"𝑯𝒊𝒔 Bindani "

16. His protector 🦋

Happy reading ✨

As he stepped into the palace, his strides were firm and purposeful. The corridors echoed with his footsteps as he headed straight for Siya's room-the one she had claimed as her own, like a force that couldn't be reckoned with. He knew what lay behind that door, knew the challenge that awaited him. And yet, even as a man who had faced countless adversities, he was unprepared for the sight that greeted him.

She lay there, fragile and unconscious, her breaths soft but steady. His heart clenched in ways he didn't expect. He had always seen himself as a man immune to such vulnerabilities, but seeing her like this... it shook him.

He lowered himself onto the bed beside her, moving with a gentle care that felt foreign to him. His hand reached out, tracing a delicate line across her cheek, hoping, almost pleading, for her to wake up. His other hand was busy dialing the doctor's number, the urgency bubbling inside him as he considered her frail state. She wasn't fully recovered, and he knew one misstep could worsen things. He couldn't afford to take any chances with her health.

Just as his thumb hovered over the call button, he felt a soft touch-a warmth encircling his wrist. His heart skipped a beat as he looked down to see Siya's fingers wrapping around him, delicate but intentional. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and in that moment, he realized she was awake. And more than that, she was okay.

The weight that had settled over his chest lifted slightly. A silent conversation passed between them through the mere exchange of a touch.

"Sukar hai, rani sa, aap thik hai... aapne to humein dara hi diya tha" (Thank goodness, my queen, you are okay... you had really scared me), the words escaped his lips before he could control them. He hadn't meant to let that vulnerability show, hadn't meant to reveal how deeply her condition had affected him. But the relief of seeing her fully awake, her eyes consciously meeting his, had broken down his carefully built walls. A part of him immediately regretted it, thinking it might have been a mistake to show such emotion. Yet his face betrayed him, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, silently conveying that everything was finally okay.

She said nothing at first, simply watching him, still holding onto his wrist as if grounding herself through his touch. Slowly, she began to sit up, folding her legs under her and shifting her weight onto the headboard for support. Instinctively, he moved to steady her, his hand halfway to her shoulder before she managed to do it herself, her strength surprising him yet again.

When she was settled, she looked him straight in the eye, her gaze piercing through the silence between them. Her voice was steady, firm, and yet filled with unspoken questions as she asked, "Kyun kiya?" (Why did you do it?)

The simplicity of her words struck him, but it was the depth behind them that left him momentarily speechless. It wasn't just a question-it was a challenge, an invitation to explain actions that even he hadn't fully come to terms with yet.

He looked at her with questions in his eyes, as if silently asking, "Kya? Kyun kiya?" (What? Why did you do it?)

She offered him a faint smile, but the small gesture only deepened his confusion. Her expressions, her actions-they seemed to hold meanings he couldn't grasp.

With a slow roll of her eyes, she began to speak, "Bh..." Her voice faltered, and she hesitated. The word "bhai" (brother) lingered on her lips, but it hurt her too much to say it. How could she call him *bhai*, the man who had tried to kill her, sell her, and destroy everything she held dear?

Despite the pain, she managed to softly say, "Bhai ke saath kyun kiya?" (Why did you do it with my brother?) Her tone was soft, but the question carried the weight of a final plea-perhaps the last time she would ever speak of him. Her face revealed the deep hurt her brother had caused, so much so that even mentioning him brought a fresh wave of agony. She had been betrayed by someone she once trusted, and now, even speaking of him tore her apart.