OH OVERWHELMING LOVE!

✨CHAPTER 24✨

"What you want is someone to take hold of you. Gently, gently, with love......................."

Vatsal followed Shubhita into the kitchen, bracing himself for the sight of her tears and the heaviness of the moment.

To his surprise, she was calmly reheating the food, her tears wiped away, leaving only a hint of moistness around her eyes. Her composure was unexpected, a display of resilience that caught him off guard.

“Shubhita,” he called softly, hoping to catch her attention. “Look at me.”

She didn’t respond, her focus entirely on the stove. “Please,” he added, his voice tinged with desperation.

Finally, she turned to face him, her expression a mask of guarded emotion. “I’m in no mood to talk right now,” she said firmly.

“I know,” Vatsal replied quietly, acknowledging her need for space. Shubhita handed him a plate, her movements deliberate. “Have food. Don’t let it get cold this time.”

He sighed, accepting the plate with a nod. They sat down at the table, the silence between them heavy and unyielding. Unlike their usual meals, where Shubhita’s playful comments and laughter would fill the air, this dinner was marked by an uneasy quiet. Shubhita ate with a steady, almost mechanical focus, while Vatsal’s gaze frequently flicked toward her, trying to gauge her mood and hoping for some sign of the warmth and lightness she usually brought to their interactions.

He seemed to miss the subtle way her lips would curl into a faint smile at moments, even though she didn’t speak. But now was a stark contrast to the vibrant conversations and laughter they typically shared.

Vatsal’s heart ached at the sight, knowing he had contributed to the distance between them.

Despite the quiet, he was determined to respect her boundaries, and he focused on his meal, trying to hide his frustration from the day and guilt from his mistake.

Every now and then, he would glance up, finding solace in the simple act of sharing a meal, even in silence.

As they ate in silence, the first drops of rain began to patter against the windowpane, adding a sombre backdrop to their meal. The rhythmic sound of the rain seemed to echo the unspoken emotions between them.

Shubhita stood up, walked to the window, and carefully closed it to prevent water from seeping in. The cream maroon curtains with golden leaves printed on them fluttered slightly as she adjusted them.

The rain outside had turned into a downpour, the water cascading down the windows and creating a mesmerizing pattern. The sound of the rain was a gentle reminder of the world outside their immediate struggles.

She then suddenly hurried toward the open ventilation area. The rain had started pouring heavily, and she realized the clothes she had hung out to dry were at risk of getting soaked.

The rain now pouring down in relentless sheets. Her initial focus was on the clothes she had hung out to dry, now at risk of being thoroughly soaked. The sound of the rain grew louder as she neared the open space, and she worked quickly, gathering the drenched garments with swift, practiced movements. The damp fabric clung to her hands, but she remained undeterred, her determination evident in her brisk pace.

She returned to spread the wet clothes across door handles and door frames, trying to minimize the mess and ensure they would dry properly. Then, she took a small rope and tied it from the windowsill to a nail in the kitchen, creating a makeshift clothesline. Hanging the clothes with careful precision, she used the space efficiently, even improvising with clips to keep the clothes from falling.