𝐂𝐇𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈: 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞| 𝟏𝟖+ [Extended Ver.]

𝟏𝟔. 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇

TOMORROW, CH. 17 WILL BE AVAILABLE ON STCK

VOTING TARGET: 800+ [Today onwards, we'll have voting target per chapter.]

CHHAVI'S POV

The next morning, Drishye left for Delhi, leaving Aahana and me with Noor. And now, it's been almost four weeks since he left.

We talk often, multiple times a day, in fact. He keeps calling to check in, asking if I've eaten, if Aahana made it to school, if Noor is doing her job well and often our conversations lead to a warm share of affection for each other, leaving me as a blushing mess. His concern feels warm and I've learned to accept it.

And, I'd love to let him know about my feelings and the years long truth I've been keeping to myself. I just hope he makes it to Dehradun soon so that I can arrange a warm candle- light dinner for him that night and confess my true feelings. It's high time, I let him know because he has been doing more than a lot for me and my daughter to prove his love for me.

Even though I always knew he hand strong feelings for me, I was never aware that it could last beyond ten years- to the point where he readily accepted my daughter without any hesitation. Seeing them bond so easily was very unexpected as well as overwhelming for me. Well, life has become pretty breathable after settling at his warm wood house.

A week after his departure, I received an email that left me stunned- a letter of appointment offering me the position of an assistant professor at a local institute. For a moment, I stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief. Was this even real?

When I informed Drishye during our call, I learned he had made all the arrangements. The institute's head turns out to be an acquaintance of his.

I was excited yet nervous. The idea of stepping into a classroom again, felt overwhelming. Sensing my hesitation, he spoke to me in a calm yet firm tone.

"Miss Rosy, you need to take charge of your life already. It's time." He said. "I've rebuilt myself more times than I can count. Trust me, you can too."

Maybe he was right. Maybe it was time to take that first step toward rebuilding myself.

I've to do this for Aahana, if not for myself. I've to do this for Drishye. He's been trying so hard to help me become the person I once was, but if I keep holding myself back, I'll never escape the dark hole of fear I've trapped myself in.

So, I accepted the offer. I stepped into the classroom again.

And guess what? It wasn't as hard as I had imagined.

The moment I picked up the chalk, something shifted inside me. I instinctively knew what I had to do. The nerves I'd been battling melted away as I faced the students.

The interaction with the numbers and those learning minds made me realize how much unnecessarily I was holding myself back from doing what I enjoyed doing.

I surprised myself with my potential- it wasn't destroyed after all. It had only been dormant, waiting for a little nudge to awaken it.

And now, I didn't need Drishye to push me anymore.

I was leading myself, one step at a time. And it felt liberating.

After classes, I spend time in the library, revisiting topics that weren't entirely forgotten but needed a little brushing up. And the feeling it gave me- good Lord! It felt like my soul was finally breaking free from the shackles of my enslaved mind. Daily, I feel the adrenaline course through me, brimming my heart with joy and the thrill of becoming a better version of myself.