chapter 2

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!Chapter 2 :Nandu, noticing the movement and Aadhya’s sudden rise, approached the other side of the bed. Taking a seat beside Parasuram, he gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.“Uncle! Please don’t burden yourself with guilt”, Nandu said, his voice calm yet resolute. “I’m here to protect both Aadhya and you. Please don’t feel wronged by what has happened”.Parasuram turned towards Nandu, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Nandu!”, he began, his voice thick with emotion,“I don’t know what to say. Though I’m furious about your mother’s actions, I can’t blame you for them. I see how deeply you love my daughter. I also know how much your family values wealth and status, yet you stood by her side and shielded her from further disgrace. I’m grateful that you took the right step to preserve her dignity”.Hearing those words, Nandu squeezed Parasuram’s shoulder gently. His eyes reddened with emotion, and his voice quivered as he spoke,“Uncle! Please don’t say that. I’m the one responsible for everything she endured, and I will take full responsibility to rebuild everything she has lost. Aadhya is the love of my life, and it is my duty to protect her self-esteem, her pride, and her character”.He paused, his voice cracking under the weight of his vulnerability. “I’m deeply sorry for the hasty decision I made without your consent. At that moment, I did what I thought was necessary to protect her honor. Now, she’s my wife, and I’ve severed ties with my family because of this. You and Aadhya are all I have left. Will you allow me to stay with you and become part of your lives? Because I have nothing and no one else”, he finished, his voice laced with raw emotion, his vulnerability laid bare.Widening his eyes in disbelief, Parasuram exclaimed,“Nandu! What are you saying? Have you truly abandoned your family?”, His voice quivered with a mix of astonishment and bafflement, unable to process the gravity of Nandu's words.Nandu nodded solemnly. “I can’t stay under the same roof as those who have disrespected the love of my life. Unless my mother realizes her mistake and apologizes to Aadhya, I’m not going back to them”. His voice softened, laced with a heartfelt plea. “Will you embrace me as your own and allow me to stay in your house?”.“Nandu!” Parasuram choked out, his voice heavy with emotion. Taking Nandu’s hand tightly in his, he continued,“Before I even knew about your love for my Aadhya, I had already accepted you as my godson. You have every right to stay with us. Now, as my son-in-law, you don’t need to ask for permission. You are a part of this family. Please don’t show such vulnerability in front of me, it’s unbearable to see you like this”. His words overflowed with love and affection for Nandu.Nandu’s eyes glistened with gratitude as he squeezed Parasuram’s hand. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he said,“Uncle! Please take a rest. Aadhya won’t even spare me a word unless you recover and are back on your feet. She’s giving me the cold shoulder for everything that’s happened. I understand her state of mind, but it’s painful to see her sitting there, refusing even a sip of water”.He glanced at Aadhya, his voice turning soft yet tinged with hurt. “It’s like walking on fire, knowing she’s ignoring me despite everything. I can’t bear to see her like a statue, consumed by this pain”.Despite his words, Aadhya remained silent, her eyes still fixed on Parasuram. Though he understood her anguish, Nandu’s heart ached at her indifference, torn between guilt for her suffering and the longing to bring back the warmth of their bond.Shifting his attention to Aadhya, Parasuram gently implored,“Aadu! I know how much you’ve been hurt by everything that’s happened. But Nandu isn’t responsible for it. Don’t direct your despair toward him. He’s suffering just as much as you are. What makes you keep your distance from him? He’s the only one who can ease your pain, simply by being by your side”. His voice was soft and coaxing, filled with fatherly concern.- *KRISH*