58. Hidden pain

A nothing day...

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The morning light seeped into the room as Rudraksh reached out for Ishika beside him, only to find the empty, cool side of the bed. His brows furrowed as he sat up, glancing around the room.

"Where is she?" he mumbled, running a hand through his messy hair. He quickly freshened up and started his search.

After a few minutes, he finally found her in the chill room. She was curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, her attention glued to the TV.

Her usual bright, cheerful expression was missing, replaced by a dull, weary look.

Rudraksh's eyes narrowed in concern. Something was definitely wrong. Without wasting a second, he started walking toward her.

But just as he took a step, someone grabbed his arm and yanked him aside.

Startled, Rudraksh spun around, almost ready to yell, but froze when he saw Amrita.

"Ammu?" he whispered harshly, his deep voice still heavy with concern. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

"Where do you think you're going, bhaiya?" Amrita asked, her tone firm as she kept her grip on him.

"To Ishika! Look at her! She's dull, she's quiet, she’s—something’s wrong, and I need to find out what!" he said, his voice rising slightly.

Amrita immediately shushed him, pressing a finger to her lips. "Lower your voice! If she hears us, she'll kill us both!"

"What?" Rudraksh looked at her incredulously. "Why would she—"

Before he could finish, Ananya strolled into the chill room, humming a tune loudly and blissfully unaware of the brewing storm.

Amrita leaned closer to Rudraksh and whispered, "Just watch. Bali ka bakra has arrived."

Rudraksh looked back toward the scene just in time to see Ishika pick up a pillow.

"Uh-oh," Amrita muttered, stifling a laugh.

The pillow flew through the air with alarming speed and smacked Ananya square in the face, causing her to stumble back with a yelp.

"Ouch!" Ananya shouted, clutching her nose. But before she could fully recover, another pillow came hurtling toward her, hitting her again.

"Make another sound, and it won't be a pillow next time," Ishika growled, her voice low and menacing.

She didn’t even look away from the TV as she issued her warning.

Rudraksh stood frozen in the corner, his mouth slightly agape. He had never seen Ishika like this.

"What just happened?" he whispered to Amrita, completely dumbfounded.

Amrita smirked. "Welcome to the world of 'stay away from Ishika when she’s on her periods.'"

Rudraksh shot her a confused look. "What is this? She’s—"

"She’s having a bad day, bhaiya," Amrita explained, patting his arm. "And trust me, the dramas and her anger are her way of coping. You don't want to interrupt unless you're ready to face her wrath."

Rudraksh crossed his arms, still unconvinced. "But she's upset. I should—"

"No, we should leave her alone. Let her be for now. She’ll be fine once she’s done yelling at the characters on TV and annihilating any poor soul who disturbs her," Amrita said firmly, tugging Rudraksh back.

He sighed, still worried, but reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged out of the room.

From behind the door, he could still hear Ishika muttering angrily at the TV.

Rudraksh shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his worry.

"My wife is something else," he murmured to himself, earning a laugh from Amrita.

Meanwhile, inside the chill room, Ishika let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes still glued to the screen.

The drama wasn’t just a distraction; it was her temporary escape from the cramps weighing her down. And for now, she wanted nothing more than to immerse herself in it.

"But... periods?" Rudraksh's voice was laced with concern, his brows knitting together as he glanced back toward the chill room. "Is she okay? Shouldn't she rest more?"

Amrita sighed, crossing her arms. "No, bhaiya. She’s not okay, not really. She experiences cramps, but what she really struggles with are the body pains..."

"Body pains?" Rudraksh repeated, his concern deepening. "What kind of body pains?"

Amrita leaned against the wall, her voice soft but tinged with sympathy. "Severe ones, bhaiya. She gets this unbearable ache all over her body. She told me once that they felt like they're burning... And yet, she doesn’t let it show. She keeps going as if nothing’s wrong."

Rudraksh clenched his jaw, a mix of worry and admiration flashing in his eyes. "She’s so stubborn," he muttered, shaking his head. "Why doesn't she just rest? Why does she hide her pain?"

Amrita gave him a small smile. "That’s just mayya. She doesn't like showing weakness, especially to the people she loves. But that doesn't mean she doesn’t feel it. She just doesn’t want to burden you."

Rudraksh looked away, guilt creeping into his heart. "Burden me? She's my wife, Ammu. How could she ever think she's a burden?"

Amrita placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I know, bhaiya. But you have to understand her too. She’s been strong for herself for so long that she doesn't know how to lean on others. It’s not about trust; it’s just a habit she’s built over time."

Rudraksh nodded slowly, processing her words.

After a moment, he hesitated before asking, "Um... about these body pains... Where exactly does she feel them?" His voice was cautious, unsure if he was venturing into territory too personal.

Amrita gave a small laugh, sensing his discomfort. "Relax, bhaiya. It’s nothing to be shy about. She mostly gets pain in her back and legs. The worst are in her lower back and feet. Sometimes, she has trouble even standing for long."

His fists clenched instinctively. "And she just endures it all by herself? Without telling anyone?"

"She’s used to it," Amrita said softly. "But you can help her, bhaiya. A hot water bottle, gentle massages, warm tea—small things can make a big difference for her."

Rudraksh straightened, determination shining in his eyes. "I’ll make sure she never has to deal with this alone again. I don’t care how strong she thinks she is—she’s my wife, and I’ll always take care of her."

Amrita smiled warmly. "That’s all she needs, bhaiya. Someone to make her feel like she doesn’t have to carry it all alone."

With that, Rudraksh turned back toward the chill room, his mind already racing with ideas to make Ishika feel better.

He wasn’t just going to sit back and let her suffer in silence anymore. His heart was set on easing her pain, no matter what it took.

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Rudraksh is starting to capture my attention ;)

She hid her pain...but he saw it all...💚