Obsessively yours

Chapter 20| Love that we hold

NITYA

The warm Delhi sun beats down on us as we step into the bustling market. Yes, we had planned to come to the market after my mental breakdown, cause he said it'll be better for me to take some fresh air and now I kinda agree with him. The air smells of spices and the subtle scent of street food. People are everywhere, laughing, bargaining, and moving with a rhythm that feels alive. Unlike me, they're all happy with their lives unburdened from their past but Abhi's presence beside me feels like a shield—protective, comforting, and unwavering, making me feel... normal.

We wander through the stalls, and I can't help but smile at the vibrant colors surrounding me. It all feels so normal

Abhi catches my hand as we move past a stall selling handmade pottery, the earthy tones of the mugs and bowls tempting me. His fingers entwine with mine, and I feel a rush of warmth spread through me. I glance at him, finding his gaze soft, yet intense, like he's trying to read every emotion that flits across my face. It's comforting in a way that's hard to explain.

"do you like anything here, rani sa??" he asks, his voice gentle as he looks at the pottery, but his attention is still on me.

I look at the delicate mugs, imagining them in my kitchen, and a laugh bubbles up. "I like everything," I admit, my fingers grazing the edge of a beautifully painted vase. "But I don't know if I have the space for it all."

Abhi grins, the mischief in his eyes unmistakable. "chinta mat kariye, hum aapki zindagi mai aapki har pasand ke liye jagah bana denge" His words hold so much meaning, more than just about the pottery or anything material.

(don't worry, I'll make space for everything you love, in your life)

"we'll buy everything" he then says to the potter

"What?" I ask

I blink at him, momentarily speechless. My heart flutters in my chest, like it's beating out of rhythm. How does he always know what to say?

Then he pays the shopkeeper, and he says all the stuff will be delivered at my house, We continue walking through the narrow alleyways of the market, the noise of the crowd swirling around us. It's everything I need right now. The chaos, the noise, the life... it feels like I'm finally part of it again.

Abhi stops at a stall with brightly colored scarves draped over a wooden rod. He picks up a deep red one, holding it up to my face with a teasing grin. "This would look perfect on you, Rani sa."

I laugh, a soft sound, but it feels genuine. "It's beautiful, but I don't know if I can pull it off."

"aap par toh sab hi acha lagta hai" he says, his voice sincere, but there's that playful glint in his eyes again. 

(everything looks good on you)

I shake my head, trying not to smile too much. "You're impossible," I tease.

He places the scarf around my neck, his hands lingering for a second too long. There's a moment of silence between us, but it's not awkward. It's comfortable. I can feel his love in the simple act, in the way his touch doesn't let go immediately. It's grounding, like I've found a place where I belong, where I'm safe.

"Perfect," he says softly, stepping back to admire his work, as if he's made me into a work of art.

I look at myself in the small mirror on the stall's counter, feeling like I'm seeing myself for the first time in a long time. Maybe it's the scarf, maybe it's the way Abhi is looking at me, but in this moment, I don't feel broken anymore. I don't feel like the girl who hides behind walls, pretending to be someone she's not. I feel... seen. And for once, that doesn't scare me.