Five Weeks by Shruti Omar (any book recommendations .txt) 📕

"Dad!" Anahita knocked twice before peeking inside Mr. Maurya's study room. The room was dark, certainly no one was reading.

It is just an escape. She thought, remorsefully. Her mind compelled her to back off but Yuvraaj's words resonated in her ears. She needed to take the initiative because she didn't want to regret it. Bargaining with situation, she paused and progressed inside, "I know, dad, you're not working. I know you're angry but that doesn't mean you will ignore me. I am sorry."

She blabbered in the dark and groped for the switch board. Once she switched on the light, the room brightened and revealed her father sleeping on the chair.

She knelt beside him and rested her head on his lap, "I am sorry, dad. If you've been awake, I would have never been able to see in your eyes and apologize for my callowness but dad; you must know that you are the best father in the world. I miss you, dad." She confessed, crying silently.

Except her dad was listening. Mr. Maurya wasn't ready to succumb but he was dying to see his daughter. When he noticed Anahita coming inside, he pretended to sleep. Trails of tears followed the cheeks of father-daughter duo. Anahita confessed her mistakes, crying and Mr. Maurya silently listened to her, wiping his own tears.

"Thank you!" She whispered smiling at Yuvraaj once they sat inside the car and touched his hand over the steering wheel, “Though the method was wrong but thanks, I know you did it for me."

"No need to build air castles, Ms. Maurya." He said stoically and kept his eyes straight on the road. "We're going to keep it even. I helped you and now, you've to comply with something I will demand."

"And exactly what's that?" She catechizes, retracting her hand and mentally cursed herself for speaking softly with the devil.

"You will know." An inexplicable smirk crawled upon his lips but his eyes told her different story.

*****

She was pacing in her room back and forth, her whole face was red. Red – the color of love and anger but provided the circumstances, Anahita chose to be with the second block of red. All she felt was unnerving anger towards her twerp husband who had bluntly suggested making reservations for air tickets for their honeymoon.

"Baba, I was thinking we should hurry up with our honeymoon because after a month, I will be extremely busy with my projects and I think I will hardly get time for any kind of vacations. I don't want her moping around and mom buzzing in my ear. So, I think we should make reservations now." he broached up during dinner.

Anahita coughed menacingly, letting everyone believed that she wouldn't survive after it and the plan of honeymoon would be sabotaged until he rubbed her back almost seductively.

"I am fine." She said fighting with her tears due to the cough and gulped down two glasses of water in a go.

"You should eat slowly. No one is snatching your plate." he jibed, slightly enjoying her disheveled state. He was aware of the fact that she was coughing because of his sudden mention of honeymoon.

"I said I am good." She pressed her hand upon his for the show. She looked at everyone, "I was thinking why don't we postpone this plan and let's go for family outing." She suggested, making everyone gawk at her incredulously.

"You want to go on family outing Vehini! C'mon, don't be shy now, Dada has already bragged about how excited you're for it." Gitika teased her, gearing up others for completely unnecessary laughter.

Anahita rolled her eyes and glared Yuvraaj. How much she wanted to kill Gitika's Dada. That prick gossiped around about her non existing excitement for their prospective honeymoon swerving off the fact that he was basically embarrassing her. He had managed to reach the apex of her tolerance today. He not only forcefully dragged her for the shopping she was not willing to go but also purchased dresses and insisted on buying some exotic lingerie.

"Listen, pick something in lace. It excites me." Was his crass approach before he himself selected a few for her and that enraged Anahita She was the mad bull who wanted to finish everything that came in way, "How dare he talk to me like that? What the hell am I! How could he behave like such dominant husband when he clearly knows that I don't want this marriage?"

"Vehini!" Gitika knocked on the door and she stopped midway and heaved a long breath, calming her down.

"Yes?" She opened the door smiling.

"Aai has sent these for you." Gitika wiggled her eyes at the packet in her hands. Puzzled, Anahita took the packet, trying to guess what was in it. She peeked inside and shut the packet quickly, blushing hard.

Gitika giggled, "Aai asked Nisha Vehini and Prachi Tai to accompany her while shopping this for you."

Anahita widened her eyes, her cheeks flushed beetroot. "Aai needs to stop watching dramas. No mother-in-law gifts lingerie to their sunbai. And, that too of this kind, Ugh."

Gitika winked, "I will help you in packing."

"No need! I will manage." Anahita smiled at her sister-in-law.

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay then. Call me if you need anything, I am in my room."

"Gitika, do you know where is your Dada?" Anahita asked, getting impatient.

"You mean your husband?" Gitika cocked her eyebrows, teasing.

"Yes. I mean your Dada." Anahita smirked.

"I have no idea. I think he has gone out for some work."

"Alright!" she perched on the bed, cracking her neck. She glanced at her hands; they were still colorful with Henna. Twitching her lips, she threw the packet aside and waited for her husband to appear who was probably hiding from her.

"Who do you think you are?" Anahita blustered once he stepped inside his room.

Yuvraaj blinked, perplexed. "Yuvraaj Prakash, your husband."

She scowled at his lame attempt to crack a joke and he snickered at his own joke, scooting to his study table.