Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 24

Ayan gently ran his hand under Meera's shirt, his fingers brushing softly against her waist, tracing the outline of her body. Meera closed her eyes, surrendering to his touch as his hand moved in soothing circles, easing away the tension that lingered from everything they had endured.

The silence stretched comfortably for a moment, but then Ayan broke it, his voice quieter now, tinged with something deeper. "When I was undercover... it was hard. Harder than I ever thought it would be." His hand stilled on her waist, the weight of his words filling the space between them.

Meera lifted her head slightly, sensing the shift in his tone, but she didn't interrupt. She knew he needed to say this.

"I was injured," Ayan continued, his gaze distant, the memory heavy on his shoulders. "I pushed through it, but it was bad—really bad. I didn't know if I'd make it out." He paused, swallowing hard. "Every time I closed my eyes, I saw your face. It scared me, Meera—scared me that I might never come back to you."

Her heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice. She shifted in his arms, turning to face him, her eyes searching his. "I missed you so much, Ayan. I was scared too. Every day."

"I missed you more than I can explain," Ayan said, his voice thick with emotion. "The fear of losing you kept me going, but it also made everything worse. Because no matter how much pain I was in, none of it compared to the thought of not seeing you again."

Meera's hand found his, squeezing it tightly. "But you're here now. We both are."
Ayan nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Yeah, we are. And I'm never letting that go again." They remained wrapped in each other, sharing the unspoken understanding of all they had endured.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the room with shades of gold and soft orange as Ayan and Meera basked in the warmth of each other's embrace. The world outside faded into a gentle hum, but their hearts resonated with an electric connection.

As they lay there, lost in the moment, Ayan's phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking the serene atmosphere. He reluctantly pulled away from Meera but not before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Just a second," he murmured, reaching for the phone. The screen lit up with a video call from Arjun and Arya, and a smile crept onto his face.

"Hey, you two!" Ayan greeted cheerfully as he swiped to answer.

"Hey, Ayan!" Arjun replied, his face lighting up the screen. Beside him, Arya grinned, clearly in a good mood.

"Look who's all cuddled up!" Arya teased, glancing sideways at Arjun, who chuckled. "I see you found a cozy spot."

As Meera nestled deeper into Ayan's arms, her breathing softening into a steady rhythm of sleep, she couldn't resist joining the fun. "Aru, you didn't get him the cozy spot?" she teased, glancing at Arya, who seemed caught off guard.

Arjun shot her a mock glare. "Meera, come on!"

Ayan raised an eyebrow, confusion washing over his face. "What's happening?"

Arya quickly interjected, "Nothing, bhai! Meera is just mad, that's all." She shot a quick look at Arjun, who was trying to stifle a smile.

But Meera, already snuggled deeper into Ayan's arms, was barely paying attention. She let out a soft sigh and, without warning, drifted into sleep, her body relaxed against him.

Ayan glanced down at her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a tender expression. Arya, sensing the need for the brothers to talk, excused herself with a knowing look. "I'll leave you two to it," she said, stepping out of the room quietly, giving them the space to catch up.