chapter 1

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!DisclaimerThis story is purely fictional and  all the characters, places and incidents are not related to anyone or copied from any other stories. This is purely my imagination. If the incidents in this story relate to anyone by any chance, it is purely a coincidence.Copyright: Sujana Pulipati All rights reserved and without the prior written permission of the author, no part of the story should be copied by any one or transformed into any audio or in any other ways. © SUJANA PULIPATI*****Chapter 1 :Nandu returned with Aadhya, Sid, and Akhil accompanying them, as Akhil drove the car towards the hospital.Though Nandu had confronted his mother and firmly expressed his determination to stand by his love for Aadhya, his heart remained restless. He hadn’t addressed his mother’s appalling act of carving those filthy words on Aadhya’s skin. He refrained from bringing it up, unwilling to tarnish his mother’s image in his sister Sruthi’s eyes.Yet, deep inside, he resolved to make her regret her actions and, eventually, apologize to Aadhya.His gaze kept drifting towards Aadhya, noticing the frown etched on her face. He could sense the storm raging in her heart.Aadhya, though comforted by Nandu’s declaration of love and the importance she held in his life, couldn’t shake off the torment she had endured. The public humiliation, the sting of those words, and her father’s cardiac arrest triggered by her disgrace weighed heavily on her. The anguish dragged her deeper into a sea of despair.Understanding her turmoil, Nandu didn’t disturb her. Instead, he silently held her hand, tracing soothing circles on the back of her palm with his thumb. The small gesture offered her a semblance of comfort and peace, momentarily lifting the weight from her heart.When they reached the hospital, they quietly entered Parasuram’s room. He was still unconscious, under the watchful care of the nurse.Aadhya walked straight to him, gently checking his forehead, hoping he would open his eyes. Seeing him still deep in sleep, she pulled the chair closer to his bedside, sat down, and took his hand in hers. Her eyes remained fixed on his face, silently pleading for him to wake up.Sensing her emotional state, Nandu gestured for Akhil and Sid to take the couch by the window, and they all sat quietly, waiting for Parasuram to regain consciousness.Later, Akhil brought some food and juice, but Aadhya refused to touch anything, her eyes never leaving her father. Her heart ached, turbulent from the humiliation they had faced earlier.Tears occasionally slipped down her cheeks as the inspector's harsh words and the judgmental stares of their neighbors replayed in her mind. Shame weighed on her, but the memory of how Nandu had stood by her, protecting her pride, self-esteem, and dignity, soothed the edges of her pain.Nandu, however, was hesitant to approach her. He feared she might make a rash decision to leave him, overwhelmed by his mother's cruel actions and the way he had tied the knot with her on the road without her consent.Akhil became the bridge between them, quietly offering Aadhya water, juice, and food under Nandu’s instructions. But Aadhya refused every time, her grief outweighing her needs. Even Akhil, despite their close friendship, couldn’t convince her, feeling helpless as he watched her suffer in silence.Time dragged on as they all anxiously awaited Parasuram’s awakening, knowing only he could bring Aadhya some comfort.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Parasuram stirred. His eyes slowly opened, and the first thing he saw was Aadhya sitting beside him. As he gazed at her, memories of the torment she had endured earlier came flooding back. His eyes filled with tears, a reflection of his pain and helplessness at failing to protect his daughter.Seeing him awake, Aadhya quickly rose to her feet and leaned closer to him. Wiping his tears gently, she spoke in a trembling voice, her words laced with fear and deep affection,“Dad! How are you? I was so scared for you”. Her voice quivered, a faint trace of fear underlining the beauty of her words.Holding Aadhya’s hand tightly, Parasuram choked, his voice trembling with agony and guilt. “Aadu! I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I couldn’t protect you from the humiliation”, he said, his words weighed down by his overwhelming remorse.-  *KRISH*