When they reached home, everyone was eagerly waiting for them, including Dadi.
Ranvijay carried a sleeping Avu in his arms and headed straight to their room, while Sanyukta stayed behind to greet everyone. Anushka pulled her into a tight hug, making Sanyukta smile.
Anushka had grown remarkably fond of Sanyukta in such a short time.
The elders retired after a while, leaving the youngsters behind.
"Bhabhi, we've planned a movie night! Kal shaam ko toh Bua, Arnav Bhai, and Kirti will leave for Jaipur, so let's have a fun night today itself," Anushka said cheerfully.
"I'm in," Sanyukta replied with a smile, and Anushka immediately clapped her hands like an excited child.
"Okay... aap change kar ke aa jaiye. Tab tak hum sab theater room mein preparation kar lete hain. Also, ask Bhai too, but bata dena, hum sirf rom-com hi dekhenge. No action-crime thrillers or sci-fi," Anushka added, making Sanyukta chuckle.
When Sanyukta entered the room, she found Avu neatly tucked into bed. Thankfully, Ranvijay hadn't scattered his clothes around today.
Ranvijay emerged from the bathroom wearing just his shorts, as was his usual habit. Sanyukta's gaze lingered on his toned, muscular body, leaving her momentarily mesmerized. He looked so manly, just like a model.
"Stop drooling, Biwi," Ranvijay said with a smirk, catching her in the act of admiring him.
"I was not drooling! And by the way, aise shirtless ghoomna zaroori hai?" Sanyukta countered, trying to mask her embarrassment.
"Main toh aise hi ghoomunga... tumhe ghoorna zaroori hai... shameless," Ranvijay said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, making Sanyukta look at him in disbelief.
"I should get changed... aapka toh chalta hi rahega," she said, rolling her eyes and heading toward the closet. Just as she was about to step in, he called out to her.
"Suno..."
"Ji?" She turned to look at him.
"You need any help removing that saree?" he asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively, making her bite back a smile.
"No thanks... main khud kar lungi," she replied, turning away to hide her growing grin.
"Idhar hi hoon main... you can call me anytime," Ranvijay teased, shouting after her as she closed the closet door. She could hear his laughter echoing behind her.
Inside, she quickly changed into something comfortable, removing her jewelry except for her mangalsutra, a pendant with Avu's name, and a few bangles, as her mother had advised her never to leave her wrists empty.
When she emerged, Ranvijay was lying beside Avu, leisurely scrolling through his phone.
"Vo Anushka ne movie plan banaya hai... aap aayenge?" Sanyukta asked, standing beside him.
"Nope, I'm not interested in watching her romantic drama," he said disinterestedly, making Sanyukta chuckle as she remembered Anushka had predicted this exact reaction.
"Main jaa rahi hoon phir," Sanyukta said, grabbing her phone, but before she could move, Ranvijay held her hand, gently taking the phone away.
"Main bore ho jaunga akela... mujhe neend bhi nahi aa rahi abhi," he said, his tone almost complaining, making her sigh.
"Toh phir aa jaiye na... sab ke saath movie dekh lete hain. I promise, agar aapko achhi nahi lagi toh hum wapas aa jayenge," Sanyukta suggested, trying to coax him. After a moment of consideration, he nodded reluctantly.
"Avu ko Dadi ke paas sula dete hain. Aate waqt le lenge," Ranvijay said, picking up Avu carefully. Sanyukta smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness and care for their son.
When they entered the theater room, everyone was already present and waiting for the movie to start.
"What a non-pleasant surprise, Bhai," Anushka teased with a wide grin as she noticed Ranvijay entering with Sanyukta.
"Pleasure's all mine, seeing your unpleasant face," Ranvijay shot back, mocking her with a smirk.
The exchange made everyone laugh, setting the mood for a fun and light-hearted evening ahead.
"Also, ye meri seat hai... chal uth idhar se," Ranvijay said, pulling Anushka out of his usual spot on the theater room's lounger bed.
"Kyaaa hai Bhaiiiii! Main pehle aayi hoon... main baithungi!" Anushka argued, plopping herself back down stubbornly. Ranvijay, however, pulled her up again, making her whine, while Sanyukta simply shook her head, watching the childish drama unfold.
"You two... stop behaving like kids," Ranveer said, sighing at their antics.
"Bhaiii, aap inko bolo! Main pehle baithi thi idhar!" Anushka whined, pointing accusingly at Ranvijay.
"Haan toh, main apni biwi ke saath baithunga. Tum apni seat adjust kar lo uss single recliner pe," Ranvijay retorted casually, making Sanyukta hiss at his choice of words.
"Main baithungi Bhabhi ke saath! Maine plan banaya hai movie ka. You go sit on the recliner," Anushka shot back, refusing to budge.
"You can go back. Bhabhi nahi jaayegi!" Anushka said, clutching Sanyukta's hand protectively.
"Acha... tum chal rahi ho ya nahi?" Ranvijay said to Sanyukta, his voice softening but with a hint of irritation. "You asked me to come, ab main aaya hoon, par mere liye seat nahi hai. You have to listen to me now!"
Sanyukta sighed, looking helplessly between the siblings. "Aap kya bol rahe hain..." she began, but he cut her off.
"It's okay... main chala jaata hoon. Enjoy your movie night," Ranvijay said, pretending to turn around, but Sanyukta quickly grabbed his hand.
"Please nahi... main baithungi na aapke saath," she said softly, pleading with her eyes.
Anushka huffed dramatically, glared at her brother, and stomped toward the single recliner, plopping herself down with a pout. Ranvijay grinned triumphantly, and Sanyukta looked at him in disbelief, shaking her head.
As the lights dimmed and the movie began, Ranvijay leaned back lazily on the lounger bed. With his large frame taking up most of the space, Sanyukta ended up half-lying over him, leaving her uncomfortably close to his body. The proximity was unlike anything she'd experienced before, sending goosebumps up her arms.
Her focus wavered completely; she had no idea what was playing on the screen. All she could feel was Ranvijay's hot breath brushing against her nape, making her pulse race, while he seemed utterly unbothered.
"Yaar, what kind of hero is this? Such nonsense... isko toh supporting cast mein bhi nahi rakhna chahiye. Lightman ke liye theek rahega," Ranvijay commented suddenly, breaking the silence.
"He is my favorite, Bhaiiiii! And I know you're saying this deliberately," Anushka shrieked, glaring at him, while Ranvijay chuckled.
"Faltu ki forced chemistry hai dono ki. Aur unnecessary gaane ghusa diye beech mein... ridiculous," Ranvijay groaned, taking a sip from his beer can.
"Bhabhi, yaar, chup karwa lo inko! Puri movie mein comment karte rahenge," Anushka complained, rolling her eyes.
"Mat boliye na," Sanyukta said softly, glancing at him.
"Maine kuch galat bola hai kya? Iski movie choice hi gatiya hai," Ranvijay muttered, taking another sip. "Isse better toh main Aarvi waale cartoons dekh leta."
Sanyukta chuckled at his antics, while Anushka huffed in frustration.
"Abhi ek ghante ki aur bachi hai ye boring movie," Ranvijay groaned again, making Sanyukta turn in his arms to face him. The movement brought them so close that their breaths mingled, and their bodies were pressed together.
"You have beautiful eyes," Ranvijay said suddenly, his gaze soft as he observed her from up close.
"But you have thicker, denser eyelashes... mujhe chahiye thi ye," Sanyukta replied, her voice light, making him chuckle.
"You're also not liking this movie, right?" he asked, taking another sip from his beer can, while Sanyukta's gaze inadvertently fell on his moving Adam's apple.
He attracted her like a moth to a flame, yet she feared getting burned. This teasing, his playful flirting, and the closeness between them made her heart race. No one had ever made her feel this way before.
She thought of her previous marriage-how she'd entered it with so much hope, only for everything to crumble within four months, shaking her to the core. Yet, here she was now, experiencing something entirely different and unfamiliar, something that terrified and excited her all at once.
All her desires and expectations had crumbled, replaced by the heavy responsibilities of being a single mother.
A girl who once dreamt of her prince charming had lost even the hope of living a normal life in just four months. She never returned to her carefree, happy self. Instead, she had to carry the tag of a single mother and a divorcee, enduring the taunts of family and relatives.
But now, with Ranvijay, everything felt different. He seemed like the man she once desired, the one she had always imagined. Yet, even now, when she was married to him, her fears and insecurities were holding her back.
No matter how normal things appeared between them, the fear of getting hurt again and the idea that this was merely a marriage of convenience stopped her from letting her guard down.
We don't form expectations willingly-they come naturally. What we often call expectations are, in reality, basic needs: the need to be loved, to be heard, and to feel cared for. These aren't luxuries but fundamental human requirements.
She knew Ranvijay had made it clear that she shouldn't expect anything, yet whatever was happening between them seemed to be moving in a completely different direction. And deep down, she wanted to follow that path.
She was enjoying the way he made her feel-like someone who mattered. She wanted to explore this feeling further.
"Shhh..." she hissed when Ranvijay flicked her forehead, breaking her chain of thoughts.
"Kahan khoi ho?" Ranvijay asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Ranvijay... ek baat puchoon?" Sanyukta whispered softly.
"Hmm," he responded, his eyes fixed on the screen, despite his claims of not liking the movie.
"Nahi... kuch nahi," she said with a sigh. This time, his attention shifted entirely to her.
"Bol na," he insisted, wrapping an arm around her, letting her rest her head on it comfortably.
"Yeh jo sab ho raha hai... I mean, humare beech..." Sanyukta struggled to find the right words, unsure of how to articulate her feelings.
Ranvijay smiled-a teasing smile that made her close her eyes in exasperation.
"Aap galat hi matlab nikalenge meri baat ka... rehne dijiye," she said, turning her focus to the screen.
"Arrey yaar, maine kab kuch bola? Khud hi sawal karti hai, khud hi answer soch leti hai," Ranvijay muttered, making her pout.
"So tell me, what do you think ki kya ho raha hai humare beech?" he asked, stressing the kya mischievously.
"Mujhe nahi samajh aa raha," she admitted.
"Whatever it is, let's not put it into any specific term. Just tell me-does it make you uncomfortable?" he asked, his voice steady.
She shook her head.
"Do you want it to stop?" he asked again.
She shook her head once more.
"Toh phir problem kya hai? Let things happen on their own. Itna dimaag kyun lagana? Tum khud hi overthinking karke sab complicated kar leti ho," he said with a small chuckle.
Sanyukta nodded, realizing he might be right. Maybe she was overthinking everything, letting her past experiences hold her back from truly living.
"I shouldn't overthink it," she decided silently. "I'm liking it, and I don't want it to stop. Instead of dwelling on it, I should enjoy this phase."
But then she remembered his words: no expectations. The thought made her groan mentally as she buried her face into his chest.
"Kya hua? Agar kuch hai toh bol na... yeh kya ajeeb faces banaye ja rahi hai?" Ranvijay asked, patting her back.
"Aapne kaha tha-no expectations. Aur hum apni life as usual continue rakhenge," Sanyukta finally voiced her concern.
"Haan toh, usme kya problem hai? We'll do our respective work as we used to, but when we're home, we'll share responsibilities, co-parent Avu, and live like normal people. It's as simple as that," Ranvijay explained.
"Hmm... thik kaha aapne. Main bekaar ka hi soch rahi thi," Sanyukta said, smiling at him.
"Main hamesha thik bolta hoon. Kabhi koi doubt ho, toh Expert Ranvijay se poocho," he said with a wink, making her chuckle.
"Dekho, tumhara favorite scene aa gaya," he teased, pointing at the screen where a romantic kissing scene was playing.
Sanyukta blushed and quickly retorted, "Mera favorite nahi hai yeh," trying to cover up.
Ranvijay raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, of course, Mrs. 'Sanskari'. Tum toh sirf bhajan sunne aur Ramayan dekhne mein interested ho na?" he said with mock seriousness, a smirk tugging at his lips.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Aap toh rehne hi dijiye, bas movie dekhiye."
He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a playful murmur. "Main toh tumhe dekh raha hoon. Movie toh bas background noise hai."
Sanyukta gasped, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she quickly tried to swat him away, but Ranvijay caught her wrist effortlessly.
"Aur batao," he said, casually sipping his beer with one hand while still holding her wrist with the other. "Tumhare dream hero ka kya scene hai? Tall, dark, handsome... ya mere jaise irresistible bad boy type?"
"Ranvijay!" she hissed, trying to free her hand, but his grip stayed firm, a smug grin plastered on his face.
"Arrey, sach bolna toh seekho, Mrs. Blushing Queen," he said, leaning back comfortably. "Waise agar tumhe zyada sharam aa rahi hai, toh ek kaam karo-jo tumhare favorite scene hai, uska ek live version yahaan karwa loon?"
"Bas! Ab main yahan se ja rahi hoon," she declared, trying to stand up, but Ranvijay tugged her back, laughing softly.
"Kaha jaogi, sweetheart? Poore theater room mein sirf do options hain-ya toh mere saath yahan baitho, ya phir us Anushka ke sath chhoti si recliner pe chipak jao. Tum decide kar lo."
She glared at him, crossing her arms. "Aap toh bas tease karte rahiye!"
"Main tease karta hoon?" he asked, feigning innocence. "Tumhare blush karne ka world record hai, Mrs. Sanyukta Ranvijay Shekhawat. Mujhe toh bas tumhe mirror dikhana aata hai."
Sanyukta groaned, burying her face in her palms while Ranvijay chuckled victoriously.
Anushka, who'd been watching the banter, finally shouted, "Bhai, itna attitude kyun maarte ho? Normal insaan ki tarah movie kyun nahi dekh sakte?"
Ranvijay smirked, turning to Anushka. "Because, , main normal insaan nahi hoon. Main Ranvijay hoon-exclusive edition. Tum samajhne ki koshish mat karo; tumhare bass ka nahi hai."
Anushka groaned. "Bhabhi inko chup karwa lo, !"
Sanyukta, still red-faced, muttered under her breath, "Chup karwana impossible hai. Ranvijay ki dictionary mein 'shut up' ka word hi nahi hai."
Ranvijay shot her a knowing grin. "Bingo! Tumhe toh sab samajh aa gaya hai. Ab main tumhara favorite ban gaya hoon, admit kar lo ."
"Khud ko itna overestimate mat kijiye," she snapped, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Arrey, overestimate? Main toh tumhare reaction ke wajah se bas apne high standards ko celebrate kar raha hoon," he quipped, leaning back smugly.
As the movie played on, his sassy comments and relentless teasing ensured Sanyukta couldn't focus on the screen at all. Ranvijay was a whirlwind of wit, mischief, and charm-and whether she liked it or not, she was caught right in the center of it.
Comments please 😉😁😁
Is it that easy jitne simple Ranvijay bana rahe hai cheejo ko 🧐🧐🧐🧐.
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