HEALING EACH OTHER

CHAPTER ~ 48

FEW HOURS LATER
Nandini lazily opened her eyes and saw how Manik held her hand and slept beside her like a baby. She couldn't have asked for anything else on her birthday. It seemed like she was dreaming. She was the happiest soul today. Nandini caressed Manik's cheek, adoring him.

She had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity. The soft rays of the morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the bed and onto his face. His eyes were shut, his breathing slow and steady. He looked so peaceful, so content. And for the first time, she felt like she could finally breathe, too.

It was just yesterday he had confessed his love for her. Her heart had soared, and she had felt like she could fly. Today was her birthday, and she couldn't think of a better way to spend it than lying beside him. His arm was thrown over her waist, their legs tangled together in a way that felt right. She wanted to stay like this forever.

The soft sheets beneath her were cool against her skin, contrasting with the warmth emanating from his body. She could feel every inch of him as he lay in front of her, and it was a feeling she had grown to cherish. She couldn't help but wonder what the rest of their life together would be like. Would they travel the world? Buy a little house in the country? Start a family? The possibilities seemed endless and thrilling.

For now, though, she was content to lie here in this moment, relishing the simple joy of being close to him. She traced a finger down his chest, following the path of his ribs to his stomach, where she let her fingertip draw lazy circles. He stirred slightly but didn't wake up. She felt a pang of desire in her chest, mixed with a deep, abiding love. It was as if all the pieces of her heart had finally come together to form this perfect whole.

She let her hand drift lower, skimming across his abdomen and up towards his chest again. She wondered what it would be like to explore his body further, to taste the salty skin of his shoulders and feel the stiff muscles of his back beneath her fingertips. She longed to see him awake and watch how his eyes lit up when he looked at her.

The soft rustle of the sheets and the gentle creak of the bed frame were the only sounds in the room, save for his chest's rhythmic rise and fall as he breathed. She felt they were the only two people in the world, existing in their little bubble of happiness and contentment. It was a feeling she knew she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

As she lay there, lost in thought, she couldn't help but marvel at how far they had come. They had been enemies initially who couldn't stop fighting, then understood each other and became each other's confidant, and in no time, she fell for him for as long as she could remember. Still, their relationship had blossomed over the months into something deeper, more profound. She remembered the first time she had realized she had feelings for him, the way her heart would race whenever he was near, the butterflies in her stomach whenever he looked her way, that different feeling she felt she could not name it.

She had been so scared to confess her feelings, to risk losing their friendship. But somehow, miraculously, he had felt the same way. And now they were, on her birthday, wrapped up in each other, their futures filled with possibilities and love. It was more than she could have ever dreamed of.

She let out a contented sigh, resting her head against his chest. The steady thump-thump of his heart beneath her ear was a soothing rhythm, a reminder of the life they would share. As she drifted off to sleep, she knew this was only the beginning of their journey, and she couldn't wait to see where it took them.

Time seemed to slow down as they lay there, lost in their little world. The sun crept slowly across the sky, painting the room with a warm, golden light. They didn't move or speak, just basked in the comfort of each other's presence. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest against her back, the gentle caress of his fingers in her hair. It was a moment she wished would never end.