Marriage In The Pink City

Chapter 18

Namaste
Chapter 18

Abhimaan rested his chin on her shoulder, thinking for a moment. The warmth of her body against his felt comforting, yet her words hung in the air, creating a weight between them. He gently shifted her off his lap, so they were both sitting side by side on the lounge chair. The night was quiet, the moon casting a soft glow over the water, reflecting their silence.

“Tanu,” he began, his voice softer than usual, “I didn’t realise you felt that way.”

Tanushree turned to him, her eyes glistening under the moonlight. “I just want us to be more than…this.” She gestured vaguely at the intimate space between them. “I love being close to you, but it feels like… it’s the only thing we do. I want to know the man I’m spending my life with.”

He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You want to know me,” he repeated, more to himself than to her. His jaw tightened as memories flashed through his mind—memories he had locked away, unwilling to revisit.

“I’ve never been good at…talking about myself,” he admitted. “Even as a kid, I kept things to myself. I guess I still do.”

Tanushree placed a hand on his knee. “I’m your wife, Maan. I want to know what makes you happy, what you care about…what hurts you.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “What do you want to know?” he asked quietly, meeting her gaze.

She smiled slightly, encouraged by his openness. “Everything,” she said. “Your childhood… school…your hobbies, the things that make you, you.”

He leaned back, staring up at the sky, the stars twinkling like distant memories. “I was a quiet kid,” he began, his voice low. “Didn’t have many friends. I was always more focused on work… making something of myself. My parents weren’t around much, so I learned early to rely on myself.”

Tanushree listened intently, her heart aching as he spoke. “And what about your hobbies? What do you enjoy?”

He chuckled lightly, though there was no humor in it. “Honestly, I’ve forgotten what I enjoy. It’s been work, work, and more work. I used to love reading, playing chess… but I haven’t touched a book or a chessboard in years.”

She bit her lip, realizing how little he indulged in anything outside of work. “Maybe we could start with that. Play chess together or read books. I can help you remember the things you used to enjoy.”

Abhimaan looked at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “You’d do that?”

“Of course,” she said softly, her fingers brushing his cheek. “I want to be more than just your…wife in bed. I want to be your friend, your confidant.”

He pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. “I’ll try, Tanu. I’ll try to let you in.”

She smiled, feeling the sincerity in his words. “That’s all I ask, Maan.”

The morning air was fresh and crisp as they set out for their sightseeing trip. Tanushree’s excitement was palpable; her eyes lit up with every passing view. Their first stop was Elephant Falls, and she was immediately enchanted by the cascading water, its thunderous sound echoing through the trees.

“Maan, yeh sab kitna sundar hai!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. Her wide-eyed wonder and innocent excitement were contagious, and Abhimaan found himself smiling, watching her as she twirled slightly, taking in the natural beauty around them.

At their next stop, Umiam Lake, the crystal-clear water shimmered under the sun, reflecting the blue sky and surrounding hills. Tanushree stood by the lake’s edge, taking it all in. “Kya hum yahan hamesha ke liye reh sakte hain?” she asked cheerfully, looking up at him with a dreamy smile, her eyes sparkling with childlike joy.

Abhimaan, standing a few steps behind her, couldn’t help but capture the moment. He clicked a candid picture of her, her face glowing with happiness as the lake stretched out behind her. When she turned around, he tucked his phone back into his pocket and walked up to her.

“If you want to, I’ll get us a property here,” he said casually, though his voice held a softness she wasn’t used to.

She blinked up at him, her smile widening. “Sach? Aap mere liye yeh karoge?”

He smirked slightly, shrugging as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Anything for you, Tanu.”

Tanushree laughed, the sound light and carefree. She wrapped her arms around his, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Is this really you, Maan? Or did the OG Maan invent a nicer version of himself?” she asked teasingly.

“l will leave that to your imagination, darling,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “Your happiness means everything to me.”

They moved on to the viewpoints, where the endless valleys and towering hills stretched before them like a painting. Tanushree kept pointing at things, marveling at the beauty, while Abhimaan silently enjoyed her enthusiasm more than the scenery itself.

He watched her every reaction, her joy infectious, and for a brief moment, he realized that this trip—this experience—wasn’t just for her. It was for him, too. To see her this happy was something he hadn’t realized he needed.

And for the first time in a while, Abhimaan found himself wishing they could stay in this moment forever.

They were having dinner at a cozy restaurant, the soft hum of background music creating a calm ambiance. The warm glow of candles on their table flickered gently as they sat across from each other, enjoying the delicious local cuisine.

Abhimaan broke the comfortable silence. “I like the color black and red. I enjoy golfing sometimes,” he said, his voice casual but steady.

Tanushree’s face lit up, her heart skipping a beat. He was finally opening up to her. “And I like the color…” she began with a smile, only to be interrupted.

“Pink,” Abhimaan said, his eyes meeting hers with a knowing look. “You like the color pink.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know?” she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and amusement.

He leaned in slightly, his voice low and confident. “I’ve observed, darling. Trust me, I like the color pink too… especially the ones that show up on your cheeks when you’re screaming my name.”

His words were husky, filled with a teasing intimacy that made her heart race. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she looked down, unable to hide the blush that had bloomed across her face.

“Abhimaan…” she mumbled shyly, feeling her face burn.

He chuckled softly, enjoying the effect he had on her. “See? There it is again,” he teased, his voice warm as he reached across the table to gently take her hand.

Tanushree glanced up, still blushing, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. In that moment, she felt closer to him, like the walls between them were finally starting to come down.

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