The Man of my Life

Chapter 24

The clock struck midnight, and the world was shrouded in silence, but for Reyansh, the night was anything but peaceful. His mind was a battlefield, haunted by nightmares that clutched at his heart with icy fingers. Tossing and turning, he found himself trapped in a relentless cycle of sleep and terror.

Flashback

High in the mountains, where the air whispered secrets of ancient times, Naina stood close to Reyansh, her eyes reflecting the starlit sky. With a voice soft yet resolute, she confessed, "I love you, Rey."

His heart swelled with emotion, and he held her gaze, replying with equal fervor, "I love you too, Naina." But fate had other plans. In a cruel twist, Naina's footing faltered, and she began to slip away. Reyansh's reflexes kicked in as he reached out, his voice tearing through the silence, "NAINA!"

Their friends, Radhika, Arvind, Arjun, Aditi, Riya, Aakash, Neha, and Raman, witnessed the scene unfold with bated breath. They rushed forward, hoping against hope to avert the tragedy. Despite Reyansh's desperate grip, Naina's hand slipped away, her scream echoing his name, "REY!"

In the starkness of his room, Reyansh jolted awake, his own scream, "NAINA!" piercing the night. Riya, ever the protective sister, heard the distress and came running. She found Reyansh gasping for air, his eyes wild with fear. With a soothing tone, she implored, "Chotte, calm down. Please, calm down."

Their bond was their strength, and Reyansh found solace in Riya's embrace, murmuring, "Di..." As he slowly succumbed to exhaustion, Riya cradled him, their shared silence a testament to their unspoken understanding. She rested his head on her lap, leaning back against the headboard, and together, they sought refuge in the quietude of the night.

Dawn's light crept in, and Reyansh awoke to find Riya still by his side. Guilt washed over him as he whispered, "Sorry di." Her smile was a balm to his troubled soul, and with a tender kiss on his forehead, she left to freshen up. Reyansh, too, sought the cleansing comfort of the shower, letting the water wash away the remnants of his nightmares.

Dressed and ready, he descended the stairs, bypassing the morning rituals of the household, and headed straight for his car. The drive to the office was a blur, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Naina. Once in his cabin, he was greeted by Aryan's solemn reminder, "You need to update about bhabhi's death on your Instagram."

With a heavy heart, Reyansh complied, selecting a photograph that captured Naina's essence. As he posted the tribute, a wave of despair enveloped him. He leaned back, closing his eyes, grappling with the reality that Naina was no longer part of this world. When he opened his eyes, her empty cabin beckoned him.

Dear Naina, You are the biggest dream of my life, I loved you so much and I always wanted to live my life with you forever but I think the universe is against it and it took you from me and made me lonely. I love you forever❤️❤️

Comments:
neha_singhaniya: miss her a lot.
raman_singhaniya: miss you a lot Naina

Hours passed, and the office's clock hands signaled it was time to return home. Reyansh's arrival was met with Radhika's stern voice, "REYANSH! IS THIS THE TIME TO COME HOME?"

He tried to explain, "Chachi—" but was cut off by her sharp words, "JUST BECAUSE NAINA DIED IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN COME HOME AT ANYTIME."

The tension escalated, and Reyansh's frustration boiled over, resulting in a shattered glass on the floor. Riya's concerned voice, "Chotte!" was the last thing he heard before storming off to his room, leaving behind a trail of sorrow and confusion.

Alone in his sanctuary, Reyansh allowed himself to grieve, whispering, "Naina, meri jaan, you are not dead." His tears were a silent prayer, a hope that somehow, she was still with him.

As the night deepened, Reyansh prepared for bed, leaving the door ajar, a silent sentinel against the unknown. His search for a file led to an unexpected discovery—a file labeled, "TO MY REY!" The contents within were a revelation, sending him reeling to the floor, where a vase crashed in a symphony of his heartbreak.

The silence of the house was abruptly shattered as Riya's footsteps thundered through the hallway, her heart racing with concern. She arrived to find Reyansh frozen in place, his gaze locked on the file that lay open before him. The rest of the family, drawn by the commotion, gathered around, their eyes wide with apprehension.

Riya, with a gentle yet firm touch, took the file from Reyansh's unresisting hands and read the contents aloud. Her voice trembled with emotion as she wrapped her arms around her brother, who stood there, engulfed in a storm of disbelief and sorrow. Arvind, sensing the gravity of the moment, stepped forward and asked with a soft concern, "Ansh, what happened?"

The words that escaped Reyansh's lips were broken, a mere whisper that carried the weight of a thousand heartaches, "Chachu, Naina w-was p-pregnant." A collective gasp rippled through the room, and a heavy silence fell upon the family as they grappled with the magnitude of the revelation.

Riya's eyes met Reyansh's, and in them, he found a reflection of his own pain. With a subtle nod, she signaled for the others to give them space. One by one, they retreated, leaving brother and sister in their cocoon of shared grief. As Reyansh's tears began to flow, Riya's embrace tightened, her hand soothingly rubbing his back, a silent promise that she was there for him.

The night wore on, and Reyansh's sobs gradually subsided into a fitful sleep, brought on by the exhaustion of his emotions. Riya, with a heart heavy with her own sorrow, called upon Aakash to assist in moving Reyansh to the comfort of his bed. Aakash, with a quiet understanding, helped in the tender task and then discreetly left the siblings alone.

Riya, with the tenderness of a guardian angel, caressed Reyansh's hair and planted a kiss on his forehead, a silent prayer for peace in his dreams. She tucked the blanket around him, ensuring he was enveloped in warmth and love. Then, with one last lingering look, she retreated to her room, leaving the door slightly ajar, a silent sentinel watching over her brother as he slept, lost in a world where perhaps, just perhaps, Naina was still by his side.