Chronicles Of My Darling Husband | ✓

144. Peeda (Part 4)

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"Wifey, come on, you are getting late!"

Jagdish shoved his foot into his sock, a grimace twisting his features as he fumbled with the fabric. A glance at his wristwatch sent another jolt of panic through him.

The day of Nishita's exam, the day that had been haunting his dreams for weeks, had finally arrived. His lovely wife had been in overdrive studying for the past month, her anxiety a thick, suffocating fog that permeated their entire household. He'd barely slept, work a distant echo in his mind. He'd even taken two precious vacation days, all in an attempt to be a pillar of support for his wife.

Indira had arrived a week ago, a lifeline Jagdish hadn't even known he needed. He never knew Indira possessed an uncanny ability to soothe her daughter's volatile moods. It was true. Neelesh had been exactly true about his suggestion. In the past few weeks, he had seen Nishita transform into a stranger, snapping at him over every minor inconvenience. Subhadra's tantrum training had gone out the window the other day when Nishita had hurled her dinner across the room, all because there was a hint of garlic in the curry. Garlic! Her favorite garlic.

Jagdish suspected it was a combination of pregnancy hormones and the looming exam that had Nishita on edge. Indira's arrival had been nothing but a blessing. He could finally breathe again, although navigating around Nishita felt like a minefield. Her sudden glares could curdle milk, and he, unsure of how to help, had retreated into a shell of silence.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Nishita emerged, her face a mask of fury. "Yes, I am enjoying being in that bathroom, right?" she spat, her voice tight. "Stuck there, puking up my breakfast."

Jagdish sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Love, you're going to be late for your exam," he said gently, stealing another glance at his watch. He straightened, trying to project a sense of calm. "If you're feeling up to it should we get going?"

Nishita shot him a look that could burn him to ashes and stormed past him, slamming the bedroom door with a bone-jarring thud. Her voice, laced with annoyance, reverberated through the stairwell, "Maa! Where'd you put my water bottle?"

Jagdish shook his head, a defeated sigh escaping his lips. He trailed after his wife... Well, hopefully after this exam was done he could rest properly.

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Knowing she needed quiet to revise the chapters that... well, something he couldn't understand, Jagdish kept the car silent, almost afraid to breathe too loudly. A stolen glance to the side revealed her muttering under her breath, her lips moving like a secret dance of words. It brought a soft, amused smile to his lips, marveling at her focused intensity. Glancing at his watch, he saw with contentment that they were perfectly on schedule.

Unable to resist the urge for music any longer, he began whistling tunes from one of his favorite Raagas, Darbari. The deep, resonant notes filled the car, echoing off the windows and blending with the quiet hum of the engine. It was a perfect Raaga for the moment, with its haunting melodies and shifting moods, perfectly mirroring his own emotional landscape, capturing the complexity of his thoughts in a way words couldn't express.

"Please, keep quiet," Nishita muttered.

He shut his mouth immediately.

A jolt of unease shot through him as his eyes darted to the side mirror, catching a menacing black Bolero Jeep following them closely. Ignoring Nishita's irritated hiss as he leaned in, his fingers flew open the glove compartment, searching frantically. Relief flooded him as they met the cold metal of the hidden gun. He gripped it firmly, the weight a source of sudden comfort.

The sight of the gun froze Nishita. Her notebook sank to her lap as she demanded, "Why do you have a gun?"

Jagdish's reply came out rather stern, his gaze fixed on the rearview mirror like a hawk. "I always carry it with me," he muttered, keeping tabs on the Jeep. Four sharp turns later, the stalker remained glued to their tail, solidifying his dread.

Fucking hell, not today!

Grabbing his phone, he texted Chandrakant about his location, the only person he could trust at that moment.

"Jagdish?" Her voice trembled with concern as she observed his grave expression. "What's wrong?"

"I'll find a busy spot to drop you off. You can hail a taxi from there an—"

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A/N

Please don't curse me for the cliffhanger.

"Ranjha Ranjha" for this chapter.

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