His Brown Bride

43

Note: Sorry, I'm writing in third person. I want to explore other characters's perspectives. Sorry again.
Third Person's POV

"Everything was going well," Akash thought, watching the ray filter through the smoke.

He had proposed. She was about to respond, her lips parting to speak, when—of course—her father had to intervene.

He clenched his jaw as a wave of regret hit him. "I should've had him detained the first chance I got," he thought angrily. "But no, I wanted Anita to punish him first, to make him realise his cruel actions." Now he could only admit to himself how foolish that idea had been.

The flames crackled louder, closing in around them.

Smoke stung his eyes, filling his lungs while he looked desperately for an escape.

She clutched his arm, her eyes wide with terror. "Akash!"

He held her close, his mind racing through a thousand thoughts. "This was supposed to be our moment," he thought bitterly. "If only I'd had him arrested the first chance I got."

"We'll find a way out," he said finally, forcing a calmness into his voice he didn't feel.

They scanned the garden, but flames had already engulfed nearly everything around them.

The familiar paths they'd once strolled were now crackling walls of fire, hungry and tenacious. The heat was biting at their skin, the smoke clogging their throat.

He spotted a narrow gap in the flames near the side gate. "There!" he shouted, pointing. "Let's run."

She tightened her grip on his hand, nodding with fear.

Together, they raced, stumbling over charred vines and broken branches, ignoring the burn of the fire closing in.

The roar of the flames drowned out everything but the sound of their own breaths, ragged and desperate, as they ran toward the gate.

Their feet pounded against the scorched earth as they neared the gate.

Flames flared dangerously close, heat pulsing at their backs, but they didn't dare look behind.

The air was thick and heavy, searing their lungs, and every breath felt to them like inhaling shards of glass.

As they reached the gate, he grabbed the metal handle.

It burnt his palm, but he gritted his teeth and forced it open.

They burst through the gate, collapsing onto the damp grass just as the garden erupted behind them, sending an intense wave of heat outside.

He lay there, his chest heaving, his thoughts still pondering from the fear and adrenaline, until he felt her hand go limp in his grasp.

"Anita!" he gasped, pushing himself up to see her face, which was now pale and ashen, her eyes fluttering closed as her body gave in to the strain of it all.

"No, no, no," he whispered, panic surging through him.

He cupped her face, brushing a strand of soot-streaked hair from her forehead. Her skin was cold, and his heart became clenched from fear at the sight of her so vulnerable.

"Stay with me, Anita," he murmured, leaning close, his voice breaking. "Please don't leave me. We're out, look."

He pulled her against him, holding her tightly, trying to will his strength into her. As he pressed his forehead to hers, he felt the faint cadence of her breath, continuous but fragile, and he released a shuddering sigh of relief.

Her lips parted, barely a whisper escaping. "I... I thought we'd never get out," she murmured, her voice weak yet filled with relief.

He smiled, his own eyes misting over as he looked at her. "Neither did I," he admitted softly, brushing his thumb tenderly over her cheek. "But I'd go through fire a thousand times to live a life with you."

A faint smile touched her lips. "You will never have to do that again."

She stirred in his arms and spoke, "Akash," she murmured, her voice soft but regular. "I'm ready. I don't want to hesitate. I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you—to marry you. I love you."

For a moment, he could only stare at her, his mind spinning as her words sank in. His heart leapt, and a burst of pure joy lightened up his face.

He laughed, half in disbelief and wholly in elation, pulling her closer as he pressed kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, and her hair. "You mean it? You'll be mine forever?" he whispered, his voice ringing with joy between each kiss before he held her gaze.

She nodded with a mild smile. "Yes, I mean it. I want to spend my life with you."

Unable to contain his excitement, he pulled her closer, wrapping her in his arms as he covered her face with kisses, one after another, unable to stop himself from expressing the happiness bubbling over inside him. "I love you—I love you so much," he murmured. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment," he continued.

And she laughed softly, her cheeks becoming warm after he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her hair.

He finally stopped, leaning his forehead against hers, a smile still playing on his lips.

"Come on," he whispered, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's go home, freshen up, and have breakfast together. We have a lot to look forward to now."

He helped her to her feet, his hand never leaving hers as they began to walk back, side by side, to his car.

When they reached it, he turned to her with a wide smile.

Instead of simply opening the door, he swept her up into his arms in one smooth motion.

She gasped, her eyes widening in surprise as her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. "What are you doing?" she laughed, breathless.

He grinned, his eyes twinkling as he held her close. "Now that you'll be my wife, I'm going to make sure you're never stressed or overworked again. You deserve to be cherished every single day."

She smiled, and carefully, he opened the car door with one hand, still holding her securely with the other, and gently placed her in the seat, his gaze never leaving hers.

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, remaining for a moment, just taking in her smile.

He then leaned in, his voice soft, and spoke. "From today onwards, I'll be the one to carry you through every challenge. You'll never have to face anything alone."

Her eyes softened, and she stared up at him.

He kissed her forehead again, then closed the door and walked around to the driver's side, his heart full of joy as he joined her.

"About my father..." she began in a whisper while he drove.

He hummed in response, giving her a glance. But before she could continue, he smiled and asked, "You didn't ask why I proposed without a ring."

She chuckled, shrugging. "Is that necessary?"

"Of course! Very, very necessary," he replied, grinning. "I want us to be engaged in grand style, surrounded by everyone we love. So, when we visit my mother today, we'll share our decision with her. She's been anticipating this moment for so long already."

A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she whispered, "I... I can't come along then. She'll think I'm... shameless."

He shook his head, his smile softening. "Only you would think that. I promise, she doesn't nor will she see you that way."

"Still," she murmured, looking down with a shy smile, "it just doesn't feel... appropriate."

He glanced at her, his gaze dropping to her lips, hanging back there for a moment.

He swallowed hard, his heart pounding with eagerness for the day when every restriction would be lifted, when he would kiss her freely and hold her close without hesitation.

"Fine," he mumbled. "We'll come to your home, then, to formally ask for your hand."

"But my father..." she began, her eyes getting clouded with worry due to the traditions she'd been raised with.

Her remarriage went against her culture, and the consequences could be severe.

He reached over, his hand brushing lightly against hers in a gentle but firm reassurance. "He'll be arrested before the end of today. I promise you that," he replied.

The drive continued in silence, until she furrowed her brows, realising after they approached the familiar gate that they were heading toward his house.

She glanced at him, surprised. "I thought you'd drop me home," she murmured.

He looked at her before clarifying. "For your information, this is your home."

A deep blush spread across her cheeks, and his chest rippled at the sight with joy and pride.

He couldn't help but smile himself, loving the way her shyness made her glow.

As they drove through the gate, he noticed her glance nervously down at her clothes, and he chuckled.

"Clothes, right?" he said, reading her mind. "I've bought a dress I've been wanting to give you. You can wear it today."

She nodded quietly, whispering, "Thank you," her voice barely audible, and she kept her gaze fixed down, too shy to look at him directly.

When they arrived, he got out of the car and moved to her side, watching her step out gracefully.

"I'll order food from the restaurant," he said as they walked together toward the house. "By the time we finish freshening up, it'll be here."

She simply nodded, and he pulled out his phone, dialling the number for her restaurant.

When he completed the call, he looked over at her, already imagining their quiet breakfast together.

"I'll bathe upstairs," he said, gesturing toward the staircase. "You can go to your room."

She nodded again, and they shared a brief stare before parting ways.

She entered the room and paused, her heart swelling as she took in the familiar surroundings. Everything was exactly as she'd left it, each detail preserved with care, as though he were waiting for her return. Smiling to herself, she headed to the bathroom, where even her sponge and soap were still in their places. She rinsed the sponge and stepped into the warm water, letting it wash away the morning's tension.

Once she finished, she wrapped herself in a soft towel and walked back into the bedroom. Laid carefully across the bed was the dress he had mentioned, simple yet beautiful in its modesty. She moved closer, her fingers brushing over the fabric; it was a fine, soft cotton, light and comfortable—chosen with such thoughtfulness that it warmed her heart even more.

Quickly drying off, she slipped into the dress, which fit her perfectly, flattering her figure without excess.

She took a deep breath before she made her way out of the room.

In the dining area, she found him already waiting, dressed in a sleek black suit, a matching black shirt and tie, and polished shoes. His eyes found her as she entered, and for a moment, he just stared, his gaze gleaming with admiration.

"You look beautiful," he said softly, stepping forward and pulling out a chair for her. She blushed, smiling as she murmured, "Thank you," before taking her seat.

He took his place beside her, and they began their breakfast, savouring the calmness of the day.

The ambiance was filled with the comforting aroma of fresh food and hot tea, and as they ate, a feeling of ease settled over them, a quiet joy shared in each other's presence.

"Is this house okay, or should we go for a bigger one?" he asked, his tone casual, though his eyes held an inkling of eagerness. He watched her with a wide grin while she processed his question.

She paused, furrowing her brows, genuinely confused by the sudden question. Seeing the look on her face, he chuckled softly and clarified, "We'll be married soon. I want to give you the best of everything—a place that feels like a true home for us."

She put down her fork, chewing slowly as she absorbed his words. "We're not in a hurry, right? I mean, I still have to convince my mother. And father, though talking to him is pointless, he'll never be supportive, but..."

His face darkened slightly, a protective edge hardening his gaze. "He'll be in jail soon. And honestly," he added, his voice firm but gentle, "I think you should cut ties with him. The man didn't hesitate to put your life at risk...to burn you alive."

A deep sigh escaped her lips, and she nodded. "You're right," she whispered, though the decision wasn't easy. Some bonds, even strained ones, were hard to sever.

Trying to bring back the lightness, he returned to the original topic, "So, about the house...?"

She glanced up at him, offering a small smile. "It's more than okay. It feels like home," she murmured and resumed her meal.

His smile widened, his eyes becoming brighter with excitement. "But I know the paint and furniture—I'm certain you'll want to change them."

She hummed, glancing around the room thoughtfully before voicing what had been on her mind. "Why is everything in the house black? It's beautiful, but, honestly, it gets scary at night."

He chuckled. "You brought life into the house. Before I met you, I barely spent two days in a week here. My P.A. chose the decor—I was too busy to oversee it. But...black is beautiful, right?"

She nodded. "True, it does have a certain elegance."

"But still, we'll add whatever colours you like."

She nodded, then glanced at the clock. "We should be quick. I need to visit Rajiv's mother, and I can't miss work."

His expression turned serious again, and he nodded.