Shruti let herself into her and Arjun's Mumbai bedroom and frowned at the sight before her. She quietly kicked off her flats and joined her husband on the window seat.
"Arohi said you stormed out of your interview," she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. "What happened?"
"I got annoyed," Arjun shrugged, anger radiating out of every pore. "She was asking questions I didn't appreciate."
"About what?" Shruti wanted to know.
"Us," he answered. "I knew that telling Riddhi about us back in November was going to open us up to everyone, but this woman today was rude and invasive. She made terrible assumptions and I didn't like them."
Shruti sighed. "What did she ask?"
"She said that there must've been a better reason for keeping our marriage a secret than you just didn't like the attention," he explained, taking her hand in his. "She assumed I kept you a secret so I could cheat on you in every city without looking like an asshole for doing that to my wife. She said you were married to me for money and didn't care that I was probably cheating all the time."
"Bappa," she scoffed. "If that were true, why would you tell me about me now? Also, you're never seen with other women, so that makes her theory just sound stupid. Who was she with?"
"Some regional magazine," he muttered. "It was just ridiculous. It's been a long day, Vishal and Akshara are visiting, and then I had to listen to her call me a cheater and you an idiot. I snapped."
Shruti knew this was a part of fame he hated. Arjun was impulsive. He had a temper to match just about anyone's and he had a hard time containing it. When someone angered him, he struggled to keep it from showing, and in the very rare instances where he failed in doing so, he knew he looked like an asshole. But this time, it was warranted.
"I'd like her name and the publication," Shruti finally spoke. "I'll get with Neil and we'll take care of it. People shouldn't talk to you like that. And a good journalist never would. It'll be sorted out."
Arjun sighed and leaned back against the wall, pulling her with him. "What would I do without you?"
"Oh, be miserable, I guess," she joked. "I love you, Arjun, so that's why I do it. It's part of the territory of being your wife."
"Well, I'm lucky to have you," he said.
"We should probably go to bed," she declared moments later. "We have a trip to take tomorrow."
"Mm, yes, we do," he smiled. "Are you packed?"
"As much as I can be without knowing where we're going," she grumbled. "I'm also leaving wedding plans to your sister and Arohi for ten whole days, so it had better be worth it. We should've just held off and gone on a longer honeymoon."
"Can't," he denied. "The wedding is May 3, and I go back into the studio on May 15 for my fourth album. We're looking at an October release."
Once they'd showered together, as most often, and were settled in bed, Shruti rested her head on his bare chest while he drew random shapes on her back. It was their favorite way to unwind after grueling days, and she could tell he needed it.
"When do you want to start trying to have a baby?" he asked after a long period of silence, knowing she was still awake. "We always said we'd have one before our fifth anniversary, and it's here in two months."
"Hmm," she murmured, "I don't know. I guess I'd wanted to last year, but then the world tour started and that pushed things back. Maybe Shivam was right, though I'll never admit that to him. Maybe we should start trying now? I'm ready. Are you?"
"Yes," he replied.
Shruti smiled into his warm skin. "Okay then. After the wedding, cause I want to fit into my dress perfectly, I'll stop taking birth control."
"Excellent," he beamed his anger from earlier almost completely dissipating. "You'll be the best mother, sweety."
"I hope so," she whispered. "You'll be a great dad, you know. I know that you worry you won't know how because of Dhananjay being a dick and completely absent-but you'll know. And you'll excel, just like you do as a husband and brother and friend and singer."
Arjun liked it when she listed "singer" last in the things he was good at doing, because his family always came first, so if he was letting them down, he was failing. It was always reassuring to hear that he wasn't.
"Did you confirm the car to pick us up for the airport?" Arjun asked early the next morning when they awoke.
"Yes," Shruti confirmed. "You said our flight doesn't leave until two, right?"
"Correct," he nodded. "Why?"
"I invited everyone over for breakfast," she admitted. "It's sort of a thank-you breakfast for the tour, and it gives me a little more time with Akshara while she's here."
He frowned. "That means Vishal will be here with her, in our house."
"Yes, I'm not thrilled about that either, but like us, they're a package deal," she explained, applying her light makeup. "It's just for a bit. They know we have to leave for the airport by noon."
Arjun finished getting dressed in their massive walk-in closet before joining her in the master bathroom. "What time is breakfast?"
"Nine," she replied. "Pooja got here at six to start all the prep and to work with the cook. If you're dressed and ready, you can go downstairs and see how things are moving along."
"I like that you say I can do that when we both know you mean I will do that," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her cheek before following orders and heading for the stairs.
"Good morning, Arjun baba," Pooja, their longtime old housekeeper, greeted him in the kitchen. "The dining room is all set and the cook is working on breakfast now. Everything will be ready to go by nine."
"Thank you, Pooja," he nodded, making himself a cup of coffee. "Are your daughters happy to have you visit while we're away?"
"Yes," she smiled. "They're nearly as thankful as I am that I'll have the time off to do so. It's very kind of you two."
"Trust me, you've earned it," he assured her. "I know that I'm messy and she's bossy, so putting up with us isn't always easy."
Pooja just laughed. "You're the best people I've ever worked for, hands down."
He nudged her gently with his shoulder. "You say that to all of the people you work with."
"No," she denied. "Just you two."
Arjun simply grinned at her and went to the dining room to see the setup. The table had been set and there was a serving station near the door where all the food would go. He counted fourteen chairs, but he could only account for thirteen people who would be there.
"Ananya," Shruti spoke up as she joined him. "She texted me last night to say she was still in town and to ask if she could come over with Shivam."
"So he's managed to keep her around for three months now," Arjun murmured as Shruti took his coffee to take a sip. "Good for him."
"Shivam has been a near gentleman with her," she explained, walking back to the kitchen. "It's Ananya that's had to work on it. Morning, Pooja Aunty."
"Good Morning," Pooja replied. "You look nice."
Shruti looked down at her simple jeans and red sweater. "Thanks. I wanted to look nice for this but be comfortable for a long plane ride later."
Before Pooja could respond, the doorbell rang, so Arjun excused himself to go and answer it. He should've known it would be his luck that Akshara and Vishal would be the first to arrive.
"Hello, Arjun," she greeted him coolly as she removed her coat. "Your house is lovely, though I'm sure that has more to do with Shruti than with you."
"There isn't much she changed upon moving in," he answered just as coolly. "We have similar tastes."
Vishal looked around. "It's fine."
"Shruti!" Arjun called, wanting to be away from them as soon as possible. "Your friends are here!"
Akshara huffed at being referred to as "Shruti's friends," but said nothing as the girl in question appeared around the hall.
"Hi," Shruti beamed, hugging Akshara. "I'm glad you found it okay."
"Found it?" Vishal scoffed. "It's the biggest house we've seen in Mumbai, and that includes the monstrosity her sister lives in."
"Yeah, when are you going to start filling it with kids?" Akshara wanted to know as Shruti led them to the sitting room just off the hallway.
Shruti discreetly eyed her husband. "Oh, I don't know. We haven't talked about it much just yet."
While his wife entertained his two least favorite people in their group, Arjun made his way back to the hallway to wait for the others to arrive. Prince showed up next, followed by Neil and Arohi. Then came Hardil, Anmol, and Divya, which was an interesting trio because Arjun knew Anmol and Divya were still sleeping together against Hardil's wishes. Shivam, Ananya, Rishabh, and Shanaya arrived together, rounding out the party. It amused Arjun to no end to see how Shivam behaved around Ananya. He took her coat, guided her carefully with his hand on her lower back, and made sure she was comfortable.
"Don't," Shanaya warned her elder brother. "Shivam is happy and she keeps him occupied."
"I didn't say anything," Arjun chuckled.
"You thought it," she grumbled.
Shruti stood up then and smiled at everyone. "Let's eat!"
"So you still have no idea where you're going?" Arohi asked Shruti moments later as they prepared their plates.
"No," Shruti denied, "and it's driven me just about insane. He loves that I don't know, but I'm ready to kill him."
Arohi laughed. "You know, I often hate to compliment the sociopath, but he's done well with this. You'll love it."
"You know?!" Shruti gasped.
"I helped," Arohi bragged. "Surprises aren't the worst thing in the world, Princess."
Shruti frowned. "Well, see if I bring you a souvenir home."
"Oh, no," Arohi deadpanned. "What will I do without another kitschy shot glass?"
Shruti hip-checked her best friend and finished filling her plate before taking her seat at the table. To avoid any arguing, she'd put Arjun at one end and Vishal at the other, so they'd only have to look at each other, not talk. She was at Arjun's left and Shivam was next to her. Prince was to Arjun's right, with Shanaya on his right.
"Prince, I'm sure it goes without saying, but we're being generous by letting you sit while we're away, so don't make us regret it," Arjun warned his youngest brother.
Shruti rolled her eyes and looked across the table at her brother-in-law. "Don't listen to him. We trust you, Prince. You can have a couple of friends over, but no parties."
Prince, perhaps the most mature Punj after Neil, nodded. "I know. Neil bhaiya already said he's going to check on me and I have to have dinner with them every other night. I won't take advantage."
"We know," Shruti smiled before Arjun could attempt to intimidate him any further.
Neil stood up then. "I know toasts are rather uncommon at the breakfast table, but this is my only opportunity, so I'm taking it. As Arjun's manager for the last eight years, I'd like to thank you all for the very hard work you put in daily, particularly over the last six months of this tour. It was long and grueling, but his most successful yet. So, to you all, I raise my glass."
Shruti kicked Arjun under the table, indicating he should thank everyone, as well, so he stood up. "Thank you, Neil. I've been doing this now for eight years, and every year, I find myself thinking, 'This was the best year yet.' I think that again as I stand here now, but I know it to be true. It was an incredible year for all of us, but especially for me because I finally got to share the most important part of my life with the world, and that's Shruti. He smiled down at his wife. She's been by my side now for nearly seven years-five as my wife and I'm forever grateful to her for that."
"What about me?" Arohi interrupted. "You wouldn't know her if not for me."
He glared at his sister-in-law. "Yes, thank you, Arohi. Anyway, to everyone at this table, save for Akshara and Vishal who do nothing for me, I thank you. Your hard work has gotten me through a lot of times-good and bad-and I wouldn't be standing here without you."
Shruti winked at him as he sat back down beside her. "That was nice, minus the dig at Akshara and Vishal."
"No dig," he denied. "I was honest."
"So, Ananya, what are your intentions with our Shivam?" Arohi wanted to know, drawing the attention back to her.
Ananya froze momentarily before clearing her throat. "Well, things are going well right now, so I guess we'll just see where it goes."
"Oh, come on," Arohi continued. "Don't play coy with us. You two did this for over a year last time before you broke his heart. You either know or you don't."
"Arohi," Akshara warned. "Stop it."
"Well?" Arohi ignored her sister. "Is he the one?"
Ananya glanced at Shivam, who looked ready to lunge across the table at Arohi, before taking his hand. "I think he is."
"What?" Shivam breathed. "I am?"
"Aren't I for you?" she asked him quietly.
Of course, he confirmed. You have been for quite some time.
"It's you, Shivam," she replied. "You drive me crazy, but I'd rather have a bad day with you than a good one with someone else."
He pressed his lips to hers. "I love you, Ananya."
"I love you, too," she murmured.
Prince made a face into his French toast. "Eww."
"Stop it," Shruti laughed. "That'll be you someday."
"No, thanks," the youngest Punj denied. "I'll stick to the bachelor status, I think."
"You say that now," Arjun told him, "and you'll believe it, but then the right person will come into your life and it'll knock you out. You'll do whatever is necessary to be with them. Trust me, I know."
Prince made a face again. "You're the worst one now."
"Hey, I happen to like him just the way he is," Shruti defended her husband.
"Whatever," Prince grumbled.
When breakfast was over and everyone had gone, Shruti and Arjun helped clean up before loading their luggage into the SUV she'd called to drive them to the airport.
"Ready?" she asked once they were situated in the backseat.
"I am," he nodded.
Shruti leaned into him as the driver headed toward Mumbai International airport. "I'm excited."
"Me, too," Arjun agreed. "Our first real trip together."
"Mm," she murmured. "Could you turn the radio on, please? I hate quite a car ride."
The driver did as requested and found the local popular station.
"Up next, we're throwing it back a bit of 'Piya Re' from Arjun Punj, released on 9th February, making it his first song of the year," the RJ said. "I guess that looking back, his reason for missing home and the girl in the song is his wife, Shruti, whom he recently spilled the beans for. Well, good for them; they seem happy. Enjoy try song."
Tujhse Hai Mera
Jaane Kya Vaasta
Main Jahan Bhi Gaya
Mujhko Tu Mil Gaya
Aana Jaana Tera
Mujhko Manzoor Hai
Par Na Manzoor Hai
Tera Hona Juda
Itne Mere Paas Ho Tum
Tum Numaya Raaz Ho Tum
Sach Kahun Toh Door Tumse
Zara Sa Main Jab Bhi Hua
Dil Na Laggeya
Dil Na Laggeya
Dil Na Laggeya O Re Piya
Dil Na Laggeya O Re Piya
Jaaye Na Jiya Tere Bina
Dil Na Laggeya O Re Piya
Shruti wasn't a fan of flying, so Arjun always made it his mission to make flying as comfortable as possible for her. He distracted her with games and stories; no matter how hard he tried, she was against joining the Mile-High Club. Their flight from Mumbai to Groix wasn't the longest they'd ever taken, so it was bearable for her. It was the helicopter ride to their destination that had her panicked.
"It'll be alright, sweety," he assured her. "It's not long, I promise."
"Okay," she muttered as she strapped in and put on the headphones. "Just hold my hand."
"Always," he promised.
Like he'd told her, the trip from Groix to the private island he'd rented for ten days wasn't long, but she'd nodded off, so he shook her gently as they were arriving.
"Shruti," he whispered. "We're here."
Shruti looked out the window, and her eyes lit up at the crystal clear waters below. "Ganpati Bappa."
"It's all ours for the next ten days," he told her.
Shruti turned to him with a huge smile on her face before looking back out the window. "This is going to be the best vacation ever."