His Bleeding Rose

SCARS

I woke up to find him sitting in front of me, his gaze intense and unwavering. He was holding my hand like it was the last thing in the world keeping him grounded. His grip was firm yet gentle, as if letting go might break him.

My stomach twisted painfully, a sharp reminder of everything that had happened. The poison had been strong, no doubt, but my body and immunity were stronger. It always had been.

Niharika had changed my clothes and cleaned my body. I could only imagine what she had seen—whatever it was must have terrified her.

Now, I'm standing in the washroom, leaning over the sink as wave after wave of nausea overtakes me. Every few minutes, the pill I'd taken forces the poison out of my system. It's brutal, but it's working. I can feel the toxins leaving me, but with them, my strength is slipping away too.

I feel light now—almost too light—and unbearably weak. My legs tremble as I step under the shower, letting the water cascade over me. It washes away the remnants of this ordeal, the physical grime, but not the lingering ache in my chest.

After wrapping myself in layers of fabric, covering every inch of skin, I make my way to Niharika. I need to see her, to say something, though I'm not sure what yet.

As I entered the room, I saw her sitting on the bed, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling with unspoken words.

"Niti baby, what's wrong?" I asked gently, moving closer to her.

Her head shot up, and the look in her eyes sent a jolt through me. Fear. Doubt. Confusion.

"Who...who are you? What are you?" she stammered, her voice breaking.

I knelt beside her, trying to reach out. "I am your Rani," I said softly, touching her shoulder, but she recoiled, retreating from me as if my touch burned her. The rejection stung more than any wound I'd ever received.

"I...I saw your body. Those marks..." she choked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sat beside her, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. "So, seeing them, you think I'm not good enough? That I'm not attractive? That my body is ugly?" I asked, my voice steady but pained.

"No! That's not it," she cried. "But why is your body like this?"

I took a deep breath, leaning forward. "Your Rani has fought battles, Niharika. Battles that drained her physically, emotionally, and mentally. These aren't scars; they're trophies. They're the proof of my victories, the price I've paid to survive," I said, my tone unwavering.

"For the last time, I'm asking you today—who are you?" she demanded, her voice rising. "I've seen you disappear for months. I've seen you training with at least twenty men at a time. You're not normal! And don't you dare give me some lame excuse about your 'duty.' Your marks are not normal—they're too ugly, too brutal to look at. You...you're insane. I don't even know if it's safe for me to live with you."