𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞

66 MORNING MOMENTS

THIRD PERSON POV:

"Avni, tumhe tameez nahi hai baro ke samne aane ki?" a sharp voice remarked.
Avni turned and saw her dadi glaring at her.

"Mummaa," Vedika whispered, frightened by the high-pitched tone.

"Shh, baby. I am here, bachaa," Avni said softly, calming her daughter.

"Tum mein tameez nahi hai ki tum bina pallu ke yahan aa gayi?" Bua-saa added, her words dripping with insult.
(Don't you have any shame, coming here without covering your head?)

"Iss ladki ko toh abhi tak sharam nahi aayi ki pallu odh le sar par," Tai ji taunted. Avni lowered her head in silence.
(This girl still hasn't learned to cover her head with her pallu.)

"Bas karo, Tai ji. Bahut ho gaya. Agar Avni ne pallu nahi liya toh uski bhi koi wajah hogi na? Aaj tak kabhi aisa nahi hua ki woh bina pallu ke kahin gayi ho. Usne Vedika ko uthaya hua hai, isliye pallu fisal gaya. Kya badi baat hai? Aap unko is tarah insult nahi kar sakti," a firm voice came from behind Avni.
(Enough, Tai ji. If Avni didn't wear her pallu, there must be a reason. She was holding Vedika, so it slipped. What's the big deal? You cannot insult her like this.)

Avni immediately recognized the voice. She had spoken to him late last night and again early this morning. It was Amar.

"Beta, hum uski insult nahi kar rahe the. Hum bas use Raj gharane ke usool sikha rahe hain," Bua-saa said defensively.
(Dear, we weren't insulting her. We were just teaching her the rules of the royal family.)

"Woh sab maine dekha. Aap Avni se aise baat nahi kar sakte. Agar aapko kuch samjhana hai, toh pyaar se bhi samjhaya jaa sakta hai," Amar replied, his gaze sweeping across the room.
(I saw everything. You cannot speak to Avni like this. If you want to explain something, it can be done kindly.)

"Amar ji, aap kyun uski tarafdari kar rahe hain? Woh toh wahi hai jisne aapko mandap pe chhod diya tha Arjun se shaadi karne ke liye," Anya spat venomously.
(Amar ji, why are you taking her side? She's the same girl who left you at the mandap to marry Arjun.)

"Anya, woh mera aur Avni ka personal matter hai. Hum khud suljha lenge. Tumhe fikar karne ki zarurat nahi," Amar said through gritted teeth, then gently covered Avni's head with her pallu.
(Anya, that is between Avni and me. We will resolve it ourselves. You don't need to interfere.)

"Chalo yahan se. Vedika ko is mahaul mein rakhne ki zaroorat nahi. Uske dimaag par galat asar hoga," Amar said softly to Avni. She nodded and began moving toward the garden.
(Let's go from here. There's no need to keep Vedika in this atmosphere—it will affect her mind negatively.)

Unbeknownst to Avni, Amar followed closely behind. Arjun, who had just ended a phone call, turned in time to see Amar trailing her with a wicked smile. He quickly approached Avni and pulled her close.

"Kya hua? Aap theek hain na?" Avni asked, concerned.
(What happened? Are you alright?)

Arjun simply nodded. Then he looked at Vedika.
"Vedu beta, aapko Aarav chachu ka room dekhna tha na? Jao, dekh lo," he said warmly.
(Vedu dear, you wanted to see Aarav Uncle's room. Go on, have a look.)

He instructed a guard to escort her inside. Avni still didn't realize Amar was nearby. Arjun hugged her tightly, then glanced at Amar and winked.

"Baby, where is my good evening?" Arjun teased.

"Good evening, Arjun," Avni replied softly.

"Oh, my innocent baby," he murmured, before pressing his lips firmly against hers.

At first, Avni was shocked, but when Arjun's hand slid to her waist, she began to respond. Wrapping her arms swiftly around his neck, she kissed him back, sucking his upper lip with urgency. After a few minutes, they pulled apart.