I Found You

34.

• Adhira •

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes widening each passing second as I noticed the red mark on my jawline, then my collarbone.

And even on the swell of my breast
peeking out from my deep-necked kurti.

All thanks to the artist—my husband—that
I would have to spend another fifteen minutes covering them up. Fuck it.

It wasn't that I hated doing makeup, the problem lays with my sensitive skin, which would invariably break out even with the slightest touch of makeup.

Clad in a sleeveless magenta-colored kurti and white wide-leg jeans, hair left to air dry, with minimal makeup on my face, I still looked ugly with my sulking expression.

After the things which have went a little far in the morning, the first thing I had done was check my phone.

But all I found was disappointment upon seeing no birthday wishes. What stung the most was the absence of calls from my father and brother, to wish me at 12 and still hadn't done so.

Wasn't it their thing to wish each other at 12 before anyone else? How could they do this to me?

I missed them hard. Since the trip, we hadn't exchanged a single word. Should I call them and ask if everything's alright?

Before I could decide, something cold touched my neck, before resting on my chest.

Meeting his eyes through the mirror, I watched as he fastened a thin gold chain around my neck, a small pendant of the letter 'V' dangling from it.

Looking closely at the familiar chain, I could recall seeing him wear it on the day of our engagement and then on our wedding day.

After that, I hadn't noticed it around his neck, except for the one he wore daily, the one my father had gifted him. He hasn't taken it off since our engagement.

I turned around, my eyes locking onto his. "Yeh," My fingers brushing the delicate V of the chain.

"This belonged to my mother," He told,
his voice carrying a soft reverence.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips as he continued, "It's the most precious thing I can gift to you."

My heart fluttered as my fingers tightened around the chain. "I'm sorry, but I can't, accept it," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion. "I have no right on this. It belongs to you and only you."

He reached out, his touch gentle as he cupped my cheek. "Adhira, this has been with me for seventeen years,"

"It's been a part of my most cherished moments. But now, I want you to have it. Consider it a blessing from my mother to you." He said softly.

I engulfed him in a hug, my arms wrapping tightly around his waist, finding solace in the warmth of his embrace.

Pressing my cheek against his bare chest, I whispered, "She must be so proud of you, and of herself for raising such a gentleman."

His arms encircled me, his touch tender as his fingers trailed through my hair. "Are you?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.

"I am," my response was quick without
any hesitation.

Vikram Vashishth was everything a woman would want in a partner. He was more than a gentleman, he was an embodiment of kindness, protection, care, and love—a true angel in a world of darkness.

But on the other hand, I was a complex tapestry of broken pieces, haunted by past traumas and a heart that had lost faith in the word love.

"Don't you think you're trusting me so much?" The words escaped my lips before
I could stop them.