Samyukta's POV

At the break of dawn, my eyes fluttered open as the gentle sunlight spilled through the window. What I discovered left me in a state of shock and a heart-fluttering moment. I found myself in Abhimanyu's embrace – my head resting, on his left arm, left hand resting on his right bicep, left leg entwined with his right, and my right hand folded, lightly touching his chest. Simultaneously, his right hand secured my waist, and his left leg was intertwined with my right. We were facing each other, and the pillow that once served as a barrier between us lay forgotten at the end of the bed, near our toes.

As I observed our intertwined position, propped up on my elbow, he stirred, slowly opening his eyes. A momentary shock registered on his face as he realized the closeness of our embrace. Hastily, he raised himself up, sitting on the bed, mirroring my surprise at the unexpected position we found ourselves in.

He hurriedly left the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Recovering from the shock, I felt a lingering sense of embarrassment. I busied myself with organizing the bed, arranging the pillows and the duvet. By the time I finished, he had emerged from the washroom, now clad in a white kurta set. Today, we were visiting the Kuldevi's temple in Jodhpur, so ethnic attire was the order of the day.

I headed to the bathroom, took a refreshing bath, and then went to the closet to drape a saree. I opted a vibrant red saree and paired it with a matching blouse and a laal bindi, sindoor and completed the look with a gold necklace and earrings set. My chudha and mangalsutra were already in place.

Throughout the time we shared the room, there was a noticeable silence. Neither of us broached the topic nor dared to meet each other's gaze.

Departing at seven o'clock, we reached our destination by eight o'clock via our private jet.

 Visiting the family temple in Jodhpur was a grand affair. The puja unfolded like a festive celebration, with the entire city of Jodhpur gathering to witness the rituals of the royal family and us- the newlywed couple.

We had to seat ourselves in front of the deity, just behind the pujari. Abhimanyu and I performed subhanjali and participated in the aarti together. It was an emotionally charged moment for me, and I closed my eyes, offering prayers for a blissful married life throughout the puja.

Following the rituals, we distributed clothes, rice, daal, and money to the needy. As Abhimanyu and I distributed the essentials together, we were showered with blessings for a happy married life.

Post-puja, we enjoyed breakfast provided by the temple, witnessed traditional dances, and attended a grand mela organized in our honor. The entire event was funded by Dada sa, who decided to feed the people of Jodhpur for two days in celebration of our wedding.

We returned to the mansion at eight-thirty in the evening after dining at the Jodhpur mela. I felt thoroughly exhausted. Once in my room, I simply washed my face, hands, and feet in the washroom. Lacking the energy to change into my nightgown, I laid on the bed in my saree.

After sometimes, the bathroom door closed, and moments later, I felt the bed sink, indicating Abhimanyu's presence. A lingering silence filled the room.

"Sorry," he suddenly broke the silence.

"For what?" I asked, sitting up.

"For making you uncomfortable."

"I wasn't uncomfortable, Abhimanyu."

"Really?"

"Hmm..."

We had unknowingly cuddled, so there was no need for an apology.

"Shall I take the couch?" he asked.

"You'll sleep on the bed only," I sternly said, and he nodded like a child. I lay facing my back to him, covered by the duvet.

He joined me under the duvet, and I felt him behind me. An urge to get closer overwhelmed me. Without a second thought, I shifted towards him, though my back didn't touch him, we were remarkably close. He seemed to understand what I wanted, as he moved forward, hugging me from behind. His right hand rested on my waist, and my back pressed against his hard chest. The position felt surreal and heart-fluttering, prompting an involuntary smile on my face. We soon succumbed to a deep slumber.

Abhimanyu's POV

As I laid eyes on Samyukta donned in the vibrant red saree, a cascade of emotions surged within me. The rich hue of the saree accentuated her beauty. The way the fabric draped her figure made her appear even more enchanting.

Our arrival in Jodhpur was met with an exuberant welcome, the entire population seemingly gathering to celebrate our presence with dance, music, drama, and more. The air was filled with festivity, mirroring the joyous occasion.

The puja at the family temple unfolded seamlessly. Throughout the rituals, Samyukta, with her eyes closed, exuded an aura of deep devotion. Her expressions spoke volumes about her connection with the divine.

Returning to Jaipur around nine in the evening, both of us were thoroughly exhausted. Without changing, we wearily joined each other on the bed.

Sensing the need to address the morning's embarrassment, I found myself saying, "Sorry."

"For what?" she asked, sitting up.

"For making you uncomfortable."

"I wasn't uncomfortable, Abhimanyu."

"Really?"

"Hmm..."

"Shall I take the couch?" I asked.

"You'll sleep on the bed only," she  declared in a strong voice and surprisingly, I obeyed her. 

I joined the bed along with her. She moved herself towards me. Sensing her unspoken desire for closeness, I moved towards her, embracing her from behind. In that moment, our silent understanding manifested in a comforting embrace, and we succumbed to the soothing embrace of sleep.

˜”*°•°*”˜