56. Longing for love

Happy Makar Sankranti ✨

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Ishika returned home late at night, her exhaustion evident as she dropped her handbag onto the bed and collapsed onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling.

She exhaled deeply, trying to let the day’s stress melt away, but her body tensed when a soft chuckle broke the silence.

It wasn’t mocking. It wasn’t cold. It was warm.

Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up quickly, her gaze darting around the room.

And there he was—Rudraksh. Leaning back casually against the couch, his deep grey eyes locked onto her, an almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

Her heart skipped a beat. A small smile threatened to form on her lips, but she quickly composed herself, tucking her hair behind her ear as she straightened up.

"You're home already?" she asked, her tone calm, though the surprise in her eyes betrayed her.

"Where were you?" he asked, his voice softer than she expected, missing its usual commanding edge.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, her mind momentarily blank as she processed his question.

The absence of his usual stoic demeanor threw her off balance.

When his eyebrows lifted in silent inquiry, she quickly recovered. "Uh... I was out with the girls," she replied, her voice taking on its naturally sweet cadence.

Hearing her voice, Rudraksh felt a rare sense of calm settle over him.

It was a melody he longed for during the day, something that soothed the chaos in his mind.

But then, as always, she fell silent. The lively energy in her voice faded, leaving behind a hesitant quietness. His frown deepened, and he set his laptop aside.

"Hey," he called gently, drawing her attention back to him.

Her gaze met his, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.

"Why are you so quiet?" he asked, his voice holding a rare tenderness.

She opened her mouth to answer, but the words didn’t come.

How could she explain the hesitations that held her back?

Rudraksh sighed, his frustration more with himself than with her. He patted the space beside him. "Come here."

Ishika hesitated, blinking at the sudden shift in his tone—a tone that sounded more like an invitation than a command.

When she didn’t move, he repeated firmly, "Come."

His voice had returned to its commanding depth, and instinctively, she obeyed, standing and walking toward him.

"Sit," he instructed, his gaze softening as she complied.

"Why don’t you talk to me?" he asked again, his body turning slightly to face her, his expression one of genuine curiosity and concern.

Her fingers fidgeted in her lap as she struggled for an answer.

When she didn’t respond, Rudraksh smiled faintly, leaning back slightly. "Alright. Start simple. Tell me about your day."

His smile caught her off guard. It wasn’t his usual faint smirk. This was different—genuine, real, warm.

Her heart skipped a beat. The sight of him smiling so openly felt like discovering a hidden treasure.

"You’d listen?" she asked hesitantly, her gaze drawn to the unfamiliar softness in his expression.

"I’d always listen," he replied, his voice steady. "I want to. I’d love to."

Her breath hitched, and before she could stop it, a big, toothy smile spread across her face, lighting up her features.

Rudraksh’s heart raced at the sight. The way her eyes sparkled, the way her lips curved upward—it was enough to make him lose himself.

He clenched his fists subtly, fighting the overwhelming urge to pull her close, to feel the warmth of her smile against his own.

"Go on," he prompted, his tone soft but insistent.

Taking a deep breath, Ishika began to recount her day, her voice growing steadier with each word.

She talked about her friends, the laughter they shared, and the small adventures of the day.

Rudraksh listened intently, his gaze fixed on her face, absorbing every word as if it were the most important story he’d ever heard.

When she finished, she glanced at him nervously, unsure if she’d said too much.

But he smiled again, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I like hearing about your day. I like hearing you."

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down, hiding her smile.

The warmth between them lingered, a quiet but undeniable connection that needed no words.

Rudraksh leaned back, picking up his laptop again. "Get some rest," he said softly, his tone carrying a touch of care that made her heart flutter.

She nodded, heading toward the wardrobe to change, her lips still curled into a small, content smile.

As the night settled, Ishika couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted—a step closer, a wall lowered. And for once, it felt like... love.

Was it?

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Divya carefully tiptoed down the staircase, her footsteps soft against the polished wood.

The large house was quiet, its silence making her feel even more alone.

Daksh wasn’t home yet, and the loneliness pressed against her like a heavy weight. Summoning some courage, she decided to visit Neelima’s room.

When she peeked in, she saw Ishwar and Shravan sitting by Neelima’s bedside, sharing light-hearted banter.

Their warm laughter filled the room, contrasting with the stillness of the rest of the house.

Shravan noticed her first and smiled broadly. “Arey, Divya beti? Come in, come in!” he said, his tone welcoming.

(Beti~ Daughter)

Divya stiffened, caught off guard, but managed a shy smile as she stepped inside hesitantly.

"Darling, what are you doing wandering around at this hour?” Ishwar asked, his wide smile reflecting genuine concern.

Neelima noticed her too and patted the space beside her. “Come here, bacha. Sit with me,” she said gently.

(Bacha~ Child)

Divya hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside Neelima, feeling comforted by her warmth.

“Well, actually…” she began softly, fidgeting with the hem of her dupatta, “Daksh ji isn’t home yet, and I was feeling a little alone. So I thought I’d come and meet you, dadi.”

Neelima’s face lit up with a wide smile. “Oh, my sweet girl has come to see me! That makes me so happy,” she said, wrapping her arms around Divya in a loving hug.

Ishwar grinned. “That’s the spirit! Family is here for moments like these.”

For the next hour, the room was filled with laughter and conversation.

Neelima insisted on feeding Divya fresh fruit, while Ishwar meticulously cut the pieces, and Shravan kept nudging her to eat more.

As Divya enjoyed their loving care, she suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears.

Shravan, noticing her glistening eyes, panicked. “Beta, kya hua? Why are you crying?”

(Kya hua~ What happened?)

Ishwar leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “Are you feeling unwell? Tell us, bacha.”

Divya quickly shook her head, her voice breaking as she replied, “It’s nothing… It’s just that… no one has ever cared for me like this before. This care, this attention… it’s overwhelming.”

Her words left a heavy silence in the room. Neelima’s eyes softened, and she cupped Divya’s face gently.

“Oh, my sweet child. You are a part of this family now, and we love you dearly. You’ll never feel alone again, I promise.”

Unable to hold back, Divya hugged Neelima tightly, her tears soaking the elder woman’s shoulder.

Shravan and Ishwar exchanged a look, their hearts full seeing the bond forming.

“Beta, why don’t you stay here with dadi for the night?” Ishwar suggested. “It’ll make you feel better.”

Divya hesitated. “But Daksh ji might worry if he doesn’t find me in our room…”

“Don’t worry,” Shravan assured her. “We’ll let him know.” He picked up his phone and called Daksh, informing him about the situation.

Ishwar and Shravan said their goodnights and left the room, leaving Divya and Neelima alone in the cozy warmth of the bed.

Divya sniffled softly, still trying to process the unfamiliar affection she was receiving. She cuddled closer to Neelima, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

"Thank you for letting me stay, dadi. I hope I’m not troubling you," she said in a soft voice, her fingers nervously clutching the edge of the blanket.

Neelima smiled warmly, gently caressing Divya’s hair. "Of course not, bacha! I love having sleepovers with my favorite kiddos," she said with genuine affection, her voice laced with maternal warmth.

Divya's heart swelled. The love Neelima showed was in stark contrast to what she had experienced in her own childhood.

Her dadi had treated her worse than a servant. But Neelima—this new dadi—was so different.

She radiated kindness, and Divya felt her heart warm with gratitude. For the first time in years, she felt wanted.

As she was lost in her thoughts, the door creaked open. Ananya peeked in hesitantly, her eyes scanning the room before stepping inside.

"Hey," she said softly, her tone unsure. "Mind if I join too?" she asked, her voice wavering as though fearing rejection.

Neelima’s face lit up. She extended her other arm toward Ananya with an inviting smile. "Of course not, bacha. Come here," she said.

Ananya smiled widely, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she walked over and settled beside Neelima on the bed. She rested her head on Neelima’s shoulder, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

Neelima kissed both their foreheads, her heart full of love for her "pyaari babies. You all are my world," she whispered, her arms wrapped protectively around them.

(Pyaari ~ lovely)

Divya sighed contentedly, her heart finally at peace. The warmth of the new affection she had found lulled her into a peaceful slumber, a small smile still lingering on her lips.

Ananya, however, lay awake a little longer, her heart heavy yet light at the same time. The foreign feeling of family affection overwhelmed her.

She blinked back the tears that spilled anyway, wondering how something so simple yet profound could feel so alien to her.

Eventually, with Neelima’s hand resting gently on her head, Ananya closed her eyes. For the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged—like she had found her family.

As the night deepened, the three of them slept soundly, bound together by the love they shared.

For Divya and Ananya, it was a night of healing—a glimpse of the family they had always dreamed of but never thought they’d find.

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How was this chapter?

It wasn’t loneliness they feared—it was the absence of someone to hold their fractured pieces together...❤️‍🩹