Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 43 : The Distance

Unspoken Words

The passage of time had been kind to Aaradhya and Arjun. It had been six months since their marriage, and every day together felt like a dream come true. The palace had become their sanctuary, filled with love, laughter, and the quiet joy of two souls bound by destiny. Aaradhya's heart swelled with gratitude as she looked around their chambers—this was the life she had always wanted, a life she had once only dreamt of.

And now, as a new chapter of their journey unfolded, she was filled with a new kind of excitement. Aaradhya was pregnant. The small fluttering of life growing inside her had already become her greatest joy. She had kept this news a secret from Arjun, intending to surprise him when the time was right. She imagined his face lighting up with joy when he discovered he would soon be a father. But today, something felt different.

Aaradhya had spent the entire morning preparing for the surprise. She had taken a walk by the river, her heart light and full of love for the man she adored. As she made her way back to the palace, she couldn't help but smile, imagining how Arjun would react to the news. She had dressed in her finest clothes, her hair flowing gently behind her, and her heart racing with anticipation.

When she arrived at their chamber, she noticed that Arjun was sitting near the window, his bow resting beside him, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something unreadable. His eyes seemed distant as they stared out at the horizon, lost in thought.

"Arjun?" Aaradhya called softly, her voice filled with warmth.

He turned his head slowly, but there was a brief flicker of something she couldn't quite decipher in his eyes. His lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Welcome back, my love," Arjun said in a neutral tone, his voice quieter than usual.

Aaradhya smiled, but she sensed the subtle tension in the air. "Is everything alright? You seem a bit distant today."

Arjun nodded, but the tension in his posture remained. "Just a bit of fatigue, nothing to worry about," he replied, though his words lacked their usual warmth.

Aaradhya's heart sank a little. She knew Arjun well enough to understand that something was off, but she didn't want to press him. She thought maybe it had just been a bad day—perhaps something had troubled him in the war council or elsewhere.

"Well," Aaradhya said, trying to lighten the mood, "I have something for you. A surprise."

Arjun looked at her, his eyes briefly meeting hers, but his gaze quickly dropped to the floor. "Not now, Aaradhya. I need some time alone."

His words stung more than she expected, but she quickly masked her disappointment with a smile. "Of course," she said, trying not to show how hurt she was. "I'll just leave it for later then."

She turned to leave the room, her heart heavy. She had hoped this would be a moment of shared joy, but instead, it seemed as though Arjun was pulling away. Maybe it was a bad day for him, she thought. Perhaps he needed space, or maybe he just needed rest.

Later that night, after dinner, Aaradhya lay down beside him, her thoughts swirling. She felt a strange distance between them, a disconnect that had never existed before. Arjun had been so warm and loving, so attentive, and now... now, he seemed like a shadow of himself.

As she lay there, sleep refusing to come, she couldn't help but notice the subtle way he had shifted, the way he had barely touched her hand or smiled at her. She turned over, hoping to find solace in sleep, but her heart felt uneasy.

But as the night grew quiet, Aaradhya felt the soft pressure of Arjun's lips on her forehead. His kiss was tender, almost reverent, as if he were trying to make up for something unspoken.

"I'm sorry," Arjun whispered softly, his voice breaking just a little. "I should have been there for you today. Please forgive me."

Aaradhya's heart fluttered as she turned to face him. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and she could feel the weight of his sorrow.

"Arjun, what's wrong?" she whispered, her voice thick with concern.

He shook his head, his hands gently brushing her hair back from her face. "It's not you, Aaradhya. It's me. I've been carrying something heavy inside me, and I didn't know how to share it with you."

She could feel the anguish in his words, the pain he had been hiding. "Arjun," she said softly, "whatever it is, we'll face it together. You don't have to carry it alone."

Arjun's eyes welled with tears, and he pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair. "I'm so sorry, Aaradhya," he murmured. "I didn't mean to distance myself from you. I was just... scared. Scared of the changes, of what's happening to me. And then today... I couldn't face you properly. I didn't want you to see how weak I am."

Aaradhya's heart clenched as she hugged him tighter. "Arjun, you're not weak. You're strong, stronger than anyone I know. But we're in this together. Whatever you're feeling, I'm here for you."

He nodded, his arms tightening around her. "And I'm here for you too," he whispered. "Always."

As she lay in his arms, Aaradhya finally allowed herself to relax, her heartbeat steadying. She knew that Arjun would never pull away from her for long, that his love for her was unwavering. It was just that, sometimes, even the strongest of hearts needed time to heal, to process the weight of their responsibilities.

Before sleep finally took over, Aaradhya gently rested her hand on her stomach, the secret of their child still safe within her. She knew that soon, Arjun would understand the depth of her love for him and the joy they were about to bring into this world.

For now, she was content in his arms, knowing that together, they would face everything—both the joys and the challenges—because that's what love was all about. And no matter how many storms came their way, they would weather them together.