Khatta-Mitha Ishq

∘₊✧Heal✧∘₊

∘₊✧Aranyo: Let me heal you baby the way you deserved✧∘₊

I came in that evening, my heart feeling heavier than usual, though I tried my best to keep a smile on my face. Ragini was sitting on the floor, both babies nestled in her lap, one cooing softly as she gently swayed, the other curled close against her. She looked up as I entered, and something flickered across her face—surprise, maybe a bit of relief, and I thought I even saw the tiniest hint of curiosity. But tonight, I couldn't just stay in the role of the father. Tonight, I needed to reach her as her husband.

I took a deep breath and approached our moms. They'd been sitting in the living room, watching us from afar, with knowing smiles that could mean only one thing—they had sensed that something was stirring between Ragini and me. "Maa," I began, and her head tilted in that way it always did when she sensed something serious. "Can I ask you both a favor?"

My mother raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile. Ragini's mom joined her, curiosity bright in her eyes.

I took a breath, my voice steady. "I want to talk to Ragini tonight. Really talk. Just the two of us. I need her to see that, yes, we're parents now, but I'm still her husband. And I'm feeling like somehow, I'm losing that part of her—or maybe she's losing that part of me. If I let this wall grow between us, it'll become something neither of us can tear down."

There was silence as they took in my words, and for a moment, I thought I might be pushing my luck. But then they both exchanged a look and burst into a warm, amused laugh. "Only tonight?" my mom teased, giving me a gentle nudge. "Alright, beta, we'll take them. You go on with your plans."

They finally coaxed Ragini to let them watch the kids for the night. I watched her, fighting back a grin as she half-protested, clearly hesitant. I saw the way she held onto the babies a bit tighter, and I couldn't deny the warmth in my chest at seeing her so naturally motherly. But I couldn't let her retreat into that role completely—not without keeping some part of the woman I had fallen in love with.

When they finally convinced her, she looked at me, a mix of confusion and shyness on her face. "Is this really necessary?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," I said, my voice softer than I'd meant it to be. "We need this, Ragini. Not just for us, but for them too."

I led Ragini to the library room, my hand steady on hers as I opened the door to reveal the setup I'd poured so much thought into. Softly flickering candlelight illuminated the space, filling it with the scent of lavender and vanilla. The shelves were dotted with flowers, delicate petals of each bloom tucked carefully around small, wrapped packages. Books, each one meticulously chosen and wrapped in brown paper, were stacked in cozy clusters. On each one, a handwritten sticky note offered hints or small memories, things that had meant something to us or things we'd dreamed of together.

For a moment, she just stood there, mouth slightly open, her eyes wide with wonder. Then, a smile broke across her face—a real, full, unstoppable smile. And before I knew it, she was laughing and jumping in excitement, her hands clapping together in sheer delight. It was as if all the weight she'd been carrying, all the quiet restraint that motherhood had added, had melted away.

"Oh my God! This is... it's beautiful!" she whispered, her hands hovering over one of the wrapped books. She looked up at me, eyes shining. "You did all this... for me?"

"Yes, just for you," I replied softly, my own smile widening at her reaction. "I wanted to give you back a piece of who we were, who you are. The one who never stopped talking, who had the craziest ideas, and who always managed to surprise me."

She laughed at that, a soft giggle that I hadn't heard in too long. Then she started picking up one book after another, studying the notes, her fingers tracing the flowers. Her excitement was contagious, her smile lighting up the room as she read each little message I'd left, as if each one held a secret just for her.

"Oh, this one's perfect! And this flower—it's beautiful!" She laughed, pulling out a tiny sprig of baby's breath and tucking it behind her ear with a childlike innocence. For a moment, she seemed more like the girl I'd fallen in love with—unfiltered, vibrant, and entirely hers. She looked at me with wide eyes, sparkling in the candlelight. "I can't believe you remembered all this... all these small things."

I took a step closer, my voice soft. "How could I forget? You're still that girl to me, Ragini. Always were. And I wanted tonight to remind you of that."

A blush crept up her cheeks, and she held my gaze, her hand slipping into mine as she took a breath, her voice catching. "Thank you," she whispered.

Her cheeks flushed even deeper as I teased her, her face scrunching up in a mix of playfulness and surprise. "I don't want just a dry thank you," I whispered with a smirk. She rolled her eyes, laughing softly as she playfully pushed me back. But before she could step away, I reached out, my hands finding her waist, and pulled her closer.

The distance between us disappeared, and in that quiet, candle-lit room, we were just two people standing still in a world we'd built together. I could feel her breath quicken, a soft, nervous laugh escaping her lips as her hands rested on my chest. My heart raced, mirroring the rhythm of hers, and in that intimate silence, all the words I'd wanted to say, all the unsaid things, faded away. It was just her and me—no responsibilities, no walls.

My gaze lingered on her lips, hovering close, so close, my breath brushing against hers. I felt her fingers clutch the fabric of my shirt, grounding us in that moment. And then, as if by some silent agreement, I closed the gap, pressing my lips to hers softly at first, letting the connection melt into something we'd both been craving for too long. The world seemed to blur, the gentle fragrance of the flowers, the flicker of candlelight—it all faded as I lost myself in her, feeling that spark reignite between us.

Our kiss deepened, carrying with it the promise of everything we'd missed, everything we were finding again. I held her tighter, feeling her melt into me, and in that moment, there was no distance, no past, no future—just the two of us, rediscovering each other, hearts beating as one.

As my lips hovered over hers, a surge of longing washed over me, one that had been quietly building through all the missed moments and unsaid words. This time, I couldn't hold back. I kissed her deeply, letting all that hunger and love spill over, feeling her respond with the same intensity. Her breath caught as I gently bit her lower lip, her fingers tightening around my shoulders. I moved down to her jawline, letting my lips brush slowly, tracing a line of kisses down to her neck.

She shivered, her hands moving up into my hair, tugging me closer as her breath came in soft, uneven sighs. I felt her relax against me, melting into my embrace, and every touch felt like a rekindling of everything we had shared before. My arms wrapped around her waist as I pulled her close, feeling her heartbeat against mine, steady yet racing. I whispered softly, "I want you to remember tonight, every single part of it."

She leaned back, looking up at me with a soft smile that held all the trust and love we had built over the years. "I will," she whispered, her voice full of warmth.

Ragini's fingers tightened slightly against my back as I lifted her hand and placed it over my heart. "Feel that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, "Every beat of it, still yours."

She smiled, her eyes shining with a mixture of happiness and relief, as if finally letting go of something she had been carrying alone. "And mine," she replied softly, placing her other hand over her own heart.

NOTE: BROOOOO why I can't write smut, I really wanted to write but failed miserably