The Hidden Chapters -22

 

Manoj was still lying on the bed, half awake. I quietly stepped inside and touched his feet gently. The moment I did, he opened his eyes. A soft smile immediately appeared on his face.

“Good morning,” he said warmly. Before I could move back, he slightly lifted his arm, silently asking me to come closer.I instantly glanced toward the door and stepped back instead.

“The door is open,” I whispered quickly, trying not to smile too much. “Freshen up first.”Manoj laughed softly under his breath, still looking at me with sleepy affection.

“Alright,” he said. I shook my head and walked out before he could tease me more. However I can feel that he is staring at my hips the way I am swaying my hips.

The moment I stepped outside, Sindhu noticed the confused smile on my face immediately.

“What happened?” she asked, though the amusement in her eyes suggested she already knew.

“Nothing,” I replied too quickly. That only made her smile wider.Just then, the cook arrived.

Sindhu shifted back into her practical tone and instructed him to prepare coffee for both of us.

Then she turned toward me again.“One more ritual is left,” she said. I looked at her curiously. “As the new bride of the house, you have to prepare something sweet and offer it to God as prasad.”

For a second, the words stirred an old memory inside me.I remembered the same ritual from years ago… the way my wife had once stood in a kitchen early in the morning, nervous and smiling, preparing sweet prasad after our marriage rituals.

Her voice softened slightly. “What happened?”I took a slow breath and gave a small smile.

“Nothing,” I said quietly. “I just remembered something.”She looked at me carefully for a moment… but didn’t ask further.

Instead, she touched my arm. “Come,” she said gently. “Let’s make the prasad together.” And she instructed me put some bangles as my hand looks very boring. After that ,Sindhu led me into the kitchen, the soft sound of her bangles mixing with the quiet clatter of utensils already arranged by the cook.

“Today you’ll make it,” Sindhu said, leaning lightly against the counter. “I’ll just help.”

I smiled nervously. “What if I spoil it?” “You won’t,” she replied immediately. “Not with me standing here.”. Her confidence made me relax a little.

I adjusted the edge of my saree properly at my waist and began roasting the rice slowly while the milk heated beside it. As I moved around the kitchen, the soft cotton saree shifted lightly, and the orange petticoat beneath became faintly visible near whenever I stepped forward.

Sindhu noticed and walked closer without saying anything at first, standing just behind me while I stirred the rice carefully.

“Careful,” she murmured softly near my ear. “The flame is too high.”

Before I could react, her hands reached around me to lower it slightly. Instead of moving away, she stayed there, close enough for me to feel the warmth of her body behind mine.

Her arms around my waist in a brief, playful hug, making my hands pause over the spoon. A second later, she pressed a soft kiss near the side of my neck—gentle, teasing, just enough to send a quiet shiver through me.

“You’re doing well,” she whispered. “Add the Jaggery slowly,” she instructed softly, her hand settling over mine for a moment. “Like this.”

I followed quietly.  Now, Sindhu stayed close to me. Her fingers lingered around my waist and occasionally smoothing pleats and touching my penis over the saree pleats.

“You really look comfortable in a saree now,” she said softly. “You taught me,” I replied with a shy smile.“Hm,” she murmured. “Maybe I taught you too well.”Her fingertips briefly brushed one of the faint marks near my neck again. She smiled knowingly when I immediately lowered my gaze.

“And these…” she whispered teasingly, “make you look even more like a newlywed bride.”

“Sindhu…” I said softly, embarrassed.“What?” she asked innocently.

Then she leaned closer once more and placed another light kiss near the same spot before finally stepping back.

“Now focus,” she laughed quietly. “Or the payasam will burn because of me.”

The kitchen slowly filled with the sweet smell of milk, ghee, and cardamom.

The quiet intimacy of the kitchen no longer startled me the way it had earlier. I still felt shy under her touches and teasing, but I no longer moved away from them either. Somewhere between the cooking, the soft morning light, and her constant closeness, I had slowly stopped resisting the comfort of her presence.

Finally, I switched off the stove. Sindhu smiled with satisfaction and handed me a small silver bowl.“One last thing before offering it,” she said.

I looked at her curiously.“Go to the garden and pluck a few tulsi leaves,” she instructed softly. “Fresh ones.”

I nodded and stepped outside toward the small garden near the courtyard. The morning air felt cool against my skin. My saree moved lightly around my ankles as I bent carefully near the tulsi plant.

I gently plucked a few fresh leaves and placed them carefully into the silver bowl before returning inside.

Sindhu was already arranging the pooja plate by the time I came back.“Good,” she said approvingly when she saw the leaves. She guided me toward the pooja room and motioned for me to place the tulsi before the idols.“Now put a little into the payasam too,” she instructed quietly. “It becomes complete only then.” I followed carefully while she watched beside me.The diya flame flickered softly in the still room.Sindhu then handed me the aarthi plate..

“Do the aarthi,” she said gently. “Slowly.”I lifted the plate with both hands and circled it before the idols while the small bells nearby chimed softly. The warm light from the diya reflected against the gold of my mangalya chain resting visibly over my saree, just the way Sindhu had instructed earlier.

As I finished, Sindhu stood beside me silently for a moment, watching.

Then she smiled softly. “Now,” she whispered, “it truly feels like a home.”

As I completed the aarthi, Manoj entered quietly, freshly dressed in a simple white t-shirt and loose track pants, his hair still slightly damp after his bath.

His eyes slowly moved from the pooja plate in my hands to the orange saree draped around me.

“So the new bride has already completed all the rituals?” he asked softly.

Before I could answer, Sindhu replied proudly from beside me.“Bala even made the payasam.” Manoj looked genuinely impressed.

“Really?” he asked, stepping closer.

The calm Sunday morning made everything feel slower and more relaxed than usual. After finishing the prayers, all three of us moved toward the dining table where the cook had already arranged breakfast.The smell of fresh dosa, chutney, and coffee filled the room.

Sindhu served the payasam into small silver bowls while Manoj sat across from me, still unusually quiet.

But slowly I began noticing Manoj’s gaze drifting toward me again and again.

At first I ignored it.Then I realized what exactly he was watching. While eating, the saree had loosened slightly near my waist. Every time I leaned forward for the coffee or reached toward the serving bowls, a small glimpse of my waist and navel became visible before the pallu slipped back naturally into place.

Manoj noticed every single time. Once, when I adjusted the plate near him, I caught him staring for a second too long. After breakfast, I slowly got up to help clear the table, still walking carefully.

Sindhu immediately noticed.“Sit,” she instructed softly. “You’re still tired.”

Just then, her phone rang.The relaxed mood shifted the moment she answered.

“Hello?”Her expression changed almost immediately.“What happened?”Both Manoj and I looked toward her. She listened silently for a few moments before speaking again, calmer this time.

“Okay… don’t panic. I’ll come. ”The call ended.“What happened?” Manoj asked.

Sindhu exhaled slowly and rubbed her forehead lightly.

“My mother slipped while taking bath,” she said. “They admitted her to the hospital.”

I immediately stood up straighter.“Is she alright?” I asked.“Yes,” Sindhu replied quickly. “My brother said there’s no danger. It’s just a small fracture probably… but I can’t stay here now.”

The warmth of the morning suddenly felt interrupted.“I’ll come with you,” Manoj offered immediately.

Sindhu shook her head.“No, stay here,” she said softly. “There’s already enough people at the hospital.”

Then she turned toward me.“And you,” she added gently, stepping closer, “Can you finish all the pending household work.”Her fingers instinctively adjusted my pallu and covered my bra which is slightly coming from the blouse.

“And be safe.” At the door, she turned once more. “Call me if you need anything,” she said to both of us.

After Sindhu left, the house felt unusually quiet. Manoj went to take a phone call in the balcony while I slowly walked back toward the bedroom, adjusting the edge of my saree carefully as I moved.