62. Realisation

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~✰♡✰♡✰~

Aditya’s hands moved relentlessly, tickling her sides, stomach, and any spot he could find, a rare, genuine smile lighting up his face.

It wasn’t the usual smirk or expressionless mask she was used to—it was pure, unfiltered joy.

Ananya laughed uncontrollably, thrashing on the bed as she tried to wriggle away from his hands.

"Patidev ji! Stop! Please! I can’t—" she gasped between fits of laughter, tears streaming from her eyes as she struggled to push his hands away.

"Not happening, Kitten," he teased, his tone filled with playful mischief. "This is what you get for talking to that lifeless thing instead of your husband."

"You’re insane!" she squealed, her voice high-pitched as he found another ticklish spot on her ribs.

Aditya’s smile widened, and without thinking, he climbed onto the bed to pin her down better.

His weight shifted, and he knelt beside her, his hands continuing their relentless assault.

"Patidev ji, I swear!" she cried, laughing so hard her stomach began to ache. "I’ll—I'll—"

"You’ll what?" he teased, leaning closer, his fingers now dancing over her knees. "Beg me to stop? Admit I’m the best husband ever?"

"Never!" she managed to gasp, her voice barely audible through her laughter.

Aditya chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, making Ananya’s heart do a little flip.

She tried one last attempt to escape, but her movements only caused her to twist and roll. Suddenly, with a misstep on Aditya’s part, their positions reversed.

In a flash, Aditya was lying flat on his back, and Ananya was straddling him, her small hands beside his face, supporting her.

She stared down at him, breathless and flushed, her hair falling around her face like a curtain.

Aditya looked up at her, momentarily stunned, his hands frozen in mid-air.

He had never seen her like this—her laughter so pure, her smile so radiant, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Ananya smirked, leaning closer until her face was just above his.

"Now it’s my turn," she whispered, her voice soft but full of determination.

Aditya’s eyes widened slightly, and before he could respond, her fingers darted to his sides.

"Kitten, don’t—" he started, but the words died on his lips as laughter escaped him.

It wasn’t just any laughter; it was deep, genuine, and completely unrestrained.

Aditya tried to grab her hands, but she was quicker, her fingers finding all the spots that made him squirm.

"Stop it!" he managed to say between breaths, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Not so fun when it’s you, huh, Patidev?" she teased, her hands moving to his ribs and then to his neck.

Aditya laughed harder, his body twisting under her as he tried to escape. "Kitten!" he groaned, though his smile betrayed any attempt at seriousness.

"Say you surrender!" she demanded, her fingers still working their magic.

"Never!" he shot back, though his voice was choked with laughter.

They continued their playful war for what felt like ages, their laughter filling the room as they tried to out-tickle each other.

Finally, when both were completely out of breath, Ananya collapsed beside him, her head resting beside his.

Aditya lay on his back, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to catch his breath.

The room was quiet except for their heavy breathing. Ananya turned her head slightly to look at him, and for a moment, their eyes met.

"You… You’re really annoying, you know that?" she said, though her tone was light and teasing.

Aditya smirked, turning his head to face her. "And you’re a menace," he replied.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

They lay there side by side, catching their breaths with a smile on their faces.

After a while, Ananya’s radiant smile began to fade as memories she had long buried crept into her mind.

Her laughter with Aditya had sparked something bittersweet—something she hadn’t felt in years.

She remembered how her parents used to tickle her to make her laugh when she was just a little girl, back when her world was whole.

The joy in her heart was now laced with a quiet ache, the longing for a love she lost too soon.

She turned her head to look at Aditya, who was lying beside her with his eyes closed.

His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and for a moment, she wondered if he had already fallen asleep.

“Patidev ji?” she whispered softly.

He didn’t respond.

“Are you asleep?” she asked again, her voice barely audible.

Aditya, hearing her, decided to remain still, keeping his eyes shut.

He smirked inwardly, thinking she was probably plotting another mischief.

But instead, she leaned closer, and to his surprise, he felt her slender arms wrap gently around his neck.

She hugged him tightly, her breath warm against his skin. Before he could react, he felt the wet trail of a tear sliding onto his neck.

Aditya’s eyes snapped open, and without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her fragile frame against his strong body.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly, his voice laced with concern as he tilted his head to look at her.

Ananya stiffened in his arms, realizing he wasn’t asleep. She pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, her eyes wide with surprise.

“You weren’t sleeping?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“No,” he admitted, brushing her hair away from her face. “You hugged me, and then I felt… Are you crying? Tell me, Kitten. What happened?”

Her lips trembled as she struggled to form words. Finally, she whispered, “I… I was just remembering my parents.”

Aditya’s chest tightened at the vulnerability in her voice. He held her closer, letting her rest her head against his shoulder.

“They used to tickle me to make me laugh,” she said quietly, her voice heavy with emotion.

“I was so young, but I still remember those moments. And my nanna... He would lift me in his arms and pat me to sleep whenever I didn’t feel like sleeping.”

(Nanna~ Dad, in Telugu)

Aditya listened silently, his heart aching for the pain she carried. He gently stroked her hair, his fingers moving in soothing patterns. “You miss them a lot,” he said softly.

She nodded against his shoulder. “Every day,” she admitted. “But moments like these… they remind me of them. Of how much love they gave me before they were gone.”

Aditya’s hold on her tightened protectively. He didn’t know what to say—he wasn’t good with words, but something deep within him compelled him to ease her pain.

“Do you want me to do it?” he asked after a moment, his voice low and gentle.

Ananya pulled back slightly to look at him, confused. “Do what?”

“Lift you in my arms and pat you to sleep,” he said, his lips curving into a small smile.

Her brows furrowed, and she blinked at him. “Huh?”

Without waiting for her to understand, Aditya sat up, still holding her securely in his arms.

He adjusted his position so she was cradled against his chest, her legs resting on his lap.

“Patidev ji!” she protested, her voice a mixture of surprise and embarrassment.

“Shh,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “You said it helps you sleep, right? Let me try. Wrap your legs around me.”

Her heart raced as she looked at him, but she didn’t resist. For once, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, to lean into his warmth and let go of the weight she carried.

She wrapped her legs securely around his waist and her arms snugly around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder.

Aditya’s strong hands supported her effortlessly as he began to walk slowly around the room, his steps soft and deliberate.

His palm rhythmically patted her back, the soothing motion lulling her into a rare sense of peace.

"I’m heavy..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she was too shy to admit it.

Aditya chuckled, a deep and rare sound that made her heart flutter.

“Oh, kitten,” he murmured, his tone teasing yet affectionate, “you’re not even half my gym weight. There’s a reason I call you kitten... small and light.”

She smiled faintly, her face nestled into the crook of his neck. “Kitten?” she repeated softly, the warmth of his words spreading through her like a comforting embrace.

“Yes,” he replied, his lips curving into a gentle smile she couldn’t see but somehow felt.

“You’re delicate, soft, and impossibly adorable—just like a kitten.”

Her cheeks flushed at his words, and she hugged him more tightly, allowing herself to feel safe in his arms.

The sound of his heartbeat, steady and strong, resonated in her ears, and before she knew it, her eyelids grew heavy.

She drifted off to sleep, clutching onto him as if he were her anchor.

The last image in her mind was the rare and infectious smile that lit up his face—a sight so rare, she felt like it was a treasure meant only for her.

Aditya continued to hold her, his movements slowing until he finally stopped.

He glanced at her sleeping form, the way her lashes rested softly on her cheeks and her lips parted slightly as she breathed evenly. His heart clenched in a way he didn’t fully understand.

Carefully, he walked back to the bed and laid down on his back, ensuring she remained comfortable in his arms.

Her legs were still draped around him, and her hands clung to him even in her sleep, as if she feared letting go.

He didn’t want to let go either. There was something intoxicating about the way she fit so perfectly against him, the way her warmth seeped into his skin and her presence filled a void he hadn’t even known existed.

Aditya’s fingers gently ran through her hair, his touch lingering as he gazed at her.

For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel the need to keep up his walls. With her, everything felt effortless—natural.

He let out a deep breath, his head sinking into the pillow. His arms instinctively tightened around her as if to ensure she wouldn’t slip away.

And as sleep began to claim him, a realization crept into his mind.

He liked the way she made him feel. He liked having her close, feeling her heartbeat against his chest.

In that quiet moment, as the world outside disappeared, he understood something that left him both vulnerable and exhilarated—he had fallen in love with her.

And for the first time in a long time, Aditya slept peacefully, with Ananya cradled in his arms, their breaths synchronizing as they shared the same dreamless night.

~✰♡✰♡✰~

Aditya😭💓

He didn’t know when it happened, but he knew it had. He fell in love...🫀✨