Forever Yours

Chapter Eighty Seven

The next day, Shehnaaz's first day in the house as a daughter-in-law dawned quicker than any of them could anticipate. Shehnaaz woke up to find herself locked in the tight, warm embrace of her husband. It wasn’t new for her, but the sweetness, the pure affection inherent in the situation made her morning more than a little cheerful.

She ran her fingers gently through his hair. She hadn’t yet gotten used to the weight of her wedding bangles but they were nevertheless not a hindrance to her actions. She watched him for a long time that morning, just as her husband had done the night before. The peace on his face as he slept, unaware of the world outside his dreamland, tugged something in Shehnaaz’s heart. She was so much in love..

The realisation was nothing new, but it felt right to confess to herself just once more, that she was madly, happily, deeply and irreversibly in love with her husband. She bent forward to press soft, feathery kisses across every bare inch of her husband’s handsome face. Of course, her actions woke her husband, but he was not complaining.

There couldn’t have been a better start to this day. 

“Good morning Mrs. Shukla.”

Shehnaaz’s lips stretched into a wide, breathtaking smile at his addressal of her by what was now their last name. “Good morning, Mi Vida.”

“It feels right.”

Shehnaaz frowned, “Kya matlab?” 

“You.. me.. the smudge of vermillion in your parting, the beaded mangalsutra..”

Shehnaaz blinked, touching the beaded chain instinctively. It did feel right.

“Humaari shaadi bahot pehle se ho gayi hai Shukla-ji. Jab ek dinn mein ghar aayi aur kabhi waapis jaane ka mann nahi kiya.. ya shaayad usse bhi bahot pehle.” Shehnaaz said unabashedly and Sidharth nodded in agreement. “ Bahot pyaari lag rahi hai, biwi.”

Shehnaaz blushed.

Sidharth tugged her closer. “Hum log itni subaah kyon uthe huve hain?” He asked, confused. Sidharth’s face morphed slightly, his brows furrowed together and his lips formed a small, adorable pout.

“One reason, Kyonki subaah ho gayi hai.” Shehnaaz responded with a sweet smile. “Another reason, kyonki koi na koi humein bulaane aane hi waala hoga, agle 10 minute mein.  Meri instict kehti hai ki hamaari Mukku darwaaza khatkhataane waali hai.”

“Toofan-Mail hai woh ladki.” Sidharth said playfully. 

Shehnaaz chuckled. “Uss toofan-mail se app jitna pyaar karte hain, utna kisi se bhi nahi karte pati-dev.”

Sidharth sighed, "Woh toh hai, but in my defence, bacchi hai meri woh..”

“I understand. You know I fell in love with your family long before I fell for you, right?”

 “I’m well aware.” Sidharth scoffed.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes at the man-child of a husband she had been blessed with, “Tumhaari hi family hai.”

“Fine.” He said, trying to sound nonchalant. Shehnaaz smiled, shaking her head at him as Sidharth pouted like a child in front of her, sulking.

Shehnaaz cupped his face and rested her forehead gently against his. “Pyaara baccha mera.” 

***

Shehnaaz walked out of her room, whilst setting her saree to see almost all of her family assembled in the living area of the apartment. The guest that they had welcomed almost two weeks before their wedding had not yet left.