Solace

|50|bliss

Here's the next chapter! I know many of you were eagerly waiting to read this part. I decided not to include it in the previous update, as it would have pushed the chapter beyond 7,000 words, and that would've made the chapter too long.

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Happy Reading!!

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"If it's Aadarsh, I swear I'm going to bury him alive," I muttered against her lips, causing her to chuckle softly, breathless and amused.

I walked past her toward the bedroom door, curious to see which intruder couldn't let me enjoy even a few moments of peace with my wife.

As I opened the door, I found Shreya standing there, holding Nidhi's purse and phone in her hands.

"Bhaiya, Bhabhi left her purse downstairs. Some Priya has been calling non-stop, and Mausi said when Bhabhi is done changing, she should come downstairs. She has something to discuss," she said, passing me the carry bag.

I nodded, taking the purse from her, and thanked her before making my way back inside. Nidhi was in the closet. I knocked gently on the door.

"Just give me a minute," she murmured from inside.

"Maa is calling for you," I added, my voice soft but clear, waiting for her to finish.

NIDHI

Even though I was downstairs, my mind was elsewhere—with my husband. Just a few more minutes, and we would finally be...

Huff…

My mother-in-law had asked me to finalize a lehenga for the upcoming rituals next week. Then there was our first Karwa Chauth approaching. I wasn't sure if my husband believed in it or not. She also informed me that her sister in law is also coming for the Raksha Bandhan, which was on Monday.

As I made my way back into the bedroom, I placed the water bottle on the bedside table. A while ago, it was so easy to be close to him. Now, I was just fidgeting, a ball of nerves. Even the thought of it was making me anxious.

I walked over to the vanity and stood in front of the mirror where we had both been standing not too long ago. I began straightening my hair with a thick-bristled comb, waiting for my husband. I had already shown him, through my actions, that we could move forward. Now, it was up to him.

I took a long breath the moment I heard the turning of the knob on our bedroom door. My cheeks felt warm, and I was nothing but a bashful mess. He was humming a tune, one that seemed to linger in the air like a secret only he knew. I couldn't remember when he listened to these songs, but sometimes he would hum melodies I had never heard before.

"I was thinking..." I heard his voice and turned to face him while tying my hair.

"Maybe we should call everyone—Papa, Priya, Shivani. Are there any other important people?" He asked, folding his arms across his broad chest, where I had clutched his shirt just moments before. I briefly thought about whether I had anyone else who mattered.

"Par kyu?" I asked, realizing I didn't have many more "important" people to call.

"No, I mean… see, Maa is done, Shreya is done, and I just talked to Aadarsh and Abhishek. Mausaji was there too, and Roshni's still upset. So, that leaves just your father, Shivani, and Priya," he explained, putting a file away in the drawer before making his way towards me. Now I understood what he meant.