Samyuktika lay on the bed, her mind swirling with thoughts. Is this love? she wondered, grappling with the feelings that churned within her. It was a question she had never expected to ask, especially about a man she had once considered a stranger. The memories of their wedding day flooded back, vivid and painful. She recalled standing beside him, the heavy silence that enveloped them after the rituals, and how he had walked away, leaving her alone. The sacred gathbandhan, their bond, had caught in the flames, and in that moment of panic, the priest had declared it a sign of misfortune.
Desperate to save their marriage even before it had truly begun, she had rushed to pull the knot from the fire, burning her hands in the process. The pain had been sharp, but it was nothing compared to the ache of feeling abandoned. After the marriage, they had hardly spoken, each interaction filled with an unspoken animosity that had seemed insurmountable. Yet now, everything had changed.
As she thought of the way her heart raced whenever he was near, the question lingered in her mind. Was this what love felt like? Jealousy surged through her whenever another woman approached him, twisting her stomach into knots. She had convinced herself that she didnât need him, that his presence meant nothing. But the truth was undeniable; every smile he received from another girl stung, igniting a fire of possessiveness she didnât know she had.
This was new territory for her, and with it came a whirlwind of emotions she couldnât fully comprehend. Is this love? she thought again, her heart responding with an emphatic yes, even as her mind struggled to accept it.
Samyuktika looked at Ekansh, who had dozed off beside her on the bed, his features relaxed and peaceful in sleep. A smile crept onto her lips as she watched him, the warmth in her chest spreading at the sight of him. It was hard to believe how much had changed between them in such a short time.
In the next moment, still lost in his dreams, he instinctively pulled her into his embrace, his arms wrapping around her waist as if he had been waiting for her. The familiar comfort of his hold enveloped her, a sense of security that had gradually woven itself into her daily life. Initially, the closeness had felt strange and foreign, but now she found herself actually used to it. The warmth of his body against hers was no longer intimidating; instead, it brought a sense of belonging she hadnât realized she craved.
As she nestled against him, a flutter of affection filled her heart. This unguarded moment, the ease of being close to him, made her feel safe and content. It was a stark contrast to the distance they had maintained for so long, and she savored this newfound intimacy, letting the worries of the day fade away in the comfort of his arms.
With a soft sigh, Samyuktika closed her eyes, allowing the rhythmic sound of his breathing to lull her into a peaceful slumber. She felt a sense of calm wash over her, and as she drifted off, a comforting warmth enveloped her, ensuring she slept comfortably. In that tranquil space, surrounded by the gentle rise and fall of Ekansh's chest, she finally embraced the tranquility of the moment, her heart at ease.
Samyuktika stirred slightly, her body instinctively curling closer to the warmth beside her. She hadn't realized when, but at some point, Ekansh had slipped into bed next to her. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into the safety of his embrace. Even in her sleep, a part of her resistedâshe knew she should be angry at him, pushing him away for all he had done. But in this moment of vulnerability, the quiet comfort of his presence washed over her.
Ekansh held her close, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head. The steady rhythm of her breathing against his chest calmed something deep inside him, a part of him that had been on edge ever since heâd hurt her. There was no telling what tomorrow would bringâthe fights, the accusations, the unresolved tension between themâbut tonight, she was here, in his arms, and that was enough.
As Samyuktikaâs hand unconsciously gripped the fabric of his shirt, Ekanshâs heart clenched. He whispered softly, knowing she couldnât hear him, "Iâm sorry, Sam. Iâll fix this. I promise."
But whether she would forgive him when the sun rose was a question that hung unanswered in the silence of the night.
Ekanshâs gaze softened as he held Samyuktika in his arms, her even breaths warming his chest. His mind wandered to their first kissâunexpected, heated, and full of confusion. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks as the memory replayed in his head. He had been angry at the time, furious even, convinced he hated her for how she disrupted his life. Yet that kiss had shaken something loose in him, something he hadnât realized he was holding back.
His grip on her tightened slightly as he thought about how things had changed. "I thought I hated you in the beginning," he whispered, his voice barely audible even in the quiet room. "But now⦠it's impossible to even imagine that."
The weight of his feelings was undeniable. It wasnât just attraction anymoreâit was something deeper, a sudden wave of possession that crashed over him every time he saw her with someone else, or when she pulled away. The thought of her leaving his side unsettled him in ways he couldnât explain.
"You drive me insane, Sam," he muttered under his breath, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "But I canât let you go. Not now."
He leaned down slightly, his lips hovering near her forehead, but he hesitated. For now, he would let her sleep, not wanting to disturb the brief moment of peace between them. But deep down, Ekansh knew that his growing feelings for her were going to complicate everythingâespecially when Samyuktika would confront him tomorrow.
Ekansh carefully shifted, making sure not to disturb Samyuktika as she slept peacefully in his arms. He glanced down at her for a moment, her face so serene, a stark contrast to the chaos that had surrounded them for so long. Slowly, he leaned over, reached into his bedside drawer, and pulled out a small, worn frame.
It held a picture of his mother, Nalini, her warm smile frozen in time. His chest tightened, emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel bubbling to the surface. He ran his thumb over the glass, remembering the day she had passedâthe day his world had turned cold.
âMaa,â he whispered, glancing between the photo and Samyuktika. "The day you died, I lost my faith in everything. I hated the world, hated life, even blamed God for taking you away too soon." His voice trembled slightly, the rawness of the confession filling the quiet room. "I always thought⦠that I didnât have a reason to live anymore."
His gaze softened as it drifted back to Samyuktika. A small smile tugged at his lips. "But now, your crazy bahu, Samyuktika⦠sheâs become my reason to live." He sighed, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. âShe makes me want to fight, to protect something again. To feel.â
Ekansh looked around the room, his eyes briefly resting on the wealth that surrounded himâthings that had once meant nothing but symbols of responsibility and burden. "For the longest time, this huge property felt empty, like a curse. But now⦠now it feels like a reason to have. A reason to share with someone who makes it feel like home again."
He placed the frame back in the drawer, closing it softly, not wanting to wake Samyuktika. âI think youâd have loved her, maa,â he whispered with a smile. âThough Iâm sure she would have driven you just as crazy as she does me.â
Ekansh leaned back, his hand still resting on the closed drawer where his mother's picture lay. A small chuckle escaped him, barely audible in the quiet room. His thoughts wandered to Samyuktika once more, to the way she never held back, always speaking her mind. She complained, argued, and challenged him constantly. And somehow, instead of pushing him to the edge like it had with others, it drew him in.
"I always hated people who talked too much," he murmured, glancing down at her as she slept soundly against his chest. "You know that, Maa. I couldnât stand itâpeople rambling, gossiping, speaking about me. I hated it so much that Iâd silence them forever." His voice grew darker, the weight of his past actions momentarily clouding his thoughts. "Iâd kill them if they dared speak too much about me."
But as his gaze softened, his hand gently brushed through Samyuktikaâs hair, the contradiction of his feelings hit him harder than ever.
"But when she talks about me⦠when she complains, argues, or even mocks me, I feel something different." His words carried a sense of wonder, as if he was only now realizing the depth of his emotions. "Itâs strange, but I actually feel⦠good. Like I could listen to her for the rest of my life, no matter how much she nags or drives me crazy."
He smiled to himself, a rare, genuine smile that only seemed to come when she was near. "I never thought Iâd find someone whose voice Iâd want to hear every day. But Samyuktika⦠sheâs the one I want to listen to for as long as I live."
His hold on her tightened just a little, as if silently promising never to let go. âYouâd laugh if you saw me like this, Maa. But sheâs changed me, and Iâm not sure what Iâd do without her.â
Ekansh sighed, his thoughts wandering deeper as he reflected on how much his life had shifted since Samyuktika entered it. He hadnât realized it before, but she had become the center of his world in ways he never thought possible. He smiled to himself as a surprising thought surfaced, one that he hadn't entertained before.
âOne thing my father, Mahindra, did right,â he whispered, almost to himself, âwas marrying her to me.â His voice was softer now, laced with unexpected gratitude. âFor all his missteps, for all the pressure he put on me, this was the one decision he got right.â
Ekanshâs gaze drifted over her face, her delicate features so peaceful in sleep. His fingers absentmindedly traced along her arm, feeling the warmth of her skin. "Sheâs beautiful," he murmured, as though acknowledging the obvious but finally accepting how much it affected him.
Then, a smirk tugged at his lips as another memory flashed through his mind. âAnd when she wears something ethnicâ¦â He paused, his heart picking up speed at the thought. âGod, I think she might soon become the reason for my demise.â
He chuckled softly, a rare moment of lightness settling over him. He remembered the way she looked the last time she had worn a sareeâhow the sight of her had knocked the breath out of him, and how he had tried to act unaffected, hiding the sudden surge of desire that had hit him like a storm.
Shaking his head, Ekansh muttered under his breath, "I never thought I'd be the type to be so taken by someoneâs beauty. But here I am⦠completely undone by my crazy wife, in ways I never expected."
He glanced back down at Samyuktika, his heart pounding in a way that was becoming all too familiar. âYouâve turned me into someone I donât even recognize, Sam,â he whispered. "And somehow, Iâm okay with that."
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This story is about to it's end till episode no. 56
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