80. RAKSHA BHANDAN

SHIVNYA’S POV

RAKSHA BHANDAN

Mmmhmm... let me go, Abhi," I wriggled in his hold, trying to escape.

"No... stay with me," Abhimanyu murmured, his grip tightening around my waist.

"Abhi, I have to get ready! Bhai and the others must be coming soon." I tried to reason with him, but he only nuzzled deeper into my neck, his lips grazing the sensitive spot near my collarbone.

"I don't care. I need my wife," he whispered before his teeth found the crook of my neck, nipping lightly.

I gasped. "Stop it, Abhi! You've already left hickeys all over-my neck, shoulders, cleavage, earlobe, jaw-every damn corner of my upper body! You didn't even spare my back or behind my ear-" I tried to scold him, but this man had the audacity to chuckle shamelessly.

And, as if that wasn't enough, he resumed his torture-nipping, sucking, marking. His morning arousal pressed against me, making me squirm.

"Abhi! If you don't stop, I'll complain to Mom-" I warned, my irritation bubbling over.

Suddenly, he flipped me onto my back, caging me beneath him. "And what exactly will you tell her? That you're naked in bed and your husband has been making love to you all night?" His voice dripped with mischief. "Till now, I don't think Mom would scold me for that."

Before I could retort, his lips crashed onto mine, claiming them with a slow, deep kiss. His tongue teased along my lower lip before slipping inside, exploring, tasting, dominating. I pushed against his chest, but he only pinned my wrists above my head, refusing to let me go.

He kept kissing me-every time I tried to speak, his lips were back on mine, silencing me. Again. And again. And again. Until he finally pulled away, looking smug as hell.

I glared. "Are you done?"

He hesitated, then nodded slowly.

With a blank expression, I yanked his shirt off the floor and threw it over myself-just enough to cover my body. "I'm going to get ready. And I want this whole room spotless by the time I'm out." My voice was clipped, my patience razor-thin.

I stepped off the bed, but before I could move further, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his breath hot against my ear. "Baby, let's take a bath together. It'll save time... and water." He giggled, his lips grazing my temple.

I shot him a deadly glare.

That was enough for him to back off, laughing to himself as I walked away.

I took my time in the shower, letting the hot water soothe my body, erasing the lingering traces of his touch-well, not entirely. Once I stepped out, wrapped in my silky bathrobe, I caught him gawking at me.

I bit back a smirk and turned away, my eyes scanning the now-pristine room. At least he listened.

As he stepped into the shower, I moved to the closet, pulling out a red saree with full-back coverage and long sleeves. The blouse, however, was another story-it was more revealing than I'd prefer, especially given the state of my skin.

I sighed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My upper body was a damn canvas, painted in shades of blue, purple, red, and pink.

This man.

Despite my frustration, I couldn't help but smile.

I sat down, expertly concealing the marks with makeup. If someone had told me eight months ago that I'd be this good at covering hickeys, I would have laughed. But here I was, all thanks to him.

By the time I finished, he stepped out of the bathroom, water droplets glistening on his skin, a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist.

I ignored the sight-mostly.

As he dressed in his kurta and pajama, he walked over, helping me drape my saree. His fingers brushed against my waist, his gaze lingering as I adjusted my pallu. The silence between us was comfortable... but I decided to break it.

"Don't you have any office work to do?"

His brow arched. "What do you mean by that?"

I smirked, crossing my arms. "Seeing you like this, I don't think you're particularly busy."

His lips curled into a signature smirk. "I'm doing the most important work."

I scoffed. "Oh?"

Without another word, I turned on my heel and headed downstairs. He followed closely, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back.

As we reached the kitchen, I stopped abruptly, turning to him with a sweet yet devious smile. "Mr. Rathore, I hope you haven't forgotten that today is Raksha Bandhan?"

His gaze narrowed. "I remember. And you said you'd handle the gifts."

I pressed my lips together, feigning innocence. "I did... for my brothers and sister. I don't know about yours."

And with that, I walked away, leaving him utterly stunned.

A second later, I heard his panicked voice. "Wait, what? Shivuuu-!"

I hid my grin, pretending to focus on kitchen work while Yuvii and Tanmay bombarded him, demanding their gifts.

I smirked to myself. Oh, he teased me all morning? Now it's my turn.

The house buzzed with energy as my brother and his wife, Avnii-who was eight months pregnant-arrived, along with my cousins. Everyone was dressed in beautiful, authentic Indian attire. My sister-in-law and cousin sisters looked stunning in sarees, while all the brothers opted for traditional kurta pajamas.

The moment I spotted my brother, I rushed to him and hugged him tightly. Meanwhile, Avnii went straight to Abhimanyu, embracing him with a soft smile.

As we all greeted each other and settled down, I noticed Abhimanyu looking a little tense. Only I knew the reason-no one else could tell.

To distract myself, I excused myself and headed to the kitchen, instructing the butlers to bring out the snacks. Suddenly, I heard a tiny, adorable voice calling out-

"Badii Maa!"

I froze.

For a second, I thought I had imagined it. No, he always calls me 'Princess,' and Abhimanyu 'Bade Papa.' He had never called me 'Badi Maa' before. Shrugging it off as my mind was playing tricks, I continued with my work-until a small, excited bundle of joy ran into the kitchen.

I gasped. "Aniii!"

Pure happiness spread across my face as I scooped him into my arms. He giggled loudly, wrapping his tiny arms around my neck.

"Baby, you came!" I showered his cheeks with kisses, making him laugh even more.

"I missed you!" he pouted in his baby voice.

"I missed you even more," I cooed, holding him close.

With him still in my arms, I walked to the living room, my heart warming at the sight of Radhika, Ansh, and Buasa also being there.

Maa smiled and said, "It was a surprise Anirudh wanted to give you."

I looked down at Anii, my little angel, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, baby."

We all settled down, and Anii refused to leave my lap. As the Raksha Bandhan rituals began, I tied rakhi on my three brothers' wrists. My brother handed me an envelope in return, while the younger ones grinned mischievously.

"Diii, where's our gifts?"

I smirked. "You're my brothers. You should be giving me gifts, not the other way around!"

Sanj, my ever-witty sister, jumped in. "Yes! You should give gifts to Dii, and Dii will give me one!" She shot them a teasing smile.

Divii pouted. "Diii, that's not fair!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Wait, let Avnii also finish the rituals first."

Avnii tied rakhi on all the brothers, including Radhika and me. I also tied one to Avnii, and she tied a tiny rakhi on Anii's wrist, making everyone coo at the adorable sight.

Just then, Yuvii, Ansh, and Tanmay spoke in unison, their expressions mock-serious. "We thought Bhabhi would tie us a rakhi too. She always says she's our sister."

Everyone chuckled, but Maa, always ready to tease her son, added, "Beta, she is your sister. But if she ties you to rakhi, then Abhimanyu will also become her brother."

The moment those words left her mouth, Abhimanyu's entire face changed. He pulled me close, his hand firmly gripping my waist-even though I was already sitting right beside him.

"No! No way! She's my wife. You three get lost. I'm not letting this happen!" His panicked voice made the entire room burst into laughter.

I giggled, feeling both shy and amused. Slapping his hand away, I whispered, "Abhi, Maa is joking. That doesn't happen."

He exhaled dramatically. "Then it's fine. You can tie them rakhi."

Shaking my head, I tied rakhi on them as well and fed them sweets.

The rituals were done, and it was finally time for the gifts. But before I could bring them out, three more guests arrived-Reyansh, Daksh, and his sister, Ira.

Daksh walked up to me for a hug, and Anii, who had been sitting comfortably in my lap, jumped onto the couch, making space. I hugged Daksh, but the moment I did, both Anii and Abhimanyu stared at me with identical stern expressions.

Daksh chuckled, leaning closer to whisper, "You have two bodyguards."

I laughed. "I can see that. But how come you three are here?"

Daksh shrugged. "I couldn't meet you properly at the party, and after that-"

Before he could finish, Abhimanyu cut him off smoothly. "Actually, he hasn't met you in a while, so that's why he came. And, of course, since it's Raksha Bandhan, his sister Ira also joined. And Reyansh... well, he didn't have anything better to do, so he tagged along. Am I right or am I right?"

His words weren't just a guess-they were a firm statement. Daksh, sensing the possessiveness dripping from his tone, nodded without arguing.

I knew what had just happened. Daksh was about to mention him-the one name that triggered me, the one person I didn't want to think about. And, as always, Abhimanyu had cut it off before it could affect me.

Silence stretched in the room, but thankfully, the younger ones broke it.

"Our gifts! We want our gifts!"

I chuckled at their excitement. Abhimanyu gave me a nervous look, as if seeking reassurance. I smiled and said, "Okay, okay! Everyone, sit down. Let me bring them."

I went to the study, where I had kept all the gifts. Three butlers followed, carrying the beautifully wrapped boxes.

The biggest gift went to my brother, who smiled and pressed a kiss to my temple. But, of course, the younger ones weren't having it.

"Why does Bhaiya get the biggest gift? We want to see what's inside!"

Laughing, he shook his head. "No, it's my gift. Why should I open it here?"

But their persistence-and my gentle encouragement-made him give in. As he unwrapped the box, his expression turned confused.

"Books? Really, Shivuu?" He gave me a disappointed look.

I smirked. "Of course! You're going to be a dad soon. You need to learn all about babies... and, more importantly, how to change diapers."

Laughter erupted around us, with the younger ones teasing him mercilessly. His face fell in mock horror, while Avnii rubbed his arm in fake consolation.

I grinned and handed him another gift-a sleek, expensive smartwatch. The moment he saw it, his face lit up.

Avnii, not one to be left behind, pouted. "What about me and our baby's gift?"

I turned to Abhimanyu with a teasing smirk. "Ask your brother. After all, you're his sister."

Playing along, Avnii gasped dramatically. "Yes, Bhai! Where's my gift?"

Abhimanyu's nervous laugh was priceless. "Uh... I have cash? Just tell me the amount, and you'll have it now."

Avnii placed a hand on her belly and sighed. "Baby, your Mamu is so mean. He didn't get us a gift. He's just giving us money."

Abhimanyu's face fell with guilt. "That's not true, I-"

Before he could finish, I handed Avnii a large gift bag. "Baby, your Mamu isn't bad... just a little careless."

She squealed with excitement, pulling out a complete newborn and maternity essentials kit, filled with personalized baby items. Abhimanyu looked at me with admiration, leaning in to whisper, "You were teasing me, weren't you?"

I chuckled. "Of course."

As all the gifts were distributed, two people remained-Ayansh and Yuvii. Both walked up to me, arms crossed.

"Where are our gifts?"

I smirked. "Yours are special."

The younger ones narrowed their eyes, already sensing something was up, while Divii launched into a dramatic rant about how I didn't love him enough.

And so, the teasing continued.....

AUTHOR’S POV

The moment Reyansh stepped into the grand Rathore Haveli, his sharp eyes instinctively scanned the room-only to freeze on a familiar figure. Sanj.

Shock flickered across his face. What is she doing here?

He knew Abhimanyu well-after all, they were best friends. If she were his sister, Reyansh would have known. That meant... she was Shivnya's sister.

Meanwhile, Sanj, who had been casually talking, turned and locked eyes with him. The moment their gazes met, her body stiffened. A wave of memories crashed over her, ones she had buried deep. Her fingers curled into fists as she fought the emotions threatening to surface.

Without a word, she turned away, walking straight toward Yuvraj. She had always shared a close bond with him, finding comfort in his presence. She smiled at him, engaging in lighthearted conversation, pretending Reyansh didn't exist.

Reyansh's jaw clenched. His fists curled at his sides as he watched her so effortlessly ignore him, standing close to another man. His temper simmered.

His gaze never left her.

A while later, Shivnya clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Okay, okay! Yuvi, Aayu, close your eyes-I have a special surprise for both of you!"

Excitement lit up their faces as they eagerly did as she said. Taking their hands, she led them outside, with the entire family following behind. The grand staircase echoed with their descending steps.

Once they reached the courtyard, Shivnya grinned. "Open your eyes!"

The moment they did, their jaws dropped.

In front of them stood two racing bikes, still covered with sleek black cloths.

A stunned silence followed.

Then-

"Diii!! These are for us?!" Aayansh's voice rang with excitement.

"Bhabhi, which one is mine?" Yuvraj asked eagerly, his eyes practically shining.

Shivnya smirked, stretching the suspense before answering. "The right one is for Yuvraj, and the left one is for Aayansh."

They wasted no time. With a dramatic pull, the covers were off, revealing two stunning, high-end racing bikes-the very ones they had dreamt of.

Excitement burst forth as both boys let out loud cheers before launching themselves at Shivnya, wrapping her in a tight hug.

"Thanks, bhabhi!"
"Thank you, diii!"

She laughed, hugging them back, her heart swelling at their happiness.

But then-

"Diii, bhabhi! You only love these two, not us!"

Divvi and Tanmay stood with exaggerated pouts, arms crossed, looking utterly betrayed.

Shivnya chuckled, shaking her head. "That's not fair! I promise I'll get you both something just as amazing on your birthdays. And they won't get anything then!"

Their faces instantly brightened, and they turned to Yuvi and Aayu, sticking out their tongues playfully.

Laughter echoed around them as everyone moved back inside.

Except-

Abhimanyu caught Shivnya by the wrist, pulling her into a secluded corner.

With his hands caging her against the wall, he leaned in, his voice husky. "Where's my gift, baby?"

Shivnya bit back a smile. "Are you my brother?" she teased.

His gaze darkened, lips curling into a smirk. "No. But I'm your husband. And since you teased me earlier, I deserve a gift."

Before he could say more, she leaned in-pressing a quick yet teasing kiss to his lips. Just as he started to deepen it, she nipped at his lower lip playfully before slipping away.

Abhimanyu groaned, running a hand through his hair. "This woman will be the death of me."

Lunch was lively, filled with laughter and teasing. But throughout the meal, Sanj kept her distance, staying close to her cousins, deliberately avoiding Reyansh. Not once did she look at him.

He noticed.

And it only made his frustration grow.

After lunch, Aarav suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. "We want something from Abhimanyu."

Abhimanyu frowned. "I didn't make you my sister. Why should I give you anything?"

The room burst into laughter, but Shivnya and his mother both shot him sharp glares. He cleared his throat. "Okay, okay. Tell me, what do you want?"

Aayansh smirked, exchanging glances with the others. "Leave it, Bhai. Jiju won't be able to give us what we want."

Shivnya chuckled, sensing mischief. Abhimanyu, however, narrowed his eyes. "Tell me. I can give you anything."

Divit leaned forward, his voice laced with amusement. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Really sure?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

Abhimanyu huffed impatiently. "Just say it already!"

Aayansh's grin widened. "We want our diii for a week. A proper holiday with her."

Abhimanyu barely paid attention, nodding absently. "Yeah, yeah, sure."

The room went dead silent.

And then-laughter.

The realization hit Abhimanyu like a storm. His eyes snapped up, widening in horror. "No! You can't take her for a week! Max-an hour. Maybe two."

Shivnya gasped at him. "Have you lost your mind?!"

Aayansh crossed his arms. "No, we're serious. After your wedding, she hasn't spent a single full day with us. We want our dii, and we're taking her!"

Abhimanyu looked genuinely panicked now, his grip tightening on Shivnya's hand. "No. Absolutely not. End of discussion."

But the younger ones weren't backing down that easily...

And so, the battle began.

The room fell silent as Dadaji cleared his throat, his wise gaze settling on Abhimanyu. "Let her go. They're right-you haven't let her spend even a single day with her family."

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened as he glanced around at Shivnya's cousins, all of whom were smirking triumphantly. His death glare, however, did little to shake their confidence.

But just as the tension thickened, Shivnya's calm yet firm voice broke the ice.

"I won't go to the Rajvanshi mansion."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Everyone understood what she meant. The mere thought of stepping into that house, of seeing the very people who continued their lives so effortlessly despite Advaith's death-it was unbearable. They hadn't harmed him directly, but every time she saw them, all she could think about was him. His absence. His loss.

Aayansh, sensing the sudden shift in mood, quickly spoke up. "Uhmm, it's okay. We don't have to go there. We can stay at your mansion instead-it's just as big and spacious for all of us!"

That suggestion brought back the excitement. Everyone nodded eagerly, making plans in an instant.

But amidst the chatter, Abhimanyu's face fell.

Before he could react, Ansh raised his hand. "Can Radha and I join too?"

Aarav immediately agreed, and soon, the guest list expanded.

Maa, however, was not happy. "Avnii isn't staying here?!" she exclaimed, crossing her arms. "I don't want to miss a single moment. I want to enjoy everything with my sister-in-law and my husband!"

But Avnii, just like the others, was too excited about the idea of a mini vacation.

Divit and Yuvraj were already picturing their version of a family picnic, while Ira decided she wanted in as well. Naturally, Daksh followed.

At this point, only two people remained undecided-Reyansh and Abhimanyu.

Reyansh hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Can I also join? Uhmm, I don't have any work this week... and I don't have any siblings or cousins either. So maybe, if you guys allow..."

Aarav didn't even let him finish before nodding. While they weren't the closest of friends, they still had a good bond. "Of course, you can come."

Divit clapped his hands together. "More the merrier!"

That's when Abhimanyu, who had been quietly observing, turned to Shivnya with a small, knowing smile. "That means I can come too."

A loud, "NO!" echoed across the room.

His brows furrowed as he looked around, offended. Even the adults, who had remained neutral so far, shook their heads in amusement.

And then-

A tiny, adorable voice piped up.

"Noi!"

Every head turned to the little bundle of mischief-Aniruddh-who looked at Abhimanyu with a determined pout.

Abhimanyu scoffed. "Huh?! She's my wife! I will come."

Now, all eyes turned toward Ranveer and Ridhimaa, silently urging them to intervene.

Sighing, Baba finally said, "Abhi, let her go and enjoy."

Abhimanyu crossed his arms stubbornly. "I will also enjoy-"

Before he could even finish, Divit cut him off. "No, no! You'll just stick to Dii the entire time, and we won't get to enjoy ourselves!"

A chorus of agreement followed.

Abhimanyu glared at all of them in disbelief, but their expressions remained firm.

Meanwhile, Shivnya simply chuckled, shaking her head. Without waiting for further debate, she got up and started walking toward their room to pack.

Because, no matter how much Abhimanyu protested-she was going.

ABHIMANYU’S POV

I hated this.

I knew she wanted to go with them, but why couldn't I come along? Her cousins were hell-bent on taking her away, leaving me behind like some abandoned puppy. All my friends, my cousins, and-most importantly-my wife would be enjoying themselves while I rotted away here? Not happening.

Determined, I followed Shivnya to our room. The moment we stepped inside, I pinned her against the door. She let out a startled yelp.

"Abhi, what are you-"

Her words were cut off as I captured her lips in a deep, desperate kiss.

My tongue explored her mouth, tracing the curves of her inner cheeks, her teeth, her tongue-claiming her. I took full control, my grip tightening as her legs wobbled. Her hands clutched the back of my neck for support, but I knew she was just as lost in this as I was.

When I finally pulled away, she was breathless, her lips swollen from my assault.

"What are you up to?" she murmured, dazed.

I didn't let her move. "You're not going."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I am going."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No." This time shivnya said first

"Yes."

Wait-what?

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:
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