Chapter 54: chapter 54

     Amar enters his room and is eyes falls on the petite figure sleeping on his bed. Curled into a ball. Despite  the bright red roses and the jasmine flowers covering up the room and the scented candles fragrance, the one that caught his eyes was none other than Rhea Amar Mehta... He walks towards her and sit along the edge of the bed. He keeps gazing at her. The room was steeped in soft silence, broken only by the faint rustle of jasmine in her hair.She had fallen asleep—exhausted by rituals, laughter, and the weight of a thousand eyes.Now, under the dim amber glow of the bedside lamp, she lay turned slightly to one side, her bridal bangles resting still on her wrist, her breath deep, calm, unaware.He sat at the edge of the bed, turned toward her, not daring to lie down.There was reverence in his gaze—like a devotee before a goddess,half in awe, half in disbelief that she was his now… and forever.Her face, without makeup now, held a raw, untouched beauty—cheeks still warm from the day’s smiles, lips slightly parted,and a small red bindi that refused to fade, even in sleep.He didn’t touch her. Not yet.There was a sacredness to that moment, to simply watch—to memorize the curve of her eyelash, the stillness of her fingers,and the way sleep made her seem even more vulnerable,like a secret given only to him.He smiled—not with desire, but with wonder.On a night the world would expect passion, he found poetry instead.And in that quiet watching, he felt something within the girl who he had just been fighting all these while, like a school kid. He chuckles and gently strokes her head. She whispers daddy. Amar smiles lightly and says I'll try to treat you the way you're daddy treats you Rhea.... Sleep deprives him and he sleeps in the chair nearby. The room fell into silence with only their breathing resonating all around the room. Adi and Smitha sits in the patio and keeps talking of their moments with Rhea. The way they felt jubilant hearing the pregnancy news. Their first scan, their excitement when Shikha said it's a baby girl. Forgetting the pregnancy truama's when holding their baby girl for the first time. Aditya man of aloofness, gets to know that he too had his tender side. Rheas Naamkaran, her first teeth, her first step, her first birthday... Her first pony tail. Their talks where on and on. Finally it paused when they talked of her marriage. Adi " Smithi I do wonder, our Rhea was just tiny in my hands she was sleeping peacefully, wrapped in that soft white towel. And now she is... Adi clears his throat letting his eyes wander all around the house. Smitha cries in his arms. Adi... It's not just the house even we feel empty within her. Adi keeps talking of Rhea and how they loved her, Smitha lies on his lap listening to him. They remember how she cried to go to school, and when she entered her class; she didn't even turn to say bye to them. Smitha" laughs through tears, she was angry upon us. That we are leaving her alone". Immediately she gets up from him and asks Adi, even now?? Adi puts his finger on her lips and says, she will be happy. And we are going to see. You know Smithi I felt my heart flutter when I was having Arrea In my arms. Maybe it's because the baby mom's name is Rhea too. I too wish I see our grandkid soon. Smitha leans on his shoulder with their hands clasped. Even am waiting for that, but your daughter is quite week in that romance chapter. The sweet memories turns to mocking and light laughs. The morning dawns and the sun rays fliter through the window and punches Amar's face. Amar shrinks his eyes and opens only to see the empty bed. His eyes makes a quick search from the place he is. But he found no trace of any creature present. He gets up and checks inside the bath, dressing and the balcony attached to his room. Still no trace of Rhea. He then gets into refresh and comes down the stairs. Shikha busily arranges the dishes in the dinning table and Kajal checks grocery list. Kajal " Amar come on... Come on... Sit here. In low tone she asks in his ears, what Amar all night masta mast ? Raising her eyebrows and laughs. Amar feels quite uncomfortable and says didi please keep your tone low. My chota  bhai it's a natural thing you know. Hmm... Rhea was dashing yesterday. Okay tell me where is she?  got worked up with her too much that she is still sleeping huh...Amar was shocked when Kajal asked of Rhea, rather than feeling Awkward for Kajal's sarcasm. Is she really not here or they are pranking me? His mind screams...Dear friends let me know whether Rhea absence is a prank on Amar or is she really nowhere to be found?A Revenge....