Raatein chhup-chhup ke woh fasane sunati thi

Har khushi ke peeche ek cheekh dabti thi

Jo beet gaya, woh chhodta hi nahi,

Past tha woh... par saaya ban ke chala aaya wahi.....

Happy Reading

Ezra pov

"Teddy?"

I heard a voice behind me more precisely, near the door and I didn't have the courage to turn around and look

My heartbeat quickened. That voice... I could never forget it. And that nickname? There was no way I could ever forget that

My hands trembled slightly as I clutched the edge of the table for support. It felt like the world had paused around me, every sound fading except for the echo of that one word- Teddy

Only one person ever called me that.

Only he could say it in that teasing yet protective tone. And if he was really here, standing just a few feet away...

"Teddy?" the voice called again- softer this time, almost unsure

My throat went dry.

I wanted to speak. To turn. To run. To cry. But I stood still, caught between past and present

A thousand questions raced through my mind. Why now? How? After everything.....My chest ached from the weight of everything unsaid.

I closed my eyes for a second, breathed in sharply and then, slowly, I turned around

I froze mid-turn as Ayushmaan's voice cut through the thick silence.

"Edhr koyi teddy weddy nahi rehti bhai. Aap galat ghar aagaye ho. Aage jao" Ayushmaan said. He said casually, but I could hear the sharp edge in his tone -too calm to be harmless

(There's no 'Teddy' living here, brother. You have come to the wrong house. Move along)

"Excuse me?" The man who is standing at the doorstep said

"Yeah, you are excused. Aage jao" Maan said

"Ezra" he slowly called me

My name spoken in that familiar, aching voice felt like a bullet wrapped in velvet

Ezra

It wasn't loud. It wasn't demanding. But it hit hard.

Because it was him.

Harsh

The name I had buried deep inside the corners of my mind, trying to forget. Trying to heal.

I didn't know whether I had turned pale or red, but I could feel Ayushmaan shift closer, a silent warning radiating off his presence like a shield. His arm brushed mine, grounding me reminding me where I stood, who I was now

"Do you know him?" Maan whispered to me

But I didn't have the courage to say anything. I was frozen. My past was haunting me. I never thought that the moments I spent with him, the most beautiful moments of my life would one day come back to devour me like this

"I said move along" Ayushmaan repeated hua words to harsh, his voice now firmer. No more playful sarcasm this was protective, possessive. Maan mode. And when he went into that mode, it wasn't easy for anyone to get through.

But Harsh... he didn't flinch.

His eyes were on me. Just me.

"Teddy please, let's talk?" Harsh pleaded

That word again.

Teddy.

It didn't matter how softly he said it, how broken he sounded, how desperately he tried to reach me through it- It still hurt

Ayushmaan stepped in front of me now, fully blocking Harsh's view. His jaw was clenched, his frame tense, protective like a storm just waiting to unleash

"Ek baar mein bola toh samj nahi aata kya edhr koyi teddy weddy nahi reht" This time, Maan said it angrily

(Don't you understand when told once? There's no 'Teddy Weddy' living here)

"Maan..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, more like a plea than a protest

Ayushmaan turned toward me and looked at me with such softness and love in his eyes.

That's the thing between Maan and me no matter how much we fight or argue, in the end, we always understand each other better than anyone else.

We are literally soulmates

"Ezra, if you don't know him, or don't want to talk, then don't" he said gently, trying to make me understand.

"No, I want to talk" I whispered to him. I gathered my courage because I couldn't afford to look weak. He was the one who betrayed me, not me

Ayushmaan looked at me, slightly shocked. And honestly, he doesn't even know anything, Who this guy is, where he came from, what he means to me- nothing

Yet still... he understands me

He trusts me

Unlike the one I once trusted with everything- He didn't

"Let's talk in the garden. Come" I said to Harsh.

Suddenly, a smile spread across his face and he looked almost happy.

"Yes" he replied

And then, Harsh and I started walking toward the garden

I glanced back at Maan, he looked a little confused, but still, he nodded with that charismatic smile of his

I nodded back

"Teddy" he said and reached out to hold my hand once we reached

I immediately pulled back, taking a step away from him in shock

"Zyada bakwas mat karo, itna teddy sun sun ke dimag kharab hogaya hai. Edhr kyun aaye ho yeh batao" I said in my cold, emotionless voice

(Don't talk nonsense. I'm sick of hearing 'Teddy' again and again. It's driving me crazy. Just tell me why you are here)

"Look, I am really, really sorry. Baby, I must have lost my mind to not trust you-"

"If you are here to repeat the same nonsense, then you can leave right now" I said in the same cold, emotionless voice that I had trained myself to use over time.

"Because there's nothing left to hear or understand anymore" I said

He flinched at my words but stepped closer, desperation dripping from every word he uttered.

"Don't say that. Please, I am begging you, Jaana. You know I really, really love you. And I also know that you love me too- more than anything" He said

I looked at him, my eyes void of warmth, a hint of bitterness lingering in my tone as I cut him off again

"Maybe not anymore" I said, my voice calm but piercing like a quiet storm that had already done its damage

He looked like someone whose entire world had just been pulled from beneath his feet. His lips parted, but no words came out. His eyes those same eyes that once held dreams of us were now silently pleading for another chance.

But it was too late.

I stood still, unmoved. The silence between us screamed louder than any argument we would ever had. The damage he has caused me can be healed

"You don't mean that..." he finally whispered, his voice cracking. "You can't just fall out of love like that. Not after everything we have been through"

I chuckled at his words dry, bitter, and hollow.

"Me? Me fall out of love?" I repeated, my voice trembling not with sorrow, but rage. The venom in my tone was impossible to ignore

"You really think I just woke up one day and stopped loving you?" I asked him in rage

My eyes narrowed as I stepped closer, staring straight into his guilt-ridden soul.

"No. I loved you through every goddamn lie you told me. Through every doubt you planted in my heart. I fought for us when you were the one walking away" My voice cracked, but I didn't stop. I couldn't

"I stayed when you chose silence over truth, distance over closeness, suspicion over trust" I reminded him every goddam thing

His face fell, and his lips trembled, but for once, I didn't let the sight of his brokenness shake me.

"You were supposed to be my home" I whispered, more to myself now

"But you made it a battlefield. And you still have the audacity to ask why I stopped?"

Men and their obsession to blame us for the end is never ending

He opened his mouth to say something - anything- but I held up a hand, silencing him

"Love doesn't die overnight" I said, eyes glistening but firm

"But you? You killed it slowly. With every word you said, with every time you didn't believe in me" A tear slipped down my cheek, but I didn't wipe it away.

"So no" I said, voice softer but deadlier, "I didn't fall out of love. I was pushed. By you Mr. Harsh Malhotra" I said to the man who once vowed to protect my heart, yet ended up being the reason it shattered

His lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say but no words came out. Maybe because he knew I was right. Maybe because guilt was louder than his excuses this time

"You think walking back and pretending nothing happened erases the damage you left behind?" I asked him firmly

He looked away, jaw clenched, and for a second, I almost saw regret. Almost.

"But now I am done, Harsh" I whispered.

"Done waiting, done hoping, done breaking"

With that, I turned around to leave because I had no energy left to listen to his excuses. Even if by chance I got convinced, it would be his manipulation and I didn't want to fall into that again

I was drowning in my sorrow, tears streaming down my face. Wiping my eyes, I walked inside completely unaware that he was following me.

I only realized it when, out of nowhere, he suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Ezra" he whispered softly, his voice laced with hesitation... and something that almost sounded like pain.

But before I could even react, a voice called out from behind us.

"Arey, Harsh beta!" came Lilavati Aunty's sudden voice, Ayushmaan's mother. Her tone warm and unsuspecting, as if she hadn't just walked in on a storm brewing between two broken hearts.

"Tum kab aaye? Ezra beta andar leke aao. Sahi time pe aaye ho, hone wale damad ji. Ghar mein puja bhi hai waise bhi aaj" Aunty said cheerfully, her voice full of joy

(When did you come, beta? Ezra, take him inside. You've come at the perfect time-our soon-to-be son-in-law! There's a puja at home today too, by the way)

{Abhi aunty ko kon samjhai hone wala damad toh pata nahi lekin Ezra bahu zaror hai inki}

And just like that, my heartbeat spiked

Her words echoed in my head like a cruel joke, unaware of the chaos unraveling between us. I glanced at Harsh, whose grip on my hand hadn't loosened. His eyes searched mine, but I looked away because if I held that gaze for even a second longer, I would break all over again

"Maa aap janti ho isse? Aur yeh hai kon?" Suddenly we all heard Ayushmaan's voice

(Maa, do you know him? And who is he?)

Ayushmaan's voice cut through the moment like a blade sharp, stunned, and full of confusion

That's when it hit me

He had been standing there the whole time. Watching. Listening. And I hadn't even noticed

"Arey yeh Ezra ka fiance hai" aunty announced, like she had just casually mentioned the weather

BOOM

That one word exploded in the room like a grenade. Silence fell awkward, heavy, loud in its own way.

Ayushmaan blinked. Once. Twice. As if trying to process the absurdity of what he had just heard.

His lips parted, but no words came. His eyes locked on mine.

Betrayal. Hurt. Rage. Everything all at once

Rakshit pov

I entered the hall just as Lilavati aunty was saying, 'He's Ezra's fiance' and I was shocked to hear it

I mean... when did Ezra get engaged?

How come I don't know it? After all

I am her brother

"EX-FIANCE" Ezra announced and left towards her room

I wanted to go after her and ask

what exactly happened to my baby sister? Who is this guy? What's all this about an engagement?

But I didn't want to trouble her... because in that one moment, I saw tears in her eyes. And I couldn't bring myself to cause her more pain.

Maybe... just maybe, she needed some time. I will definitely talk to her later, when she's ready

Thinking all this, I was walking towards my room when suddenly... a memory hit me about my real sister, the one I lost years ago.

My sweet, little baby sister... Twinkle.

I let out a small chuckle at my own thoughts because, well, she wouldn't be so little anymore, would she?

It's been 18 years since I lost her.

She must've grown up by now...

She must be looking so beautiful. So full of life

But don't worry Twinkle...

I promise you no matter what it takes, I will find you baby. Your brother hasn't forgotten you. Not for a second. Your protector is still alive bachhe

I will find you soon

Thinking all that, I walked towards my room and found Agni sitting there, completely focused, working seriously on her laptop.

Just to mess with her a little, I quietly walked over and glanced at her screen only to discover that she was coding something. To be precise... she was hacking someone's account

That instantly reminded me of the very first time we met when she had hacked my account

And let me tell you, hacking into my account is not an easy thing to do. After all, I'm a professional hacker myself. Hacking runs in my blood

But Agni? Who had taught her all this? And more importantly... how the hell is she doing it so professionally?

This girl never stops surprising me

I picked up the apple lying on the side table, took a bite, and casually jumped onto the bed before asking

"What are you doing?" I said, still chewing the apple, my voice muffled but teasing

Agni didn't even flinch. Her eyes remained glued to the screen, fingers dancing over the keyboard like it was second nature. The glow from the laptop screen reflected on her face, making her look even more intense.

She was definitely up to something big. And me? I was just here to poke the fire... literally hehe

"Andhe ho kya? Abhi dekhai nahi diya ki kya kar rahi hoon" she said in a flat, emotionless tone, her eyes still fixed on the screen

(Are you blind or what? Can't you see what I am doing?)

I pulled a face at her words, making exaggerated weird expressions like a child who didn't get his candy

Seriously? I mean, I am her husband, yaar! How can she talk to me like that? Hmph! Am I right readers?

No respect, no drama, no cute moments just pure, cold tech-mode Agni. This woman is going to drive me crazy one day... and I think she knows it, right?

I started munching the apple even louder this time, purposely making those crunch crunch noises just to mess with her

"Can you not eat an apple without making those obnoxious sounds?" Agni snapped, clearly irritated, still not looking at me

I instantly raised both my hands in mock surrender, trying not to laugh

"Okay, okay, I am sorry," I said, acting all innocent

I mean... yeah, I should have understood. After all, she is in the middle of hacking someone's account and silence is kind of important in that zone

But come on, thoda fun toh banta hai, right? Besides, annoying her is my love language

"Accha bata bhi do ki kya kar rahi ho?" I asked, this time without the teasing tone

(Okay, now seriously what exactly are you doing?)

"Trying to hack Karan's account" she replied, calmly as ever

I blinked

"Karan's account? You mean our college Karan?" I asked, now sitting up straight on the bed, alert.

"Yeah" she nodded

"I have been feeling suspicious about him lately" she said

"Suspicious? Why do you think that?" I questioned, genuinely confused

She paused her typing for a second and finally looked at me

"During the trip, I noticed a tattoo on his neck. I tried my best to get a proper look, but I couldn't figure out what exactly it was. It didn't look like something random, though. There was something... off about it"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was piecing a puzzle together in her head.

And I just stared at her

Because when Agni gets suspicious...

It usually means something big is brewing

"Do you think it could be an eagle tattoo?" I asked, my voice was low but sharp because an eagle tattoo meant only one thing

There was a pause

"Maybe" she replied. "And honestly, if it is, then it's a good lead. Finally better than just chasing dead ends. We might actually catch a member of the Eagle Gang this time" she said

I nodded slowly, processing her words, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. I could feel the old fire ignite again.

But just as I was about to say something, she paused.

"And..." She hesitated. Wait... Agni? Hesitating? That's rare. Almost never happens

"What?" I asked, turning to look at her, my tone softer now.

She looked at me, her fierce expression melting just a little, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes

"Aur Twinkle ko bhi dhoondh paayenge..." she said gently, a genuine concern lacing her voice-and the smallest, most fragile smile tugging at her lips

(And we can find Twinkle too)

And for a second in that moment, Agni The Blaze wasn't just a fighter.

She was someone who remembered my pain.....And she truly cared

I nodded my head silently and leaned back, resting my head against the headboard of the bed. My eyes closed, not because I was tired but because memories had their own way of flooding when you least expect them

For a while, there was only the sound of keyboard clicks and my slow breathing

Then, after a few quiet moments, I heard Agni's voice- soft and careful, almost like she was tiptoeing through my past

"Can I ask something?" she said, her tone unusually gentle

"Hmm" I replied without opening my eyes

There was a pause... and then she asked "What happened to Twinkle? I mean... how did she get lost?"

She said it slowly, choosing her words like one wrong syllable could shatter me. It was thoughtful of her. She was trying not to hurt me.

I felt a small chuckle escape me not because it was funny... but because Agni, the same girl who could take down five men without blinking, was being so delicately careful... with me.

Sometimes it's not the words, but the effort behind them that hits the hardest

"Alright... today I will tell you everything" I said softly, letting out a deep breath as if preparing myself to open a door I had kept locked for years.

"I was four years old... and my little sister Twinkle was not even one yet. She was almost one when she got lost. Just three days later, it was supposed to be her first birthday" I paused for a second. My throat felt tight

"I was so excited back then" I continued, my voice growing distant as I slipped into the memory

"I used to tell everyone my parents, my friends, anyone who'd listen that Twinkle's birthday was coming. I would say it with pride... 'Meri Twinkle ka birthday aa raha hai' 'Meri twinkle ka bday aa raha hai'..... over and over again. I was just a kid, you know? I didn't know life could be so cruel"

I swallowed hard. The words were getting heavier with every sentence.

Even after all these years, it still felt raw like it happened just yesterday

"And you know... when she was born, she was so tiny. Like, really tiny. I didn't even dare touch her" My voice cracked a little as the memory played in my head like an old film reel

"I was scared... scared that I might hurt her by mistake. She was my baby sister, and I just wanted to protect her from the world every problem, every hurt....But..." I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat

"For the first six months of her life, I didn't even touch her properly. She was that delicate. I mean... it was like holding stardust. Just too soft, too precious. Like a little fairy" My lips curled into a soft, heartbroken smile.

"And then... when she turned six months old, I started playing with her. I would gently hold her tiny hands, brush her cheeks. She was the softest thing I have ever held. There was this constant shine in her eyes... like they were always twinkling. That's why I started calling her Twinkle" I chuckled, but the sadness was rooted deep

.

"Every time she looked at me, she would smile... and make those cute little baby noises. It was like she knew I was her big brother. Her safe space" Then... my voice dropped, the weight of that one moment pressing on my chest.

"And the day... the day that accident happened..." I whispered "It was the first time I ever held her in my arms."

A long silence followed.

"And... it was the last... Because... she was gone. Just like that. One moment she was there, and the next... nothing. No cries, no clue, no trail"

I looked away, blinking rapidly

And suddenly... I felt Agni's hand on my shoulder

It wasn't dramatic or overly emotional just a quiet gesture.

She was trying to comfort me... or at least, trying to try

Because let's be honest- my buddhu si wife doesn't really know how to comfort people. But that didn't matter.

It was her effort that did.

And that alone brought a soft smile to my face. I chuckled under my breath

Then, in her ever-so-gentle tone, she asked, "What exactly happened that day?"

Her voice was like a whisper laced with concern. No pressure just care

I let out a long, exhausted sigh and shook my head

"Someday... I will tell you" I replied quietly. "But not today"

Because honestly... I didn't have the strength left. That day... that moment... was like a shadow stitched into my soul.

It wasn't just a bad memory.

It was the moment that changed my entire life.

And I have spent years trying to forget it. Telling someone about it?

That still felt like climbing a mountain barefoot.

So for now... I let the silence speak.

Because sometimes, pain doesn't need words It just needs someone to sit beside you...

And stay

Kiaan pov

When she said 'you are my better' in that very moment, everything else just... faded away

I forgot why we even got married in the first place.

I forgot all the reasons, all the chaos, all the resentment.

For the first time in my life, I had gone against my father - my Baba. But why? And for whom?

For that girl...

The one my entire family despises

The one I was supposed to hate

The one I tried to hate

Yes, I really did try.

In fact, I did hate her.

At least that's what I kept telling myself. Again and again.

But...Between the anger and the chaos, Something shifted

And now, as she stood in front of me with that raw honesty in her eyes, calling me her better...

I realized Maybe I never really hated her. Maybe I was just afraid of what I was beginning to feel. And now, it's too late to deny it

But going against my Baba... that was never part of the plan. Because for me, my father is everything.

His words are like stone-carved rules unquestionable, unchangeable.

I have never dared to disobey him.

And yet... what did I do yesterday?

I literally went against him.

Not silently, not indirectly I stood my ground, against the very man I have always followed without hesitation.

And honestly? What I did yesterday... wasn't wrong. Not even a little

Because she's my wife.

And my wife is my responsibility

Not just in name, not just for the world to see but in every real sense of the World to protect her, to stand by her, to make sure she feels safe... even if it means clashing with the man I have always obeyed

And if choosing her against my father's will is a rebellion act then let it me that way only

I picked up the laptop and noticed an unread email from Agni. Curiously I clicked on it to open but just then, my wife walked into the room.

She glanced at me with a hint of confusion in her eyes, then quietly moved toward the wardrobe.

A few seconds later, she returned holding a red chunri in her hands and without saying a word, turned to leave the room.

I instinctively reached out, stopping her.

"Buttercup" I called gently, my voice soft and laced with affection. She turned around, puzzled

"Haan?" she replied, her brows slightly furrowed, eyes searching mine for an answer

"Are you okay?" I asked her gently, my voice calm and careful

"Mujhe kya hona hai mai toh ek dam thik hoon?" she snapped, brushing it off like it was nothing

"Hathiye abhi aap mere raste se mujhe Boht saare kaam hai abhi toh chunari mandir mein chadhane ke liye Jana hai"

(What could possibly be wrong with me? I'm perfectly fine!" "Now please move, I've got a lot to do. I have to offer this chunri at the temple)

Before I could say anything else, she pushed me lightly aside and walked right out of the room.

Did I just get ghosted... by my own wife?

Wow. Lol, man.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the dramatic exit and shook my head, amused.

Shrugging it off, I sat back down and focused on what I was originally doing. I opened Agni's email again, eyes scanning through the details. Something about the tone of it made me serious her emails are never ordinary.

I spent the next few minutes buried in the screen, working through some files and cross-checking a few links for research. The deeper I went, the more intriguing it got. This wasn't just casual mail it had a purpose

After finishing up what I could, I got up and headed towards Baba's home office. Because I had few things to clear with him

As I approached Baba's home office, my heart thudded just a little louder than usual. Not out of fear - no. But because this conversation... wasn't going to be easy

I stopped at the door for a moment, took a deep breath, and knocked.

"Come in" came his usual firm voice from inside.

I pushed the door open and stepped in. He was seated at his desk, eyes focused on some documents, glasses perched on his nose - the definition of power and discipline.

He didn't look up immediately.

But when he did, his gaze locked with mine - steady, unreadable.

"Anything urgent?" he asked, tone clipped.

"Yes" I said plainly "I wanted to talk"

He set his pen down, leaned back in the chair, and folded his arms across his chest

"I thought I made myself clear yesterday" he said coldly

"So did I" I replied, "But I am not here to obey in silence anymore"

He stood from his chair, calm but commanding. "She's not one of us, Kiaan. She never will be. She's-"

"She's my wife" I cut in sharply, my voice rising for the first time in front of him.

Baba's eyes narrowed. "You forget who you are talking to kid"

"No, Baba" I said, my jaw clenched

"I have not forgotten I just remember who I am"

He opened his mouth to speak, but I stepped closer not backing down.

"You don't see her, Baba. You only see her last name, her bloodline- all things she never chose. But now you are forgetting her last name is not VERMA BUT THAKUR"

His eyes darkened, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

"The next generation of this family, your legacy... will come from her blood. My children - your grandchildren - will come from her only. The heir to this empire will be from her. So stop calling her an outsider" I said firmly

"Because she is not just some girl anymore baba She is my wife. The wife of Kiaan Thakur"

I slammed my palm flat on his desk, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"MRS. IZNA KIAAN THAKUR"

My voice echoed through the room. The name echoed off the walls like a thunderclap

For a moment, neither of us said anything. Just two men two generations locked in a war of principles and pride. But mine was no longer built on fear. It was built on love. On choice.

"You taught me how to protect what's mine" I said, voice lower now, dead serious

"Well, she's mine..... SHE'S MINE TO KEEP OR TO KILL"

"You think this is about rebellion? No. This is about belonging. And she belongs beside me not behind me, not beneath me but beside me"

"If this empire can't accept her... then I will burn it down and build a new one with my bare hand, just so she has a place where no one questions her worth"

His stare bore into mine, but I didn't blink.

"And if anyone tries to rip her away from me? whether it's the world outside or the family inside they'll see what it truly means to challenge KIAAN THAKUR"

I let the words settle.

The storm wasn't in the sky.

It was in me now.

And I would unleash every drop of it...

for her.

After saying all that, I walked out of the home-office.

My baba is not someone who usually stays quiet he always has something to say. But this time, he remained silent. He didn't say a single word as I walked away, and I know exactly why...

Because deep down, he knows- I am his blood after all.

I learnt what it means to be stubborn from him. Every ounce of defiance that runs through me, I inherited from him. Every time I stand my ground, it's a reflection of him in me.

This battle of wills? It's not new for either of us.

Because if I am fire, then he is the spark that lit it

I was walking down the stairs when I saw her- my love, the very reason I had just stood my ground in front of everyone, standing upstairs, putting up flowers with the brightest smile on her face.

There's a puja at home this evening, and preparations are in full swing.

And just a while ago, Maa told me that my wife is the one managing everything like the true Badi Bahu of the house

I swear, I have never been proud of her. Day by day- no, scratch that second by second, I am falling more deeply in love with her.

I want to hold her against my chest, always. Shield her from everything and never let her go.

She was talking to the decorator so sweetly, smiling, laughing and damn, I don't know why, but a strange jealousy started burning inside me.

Like, how can she smile like that with someone else when I'm standing right here...?

God am I hopelessly in love with her?

And her loose strands brushed her cheeks- those soft, innocent cheeks. Uffff pathaka hai meri biwi

And just as she was laughing while putting up the flowers, I noticed something that sent a chill down my spine The stool she was standing on was wobbling... and right below it, there was a wire sparking slightly near a puddle of water

My heart skipped a beat

I ran

"IZNA!" I screamed, my voice loud and panicked as I rushed toward her.

Maybe it was my voice that made her look at me But in that very moment, the stool slipped out from under her feet.

She fell.

But thank God...

I reached just in time and caught her in my arms before she could hit the ground.

She looked shocked, clinging to me, her breath uneven.

And me? I was still trying to calm the storm inside me- the fear of what could've happened



"Tum thik ho?" I asked her, my voice trembling, uneven probably because I had just sprinted down 3-4 stairs and rushed straight to her

(Are you okay)

She looked at me, wide-eyed, still processing everything... and then slowly nodded her head.

But even that small nod wasn't enough to calm me down

what if I was a second late?

"Uta-utaro mujhe" she said softly

(Put me down)

I simply nodded, still a little shaken.

Gently, I let her feet touch the floor, helping her stand straight.

But the moment she was steady without thinking twice, I pulled her into a hug

A tight, calming hug.

Not out of drama. Not for show.

But out of pure fear... and immense relief.

As if I was silently telling her

'Don't ever scare me like that again'

And in that moment, nothing else mattered. Just her in my arms, safe



"Ohho mummy Yahan toh bhaiya-bhabhi romance kar rahe hai" I suddenly heard Dipti's teasing voice echo from behind.

(Ohho mummy, here brother and sister-in-law are romancing)

We pulled apart

Izna's cheeks turned a soft pink, her eyes avoiding mine now, while I just cleared my throat and shot Dipti a half-hearted glare.

Dipti, of course, burst out laughing

"Karne do" Maa said with a smile, holding the aarti plate in her hand

"Mujhe bhi mera pota jaldi dekhne ko milega" she added teasingly, her face glowing with mischief and warmth

(Let them be)

( I will get to see my grandchild soon anyway)

Izna turned completely red like a tomato, head to toe flushed in embarrassment

"I-I will be back" she mumbled in the softest voice and rushed out of the room, almost tripping on her own dupatta.

The rest o

f us couldn't help but burst out laughing at the way she fled, trying to hide her burning cheeks.

Oh, my adorable wife...

How easily she turns into a blushing mess and how effortlessly she makes my entire world light up.....after all she is

Mrs.Thakuraine