CHAPTER 8

"Little love with selflessness is enough for the person who always craves for it."🫠🥺,,💗The garden was calm, the air filled with the faint scent of flowers and freshly cut grass. Aarohi sat cross-legged on the grass, her dupatta neatly draped over her shoulder, as Aarushi and Aarav lounged nearby. The three of them were deep in conversation, their voices carrying a mix of teasing and affection."Bhabhi, you're being unfair!" Aarav protested, pretending to sulk. "How can you side with Aarushi in every argument? What about me? Aren't I your favorite?"Aarushi snorted. "Favorite? You? Aarav, you can't even butter a roti without making it look like a disaster zone."Aarohi chuckled softly, her gaze warm as she looked at Aarav. "He's not completely useless, Aarushi. Remember, he did fix the TV remote last week.""With duct tape, Bhabhi!" Aarushi replied, bursting into laughter. "That's not fixing, that's surviving!"Aarav rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "At least I contribute something to this family. Unlike someone who thinks shopping online is a sport."Aarushi gasped dramatically. "Excuse me, Bhabhi encourages my shopping! Tell him, na?"Aarohi raised her hands in surrender, smiling at the two of them with a mixture of love and amusement. "Don't drag me into this. I love you both equally-even when you're arguing like kids over the last piece of chocolate."Just then, Rudraaksh walked through the garden gate, his footsteps slowing as he caught sight of them. Aarohi's soft laughter reached his ears, and he stopped in his tracks, taking in the scene before him. Aarohi sat with effortless grace, her gentle smile lighting up her face as she teased Aarav and Aarushi. She had an innate ability to make everyone feel at ease, her presence a calming force in the family.Aarushi was the first to notice Rudraaksh. "Oh, look who decided to come home early for a change!" she teased.Aarav smirked. "Should we be worried? Aap itni jaldiii kaise aagaye bhai, mein koi Sapna toh nahi dekh rahahuu bhabhi ?"Aarohi turned, her expression softening but she didn't say anything!Rudraaksh nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Everything's fine. Just thought I'd spend some time with all of you."Aarav and Aarushi exchanged knowing looks, but Arrohi simply smiled, aarushi patting the spot next to her on the grass. "bhai aaye baithiye na". Aarav was just telling us about his plan to become a superhero.""Captain Carbs," Aarushi added, breaking into laughter again.Rudraaksh shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips as he joined them. His eyes stayed on Aarohi, though, captivated by the way she brought so much love and joy into their lives. In that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude-Aarohi wasn't just a part of their family; she was its heart.After sometime they went for dinner ,aarohi and aarav is backfiring with each other and Rudaraksh's whole concentration was on only the wife who is even sparing glance at him.When Aarohi enter in their room Rudaraksh was sitting on the bed checking emails when he felt the presence of Aarohi his whole attention went to her.Rudaraksh: Toh Kya socha hai aapne

Aarohi: Kya...kyaa.

Rudaraksh: Haame jaana hai biwi!Aarohi in( shocked): Kya kaha aapne....Rudaraksh: Biwi! Aab apni biwi ko biwi bulana Galat hai kya!

aarhohi ( shyly): Nahi wohh...aap

Rudaraksh: Toh bataaye Kya socha hai aapne?!

Aarohi: Haa woh haam toh pehele se hii issh Shaadi ko mauka dena chhahte the par aapne hii usdin....woh sab..

Rudaraksh's eyes widened in surprise, the tension in his face melting into an expression of pure relief and joy. Before she could react, he closed the gap between them and enveloped her in a sudden, heartfelt hug.Aarohi stiffened, caught completely off guard. Her hands hovered awkwardly in the air as she processed the unexpected warmth of his embrace."Mr Rajput-" she started, her voice barely above a whisper."Thank you," he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion.Aarohi's heart fluttered, her initial shock slowly giving way to a strange sense of comfort. As her hands hesitantly rested on his back, she found herself whispering, "I hope we can make this work."He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers, a mixture of determination and hope shining in them. "We will," he promised, his voice steady and sincere.Rudaraksh stole a glance at Aarohi, her delicate features softened under the moonlight streaming through the window. A part of him longed to reach out, to wrap her in his arms and let her know she was safe, but he held back. He didn't want to overstep, and didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.Unbeknownst to him, Aarohi's thoughts mirrored his. She felt a strange urge to inch closer, to let his presence chase away the lingering doubts and fears that haunted her. But hesitation rooted her in place. What if he misunderstood? What if it made things awkward?They both sighed softly, each lost in their own turmoil, and eventually drifted off to sleep.---In the middle of the night, Aarohi's peaceful expression twisted into one of distress. Her breaths quickened, her hands clutching the sheets tightly as flashes of an old nightmare played in her mind.Rudaraksh stirred, awakened by her restless movements. Turning to her, he noticed her face contorted in fear. Instinctively, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, cradling her close. "Sweethearts," he whispered softly, his voice filled with concern. "It's just a dream. Kuch nahi Hoga mein huna baacha "Aarohi's eyes fluttered open, her breathing still uneven. Realizing she was wrapped in his arms, her panic began to subside. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest as she tried to ground herself."I'm here," he reassured her, stroking her hair gently. "Nothing will hurt you."To her surprise, Aarohi found herself relaxing in his embrace, the warmth of his arms erasing the remnants of her nightmare. She murmured a soft "thank you" before her exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted off again, this time feeling an unfamiliar sense of safety.Rudaraksh smiled faintly, his hold on her tightening protectively as he whispered, "Sleep well, jaan." Moments later, he followed her into slumber, their hearts unknowingly finding solace in each other's presence.Next morningThe morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room. Aarohi stirred first, her lashes fluttering as her mind slowly registered the warmth cocooning her. Her eyes opened, and she froze, realizing she was nestled against Rudaraksh's chest, his arms still wrapped protectively around her.For a moment, she felt a strange sense of peace, a foreign but welcome feeling. But as the reality of their closeness sank in, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Carefully, she tried to shift without waking him, but the slight movement caused Rudaraksh to stir.He opened his eyes groggily, his gaze meeting hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke, caught in the intimacy of the moment."Good morning," Rudaraksh said softly, his voice husky from sleep."Good morning," Aarohi replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to untangle herself from his embrace, but his arms instinctively tightened for a split second before he realized what he was doing and released her."I'm sorry," he said, sitting up. "I didn't mean to-last night, you were having a nightmare, and I... I just wanted to make sure you were okay."Aarohi sat up too, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I know," she said softly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "Thank you. I... I felt safe."Her words caught him off guard, and for a moment, he simply stared at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You don't have to thank me," he said, his voice was warm.The silence that followed wasn't awkward but filled with unspoken emotions. Aarohi finally stood, brushing her palms against her dress. "I'll go get ready," she said, her tone light as she tried to ease the tension."Take your time," Rudaraksh replied, watching her retreat to the bathroom. As the door clicked shut, he leaned back against the headboard, running a hand through his hair.A small smile lingered on his lips as he thought about the way she had clung to him last night. Maybe, just maybe, they were taking their first steps toward something real.Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Aarohi stared at her reflection in the mirror, her heart still racing. She couldn't shake the memory of his comforting embrace. For the first time, she wondered if giving this marriage a chance might not be so impossible after all.The morning air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of fresh breakfast. Aarohi, dressed in a simple yet elegant pink Anarkali, moved gracefully around the dining area, arranging the dishes on the table. The soft pink of her attire matched the glow of contentment on her face as she put the final touches on the morning spread.She had gone the extra mile to prepare everyone's favorite dishes-Aarav's aloo paratha, Aarushi's butter dosa with coconut chutney, her father-in-law Raghav's poha with extra peanuts, and for Rudaraksh, his favorite-perfectly golden paneer-stuffed parathas with a side of mint chutney.Aarav was the first to dash in, his toy car clutched in one hand. He stopped short at the sight of the table, his eyes lighting up."Wow! Aloo paratha!" he shouted gleefully, climbing onto his chair.Aarushi followed shortly, rolling her eyes at Aarav's excitement but grinning nonetheless. "Wow, Bhabhi maa, going all out today?" she teased, sliding into her seat."Good morning, Aaru," Aarohi replied with a smile, her hands busy arranging the cups of steaming masala chai."Good morning, indeed bhabhi maa," Aarushi quipped, eyeing the dosa. "Someone's spoiling us today."Moments later, Raghav walked in, his gaze sweeping over the perfectly laid table and the cheerful atmosphere. His usual stern demeanor softened as he looked at Aarohi."Good morning, beta," he said, his tone uncharacteristically warm."Good morning, Papa," Aarohi replied, returning his smile. "I thought everyone could use a hearty breakfast today.""You've done wonderfully," Raghav said as he took his seat. "It's been a while since the house felt so... lively in the morning."As Aarohi poured chai into everyone's cups, the sound of measured footsteps descending the stairs drew everyone's attention. Rudaraksh appeared, dressed sharply in his office attire-a crisp white shirt paired with a navy blazer. His presence naturally commanded attention, but today, his focus immediately settled on the breakfast table.He paused, his gaze drawn to the meticulous spread-and to Aarohi, who was busy placing a bowl of mint chutney beside his plate. The sight of her in the soft pink Anarkali, her hair falling lightly around her face, struck him for a moment."Good morning," he said, his deep voice breaking the comfortable silence.Aarohi glanced up briefly, startled to find his eyes on her, but quickly nodded. "Good morning," she replied, her tone softer than usual. She placed the paneer-stuffed parathas in front of him without being asked.Rudaraksh raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, settling into his chair as he took in the sight of his favorite breakfast.Aarushi smirked, breaking the moment. "Looks like someone's trying to win hearts today, huh, Bhabhi?"Aarohi shot her a mock glare. "Eat your dosa before it gets cold," she said with a laugh.Aarav, ever the charmer, leaned over and whispered loudly, "Mama, you're the best!"Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere was light and warm. Even Raghav chuckled softly, shaking his head at Aarav's antics.As the breakfast went on, Rudaraksh quietly savored the parathas, their flavor reminding him of the rare times he'd felt cared for. His gaze often drifted to Aarohi, who was eating sparingly, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched Aarav chatter away.For the first time in a long while, the house felt like a home-a warm, vibrant space where everyone's hearts seemed a little closer.Rudaraksh sipped his coffee, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He couldn't help but wonder if Aarohi was slowly becoming the heart of this family-and maybe, his too.After breakfast, Rudaraksh stood near the door, checking his watch. He was already prepared for his urgent meeting, his confident demeanor reflecting his readiness for the day ahead. Aarohi, busy clearing the table, noticed him gesturing subtly in her direction.Curious and a bit hesitant, she walked over to him, stopping a few steps away."Come here," he said softly, his tone more of an invitation than a command.Aarohi looked at him, puzzled, but stepped closer. Before she could say anything, Rudaraksh leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead."Bye," he said, his voice calm yet filled with a quiet warmth.Aarohi froze, her breath catching at the unexpected gesture. Her heart fluttered, but she quickly recovered and whispered, "Bye."With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Aarohi standing by the door, her fingers brushing her forehead where his kiss lingered. She stared after him, her heart pounding as the simple gesture played over in her mind.Rudaraksh didn't look back as he got into his car, but the faint smile on his lips spoke volumes. As he drove off to his meeting, he couldn't shake the image of her slightly flushed face, etched into his thoughts like a quiet promise of something new between them.

Aarohi smiles at the gesture, her heart warming slightly at his touch, despite the emotional distance she sometimes feels between them. She looks up at him, her expression softening.

Hey lovies💕Bye....🫣🫠