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

"It wasn't important." She dismissed, looking at the farm all around and a certain view caught her attention, "Let's see that." She pulled him by his hand as an effort to divert his mind and that actually worked.

Unlike the last time, their kiss didn't create fuss and they thought they were mature enough to move past it. Ergo, as Yuvraaj had suggested, they were out with several honeymoon couples alike them on a vineyard and cheese tour within walking distance along with the guide provided by their hotel.

Anahita was immensely excited to see how fresh ricotta was made. Farm had many sheep and cows; varieties of them factually as they were told that some of them are specifically domesticated for special variety of cheese. For instance; Pecorino, Sardinia's pride, a local cheese made by matured salted white sheep's milk and covers great pasta recipes.

"Available at different levels of salinity and maturation, we highly recommend you to try it into a fresh green salad or with the typical flat bread Carasau and Sardinian cutlets, or grapes and figs, while with honey are a perfect match of sweet and sour flavors." The farm owner provided them with options and handed a plate of it, "Since its prior winter, you must have this." The platter had fresh pecorino melted over carasau bread by the fireplace.

As soon as she plopped it in her mouth, her eyes closed in ecstasy and she moaned lowly devouring the taste.

"It's so yummy." She squealed, grinning and licked her cheese smudged fingers. Yuvraaj grinned at her excitement and pressed his hand on her back to wander around, "Come let's check that."

They wandered around tasting other varieties of cheese like Ricotta, Casu Axedu, Casu Marzu, Pasta Filata and much more. First time in her life, she wasn’t bothered that the person with him was Yuvraaj whom she was supposed to hate. She was actually thankful that he was with her.

Lazing around, Yuvraaj had the best time to watch his wife chirping. She was testing and smelling the wines as veteran connoisseur and bounced with excitement. Wind played with her hair, her peachy skin radiated more and her big, twinkling eyes doubled in mirth. Had he known that he’d witness this, he would've brought her here on the first day itself.

"Let's click a picture,” she pulled him closer and smiled at the Nikon she’d brought. Yuvraaj encircled his arm around her waist and grinned wider. It was the commencement of their never-ending photo sessions.

“Wow, it’s perfect.” She breathed out in awe, going through their snaps. Yuvraaj tried to peek but she blocked his vision, grinning at him. He returned to his cocky self and hauled her to him, forcefully snatching the camera. She winced and thwacked at his back, “Idiot!”

He grinned, showing his tongue to her and swiped the pictures, “hmm…let me see. These are good but they wouldn’t if I weren’t in them.”

He swung the camera back at her and she caught it swiftly, "What do you eat in your breakfast, Yuvraaj? Bowl of arrogance!"

"It's in genes, Darling." He smirked, winking at her and she shook her head in defeat. They reached their villas and he clicked open the door but Anahita pushed past him, strutting inside and locked the bedroom door right on his face.

"Hey, Anahita, open the door." He thumped the wood scowling. Anahita grinned, cunningly and showed her tongue to the door. She stuffed her personal baggage in her bags and paid no heed to his threats. Finally, when she realized that he would break the door, she shouted, “Stay there for teasing me.”

“I am going to kill you,”

“Just give me two minutes,” she shouted. He groaned, unwillingly stopping the knocking. “Okay!”

“What? Can't you wait for two minutes?" She barked, opening the door and Yuvraaj showed her his phone, “Ten minutes. It has been ten minutes and I was standing like a stupid outside. What the hell were you doing?"

"Practicing to cast dark spell on you," she snorted, shoving out her dress to change. He sprawled on the bed, “Really? What is that? Stabbing me with the imaginary knife or denuding me with telekinesis?"

"Kind of both,” she smirked, scurrying inside the bathroom and slipped in the shower. Sighing, she massaged her scalp with the apple scented shampoo and farrago slides of memories revolved around her. She had noticed how lively Yuvraaj was, how his Adam’s apple bobbed up when he drank Terre Brunne Local wine. He made her so disarranged that she couldn't help but ask to capture their photographs. In the back of her mind, Mukund and his calls were also bothering her. She was angry and disappointed in him. She wasn't ready to hear his adulterated apologies. 

For the first time, she wanted to erase him from her memories. She smiled coyly as she didn't miss to notice how often out of his knack, Yuvraaj pulled her close and kept their palm intertwined. She loved this Yuvraaj secretly. He was like a gust of cool breeze in the scorching summer, arbor in heavy storm. Not to mention, his cocky remarks reminded her that he was the same and she was in the real world, not in a mirror world.

“Anahita…” She sighed listening to her husband’s impatient voice, “Come out now. Are you planning to stay inside for the whole day?"

"Two minutes!" She shouted back and relaxed in the sprinkling shower. Sheathing her body in fluffy bathrobe after wearing her inners and tightening towel around her head, she wore her feather flip flops and emerged out, "Just because you were so persistent, I couldn't wipe the floor. Don't blame me later."

"As if you didn't leave it wet in the morning,” he taunted, closing the door behind him. She rolled her eyes, changed in shorts and floral top and did a face plant on the bed, extremely exhausted. Within a few minutes, he also joined her.

*****

With the chirping of crickets and soft buzzes of the farewell of birds, she tossed gradually pulling the sheets of slumber down. She made herself comfortable in the embrace of his warm arms, nuzzling her head constantly against his chest.