ECHOES OF THE BURNT GROVES

Chapter 1: The Beginnings

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The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. 

Shubman stirred under the cozy blanket, his arm instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed. His hand met with nothing but cool sheets, and he frowned, eyes still closed.

"Sharu?" he mumbled, half-asleep, before forcing his eyes open. He found her standing by the window, wrapped in one of his oversized hoodies, looking out at the bustling city below.

 A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he took in the sight of her, effortlessly beautiful, even in the simplest of moments.

"Can you please stop stealing my hoodies?" Shubman asked, his voice still husky with sleep.

Sharvari turned to face him, a playful glint in her eyes. "No. They look better on me."

He chuckled, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. "That's agreeable, but I'll let it slide."

She sauntered over to the bed, her bare feet making no sound on the floor. "Because you love me too much to argue?" she teased, leaning down to peck him on the lips.

"Maybe," he murmured against her lips, pulling her closer. "Or because you look so adorable in them."

She laughed, the sound light and melodic, filling the room with warmth. Shubman loved her laugh.

 It was the kind that made everything else fade into the background, leaving just the two of them in their little bubble.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her stomach as he looked up at her, his eyes filled with adoration.

"You're too sweet, you know that?" Sharvari said, running her fingers through his hair. "I might just get cavities."

"And you're too smart for your own good," he shot back, smirking. She shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face. "Someone's got to keep you alert."

He loved that about her—her sharp wit, her quick comebacks, the way she never missed a beat.

 Sharvari had a way of making him feel alive, of challenging him in the best possible way. He often found himself lovesick, completely smitten with the girl who had turned his world upside down.

As she pulled away to head to the kitchen, Shubman caught her wrist, gently tugging her back to him. "Not so fast," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

She raised an eyebrow. "What is it now, Mr. Gill?"

"Just wanted to remind you," he said, pulling her down onto the bed beside him, "that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Her teasing demeanor softened as she gazed at him, her eyes reflecting the depth of her feelings. "You're not so bad yourself," she replied, her voice quiet and sincere.

Sharvari had moved in with Shubman a year ago, leaving behind a toxic household that had drained her energy. 

It was a decision that hadn't come easy; the guilt of abandoning her family, even though only Vedika had truly loved her, weighed heavily on her heart.

 Shubman could see it in the way she hesitated before fully settling into their home, the way she sometimes seemed lost in thought, battling the shadows of her past.

He had never pushed her to talk about it, knowing she needed time to come to terms with it on her own.

 But he made sure she knew he was there for her, that this was her home now, with him. He had vowed to fill her life with so much love and happiness that the past would no longer haunt her.