Her Love

Heart to Heart

He wasn't blind. He saw the love in her eyes for him. He observed how she took care of him silently. Of course, he knew; she had confessed, after all.

6 months ago

Flashback

Raghav's POV

I can't believe I just got married. I didn't want to. Not to anyone but her. But here I am. Married to someone else. It's not that Jaanki was a bad woman, but she wasn't the one I wanted. I looked out the window of the car that was taking me and my newlywed bride home. I was in my suit that I wear to work and she was sitting in a chudidaar. Of course, they are not the best attire to get married in, but one can do only so much when you get married at 30 minutes notice.

"Suniye" I heard, I turned to my side to see Jaanki looking at me. "Who, thoda paani pass karenge?" she asked. I reached for the water bottle beside me in the car and gave it to her. "Aap iss shaadi se khush hai?" she asked me looking down, playing with her fingers. "Dekho Jaanki, main tumse kuch chupana nhi chahta. Main kisi aur se pyaar karta hu. Woh alag baat hai ki that love story didn't work. Par main abhi bhula nhi use. Main abhi ready nhi tha shaadi keliye." I said looking at her. She was looking at me intently, waiting for me to continue. So I did. "Par ab hamari shaadi ho chuki hai. Aur main iss rishtey ki bohot izzat karta hu. Main is rishtey ko man se nibhaunga. Tumhe izzat doonga aur khyal rakhunga. Par pyaar? Uska vaada main nhi kar sakta tumse. Par itna keh sakta hu ki hameesha loyal rahunga. Main bohot izzat karta hu tumhari." I ended.

("Excuse me" "Can you pass me the water?" "Are you happy with this marriage?" "See Jaanki, I don't want to hide anything from you. I'm in love with someone else. That love didn't work out. But I haven't forgotten her. I wasn't ready for marriage yet." ("But our marriage did happen. I'll fulfill my duties in this relationship wholeheartedly. I'll respect and take care of you. But love? I'm not sure I can promise you that. But I can assure you I'll always be faithful to you. I respect you immensely.")

She looked at me for a while and cracked a small smile. I was stunned. How did this woman smile after what I just said? Before I could ask her, she said, "Aap mujhe who sab dene ka waada kar rahe ha jiss sab ki mujhe ummed thi. Izzat aur loyalty. Pyaar ke bina mein reh loongi par izzat aur wafadaari ke bina nhi. Mujhe aap bas yeh rishta nhi balki ek parivaar de rahe hai jo mere paas kabhi tha hi nhi. Mein bhi aapse waada karti hu ki main aapke parivar ka khayal rakhungi aur aapka bhi. Rahi baat pyaar ki toh main aapse pyaar karlungi." I was stunned at what she said. "Main aapko yeh sab kuch expect karke nhi bata rahi hu. Balki isliye kyuki mujhe apna man jaahir karna hai. Aapne mujhe itni sacchai se sab kuch battaya jab ki aap chupa bhi sakte the. Main aapki honestly ki kadr karti hu. Isliye main bhi apko sab sach sach bataana chahti hu. Mera pyaar hum dono keliye kaafi hai. Aur main aaj ke baad yeh baat phirse nhi karungi kyuki aap uncomfortable lag rahe hai. Par, I'll always respect and take care of both you and your family," she finished. I looked at her for a while, stunned, and let out a small smile. "Just one correction, not my family, our family," I said. Her lips curved upwards slightly, and she looked out the window. Maybe this marriage isn't that bad of a thing after all.

("You've promised to give me everything that I've always wanted. Love and loyalty. I can live without love but not without respect and loyalty. You're not just giving me this relationship, but also a family which I never had. I'll always take care of you and your family; I promise you that. And about love, I'll love you." "I'm not telling you all this because I expect something from you. But because I want to tell you my truth, from my heart. You could have kept quiet, but you chose to tell me everything honestly. I respect your honesty. That is why I want to tell you everything truthfully. My love will be enough for both of us. I won't bring this topic up after today; you seem a bit uncomfortable."

~End of Flashback~

"Chalein?" I heard my wife's voice, and that broke me out of my trance. "Haan chalo." I replied, leaving to wash my hands. "Arjun chal jaldi kar nikalna hai" I heard Jaanki say, "Nhi Bhabhi aaj mein aapke saath nhi chal raha, bhai ne mujhe aur Sakshi ko Rajvansh Tech jaane ko kaha hai. Aaj bhai nhi honge na waha." Arjun replied. Jaanki made an Oo sound and nodded while collecting her office bag and lunch. I did the same and placed my hand on her slender waist, ushering her towards the car. "Thik se kaam karna dono. Agar mujhe pata chala kit um dono ne office mein ladaai ki toh dekh lena" I warned as we proceeded towards the car. She slipped into the car first, and I held the door for her and sat on the other side.

("Let's go?" "Yeah, let's go." "Arjun, hurry up. We have to leave." "No Bhabhi, I'm not coming with you today. Bhai has asked Sakshi and I to go to Rajvansh Tech. Bhai won't be there today right." "Both of you work well." "I won't let it go I get to know you bith foight at work.")

I looked at her as she was busy on her phone. "Itna nervous kyu ho rahi ho?" I asked. She looked up at me and said, "Abhi Maharaj ke saamne galti thodi hone de sakti hu," a smirk playing on her lips. I shook my head with a smile and took her phone out of her hands, saying, "Rani sahib kabhi galti kar sakti hai?" She looked at me with an amused expression. "It's okay, hum dono sambhal lenge," I continued. She gave me a soft smile and nodded.

("Why do you look so nervous?" "I can't make a mistake in front of the Maharaj, can I?" "Can Rani sahib ever make a mistake?" "It's okay, both of us will handle it together.")