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

Foam had covered her mouth as she was lazily brushing her teeth, staring in the mirror and dwelling in her thoughts when a pair of encompassing, suave arms folded around her tapering waist. Her skin was tickled with downy bristles of the stubble and washed her skin with warm breaths.

"Good morning!" he rasped, bringing her back to the earth and she sighed in relief that last night was neither a dream nor a stupor propelled episode. It was very much real. She grinned as he paddled back and yawned, “At least, wish me the morning.”

He moved out and stretched his arms, cracking his neck. She spat the froth and gurgled, washing her toothbrush as well. “Good morning, how did you sl…wait, where’s your t-shirt?”

“Removed.” He trotted to the deck and she trailed behind him, “Why?”

“You were sneezing even in sleep. I increased the temperature but it was freaking hot. So, I discarded the t-shirt.” He filled her in, rubbing his eyes and leaned against the banister. She nodded, wiping her face with the towel. They both stared at the sparkling in the sunlight and smiled, “Beautiful, na?”

“Without a doubt,”

“So, are we going out today?”

He nodded, admiring the deep blue waters. His back muscles flexed as he inclined on the banister and Anahita unabashedly consumed his fastidious beauty. Her lips puckered, itching to kiss those detailed pecks and her fingers betraying her to brush his un-tanned skin. His thick muscles allured her to squeeze them and poke her nails into his flesh.

She blushed on her crazy thoughts and hugged his back, making him startle. He craned his neck to her and covered the lock of her wrists around his waist, “What happened?”

She didn’t answer instead rubbed her face against his cold flesh, “Can't I hug my husband for no reason?"

Speech robbed him and he made her stand before him, sandwiching her between his arms and banister. He leaned in and kissed her supple cheeks, making her close her eyes. "Last night changed my wife positively, huh." He sucked her chin, murmuring. “You can hug your husband for as long as you want. In fact, I would prefer more than hugging without any reason."

"Shut up!" Anahita told him off, kissing his neck and his fingers tangled in the spray of his chest hair. His groan struck in his throat and his fingers curled on the banister. She sucked his earlobe, palming his cheek. “Will you never shave?”

“Shave what?” he teased her and she slapped his forearm, reprimanding. “Your frizzy stubble, it has starting to prick my neck and…cheeks when you come closer.”

“Aai says I look baby-faced after I shave,” he stroked his beard, recalling and she rolled her eyes, “Mom doesn't know the aftermath of hair burn and she doesn't have to bear them."

Yuvraaj pursed his lips in a line and she scrunched her nose in revulsion, “Eww…what the hell did you just say?”

“It was you,” he quaked with laughter and she frowned, hiding her face, “That was gross. Shit, I shouldn't have...what the hell! I am going to bath." She pushed him gently and absconded to the bathroom, leaving Yuvraaj buzzing into throaty laughter, “You're crazy, Anahita. Get ready fast. I will go second and then, we will have breakfast in one of the local restaurant. I am fed up with the food served in here."

He sounds like a toddler; she chuckled and shouted, squeezing shampoo in her palm. “Alright, I'll be done in a minute."

*****

Costumed in a forest-green sheath dress, she belted the golden chain around her neck and hung the buttered cape on her forearm. She complemented her attire with small golden hoops and strapped on the satin ribbons of her heels around her calf. She damped her lips, glancing at the mirror and stepped out. Yuvraaj couldn’t blink when he saw her, captivated in her startling charm. His heart swelled in pride that the prettiest woman in the world was his wife.

Conscious of his staring, Anahita tucked her hair behind her ear optionally and blushed scarlet. He slowly trudged to her and breathed out, kissing her cheekbones, "You are looking damn pretty."

Pretty? Pretty! Who uses this word now? She sulked mentally. "Only pretty?"

"Yes. Only pretty,” He teased, shoving his phone in his pocket and clasped her palm in his, "C'mon! Let's go."

"Um...what's the plan for today?" She diverted the topic.

"The way you've dressed, we can't go for horse riding or trekking." He smirked, taking a full look of her till his heart's content, "Let's do boating and kayaking for today."

"Kayaking? I have not done that ever." She squealed happily and scooted closer to him, "I don't know you have a penchant for kayaking. That makes two of us. I am so excited."

"I can see that." He touched her lashes and kissed her, making her still.

"Yuvraaj! You....shouldn't just.....do....." She stuttered, picking her hair strands behind her ear and he tipped her chin with his index finger, "No one cares here." He held her palm and led her to the restaurant. He ordered food for both of them and watched her curious face. She tested the thick soup and moaned in appreciation, “This is damn good! What is this?"

“Minestrone! It's a vegetable soup containing pasta and rice and…lots of vegetable." He teased and she showed her tongue. She was one of those ridiculous non-vegans who refused to accept that dishes could be tasty without chicken or seafood. She could live upon the meat for her whole life whereas Yuvraaj was not a big fan of seafood even after living abroad. He had missed vegetables and his mother’s food terribly.

"That's unbelievable!" She chuckled, tearing a morsel of Frittata. She was drooling over the various recipes like Crespelle, Frittata, Quiche and spinach sausage egg-bake. Yuvraaj ate like Neanderthal and he would do anything for food; quoted by Anahita, while she barely finished a couple or two.