PUNARVIVAAH - ARRANGED TO LOVE (L&M #3) [COMPLETED]

SHOT 19

Vaiga's pov!

'She is a baby now. She will forget you soon.'

Dev ji's words kept ringing in my head and I felt my already broken heart break into a million little pieces.

Kriti will forget me soon. Why didn't I ever think about it?

And as Dev ji said, I have to leave one day. And when I leave, it would affect Kriti if she is too much attached to me. Why didn't I think about it all? What was I thinking? That I could stay with baby Kriti all my life?

The truth is that I didn't think about anything at all. All that mattered was the peace of mind I experience when I am around Kriti.

As Dev ji accused, I was using Kriti as an emotional anchorage. No, he didn't outrightly accuse me of that, but I could hear his unspoken words.

"God! How long do I have to be stuck here!" I heard Dev ji mumbling under his breath furiously.

It has been a few hours since we are stuck here.

With frustration etched across his face, Dev ji stepped out of the car and I watched him curiously.

"Vaiga, I am going to see if I can find something to drink and eat. Stay here," Dev ji's voice cut through the silence, his words tinged with tiredness. I hesitated, the thought of being left alone in the car sending shivers down my spine.

"Wait!" I called out, my voice trembling with fear. "I-I will come with you. What if someone comes here while you are away?" My words spilled out in a rush, desperation clawing at my throat as I struggled to control my fears.

Dev ji paused, his brow furrowing in annoyance as he turned to face me.

"Fine, come if you must. But stay close and don't wander off," he muttered, his irritation evident in the sharpness of his tone.

I nodded hastily, relief flooding through me as I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the car. I know I was being a burden on him, but the thought of being alone and any activists coming across at that time scared me. It is better to bother Dev ji for a few more hours. After that, I will be out of his head for good.

As we walked together, the weight of Dev ji's silent disapproval hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with its intensity.

We walked for what felt like an eternity, the oppressive heat bearing down on us with relentless force. My throat felt parched, my limbs heavy with exhaustion as we trudged along the deserted road, each step fraught with uncertainty.

Just when I thought I couldn't bear it any longer, we stumbled upon a small shop nestled on the outskirts of the road.

The shop was closed, its windows shuttered tightly against the chaos outside. But hope blossomed within me as Dev ji approached the door, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Dev ji called out, his voice tinged with desperation.

For a moment, there was no response, the silence stretching on endlessly before finally, the door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with kind eyes.

"I am sorry, sir. We are closed for the day. You know the riot that broke out in the city. Word has spread that the activists were breaking everything in open shops. They are even coming this way," the man said apologetically, his voice tinged with regret.

"I totally understand, Sir. My car broke down and the mechanics couldn't come over because of the riot. We have been stranded here for hours, without even a bottle of water. We are exhausted, thirsty and hungry. Please help us out, Sir." Dev ji said, his tone tinged with desperation.

The man looked at us thoughtfully for a moment and then sighed.

"I can see that you are in need. Just wait a moment," he said, entering his shop through the back door. He came out with two bottles of water, a packet of bread and a couple of packets of biscuits.

"Here, take this. This is all I can do at the moment. I suggest you get home quickly. It is not safe to stay out here. The activists might come along anytime." The man said and he handed over the goodies to us.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as we thanked him profusely, gratitude swelling within me like a tidal wave.

With our meagre supplies in hand, we made our way back to the car, our footsteps echoing in the silence as we walked. But as we rounded the corner, a sight greeted us that sent a chill down my spine.

The windshield of our car lay shattered, shards of glass glinting ominously in the fading light. Panic surged within me, threatening to overwhelm me as I realised the gravity of our situation.

As the man just said, the activists even reached here.

Dev ji's expression darkened as he surveyed the damage, his eyes blazing with anger as he turned to face me.

"Damn it! First I had my day ruined, now my car too."

I flinched at his harsh words, guilt clawing at my throat as I struggled to find the words to defend myself. But before I could speak we heard the sound of some footsteps approaching.

Dev ji grabbed my arm, pulling me aside as he scanned the area for any sign of danger.

"We need to hide," he muttered, his voice urgent as he dragged me further away from the car.

And as we crouched behind a nearby bush, the tension between us hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with its intensity. I couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, the proximity to Dev ji feeling foreign and unfamiliar.

With each passing moment, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, the fear clawing at my throat like a relentless predator. I shifted uneasily, the rustling of leaves beneath me echoing in the silence as we waited, our breaths held in anticipation.

"Vaiga.." Dev ji's whisper against my ears startled me.

A/N

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Love,

SF❤️