𝐂𝐇𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈: 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞| 𝟏𝟖+ [Extended Ver.]

𝟕. 𝐍𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄

𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐘𝐄'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

Goosebumps erupted over my skin as I caught sight of her unfurling her pallu. She just undid it and fell on the bed on her back as if the exhaustion was too much to handle.

I quickly averted my eyes and shut the door quietly. I could never bring myself to look at her like that without her consent.

Rose deserves respect, admiration and even worship. She is the purest soul I've ever come across. She deserves much more goodness than life has ever offered to her.

And now, I'll provide every ounce of respect, love and care she's entitled to. She deserves nothing less and I'll make sure I provide her with all of it, every drop of it, till the very last breath I take.

I hurried down the stairs. Once, inside my room, I locked the door and pulled back the rug, revealing the hidden latch that led to the wooden basement underneath. I climbed down the old, timber steps that produced a creaking sound with every fall of my feet.

When I reached the bottom and tapped the switch, instantly the room flooded up with light and my world came in front of my eyes.

This basement that lays in front of my eyes holds special memories. It has witnessed the transformation of a mere 'child'- just like she regarded me as to a grown up, twenty- nine years man now. Stronger and powerful.

This Drishye is not the one Ms. Chhavi Sharma had known a decade ago. He's no longer that soft spoken, introverted, shy kid who could barely muster the courage to speak in class.

That Drishye had died the moment his Miss Rosy dismissed his devotion as a mere infatuation. Poor him...his soul never rested in peace...

At present, late Drishye is very proud of the 'Drishye' his resilience has created. His devotion for his Miss Rosy made him tear himself apart and rebuild, piece by piece, into the partner she deserves.

How do people say that 'true' love can never change you? That love would accept you the way you are? Stupid them. Love is the very force of divine which makes you confront every flaw. Love is the chisel that sharpens raw stone into the most brilliant diamond. It cuts, shapes and refines until you become worthy of it. And love has cut me deeply to forge the Drishye worthy of his Rose.

Yet, even this version of me is incomplete without my Rose. I'm like the symphony missing its final note. Only she's that note who can transform me into a beautiful, complete tune.

And now, after a penance of three thousand seven hundred and thirty-six days, I've successfully completed the first step- bringing my Ghar ki Lakshmi home.

And on this precious occasion, I'll lighten the entire mansion to give her a warm welcome.

I quickly unboxed the cartons of diyas I had stacked over the years in the hope of celebrating Diwali. This is my Diwali. My Rose is back to me after ten god damn years, just like Shree Ram returned to Ayodhya from his exile. And like the people of Ayodhya who welcomed their king, I welcomed my queen- my Rose, back from her exile, back to the one who truly saw her, admired her, cherished her, honored her.

I lit the entire country house with three thousand seven hundred and thirty-six diyas- one for each day she had been away. Watching their illuminance, my heart clenched with both joy and fear. I wish she could participate in her own homecoming.

But I knew revealing my heart too soon would be a mistake. If she knew my true intentions now, I might lose her again. And this time, it would be forever.

CHHAVI'S POV

Life is so ironic, isn't it?

Ten years ago, I used to be an assistant professor at one of Indian's top engineering college.