𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Next day morning,
Arjun groans slightly rubbing his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes and scanned the room and then his eyes drifted to Sakshi who slightly moved in her sleep ..her hand placed on his chest.
But what surprised him the most was that he was sleeping without clothes. His eyes slowly moved to her-still curled up against him-and memories of last night began to rush back.
He wasn't guilty about what had happened... but he did wish he had been in his full senses. Smiling to himself, he gently caressed her bare back. Her hair was tousled, the sindoor smudged across her forehead, and her skin practically glowed in the early morning light.
He pulled her closer and kissed her eyelids softly. She stirred at the touch, slowly fluttering open her eyes.
Her eyes widened when she saw him awake. Her cheeks turned crimson as memories of the night before came flooding in-and the fact that both of them were still naked only deepened her blush.
"Ji..." she whispered shyly, attempting to get up in haste.
But he pulled her right on top of him, the blanket slipping down, revealing her bare boobs to his gaze.
She gasped slightly as her core brushed against his member, her nails digging into his shoulders. She couldn't meet his eyes.
Holding her chin gently, he made her look at him.
"Itni sharma kyun rahi hai? Kal raat sab kuch hone ke baad bhi?" he whispered teasingly, brushing her hair aside.
("Why are you feeling so shy? Even after everything that happened last night?")
"Ji... toh sharam nahi aayegi kya? Main aise aapke upar baithi hoon?" she scowled cutely, making him burst into laughter.
("Ji... shouldn't I be shy? I'm literally laying on top of you like this!")
Seeing him laugh like that brought an involuntary smile to her lips. He looked so beautiful when he smiled-far better than the tears she had seen in his eyes last night.
"Tu na... bahut pyaari hai. Pata hai?" he said, admiring her face.
("You know... you're very lovely. Did you know that?" )
She blinked, unsure of what to say.
"Aur khubsurat bhi... Bohot pyaar karne laga hoon tujhse," he confessed dreamily, wiping the sindoor off the tip of her nose with his thumb.
("And beautiful too... I've fallen deeply in love with you,")
She giggled shyly, brushing the hair from his forehead. "Sach mein, ji?"
("Really, Ji?")
He hummed, "Koi shak? Tu kahe toh... aur thoda pyaar kar loon tujhe abhi?"
("Any doubt? If you want... I could love you a little more right now?")
Sticking her her lower body more towards his , pressing her butt cheek lightly.
She wriggled in his arms, her face turning tomato red.
"Nahin... chhodiye mujhe! Nahana hai mujhe... nahi toh Buaji daant lagayengi!"
("No... let me go! I need to take a bath... otherwise Buaji will scold me!")
"Mera toh mann hi nahi kar raha tujhe chhodne ka, Sakshi," he teased, pressing a kiss to her neck.
("But I don't feel like letting you go, Sakshi,")
"Jiiiii! Chhodiye na! Kyun tang kar rahe hain ? Aapko ajeeb nahi lag raha aise... bina kapde mein !" she whined, flustered.
("Jiiiii! Let me go! Why are you teasing me like this? Don't you feel awkward... being naked like this?")
He shake his head naughtily rubbing his nose on her cheek.
"Acha theek hai," he grinned.
("Okay fine,")
"Tu mujhe ek choti si chummi de de, phir chhod dunga."
("Give me a little kiss, and I'll let you go.")
"Ji? Yeh kaisi baat hui?" she gasped palming her mouth.
("Ji? What kind of deal is that?")
"Toh kal raat bhi toh diya tha tune bohut sara... ab kya dikkat hai?" he said with a teasing smirk.
("But you gave me so many last night too... what's the problem now?" )
"Woh toh... bas aise hi..." she mumbled, looking away.
("That was... just like that...")
"Aise hi?" he raised an eyebrow.
("Just like that??")
She pouted, sighing. With a small smile, she leaned in to kiss his cheek-but he turned his face, capturing her lips instead.
He deepened the kiss, pulling her close and running his hand into her hair, taking his time before breaking away.
His lips glistened with her saliva. Embarrassed, she wiped them with her thumb softly.
"Aap bhi na... bahut badmaash hain," she muttered, breathless.
("You're too naughty," )
He finally let her go. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she bolted to the bathroom, not daring to look back.
He shook his head with a smile and got up to wear his pyjamas. He picked up her blouse and petticoat from the floor and placed them neatly on the chair. Then, he began changing the bedsheet, carefully placing her one earring and a few broken bangles on the drawer.
Meanwhile, Sakshi stood before the mirror, combing her hair. Her gaze fell on the reddish mark on her neck. She touched it and her thoughts drifted back to last night-how he had moaned her name, how he had called her jaan so lovingly. Just the memory sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
"Kya soch rahi hai itni der se aaine ke saamne?" came his voice, startling her.
("What are you thinking about, standing in front of the mirror for so long?")
She turned to find Arjun walking wearing just a towel, still drying his hair. He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
She blushed, shaking her head, "Kuch nahi, ji."
("Nothing jii")
He took out an ointment from the drawer and dabbed some on his thumb.
"Idhar ghoom, meri taraf," he said softly. She turned to face him.
(""Turn around, face me," )
"Kya kar rahe hain, ji?" she asked curiously.
("What are you doing jii??")
He didn't reply but gently applied the ointment on the red mark he had left on her neck.
"Dard toh nahi ho raha zyada? Theek se chal pa rahi hai na?" he asked, covering the mark with her saree's pallu.
("It's not hurting too much, is it? Are you able to walk properly?")
She nodded shyly, "Haan ji, thik hoon main..."
"Thik hai. Tu jaa neeche. Main kapde pehenke aata hoon," he said, about to turn away.
("Alright. You go downstairs. I'll get dressed and come,")
But she held his hand.
He looked back. "Kya hua?"
("What happened??")
She hugged him gently, her eyes welling up.
"Sakshi?" he asked, concerned, placing a hand on her back.
"Aapke maa ke saath aapke baba aur buaji ne kya kiya tha, ji? Aisa kya hua jo aapke dil mein itna dard basa hai? Aapko sharab leni padi?" she whispered, caressing his stomach gently, trying to soothe him.
("What did your father and Buaji do to your mother, Ji? What happened that left such deep pain in your heart? That you had to resort to alcohol?")
He stiffened, clearly shaken by the question.
"Agar aap chahein... toh mujhe bata sakte hain. Jaise kal raat... apne dil halka kiya tha... waise hi... ab bhi halka lagega," she whispered.
("If you want... you can tell me. Just like last night... when you opened your heart... it might help you again," )
His eyes moistened. He gently broke the hug and caressed her cheek. She placed her hand over his.
"Bataunga... sab kuch bataunga tujhe. Par abhi nahi... kisi aur din," he said quietly.
("I'll tell you... I'll tell you everything. But not now... some other day," )
"Ji...aap baat toh nahi ghumaa rahe ho na aise keh kar?" she asked gently.
("Ji... you're not just saying that to avoid the topic, right?" )
He shook his head.
She smiled softly and, lifting herself on her toes, wiped his tears with her saree's pallu.
"Tu hi toh meri sukoon hai... meri chhoti si ghar... meri jaan... tujhe kaise nahi bataunga?" he whispered, making her smile through her tears.
("You are my peace... my little home... my love... how could I not tell you?" )
Later, Sakshi hurried downstairs, clutching her pallu tightly around her neck. She had already woken up late today.
"Sab uth gaye honge shayad... kya sochenge mere baare mein? Ghar ki bahu itni der tak soti rehti hai? Yeh Arjun ji bhi na... bilkul mere baare mein nahi sochte" she muttered under her breath, slipping quietly into the kitchen.
("Everyone must be up already... what will they think of me? That the daughter-in-law of the house sleeps in so late? And Arjun ji... he didn't even think about me," )
Her steps came to a halt at the entrance.
Buaji was pacing around, clearly in a rush. A kadhai was already on the stove, and Kajal was helping her, passing spices one after another.
"Itni subah subah kya bana rahi hain buaji? Unhe toh kabhi khana banate hue nahi dekha..." she murmured, tiptoeing inside and turning on the other burner to start preparing tea.
("What is Buaji cooking so early in the morning? I've never seen her cook before...")
"Tune woh jo kamra dikhaya tha maine, thik se saaf kar diya na Kajal? Pehle se hi bata rahi hoon, usko gandagi bilkul pasand nahi hai," Buaji said firmly, and Kajal nodded quickly.
("You cleaned the room I showed you properly, right Kajal? I'm warning you now-he doesn't like even a speck of dirt,")
Just then, her eyes landed on Sakshi.
"Arey bahu, tu kab aayi? Bilkul bhi aawaz nahi aayi tere payaal ki!"
("Are bahu when did you come? Didn't even hear your sound of the payal")
"Bas abhi-abhi aayi buaji... thodi der ho gayi aaj..." Sakshi replied, her voice tinged with guilt.
("Just now, Buaji... I got a bit late today..." )
Buaji laughed, playfully patting her cheek. "Arey koi baat nahi... kabhi kabhi ho jata hai. Aur abhi toh tum dono ki nayi-nayi shaadi hui hai... toh abhi der nahi hogi toh aur kab hogi, hai na?" she teased, making Sakshi's cheeks turn red in awkwardness.
("Oh, that's okay... it happens sometimes. And you two just got married... if you won't wake up late now, then when will you?")
Kajal, who was still in the kitchen, giggled silently listening to her words.
Buaji's tone then softened. "Waise beta, kal jo hua uske liye tere iss buaji ko maaf kar dena... umar ho gayi hai na, toh kuch kuch baatein bhool jaati hoon..."
("By the way, beta, forgive your Buaji for what happened yesterday... I'm getting old, you see, and sometimes I forget things...")
Sakshi simply nodded. What could she even say to that?
"Mujhe pata tha... tu mujhe samjhegi. Ek aurat ka dard sirf ek aurat hi samajh sakti hai, beta" she said with a small, affectionate smile, caressing Sakshi's head.
("I knew you'd understand... only a woman can understand another woman's pain, right?")
"Mere Arjun beta toh aaj tak mujhe samajh hi nahi paaye... har baat mein mujhe hi dosh deta hain," she sighed, dabbing her eyes.
("My Arjun has never understood me... always blames me for everything,")
Sakshi looked at her silently, unsure how to react.
"Usse lagta hai uski maa meri wajah se chali gayi... kaise samjhaun usse ki uski maa meri behen jaise thi... bohot pyaar karti thi mein usse," she added, her voice thick with emotion.
("He thinks his mother died because of me... how do I make him understand that she was like a sister to me... I loved her dearly,")
Then, quickly wiping her face, she changed the topic.
"Chalo yeh sab chhor... yeh bata, kya bana rahi hai abhi?"
("Anyway, let's forget all this. Tell me, what are you making now?")
"Ji... sab ke liye chai bana rahi hoon, aur Lata ke liye doodh garam karungi," Sakshi said politely.
("I'm just making tea for everyone... and I'll heat up some milk for Lata,")
"Achha bahu, aaj na naashte pe kuch khaas banana," she said with sudden excitement.
("Okay, bahu, make something special for breakfast today,")
"Haan woh toh thik hai, par aaj kuch khaas hai kya buaji?"
("Sure, but what's special today, Buaji?")
"Haan! Bohot khaas hai... mera beta aa raha hai shehar se itne dino baad," she said, her eyes sparkling.
("Oh, something very special... my son is coming back from the city after so many days!")
Sakshi's eyes widened. She had no idea Buaji had a son.
"Aapka beta?"
("Your son??")
"Haan... mera eklauta beta, Veer. Arjun se teen saal chhota hai. Abhi college mein padta hai... thoda chhutti mila hai, toh aaj wapas aa raha hai."
("Yes... my only son, Veer. He's three years younger than Arjun. He's in college right now... got a few days off, so he's coming home today.")
Sakshi nodded slowly, still absorbing the new information.
"Mere Veer ko aloo ke parathe bohot pasand hain, aur woh bhi achaar ke saath. Toh tu aaj parathe hi bana dena thik hai? Usse agar apne pasand ka khana na mile, toh khata hi nahi hai mera laadla..."
("My Veer loves aloo ka paratha with achar. So let's make parathas today, alright? If he doesn't get his favorite food, he won't eat at all, mera laadla")
"Aur baaki sab ke liye? Lata aur unke liye kya banau?"
("And for the others? For Lata and him, what should I make?")
"Woh tu dekh lena... tere phuphaji ke liye bas thandi-thandi lassi bana dena. Dopeher ka baaki ka khana woh mein baad mein aake bata dungi," she said and walked out, humming to herself.
("That you decide bahu ... for your Phuphaji, just make some chilled lassi, nothing else. I'll tell you the rest of the lunch menu later,")
Sakshi stood silently, kneading the dough. Her eyes lingered on Buaji's retreating figure.
"Main toh bana doongi un dono ke mann pasand khaane... par aapko ek baar bhi ehsas hua ki is ghar mein ek beta aur ek chhota bachi bhi rehati hain? Woh dono kya khayenge? Aapko toh sirf apne bete aur pati ki hi fikar hai... kisi aur ki nahi."
("I'll happily make their favorite food... but did you even once think about the fact that there's another son and a little child in this house? What will they eat? You only care about your son and your husband... no one else.")
She let out a soft, sad chuckle, the smile on her lips not quite reaching her eyes.