Prem woke up to the soft jingling of her bangles, and slowly opened his eyes to behold the breathtaking beauty of his newly wed wife. She looked ethereal in her light pink saree, her chooda-adorned hands stained with the dark hues of mehendi. Memories of the previous night flooded his mind – the way he held those delicate hands tightly, the intoxicating aroma of henna filling his senses. Her gentle caresses had soothed him to sleep after a long, tiring day at work. This, he thought, was the essence of marital bliss.
"Itni jaldi kyu uth gye....abhi subah ke 4 bhi nhi baje hai" She asked, raising her brows at him.
He got up from the bed, pulling her close, his morning voice low and husky, "Tumse naraaz hu mai".
She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, trying to wriggle free of his grip,"Aur wo kyu?".
His grip on her waist tightened,"Kahaa tha na tumse mujhe bhi utha dena", He said, cupping her face, placing soft feathery kisses on her cheek.
Butterflies...naah...she felt the entire zoo in the stomach.
This man knows how to make her heart flutter even with his tiniest ministrations.
She crossed her arms around his neck, raising on her toes, pecked his nose, "Maine bhi kahaa tha na koi zarurat nhi hai fast rakhne ki."
"Please Preeti, maine kahaa na mai sachme tumhare liye vrat rakhna chahta hu" He pleaded.
"Tum bhookhe rahoge mujhe achha nhi lagega na", her voice laced with concern.
"Theek hai phir tum bhi mere liye vrat nhi rakhogi and that is final."
She sighed loudly. This ziddi husband of hers.
"Achha theek hai....but sabse kya kahenge... Sab chidhayenge"
Prem rolled his eyes "As if waise koi kasar chhod dete hain hume chidhane ki" and he continued under his breath "...aur disturb krne ki".
(Poor Prem Babu)
"Achha chhodo ab mujhe late ho rha hai sargi ke liye". He unwillingly let her go as she nudged him towards the bathroom to take the shower.
"Jaate ho chup chap nahane ya mai...mai..." Before she could think of a suitable sentence he mischievously added "kya mai....aa rhi ho andar mujhe nehlane"?
Her eyes popped out.
Her cheeks crimson.
"Tum...tum pagal ho gye ho".
"Haan...apni biwi ke pyaar me" He said kissing her cheek as he moved towards the washroom winking at her stupefied figure.
Preeti hurried downstairs, to find all the ladies engrossed in lively chatter.
Maa smiled at her warmly holding her hand, "Aa gyi beta Tera hi intezar kar rhe the" as she offered her the plate full of delicacies, "Tera pehla karwa chauth haina...to teri sargi aur shagun".
Preeti bent down to touch her feet but instead maa enveloped her in a hug instead, "Betiyaan paer nhi chhoti... Aise hi humesha khush raho."
As Maa left, Sadhna Bhabhi asked,"Der kaise ho gyi Preeti...neend nhi khuli?"
Sangeeta winked at her, "Nayi nayi shaadi hui hai bhabhi.... Inki neend kahaa jaldi khulti hai aajkal".
Preeti closed her eyes, shaking her head with a sheepish smile as Sadhna Bhabhi and Sangeeta burst into laughter, their teasing glances sparkling with amusement.
To her rescue, Vivek Bhaiya entered with a crying Vansh, diverting the attention, and took Sadhna Bhabhi along.
Preeti thanked her stars as Sangeeta sent her to have the sargi in her room.
She retired to her room, silently placed the plate on their bed awaiting her husband.
The washroom door opened and Prem smiled at her, raising his brows in her direction, replying to his unasked question she said, "Aao khalo... Dinn bhar bhookhe rehne wale ho" still not entirely convinced about it.
He sat next to her, kissing her palms, "Bhookhi to tum bhi rehne wali ho", feeding her the first bite. She smiled.
"Waise tum to ye vrat and all me nhi maante the... Mr. US returned husband... To aaj ye karwa chauth ka vrat" She asked teasing him.
He blushed.
"Meri biwi toh maanti haina.."
"I love you" He said pecking her lips, their eyes locked together, before he could make a move to capture her lips, Preeti placed her palm on his face, stopping him, "Uhh huhhh...Vrat hai hum dono ka... Control Mr. Husband". He groaned and continued feeding her.
"Waise abhi humare paas ek ghanta hai... To so jaaye kya?" She nodded and he pulled her on him spooning her as they felt content in each other's embrace.
_______________________________________________
Prem rushed into the hall, moving swiftly.
"Mai nikal rha hu office ke liye...Preeti sorry bahut late ho rha hai Vinod tumhe drop krdega".
Maa stopped him, "Areee nashta to krta jaa ", Preeti smiled smugly at him, "Haan breakfast toh karlo na".
Prem glared at her, mouthing a 'seriously'.
He turned to Maa, "Maa office me krlunga... Sachme bahut late hu".
"Tera pasand ka halwa bna hai beta".
Before Prem could think of an excuse, Vinod intervened, "Koi baat nhi bhaiya mai aapke liye office me le aaunga."
Without wasting a second Prem dashed out, muttering "Poora dinn kaise niklega".
His phone beeped, a message from her.
All the best husband ♥️
Kaise nikaloge poora dinn.
He smiled, not before replying her.
Underestimate kar rhi ho mujhe.
Take Care. Please kha lena agar bhook lag aaye to.
Preeti rolled her eyes, upon reading his text. Her overprotective husband.
_______________________________________________
Prem got surprised to see Pritam Uncle in his cabin.
"Prem.... Aa gya tu"
"Papa... Aap kab aaye... Mujhe call krdiya hota".
"Aree just abhi...5 min hue... Aloo ke parathe bnwaye the nashte me to socha Aaj saath breakfast krte hain aur jo tujhe discuss krna tha wo baat bhi ho jaayegi."
He mentally cursed himself, not again, how many excuses he has to make.
"Mai... Aap khaiye mai lunch me kha lunga... Halwa bna tha Ghar pe maine bahut kha liya hai ".
"Aree ek toh taste kar...garam garam hai..."
"Please nhi... Kha lunga thodi der me."
"Achha achha theek hai...ghar nhi bheje kyuki Preeti aur sab ladies ka vrat hai".
"Maine bahut koshish ki thi ki Preeti ye vrat na rakhe...aapki beti sunti kahaa hai".
"Tu tension mat le...krlegi manage...achha hai ek din vrat hai to Tera aur Mera sarr bhi nhi khayegi".
_______________________________________________
Before lunch break, Prem called Preeti.
"Kaisi ho Preeti...theek na... Mai abhi bhi bol rha hu kha lo kuchh"
"Tum phir shuru ho gye... Kyu Mr. Husband aapko bhookh lag aayi kya" She teased. She loves teasing him nowadays.
"Aisa kuchh bhi nhi hai... Bass bahane bna bnake thak gya hu".
"Tch tch... Log pyaar me Taj Mahal bnwa dete hain aapse bahane nhi bnn rhe Mr Husband?"
"Shaam ko Milo... Bahut mazaa aata haina tumhe mujhe pareshan krne me".
_______________________________________________
Tired of giving excuses, Prem left his office early before lunch, and decided to buy a gift for his darling wife... "A special gift for their first karwa chauth 👀"
Meanwhile Vinod came into his cabin looking for him... "Ye Prem Bhaiya kahaa chale gye..." He wondered.
Coming out, he bumped into Pritam Uncle, "Areee Vinod Babu itna hadbada ke kahaa chal diye"
"Pritam Uncle... Prem bhaiya ko dhoondh rha tha... Halwa leke aaya hu unke liye"
"Waah phir toh aaj usse lunch krne me mazaa aajayega parathe mai bhi laya hu uske liye ".
"Nhi uncle aapke laye parathe unhone nashte me kha liye... Mujhe call kiya tha ".
"Hatt... Nashte me toh usne halwa hi khaya tha na".
"Nhi uncle unhone toh Ghar pe nashta kiya hi nhi.... Ek min kahin...."
And both raised their brows followed by a loud laughter echoing in the corridor.
"Prem Bhaiya lagta hai sudhar gye hain Shaadi ke baad". Vinod said in between his laughs.
"Bete wo pehle se hi sudhra hua tha... Tu chhota hai tujhe samajh nhi aayega" Pritam Uncle added.
"Maa toh vishwas hi nhi kar paayegi".
"Nhi nhi... Mat batana unhe... Prem ko batana hota toh wo bata chuka hota."
"Point" Vinod said, still amuzed at his brothers antics.
_______________________________________________
Prem took a deep breath as he successfully sneaked in his room without being caught by his family members, "Bach gya warna chai ke liye bula lete".
He felt Preeti's tender arms wrap around his bicep as she nestled her head on his shoulder.
"Kaisa chal rha hai....halat toh aapki theek nhi lag rhi Patidev".
"Halat to aapki bhi theek nhi lag rhi biwi ji" Prem retorted, "...warna Dr. Preeti duty hours me ghar pe ...kamre me.... Apne bichare husband ke saath".
"Bichare?" She nudged her elbow at him playfully.
"Aur kya....kaise kaise subah se bachta phir rha hu tum kya samjho" He continued narrating the tales of his morning escapades from office.
"Tumhe zarurat nhi thi itna krne ki".
"Tum kyu krti ho...meri lambi umar ke liye na?" She nodded.
He held her chin making her look into his eyes, "To mai tumhare bina kya krunga meri jaan".
She kissed his cheek whispering "I love you".
_______________________________________________
The family was present on the terrace, awaiting the arrival of moon.
"Mummy kab Chand aayega " Sangeeta asked sounding impatient.
"Thoda sa sabr aur" comforted Anand Babu.
Prem questioned Preeti through his eyes if she was okay.
Sangeeta leaned near him, "Aapki hi biwi hai ...paas jaake bhi poochh skte hain.... Ye isharo isharo me baate bahut krli".
Prem turned crimson.
"Chand aagya" someone said and he escaped his sister's teasing glances.
Clad in a beautiful deep red lehenga, open hair with Jasmine gajra, her hands full of bangles, beautiful jhumka adorning her earlobes, Preeti looked ethereal and Prem couldn't wait for the festivities to get over so that he could have some 'we time' with his wife to tell her how beautiful she looked and that how he had controlled his urge to pull her close and kiss her beautiful plump lips.
Preeti completed her pooja, through the sieve looked at him and the moon.
"Finally" He said as he made her drink water.
She smiled at him, his eyes shone with love and care for her.
"Areee Preeti...Tera vrat to khul gya, ab tu bhi toh Prem ka vrat khulwa de na" Maa said, surprising both of them.
They stood stunned.
"Kya...sabko pta hai beta."
And the entire family laughed as both Prem and Preeti blushed to the deepest shade of red.
Their first karwa chauth was indeed special and the moon witnessed their eternal love for each other.
Thanks for reading ♥️
Really really sorry for being a ghost.
Something or the other caught me up.
Appreciate your love and patience.
Will try to update ASAP.
Suggestions are welcome.
Sorry for grammatical errors.
Not proofread.