Battle within Hearts

Chapter 13

'It hurts because I am stuck up in the same place. It hurts because I could not move on. It hurts because you mean something to me. It hurts because you dont feel the same. It hurts because you failed my love. It hurts because you were sympathetic towards me. It hurts because ...' after a silent pause, she said, 'It hurts because I loved you, I still love you and probably always will'.

'Yesss', Pankhuri hissed in happiness, standing outside the room, peeping inside, while she felt a palm closing her mouth effectively, and she could never make a mistake on whom it belonged to.

'Shhh', she heard her fiancee, Adi, whisper in her ears.

'Yaar you are spoiling it. Come on lets leave', He said and took Pankhuri away to his room.

'Adi, this is not done!' She whined and Adi was amused at her childishness. Pankhuri was always the mature one among the two but he was observing the opposite, with him being more sensible.

'You were about to break their moment Pankhu', he complained and she calmed down pouting at him.

'Come on, dont sulk, alright?' He threw his arms to the sides and sat on one of the chairs placed on the poolside of his room.

Pankhuri joined him, excited to share the information she acquired.

'I am so happy Adi. Finally everything will be sorted out. I am sure Arnav will handle it well', she smiled, elated.

'I know! Finally I can romance in open air', he winked, grabbing her close by her waist.

'Shameless idiot!' Pankhuri slapped his shoulders.

'Apne Pati ko idiot bolti hai?' Adi feigned anger. (Will you call your husband an idiot?)

'Pati nahin, hone waala Pati', she corrected him and continued, 'And yeah I have all the rights to call you anything in this world!' Pankhuri laughed.  (You are yet to be my husband)

Adi laughed along with her, giving her the permission. Their eyes slowly met, rendering them transfixed, while Adi cupped her face in his palms. She closed her eyes at his tender touch, feeling his breath, her heart beating erratically at their proximity. He slowly kissed her forehead, followed by her eyes and then her cheeks before his lips rested on hers for a second, giving her a light peck.

Pankhuri was in a trance at his ministrations, her mind and body numbed at his touch, refusing to revert back to her proper senses for a few seconds after the feathery light kisses from Adi.

She shied away as soon as she was back from the magical world he had taken her into, and rose to her feet hurriedly to leave the place, only to be caught by Adi.

He held her forearm, halting her, while she did not dare to turn around to face him. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness, proof of her love for him.

'Adi please, leave me!' She pleaded, though her heart wanted him to hold her hand forever.

He smirked and then without loosening the grip on her, he turned her around gently. Lifting her chin up, he locked his eyes with hers, before she embraced him in a tight hug which he completed.

He still wondered about the changes in her that were so rapid. A shy Pankhuri was a stranger to him until the day he confessed his love. He, since childhood, knew her to be bold, strong and jovial. But then realised that those were the qualities of his best friend Pankhu, while Pankhuri as a girlfriend was totally another person. He was introduced to her shyness, her blush when he kissed, her trembling lips and pounding heart whenever he held her close, and her lowering eyelids at his intense gaze.

The couple were transported back to the day almost a year back, before Adi left for his project.

Flashback