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"Abhi what happened to your hand? Why is it so swollen?" Bhavna asked with concern.

"Nothing mom I'm fine" he said with a small smile.

"No it's not Abhi" she scolded her son. "I'm sure you did it out of anger. Abhi can't you control your anger for once huh"

"Mom I'm fine okay. Relax it's nothing" he said kissing her hands.

"Shut up. My baby is hurt then how can I be relaxed huh. Aru go and bring some ice cubes"

Arohi went inside and brought the ice cubes. She didn't even glance towards Abhishek once properly. She handed the cubes to her and stepped back. Meanwhile Ashika bought the first aid kit.

"Show me your hand" bhavna said but her words didn't get inside his mind. His focus was on his wife's behaviour.

"Mom I'm fine I don't need this" he said rudely this time.

Everyone looked at him and shook their head. Nothing new to them.

Ashika saw how his behaviour changed when Arohi didn't glance at him. She giggled at his brother's anticts.

"Of course Bhai you don't need this if mom's doing it, but I'm sure you'll be super happy if bhabhi does this and takes care of you right" she giggled and winked at him.

"Acha so this is the reason" Suket said and laughed.

Arohi's cheeks got the tint of red due to Ashika's remark and her eyes widened. She doesn't want to go anywhere near him, not after what she saw......

"Aru do it bacha or else this boy, huh forget it" bhavna said with a smile and smacked Abhishek's head lightly.

Arohi didn't want to do it. But can she deny her mother-in-law? No!

She took small steps with a faint smile towards him. She sat down on the chain next to him and took an ice cube in her hand.

She did wait for him to give his hand, she took hold of it herself.

"It's swollen so badly. It must be hurting him" she thought and looked at him. "But wait, serves him right!"

She applied the cube with more force than required. Abhishek bit back his wince due to the pain, and passed a smile to his family.

"You guys start eating" he said to them.

They all nodded and started munching the food.

"Aru lightly please, it hurts" he whispered to her when she again pressed it with force.

"You should have thought about this before punching your hand" she rolled her eyes.

With her sarees' pallu she wiped the water, and then applied the anticeptic gel on it. She blowed some air is that it wouldn't burn.

She did his first aid and then served him the breakfast.

"I want sandwich" he slid the plate away when Arohi took a seat.

"What?" She asked in a low voice to avoid any sort of fight in front of elders.

"I don't like this poha, I want a sandwich!" He said in his bossy tone.

"No, eat this" she pushed the plate back to it's place.

"No" he slid it towards her again, careful enough not to spill it.

"No sandwich is not enough, have this first. I'll make it later" she said pushing it back.

"No" he shook his head like a stubborn child.

Arohi didn't know her husband was a part time child too, a stubborn one thou.

"I.." he tried to speak but was cut off when a spoonful of poha was stuffed into his mouth.

Ashika gasped and then burst into laughter followed by others. Abhishek's neck was turning red and Arohi's eyes widened when she realised what she did just now. She dropped her hand and started eating her food, without glancing others.

"Serves you right bhai. Well done bhabhi" Ashika said giggling.

"Good Arohi, no need to put up with his stupid tantrums" Triloknath said

His parents were the happiest witnessing all this. They were happy that he was finally letting her in and they were improving.

They may not say but they knew how they were just acting to be a perfect couple to others. They could read between the lines. Now when they're being 'real' they're really very happy for them.

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It was evening when Ashika and Arohi were setting up the theatre room for the family. Bhavna prepared snacks for them. They all settled in their seats.

"What would you like to watch Mrs. Abhishek?" Ashika asked.

"Anything you want to watch Ashu" she replied with a smile.

"Nooooo bhabhi, you tell" Ashika whinned.

"Okay okay" she chuckled "Umm what about _______ (any movie of your choice)"

"Ummm okay" Ashika chirpped.

The movie was played and everyone was laughing and enjoying it with the delicious snacks.

All the while Abhishek's gaze was fixed on his wife who was enjoying the movie with his family.

He remembered the change in her behaviour. He tried to understand what happened all of a sudden that she gave him a cold shoulder.

"I need to talk to her" he thought.

"Why do you care if she doesn't?" His mind asked.

"I..." He didn't have any answer to the question.

He glanced at her one last time before focusing on the movie.

All the while Arohi did feel his gaze on her. She tried her best to avoid it.

To be continued..