Chapter 23

The rain had started in the late afternoon, a soft drizzle that quickly turned into a torrential downpour. By the time evening rolled around, the news channels were buzzing with warnings about severe flooding and roadblocks across Mumbai.

I sat in the living room, the television droning in the background with updates on the chaos outside. The rain hammered against the windows, and thunder rolled ominously in the distance.

Veer wasn't home yet.

I paced back and forth, glancing at the clock every few minutes. My phone lay on the coffee table, useless now that the signals had gone out. I had tried calling Veer several times earlier, but each attempt ended in frustration.

Where was he?

With each passing minute, my worry grew. I couldn't sit still, the thought of Veer out there somewhere in this weather gnawing at my mind. Was he stuck in traffic? Had something happened?

The news only made things worse. Images of flooded streets and stranded commuters flashed on the screen, accompanied by urgent warnings.

"Stay indoors. Avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary," the announcer repeated, her voice grave.

But how could I stay calm when I had no idea where Veer was? I never felt so helpless before , I couldn't reach Veer nor Naman , with every passing car with headlight light that cut through rain I wished for it to be Veer's car  , the huge living room closing on me

I lit a small lamp and sat by the window, my gaze fixed on the driveway. The rain continued to pour, the wind howling as trees bent and swayed under its force. Every sound, every flicker of movement outside made my heart race, only to sink again when it turned out to be nothing.

The night stretched on, each moment feeling longer than the last.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw headlights cutting through the rain. I jumped to my feet, rushing to the door just as it opened to reveal Veer.

He was drenched from head to toe, his shirt clinging to his body, and his usually immaculate hair plastered to his forehead. But he was here—safe and sound.

Without thinking, I ran to him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "You're back," I whispered, my voice trembling with relief. "I was so worried."

He held me close for a moment before pulling back slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "The roads were blocked," he explained, his voice low but calm. "It took time to find a way back."

"You're soaked," I said, pulling away and looking him over. "You need to change. You'll catch a cold."

He nodded, but I could see the weariness in his eyes. I guided him upstairs to the bedroom, grabbing a towel and a change of clothes for him.

"Go change," I said firmly, handing him the towel.

Once he was in dry clothes, I returned with another towel and motioned for him to sit on the bed. Without a word, I began drying his hair, my fingers working gently through the damp strands.

"You don't have to do this," he murmured, his voice soft.

"I want to," I replied, not looking up. "You scared me, Veer. I didn't know where you were or if you were okay. The signals were gone, and it's been pouring for hours , I didn't know what to do ..."

"Tara," he interrupted, placing a hand over mine. "I'm here now. Safe you don't need to worry , I will always come back to you." I put down the towel and hugged him my face resting on his muscular back arms snaking around his waist , my body and heart soaking his warmth , he tightened his hold on my hands , I stood like that for a while finding solace in his warmth

Once his hair was dry, I left him to rest and went to the kitchen to make something warm. Soup seemed like the best option—simple, comforting, and exactly what he needed after a night like this.

As I stirred the pot, my mind kept drifting back to him. The thought of something happening to Veer, of him being hurt or stranded in the rain, was unbearable.

I poured the soup into a bowl, added some toast on the side, and brought it to him in the living room.

"Here," I said, placing the tray in front of him. "Drink this. It'll help."

As he sipped the soup, his eyes followed my every movement. When I reached to adjust the blanket around him, he caught my hand.

"Tara," he said softly, his tone carrying an unfamiliar vulnerability. "Come here."

Before I could respond, he pulled me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me securely.

"Veer!" I exclaimed, my cheeks heating up.

"Just sit," he said, resting his chin on my shoulder. "You've been worrying all night. Let me hold you for a while."

I hesitated for a moment before curling up against him, letting his warmth soothe the lingering anxiety in my chest. His hand rubbed slow, comforting circles on my back, and I felt my breathing begin to match his steady rhythm.

"This is nice," he murmured after a while, his voice barely above a whisper.

I looked up at him, surprised by the softness in his expression.

"I want this," he continued, his gaze locking with mine. "For the rest of my life."

My chest tightened, his words filling me with a warmth that rivaled the soup I'd just made. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I simply buried my face in his chest, hiding the tears that threatened to spill.

''yes for the rest of the life , I will cling to you like an octopus , till both of us are old and haggard , and I will still scold you for drinking to much coffee'' he laughed listening to my words his chest vibrating and his deep rich voice soothing my heart ''I like this idea'' he said caressing my hair burying his face in the crook of my neck

For a long while, we stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms. The rain outside continued to pour, but inside, everything felt calm and safe.

And as I listened to the steady beat of his heart, I realized that no storm—literal or metaphorical—could ever take this feeling away. Veer was my home, and I was his.

And together, we could weather anything.