Imperfectly Yours✓

12.

Yashvi came downstairs, a permanent glow on her face, and headed towards the kitchen. As she had expected, her mother-in-law, chachi, and Adya were in the kitchen. She greeted the elderly ladies by touching their feet, and they lovingly caressed her hair. Adya observed her with keen eyes, making Yashvi squirm a bit under her gaze.

"What are you doing Maa? And how come you're in the kitchen?" Yashvi asked her mother-in-law, who smiled at her and then directed the question to Adya, who hugged her from behind.

"I missed you, Bhabhi. I was bored, so I thought I'd come and disturb Maa and Choti Maa," Adya said, giggling. Adya had just finished her NEET PG exams and was taking a break.

"We were free, so we decided to cook today," Padmakshi, her chachi, said with a gentle smile directed towards her as she took out the vegetables and began chopping them.

"What's on the menu then?" Yashvi asked, looking around.

Adya playfully listed, "Palak dal, mixed vegetable, mushroom curry, bhindi masala, chutney, salad, roti, brown rice, and lastly ice-cream, which my useless brother will take us to."

Yashvi lightly tapped the back of Adya's head, making her wince playfully.

Adya continued, "Why are your cheeks so red today? Did you kiss Bhai?" She asked Yashvi in a hushed voice, making sure her mother didn't overhear. Yashvi's eyes widened as her hands instinctively went to her cheeks, which reddened even more as she remembered the cozy moment she had shared with her husband. Avoiding Adya, she took the chopped palak and poured the hot water onto it.

Yashvi glared at Adya, then returned to washing the chopped palak with tap water. Adya continued to watch her, as if waiting for an answer.

"He is your brother, Adya," Yashvi whispered, her heart beating a little faster as her mind wandered back to the cozy moment she had shared with Advik.

Adya replied, "So what? I'm a doctor. I know these things are necessary," teasing her with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Yashvi couldn't help but laugh, and Adya's face lit up with a smile. Sandhya and Padmakshi smiled at the interaction between the two sisters-in-law. Just then, Advik entered the kitchen.

"Maa, I'm free," he announced, looking at his wife who was avoiding his gaze and tending to the pressure cooker on the stove.

"Whom are you informing, Maa or your wife?" Adya said teasingly, eliciting a shy smile from Yashvi as she took the pan and placed it on another stove. Advik glared at Adya before returning his attention to his wife's lips, which she was nervously biting. His own neck turned red as he reminisced the intimate moment with Yashvi, and he rubbed his neck sheepishly. Glancing at his mother and aunt, who were busy chopping vegetables, he realized there were no helpers available at the moment, which made him smirk. He looked at Adya and shook his head, gesturing for her to step outside.

Adya playfully stuck her tongue out at her brother but went on to sit beside her mother, who was chopping vegetables while seated on a stool beside her aunt. Yashvi was fully occupied with stirring the vegetables when she suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist, causing her to catch her breath. She glared hard at Advik who smirked planting a soft kiss on her shoulder blade making her shudder.

"Advik, not right now, please. Everyone is here," she whispered, her hands attempting to gently push away Advik, who only tightened his hold around her and kissed behind her ear.

"They can't see us," he whispered huskily, making her sigh. The others had their backs turned to them, but her heart was still beating rapidly.

"Advik, aren't you going out? If not, then help us," he heard his mother's voice, making him stand straight as he took three steps back. Yashvi giggled softly and took the spice box, adding them to the vegetables.