His second wife (#SaRaj)

39) Nightmares and Taunts

Need a lot of comments.......

Savi's eyes snapped open, her heart racing and her forehead slick with sweat. She was gasping for air, as if she had been underwater for too long. The darkness of the room seemed to close in around her, making her feel claustrophobic.

She sat up in bed, her hands shaking as she pushed her hair out of her face. The images from her nightmare still lingered in her mind - Ishaan's smiling face, her lost child's tiny hands, the feeling of desperation and loss that had consumed her.

Savi took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She looked around the room, taking in the familiar shapes of Kiaan's and Sai's beds. The children were sleeping peacefully, oblivious to her distress.

Just as Savi return to bed to sleep, She woke up again with a start, her heart racing and her forehead sweating. She had been trapped in a nightmare, reliving memories she thought were long buried. She sat up in bed, gasping for air, feeling suffocated by the darkness.

Without thinking, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, trying to shake off the lingering fear. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

Her throat parched, she made her way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see Rajat sitting at the table, eating his dinner alone.

The soft glow of the kitchen lights illuminated his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his features. Savi felt a flutter in her chest as their eyes met, but she quickly looked away, focusing on getting a glass of water.

Rajat's voice broke the silence. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his tone low and gentle.

Savi hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to reveal her inner turmoil, but at the same time, she felt a strange sense of comfort in Rajat's presence.

" You come back so late?" Savi avoided talking about her palpitations.

Rajat's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled wryly. "Work's been keeping me busy," he replied, pushing his plate away. "I'm used to eating alone, but it's nice to have some company for a change."

Savi nodded silently, taking a sip of her water. She stood with her back against the counter, her eyes fixed on Rajat's face. The soft light of the kitchen highlighted the tired lines on his face, and for a moment, Savi felt a pang of sympathy for him.

" Aren't you sleepy?"

Savi shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "I'm not sleepy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rajat raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're not sleepy, or you don't want to sleep?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Savi looked away, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. She didn't know how to respond, didn't know how to explain the nightmares that haunted her, the memories that refused to fade.

Savi shook her head, trying to brush off the conversation. "It's nothing," she said, forcing a smile. "I just couldn't sleep, that's all."

Rajat looked at her skeptically, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he stood up and began to clear the table. "I'll clean up," he said. "You can go back to bed."

Savi nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. She knew that she had dodged a personal conversation, one that could have led to uncomfortable questions and revelations. She wasn't ready to open up to Rajat, not yet. Maybe not ever.

........

Savi's hands moved mechanically as she packed Sai's lunch and made bread toast for Kiaan. Sita, the maid who had worked in Savi's old home and had followed her to her in-laws' house, noticed that Savi seemed distracted.