I look into his eyes. This man really believes that what’s hisismine. My parents never had that kind of relationship. I’ve only read about it in books—it felt fictional. But he makes me believe in good things. In love,maybe. I nod.
“And since they’re your family, they’ll never judge you. They’ll support you. That’s what family does. Okay?”
A tear escapes my eye, and he wipes it away. Then he pulls me into a hug. A firm and assuring hug. Hug full of warmth, no facade, and I hold on to his shirt tightly.
“But don’t worry. No one knows. Only Aarav does, and I told him to say you fainted because of the heat. Okay?”
I look up at him. Rudraksh hates lies, and he still lied for me. He smiles softly and brushes back strands of hair from my damp face. I can’t help but sob harder—not from embarrassment now, but from the overwhelming feeling that I have a husbandwho actually thinks about my feelings. I hug him tighter—tight enough to probably suffocate him. And at this moment, I don’t care how I look. Well, partly because it’s dark and he can’t see my face clearly, but also because I know… he wouldn’t look at me any differently.
“Come on, let’s go. You need to rest,” his grip tightens on my hand as he assures me and gestures towards the car door. He gets out of the car and holds out a hand for me.
I take it.
“Oh my god, Shivani, you look so weak,” Maa exclaims with concern the moment I step inside. Dadaji is right behind her. Maa grabs my hand and pulls me along so quickly that I have to let go of Rudraksh’s hand.
“Come, sit here. I’ll bring you some lemonade,” she says, rushing to the kitchen, and Chachi follows her.
Dadaji sits next to me, his eyes full of concern. He looks up at Rudraksh. “What did the doctor say?”
Rudraksh lies smoothly, keeping his eyes on me. “She needs to rest. Stay hydrated and eat well.”
Maa returns with a glass of lemonade. I don’t even like it, but I drink it anyway. I shouldn’t even think about it. They’re all here—worried about me. Rudraksh was right. This is my home too.
“Raksh, take her upstairs. She should sleep now,” Dadaji says.
I get up, wish everyone good night, and walk upstairs with Rudraksh.
Once we’re in our room, he tells me to change into my nightsuit. When I’m done and come out, he’s gone. Disappointment bubbles inside me, but I can’t blame him. My stupidity cost him a whole day of work. He’s probably in his office.
I crawl into bed, drained—body and soul. Five minutes pass, and I’m just lying there, staring into the dark, thinking about how embarrassing I’ve been.
A soft knock at the door pulls me out of my spiral. Before I can sit up or say, Come in, the door opens. Rudraksh stands there with a plate in his hand. The smell hits me instantly—Chloe. One of my favorites.
He walks over and sits at the edge of the bed. “I brought your dinner up,” he says as he breaks a bite of puri, dips it in the chole, and holds it out to me. I stare at him, wide-eyed.
Is he… feeding me?
“Eat it, Shivani,” he calls, his eyes gleaming under the dim light.
I slowly open my mouth and take the bite. It’s heavenly. A small moan escapes me, and I look at him in horror.
His eyes darken, pupils dilating.
“You’re hungry,” he says the obvious in a husky voice that sends a shiver down my spine. He offers another bite, and I chew it slowly.
“Can you give me smaller bites?” I whisper. “My mouth can’t fit all that.”
His hand on the puri freezes. His eyes glint with a mix of desire and amusement. “Your mouth can’t fit all that, huh?”
My cheeks flush, and I smack his chest. “Get your mind out of the gutter.” He chuckles and continues feeding me.
“You won’t eat?” I ask.
“You know I don’t like oily stuff. Maa made me a sandwich. I’ll eat later.”
He feeds me another bite, and another moan escapes.
“Careful, darling,” he murmurs, voice dropping low. “You’re making me jealous of the chole now.”
