𝐑𝐚𝐨: 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥.

╰┈➤"𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥."

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

The sound of sneeze echoed through the air. "Here, take this tissue box",Arthav quickly grabbed a tissue box and placed it on Parvika's lap.

"You know you can't handle even a hint of cold, yet you tried to run away," he teased, chuckling. "You should've made a break for it in the morning, Pearl."

Parvika continued to sneeze, her saree, not helping either. She wrapped the pallu around her shoulders, shivering.

Arthav parked the car and turned to her. "Still cold? Here, let me get you something." He reached for his jacket to wrap around her.

Parvika tried to shrug off the jacket, but Arthav held her in place. "Stop, you're cold. This will help you warm up a bit."

Parvika's exhaustion got the better of her, and she nodded weakly, accepting the jacket, because she's too tried to argue.

"A little longer, Pearl... we'll be home soon, okay?" Arthav said, accelerating slightly.

"Arthav..." Parvika called out. "Okay, okay... I'll drive slowly," Arthav reassured her, easing off the gas.

Parvika leaned against the car seat, her eyes closed, and gently rubbed her temples to ease the throbbing headache.

"I have headache balm," Arthav said, opening the small space attached to the dashboard.

Parvika waved her hand weakly. "It's okay..."

Arthrav's voice took on a gentle yet firm tone. "It's not okay. Take it, or I'll apply it for you."

Parvika opened one eye, wincing at the sound of his raised voice. "Don't shout, I'll apply it myself. My head hurts more when you yell."

Arthrav fell silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Okay... okay, I'll keep quiet."

Parvika retrieved the balm, applying it to her forehead. The pungent aroma filled the car as they continued driving.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

Arthav honked in front of the gate, and a security guard came running towards the gate, opening it in a hurry. Atharv drove inside and parked the car.

He opened the door and rushed towards Parvika's side, opening it and carefully picking her up. He rushed inside their house.

Other family members were still at the party. Avyan and Ayur hadn't arrived yet.

"Where the heck is everyone?! Where are you all?!" Arthav exclaimed.

A few servants came running towards him. "I've been calling you all for ages! Go bring me some medicine," he shouted at them.

They looked at Parvika, who was in his arms. "What the heck are you all looking at?! Go bring me medicine and call a doctor!" Arthav shouted, making them all flinch as they rushed to bring the medicine.

Ayur and Tejal entered the house to find Atharv shouting at the servants, with Parvika lying limp in his arms. Tejal tried to rush towards her, but Ayur held her back.

Tejal looked at him, concerned. "Let them be... let's go to our room. Come on," Ayur whispered, trying to calm her down.

Tejal tried to argue, but Ayur gently pulled her towards their room.

Arthav rushed upstairs, entering their bedroom and gently laying Parvika on the bed. He covered her with a blanket and touched her forehead.

"Shit! She's burning!" He rushed to the washroom, bringing a towel soaked in water. He gently wiped her forehead to cool her down.

A servant entered the room. "Sir, the doctor will be here soon. And here is the medicine."

The doctor arrived and checked Parvika. "It's just a normal fever; it will go down tomorrow. Just give her some medicine, okay."

Arthav nodded. "Thanks, doctor."

Arthav spent the whole night wiping Parvika's face and hands, never leaving her side. Eventually, he fell asleep beside her.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

Ayur and Tejal entered their bedroom. "Why did you do that? I need to check on Parvika di!" Tejal exclaimed, rushing towards the door.

Ayur held her hand. "No, Dove. Stay here. Atharv Bhai is taking care of Bhabhi. You can check on her tomorrow morning. And we need to talk about your little escape plan."

Tejal looked down, pulling her hand away from him. "I have nothing to talk about!" she said, walking towards the mirror.

Ayur chuckled as he observed her trying to undo the safety pin on her saree's pallu. "Oh, really?!" Ayur asked, watching her struggle with the pins.

"Yes!" Tejal replied, continuing to struggle with the pin.

"What the... why won't it... come off..." Tejal mumbled, trying to undo it.

Ayur, who was observing her, smiled as he watched her actions. "Wait, let me help with that." Ayur said, walking towards her.

"Wait! Ayur, I can do it myself." Tejal said, trying to take the safety pin from his hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I can see that...now keep quiet and let me help." Ayur said, helping her.

Tejal looked at him through the mirror as he helped her. "Don't stare too much, you'll fall in love." Ayur said playfully, making Tejal drop her gaze.

Ayur laughed slightly. "So, my little dove, tell me are you planning to escape again?!"

"I have nothing to talk about it" Tejal said blandly, while putting the safety pin on the table.

He smiled. "Okay, done." Ayur said, observing her from behind. Her dark brown hair fell to her mid-back. The deep blouse showed off her tan skin. Ayur could feel his heartbeat rising.

He observed her in the mirror. Such a beautiful woman he had married. He couldn't believe this beautiful woman was his, his and his only.

Tejal looked at him with raised eyebrows. "What are you staring at?"

Ayur said nothing, just leaned towards her as he back-hugged her. Tejal's eyes widened. "Ayur?! You-"

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

Veda and Avyan entered their bedroom. Avyan walked towards the bathroom without saying a word to Veda. She looked at him, wondering, "Isn't he going to ask about the escape incident?"

After a while, Avyan emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered. He sat on the bed and turned on the TV, seemingly oblivious to Veda's presence.

Veda observed him, expecting some reaction, but he totally ignored her. She picked up the book she had been reading earlier and began to read, occasionally glancing at Avyan.

However, he continued to ignore her, his attention fixed on the TV screen.

Avyan, on the other hand, was engrossed in a Hollywood movie, shouting and yelling at the screen due to the thrill he was experiencing.

"Yes! Like that! I knew it! Hit him! Yes! Knock him out! Yeahhh!" Avyan yelled, completely caught up in the excitement of the movie.

Veda closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself down, resisting the urge to throw the flower vase near her at Avyan's head.

"Avyan, don't shout..." Veda said, looking at Avyan, who ignored her completely, too focused on the movie.

"Avyan! Stop shouting..." Veda said again, but he ignored her once more.

Veda, having had enough, threw the flower vase at him.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

Tejal looked at him with raised eyebrows. "What are you staring at?"

Ayur said nothing, just leaned towards her as he back-hugged her. Tejal's eyes widened. "Ayur?! You-"

He kissed her softly on the shoulder. She felt his lips and warmth of his breath on her shoulder.

She closed her eyes as she felt his grip tightening around her waist. They both could feel her heartbeat rising.

Tejal felt a tingling sensation all over her body. The scent of his shampoo filled in her nostrils. She gripped his hair as he kissed her on her shoulder.

Ayur leaned back and looks at her for last time for few seconds and walked out of the room without saying a word.

Tejal opened her eyes when she felt him pulling away. She turned around to see him gone. She stood there, touching the place he had kissed.

"What just happened?"she asked to herself. She could still feel his warm breath on her shoulder, his tight grip around her waist. Her heart still beat rapidly.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺
I edited this chapter because I think this more like the scene that I want in this book.

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