When The Heart Lies | ✓

[39]

This day was different.

A bad kind of different. It felt as if the bond between the blood relations didn't matter anymore. What mattered was the trend that people followed.

Trend of fighting for your love.

Pihu couldn't make a single move after hearing those piercing words from Sakshi. Never had she thought, the bubbly, pretty girl could disrespect her brother who could bring stars and moon for her.

She sighed, concluding that this wasn't easy.

To be in the middle and pass the message like an owl. So caring ones from one side and so harsh from another. It wasn't fair and Pihu was tired. Her wings ached.

"What happened?" Came the voice from the door just as it opened, followed by the sound of his footsteps. Her eyes didn't move as she wanted to avoid making her already tired husband, more tired of family drama.

"Hey?" The voice now sounded so close, closer to her ear. The velvety soothing sound, the fresh scent of him brought an overwhelming feeling in her chest. Pihu tried hard not to cry. "What's wrong?"

She couldn't speak. What could she even say to him? That his sister was out there meeting a man who had broke her heart years ago, whom she  couldn't get over, who could be a rapist. What could she even explain? That she didn't care about the reputation of her family and the heart of her loving brother.

How much it would hurt Raghav? Pihu knew the answer very well. He would be disappointed. He would be broken. He had so many expectations from her.

No matter how worse the circumstances had started to turn out—she couldn't break this beautiful bond between the brother and sister.

"Did something happen at school?" Came his worried voice. So lovingly that she had started to melt. "Tell me," he whispered, staring at her. "Pihu?"

She closed her eyes and breathed hard. Opening them back, she smiled softly at him yet it turned out as sad as she truly was.

Raghav could read her face very well, she knew.

"You are scaring me," he told her.

She let out a soft chuckle, holding his hand and squeezing it. "Nothing much. Just stressed out from all the function and managing rehearsals." Looking at his face, knowing her excuse wasn't working, she tried to make a direction. "And I missed you."

Raghav breathed out, observing her keenly. "What is so stressing today? You have been managing the preparations these past weeks. What changed today? You don't look fine to me, showing me those sad eyes." He checked her forehead from the back of his hand. "Or is it about your health?"

She kept quiet, observing his face. So much had changed over years. The bad boy who had managed to terrify her, kidnap and then marry her —was now a loving, caring and successful family man. He had covered all his sins by showing up the bright side of his heart.

Even in her dreams she hadn't thought, she would get someone like him as her husband. With whom she would spend rest of her life together.

"You are so precious," she couldn't control saying out loud. "So precious to me, Raghav."

A small smile stretched his lips as he pulled her in his arms. She rested her head on his chest, letting out a deep breathe. Closing her eyes, she murmured, "I cannot see a glint of sadness in your eyes. I don't know what I would do to bring a little smile on your face. You are so precious to me."

He narrowed his eyes in confusion, glancing down at her. Looking at her closed eyes, he kept wondering what had made her say those words to him.

"You were bad back then, not evil. You could be bad when you have a rich Dad and no one to scold you for doing wrong. It wasn't your fault-"