The Empress of his Heart

THE SNATCHED INNOCENCE

NITYA'S POV

I woke up in the middle of the night with a familiar pain in my lower abdomen. The dull ache had transformed into sharp, stabbing sensations that radiated down to my thighs. The tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to shift slightly in bed, attempting to find a position that would offer some relief. Riddhaan was lying beside me, his arm wrapped around my waist, his breath soft and steady against my neck. I hated the idea of waking him up, but I needed to get to the bathroom to put on a tampon. The thought of moving filled me with dread, knowing the agony that awaited me.

But I had to get up. I needed to change. My teeth clenched as I tried to move, but my body betrayed me. A sharp, blinding pain shot through my thighs, and abdomen.

Carefully, I began to lift his arm and slide out of bed. As soon as I shifted my weight to my feet, a searing pain shot up my thighs, and I fell to the floor with a muted cry. The tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't hold back a sob. The noise was enough to rouse Riddhaan from his sleep.

Riddhaan stirred, his arms tightening around me. I felt a surge of panic. How was I going to explain this? I couldn't bear the thought of him seeing me like this, vulnerable and weak.

"Precious?" His voice was groggy with sleep, but the concern in his tone was unmistakable. In an instant, he was by my side, kneeling on the floor, his hands gently lifting me into his arms. "What happened baby? Are you okay?"

I couldn't speak. My throat was tight, and tears were already blurring my vision. I tried to pull away, but his hold tightened.

"Shhh," he whispered, his thumb brushing away a tear. "Tell me, baby, what's happening?"

How can I tell him, I am so scared of what happened to me during my periods years ago, it made me scared to tell anyone that I am on my period. I was afraid of his reaction, I am vulnerable and I don't even know that.

Vardhaan Dad was the first know I opened up, about having periods and surprisingly he didn't shame me or say anything bad, he just gave me the care and comfort that I was longing for, same for Advik, he became so sensitive when I am on my days, he used not to fight with me, he used to bring my favourite food to eat and we used to watch movies whole night as I can't sleep in pain. I don't know how Riddhaan would react how will he see me, what if I don't look desirable to him or what if he is ashamed of me now?

What if he just stopped touching me, no I cannot let this happen, his touch is the only thing I want in my life, his touch heals the stains of my past on my body.

I couldn't hold back anymore. The tears spilled over, and I whispered, "My... my period." The words felt foreign in my mouth, like a confession of a terrible crime because this is what I have been taught, not to talk about periods, not to tell anyone about this.

I was so in panic when I felt his hands on my cheeks. His expression softened. "It's okay, baby," he said, his voice filled with an understanding that surprised me. He pulled me into his arms, his body shielding me from the world. "I'm here," he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair. He scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the bathroom. His was surprisingly calm, he reacted as it was not the disgusted thing that I know.

It was a small thing, for him or anyone but at that moment, it meant everything.

I felt small and helpless as he made me stand in the bathroom, while he was searching for something in the cabinets. In just a few seconds he stood in front of me, his hands hovering near mine. "Do you want a pad or a tampon?" His voice was steady, reassuring.