𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Author's POV:-
Arjun was getting ready for work, buttoning his shirt when he saw Sakshi enter the room.
She quietly began folding his clothes, the silence between them speaking volumes. She knew he was about to leave, and the thought of staying home alone once again gnawed at her.
Yes, bua was there, but she only spoke when necessary. Her mother is also not there with her to who she can gossip everytime. A lump formed in her throat.She wanted to cry—but she didn’t. She couldn’t.
Just then, she flinched slightly—startled—when a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her from behind.
"Ji… aap gaye nahi abhi tak?" she asked, stammering slightly as his head gently rested on her shoulder.
(""You… haven’t left yet?")
"Nahi, abhi chala jaunga," he murmured softly.
("No, I'll leave in a bit ")
Sakshi bit her lower lip.
Why am I failing to control my emotions today? she wondered.
Without thinking further, she turned around and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Kab aayenge aap?" she couldn't help but asked in a voice barely holding back tears.
("When will you return??")
The truth is she doesn't have anyone except him and Lata in this house.
He smiled, hugging her back, encircling her in his long arms while her small hands clutched at his shirt.
"Shaam ko... kareeb 6-7 baje aa jaunga, Sakshi," he said gently.
("In the evening, around 6 or 7 Sakshi...")
She hummed in response, sniffling slightly.
"Lata dopahar ko school se aa jayegi... uske saath waqt bitana, thik hai? Aur ho sake toh buaji aur phuphaji se jitna ho sake dur rehna..." his voice turned firm at the end.
("Lata will be home from school by the afternoon… spend some time with her, alright? And if possible, stay as far away from buaji and phuphaji as you can…")
Hearing this, she pulled away from the hug and looked at him with a frown.
"Kyu ji? Aap aise kyu keh rahe hain?" she asked, confused.
("Why ji?? Why are you saying like that??")
"Bas... woh log ache nahi hain," he said, brushing her cheeks gently with his thumb.
("Its Nothing ...just they are not a good person..")
"Tujhe chinta karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Bas jo kaha hai, woh kar" he added, ignoring her question.
("You don’t need to worry. Just do what I said.")
She nodded slowly. Her heart sank a little as he turned to leave. But just then, he stopped at the door and turned around with a teasing smile.
"Kuch bhul gaye, ji?" she asked.
("Did you forget something ji??")
He nodded. "Haan... ek cheez bhul gaya lagta hai."
("Yeah… I think I forgot one thing.")
Before she could react, he walked up to her, lifted her chin, and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Khayal rakhna khudka aur Lata ka. Koi zarurat ho toh telephone se call karna... aata hoon," he whispered and left.
("Take care of yourself and Lata. If you need anything, call me on the telephone…I am leaving..")
She stood still, the room now empty, her hand subconsciously touching the spot where he had just kissed her. Her cheeks flushed with shyness.
Evening came. Sakshi was in the kitchen preparing dinner when the doorbell rang. A smile bloomed on her face instantly.
"Bhabhi! Bhaiya aa gaye hain! Aap darwaza khol dogi?" Lata shouted from her room.
("Bhabhi! Bhaiya is home! Will you open the door?")
Sakshi quickly adjusted the pallu over her head. "Haan Lata, tum padhai karo, main khol deti hoon."
("Yes Lata, you go study. I’ll open it.")
She opened the door to find Arjun standing there, visibly tired. She reached out to take his bag, but he pulled it back.
"Kya hua? Dijiye, mein rakh deti hoon bag.." she said, puzzled.
("What happened? Give it to me, I’ll put the bag away...")
"Nahi, yeh main rakh lunga. Tu jaa... bas mere liye thanda paani le aa, bohot pyaas laga hai," he said, and she hurried to the kitchen.
("No, I’ll keep it. You go… just get me some cold water, I’m really thirsty.")
Meanwhile, his gaze landed on Lata, sitting and writing something with deep focus. He went to sit beside her.
"Kya likh rahi hai tu?" he asked.
("What are you writing??")
Lata beamed and showed him her notebook. "School mein madam ne ganit ka kaam diya hai. Wahi kar rahi hoon."
("Our teacher gave us math homework. I’m doing that.")
"Wah... sab sahi lag raha hai," he smiled proudly.
("Wow… everything looks good.")
"Bhabhi ne sikhayi hai... isiliye jaldi ho rahi hai," she grinned.
("Bhabhi taught me… that’s why I’m able to do it quickly.")
Sakshi returned with a glass of cold water and handed it to Arjun.
"Woh... buaji aur phuphaji shaam ko kahin bahar gaye hain. Bola ki der ho jayegi wapas aane mein," she said softly.
("Woh buaji and phuphaji went out this evening. They said they’ll be late coming back.")
"Kahan gaye hain?" he asked.
("Where did they go??")
"Ji... woh toh nahi batayi mujhe," she replied.
("Umm… they didn’t tell me that.")
He nodded and headed to freshen up. Meanwhile, Sakshi fed Lata dinner lovingly.
"Aap nahi khayengi, bhabhi?" Lata asked.
("Won’t you eat, bhabhi?")
"Khaungi na... tere bhaiya ko khana deke main bhi baith jaungi. Tu ab khake seedha so jaana, kal jaldi uthna hai," she smiled.
("I will… I’ll sit down after I serve your brother. You eat and then go to sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow.")
A few minutes later, Arjun called from upstairs.
"Aapne bulaya mujhe?" Sakshi asked, drying her hands on the edge of her saree.
("Did you call me??")
"Haan, yahaan baith. Mujhe kuch dena hai tujhe," he said, searching his bag.
("Yes, come here. I want to give you something.")
She sat on the bed, curious. "Kya dena hai aapko?"
("What do you want to give me?")
Without a word, he kneeled in front of her and gently pulled her leg onto his knee, making her gasp.
"Yeh kya kar rahe hain aap? Pair kyun chuh rahe hain?" she asked, trying to pull back.
("What are you doing? Why are you touching my feet?")
He held her foot firmly. "Chup-chaap baith. Pehan aunga kaise agar itna hilega toh?" he said, lifting her saree slightly above her knee.
("Sit still. How can I help you wear it if you keep moving?")
"Kya pehna ayenge aap ji?" she asked, her cheeks reddening.
("What are you making me wear, ji?")
"Payal" he whispered, adorning her ankles with delicate anklets.
("Anklets..")
"Yeh... yeh toh bohot sundar hain, ji. Par yeh kis liye?" she asked, overwhelmed.
("This… this is so beautiful, ji. But what’s it for?")
"Teri pehli rasoi thi aaj... itna swadisht khana banaya... uske liye," he smiled, admiring her feet painted with alta and now decorated with silver payal.
(""Today was your pehali rasoi… and the food was so delicious… it’s for that."
He brought her foot closer and pressed a soft kiss on it.
"Mat kijiye aise... acha nahi lagta dekhne mein. Aap mere pati hain... pati log pair nahi chhute," she said shyly, his eyes now locked with hers.
("Don’t do this… it doesn’t feel right to see. You’re my husband… husbands don’t touch their wives’ feet.")
Instead of replying, he kissed her other foot too. She squirmed slightly, ticklish, trying to pull away—but he held firm.
"Par main toh tere pair chuhoonga bhi... aur chumunga bhi, Sakshi," he teased, caressing her ankle as her cheeks turned crimson.
("But I will touch your feet… and kiss them too, Sakshi.")
She quickly pulled her feet away and stood up, turning her back to him.
"Hat!! aap bhi na... kya kya bolte rehte hain... chi! Aise koi chhoota hai kya?" she murmured under her breath, flustered.
(Hat!! How can you say such things..who even does that??")
He wrapped his arms around her slim waist from behind, his hands sliding inside her saree, grazing her warm and soft skin. She shivered at the sudden contact.
"Pati log toh isse bhi zyada karte hain, Sakshi... tum isse hi sharma jaogi toh aage kaise baraunga main?" he whispered against her ear.
("Husbands do much more than this, Sakshi… if you get shy over just this little things..how will I proceed to further things??")
Her pallu slipped from her head as his thumb brushed over her belly button. She closed her eyes, breath hitching, goosebumps rising on her skin.
Her hand instinctively found his. She gasped as his lips met her neck.
She didn’t understand what was happening to her—only that it felt... right. She was shy, unsure, but every touch, every word from him—was making her feel something she couldn't name yet... but didn’t want to resist.
He glided his lips from just beneath her earlobe down the delicate curve of her neck.
"Ji... ahh... mat kariye na..." she stuttered with a moan, her eyes shut tight, breath catching in her throat.
("Jii !!!..ahhh...don't do this na..")
A knowing smile tugged at his lips. But just as suddenly as it began, he withdrew, halting his tender torment. The warmth of his arms vanished, leaving her skin cold and tingling in his absence.
Confused, Sakshi slowly opened her eyes and turned. He now stood two steps away, arms folded across his chest, a teasing glint in his eyes. His raised eyebrow silently questioned her, and she couldn't hide the furious blush creeping up her cheeks.
Without a word, she ran towards him, the sound of her payal echoing through the room.
He chuckled softly as she crashed into his arms. With a swift motion, he lifted her slightly from the floor holding her close against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a second skin before burying her flushed face in the crook of his neck.
His hold on her tightened just a bit more, his fingers gently pressing against her bare waist.. as he swayed slightly, savoring the moment.