Chapter 6: The First Step

Aditya looked at Khushi searching for answers. He knew that she was guilty but she couldn't go on not speaking to him.

Seeing her fiddling, he grabbed her hands and made her sit on the bed and he sat beside her.

Aditya forwarded her a glass of water to calm down her nerves.

Khushi took the glass and finished it at one go. Seeing her antics, a small smile played on his lips but he understood that she might be really nervous.

"Khushi, let's start afresh. Let us leave all the guilt and sorrows behind, the past behind?" He said soflty and extended his hand "Friends? "

Khushi looked upon this man who was so kind, and decided that she would leave everything aside and start afresh.

So she clasped his hand and replied with a smile "Friends"

Aditya then told her that maybe they escaped from everyone today but next morning they have to face them.

There will be questions and accusations awaiting her and she have to be prepared for it.

He encouraged her by saying "Don't worry Khushi, everything will be fine"

"I know it will be" She replied. Both of them went to their room after kissing their daughter.

Khushi entered the room she'd share with her husband and suddenly she became nervous.

Yes, she feels something for him but he still loves his wife who was no more.

She felt both heartbroken and glad at the same time.

Heartbroken that she still doesn't have a place in his heart and glad that she got him as her husband who was so loyal to his wife.

She didn't want to make their relationship physical when they both didn't knew so much about each other.

Aditya realised what his wife was thinking. He can read her very well.

To remove her nervousness he told her to get fresh as he made the bed for her and also made the couch where he could sleep.

When Khushi came back after changing her clothes, she saw Aditya already changed and lying on the couch. She silently went to the bed and slept.

At midnight Aditya woke up with a jerk hearing a sound. He didn't know why he woke up suddenly and started looking around the room for the source of the sound. What he saw took his breath away

Khushi was getting flashes of someone pushing her into a river and she jerked awake. She was sweating and frantically searched for her medicines in the bedside drawer. She was getting restless without it and accidentally the glass on the table fell down shattering into pieces.

Aditya's sleep broke hearing the sound. He opened his eyes and saw that his wife was searching something, restlessness visible from her face.

Overcoming the initial shock, he walked towards her and held her by her shoulders "Khushi, what happened? " He asked softly, his voice rough due to sleep.

Khushi was sweating badly and was almost hysterical. "My med.... Medicines, I need my medicines" Aditya didn't understand what medicines she was talking about so he asked again " What medicines Khushi? Why do you need medicines? "

Khushi was crying and shaking her head "someone was.... Push... Pushing ... Me.... I... I.. Was.... Dy.. Dying" She said in midst of her panting.

Aditya didn't understand what she was saying but concluded that it might be a nightmare. He engulfed her in his arms and carressed her hairs.

He murmured soothingly "It was a nightmare Khushi, nothing will happen to you, You are safe"

"You are safe" are the words she always wanted to hear from her parents when she had these nightmares but rather they took her to a doctor who gave her medicines and now she became dependant on them.

But hearing him say those words made her feel safe.

Seeing her a bit calmed down, Aditya led her to the and made are lie down.

He was about to move to the couch when Khushi held his hand.

When he turned around and about to ask if she needed anything, she said softly " The bed is big Aditya, you can sleep here, the couch is not a great place ".

When he tried to deny she pleaded him. "Are you sure Khushi you won't be uncomfortable? " He asked.

"I am sure" she replied with a smile.

Aditya took his pillow from the couch and got on the left side of the bed.

He switched off the bedside lamps and wished his wife night.

Khushi was too tired to reply and drifted off to sleep. He watched her sleeping face and saw how much peace she was in which was clearly opposite minutes before.

He thought about her nightmare and the medicines she was talking about. He wasn't sure what it had implied but he was going to find out.

Making sure that she's is undisturbed, he stealthily left the bed, and went to the balcony attached to their room to make a call.

His voice becoming cold, eyes red with fury as the person on the other side spoke to him.

After the person hung up, he strolled towards the bed and looking at Khushi,he laid down beside her but sleep was far away from him that night.

Khushi, his newly wed wife was sleeping peacefully with a serene smile on her face . Aditya promised himself that he will never let this smile disappear from her face.He had taken the first step and became her friend.

The call he made seemed to make him more restless. He was angry and he was sure someone was going to be burned in his anger. He only needed to find out who.