𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐰𝐢

"7. Trust and Tears"

"Ek arsa ho gaya mujhe muskuraye
Kuch waqt hua tujhe meri zindagi me aaye
Ek hulchul si uthti hai mere bheetar
Ek kashish so hoti hai mere andar
Jab jab Tera chehra naraz aaye"

-fictionflare_

After some time, Rudraksh stepped out of the washroom, his expression calm but his mind preoccupied. He spotted Ruhanika still on the bed, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, clearly reflecting her lingering distress over the events of the previous night. Rudraksh's heart sank at the sight of her crying; he hated seeing her in pain. It troubled him deeply, especially because he couldn’t understand why she trusted him so much despite everything. Dressed casually in a black shirt and white pants, Rudraksh tossed the towel onto the couch and moved towards her. His footsteps were slow and deliberate, his gaze fixed on her tear-streaked face. She quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her tears, but Rudraksh could see right through her attempt to mask her emotions. He knew she was struggling to keep her feelings hidden, and it tugged at something deep inside him. Gently, he placed his hand on her head, his touch meant to be reassuring, yet she still didn’t look up. Whenever she looked at him, it stirred something in his heart—a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite comprehend. But now, even her refusal to meet his gaze was unsettling for him. He found himself caught between wanting to see her eyes again and respecting her space. Despite his inner turmoil, he chose not to force her, understanding that she needed time and space to process her emotions.

Rudraksh: "Chalo niche chalte hai, doctors aane wale honge, tumhare check up ke liye."
(Come on, let's go downstairs. The doctors will be here soon for your check-up.)

Ruhanika: "Vo k..al waali lad..kiya ph..ir aayengi??"
(Will those g...girls from y...yesterday come a...again?)

Rudraksh: "Haa par tum daro mat, main rahunga tumhare sath, thik hai??"
(Yes, but don't worry. I'll be with you, okay?)

Ruhanika wasn't entirely sure of herself, but she nodded her head anyway, trying to muster some courage. She shifted slightly, preparing to step down from the bed, but before she could make a move, Rudraksh firmly placed his hand on her uninjured shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. His grip was gentle but firm, conveying his concern. He gave her a stern look, his eyes narrowing in disapproval, clearly warning her not to push herself too much. His glare was enough to make her pause and reconsider her actions.

Rudraksh: "Pairon me chot lagi hai toh kyu niche utar Rahi ho?? Main hu na yaha bol do mujhe."
(Why are you trying to step down with an injured leg? I'm right here; just tell me.)

Ruhanika lowered her head, clearly affected by Rudraksh's tone. The moment he saw her reaction, Rudraksh immediately regretted his sternness. He cursed himself mentally for speaking so harshly, especially when he knew how fragile she was feeling. He didn’t mean to be so brusque; he was just worried about her overexerting herself.

Rudraksh: "Yaar tum dekho main aise hi baat karta hu toh bura mat lagaya Karo."
(Look, I talk like this, so don't get upset.)

Ruhanika looked at Rudraksh, her eyes searching his face as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. As her gaze lingered on him, Rudraksh felt that familiar flutter in his chest—an inexplicable sensation that he had been feeling around her. His heart seemed to skip a beat, caught in a moment that felt both heavy and tender. He mentally shook himself, trying to regain his composure and dismiss the erratic feelings that were threatening to overwhelm him. Still, he couldn’t ignore the intensity in her eyes. There was something she needed to express, something she was holding back.