Astha,s head rested on the backrest, she stirred and opened the delicate folds of her eyes.

Astha stood up and watched Dhruv. Her heart shattered loudly in her ears remembering his sufferings. She sat beside Dhruv on the bed and started to run her fingers through his hair. Her touch loving ad tender as she gazed at Dhruv. Her heart swelled with tenderness and affection for him.

she took a shaky breath and bent down placing a tender kiss on his forehead.

Uth jaiye na Dhruv ji.

Astha said to him, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Hum aapko aise nahin dekh sakte.

Astha said, her voice trembling with emotions.

Shama kijiyega Dhruv ji. Kaash humne aapki baat na maani hoti. Agar na maani hoti toh aapki yeh halat na hoti.

Astha said, her voice a fragile mummer.

She heard footsteps and stood up from the bed.

Pratap bhai sa.

Astha called out softly. She walked towards him. He gently patted Astha,s head out of brotherly affection and hugged her.

Chinta mat karo. Theek ho jayega yeh.

Pratap said softly rubbing her back.

Jante hain.

Astha said, her voice a low mummer.

Pratap pulled away from the hug and smiled at her patting her cheek tenderly. Astha smiled softly at him.

Pratap sat besides Dhruv. He looked at Dhruv who was still unconscious and felt his heart swell with brotherly affection for him. He took a shaky breath. He couldn't help but ran his fingers through Dhruv,s hair.

Aapko pata hai Astha. Hum ek varsh pehle Dhruv se mile thy. Inhein dekhte hi humein aisa laga jaise hum apne chote bhai ko dekh rahe hain aur inhein peeda mein dekhte hi humara mann tadap uth-ta hai.

Pratap spoke, his eyes shining with tenderness. Astha heard with a soft smile adorning her lips.

Later!!!

Astha stood by Dhruv,s bedside, watching him slowly regain consciousness. Concern etched across her face. She was by his side the whole night eagerly waiting for him to regain consciousness.

As his eyes fluttered open. He blinked them to adjust to the light in the chamber.

Dhruv ji, aap uth gaye.

Astha,s voice softened as she felt relief wash over her.

Shukar hai Krishna ji ka.

Astha,s said, her voice tinged with relief.

Dhruv,s eyes focused on her. His eyes still laced with exhaustion.

Astha.... Kya hua?

Dhruv asked, his voice was hoarse.

Aapko wahi sab jhalkein dekhi thi aur aapke sar main bahot tez dard hua, jiske karan aap murchit ho gaye. Poori raatri murchit thy aap.

Dhruv,s raised his eyebrows at her. He closed his eyes as he tried to remember the memory, holding his head.

Mujhe Kuch yaad nahin aa raha.

Dhruv said weakly.

He sighed taking a deep breath and looked at her, his eyes a mix of tenderness and gratitude

Per hum sukhi hain ke aap humare sath thi. Dhanyawad.

The air in the room felt charged with an unspoken conaction, a deepening bond between the two. Embolded by her care and affection for him, Astha stepped closer. She reached out, her fingers gently cupping his cheek.

Dhruv shut his eyes, her touch felt delicate, warm, and comforting. The love and affection for him clear in her delicate tender actions.

Hum theek hain Astha.

Dhruv mummers. His voice soft but fragile.

Pata hai kitne theek hain aap.

Dhruv opened his eyes hearing her. He looked her her, her eyes a mix of pain and tenderness. The pain in her eyes prickled his heart like sharp darts.

Pata hai kitna dara diya tha aapne humein.

Astha confessed, her vulnerability and fear clear in her eyes for the very first time.

Dhruv held her hand, interlocking their fingers as he brought her hand close to his lips are kissed it.

Astha shut her eyes as she goosebumps travel all over her skin at the delicate brush of his lips against the back of her palm in a tender, affectionate kiss.

Dhruv looked at her. Their eyes met for a beautiful, alluring eye contact. The world around them seemed to fade away leaving only the two souls and their growing love for each other. His growing affection for Astha clear in his eyes. The way she loved him, cared for him, protected him going against everyone, her tender gestures towards him made him feel loved and charished.

Dhruv felt a mixture of uncertainty and pain flooding through his heart. He held onto her hand and gazed into her eyes.

There was an overwhelming softness and tenderness in her eyes. His eyes searched hers trying to find the love and assurance he was unknowingly craving for.

He knew that she has married him out of pity and is taking care of him out of humanity. He felt a tug at his heart.

But somewhere in his gentle heart, he was still hoping for all of this to be a lie, he was hoping for her love and affection that she was showering on him to be true. That she married him because she wanted to and not out of pity.

As if understanding his unspoken words, her heart pounded in her chest, with a mixture of hesitation and longing and a tinge of uncertainty, Astha cautiously circled her arms across Dhruv,s broad shoulders, pulling him into a tender embrace.

Dhruv,s eyes widened, suprise flickering across his features. He felt the warmth of her against his chest, her delicate arms enveloping him, securing him in a protective cocoon. The warmth that immediated from her body spread through his veins overshadowing the pain of his heart, making him feel loved and charished in such a way he had never felt.

Astha moved towards his ear, her words a soft caress, a display of her love and affection for him, strengthening the thread of their connection.

Hum bahot dar gaye thy Dhruv ji. Aapko kuch ho jata toh pata nahin hum kya kerte. Aap humare jeene ki wajah hain Dhruv. Hum aapko nahin kho sakte.

The raw vulnerability and pain in her words made his heart ache. The words washed over him like a warm wave calming his inner turmoil. Her actions and words soothing his broken heart making him feel loved and cherished. The words spread a comforting warmth that seeped deep into his bones sending a delightful shiver down his spine.

Dhruv,s hands still slightly weak, hesitantly found their way to Astha,s waist. He held her with a gentle, delicate grip pulling her more closer basking into the warmth that immediated from her, cherishing the feeling of their closeness. He had never known such comfort before, a sense of solace that permeated his being.

The world around them faded into insignificance. Time seemed to stand still as they clung to each other. Dhruv,s heart felt at peace beating loudly against his chest matching the steady beats of Astha,s heart a gentle smile playing on their faces as they casted aside the worries, surrendering to the depth of their conaction

Astha pulled away, her fingers cupping his face, her touch feather light.

Her fingers gently stroked his cheeks in circular motions, their eyes locked.

Ab kaisa lag raha hai?

Astha said concerned.

Dhruv nodded his head in positive weakly.

Sahi.

Dhruv replied, his voice a soft mummer laden with weakness.

She nodded her head gently, her voice softening

Hum aapke liye kuch khane ko late hain.

She said, her fingers gently cupping his face.

Dhruv nodded his head in positive hearing her. She smiled, a soft, loving smile that reached her eyes which made Dhruv,s heart flutter in his chest like a butterfly.

Astha blinked, mischief dancing in her eyes, a playful smile adorning her lips making his heart race.

Astha kya kerne wali hain aap?

Dhruv asked, his heart fluttering in his chest.

Before he could make out what's happening, he felt Astha press her lips over his bearded cheek, a gesture laced with playfulness and affection. Dhruv,s heartbeat stopped as his eyes widened in surprise.

She hurriedly left from there trying to control the giggles bubbling within her.

Dhruv kept his hand over his cheek where Astha had kissed him. He shut his eyes feeling goosebumps travel all over his skin. Heat rose up over his cheeks.

He slapped his forehead lightly, smiling shyly as he mummers, his tone flickering with suprise.

Yeh Astha hi theen na?

Yeh kya tha?

Dhruv added, his voice tinged with disbelief as her action sank in. He touched his cheek once more saying,

his voice barely above a whisper

Jo bhi tha acha tha.

Later!!!!

Astha entered the chamber. Her gaze fell over Dhruv and she felt her heart skip a beat.

Astha couldn't help but be mesmerized by Dhruv,s fair complexion. As she observed him in the mirror, her heart skipped a beat. The soft glow of the daylight fell gracefully on his face accentuating his sharp features and elegant charm.

She couldn't help but admire him.
His face carved in perfect angles and lines, was too handsome for his own good, Astha thought. She felt her heart skip a beat at this thought. Her heart raced in her chest as she took a step back trembling shaking her head sideways hastily trying to brush away the attraction she felt towards him.

Pati hai tumhara. Galat kya hai usko dekhne mein.

Her brain yelled at her.

Unka pehla prem Tara hai.

Astha debated but she knew it was an attempt which is of no use.

She watched as he reached out for his attar bottle. It's silver cap glistening. She watched as he sprayed the familiar scent. The scent, a woody fragrance, that she knew way too well. The scent that lingered over his clothes and wafted into the chamber whenever he walked in. A scent that she had breathed in, when she had hugged him today, though the scent was as faint as it could be. A scent that she had breathed in whenever he laid besides her on the bed. A scent she finds comfort in. Even now she could almost taste the woody scent in the air. A scent that wrapped itself around her like a beautiful memory that made her heart skip a beat.

Dhruv looked at her and felt his heart race when he caught her gaze through the mirror.

Astha immediately diverted her eyes, a faint blush coloring her cheeks making her look ethereal.

Dhruv let out a small laugh, a joyous melody making her heart skip a beat.

Ache lag rahe hain hum aapko?

Dhruv asked, heat raising over his cheeks but the teasing lilt in his voice was evident.

The blush on her cheeks deepened as she asked, trying to sound stern.

Haan toh? Nahin dekh sakte kya?

Astha slowly approached Dhruv, her delicate footsteps barely making a noise on the wooden floor. She stood in front of him. There eyes locking for a beautiful eye contact.

Dekh sakti hain. Humne kab mana kiya?

Dhruv said with a mischievous twinkle dacing in his eyes.

Jaise hum dekhte hain.

He added whispering huskily in her ear making her shiver. She clutched his shoulders for support as her knees went weak.

Arthat....

Astha whispered, her hands still clutching his broad shoulders. Dhruv wrapped his arms around her lower back to steady her.

He smiled and replied huskily.

Kal raat ko, ya phir tab jab aap humse pooch rahi thi ke aapko aapke naam se kyun nahin bulate.

Bhale hi humein humare ateet se judi koi cheez yaad na ho Astha.

Dhruv said, his voice now softening as he stroked her cheek affectionately.

Per aap humari patni hain aur sada rahengi. Yeh satya koi nahin badal sakta.

Dhruv said with a hint of possessiveness in his voice. His heart thudding in his chest as he embraced the truth that Astha is his wife with open arms.

His affection for Astha was growing with each passing second. The way she loved him, protected him, fought for him, cared for him, cherished him in a way no one could. It was clear that she has fallen for him and Dhruv was falling for her as well but was unaware of it.

Dhruv couldn't help but think how His heart skips a beat whenever he's near her, how his heart races whenever she touches him, how his breath catches in his throat whenever she kisses his cheek. How he feels a megnatic pull towards her that is almost irresistible. How jealous he feels whenever she talks to Mahaveer. How he dreams of clasping a hand against Mahaveer,s throat and knocking the breathe out of him.

The red color straining her cheeks as she blinked her eyes hearing him. The possessiveness in his tone made her heart skip a beat.

He stepped back. His eyes softened as he reached out for the multicolored box of sindoor. He looked at her for a moment before taking a pinch of sindoor in between his fingers. She shut her eyes as he applied the sindoor in her hairline. He watched as she smiled, the beautiful blush on her cheeks deepening.

Jab tak hum hai na aapke paas tab aapko hum apne hathon se hi sindoor lagayenge.

Dhruv said, his words barely above a whisper achoed in the silent chamber.

Astha looked at him, the blush on her cheeks fading and her smile dimmed.

She reached out and gently cradled his face in her palms lowering him to her level silently commanding him to meet her gaze.

She stroked his cheeks. The joyous energy faded away and a tensed silence enveloped them.

Jab tak aap hain arhat? Aap kahan jayenge?

Astha asked, her voice a mix of tenderness and longing. Her heart stopped beating for a moment.

Are nahin. Kahin nahin. Thitholi ker rahe thy.

Dhruv said chuckling. Astha hit him lightly on his chest and crossed her arms across her chest.

Aisi thitholi pasand nahin hai humein.

Astha said, her voice tinged with unease.

Acha theek hai baba nahin karenge aisi thitholi ab khush.

Dhruv asked her softly. Astha turned her face away from him looking into the mirror.

Dhruv held her waist gently from behind as they stood side by side. Their eyes locking in the mirror. Their reflection in the mirror creating a beautiful image of their blooming love and unity.

Humein yeh thitholi achi nahin lagi.

Astha said, her voice was a mix of honesty and affection.

Shama ker do ab nahin karenge.

Dhruv said sensing her discomfort. He gently turned her and cradled her face in his palms, stroking her cheeks, his touch tenderly affectionate.

Pakka.

Astha asked.

Haan baba pakka.

He promised slightly tightening his hold on her face. A tender smile playing on his lips.

Astha reached out, finally a smile blooming on her face. Her fingers gently brushing against his fair cheek, causing a gentle shiver to run down Dhruv,s spine. She locked her fingers with his as she said, her voice ever so tender and affection washing over him in waves making him feel overwhelmed.

Aapne bahot kuch saha hai Dhruv ab aur nahin.

With a tender glance exchange with each other. They walked out of the chamber holding hands.

End Of Chapter!!!

RainbowRoses21. ❤️
Minhasmansi92. ❤️

No Tara,s scene today because I'm hell angry at her.

Here's the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment love you all take care stay home and stay safe ❤️