Imperfectly Yours✓

8.

"We've arrived," Advik whispered, parking the car as he gazed at his wife, who seemed lost in thought. Her cheeks had a rosy hue, and her eyes were fixed on something outside, as if in a trance.

She got startled when he gently nudged her shoulder and raised his eyebrows, bringing her back to the present. She realized her surroundings and nodded, getting out of the car. Aarav retrieved the gifts his mother had prepared for his in-laws.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at her with a playful expression. She shook her head and adjusted her saree and hair.

"You are lost," he remarked with a chuckle, and she glared at him.

"As if you don't know why?" She retorted, her eyes narrowing at him, but he just laughed, his dimples appearing, which made her smile too. She pressed the button for the fourth floor as they stepped inside the lift.

"Yashvi," he whispered and looked at her as she gazed at their reflections in the mirror, humming softly.

"Your brother doesn't seem to like me," he whispered, a slight frown on his face as he remembered the awkwardness he had felt around her brother.

"Darsh is a socially awkward and extremely introverted person, Advik. If he didn't like you, we wouldn't be married right now. And now, all that matters is that his sister likes you more than anyone or anything," she whispered, stepping outside the lift. Advik's eyes widened as he realized her words, and a broad grin spread across his face. His wife had finally confessed that she liked him, and for the time being, he was more than content with that.

-----

As soon as she rang the bell, her mother opened the door, with her brother just behind her. Her mother enveloped her in a tight hug, which made it a little difficult for Yashvi to breathe due to the heavy saree she was wearing. Nonetheless, a full-blown smile spread across her face, warmed by her mother's embrace. She reciprocated the hug as her eyes turned glassy. She had always been extremely close to her mother, and not being able to see her for more than a month had made her feel vulnerable.

"Maa, let them come inside at least," Darsh said and passed a smile to Advik, who was observing his wife's glassy eyes.

"Wait," Amrita, Yashvi's mother, said as she took the aarti thali from her son's hand and gestured for Darsh to take the gifts from Advik, who was passing them over.

She applied the tilak on their foreheads, and they both bent down to receive her blessings as she blessed them with a joyful heart.

"Bohot sundar lagg rahi hain," Amrita said, giving a glance to her daughter's appearance. She was dressed in a beautiful pink silk organza saree. (You are looking beautiful.)

Advik smiled upon hearing Amrita's compliment as she sat beside her daughter, while Darsh served them with water.

A few minutes later, the house worker, along with Darsh, came up with appetizers, which made Advik's mouth water. There were samosas, dhokla, chutney, paneer tikka, chaat, and golgappe. Tea and coffee were also on the menu.

"Maa, hume khana khilaye bina hi bhejne ka plan hain kya?" He immediately asked, turning towards his mother-in-law, who chuckled upon looking at him. Darsh also cracked a smile, while Yashvi simply shook her head at his playfulness. (Do you plan to send us without dinner?)

"My son-in-law came home for the first time after marriage. I won't let him leave without a proper full course meal from my hands," Amrita declared with a warm smile. She felt happiness wash over her as she saw her daughter's cheeks flushed with joy, a permanent smile etched on her face, and a happy glint in her eyes. It was enough for Amrita to know that her daughter was happy, and it warmed her heart.