ISHQ IBAADAT 💗

26.UNDERSTANDING AND CARE🤍

Author POV.

Adhrika was sitting on the couch, legs tucked under her, her hands resting loosely on her knees. Her gaze was fixed somewhere far away, staring blankly at the corner of the room, yet seeing nothing at all. Her mind was swirling with thoughts so deep that she didn't even notice Agastya quietly approaching her side. The faint hum of the ceiling fan above, the soft rustle of the curtains in the evening breeze, even the distant sound of footsteps from the hallway-all went unnoticed by her. Her fingers subconsciously fiddled with the hem of her kurta, twisting the fabric again and again, a nervous habit she didn't realize she had.

Agastya sat down gently beside her, careful not to startle her. He adjusted slightly, letting one knee rest near hers, just close enough to feel her warmth without imposing. His eyes softened as he studied her-the furrow of her brows, the slight pout of her lips, the subtle way her fingers twitched as if holding onto some invisible worry. Every small movement told him she was lost in something far heavier than she was letting on.

"Adhrika..." he called softly, the warmth in his voice barely audible over the quiet room. His hand hovered near her shoulder, unsure if he should reach out.

No response.

He repeated her name once more, slightly louder, a soft edge of concern threading his tone. "Adhrika..." His fingers brushed a stray hair from her face, almost instinctively, lingering at her temple for a heartbeat. She still didn't respond, completely absorbed in her thoughts.

Gently, he lifted his hands and cupped her face with such tenderness that it felt as if the world had paused around them. The slight warmth of his palms, the familiar weight of his hands, pulled her attention back to reality. "Adhrika..." he whispered again, leaning closer, his breath brushing against her forehead.

Her eyes flickered open, meeting his gaze, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. Surprise and a fluttering warmth washed over her as she realized he was right in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat. Her cheeks tinged pink, and a slight shiver ran down her spine, as though the proximity of his presence had startled and thrilled her all at once.

"Agastya... aap yaha kab aaye..." she murmured, voice small and trembling slightly, as if afraid her own words might shatter the fragile intimacy of the moment. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, twisting it gently.

"Kitni der se main aapko awaaz laga raha hoon, Mohtarma... kaha khoyi hai aap..." His voice was soft, almost amused, but laced with concern. He tilted his head slightly, resting it near hers, letting a small lock of her hair fall between them. His eyes scanned her face for clues, for any hint of what was weighing on her mind.

"I don't know, but I am having strange feelings. My heart is pounding, I am feeling restless, as if something very big is about to happen," she admitted, hands fidgeting more, twisting her fingers together. Her lips trembled slightly, and she shivered as though the words themselves carried weight she could not bear. Fear danced in her eyes, mingling with the faint sparkle of vulnerability she never showed anyone else.

"What is going to happen?... what do you mean?" he asked gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered on her cheek, as if letting the warmth of contact anchor her to the moment, grounding her wandering thoughts.

"I don't know, Agastya... but something very bad is going to happen, but I don't know what..." Her voice wavered, eyes glistening with worry. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously, biting her lower lip as though trying to hold back the flood of anxious thoughts.

He pulled her slightly closer, wrapping one arm around her shoulder, pressing her head softly against his chest. She felt the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her ear. "Please don't take stress, nothing bad will happen. And if it happens, then we both will take care of it together..." His words were steady, a quiet promise, and she could feel the warmth of his presence seeping into her, calming her frayed nerves.