I leaned back in my seat, staring out the windshield as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm oranges and pinks. The bustling streets outside seemed to blur into the background as my focus remained fixed on the college entrance. I had been sitting there for what felt like an eternity, anticipation and impatience simmering just beneath the surface.
Finally, the car door opened, and Mayura slid into the passenger seat beside me. The moment her eyes met mine, I saw a flicker of shock and surprise flash across her face. Her usual warmth was momentarily replaced by a paleness that concerned me.
"Abhimaan! What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with disbelief.
I couldnât help but smile, my eyes locked onto hers, drinking in every detail of her expression. "I came to pick you up, Jaana. I couldnât wait any longer to see you," I replied, my voice gentle yet filled with a possessive edge that I couldn't entirely suppress.
She glanced around the car, her eyes flitting from the tinted windows to the security team outside. "But... how did you know when my classes ended?"
I chuckled, leaning slightly closer to her, the thrill of anticipation making my heart race. "I have my ways, Mayura. I always know where you are."
Her face flushed, and a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Youâre crazy, Abhimaan," she whispered, shaking her head in that adorable way she did when she was trying to hide how flattered she was.
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I whispered, "Iâm crazy for you, Jaana. Only for you."
As I pulled back, her eyes met mine, and I saw something there that made my chest tighten â love, adoration, and a bit of surprise, like she still couldnât believe someone could care for her this much. My heart swelled with pride and possessiveness. She was mine, and I would go to any lengths to keep her safe and happy.
As we started driving away from the college, I noticed her fiddling with her phone, her fingers deftly scrolling through a playlist until she found the one she wanted. Her face lit up, and she turned to me with a radiant smile that made everything else in the world fade away.
"Letâs listen to some music, Abhimaan!" she said, her voice bright and bubbly, completely at ease now.
I hesitated for a moment. Music had never been my thing. I preferred the silence, the space it gave me to think. But how could I say no to her when she looked so happy, so full of life? The last thing I wanted was to dampen that joy.
"Of course, Jaana," I agreed, trying to muster as much enthusiasm as I could manage, which wasnât hard considering how much her smile affected me.
Her face lit up even more, and before I knew it, she was leaning over to plant a quick, affectionate kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, Abhimaan!"
As the music filled the car, I found myself tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, caught up in her infectious energy. Mayuraâs joy was contagious, and even though I wasnât particularly fond of the song playing, I couldnât help but get drawn in by her happiness.
She began to sing along, her voice sweet and melodious, completely lost in the music. I stole glances at her, entranced by how carefree and happy she seemed. Watching her like this, so in her element, made me realize just how much I wanted to protect that happiness, to keep her smiling like this forever.
The music created a cocoon around us as we drove through the city, making the bustling world outside seem distant and unimportant. This was our little world, filled with her laughter and singing, and for the first time, I began to understand the allure of music â not because of the sound, but because of how it made her feel, and how that in turn made me feel.
But just as I was beginning to enjoy our little bubble, Mayuraâs phone rang, cutting through the music. She answered it with a cheerful, "Hello, Maa," her voice was sweet and respectful, but I noticed a subtle change in her demeanor. A tension crept into her body, almost imperceptible but there.
I glanced over at her, concern tugging at my gut. There was something off, something she wasnât telling me.
"Yes, Maa... I know... I didnât forget... Okay, Maa. I will... Take care," she said, her tone soft but with an underlying note of anxiety.
As she hung up, I couldnât hold back any longer. "Whatâs wrong, Jaana? You look worried."
Mayura sighed, her brow furrowing slightly as she seemed to weigh her words. "Itâs just that... Maa reminded me we didnât complete the pagphera rasam after our wedding."
I frowned slightly, unfamiliar with the term. "Whatâs that?"
She explained, "Itâs a tradition where the bride visits her paternal home with her husband after marriage. We didnât do it because of... well, I kinda forgot or intentionally forgot it ."
I nodded, understanding the cultural significance. But then I noticed her expression, the slight droop of her shoulders, the way her gaze had shifted away from mine. Something wasnât right.
"Hey," I began, my tone lighter, trying to coax the truth out of her, "why the long face, Jaana? Donât you want to go? "
She forced a smile, but I could see the cracks in it. I knew the reason . But I needed to do something to make her smile right now.
I decided to tease her, hoping to lighten her mood. "Ah, come on! Youâre not excited to leave me for a while? I thought youâd be thrilled to get away from my constant supervision."
She chuckled, but it lacked her usual sparkle. "Youâre just impossible ."
I knew she was not telling anything because She didnât want to worry me, didnât want me to see the pain and rejection she had faced all her life.
The next morning, I woke up to find Mayura already up and moving about, her movements swift and efficient as she packed her bag for the day. I lay in bed for a moment, watching her, my eyes tracing the lines of her figure as she moved around the room. There was a subtle furrow in her brow, a crease that hadnât been there the night before. My instincts screamed at me to ask her what was wrong, to demand she tell me, but something held me back.
Instead, I got out of bed and walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close. I pressed my face into the curve of her shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of her skin.
"Hey," I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep. "Iâll pick you up at 8 pm, okay?"
I felt her body relax slightly in my arms, her tension easing as she nodded. "Okay, Abhimaan."
We stood like that for a moment longer, holding each other in the quiet morning light. I pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder before finally letting go and heading to the bathroom to start my day. The unspoken understanding between us was like a promise â that I would be there for her when she needed me, and that she could face whatever was troubling her knowing I had her back.
As we finished our breakfast and prepared to go our separate ways for the day.
I knew deep down that she didn't want to go, but she couldn't bring herself to say no to Maa and Papa. They had no idea what her family was really like, the pain she had endured. If they knew, they would never ask this of her. I could have stopped her, given her an excuse to stay, but I understood that she felt this was something she had to do. It was a burden she believed she needed to carry, something she had to face sooner or later.
But the thought of her walking back into that place, of facing those people who had caused her so much pain, twisted something inside me. I hated seeing the sadness in her eyes, the way she tried to mask it with a brave face. She didn't deserve thisâshe never did.
As much as I despised the idea of her going, I knew I couldn't force her to stay. She had made up her mind, but that didn't mean I had to like it. And it certainly didn't mean I would let her go through it alone. I would be there, every step of the way, whether she knew it or not.
And once this was over, once she had faced whatever demons awaited her in that house, I would make sure of one thing: she would never have to go there again. If she didn't want it, if it caused her even the slightest pain, she would never set foot in that place again. I'd ensure she never had to look back, that she could finally leave all of that behind her.
She was mine to protect now, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safeâeven if it meant fighting the past that haunted her. Because the sadness in her eyes? That was something I would do anything to erase, to replace with the happiness she deserved. And as long as I had anything to say about it, she would never have to face that sadness alone again.