Unplanned Devotion- A Journey from Hate to Love

Chapter 8: Tulip Confessions

Virendra was sitting in the living room, nursing a chilled beer while scrolling through an article on his mobile phone. The room was enveloped in complete silence, just the way he liked it. He cherished these quiet moments, away from the chaos.

Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by the sound of heels clicking down the stairs. He looked up, curiosity piqued, and his breath caught in his throat. Riddhi was descending the stairs, dressed in a stunning blue saree with a white blouse. Her wrists were adorned with bangles, the mangalsutra resting elegantly around her neck, and a streak of sindoor adorned her middle partition. Her big, fish-shaped eyes were accentuated with kajal, a navy blue bindi graced her forehead, and she wore big jhumkas that swayed with each step. Her hair was styled in a messy bun, adding to her allure.

With each step she took, Virendra's heartbeat quickened. He couldn't help but stare at her, mesmerized by her beauty. As she walked towards him, he felt his heart skip a beat.

"Khud ki biwi ko hi is tarah se tadna band kar denge aap, Pande ji," she said with a smile, her voice soft and playful.

("Stop staring at your own wife like that, Mr. Pandey.")

For a moment, Virendra was taken aback. He couldn't believe how softly she spoke, how forgiving she seemed after everything. The sight of her made him think that perhaps his act of self-punishment had touched her heart.

Gathering his composure, he stood up and replied, his voice deep and appreciative, "Aapki khubsurti ka to koi jawab hi nahi hai, Riddhi. Aapko dekhkar toh aaj khud ko khud pe naaz ho raha hai ki aap meri patni hain. Aap sach mein is ghar ki Lakshmi hain."

("There’s no answer to your beauty, Riddhi. Seeing you today, I feel proud that you are my wife. You truly are the goddess of this house.")

Riddhi's cheeks flushed at his words, the soft blush contrasting beautifully with her skin. Virendra couldn't take his eyes off her, feeling a mix of pride and desire. He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "Tumhari muskurahat mere jeene ki wajah ban rahi hai, Riddhi. Tumhari khushi mein hi meri khushi hai."

("Your smile is becoming the reason for my existence, Riddhi. My happiness lies in your happiness.")

Virendra's intense gaze softened as he took in Riddhi's flushed cheeks, her beauty leaving him momentarily speechless. He led her to the couch, and they sat down. He was about to speak, but Riddhi’s eyes fell on the glass of beer on the table.

She frowned, her expression instantly darkening. Virendra noticed and asked, “Kya hua, Riddhi? Tum itne ajeeb chehre kyun bana rahi ho?”

("What happened, Riddhi? Why are you making such strange faces?")

Riddhi hesitated before answering, “Kuch nahi.”

("Nothing.")

Virendra pressed, “Nahi, sach batao. Kya baat hai?”

("No, tell me the truth. What’s the matter?)

Taking a deep breath, Riddhi finally confessed, “Mujhe wo log bilkul pasand nahi jo peete hain, smoke karte hain aur nasha karte hain. Mujhe yeh sab bahut bura lagta hai.”

("I really dislike people who drink, smoke, and do drugs. I find all this very bad.")

Virendra looked at the beer glass, then back at Riddhi. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached for the glass and took it away, his voice firm but gentle, “Jo meri pasand ko pasand nahi, wo meri pasand nahin.”

("What you don’t like, I don’t like.")

Riddhi was taken aback. How could such a powerful man, feared by many, make such a significant decision so easily just because she expressed her disapproval? She watched in astonishment as Virendra got up, walked over to a cabinet, and started gathering all the alcohol bottles. He then opened the sliding window to the balcony and began to pour out the contents, one by one.