The Unwanted Royal Marriage

52. I want to believe.

Adhyay's pov

The days that followed were nothing short of transformative. Meera slowly reacquainted herself with the palace, and Ruhaan, much to everyone's delight, had become the life of the household. His laughter echoed through the halls, bringing a joy that seemed to breathe life into every corner of the home.

One evening, I found myself in the study, going over some kingdom affairs. There were stacks of papers and reports, yet my mind kept drifting to the moments I'd shared with Meera and Ruhaan over the past week. It felt unreal to have them here, under this roof, part of this world again.

The door creaked open, and Meera stepped in, her soft steps breaking my thoughts. She carried two cups of tea and placed one in front of me.

"You've been at this all day," she said, her tone a mix of concern and affection. "Take a break."

I leaned back in my chair, smiling at her. "You know, I've missed this. You sneaking into my study to boss me around."

She rolled her eyes but smiled as she sat across from me. "And I've missed you pretending to listen while secretly plotting to do whatever you want."

I chuckled, taking a sip of the tea. "It's different now, Meera. I'm different now."

Her smile faltered for a moment, her gaze turning serious. "Adhyay, I've seen the changes. The way you've carried everything — the kingdom, the business, even the family — after I left. It's... overwhelming to think about."

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "I only did what I had to. And now that you're here, I feel like I can finally breathe again."

She looked down at our hands, her fingers lightly tracing mine. "I still worry. About us, about how much we've been through... Do you think we can ever truly heal from it all?"

I thought for a moment, then answered honestly. "Healing doesn't mean forgetting or pretending it never happened. It means finding a way to move forward, together. And as long as we're both willing, I believe we can."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she nodded. "I want that too. For us, for Ruhaan."

At that moment, Ruhaan burst into the room, his tiny feet padding against the floor. He held a drawing in his hands, a proud grin on his face.

"Baba! Maa! Look what I made!" he exclaimed, climbing onto my lap.

Meera and I leaned closer to see his drawing. It was a simple, colorful picture of the three of us standing in front of the palace, hand in hand.

"It's beautiful, Ruhaan," Meera said, kissing his forehead.

I held the drawing up, examining it with a smile. "You've captured us perfectly. This is going in my study, right here."

Ruhaan beamed, his excitement contagious. "Really, Baba?"

"Really," I said, ruffling his hair. "It's a masterpiece."

That night, as we put Ruhaan to bed, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude. For Meera, for Ruhaan, for the chance to rebuild everything I thought I'd lost.

As we turned off the lights and walked back to our room, Meera slipped her hand into mine. "Adhyay?"

"Yes?"

"I love you," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

I stopped, turning to look at her, my heart swelling. "I love you too, Meera. Always."

And for the first time in years, I felt like the darkness of the past had finally given way to the light of a new beginning. Together, we were whole again.