ROYAL REPLACEMENT [ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 5: MRS. RATHORE

Abhimaan stretched his arm to turn off the alarm clock. It had become a daily occurrence for Sahar to end up cuddling him by morning. She would start the night on her side of the bed, but by morning, she would either be sprawled on top of him or snuggled into his side.

He looked down at her, taking in her peaceful expression as she slept without a care in the world. The sunlight streaming through the windows bathed her dusky skin in a soft glow, making her look ethereal.

Her black hair fanned out across the pillow, framing her face, and for a moment, he was captivated by the sight. Her eyes, when not glaring at him, were a mesmerizing shade of light brown, and her lips—especially when painted in those enticing shades—often left him breathless.

Abhimaan quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to be caught staring at her like some creep. That had already happened a few times before, and it was embarrassing. He took a minute to gently disentangle himself from her, then got up from the bed, dressed in his gym gear, and headed to the gym, which was conveniently on the same floor.

After an hour of working out, Abhimaan returned to the room, only to find Sahar now completely sprawled on his side of the bed. He shook his head, smiling at the sight, and went for a shower.

Once he was ready for the day, dressed in a dark green two-piece suit with a black shirt underneath, Abhimaan decided to work from his home office. He had taken a holiday until Monday because of the wedding and was trying to catch up on some work. He settled into his office and was deep into his work when his secretary called, informing him that his presence was needed at a meeting later that day.

He was ready to leave but decided to inform Sahar first. When he returned to their room, he found it empty. Not wanting to leave without a word, he sat down in the armchair, reviewing some files. He didn't have to wait long before Sahar entered the room, a frown marring her face.

"What happened?" Abhimaan asked, curious about the cause of her displeasure since, for once, he wasn't the reason behind it.

"Dado called and told me about Pagphera," Sahar replied, trying to explain, though Abhimaan still looked confused.

"Basically, it's a ritual where the bride goes back to her home for a day with her husband the day after the wedding. But Dado found out that I didn't go, so she wants me to go today," she elaborated, noticing his confusion.

"Okay, so what's the problem?" Abhimaan asked, still not understanding the issue.

"The problem is that I don't want to visit them," Sahar replied, trying to avoid delving into the specifics. "I'll just go to a restaurant or something." She sighed, frustrated by the situation.

"If you don't want to visit them, then you can come to my office with me. I have a meeting to attend," Abhimaan offered.

Sahar considered her options. While she could go to a restaurant, the risk of being recognized from the newspapers made her lean towards his offer. Reluctantly, she agreed. "Okay, but you need to wait. I have to get ready."

"Sure," Abhimaan said, giving her space.

Sahar headed to her closet, contemplating her outfit. She wanted something that balanced elegance and simplicity. After some thought, she chose a maroon satin saree—neither too flashy nor too understated. It was just right.

She dressed in the saree and sat at her dressing table to do her makeup. She applied maroon matte lipstick, added a nose pin—a rare choice for her—and wore the kadas and red velvet bangles gifted by Dado on her left hand.

Sahar finished doing her hair and slipped on her nude heels, then turned towards Abhimaan, expecting him to be focused on something else. Instead, she found him staring at her, his gaze fixed intently.