His Unrequited Love

Chapter ~ 23

Reyansh awoke with the first rays of sunlight streaming through the window, a sharp intake of breath escaping his lips as he attempted to shift on the couch. Sleeping on the couch had proven to be uncomfortable for him, and he winced as he held his neck and sat up.

His gaze fell upon his wife, Aadrika, who was sleeping on the bed. Her tossing and turning suggested that she was still adjusting to their new surroundings. Smiling, Reyansh rose from the couch, glanced at Aadrika, and made his way to the bathroom to begin his morning routine.

Upon returning to the room, Reyansh found Aadrika sitting on the bed, her eyes half-opened and half-closed, her hair standing on end as if charged with electricity. Shaking his head, hiding his smile, he greeted her.

"Good morning, Patni ji," Reyansh said.

Aadrika turned to him, her eyes still half-closed, and replied, "Morning."

Reyansh then headed towards the closet to get dressed for the day, noting that it was Sunday and he didn't have to go to the office. Before leaving the room, he urged Aadrika to wake up, prompting her to respond that she didn't like sleeping in too late.

As Aadrika got up and selected a dress to wear, Reyansh sat on the couch, working on his laptop. When Aadrika emerged from the bathroom, she found Reyansh engrossed in his work.

"Could you please leave the room?" Aadrika requested, causing Reyansh to look up at his freshly bathed wife, finding her alluring.

"You can't order me around; this is my room too," Reyansh replied.

Aadrika sighed, becoming annoyed.

"Didn't you hear the 'please' in my sentence? I need to change into a saree, which I can't do in the bathroom."

"You are free to change your clothes at any time. I have no objections to that."

Reyansh playfully teased Aadrika, pretending to be busy with his laptop. She shot him a disapproving look, her mouth agape.

"Have you no shame? How can you ask a woman to change in your presence?" Aadrika snapped.

Reyansh couldn't help but hide his smile as he responded seriously.

"Just a reminder, you're not just any woman, you're my wife."

Aadrika crossed her arms and fixed him with a piercing gaze, momentarily leaving him lost in her eyes until she brought him back to reality with her words.

"Listen, Mr. Husband, you can't exert your rights over me until I willingly give them to you," she declared.

A smirk crept onto Reyansh's face, causing Aadrika to furrow her brow.

"I'll make sure of that," he vowed.

Grabbing his laptop, Reyansh turned to leave but paused when Aadrika warned him,

"You'll regret this, Mr. Rajvanshi."

With a smile, he turned back and assured her,

"Don't worry, wifey, I've got it under control."

He left the room, adding, "And please, don't call me Mr. Rajvanshi in front of our families. You're my wife, not my secretary."

Aadrika closed her eyes, trying to contain her irritation.

_______

Reyansh sat on the sofa in the main hall of the mansion, with Dhriti by his side, engaging in her favorite pastime of annoying him.

"Bhai, why are you still here?" she asked.

Reyansh raised his eyebrows and replied,

"What?"