77. NOODLES

ABHIMANYU’S POV

After drying her hair carefully, I headed to the closet to grab her clothes. I picked out her innerwear, a soft tank top, and a pair of small shorts - something comfortable for her to rest in. When I handed them to her, she gave me a tired but grateful smile before changing.

Once she was dressed, I tucked her into bed, making sure she was warm and cozy under the blanket. Just as I finished, there was a knock at the door.

"Leave it there!" I called out, my voice firm and changed myself in a vest and pants.

When I opened the door a moment later, a tray full of food awaited me. But before I could take it in, two troublemakers - Rexy and Leo - darted inside with their tails wagging like maniacs.

I glared at them, my hands on my hips.
"Really? You two just wait for the door to open, don't you?"

They had the audacity to look at me with cheeky, innocent expressions as if they were angels sent from heaven. Shivnya giggled from the bed, and I groaned, knowing I'd already lost this battle.

I carried the tray inside, placing it on the bedside table.

"First, hot chocolate," I said, handing her the steaming cup.

She took a sip, the warmth bringing a soft glow to her cheeks. "I'm fine, you know. It's just a little sneezing."

I raised a brow at her, giving her my are you kidding me? look.
"Fine or not, you're resting. Because if Mom and Dad find out you got sick, they'll throw me out of the house. And I mean literally throw me."

She burst into laughter, nearly spilling her drink.
"You're so dramatic!"

But before I could defend myself, my phone started ringing. The name Tanmay flashed across the screen.

Shivnya noticed it and chuckled. "See? You said their name, and they're calling already."

I hummed noncommittally and - deliberately - didn't answer.

She narrowed her eyes on me. "Why didn't you pick it up?"

"Because," I said flatly, "this is my honeymoon with my wife. Can't they let me enjoy even one moment in peace?"

Her lips curved into a smirk. "Oh-ho, someone's possessive."

I ignored her teasing, but the phone started ringing again. She gave me that knowing, dramatic look that said You better pick that up.

"Come on, Abhi," she nudged me. "What if it's important?"

I stared at her in disbelief. "Important? Tanmay? That boy wouldn't call me for anything serious even if his life depended on it."

She chuckled at my dry tone. "Still... just answer it. Or he'll keep calling till our honeymoon ends."

I groaned internally, knowing she was right. With the weight of a man walking toward his doom, I answered the call.

Before I could even say hello, Tanmay's voice exploded through the speaker.
"Bhai! Why weren't you answering? I've been calling for an hour!"

I rolled my eyes dramatically, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"Oh really? Just one hour? That's nothing - weren't you calling me for days?"

Shivnya snorted into her hot chocolate, trying and failing to hide her laughter.

Tanmay, completely oblivious to my sarcasm, whined, "Bhai, I'm serious, okay? Now tell me... how's your honeymoon going?"

Both Shivnya and I froze. Did this idiot just straight-up ask that?

Before I could strangle him through the phone, we heard the sound of a smack and a loud scolding in the background.
"This is how you talk to your elder brother and sister-in-law, you besharam (shameless ) fool?!"

Ah, sweet music to my ears - Chachi's voice.

Then, another voice replaced his - Maa.
"Sorry, beta," she said sweetly, "we didn't want to disturb your honeymoon. Your dad even told me not to call, but I just wanted to check on you both. You know how sensitive Shivnya is to the cold."

I sighed, understanding her concern. I loved that she cared so much for Shivnya, but honestly, I was here. Her husband. I could take care of my wife perfectly well.

"Yes, Maa, I understand," I said gently, but firmly. "She's completely fine, don't worry."

Maa immediately said, "Okay, okay... but now let me talk to my bahu ( daughter-in-law)!"

Shivnya perked up, her face lighting with excitement. She opened her mouth to reply, but oh no - not on my watch.

I clamped my hand gently over her mouth and gave her a glare that screamed, Don't you dare.

Already, my wife divided her love between me and those two little monsters, Rexy and Leo. I was not letting anyone else steal even a second of her attention - especially over the phone.

"Maa," I said smoothly, "she's sleeping right now. We just came back from the museum, and she was so tired she fell asleep the moment we got here. Waking her up wouldn't be good for her health."

Shivnya's eyes went wide, her muffled gasp vibrating against my palm. If looks could kill, I'd be a dead man right now.

"Ohh, okay then," Maa said with clear disappointment. "Call me when she wakes up. I want to hear her voice."

Argh! These women! What could they possibly have to talk about for hours?

"Maa," I said with a hint of irritation, "you can talk to your so-loving bahu when we come home. Right now, please let me enjoy my honeymoon in peace."

Beside me, Shivnya was glaring so hard I could feel her silent fury burning holes in my head.

Before Maa could reply, another voice jumped in - Dadi.
"Yes, yes," she said loudly. "Let them be. Why are you disturbing them during their honeymoon?"

A victorious grin spread across my face. "See? My Dadi understands me."

But my happiness lasted only two seconds.

Dadi added slyly, "Stay there as long as you want, beta. But when you return, make sure you bring me good news of a great-grandson or granddaughter."

I froze. Shivnya's cheeks turned crimson, her face buried in her hands.

"Dadi, I'll... uh... talk to you later. Bye!" I blurted, and hung up before anyone could say another word.

Throwing my phone aside, I groaned dramatically. "Unbelievable."

Shivnya peeked at me from behind her hands, her lips twitching as if she was trying not to laugh.

I turned to her with mock seriousness. "Don't even think about laughing."

And of course, she burst into laughter anyway.

SHIVNYA'S POV

After finishing our food, Abhi tucked me in like a baby and then lay down beside me. I cuddled closer to him and said, "Abhi, I want to do something. I'm getting bored."

He turned to me with a thoughtful expression. "Movie..?"

I thought for a second and then shook my head. "No... we watched a movie the day we came here, na. Something else."

Abhi pursed his lips, deep in thought. I could literally see the gears turning in his brain. Suddenly, a sly smile spread across his face.

"Didn't you plan anything for the night?" I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously. I knew my husband well enough to know that he never let things stay simple.

He smirked, acting all mysterious. "Actually, yes. I planned a candlelight dinner date for us in the most expensive hotel here. I booked the entire place-flower petals everywhere, dim lighting, soothing music-the works."

My eyes instantly lit up like a child offered candy. "Whattt?!" I squealed, sitting up excitedly. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go! I have to get ready too!"

Before I could throw off the blanket, Abhi immediately pushed me back down with a firm hand.

"Noooo! You aren't going anywhere," he said in his strict husband voice. "You're sick. You have to stay under this blanket and rest."

I gave him my best pout. "But seeee, I haven't sneezed for half an hour now!"

He raised an eyebrow, looking completely unimpressed. "And you think just because you didn't sneeze for thirty minutes, I'll take you out in this cold? Dream on, baby."

"Pleeeease, naaa," I said, trying my baby voice.

Abhi cupped my face, kissing the tip of my nose. "Bacha, I actually cancelled the booking because you're sick."

He hadn't cancelled a thing, but it was the only way to stop me from dragging myself out of bed and into that fancy restaurant.

I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Hmph! Fine. But I am not going to sit here bored on our honeymoon."

"Who said you'll be bored?" he said smoothly, leaning closer. "I have ideas. We can do something fun here."

That's when a mischievous idea popped into my mind. I didn't say it out loud though. Instead, I put on my most innocent face and said, "Pass me my phone for now."

As he handed it over, I started searching something in private, keeping my screen hidden like a little secret agent.

Meanwhile, Abhi kept brainstorming. "Okay, how about we go to the game room and play something?"

Without looking up, I said flatly, "No. Something else."

He frowned but didn't give up. "Hmm, okay... why don't we cook together? We haven't done that before."

"Nooo," I said, scrolling away. "Too boring. Something else."

Abhi's jaw tightened. He gave idea after idea, and I rejected them one by one without even sparing him a glance. After a while, he started throwing out completely ridiculous suggestions out of sheer frustration.

"Cutting the grass in the garden?"

"Nope."

"Watering the plants?"

"Nope."

"Yoga?"

"Nope."

"Fine!" He threw his hands up dramatically. "Let's just sit and... watch the sunrise."

I finally looked at him and blinked. "Abhi... it's night. How exactly do you plan to watch the sunrise now?"

He growled in frustration while I bit back a laugh.

Finally, he snapped, his voice sharp. "Are you even listening to what I'm saying?"

I froze for a second and then, with a completely innocent face, said, "Nooo."

The look on his face was priceless. His eyes widened in pure shock, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. And then... that tiny flicker of hurt in his eyes stabbed me right in the heart.

"Shivnyaaa!" he groaned dramatically, collapsing back on the bed like his whole world had ended.

I gave him a sheepish smile. "Achaa okay, get up now. I've planned something for us."

Abhimanyu narrowed his eyes, suspicion dripping from his Mr. Barrow-style stare. "What..?" he asked slowly, as if weighing every word.

I grinned. "I said na, just get up and come now."

I slipped out of bed, opened the door, and glanced back at him. He was still sitting there on the mattress with a frown.

"Come fast or I'll go alone, Mr. Rathore," I teased.

That snapped him out of it. His eyes widened in shock, and I could already imagine him scrambling for clothes upstairs while I confidently walked down. Sure enough, when I reached near the car, I saw him running toward me, tugging on a shirt with one hand, draping a shawl over his shoulders with the other.

He caught my wrist before I could escape. "Wait! You're running like a bullet train. First tell me, where are we going?"

I smiled, twining my fingers with his. "Come with me and you'll know."

He pulled me closer, lowering his voice like a warning. "First tell me what your little mischievous brain is cooking. You do know I'm very capable of carrying you straight back into our room, right?"

This man and his flexing. Always. I rolled my eyes. "We're going out somewhere. And no more questions. Bas, come."

He huffed, giving me one last long look before muttering, "Fine. But at least wear something else-you'll catch a cold again."

I stared at him blankly. "Now you want me to go upstairs and change?"

He shook his head, exasperated, then shouted, "Georgia!"

She appeared instantly, and he commanded, "Bring some shoes for her. And pants."

Before she could leave, I quickly added, "No pants, Georgia-maybe pajamas. I don't want to wear pants."

She nodded. Abhi sat me in the car like I was fragile glass, Georgia handed over the clothes, and he finally started driving. I quickly slipped on the PJs and shoes in the backseat while keeping an eye on the directions.

"Shivu, just tell me the place," he said after a few turns. "I know every corner of Russia. Why hide it?"

"Because if I tell you, you won't take me there," I replied sweetly. "So just drive."

He sighed like a defeated king.

After half an hour, we finally arrived. The glow of warm lanterns lit up the cozy little Japanese restaurant. It wasn't big or fancy, but it had charm. The sight alone made me squeal.

"You want to eat noodles..?" Abhi asked, baffled.

I nodded excitedly, hopping out of the car. He followed, carrying the shawl, and immediately wrapped me up in it like a burrito. "Cover yourself. It's freezing," he scolded, but softly, and then pulled me close by the waist.

God, I really loved his shawls. They smelled like him-warm and safe.

Hand in hand, we entered and settled into a corner table. The waiter arrived, and I quickly ordered: one spicy noodle bowl for me, one cheesy noodle for him.

As the waiter left, Abhi turned those stormy eyes on me. "Shivu, you could've told me. I'd have cooked noodles for you at home. Why drag yourself out in this cold?"

I gave him a boring look, took out my phone, and leaned across the table. "Because this is fun. And also-selfies!"

I clicked one, then grabbed his arm and pulled him close. He tried to resist at first, muttering something about lighting and cold, but finally he gave in with that signature Rathore smirk.

Click. Click. Click.

Me, him, shawl, noodles-the perfect honeymoon mischief.

The waiter placed the bowls in front of us. Mine was steaming, fiery red with spice; Abhimanyu's was creamy and loaded with cheese.

I dug in immediately, but within minutes my face was glowing and my breath came in quick little bursts. The heat of the spices was creeping into my eyes, making them water. I loosened the shawl a little to catch my breath.

Abhimanyu, watching me like a hawk, scooped a big bite of his cheesy noodles and held it out to my mouth.
"If you can't handle so much spice, why do you eat it every time?" he asked.

My ego bristled. I looked up at him, still taking deep breaths.
"I can eat spicy food. Don't you dare try to feed me your cheesy noodles!"

Then, determined, I went back to munching on my fiery noodles, tears streaming down my cheeks.

He softened instantly. "Okay, okay, I understand. Here, eat this," he said gently and, before I could protest, shoved a cheesy bite into my mouth anyway. The creamy cheese cooled the burn, and I couldn't stop the little smile that slipped out.

He gave me a knowing look. I answered with a cheeky one, and we both went back to our bowls, eating in companionable silence.

When we'd finished, the waiter came over with the bill, and Abhimanyu paid. Then the man smiled and told us about a wall in the back where people leave little notes or memories on sticky papers.

I gasped in excitement. "We're doing that!"

I stood up, the shawl still draped only over my back, and adjusted it with my hands. Abhimanyu followed, shaking his head but smiling.

We each took a sticky note.
"What are you going to write, hmm?" he asked.

"I have an idea," I said brightly. "We'll write three chits-one only I'll write, one only you, and one together."

He gave me a bored look. "One is enough. Why three?"

I ignored him and began scribbling anyway. On mine, I wrote: I wish the next time we visit this place, we'll have our small Abhi with us. I pasted it in the corner of the wall.

"You wrote?" he asked, peeking over my shoulder.

I nodded.

"What did you write?"

"Stop it. It's my personal note. You tell me what you wrote," I challenged.

He folded his arms, raising a brow. "It's my personal note too."

I laughed. "Your and personal? Huh! I'm your wife, Mr. Rathore. Tell me, or it will be very bad for you."

He leaned close to my face, his eyes glinting. "I love you, when you go bad," he murmured.

I swatted his chest. "Shut up, you shameless. Let's write the things."

He hugged me from behind. "I don't want to write anything. I already have you-what else should I have in memory?"

I laughed softly. "Kuch nahi ho sakta tumhara, Abhi. Always so cheesy."

( Nothing can happen to you abhi . Always so cheesy )

He chuckled while I started scribbling again. He read it over my shoulder. "Why are you waiting for something to happen to me?"

I spun around. "Shut up. You speak without thinking."

He smirked, but then froze as I stuck my new note on the wall. He leaned forward and read it aloud: Give some brain to my husband.

His brows shot up in mock outrage. "What do you mean by that? Don't I have a brain?"

I only giggled.

Shaking his head, I strode toward the door. "Take your words back, Mrs. Rathore," he demanded over his shoulder.

I stood by the gate smiling mischievously. "I'll think about it. You can stay here; I'm going."

He spun and jogged after me. By the time I sat in the car, he was there, gripping the door. "You know you're a bad baby," he muttered.

I laughed and reached out to pinch his cheek. "And you know you're the cutest husband."

After the long drive back to the palace, I was completely exhausted. Without a word, I pulled Abhimanyu onto the bed with me, and I removed his shirt and throwed it somewhere in the room and letting the warmth of his body envelop me. I rested my head on his chest, nuzzling into his neck, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath me.

He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, his voice soft and tender. "Sleep, my little cute baby," he murmured.

Wrapped in each other's warmth, the world outside seemed to fade away. Slowly, the exhaustion melted into comfort, and we drifted off to sleep, tangled together, safe and peaceful in each other's arms.

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
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