Do Anjaane

Chapter 13

Hey guys! Glad to be back to my original updating 'time', so to speak. I was really on top of my to-do list today, but that meant I only got to edit two chapters. So, here you go! Enjoy!

"Excuse me, madam, may I wish you a happy sixth monthiversary." A handsome man with an open and friendly smile extended his hand to Vaidehi. She placed her hand in his and smiled, but instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. "Abhiram Bhaiya, kaise hain aap?" "Doing much better now, Bhabhi." He winked at her and she pursed her lips, trying to control her smile at his flirtatious manner. 

"Remember the plan, let's drop the Bhaiya and Bhabhi now, ok?" Vaidehi had met Abhiram, her husband's best friend, at their wedding, but only long enough for him to wish her. He had to leave immediately for an important project abroad, but he returned a few weeks ago and came to visit with gifts, and apologies, for the whole family. Vaidehi instantly warmed to his courteous, yet friendly manner. It was then that he suggested calling each other by their names, rather than Bhaiya and Bhabhi, whenever Raghuveer was around, in a childish attempt to make him jealous. 

However, until now, there was never a situation where Vaidehi interacted with Abhiram in front of her husband. In truth, he had become as close as Yagnik to her, and he had also confessed that he liked a certain younger sister of his best friend. While the private date the gang had planned was Phase 2 of Mission Milan, Abhiram's interference at the party was Phase 3. Wrapping an arm around Vaidehi's shoulders, Abhiram guided her towards the drinks table, where fruit punch and chilled badam milk with saffron were set out. 

As they walked to the table, they passed by Raghuveer and Vaidehi's siblings, close enough for them to hear what Abhiram and Vaidehi were saying. "Yaar Vaidu, apni beauty secrets mujhe bhi batado. Aaj toh tum kamaal lag rahi ho iss saree mein, ek dam Beauty and the Beast ki Belle ki tarah." He leaned in closer and Vaidehi dipped her head, letting her hair hide her smile. "Waise, ab toh bas che mahine ho gaye hain. Kyun na tum uss Beast ko chhod kar mere saath bhaag jao?" Raghuveer frowned hearing Abhiram's comments. Why was everyone so eager to run off with his wife? First, Yagnik, now Abhiram. Dhokebaaz! 

"Excuse me." He strode towards the drinks table and wrapped an arm around Vaidehi's waist, tugging her close so that Abhiram's hand slipped off her shoulder. Vaidehi looked up in shock at her husband, then bit her lip and dipped her head as Abhiram winked at her conspiratorially. He was indicating the success of his plan to make Veer jealous, but Raghuveer thought his traitor of a best friend was still flirting with his wife. "Kya baatein chal rahe hain?" "Oh, main toh bas Vaidu se keh raha tha..." 

"Yeh Vaidu Vaidu kya laga rakha hain. Bhabhi hain teri, toh tu sirf Bhabhi bol," Raghuveer said sternly. Before Abhiram could reply, Raghuveer turned to his wife. She was looking at him with curiosity, one eyebrow raised. Damn, she looked like a queen. His queen. What? No, there was nothing of that sort. He needed to get his mind back on track. "Vaidehi, it's time to cut the cake. Let's go." His hand still around her waist, he guided her to the table where the cake was set up. E

veryone gathered around the table, cheering in excitement and pulling out their phones to record. Raghuveer placed the knife in Vaidehi's hands, then wrapped his arms around her and held her hands in his. Vaidehi turned and looked at him, narrowing her eyes slightly in suspicion. "Aap kya kar rahe hain?" Raghuveer returned the best deadpan look he could muster. "Cutting the cake." As the family insisted on the couple feeding each other a piece of cake, Raghuveer lifted a piece to Vaidehi's mouth, and she barely took a bite off the edge of the piece. 

Taking the piece from him, she lifted it to his mouth, expecting him to do the same. But he took the entire piece of cake in his mouth, even holding her hand and licking the bit of whipped cream stuck to it, his teeth scraping lightly against the pad of her finger. Vaidehi's finger tingled as she jerked her hand back. "I like whipped cream, I would hate to see it go to waste." Ok, it was obvious that he was playing with her. 'Just you wait Raghuveer-ji, you'll get your just desserts, with extra whipped cream on top,' she thought. Raghuveer's siblings were gleeful that Mission Milan was having an effect on their brother.