𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝟏𝟑

I stirred in my sleep, my hand instinctively reaching across the silk sheets to find Rudra's warmth. The empty space beside me was cold, devoid of his tiny presence that had become my anchor to reality. My eyes flew open, heart lurching against my ribcage as consciousness crashed over me like an icy wave. The bedroom, bathed in silvery moonlight streaming through the gossamer curtains, suddenly felt vast and suffocating.

"Rudra?" The name escaped my lips in a broken whisper, my vision blurring with hot tears that threatened to fall. The familiar panic, my constant companion since that fateful day, began to claw at my chest. "Maan?" I called out, my voice trembling like autumn leaves in a storm. The silence that answered was deafening.

My mind spiraled into darkness - He took him. He must have taken him. The thought alone made my body convulse with terror. The room began to spin, the elegant furnishings becoming a dizzying carousel of shadows. My legs, weak as water, carried me to the edge of the bed. I reached for the side table, desperate for support, but my trembling fingers knocked against the crystal vase. Time seemed to slow as it toppled, shattering against the marble floor in a symphony of breaking glass.

That's when I heard it - the soft rustle of movement from the direction of the balcony. I lifted my tear-stained face, and there he stood, a silhouette framed by moonlight and the gossamer curtains dancing in the night breeze. Maan, my anchor, my storm, and my shelter, stood in the balcony doorway with our precious Rudra cradled in his strong arms. Our baby boy was peaceful in sleep, his tiny fingers curled into his father's shirt, his face nestled trustingly against Maan's broad chest.

With steps that felt like walking through deep water, I made my way to them. My tears fell freely now, but they were different - tears of relief, of gratitude, of love so profound it threatened to bring me to my knees. I wrapped my arms around them both, feeling the solid warmth of reality beneath my touch. Maan's free arm encircled me, pulling me into their shared embrace. I pressed my lips to Rudra's forehead, breathing in his sweet baby scent, then buried my face against Maan's chest, where his heartbeat sang a steady rhythm of safety.

"Kya hua, Baccha?" Maan's deep voice rumbled in his chest, gentle with concern. I couldn't answer; the emotions coursing through me were too raw, too overwhelming. His fingers caught my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. His eyes, dark as the night sky but warm as summer rain, softened as he brushed away my tears with his thumb. "Why are you crying?"

I shook my head, unable to voice the demons that haunted my dreams. With careful movements, he guided us back into the bedroom, laying Rudra in his spot on the bed. The little one didn't stir, lost in the peaceful dreams of innocence. I stood watching them, my legs trembling beneath me despite my best efforts to remain strong.

Before I could take another step, Maan swept me into his arms, cradling me against his chest as if I weighed nothing. He carried me toward his study, my weak protests falling on deaf ears. The study, with its walls of books and leather furnishings, had always been his sanctuary. Now he placed me on his heavy wooden desk, positioning himself between my knees, his presence both protective and demanding.