is this love?

Chapter 8 - Love beyond first sight

What is love?According to Google, "Love is an intense, deep affection for another person." For some, love is expressed through words; for others, it's shown through actions like eye contact, hugs, kisses, respect, and concern. Sometimes, love is a deep longing, a pain in the heart that leaves a scar. Because love is so complex, we often confuse it with mere liking, leaving us to wonder, "Is this love?"Shraddha and Rudra's Story Shraddha struggled to understand the care and sympathy behind Rudra's actions. 

In her heart, she felt love but also the heavy truth that Rudra couldn't move on from Kavya. Looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes filled with tears, yet her lips smirked with joy. 

Rudra was her first love, the first man to capture her attention. However, knowing she wasn't his first love weighed heavily on her heart. Feeling weak and confused, Shraddha developed a fever and fell asleep in Rudra's bed. Rudra entered the room quietly and changed into casual clothes. Seeing her unwell, he panicked and called out to her."Shraddha!"There was no response. 

He moved closer and touched her head, finding it burning with fever while her neck and hands were cold. His touch roused Shraddha, and she opened her eyes."I am sorry, Rudra. I was a little tired, so I slept in your bed," she said, trying to move.Rudra gently pulled her hand, keeping her close to his chest. "Shhh... You talk too much," he said."Please, don't speak today, at least not now. My head is aching; I can't tolerate the pain," she pleaded."Come here," Rudra said, pulling her even closer until there was no space between them.

 He took a balm and gently applied it to her forehead, sides of her head, and neck, massaging it gently. Shraddha felt the pain slowly subside, her head feeling less tortured and more at ease because of Rudra's soothing touch. It felt so relieving, like being in heaven. 

She laid back in his arms and fell asleep again.Rudra continued to caress her hair, not wanting her to move. He wanted her to stay close to him. He didn't move an inch, and after a while, Shraddha woke up, finding herself still on Rudra's chest. He had almost fallen asleep in that position, holding her close. 

In that moment, despite the confusion and lingering pain, Shraddha felt a profound sense of love and comfort. Rudra's care and presence made her heart light, offering her the solace and reassurance that she needed.

Rudra, keeping her in his arms, felt like the whole world was near him. He thought to himself that he could finally believe in someone beyond his family. "This girl... I don't know why she married me, but from the day she came into my life until now, she has been kind and spreading positive vibes in the house."---**A Jealous Heart**Rudra sighed, "This feeling of keeping a girl near only to me, I'm even getting jealous of Guru. I really don't know what I'm doing." He slowly lifted her from his chest and put her on the bed. He adjusted her saree and tucked her hair behind her ear. "You changed," he whispered playfully. 

He smirked and went to the washroom. Again, he saw himself in the mirror."She said no, so stop fantasizing. Maybe you adore her... ugh, this is tough." Rudra grinned at his situation. He took a deep breath, changed his clothes, and slept next to her.

 Rudra was sleeping peacefully, enjoying the feeling of holding her close, the gentle breeze, and an early 90s Rahman song in his earphones making him feel surreal. He faced her side, a smile tattooed on his face. 

Slowly, he fell asleep.'Thop', a soft weight on his chest... yes, it was none other than Shraddha. In a deep sleep, she dropped her right hand on him and kept her left on her head. Rudra could feel the butterflies in his stomach. Yet, to respect the boundaries, he slowly removed her hand from his chest.

Slowly lifting it above his chest, making sure she didn't wake up, he was about to place it on her body when she shook it and placed it back on his chest. This time, she was even closer because it wasn't only her hand; one leg was on his thigh. She came even closer, where Rudra could feel her breath because she was lying in his arms, and he was sleeping while hugging her. So now, technically, she was in his arms. He smirked shyly and didn't move an inch, letting her sleep her way.