His Secret Roommate.

Chapter - 27

After nearly four or five hours of continuous driving, they finally arrive. The car came to a stop in front of a house nestled in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by lush greenery.

It was peaceful here-quiet, removed from the bustle of the city. But there was no peace for Abhi as he glanced over at her, his heart still racing with the chaos of their drive.

The journey had been long and silent, accompanied only by the occasional hum of the engine and the sound of tires on the road. Exhausted and unable to fight him any longer, she had eventually drifted off to sleep.

Abhi sat still for a moment, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he looked at her peaceful face, the faint lines of tension on her forehead softened in sleep. She looked so vulnerable, so small in this moment. But he knew this was only the calm before the inevitable storm.

He didn't have the heart to wake her right away, but he knew he had to. Gently, he reached over, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as he softly called her "Hey," he said, shaking her lightly. "We're here."

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, her eyes still heavy with sleep. The confusion on her face was immediate, her gaze flickering to him, then out the window, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Her body tensed as she registered the unfamiliar place, the sudden realization of how far they'd traveled, how isolated this house seemed.

He didn't waited for her to speak. He stepped out of the car, circling around to her side to open the door. With careful hands, he opened the door, helping her out of the car. When she hesitated to come out, he extended his hand, waiting for her take it.

"Come on," he urged, his voice softened with something that almost felt like tenderness, even through the stubbornness. as she sighs in defeat and finally comes out of the car after taking his hand for help.

She groaned softly, stiff from the long drive, her body aching from sitting in one position for so long.

After coming out of the car she tried to take her hand away from his hold but his grip tightened on her hand as he looked at her with a playful smirk, not letting her hand go.

"Stop being stubborn," he mutters under his breath, almost to himself,

"Let go," she said pulling her hand away, her voice sharp, but he ignored her, his jaw tightening. She hesitated, still unwilling to accept his touch, but his grip didn't loosen.

Before either of them could say anything more, the front door of the house swung open. revealing a woman in her fifties, dressed in a soft cotton saree, her hair streaked with silver but her face glowing with warmth.

The moment their eyes met, the woman's expression softened with instant affection, as if she had already been a part of her family for years.

"My dear!" The woman said, her voice thick with emotion and eyes brimming with adoration, as though silently asking for permission to hug her.

She offered a hesitant, polite smile, and in an instant, the woman closes the distance and wraps her in a heartfelt hug.

She froze for a moment, caught off guard, before she gave a tentative smile. The woman's arms wrapped around her in an embrace that was warm and maternal, completely different from the tense atmosphere that had surrounded them earlier.

She stood there, slightly stiff at first, but the woman's comfort was undeniable. As she pulled back, the warmth of the hug lingered, and her nervousness began to ease.

Before she could fully process the situation, the door swung open wider, and suddenly a chorus of voices erupted. Seven or eight people-some young, some old-all stepped out, their faces glowing with happiness. They were holding flowers, some with diyas, their excitement almost overwhelming.

"Welcome Home, beta!" one of them exclaimed, and before she knew it, she was being showered with petals. The crowd around her buzzed with joy, each member introducing themselves, their warmth undeniable.

She stole a glance at Abhi, who stood quietly beside her, scratching the back of his neck, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. She narrowed her eyes at him, silently questioning,

In middle of the happy greetings and welcome, his mother turned toward him, hands on her hips in mock annoyance. "How long did you take to bring my daughter-in-law home Abhi?" she said, her tone half-scolding, half-playful. "I've been waiting Six months, Abhi! Six months, to see my daughter-in-law's face! And you made me wait this long?"

Abhi winced slightly, but before he could respond, his mother's eyes flicked toward her belly. A soft smile spread across her face, and she looked back at her son with a knowing gaze. "I knew it," she said sweetly. "I knew there was something special going on. That's why you were making us wait so long, isn't it?"

Her mother-in-law's words caught her completely off guard. She felt the older woman's warm hands gently cup her cheeks, the gesture so tender, so maternal, that an unfamiliar pain rose in her chest, tears brimming behind her eyes.

"Welcome home, beta," his mother said, her voice full of love. "Now you're finally where you belong."

The lump in her throat made it impossible to speak. She could only nod, her emotions tangled between disbelief and an aching sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time. "You're here now," she said softly. "That's all that matters."

Abhi, sensing her unease, cleared his throat. "She's tired from the journey," he said quickly. "We should let her rest."

"Oh, of course!" his mother said immediately, "Take her to your room, Abhi. Let her rest properly. You both must be exhausted."

Before she could protest, Abhi took her hand again, this time gently but still possessively. In front of the family, he knew she wouldn't pull away from his hold.

She stiffened at his touch for a moment to but allowed it. He led her through the house and up the stairs, his hold gentle. Once they reached the room, he quietly closed the door behind them.

When they finally reached the privacy of their room, the door closed softly behind them. The weight of everything hung heavy in the silence, but for the first time, the storm inside her felt just a little less suffocating.

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