"Pehle pyaar ko bhulate bhulate jab dusri baar pyaar aaega to jodne se jada tod ke jaega!"
Trying to suppress the pull they felt, he made rudeness his facade yet her tears twirling everything inside him. The urge in him to protect her only to ruin h...
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It's been two days. The men have been occupied with their land affairs, leaving early in the morning and returning after dark.
Not a word has been exchanged between me and Randheer since that evening. He neither questioned me nor attempted to invade my space.
It was past midnight, I sat in the living room with Maa, Chachi, and Sangeet Aunty, waiting for them. Normally, I would have gone to bed long back, but their conversation was too spicy to miss.
When the doorbell rang, I got up to open the door, but the sight before made me numb.
"Papaaa!" I gasped, nearly shouting. The women rushed over to the door at my voice.
"What happened?" Chachi asked, her hands gripping my shoulders, while Aunty consoled Maa as they settled Papa on couch.
"Everything is fine," Papa said calmly, "Serve dinner; we'll talk on the table. It's already late." He added.
We silently agreed, and after serving the plates, Maa couldn't control herself anymore.
"Who dared to do this?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Parthvi, get me a glass of water." Bhai requested.
"But Bhai—"
"Go."
I nodded, walking towards the kitchen, without arguing. Why they always treat me like a child who needs protection?
I grabbed a bottle, only for someone to take it from me. I turned, annoyed, to find Randheer standing there sitting on the slab.
"Thank you!" he muttered, even his sincere words felt like a taunt.
"Paani to dushman ko bhi pilana chahiye, sababh ka kaam hota hai" I replied calmly.
(Even enemies deserve to be offered water. It's a matter of basic decency.)
Taking out another bottle and turning to leave but his next words stopped me.
"Uncle is fine. The bullet has barely touched him. The wounds aren't deep."
I looked at him, grateful at least that he didn't see me as fragile like the others.
"Who did this?"
"You don't need to know that."
His blunt response caught me off guard. I had been wrong; he is same as the others.
"I'm not a child, Randheer! I can protect myself!" I snapped, frustrated.
"Sure you can." he replied softly, his calm voice disarming me. "But you don't need to, not while I'm here."
His gaze was steady, and my eyes misted over. Before I knew I had wrapped my arms around him, seeking comfort in his embrace. He didn't pull away either, instead tucked my head beneath his chin and gently rubbed my back.
