OH OVERWHELMING LOVE!

✨CHAPTER 25✨

“It’s not about finding someone you can live with. It’s about finding someone you can’t imagine living without........................”

Shubhita woke up feeling a mix of surprise and discomfort. The rain was still pouring heavily outside, its relentless drumming against the window a constant reminder of the stormy night. The temperature in the room was noticeably cooler than usual, making her shiver slightly as she stirred awake.

The unexpected reality of the morning was a jolt to her senses. Her eyes flew open widely.

Vatsal was lying beside her, his arm draped lazily over her upper abdomen. His deep, rhythmic breathing was warm against her neck, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. She lay motionless, acutely aware of the closeness between them. Any small movement from her side could potentially put them in an awkward position, and she was keenly aware of his arm resting protectively around her.

The single blanket, stretched across the two mattresses that had been pushed together to form a makeshift double bed, was barely adequate for their combined bodies. Shubhita had been struggling with cramps all night, and she hadn’t noticed how she had drifted into a deep sleep after watching the faint light of dawn. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t realized Vatsal had slipped under the blanket with her.

Her mind was a swirl of confusion, torn between irritation and an unfamiliar comfort.

She cautiously angled her face to look at him, her lips parting slightly as she took in the sight. Vatsal’s dark, tousled hair was splayed across his forehead, and for a moment, he looked different—something that stirred a confusing blend of affection and longing within her. His thick eyelashes fluttered with each breath, casting gentle shadows over his cheeks. She noted with a hint of sarcasm that he didn’t need mascara, unlike her.

“Typical,” she mused internally, “a guy with such nice eyelashes, while I have to struggle with mine. If only life was fair!” She found herself smiling despite her irritation.

He didn’t look just cute or handsome—he had an endearing vulnerability that made her want to press her lips against his cheeks. His peaceful expression was a far cry from the irritation he had caused her the previous day.

Her gaze traveled down to his mouth and throat, and she felt her lips dry out. A deep, inexplicable yearning settled in her chest—a longing she couldn’t quite define. Just yesterday, she had been so annoyed with him, unable to tolerate his presence. Yet here she was, lying close to him, wishing she could stay like this forever.

There was a longing she didn’t quite understand stirring within her. Yesterday, she had been so frustrated with his insensitive comments about her profession. It seemed he had a knack for picking at her vulnerabilities—comments she hadn’t appreciated and felt were uncalled for, given that he had never seen the effort she put into her job or contributed to her struggles.

Her mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. “Why am I feeling this way? Yesterday, I was ready to kick him out, and today, I’m practically snuggling into him. Hormones must be playing tricks on me,” she reasoned, shaking her head internally.

Her irritation from the previous day still simmered. Vatsal’s careless remarks about her profession had been downright hurtful. He had no right to belittle her hard work, especially when he didn’t understand the effort she put into her job. “Useless comments from someone who doesn’t even see the value in what I do. Idiot,” she thought bitterly.

Despite her frustration, she couldn’t ignore the caring side he’d shown, even if it was awkward and misguided. It made her feel conflicted—annoyed yet appreciative. She was struggling with the realization that she had been perhaps too harsh on him. He had his moments of thoughtlessness, but there was a sensitivity in him that couldn’t be denied. It was as if her irritation was colliding with an unexpected tenderness. “Why does he have to be both annoying and caring? Why is he so insistent on occupying my thoughts?” she wondered.