His Unrequited Love

Chapter ~ 25

Aadrika entered the room and found it empty. She began to remove her jewelry and other accessories before heading into the bathroom to change her clothes.

Upon returning to the room, Aadrika find Reyansh sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, lost in thought. The memory of the ceremony flashed through Aadrika's mind, causing her to look at him with a newfound admiration rather than irritation.

Aadrika approached Reyansh and stood in front of him. He smiled and spoke without opening his eyes.

"Do you need something, Patni ji?"

A smile tugged at Aadrika's lips upon hearing his words for the first time. She quickly composed herself and replied

"I wanted to thank you for standing up for me when that woman..."

She trailed off, but Reyansh opened his eyes, smiled, and interrupted, "You should have done that the next moment she started talking nonsense about you."

Aadrika looked at him and said, "I don't want to disrespect the guests and she was older than me."

Reyansh sighed and said.

"Come."

Aadrika moved forward and settled onto the sofa beside Reyansh. As he turned to face her, his gaze met hers and he began to speak.

"Aadrika, it's important to remember that standing up for yourself is never wrong, even if someone older is trying to make you feel inferior or insult you. If asserting yourself causes them to feel insulted, that is their issue, not yours."

Reyansh paused, allowing his words to sink in as Aadrika continued to gaze at him intently.

"Respect should be earned through actions and behavior, not simply based on age. There are many criminals who are older than us, but that doesn't mean we should automatically respect them. It's important to stand up for yourself and not let anyone belittle you."

Aadrika gazed downward and nodded in agreement.

"Reyansh, I cannot deny that the words of others affect me. Despite my efforts to erase them from my memory, they continue to linger in the recesses of my mind. It is inevitable, as we are all human beings. I try to push them out of my mind, but a lingering shadow remains, its painful. Even when I try to forget, the echoes of those words persist. The echoes of past actions linger," she confessed.

Reyansh studied her, sensing that she was alluding to something or someone beyond the surface. Reyansh gently grasped her hands, she gazed at their hands but why she is not feeling uncomfortable with his touch.

"We can't escape the remnants of the past, Aadrika, but it's up to us to interpret them. Don't let them define you. Some people view things negatively, while others find a positive perspective and becomes stronger.

We need to focus on self-improvement. It's that simple. The first step towards change begins with ourselves."

Reyansh spoke in a calm voice, a smile laced on Aadrika's lips.

Reyansh's heart warmed as Aadrika's genuine smile met his gaze, a stark contrast to her usual mocking or sarcastic expressions.

"You're not so bad, Mr. Rajvanshi," she remarked, eliciting a smile from Reyansh.

"Atleast, now, don't call me Mr. Rajvanshi, for goodness' sake," he chuckled.

Aadrika rose from her seat, "Thank you Reyansh, but don't think we are done and you're safe. Be wary of me husband."

With a smile, she left Reyansh, who couldn't help but smile back and quip.

"Be prepared, Reyansh."

___________

"How many days you're gonna stay there."

Reyansh inquired of Aadrika, who was preoccupied with combing her hair, how long she planned to stay in her parents home as she is leaving for her pagphera. She turned to him and casually replied.

"Around a week."  Reyansh turned around.

"Give me your phone number."

Reyansh asked for her phone number, to which Aadrika questioned, "Why do you need my phone number?"

Reyansh, walking towards her, reminded her. "Aadrika, we are married now. I am your husband."

Aadrika, smiling, crossed her arms and inquired, "Okay, I know, but why do you need my number?"

Reyansh shook his head and explained, "We need to be able to communicate with each other, even though we live in the same house and room. What if someone inquire me about you, how will it sound that I don't even have my own wife's number."

Aadrika, looking at him, remarked, "You talk a lot, Reyansh."

Reyansh, smiling sarcastically, responded, "Yes, because you don't seem to grasp simple sentences, so I have to elaborate for you."

Aadrika, with a hint of annoyance, asked, "Are you implying that I am unintelligent?"

Reyansh, feigning fear, placed a hand over his mouth and exclaimed, "How could a man with a wife as strong as Jhansi ki Rani even suggest such a thing? I cherish my life."

A smile began to form on Aadrika's lips, but she quickly concealed it and asked Reyansh for his phone.

Reyansh looked at her, raising his eyebrows , Aadrika too responded by raising her own eyebrows and extending her right hand. Without hesitation, Reyansh placed his phone in her hand. She glanced at his phone and then back at him.

"Unlock it," she instructed.

Reyansh quickly unlocked his phone and handed it back to her. She saved her number in his phone and returned it to him.

Reyansh took his phone, checked the number, and called it. Aadrika's phone rang, and she looked at him expectantly.

"Save my number as well. And after you get ready, come downstairs and have breakfast. We will then depart for your parents' house," she said.

Aadrika nodded in agreement and returned to her work.

____________

Aadrika graciously received blessings from grandmother and then her parents-in-law before they were about to leave. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling out.

"Wait, bhabhi."

Aadrika looked up to see Dhriti walking towards her with a smile.

"When will you be back, bhabhi?" Dhriti asked Aadrika, who smiled and replied.

"I will be back in 5-7 days."

Dhriti smiled, hugged Aadrika, and said, " Enjoy and come back soon, okay?"

Aadrika smiled and replied, "Okay."

Dhriti then went towards her brother and whispered, "Don't forget that you still have to take me shopping."

Reyansh looked at her, raised his eyebrows, and whispered back, "Come back to Earth."

Dhriti looked at him and said, "Are you challenging me, bhai?"

Reyansh looked at her and said.
"Yes."

Dhriti smirked and replied, "Get ready to lose then."

She stood there, looking away from him. He looked at his sister, shook his head with a smile, and then Aadrika approached him and said.

"Let's go."

He nodded, playfully hit Dhriti on the head, and walked away.

"Bhaiiiiiiii," Dhriti screamed, and he chuckled.

Aadrika looked at him and asked,

"Why did you hit her?"

He looked at Aadrika and replied, "Nothing will happen to her devilish head."

He then started to walk, Aadrika shook her head, sat down in the car, and Reyansh closed her side door. He walked towards the driver's seat, sat inside, and started their journey towards Aadrika's parents mansion.

             

              To be continued........