Imperfectly Yours✓

1.

Feeling a warm breath against his ear, Advik slowly opened his eyes, stretching his hands, only to realize they were locked around someone. His eyes widened, and he turned to his left in an instant, only to come face to face with a beautiful woman wearing a small smile.

Yashvi was peacefully asleep beside him, holding onto him tightly with her delicate fist, while his arm rested around her shoulder and the other lay on his own stomach.

"She is really pretty," he thought to himself, a small smile forming as he observed her face. Her warm honey-toned skin, round face, rosy cheeks, petite lips, and a mole just beneath them held his gaze. His heart skipped a beat as he admired her pouty expression, feeling her snuggling closer to him.

With a gentle bite on his lower lip, Advik tried to extricate himself from her grasp without disturbing her slumber. Thankfully, she remained asleep as he slowly freed himself, feeling her grip on his white t-shirt loosen. Rising from the bed, he stretched his arms, a yawn escaping his lips.

Advik made his way to the nearby kettle, preparing to warm up some water for himself. However, his eyes remained fixed on his wife, who had by now snuggled deeper under the comforter, her pout transforming into a serene smile.

"Cute," he whispered softly, a smile gracing his face as he poured the lukewarm water into a glass and took a sip.

-----

"Promise me that you will give Advik a chance. He is a great man, Yashvi. Don't let my past affect your future. Don't enter his life with preconceived notions about love and relationships. Build your own family, embrace it with him. Let him find a place in your heart, and please, Yashvi, try to find a place for yourself in his family's heart too."

Yashvi remembered her mother's words and let out a sigh. Though she had made a promise to her mother, she had no idea how to fulfill it. She had never experienced living in a joint family before.

Shaking her head, Yashvi picked up her bangles and slid them onto her wrist, her gaze shifting to Advik as he entered the room through the balcony door, catching her off guard. Her eyes fell on his attire, noticing the sweat on his body, indicating that he had been exercising.

"Yashvi, if you want any changes in the room, I can contact an interior designer. I know it was supposed to be done before marriage, but our marriage was kind of rushed, so..." Advik's words trailed off as he looked at Yashvi, who held her nuptial chain and met his eyes through the mirror as she struggled to put it on.

"It's your room. What changes would I need?" she mumbled to herself, but Advik heard that and shook his head.

"Correction required, Mrs. Mehrotra. It was my room, but now it's ours. Therefore, your opinions matter as much as mine," he said, moving closer to her and placing his hand on the nuptial chain she was fidgeting with.

"May I?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with a perfect arch. If not for the previous tension, Yashvi might have swooned over him.

She looked at him and nodded in agreement. He gently picked up the chain and placed it around her neck.

"Ye bohot sundar lag raha hai aap par," he said, running his hand up to touch her soft skin and removing the beads of sweat that had formed near her nape due to her struggle with the chain. (It looks pretty on you.)

Yashvi felt a shiver run down her spine, but she quickly brushed it off, reminding herself that it was simply a gesture of appreciation. She smiled slightly at him, her cheeks blushing with a faint pink hue. He nodded at her and walked towards the closet.

-----

As Yashvi folded the bedsheets and tidied the room, she felt a pair of eyes on her. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed Advik standing there, observing her as she worked effortlessly.