ᴍɪʜɪᴛʜᴀ-𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷

chapter 43

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. Mihitha lay on the bed, Nila nestled in her arms, her tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber. Rudransh sat beside them, his hand resting gently on Mihitha’s shoulder, his eyes filled with something she hadn’t seen in him before pure, unfiltered joy.

For the first time in a long while, there was no tension, no pain hanging between them. Just peace. The baby had brought something neither of them expected a sense of wholeness, a deep connection that softened all the edges of their broken lives.

Mihitha looked over at Rudransh, her heart swelling at the sight of him completely at ease, his gaze fixated on their daughter with a tenderness she could hardly believe. It was a far cry from the cold, hardened man she had first met. This was a version of Rudransh she knew had always existed deep down, buried beneath years of scars.

"She looks so much like you," Rudransh whispered, his hand reaching out to softly brush against Nila’s tiny hand. Her fingers instinctively wrapped around his, and Rudransh let out a small laugh, his eyes lighting up in a way that took Mihitha’s breath away.

"And she has your stubbornness," Mihitha teased, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Already grabbing hold and not letting go."

Rudransh chuckled softly. "She’ll be unstoppable, just like her mother."

They sat there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the world outside forgotten as they simply enjoyed the moment together as a family. Nila stirred a bit, her tiny face scrunching up before she let out a soft coo, and both of them smiled at the sound.

Mihitha kissed the top of Nila’s head, breathing in the sweet scent of her newborn daughter. "I still can’t believe she’s here," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I never thought I’d get to experience this… with you."

Rudransh’s hand slipped into hers, his grip firm but gentle. "Neither did I," he admitted quietly. "I didn’t think I deserved it, to be honest. But here she is. Here we are."

Mihitha turned her head to look at him, her eyes searching his. "You deserve this, Rudra," she said softly, her voice full of conviction. "You deserve happiness, no matter what happened in the past."

He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze intense, as if he were trying to believe her words. Slowly, he nodded, though she could still see the remnants of doubt lingering in his eyes. It would take time, she knew, but they had already come so far.

Nila let out a tiny yawn, her small lips forming a perfect little ‘O,’ and Rudransh couldn’t help but smile again, his heart swelling with a love he hadn’t known was possible. He reached out, gently lifting Nila from Mihitha’s arms, cradling her against his chest. The baby snuggled into him, her head resting just below his chin, and Rudransh felt a wave of protectiveness wash over him.

"I’ll protect her," he whispered, almost to himself. "I’ll protect both of you."

Mihitha’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she watched the man she loved holding their daughter with such care. "We know you will," she whispered back. "You already are."

The day passed in a blissful blur of moments. Rudransh and Mihitha spent the hours together, tending to Nila, sharing soft smiles and tender touches. The house was filled with a quiet joy, a stark contrast to the tension that had once permeated every corner.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the room, Mihitha found herself sitting on the floor with Nila in her lap, watching as Rudransh carefully prepared a bottle of formula. He moved with surprising ease, his once calloused hands now gentle as he mixed the formula, a look of deep concentration on his face.

"Who knew you’d be so good at this?" Mihitha teased, unable to hide her smile.

Rudransh glanced at her, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I’m a fast learner."

Mihitha laughed softly, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years. "You’re a natural."

He handed her the bottle, and Mihitha carefully fed Nila, watching as her tiny daughter eagerly drank from it. Rudransh sat beside them, his arm resting across Mihitha’s shoulders, pulling her close.

"This is everything," he whispered, his voice filled with awe. "I never thought I’d want this. A family. But now… now I can’t imagine life without it."

Mihitha leaned into him, her heart swelling with love for this man who had come so far. "Neither can I," she whispered back.

As the evening settled in, the three of them lay together in the large bed, Nila nestled between her parents. Mihitha stroked her daughter’s soft hair, her other hand resting on Rudransh’s chest. The peaceful rhythm of his breathing soothed her, grounding her in the present moment.

For once, there was no fear, no worry about the future or the past. There was only this,this perfect, quiet moment where everything felt right.

Rudransh looked over at Mihitha, his green eyes soft and filled with love. "I don’t know how I got so lucky," he murmured, his hand reaching over to gently brush a strand of hair away from her face.

Mihitha smiled, her heart full. "Maybe it wasn’t luck," she whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. "Maybe it was meant to be."

He stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Maybe you’re right."

They lay there in silence for a while, the only sound the soft breathing of their baby girl. Rudransh couldn’t help but marvel at how far they had come. He had never thought he’d find peace, let alone love, but here he was lying beside the woman who had changed his entire world, with their daughter sleeping soundly between them.

"I love you," Rudransh whispered, the words slipping from his lips almost unbidden. It was the first time he had said them out loud since Nila was born, but it felt right. It felt true.

Mihitha’s eyes filled with tears again, but this time, they were tears of happiness. "I love you too," she whispered back, her voice full of emotion.

Rudransh closed his eyes, letting the warmth of her words wash over him. For the first time in his life, he felt truly at peace. The shadows of his past no longer haunted him as they once had. Instead, they were replaced with something far more powerful love.

As night fell and the room darkened, Rudransh held his family close, his heart full in a way he never thought possible. This was his life now a life filled with love, with hope, with the promise of a future brighter than he had ever dared to dream.

And for the first time, Rudransh knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be.