The Veiled Hearts

🌹 White Blessings 🔪

What should I feel right now? Happiness—because my husband… yes, my husband(blushy blushy), Yash, is standing right in front of me? Or sadness—seeing his tired eyes, dulled by sleepless nights spent recovering the company’s losses? Or should I feel scared—because this is the first time we’re facing each other after our marriage, and after the gunshot?

Yash began walking towards me, and my heartbeat thundered in my chest. What am I supposed to do now?

For a moment, I glanced down at the railing to jump from the roof, the thought of escaping his silent anguish flashing through my mind. But before I could process anything else, Yash was already in front of me, taking the phone from my hand. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, still as warm as ever, yet somehow distant. My mind raced, words caught in my mouth.

Yash looked through Aarav’s phone as I glanced around the terrace, noticing that many women had already ended their Karwa Chauth rituals. My heart pounded, and in a shaky voice, I finally whispered, "Sho... should we… sta..start?"

Yash’s gaze shifted to me as he handed back the phone. “Yeah, go ahead with your shortcut Karwa Chauth.”

My eyebrows twitched at his words, but with people around, I took a step closer, murmuring under my breath, just for him to hear, “SHORTCUT? I fasted the entire day without food and water, waiting for you. Everyone told me you wouldn’t come, but my heart ignored every statement.”

Tears began pooling in my eyes, and my hands tightened around the thalli and phone. Despite the anger in his face, for a moment, I caught the familiar glimpse of something softer in his eyes. He stepped forward, his voice low yet firm. “Take those tears back inside… now.”

Before I could react, he turned me towards the moon making my back touching his chest. Then he took the phone away from my hand and leaned close enough that his lips brushed my ear. “You always listen to your heart. Why did you make an exception today thinking i wouldn't come?”

A shiver ran through me, but before I could respond, my stomach growled loudly, grounding me back to the moment. I lifted the sieve, looking up at the moon, then closed my eyes, offering my prayers for Yash’s longevity. But his warmth against my back was all I could think about, his breaths filling the silence around us. I forced myself to concentrate—my mind shouldn’t be wandering for  his touch when I’m praying for his well-being.

Turning around with the sieve in hand, I met his gaze again through sieve.But instead of the familiar trimmed beard, I found myself staring at the heavy beard,  the one covering his face. It felt strange, almost foreign, and I didn’t hide my reaction.

As I was continuing my ritual ,Yash noticed, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “My beard is your new favorite thing now? Focus on your prayers.”

Annoyed, I muttered, “It’s my least favorite, actually. You don’t look good with it.”

He let out a sigh, and before he could snap back, I cut him off. “We’re already late. Now give me a sip of water—I’m thirsty.”