ISHQ-E-MOHABBAT

27. Her family would pay!

I

wrapped my arms around Abhimaan's waist, clinging to him as if I had finally found my safe haven. My face buried in his chest, I could feel the steady rhythm of his heart, the warmth of his body radiating into mine. I couldn't help it-I needed this.

Abhimaan stiffened in surprise, his voice laced with confusion as he whispered, "Mayura?"

But I didn't answer. I just held on tighter, breathing in his scent-an intoxicating mix of rain and earth, strength and protection.

Slowly, his arms circled around me, his hold firm yet tender. He began to stroke my hair, his touch gentle and soothing. A wave of peace washed over me, and for a moment, everything else melted away.

"Jaana , are you okay?" he asked again, his voice tinged with concern.

I shook my head, refusing to pull away from the safety of his embrace. I couldn't put into words the overwhelming sense of security I felt in his arms. All I knew was that I needed him-desperately.

He held me for what felt like an eternity, his body swaying slightly as though he was rocking me to sleep. And then, as if he understood everything I couldn't say, he whispered, "You're home, Mayura. You're finally home."

The rain intensified, and reluctantly, I pulled back, my face still warm from the closeness of his body. "It's getting late," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm feeling a bit cold."

Concern flickered in his eyes. "Let's go home, jaana," he said softly.

I nodded, attempting to slide off the bonnet of the car, but before I could, Abhimaan scooped me up into his arms. A surprised laugh escaped my lips as he effortlessly carried me towards the car, ignoring my half-hearted protests.

"Abhimaan, put me down!" I giggled, but he only smiled, the warmth in his eyes making my heart flutter.

He opened the car door and gently set me down in the seat, his hands lingering at my waist. Our eyes met, and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

"Get comfortable, jaana," he said, his voice low and husky. "We'll be home soon."

As he closed the door, I settled into the seat, a profound sense of safety enveloping me. I knew I was in good hands with Abhimaan, and the thought filled me with warmth.

The drive home was quiet, the only sound the rhythmic beat of the windshield wipers. I could feel the tension in Abhimaan, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. But he remained silent, not wanting to scare me further.

When we arrived home, we went our separate ways to unwind. I sank into the soothing warmth of a bath, but my mind was still racing with thoughts of my family's behavior.

Dinner was a silent affair. Abhimaan's eyes would meet mine occasionally, his gaze soft and reassuring despite the storm brewing within him. I knew he was holding back his fury, not wanting to scare me, and I appreciated his restraint.

After we finished, Abhimaan reached for my hand, his touch warm and comforting. "Let's go to bed, Mayura," he said gently. "We'll deal with everything else in the morning."

I nodded . We walked to our room, the silence between us no longer uncomfortable like first days of our marriage , but filled with unspoken understanding and support.

As I lay beside Mayura, I watched her drift into sleep, the exhaustion evident in the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Her beauty was undeniable, even in slumber-so delicate, so refined, she looked like a masterpiece crafted by the divine.

Without thinking, I reached out, my fingers brushing through her soft hair. The sensation of her silky strands against my skin was a balm to the turmoil within me. I couldn't resist her; I was drawn to her, my desire intensifying with every passing second.

As I caressed her, a calmness settled over me, a peace I always felt being with her . It was as if Mayura's presence had quieted the savage beast inside me, soothing the demons that had haunted me for so long. I leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She didn't stir, lost in her dreams. I smiled, feeling a tenderness I hadn't known I was capable of.

But as much as I wanted to stay by her side, my emotions were too raw, too intense. I needed to step away, to quell the storm brewing inside me. I slipped out of bed silently and made my way to the balcony. The cool night air hit me like a shock, jolting me back to reality. I took a deep breath and reached for the whiskey bottle, needing something to dull the ache in my chest, the ache Mayura had awakened.

The liquor burned its way down my throat, a fiery trail that left me feeling numb. I welcomed the sensation, knowing it would blunt the edges of my anger. As I stood there, staring at the city lights twinkling below, I realized I was in deep trouble. I was falling for Mayura-hard and fast. And I didn't know how to stop it. Maybe I didn't even want to stop it.

I took another swig of whiskey, my mind seething with anger. I was furious with Mayura's family-the way they had treated her all these years was unforgivable. They had suffocated her, controlled her, manipulated her. And now, they had the audacity to try and force her into a marriage she didn't want.

But now I had married her, and now she was mine. I would do everything in my power to protect her, to make her happy. But my anger towards her family still boiled inside me. They had to pay for every tear they had made her shed, for every moment of pain they had caused her. I thought of her father, his smug face, his condescending tone. I thought of her mother, cold and calculating. I vowed they would regret the day they ever hurt Mayura.

But they wouldn't be the only ones to face my wrath. I remembered the boys, so-called friends of her brother, who had dared to make vile comments about her, disrespecting her in ways I couldn't forgive. They had mocked her, humiliated her, and I had seen the pain it caused her, even if she tried to hide it. They, too, would pay.

My hand tightened around the whiskey bottle, now empty. But the fire inside me was far from quenched. It blazed with a fury that wouldn't be extinguished until every last one of them had paid for their sins against my Jaana.

With my resolve hardened, I turned and walked back into the bedroom. I glanced at Mayura, sleeping peacefully, unaware of the storm brewing within me. I would make her family, and those boys, regret ever hurting her.

They would learn the hard way that no one, absolutely no one, messes with what's mine.