Book 1 of the Love and Duty Series
Anirudh Roy, the steadfast and disciplined army officer, had always lived by a set of principles, none of which involved love. His life revolved around duty, honor, and the pursuit of his ambitions. Marriage, child...
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Dhairya
The night feels colder than usual as I curl up on my bed, staring at the phone in my hand. It's late—so late that most people would call me crazy for still being awake. But my mind is restless, consumed with thoughts of Ani.
He called earlier from the hospital, saying Dev was stable. I should feel relieved, but the way Ani's voice sounded—like he was holding everything together with fraying threads—keeps playing in my head. I debate calling him for what feels like the hundredth time, my thumb hovering over his name, when the phone suddenly vibrates in my hand.
It's Ani.
I answer immediately, my voice soft and filled with relief. "Ani, hey."
"Hey," he says, his tone lighter than I expect. "I was just thinking about you."
"Were you?" I tease, trying to mask the worry I feel. "Or are you just bored at the hospital?"
"Both," he admits with a small chuckle. "But mostly the first one."
I smile despite myself, sinking back into my pillows. "How's everything? How's Dev?"
"He's doing better," Ani says. "The doctors say he's out of danger, but it's going to take a while for him to recover. He's awake now, though. Even managed to tease me about skipping his wedding."
"Really?" I ask, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.
"Oh yeah," Ani replies. "He looked me dead in the eye and said, 'You better not miss it this time, Ani. I expect you in a sherwani.' Can you believe that?"
I laugh, the sound bubbling up naturally. "Sounds like he's on the mend if he's already teasing you."
"Don't encourage him," Ani groans, but I can hear the fondness in his voice. "Aahana joined in too. Said she'd make sure I danced at the sangeet."
"She sounds like a good match for him," I say softly, the thought warming my heart.
"She is," Ani says, his voice quieter now. "She's good for all of us, honestly. She's been so kind, even to me. I don't know what Dev did to deserve her."
"Maybe he's not the only one who deserves her kindness," I say, my tone gentle but firm.
Ani falls silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "You always know what to say, don't you?"
"I try," I reply, my smile softening.
We talk for a while longer, the conversation weaving between playful teasing and quiet confessions. He tells me about how Aahana tried to feed Dev soup earlier, only for Dev to complain that it was too bland.
"And then," Ani says, his voice full of amusement, "Aahana looked at me and said, 'Don't think you're safe, Ani. I'll make you soup too when it's your turn.'"
