"𝑯𝒊𝒔 Bindani "

13. holding hands ✨

Happy reading ji 🎉

He leaned in, his voice soft with concern,"Ab aapke pairo meh dard to nhi?"(“Your feet aren’t hurting, are they?”)His question hung in the air as he gently took both of our plates. I tried to insist, to tell him he didn’t have to, but as always, he wouldn’t hear it.

“Sachme, yeh kisi bachche ki tarah hai,”(“Honestly, he’s just like a child,”)I mused silently, watching him move around the room. He was a whirlwind of contradictions—sometimes angry, sometimes caring, sometimes pretending, and sometimes honest to a fault. There were moments when he seemed so close, like he was right there with me, yet at the same time, there was this distance between us, like a mystery I couldn’t quite unravel.

He called the nurses and staff to clear up, and while they busied themselves with that, he turned his attention to my medicine box. He meticulously sorted through the pills, organizing them with a precision that always amazed me. Then, without missing a beat, he handed me the dreaded pills.

"Like yuck yrr kitni dawai khani padti hai,"(“Ugh, how many medicines do I have to take?”)I grumbled internally, making faces as I swallowed them down. I really hated taking them, but there was no escaping it. I could only imagine how ridiculous I looked, my expression a mix of disgust and resignation as I choked them down.

But as much as I disliked the pills, I couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through me, knowing he was there, taking care of everything, even the things I hated most.

"Magar Raja sa ke samne koi kuchh bol sakta hai kya..." (But who can say anything in front of the king…) The thought ran through my mind, laced with sarcasm, as I watched him move about the room with his usual air of authority.

After swallowing the bitter pills, I expected him to either leave for his office or settle down to work right in front of me. I was all set to drift back into my beauty sleep, but that plan quickly faded. Raja sa, as I liked to call him, had something else in mind. He came over to my side, his voice breaking through my thoughts, "Aapka pair thik hai na ab ji?" ("Your foot is okay now, right?")

I glanced down at my foot, which had been injured but was now well enough for me to walk on. "Ji," ("Yes,") I replied, my voice steady, though inside I was hoping he’d drop the subject.

Instead, he checked the time on his phone and said, "Aap ready ho jaye, hum aapka intezar kar rhe hai, bas thoda jaldi kijiye ga." ("Get ready, we’re waiting for you, just please hurry up.") With that, he left the room, leaving me to process the fact that my plans for more sleep had just been dashed.

I sighed, resigning myself to the fact that Raja sa’s schedule had, once again, taken precedence over my own.

"Aree... Btao to ji jana kaha h..." ("Hey... at least tell me where we're going...") I was thinking to myself, but before I could say anything, he had already left the room.

"Mr. Unknown!" I cried out in my mind, frustrated by his sudden departure.

With the help of the nurses, I stood up carefully. I asked them to just adjust my attire since I was already wearing a heavy Rajasthani libaz (traditional outfit), and I figured there was no need to change. Once they had ensured everything was in place, they helped me down the stairs.

I stood near a sofa and thanked them as they left. My eyes wandered around the room, taking in the space, when suddenly, I saw Raja sa walking in through the main entrance. He was dressed all in black... and *hot*—that was the only word that flashed through my mind. But I quickly composed myself, reminding myself of the situation and trying to keep my thoughts in check.