INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 35

Don't forget to vote!!!!
.
.
.
.
Enjoy reading!!!!

_________

A few days after the wedding, the warmth of the celebrations still lingered in the air at Mehra Manor. Life had returned to its usual rhythm, but for Ananya, something had shifted. Ever since that night when Rihaan had declared his intention to "take care of her," his behavior had been noticeably different-more attentive, more protective, and definitely more adorable.

It started with the small things. That morning, Ananya was in the kitchen with Mrs. Mehra, discussing some household matters. Rihaan, who had recently taken his self-appointed role of "protector" seriously, had wandered in and found Ananya standing by the stove.

"Anya! Be careful!" Rihaan suddenly exclaimed, rushing over. His eyes were wide with concern. "You might burn yourself. I'll do it!"

Ananya laughed softly. "Rihaan, I'm just making tea. I do this every day."

"But what if the stove is too hot?" he said, stepping in front of her as if shielding her from some invisible danger.

Mrs. Mehra, standing nearby, smiled as she watched the interaction. "Rihaan has really taken his role seriously, hasn't he?"

Ananya gave a small chuckle, her eyes warm. "Yes, it seems he has."

Rihaan, oblivious to their amused expressions, carefully turned off the stove and then turned to Ananya. "See? Now you're safe, Anya."

"Thank you, Rihaan," she said, her smile genuine and a little amused at how serious he was. She placed her hand on his arm and guided him away from the stove. "But it's just tea. You don't have to worry so much."

"But I promised to take care of you!" Rihaan insisted, his face scrunched up in that adorable way that always made Ananya's heart melt a little. "And I always keep my promises!"

Mrs. Mehra, watching from the side, couldn't help but smile even more. She leaned over to Ananya and whispered, "You've got a guardian for life with this one."

Ananya glanced at her mother-in-law and grinned, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I know," she replied softly.

Throughout the day, Rihaan's protectiveness didn't waver. At lunch, when Ananya sat down to eat, Rihaan made sure she had everything she needed.

"Anya, did you drink water? You need to stay hydrated," he said, placing a glass in front of her.

Ananya stifled a laugh, nodding. "Yes, Rihaan, I've had water."

"And you have enough food, right?" He eyed her plate as if assessing whether it was enough to sustain her for the day.

"It's enough," she said, taking a bite, but her heart warmed at his concern.

Later, during a family gathering in the living room, where everyone was sharing stories and laughing, Rihaan suddenly noticed Ananya sitting by herself, slightly away from the rest of the group. Without hesitation, he crossed the room, plopped down beside her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a protective hug.

"Rihaan, what are you doing?" Ananya asked, surprised, though there was a smile on her face.

"You looked lonely, Anya. I'm here to keep you company," he said, his voice soft, his grip around her tightening as though ensuring she wouldn't feel left out.

Mr. Mehra, sitting across from them, raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Looks like our Ananya doesn't need to worry about anything with Rihaan around. He's her personal bodyguard now."

The entire family shared a laugh, and Ananya found herself blushing at the attention. But when she looked at Rihaan's innocent expression, her heart swelled with affection. He wasn't doing it for show-he was genuinely concerned about her.

"I'm fine, Rihaan. You don't have to worry about me all the time," she said, though her voice was gentle.

Rihaan shook his head, determined. "But I promised to take care of you. And that means I have to be with you, always."

Ananya couldn't argue with that logic. "Alright, alright," she said, patting his hand. "But you don't have to worry about me every second."

"Every second," Rihaan echoed with a nod, clearly not planning to let go of his protective streak.

As the evening wore on, Rihaan remained by Ananya's side, much to the amusement of the family. When they were about to leave the room, Rihaan grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door.

"Where are we going?" Ananya asked, laughing softly.

"Upstairs! It's time for bed. You need rest, Anya," Rihaan declared, as if it was a well-planned mission.

Ananya chuckled. "You're taking this very seriously, aren't you?"

"Of course!" he replied, his face completely serious. "I'm your husband, and husbands take care of their wives."

Mrs. Mehra, who had been watching the exchange with a fond smile, couldn't resist chiming in. "Ananya, you've got yourself a real gem. He's not letting anyone come near you!"

Ananya blushed, feeling a mix of amusement and affection for Rihaan. "Yes, he's doing a good job of it too," Priya said with a teasing smile.

As they headed upstairs, Rihaan continued to fuss over her. "Are you tired? Should I get you a pillow? Do you need water?"

Ananya finally stopped him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Rihaan, I'm fine. Really. You don't need to do all of this."

"But I want to," he replied, his eyes shining with sincerity. "I want to take care of you like you take care of me."

Ananya's heart melted at his words. It wasn't romantic in the traditional sense, but there was something so pure about his affection that it made her chest ache with emotion. She wasn't used to being the one cared for-it was always her taking care of others. But here was Rihaan, in his own innocent, childlike way, making sure she was looked after.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Rihaan scooted closer to her, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Anya?" he murmured sleepily.

"Yes, Rihaan?" she replied, brushing a strand of his hair away from his face.

"Did I do a good job today? Of taking care of you?"

Ananya smiled, her heart warm. "Yes, Rihaan. You did a wonderful job."

He grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Good. I want to make sure you're always happy."

"I am happy," she whispered, surprised at how true the words felt. Despite everything, despite the complexities of their relationship, in this moment, she was genuinely happy.

Rihaan snuggled closer, his breathing slowing as he drifted off to sleep. Ananya watched him for a moment, her heart softening even more. She didn't know what the future held for them, but she knew one thing for sure-Rihaan's love, however innocent and childlike, was pure. And that was something she would cherish forever.

____________

VOTE|COMMENT|FOLLOW
Take care~
Laters;)