Dhruv entered inside the chamber only to find Astha sitting on the bed reading a book.

She recognized his footsteps, the click of his mojri against the wooden floor. His scant wafted into the chamber. She breathed in the familiar scent and looked up, a smile blossomed over her lips and she stood up.

Aa gaye aap?

Astha said closing the book and stood up. She walked to him.

Dhruv looked at her smile and all his anger vanished into thin air.

He walked towards her and pulled her close holding her hand. Her head rested over his heart. His one palm rested on her head while the other one was wrapped around her petite frame. Dhruv shut his eyes inhaling the fragrance of jasmine and sandalwood from her hair. He felt Astha tremble and smiled feeling Astha,s touch of acceptance on his back.

Astha was surprised when Dhruv suddenly hugged her. Her heart started pounding in her chest as he placed her head over his heart. She could hear the steady beats of his heart right below her ear. She felt him wrapping his one arm around her petite frame while the other rested over her head gently caressing her hair which made her tremble. However she raised her shivering palm and placed it on his lower back responding the hug with equal tenderness and affection.

Dhruv ji.

Astha mumbled, her voice getting muffled against his sherwani.

Dhruv hummed softly in response, his eyes were still closed as he slightly tightened the hug.

He pulled away slightly from the hug but not completely and planted his lips on her forehead. She shut her eyes as her heartbeat stopped for a moment.

He moved towards her ear and whispered, his voice a mix of tenderness and unknown affection.

Aap ab tak jaag rahi hain?

Haan hum aapka intezar ker rahe thy.

Astha replied softly.

Dhruv smiled hearing her. He felt his heart skip a beat.

Per kyun hum aa jate na?

Dhruv asked softly.

Dhruv hum aapko iss Valabhgarh mein akela kahin jane nahin de sakte. Per aap ziddi hain jo har raatri logon ki madat kerne chale jate hain.

Astha complained.

Kal toh aap bhi humare sath aayi thi.

Dhruv asked amused crossing his arms across his chest.

Balki roz aati hain. Akele toh hum aaj hi gaye.

Astha smiled, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek in a gentle, tentative touch. Dhruv shut his eyes, his breathes turning ragged as he felt her hands moving downwards caressing his lower cheek. She caressed the edges of his stuble. Her soft hands delicately moving over his rough, graceful facial features. Dhruv sighed feeling his skin on fire. He opened his eyes, his heart skipped a beat as he felt her kissing the tip of his nose. Goosebumps travelled all over his skin.

She moved towards his ear, her lips touching the shell of his ear causing his heart to race in his chest as she whispered, her voice laced with mischief.

Woh toh hai.

Dhruv came out of his trance hearing her and cupped her face in his palms, his hold gentle and affectionate smiling softly. Astha looked into his eyes and found a mix of tenderness and an undefinable emotion that left her puzzled.

Dhruv ji kya hua hai?

Astha asked softly, her voice a mix of warmth and affection.

Dhruv didn't replied and held her hand.

Astha agar hum aapse kuch mange toh kya aap humein dengi?

Dhruv asked her, his eyes a mix of hesitation and hope.

Astha didn't wasted a single second and gently cradled his face in her palms, her touch a mix of tenderness and affection.

Maang lijiye puri duniya aapke kadmon mein rakh denge.

Astha responded, her voice a mix of tenderness and affection. Dhruv felt his heart race hearing her. His hold on her hand tightened slightly and he placed it over his head.

Baalon mein hath pherengi kya? Acha lagta hai.

Dhruv confessed ever so innocently. Astha,s eyes almost teared up. She caressed the edges of his stuble gently, her fingers trembling slightly as she nodded her head in positive, a smile blossomed over her face.

Dhruv laid on the bed and Astha sat beside him on the bed resting her back against the backrest.

She got startled when he kept his head in her lap. Her breath caught in her throat. She raised her shivering hand and hesitantly reached out to caress his hair.

Astha jab hum so jate hain tab bhi toh aap humare sar per hath pherti hain na. Toh ab kyun dar rahi hain?

Dhruv asked raising his eyebrows at her.

Astha felt her heartbeat stop and looked at him.

Her eyes wide in surprise as she asked

Aapko pata tha? Toh kuch bola kyun nahin?

Astha asked suprised.

Aap Sharma jati hain.

Dhruv replied raising his head up slightly.

Astha,s fingers gently cupped the back of his head as she placed his head back on her lap. He shut his eyes. A soft smile started playing on his lips as he felt her fingers slip through his hair. Her touch felt loving and tender as she caressed his hair.

Ek sawal karein Astha?

Dhruv asked opening his eyes to look at her.

Astha looked at him smiling while still caressing his hair.

Poochiye. Jab chahe poochiye.

Her voice was filled with such affection and warmth that it made his heart tremble in his chest.

Jab kabhi hum bahar jate hain aapko hum per shaq nahin hota kya? Matlab kabhi hum kisi dasi se baat karen ya aapko koi cheez na bataye toh...

Dhruv asked.

Astha shook her head smilingly and bent down, she planted her lips on his forehead in an affectionate kiss. Dhruv,s eyes immediately fluttered close, his heart fluttered in his chest like a caged bird.

She held his hand as she responded, her voice a mix of love and sincerity, a confession that came from the depths of her heart.

Dhruv ji. Humain aap per kabhi shaq nahin hua kyunke humara mann janta hai ke aap aise nahin hain. Aur rahi baat aapke kisi dasi se baat kerne ki toh...

She breathed before continuing

Hum jhooth nahin bolenge. Thodi jalan toh hoti hai humein Jo har patni ko hoti hai.

She laughed making him chuckle as well.

Per hum aap per vishvaas kerte hain aur agar aap humein koi cheez nahin batayenge toh hum jante hain ke koi wajah hogi aur jab samey sahi hoga na toh aap bata denge humein. Per Dhruv yaad rakhiyega ke woh baat humein kisi aur se pata na chale. Warna humein takleef hogi.

Astha said, her voice full of love and sincerity as she continued to caress his hair tenderly.

Hum yaad rakhenge.

Dhruv said snuggling into her stomach. Astha,s breath caught in her throat as she felt goosebumps travel all over her skin. His fingers gently caressing the curve of her waist. Astha,s heart went into a wild dance. She forcibly breathed.

Hey Krishna ji Dhruv ji ki raksha kijiyega.

Astha prayed still caressing his hair.

7 days later

Flashback!!!

Astha opened her only to find herself laying comfortably on the lavish bed. She streached her arms and sat up.

Dhruv ji kahan hain?

Astha thought standing up. She went to get ready.

Astha was wearing a crimson red and golden lehenga. Her beautiful doe shaped walnut brown orbs adorned with kohl. A natural blush adorning her cheeks but her eyes lacked the usual shine they held. She felt her stomach churn. A mix of fear, anxiety and discomfort flooded through her heart. She couldn't help but feel a strange sense of emptiness flll her heart. Astha,s breathing grew heavy. She gulped the lump that formed in her throat and reached out for the multicolored small box of sindoor clutching her mangalsutra tightly in her fist. She held the multicolored box of sindoor with her ice cold hands.

Hum lagaye?

Dhruv asked her standing behind her. Astha,s trembled hearing him, the Sindoor box was about to fall but Dhruv held it.

Astha turned trying her best to smile.

jana avashak hai kya Dhruv?

Dhruv cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her cheek tenderly in circular motions, their eyes locked. He held her hand.

Haan zaroori hai Astha. Chinta mat kijiye hum jaldi lautenge.

Dhruv said, his voice feather soft.

Astha,s anxiety grew but she nodded her head in positive nevertheless.

Agar aap wapas nahin aaye toh?

Astha,s voice trembled. She cursed herself for even thinking that way.

Dhruv wiped the unshed tears that were lingering on the corners of her eyes. He planted a kiss on her forehead making her close her eyes in anticipation.

He pulled back and filled her mang with sindoor. Some of the Sindoor fell over her nose.

He placed a kiss on her forehead again and turned to leave but stopped feeling a tug on his hand.

Jaldi aayega. Hum pratiksha karenge.

Astha said softly. Dhruv blinked his eyes at her.

Flashback Ends!!!

Astha looked at the doors. She hurried towards the mandir area and sat in front of the murti of Krishna. She closed her eyes joining her hands as she prayed. Tears pooled in het eyes which she was trying hard to control. Her lips trembled as she prayed for her brother and Dhruv,s safety.

Evening

She sat on the chair in her balcony closing her eyes. Her tension and anxiety grew with each second that ticked by.

Astha.

Her eyes flew open hearing Dhruv,s voice. She stood up and hurried inside.

She looked around, her eyes frantically searching the whole chamber trying to get a glampse of him only to be disappointed. She sat on the bed and shut her eyes.

Prem ho gaya kya humse???

Astha stood up hearing his voice. She watched as he came to her and took her hand in his. Her brought her hand close to his lips and kissed it. She stared at him with longing and yearning.

End Of Chapter!!!

I know itna acha aur lamba nahin hai but kaam chala lo. Tabiyat kharab lag rahi hai mujh meri.

RainbowRoses21. ❤️
Minhasmansi92. ❤️

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