ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

51

This chapter has 3000+ words and ends with a question so make sure you read till the end

Target for next chapter: 1410 votes and 725 comments.

*** Shanthi ***

 "Vinnu, look!" I said excitedly as I stepped out of the room and swirled around, showing off the new saree and matching jewelry that Vinod got for me. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's beyond beautiful, sweetheart," Vinod said with a smile as his eyes admired me. "It's heavenly."

I looked down and blushed.

"Your red cheeks go really well with the red saree," Vinod teased as he stepped forward, and I wiped my cheeks as if that would remove the redness.

Vinod chuckled and took another step forward, his eyes still on me, as if he were physically incapable of looking elsewhere.

"I-I paired it with the bangles that Yashoda bhabhisa gifted me," I said, showing him my hand in an attempt to distract him. "Do they match?"

Vinod held my hand and gently pulled me closer.

"Yes, sweetheart, they do," he said as his hand traced my face.

"All these gifts must've cost you a lot," I said, looking down at the necklace again. "You should've gotten me something cheaper."

"In the North, they say a man's richness is perceived through his woman's smile," he said. "So if anything, I am saving money."

"Your love is enough to make me smile," I replied, looking into his eyes.

"Oh, don't worry about that, darling," he whispered as his lips moved closer to my ear while his free hand fiddled with my other ear, gently taking off my earring. "Tonight, there is going to be an abundance of that."

"Vinnu," I said, slightly slapping him on the shoulder.

"Ouch!" Vinod said dramatically.

"I barely hit you," I objected.

"Still hurts," he continued his play, "and I will make sure you pay for it." His hand moved to my neck, and within seconds, I felt the necklace drop down. Vinod held it and carefully placed it on the table beside him, along with the earring.

"I thought my smile holds the most value," I replied.

"Certainly it does," he said, suddenly turning me around while simultaneously placing the other earring on the table.

"But your screams muffled by my kisses are even more valuable," he whispered as his hands traced across my waist and slowly made their way to my wrist.

"You have until..." he started as he began to take off the bangles one by one from my right hand.

"Until I take off the bangles..." I interrupted his words, and he paused. "Tell me if you don't want me to proceed," I continued the statement I'd heard so many times before. "It will not affect our relationship or my love for you. Ideally, I would want to know the reason, but if you are not comfortable, I will not press the issue. Just remember that you are loved, and nothing is ever going to change that."

"Am I right?" I asked, turning around to face him.

"As always, my dear," he smiled as he held onto the last bangle. "But you also seem to have wasted a lot of time doing so."

"And I have no regrets," I said, pulling my hand out of the bangle, and he immediately twisted my hand behind my back and pulled me closer.

"Getting bold, are we, sweetheart?" he whispered, pretending to be serious.