𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬

Chapter Twenty-Two: Fragnance of Secrets

Gill observed Vasisth, who seemed uncomfortable, occasionally adjusting her neck with signs of pain. Glancing at the others sleeping in the dimly lit chamber, he noted how the hostages had grown accustomed to using sleep as an escape from the gnawing hunger and unquenchable thirst that plagued them. Even after having a meal, the weariness persisted, turning sleep into a refuge.

His attention shifted back to Vasisth. "You know, you can rest your head on my shoulder," he suggested gently.

Vasisth coughed, her eyes widening, and quickly responded, "No, I'm fine," turning her gaze away.

"Well, you seemed perfectly fine with your head on my chest yesterday," Gill teased with a playful smile.

Gill's teasing remark brought a faint blush to Vasisth's cheeks, but she quickly composed herself. "That was... different," she replied, attempting to maintain a serious tone.

"Different, huh?" he mused, a playful glint in his eyes. "Care to enlighten me on the nuances of head placement preferences?"

Vasisth scowled at Gill's playful comment, her eyes narrowing with severity. "This is hardly the time for banter, Gill," she retorted, her tone firm. "We've got a serious task ahead, and I need you to focus."

Gill, pouting dramatically in response to Vasisth's scowl, feigned an expression of wounded innocence. "Why does my teasing bother you so much?" he asked, his lower lip jutting out.

Vasisth, maintaining her firm stance, looked at Gill with a mixture of exasperation and slight disgust. "Gill, it's not that your teasing bothers me," she clarified, her tone edged with impatience. "But now, it seems like you're flirting. This isn't the time or the place for it. We have a serious task ahead, and I need you to take it seriously."

Gill, reacting to Vasisth's frustration with a mix of spontaneity and mischief, gently pulled her closer by the waist. Her hands landed on his chest, and their faces were inches apart. A sly grin played on Gill's lips as he looked into her eyes, his breath mingling with hers.

He whispered, his voice low and playful, "Is my flirting so bad, Vasisth?" His eyes twinkled with amusement, yet there was a glimmer of genuine curiosity in his expression.

Vasisth, caught off guard by the sudden proximity, felt her breath hitch. She tried to maintain her stern demeanour, but a hint of bewilderment lingered in her eyes. "Gill, this isn't the time for games," she admonished, attempting to sound stern, but her voice betrayed a trace of vulnerability.

Gill, still holding Vasisth close, cast a quick glance around the dimly lit chamber, ensuring that no prying eyes were observing their unexpected proximity. Satisfied with the relative privacy, he shifted his attention back to Vasisth, maintaining the proximity that had momentarily caught her off guard.

His eyes, now softer and more sincere, focused on Vasisth's face as he continued to hold her by the waist. "You know," he whispered, the playful tone replaced with a touch of seriousness, "sometimes, a little distraction can be a welcome escape from the harsh reality around us."

Gill's fingers traced a faint scar on Vasisth's neck, the touch gentle and tender. "You've got a scar here, just like I do," he observed, his voice low and intimate.

Vasisth, known for her stoic demeanour, felt herself melting in Gill's embrace. Her usually steady voice was now low and heavy, sending shivers down Gill's spine as she whispered against his lips, "Can I see your scar?"

He nodded, maintaining a tight embrace with one hand while using the other to pull his shirt collar slightly to the side. As the fabric shifted, it revealed his collarbone, where a faded but still visible scar resided.

Geetanjali, feeling a sense of guilt, leaned in as if in a trance. It was as if she sought to correct a mistake she made back in her sweet sixteen. With a tender touch, she placed a gentle kiss on the faded scar on Gill's collarbone. Her rough lips, though offering a soothing sensation, carried an undertone of remorse as if she could somehow mend the mistake of the past with this simple act.

Shubman closed his eyes, feeling a profound sense of peace wash over him. Bhumika had kissed the scar many times before during sex, but the comfort derived from Geentanjali's kiss surpassed them all. It felt as if he had just received the most potent medicine for his scar, a remedy that reached not just the physical mark on his collarbone but also soothed the deeper, unseen wounds that time had failed to heal.

Geentanjali looked up to see Shubman's eyes closed, his expression serene. She gently caressed his cheeks with her thumbs, using her right hand, which prompted him to open his eyes. As he did, a twinkle of love shone in his gaze as he looked at her.

His gaze moved towards her scar as he leaned down, kissing it tenderly. He sucked on the skin as if wanting to take away her pain. Vasisth, feeling overwhelmed, let out a few tears, her hand tangled in his hair as she muttered, "The whole body is covered with it."

Shubman looked up, his eyes widening in surprise, as he witnessed Vasisth in such a vulnerable state. It was a rare sight, one that spoke volumes about the depth of the connection they were forging in the midst of adversity. He gently pulled back, his expression shifting from tender to concerned.

"Vasisth," he murmured, his voice a soft reassurance. "We don't have to go there if it's too much. We have a task at hand, and your well-being is paramount."

She nodded, looking at him with her grey eyes now reddened from the emotional moment. Her gaze briefly drifted to his lips, but she quickly regained control, recognizing the reality that he only knew her as Vasisth. If he had known her in the past, he would never have loved the chubby girl. And now, even though she's slim, he would never love a girl with scars and a girl with a horrible past.

He looked at her, lost in his own thoughts, as the scent of her lilies perfume filled his mind, momentarily clouding his senses. After pondering for a while, he finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "By any chance, have you ever been a student at Delhi University?"

Vasisth gulped nervously and looked up at him, her mind racing with thoughts. She wondered if he recognized her and felt torn about whether to admit the truth. Despite her internal conflict, her heart seemed to take control as her head nodded unknowingly, betraying her secret even as her lips remained sealed.

His eyes widened in surprise at Vasisth's unintentional confirmation, but he quickly shut them tight. A mix of strange and happy emotions stirred within him. With closed eyes, he gathered the courage to ask, "Are lilies your favourite flowers?"

In response, Vasisth murmured a quiet, "Yes."

With bated breath, Gill's heart raced as he awaited Vasisth's response. His voice trembling slightly, he asked, "Batch of 2011?" Despite the heavy anticipation, his eyes remained closed, unable to bear the intensity of the moment.

Even though Vasisth didn't want to divulge more, sensing where the conversation was heading, her heart seemed to have taken control over her senses. With a trembling voice, she reluctantly admitted, "Yes."

He paused, contemplating more questions. "Are you the girl who gave me the apology letter with lilies and used to put a lily every day in my locker at the end of the college day, along with a note that brightened my day? If yes, kiss me," his voice shuddered at the end as he anxiously awaited her response.