured, feeling the weight of my insecurity pressing down on me.
As Ruhani's voice pierced the air once more, I couldn't suppress a muttered curse under my breath. Before I could voice my frustration, Adhvik drew me closer, his presence enveloping me as I collided with his chest, my breath catching in my throat.
"Why don't you button up my shirt, wifey?" he teased, his warm breath grazing my ear as he whispered the words.
Unable to escape his grasp, I reluctantly complied, fingers trembling as I buttoned up his shirt. With each touch, I felt the intensity of his gaze, the closeness between us palpable even as Ruhani seethed nearby.
As he finally released me, a sense of longing washed over me, the absence of his warmth leaving an undeniable void
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