Bepannaah: Against All Odds || COMPLETED

32. Perfect

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Zoya stirred slightly when she felt the slight graze of a day old stubble over the smoothness of her cheek. She made an incoherent sound and ducked her head, clinging closer to her husband with her face now on his chest and her arm around him. A few minutes later, she felt his fingers tracing the curve of her spine over her night dress and before she knew her eyes were fluttering open while she tilted her head to look at her husband.

Aditya grinned at her, his expressions sheepish as he watched her sleep dazed gaze linger on him. His teasing fingers found her bare forearm lying over him and he began doodling while curving his left hand around her and holding her closer.

Zoya lay unmoving for few seconds and then chuckled, tilting her head to kiss near his jawline before whispering softly, “I love you too”.

Aditya laughed and wrapped both his arms around her, and she let him, enjoying the safe cocoon.

“Aren't you up too early for a Sunday morning?”, she asked in a teasing tone, aware of just how much Mr. Hooda loved his sleep.

“That's the exact point no? It's a Sunday morning”, he groaned, his eyes falling on the wall clock that read Seven AM.

Zoya began laughing at the mock irritation her husband was trying to pull off. She poked his chest and boasted, “You love our family Sundays just as much. Don't pretend to be grumpy”.

After returning from their honeymoon - Aditya had whisked her off to London with him for a week - they had decided to have family Sundays. Even though Aditya's parents and Sakshi lived nearby, the idea was to spend time together - both sets of parents, Arjun, Noor and Sakshi at their house. They knew that not everyone was going to start getting along together miraculously, but they both had craved their families in their own way for so long, they couldn't help but enjoy this dynamic where their families were finally looking out for their happiness before everything else and once a week seemed good enough push. Arjun and Noor did keep randomly visiting them often though, and sometimes Zoya would visit her parents and her in laws by herself too and some days Aditya would drag her and go trouble Sakshi, but all of it somehow worked out for them.

Aditya clicked his tongue and grumbled, “I do love family Sundays - usually, but I have been traveling the whole week and I came back just last night and now you are going to spend the entire day with everyone else but me”, he complained and pulled her closer, almost ready to tie her to himself and spend the entire day on bed.

Zoya only began laughing louder, the last remnants of her sleep now gone but a faint flush adored her cheeks. She loved Aditya to death, no doubt, but at moments like this, she wondered if she loved how much he loved her more.

“No seriously, let me just Call Arjun and cancel today's plan”, Aditya offered again, trying his best to convince her but even his best puppy eyes didn't work on Zoya. She shook her head and clinged to him, “If you stop complaining and behave throughout the day, I might just reward you at night”, she whispered with her head in the nape of his neck, letting her lips linger for an extra second.

Aditya groaned and flipped them over and Zoya let out a childish squeal before she grinned at him, her eyes dancing with mischief as she looped her hands around his neck an pulled him down even though he was completely hovering over her, and rubbed her nose with his.

“Aren't you getting naughtier every passing day Begum Shaiba?”, Aditya teased, taking the cue and running his nose all over her cheeks and jaw line while she arched her neck to give him more access.

“Maybe I am, but I know you don't mind”, she giggled, staring right back at him and he couldn't help but stare for a long moment  - adoring her for her cuteness and boldness before he chuckled and leaned in, kissing near her lips, “Like hell I would ever mind you being this bomb woman Mrs. Hooda. You have no idea the effect you have on me”.