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"STOPPPPPPP!"

Deekshya sat up with a jerk, screaming. She just saw a terrible nightmare, she saw Zayn and relived through that ugly night again but this time there was no one there to save her from that monster. She was all alone... she tried hard to break the nightmare-ish shackles that clenched her tightly and somehow managed to breakthrough. Sweating heavily with the ragged breath she pulled her knees to her chest, shivering slightly. The nightmare danced across her eyes vividly making her all the more scared, unsettled and fidgety. It felt as if the nightmare is an augury and the thought of it only made her limbs cold. 

And before even she could calm herself down, the door flew open startling her. 

Anirudh heard the spine-chilling scream of Deekshya when he was in the study and didn't waste a second to get to her, hoping for the best. And the moment he bolted in turning on the lights, he saw her flinching defensively. He cursed himself internally for scaring the already troubled girl. He took a bit to analyse what has happened. She looked tensed, her tresses were scattered all over, she was sweating mess and was panting heavily with horror written on her countenance. And then he realised it was another nightmare that has successfully shaken her but he was a tad bit relieved because it wasn't a panic attack.

He purred, "Deekshu... it's me, Anirudh. Are... are you okay?"

In the darkness, she couldn't recognise his shadow at first but when the lights came along with the softened utterance she instantly recognised him. She visibly shuddered as she realised taking in a long breath to calm her haywire nerves, "Yea... yes, I'm. Fine, I'm", while hurriedly wiping off her sweat beaded face with the back of her hands. 

"Hey, hey...", Anirudh ran fast to her side, "...be gentle. Relax! Breath", as she was a bit rough with her movements so much so that the places she rubbed turned red in a few seconds. Also irritating the band-aid on her temple. Hearing him, she slowed down. And she somehow managed to relax, maybe his presence did the magic. 

He quickly poured her a glass of water kept on the bedside table, "Drink!" She fidgetted and was about to deny it when he brought the glass close to her lips eyeing with a no-nonsense stance. And she couldn't fight that glare, gulped a few gulps. 

"Feeling better?" He asks arranging the scattered pillows against the bed rest so that she could lean on them comfortably for a while and she complies without any resistance. 

"Mhm", she hums while he makes a room for himself beside her. 

"Another nightmare?"

"Yes", she mumbles and clutches her temple, "... jeez my head is throbbing badly. Must be because of the jerk and scream". He saw her gripping the bruised part, "Well, maybe but if you could be a little gentle with your injury then I think you'll feel better", and moved her hands from there. Then she realised that her carelessness about the bruise is the reason, "Ohh. I completely forgot-" but he cut her off, "Lemme see it". And before she could even process, his warm breaths were fanning her face while he carefully peeled the band-aid off to check the cut. 

Her breath got hitched instantly as his strong musk cologne hit her senses. She would be lying if she said that he didn't affect her. Heck! She could literally feel the pit forming in her stomach and the butterflies somersaulting there. The hot breaths hitting her did nothing but make her shudder a little alerting him.

Anirudh started hyperventilating, "Shit! I'm so so so sorry, dammit... it's still sore. I should've been more gentle. And you... You could have told me earlier. We'd have gone to the hospital and gotten it treated properly, this band-aid isn't helping. I should directly call-" but she didn't let him continue, "Gosh, mother hen hold on! You're going on and on. At least let the bruise bearer answer what she's feeling. No, just make assumptions and go on a non-stop talking spree. For God's sake, I'm fine, it's nothing. The cut is healing. I replaced the old band-aid in the day and it looked fine. You can see it yourself. See, it's getting better", she said pointing at it. 

"But-"

"No buts. You didn't hurt me. Although it felt good to hear you apologising the first time ever and I guess that will help the wound to heal faster", she chuckled and continued, "On a serious note, I think there will be no need to put the band-aid on from tomorrow. So, chill Mr Srivastava. Because the exterior bruises are bearable for me while the interior-"

Her rambling ended up unknowingly brushing her non-physical wounds. And the atmosphere suddenly became heavy with an awkwardness settling in. 

But Anirudh broke it after a few seconds but purposely avoided commenting on the apology thingy she brought at first for obvious reasons. "Listen, I know I've been pressing this topic for a while now, but I think it'll be IT! We can get some assistance from the professionals you know. You even met Dr Yash, my friend, the other day... We can consult him. He is trustworthy moreover clients' privacy is a part of their professional ethics. You'll feel better, Deekshu. Trynna understand", he finished taking her palms in his and squeezing them gently.

Deekshya couldn't help but roll her eyes, "You know my answer, I don't wanna talk about it. I'm tired...", and replied slightly agitated taking away her hands from his hold. He got the message and didn't pester her further knowing she's tired. "Okay, fine. Just for my knowledge tell me, did you take your meds?" He asked guessing the source of her nightmare. Her ears straightened hearing him, she didn't take any. She forgot about the meds. 

He waited for her reply but when the silence lengthened, he knew he guessed it right. His wife is being childish lately as if she's gone back to their kindergarten days. She's impossible, he thought shaking his head and reaching out for her drawer nearby pulling out the box. She eyed him guiltily as she saw even when she acted rudely, he cares for her which was so uncharacteristic of him. She doesn't know what has changed him so much but it is indeed for good.

But suddenly it struck her, how come he knows about her sleeping pills. She never mentioned it to him. 

Anirudh forwarded the pills to her only to see her questioning gaze. "Yeah, I know... you take sleeping pills. I know what happens in our home Deekshu, now take your meds and sleep. You've already caused yourself much trouble by forgetting", He didn't lie and simply stated the facts as he didn't want to hide anymore. Although, he did conceal a few as it wasn't the time to drop another bomb. 

She got taken aback by his revelation. All this while, she has been thinking that she took them secretly but it turns out Sneaky Srivastava knew all of this. But little did she know what's the broader scenario... 

"Woah! You never stopped being Sneaky, didn't you? And here I was... never mind!", she said in a surprised tone and took the pills continuing, "Thanks, by the way... Sneaky Srivastava". Both chuckled at the nickname and she quickly took the meds, "Pleasure, Mrs Srivastava".

"Now, lie down...", he started while rearranging the pillow and helping her lay on her back, "...I'll be back right back". He swiftly moved to the closed windows and opened them one by one after turning off the AC, "Fresh air will help you sleep better".

Soon he was ready to leave and that petrified Deekshya because the afternoon's happenings is still afresh in her being. Surely she felt better after talking to their parents but the nightmare doubled the subdued fear. The only thing that can channelise the sleeping pill's action is calmness and she can only get it from Anirudh's presence or at least that's what she felt at the moment. So she instantly halted him, "Anirudh wait..."

"Yes", He looked questioningly at her, "Do you need something?"

"No-", she started fidgeting, "Could you please stay here with me?" but somehow managed to spit it out. He was left puzzled and the same reflected on his face. "Actually, the nightmare and the afternoon...", she sighed heavily closing her eyes to push away the ugly memories before continuing, "you know, aren't really helping me. So, if you'll stay here then I'll feel safe. Only if you want to... No compulsion, I can manage-"

"Sure!" He immediately cut her off as it was evident she is still reeling under the after-effects of awful moments. And making her suffer more is the last thing he wanted to do. 

Hearing his assent, she threw a small smile to him that he reciprocated. He ambled near the bed with measured steps due to the sudden rise of calculations while she could sense the impending awkwardness. Although Deekshya had never kept her hopes high at least not after her betrothal, this is certainly not what a little corner of her heart expected to happen when they somehow had to use the same bed. Her younger immature self had obviously romanticised it back when things seemed like an almost cake-walk and later on, she knew better to even hope anything like that.   His measured movements left her wondering whether she did the right thing. As she tried to remain as much passive as she could, Anirudh couldn't stop his sweat glands from trickling down it was as if he was going on a battle, not that he never bedded any woman but it's different. It's Deekshya, his frenemy and wife.

He slowly climbed onto her bed as she slid a bit to her side making more room for him. Suddenly, he felt a tremor going down his spine as the soft bedding hit his sweaty back. If anyone would've asked him months before if he would sleep on one bed with his sworn enemy Deekshya then he would've laughed his hearts out. But now, the awkwardness filled air is telling whole another story. Although he knew it is ought to happen sooner or later as they can't really have two separate rooms back in Delhi but still... He kept wondering looking at the purple dim-lit ceiling why it's still weird when they're leaving under the same roof for a while now. They should've gotten used to each other's presence, right? Oh really, his conscience taunted, as if you two sleep every day on the same bed. You two have gotten used to each other's presence, not this.

"Anirudh?" Her voice brought his wandering mind back, "Huh!?"

She purposely did it to take off his mind from the obvious awkwardness and maybe hers as well.

"Can you please switch off the back-lights of the ceiling? I would've but the control is at the other side", she tried to sound normal but one can easily feel the fiddliness in the voice.

The now sweating mess Anirudh could only hum before turning to do the same. The mental battle he had in there is now making his heart race in horsepower and the knotting in the stomach isn't helping either. It all felt weird and embarrassing, and both were feeling them.

When his back again hit the soft bed and he darted his gaze on the darkness above clueless and sleepless, a sweet fragrance filled his nostrils. Her enchanting jasmine scent. It seems to have a kind of magical spell that just throws all his worries out of the window in a matter of minutes, always. And this time wasn't an exception either. 

The moment the sweet pleasant perfume of hers hit his senses, all of his thoughts that was bugging him a while ago suddenly started fading into the darkness. It was as if just a switch went off, replacing the worries with utter calmness. And he savoured the moment along with the fragrance by closing his eyes and exhaling heavily. Deekshya saw the unforeseen change in his demeanour instantly while he exhaled a few more times and she squinted through the corner of her eyes at his outline in the dark to ensure that she did the right thing by making him stay. And in those few minutes, she felt as if her heart will explode in anticipation. He has always been an alluring intoxicating drug for her that she dared not to go near, for he was never meant for her and yet here they're. 

After a few seconds, she heard him heave quite big sighs and as much as she knows him his thoughts are also racing just like her heart. And that thought made her stomach churn. Anirudh being so near to her just centimetres away and that too deep in thoughts is enough to make her edgy, she couldn't help but feel a crawling agitation up her spine that started making her all the more nervous. And soon, it reflected in her fretful breathing. To take her mind off him, she turned and laid on her back gazing at the darkroom trying to think of anything other than him but couldn't. How could she? His musky cologne lingered in the air, the timely sighs that left his lips... chuck it, all of this damned man laying beside her made her breathing erratic. Her nervous wreck self tried to push down the itchiness and the sudden marathoning heart by back-counting but it didn't as effective as it should.

Once the sound of heavy breathing started ringing in Anirudh's ear, his eyes jerked open and he turned his head to Deekshya's side. A few lines appeared on his forehead as he could only make out the rising and falling of her chest in the dark, he couldn't point out the reason behind it. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see the outline of her parted lips puffing out air, some mumblings in between that seemed like a back-counting, then he saw her face's outline moving all around the room as if she was searching for something to distract herself while she unknowingly let her fingers battle with each other. She is clearly getting uncomfortable in her skin, he thought and soon realised why. She is again recalling the last ordeals of her and he wondered why haven't the pills worked yet. Little did he know he's the reason behind you know...

Then his gaze suddenly fell upon her left hand that had been resting beside her for a few seconds now and that ring a bell: she has this habit of some physical contact whenever her nerves get the best of her. She has always found some type of assurance in holding his hand after almost every fit of terror, he remembered, even the same is mentioned in his brother's journal that how she kept holding their mother's hand after one of the many ugly attacks. And then he didn't waste a single second to even think whether it's right or wrong.

He slowly reached his right hand towards her left with a tiny hesitation at first but got over it pretty soon for he knew she needed it. Then he leisurely yet surely curled his large rugged fingers around her tiny porcelain ones while his thumb caressed the silky smooth back of her palms. The sudden rise of warmth around her cold little sweaty digits made her flinch as she didn't see that coming whatsoever, her eyes widened as she glanced at the centre of attraction of the moment. Her breathing hitched when she felt his warm rough palms didn't wither away rather tightened the hold on her icy-cold ones and she drew in a sharp air. 

She looked up instantly at his chocolaty brown orbs only to find them already directed at her bewitching black ones. The next moment he knew he has hit home by taking off her mind of useless things, a little smile bloomed on his lips. And how could a girl who's been head over heels with him contain herself from reflecting the same alluring curve of petals back at him? A smile made her way instantly to her petals, and voluntarily she pressed her palm more into his. 

She didn't know from where all this sudden courage come from but she did know that it felt alright. And miraculously, she could feel the uneasiness that was creeping in a while ago is now dying down. She drew in strength from that maybe, she thought. She felt assured, safe, peaceful and lo... The simple gesture calmed her down and the smile of reassurance was the cherry on the cake. 

Anirudh stole a quick glance at their entangled hands, then looked again at her assured grateful slightly beaming face in the darkness. And satisfied for finally being able to mollify her, he cooed, "Now sleep, Deekshu! I'm here". Hearing his slow soft mumble she raised her eyelashes once again at him for one last glance of him before drifting away to sleep because as much as it felt all jittery it seemed all unreal and this one last look will be saved in the deep confines of her heart for who knows it may be the last time. Life has never been fair to her after all.

He saw her droopy eyes getting closed and in a matter of few minutes, she was fast asleep with her hand still in his rather more firm. He took a while to trace her features and also basked in the sweet jasmine fragrance of hers. It's of course not the first time he is watching her sleep but he saw a certain satisfaction residing on her features, unlike the last five to seven times after the fit of terrors where she somehow seemed guarded. And this fact made him feel proud of the progression he has made in making her feel safe just like the way Yash has mentioned she needed to. He knows he has remained very much awful to her all these years but now it's time for amends and he can't wait to make more. Although, he doubts he would ever be able to get over the few things that he holds her responsible for. 

Nevertheless, he is all up for fulfilling the promises made to his brother. And that starts with planning the doom of Bajaj brat. But for now, he likes being here with Deekshya. He looked at her sleeping figure and his gaze fell on her vermillion filled hairline, it always made him feel things he could never comprehend. And this time it compelled him to place a chaste kiss on her forehead. Why, he thought, he doesn't know other than that he just wanted to. Once he pulled away, he saw her snuggling more into the pillow while she firmly held their intertwined hands and smiling in sleep. 

In the end, she went to sleep smiling. And everything is worth it. Everything! Something mused this in him. 

He felt a sudden surge of content and drifted away to sleep donning a big sweet smile.

Deekshya's POV

"Urgh!", I groaned when the bright sunlight filtering through the flapping curtains disturbed my sleep. I then tried blocking it by turning to the other side but I guess the other windows are wide open as the sun's assault didn't subside even an inch and the roar of sea waves is quite prominent. But I'm too stubborn to give in, so I refuse to leave my bed. I laid again on my stomach finally blocking the stupid sunrays. Yay!

 As I snuggled my face more into the sheets to catch up on my remaining sleep, a slight strong musky scent hit my senses. What's this smell? A cologne? It's familiar but whose? Reluctantly, I opened and directed my droopy eyes to my side, yawning. But what I saw next drained the sleep out of my eyes as I remembered the fragrance's owner, thanks to the several creases on the other side of the bed that usually remain unaltered and of course, a discarded crumpled greyish t-shirt royally lying there. I squinted my eyes to take a good look as my mind is still half-asleep. It looked like Anirudh's.

Wait... Anirudh's? Holy shit!

The moment realisation dawned upon me, my body sprang up into a sitting position. Goddammit! I freaking slept with Anirudh Srivastava. I gasped. Oh, wait... that didn't sound well. We slept on the same bed. And then the last night's happenings came crashing on me- the nightmare, him as always tending to me, his knowledge about my sleeping pills, my stupidest request, his acceptance of it, and then...

I could feel the heat emanating from my cheeks, so I quickly stole a glance of myself from the mirror. I look like a big tomato. Oh my God! Damn you, Deekshya!

Then that sweet gesture of his, I might be exaggerating it but it was so precious. What 'was'? It IS damn precious to me, I can never forget the tenderness and warmth of his rough hands clutching mine firmly. Am I still getting the butterflies? Hell yeah, OF COURSE!

"Goshhhh!"

I squealed loudly before falling flat on the bed again facepalming myself. That really happened, I asked myself. Yeah, it did, the answer came from within. And if at all I'm not red enough, this made me all the more beetroot. I relived those spell-bound moments once again as they flashed across one after the other, especially his face. I giggled remembering.

But where the hell is he, something in me asked all of a sudden bursting my teen girl bubble. 

I finally bothered to look around the room searching for him but he was nowhere to be found except for his t-shirt of course. I climbed out of the bed and went to the balcony thinking he might be there but he wasn't. I then checked the bathroom but no sign of him. Then it occurred to me why would he use my bathroom when he has his own in his room. And it's not that we're are any normal couple... the thought pricked a little but I was enough fast to shrug it off.

For the next say fifteen minutes, I searched the whole house for him but met the same result over and over again. He is nowhere to be found.

And to say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. All the while I flew from one corner of the house to the other, I felt my heart break little by little. I don't know why I hoped to wake up to his face this morning when I'm well-aware of our circumstances. But then I already did and crushed my broken heart all over again. I shouldn't have hoped, expected after all the things that have happened to me. It was stupid of me, I shouldn't have expected it!

The hall's clock struck 8 when I dropped myself on the couch, exhausted. I'd just returned from the driveway where only my car is parked giving away the fact that he had left for office even before I could wake up. And possibly he hasn't had his breakfast as the kitchen is as same as she left last night, spic and span. 

Was he that desperate to avoid meeting me in the morning that he skipped his first meal? I couldn't help but wonder. What? Did we do anything wrong? Of course not! Is he regretting his actions? I think so, given he hated my guts and possibly still does. Should I have not requested him to stay? Was I wrong? I guess so...

But then he didn't look like that last night. And it's not that I reached out to grab his hands. He did, right! So what's this drama now? Surely, I wanted him to stay but... Urgh! This man is just so complicated. The minute I think I know him, he takes a total of 360 degrees and I hate this. I can read him and his actions but never his mind. I don't how it works, to be honest, even after all these years. He's all sweet, goody-goody in a minute but in the next, he just snaps. 

And why the hell I'm wasting my precious time thinking about this stupid brat? I've got a whole house to tend to along with myself. Deekshya, let's get back to chores at least that will take off your mind of the piece of shit. I trudged into the kitchen and went on with my day.

~

I shuffled from one channel to another, sitting in front of my steaming hot lunch on the dining table consisting of aloo paratha and coriander chutney. Yeah, I cooked my favourite to please myself and not live out the rest of my day sulking. 

Suddenly, a notification popped up on my phone that was kept nearby when I was about to take in a morsel. Groaning, I checked it only to see that it was a message from the great Anirudh Srivastava. Oh so now, Mister, got the opportunity to drop off a message after vanishing away from the home for nearly six hours. WOW! I rolled my eyes then opened the chatbox. It read:

'Will be out, it's urgent. 

Can't be avoided.

I may not come home for a while.

Take care, see ya!'

Ermm what? What's this cryptic sort of message? Is everything okay in Dream Eventrra?

I don't know why but I started getting bad vibes from reading this little message. As if something's not right or something big is gonna happen. I know it's very Maa-like but, I can't shake off this feeling. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the fact that he didn't inform me about his return or the cryptic tone of the message but I am scared. Or maybe the last few days is taking a toll on me. I may be getting paranoid unnecessarily but... Just don't know why.

The last encounter with Zayn and his parcel stunt is still afresh in me. And it scares the shit out of me to even think what he'll attempt now given that Anirudh is out of the reach. I know I'm overthinking but I can't help it. All these months I thought that by being far away from Delhi, I'll be able to find some stability but my past can never stop haunting me.

And why the hell did he just drop off this stupid message? Can't he inform me vividly about it over a call at least?

I didn't waste a single second to dial him up. I need answers and I'll get them. Period.

The ring went on for nearly fifteen seconds but he didn't pick. Huh, seriously? 

I tried again and this time he answered, "Hey, you okay?" 

There is something in his tone that seemed incomprehensible to me. But I shrugged it off, I needed answers after all. 

"Yeah, everything's alright. Just saw your message..."

"Oh, yea... 'bout that... Ummm... some sudden complications have arisen... you know... in one of the important events. And my presence is required there. Yeah... so, I'd to be away for some time", he stuttered while explaining as a child does to his teacher.

But I didn't want to point it out or drag it anymore, so asked ignoring that, "Not want to sound noisy but you know the situations... umm so any idea when will you back?"

"I'm not sure Deekshu... err... the situation... might take longer...", he sounded weirder than before.

"Okay then. Have a safe journey", I wished.

"Yeah, right! And one more thing, anything happens, you call me immediately. I'll attend it for sure. I know you're worried given the last few days. But do not worry about anything, I've got everything covered. You're safe, Deekshu. Are you getting it?"

"Absolutely! It's not for the first time you're not here, I'm used to it. Nevertheless, thanks", I replied smiling at his concerned filled warm voice. I again asked, "By the way, have you'd your breakfast? You went way pretty early... And lunch?"

He answered ignoring my first remark," Yeah grabbed both at the office and before you ask I also took along my spare luggage from there itself. What about your lunch?"

"Smarty ass", I mumbled under my breath.

"Heard that!"

"Yeah, whatever. Coming back to your question, just eating my aloo paratha", I purposely said to tease him.

"WHAT????? ALOO PARATHA? That's not fair Deekshu, why would you do that to me? You're getting heartless or what?" He replied what I expected him to. 

Because you jerk took off in the morning even before I could wake up, I wanted to scream this over the call but didn't. And fake laughed it off, "Lol! Maybe"

I heard an electronic voice from behind over the call saying something about flight numbers but couldn't make out the place names. So asked, "Ready to board?"

"Yeah", he simply replied but did not even bother to tell me his destination. Weird!

"Listen, I gotta go...", he said hurriedly probably shuffling in his seat. I complied, "Oh yes, bye!"

"Bye!", he said and the call ended the next second. I slammed the device back at the table, clicking my tongue.

A heavy breath left my lips as I threw my head back slumping in my seat. Several thoughts clouded my mind... First the cryptic message, then the conservative replies overcall, and most importantly his lies. 

Of course, I know he is lying. I know him since childhood. I can easily say when he's being saint Anirudh and lier Anirudh. His stutter cemented my doubt.

He never did such a thing in all these months, he always made sure I know his whereabouts so that in case of emergencies I would be able to reach him. But what happened this time? Why so secretive all of a sudden?

Maybe because he's avoiding you, isn't that why he left so early in the morning. My inner-self voiced it out clearing my confusion.

Oh, right! How can I be so dumb to not get that? He's doing this purposely. 

My my, now everything's making sense. He is surely regretting and maybe... Urgh!

Okay fine, if he wants to avoid me like this, then so be it. I ain't gonna contact him first the next time. He has started it, I'll end it, for sure.

End Of POV

"Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to New Delhi. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you"

Anirudh who has just ended the call with Deekshya where he spun a series of lies, heard the announcement. Well, he can't really tell her about it now, maybe later. He threw his head back closing his eyes in frustration for having to lie to his wife yet again. To be honest, those aren't complete lies, just half-truths. But still, he felt guilt. 

It's for her best, he strengthened his belief again before picking up his bag and ambling away to board his flight to Delhi.

Only time will tell whether he's right or...

5413 Words.

Tell me how's it? Honest reviews, please!

Woah, look who's finally here, if it's not for your shit of a writer. I'm so sorry for making y'all wait so much. I've updated an A/N chapter before this, so go through this to know my reasons, if at all you're interested in knowing.

Now coming back to the chapter, I literally spent two weeks staring at the laptop screen to pen down the simple hand-hold. Did it work? I mean was it good enough to give those mushy vibes... Or it just went downhill. Do tell me. And what do you think Anirudh is up to? Why he's being so rude and then secretive? Any guesses?

Updating Chapter 16 soon...

Stay tuned and add this book to your reading list!

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~Signing off: Akankshya~

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