19. A good morning
Fractured Crowns
°Ëâ§â¿â§Ë°
The sunâs warmth bathed the room, gently streaming through the windows and touching Rudrakshâs skin.
The soft rays of light crept across the bed, and it was the warmth on his hand that first stirred him from his slumber.
His eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, but something felt different.
He blinked in surprise as his senses sharpened. He felt something soft, warm, and small curled around his hand.
Slowly, he turned his head to look down, his heart skipping a beat. Tiny handsâdelicate, soft, and familiarâwere intertwined with his own. His wifeâs hands.
For a moment, Rudraksh was frozen, caught in the unexpectedness of it. The closeness, the intimacy, was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
His fingers instinctively tightened around hers, savoring the sensation of her warmth, the subtle reassurance in her touch.
He looked up, his gaze shifting to Ishika, still sound asleep beside him. Her chest rose and fell with every breath, her face relaxed, free from the tension that had marked her before.
She looked peaceful, the weight of yesterdayâs emotions seemingly lifted in her sleep. And yet, it was the connection they now shared, even in her slumber, that held his attention.
Rudraksh couldnât help but notice how perfectly her hand fit in his. The smallness of her hand, the way it seemed to mold into his, felt right.
It was as if they were made for this moment, for this closeness, and for this quiet, shared understanding.
The realization that he had never noticed something so simple, so intimate, tugged at his heart.
A smile, soft and tender, tugged at the corners of his lips. It was a rare expression for him, one he had not shown often in the past.
But in this moment, with her hand so trustingly in his, it felt natural.
The smile was fleeting, but it spoke volumesâabout the softness he hadnât known he could feel, the vulnerability he hadnât known he was capable of.
He knew that things between them were far from perfect, that there were still walls between them, but thisâthis small, quiet connectionâwas something they had never shared before. It felt like the beginning of something new.
He stayed like that for a while, just looking at her, his heart full of emotions he couldnât fully understand.
The world outside the room seemed distant, irrelevant, as if this moment existed in a space of its own.
As the morning light warmed their surroundings, Rudraksh felt a shift within himself.
There was a sense of peace, a quiet contentment in having Ishika so close, in holding her hand.
He knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, this small moment was a step toward something more.
And for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to hope for it.
°Ëâ§â¿â§Ë°
Rudraksh had already finished getting ready for work, his suit neatly pressed, and his tie perfectly in place.
The polished leather shoes on his feet reflected his meticulous nature. He adjusted the cufflinks on his sleeves, his movements sharp and precise, when he noticed Ishika stirring in her sleep.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked at the unfamiliar surroundings.
The grand room, with its soft, muted tones, high ceilings, and expansive windows letting in streams of golden sunlight, was far from the small, cramped space she used to call home.
It took her a moment to process the change, but as her gaze traveled over the luxurious furnishings and finally landed on the mangalsutra around her neck, it all came rushing back.
She was married. And for the first time in years, she felt a sense of freedom.
A smile crept onto her lips, soft and hesitant but genuine. She sat up, her hands reaching up to rub the sleep from her eyes.
Rudraksh, who had been silently observing her, couldnât help but let out a quiet chuckle at the sight of her disheveled hair and cute morning expressions.
The unexpected sound made Ishika pause. Her head snapped up, her wide, surprised eyes meeting his.
She hadnât yet grown accustomed to his presence, let alone the idea of him being amused by her.
âGood morning,â Rudraksh greeted her, his voice smooth and calm, yet carrying a warmth she hadnât expected.
A small, rare smile played on his lipsâa smile that she found herself unable to look away from.
She blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. âG-good morning,â she finally managed, her voice soft and uncertain.
Rudrakshâs smile lingered for a brief second before he glanced at his watch.
âFreshen up and come. Iâll wait for you here. We have to go down for breakfast,â he instructed, his tone firm but not unkind.
It carried an air of authority that demanded respect but also held an undertone of softness that hinted he wasnât as cold as he often seemed.
Ishika nodded, still seated on the bed as she watched him pick up his phone and turn his attention to it.
For a moment, she felt awkward. She wasnât used to mornings like theseâwaking up in peace, without fear of someone yelling at her or throwing demands her way.
She got up slowly, her bare feet touching the cool marble floor. As she made her way to the bathroom, she couldnât help but glance back at Rudraksh.
He was already engrossed in his emails, his posture straight and composed, exuding the confidence of a man who was in control of every aspect of his life.
Inside the bathroom, Ishika turned on the faucet and splashed her face with cold water, letting the sensation wake her fully.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her mind racing. The woman staring back at her looked differentânot because her circumstances had suddenly changed but because, for the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe.
She was no longer trapped in the suffocating walls of her past. This was a new beginning, a life where she wasnât constantly walking on eggshells.
But as much as she welcomed the change, the uncertainty of what lay ahead scared her. What kind of man was Rudraksh? Could she trust him?
When she finally emerged from the bathroom, her hair neatly combed and her face fresh, Rudraksh looked up.
His gaze briefly scanned her, his expression unreadable, before he set his phone aside.
âReady?â he asked, his tone neutral.
Ishika nodded, fidgeting slightly with the edge of her dupatta.
She followed him as he opened the door and gestured for her to walk ahead.
They made their way down the grand staircase in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly in the spacious hallway.
°Ëâ§â¿â§Ë°
FOSTER LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING ð§¡