46. Burn

Happy Sunday...

1000 words...

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That night, Aaryansh held Amrita close while sleeping, his arms wrapped protectively around her as if shielding her from the world.

The gentle rhythm of his breathing matched the soft patter of rain against the windows, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

But peace is often fragile.

Amrita's body tensed in his embrace, her breath hitching as her peaceful slumber was invaded by the darkness of her nightmares.

The screech of tires.

The deafening crash.

The blinding flash of headlights.

The metallic smell of blood filling the air.

Screams—raw, heart-wrenching screams.

And then... silence.

Her fists clenched tightly, her breathing became uneven, and a faint tremor ran through her body.

Aaryansh stirred slightly, sensing the change in her. When her trembling grew stronger, his eyes snapped open.

"Amrita…" he whispered, his voice laced with concern as he gently shook her shoulder. "Buttercup, wake up… it's just a dream."

Amrita's eyes flew open suddenly, sharp and alert, her breaths short but controlled. Her gaze darted around the room as if trying to confirm her surroundings.

"Aarya…" she said, her voice steady but cold, her expression as stoic as ever despite the turmoil still evident in her eyes.

"I'm here," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You're safe, Amrita. It was just a nightmare."

Amrita closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

When she opened them again, the storm within her had settled, her walls firmly back in place.

"I'm fine," she said curtly, attempting to shift away from him, but Aaryansh didn’t let go.

"You're not fine," he said firmly, his gaze searching hers. "You don't have to pretend with me, Amrita."

She looked at him for a long moment before exhaling deeply. "Nightmares are just shadows, Aaryansh. They can't hurt me."

"But they do," he replied softly, his thumb grazing over the back of her hand.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, filled with words left unsaid.

Aaryansh finally pulled her closer, resting his chin lightly on her head. "You don't have to fight them alone, Buttercup. I'm here."

Amrita didn't respond, but she didn't pull away either. She let herself stay in his arms, her body slowly relaxing as the rain continued to fall outside.

In the quiet safety of Aaryansh's embrace, Amrita’s usually guarded walls softened—just for a little while.

The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, each beat calming the storm that often brewed in her mind.

For a moment, everything felt still, secure, and undeniably warm.

After a long stretch of silence, Amrita’s soft voice broke through the stillness.

"Aarya…?" she murmured, her tone hesitant yet gentle. Her eyes remained closed, her head still resting against his chest. "Do you always sleep like this? Holding me like… this?"

The question hung in the air, fragile yet carrying a weight Aaryansh wasn’t prepared for.

Aaryansh’s breath hitched, his arms unconsciously tightening their hold around her.

It wasn’t just the question—it was the vulnerability in her voice, the way she asked something so simple yet so heavy.

His mind raced for an answer, something that wouldn’t give away too much but wouldn’t sound dismissive either.

"Uh… I…" he stammered, his voice uncharacteristically unsure.

He cleared his throat as if that would steady his scattered thoughts, but it only made the silence stretch longer.

Amrita, still nestled against his chest, let out a faint hum, her voice barely above a whisper, as though she was waiting patiently for his response.

Aaryansh hesitated for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than before, carrying a vulnerability he rarely showed.

"I… Yes…" he admitted softly, his words lingering in the space between them.

Amrita’s eyelids fluttered open slightly as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

Her blue eyes held a mix of curiosity and warmth as she asked, her voice softer this time, "And why is that?"

Aaryansh felt his chest tighten under her gaze, her question unraveling something deep within him. He exhaled slowly before speaking.

"I just… feel at peace, Ammu." The nickname slipped out naturally, but he didn’t seem to notice. "Holding you like this—it takes away all my stresses, all my worries. It calms me in ways I can’t explain."

His lips curved into a soft smile, one that was rare and sincere, as he stayed lost in her captivating blue eyes.

Amrita's brows knitted slightly as she asked, her voice carrying a gentle curiosity, "Then why do you do it in secret?"

Her question made him pause. He opened his mouth, closed it again, and then tried to explain, his voice laced with hesitation.

"I just… I wasn’t sure how you would react. Anu always said you weren’t a hugs person… that you didn’t like being touched. But I… I still tried to hug you sometimes."

His voice dropped to almost a whisper as he continued, "I didn’t know how you’d feel being in my arms at night. If you’d feel comfortable… or safe."

A silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with something tender and unspoken.

Amrita’s lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but chose not to.

Instead, she closed her eyes, rested her head back against his chest, and wrapped her arms gently around him.

"I will…" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying a weight that settled deep in his chest. "I always will… Good night, Aarya."

Aaryansh froze for a brief moment, his mind processing the words. She had called him Aarya.

But the significance of the nickname was lost on him as he focused on the warmth of her embrace and the way she seemed so at ease in his arms.

A small smile crept onto his face as he held her tighter, his hand gently caressing her hair.

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Later that night…

The room was silent except for the occasional sound of raindrops tapping against the windowpane.

Amrita had fallen into a deep sleep in his arms, her breathing soft and steady.

But Aaryansh couldn’t sleep. His eyes were fixed on her face, his thumb absentmindedly brushing against a stray strand of her hair.

His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze traveled to her lips—dry and cracked.

It wasn’t the first time he had noticed this, but tonight, it bothered him more than usual.

"She’s not taking care of herself properly…" he thought, his chest tightening with concern.

His mind wandered back to her nightmares—the way she would flinch, her body stiffening in her sleep, as if she was trapped in a never-ending loop of pain and fear.

"What is she seeing in those nightmares? What’s haunting her so much?"

His jaw tightened with determination.

He needed to know. He needed to help her. And he would… soon.

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The next morning…

The soft glow of morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm hue across the room.

Amrita stirred awake, her brows furrowing when she noticed the space beside her was empty.

Her hand instinctively reached out, but all she felt was the faint warmth left behind on the sheets.

Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, her gaze scanning the room. Silence. No sign of Aaryansh.

With a small sigh, she slipped out of bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up.

When she emerged, she was drying her damp hair with a towel, her reflection staring back at her in the mirror.

She paused for a moment, remembering something Ananya had told her recently.

"You should try curling your hair sometime, Amul baby. It’ll suit you so well!"

With a shrug, Amrita began rummaging through the drawers by the dressing table.

A triumphant smirk crossed her face when she found a curler tucked away in the corner.

She plugged it in and began curling her hair with cautious movements. Surprisingly, her first few attempts turned out perfect.

A small, proud smile tugged at her lips as she admired the soft curls framing her face.

But then—her eyes caught something on the nightstand. A piece of folded paper.

Distracted, her hand slipped, and the hot curler pressed against her neck.

"Ah!" she winced, quickly placing the curler back on the table. Her fingers brushed against the fresh burn, and she let out a string of curses under her breath.

"Never again," she muttered before turning her focus back to the note.

She picked it up and unfolded it carefully.

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The note read:

Hey Buttercup!

Good morning!

I’m really, really sorry, but I had to leave early for some urgent work.

I know it’s Sunday, but it couldn’t be avoided.

I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Love,

Your sweet husband ;)

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A faint smile tugged at Amrita’s lips as she read the note. Her eyebrows arched slightly as she thought aloud, "So… I’m all alone here, huh?"

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Wonder what she is gonna do...

Leave a comment if you like the chapter 💗

With Aaryansh, She Was No Longer The Devil... She Was Simply Amrita, A Girl With A Heart She Couldn’t Hide...🫀🌟