Chapter 19 Trapped Between Fear And Care
Looking at my innocence, anyone in that moment would feel a deep affection for me but he is Samar Rajput, the heartless one. Still, I feel it my heartbeat races unusually fast as he walks slowly toward me.
I curl into myself, nervous and unsure, as he comes closer, closing the distance. When I try to move away, he places both his hands on either side of me, trapping me in place.
My breath catches in my throat. "W-What what are you doing?" I ask in a trembling voice.
He leans down, whispering softly into my ear, "Were you worried about me?"
His voice makes my eyes flutter shut. "Y-you, y-you haven’t had d-dinner yet." I reply, my voice shaky. My eyes are lowered, lashes trembling. Fear and unease course through me I can’t even look at him.
Suddenly, Samar moves one hand gently behind me and wraps it around my waist. I am stunned as he pulls me close; my small hands instinctively land on his chest.
Feeling my soft touch, I sense his eyes close for a brief moment, like he finds a strange, unexpected peace.
I am completely shaken by his words and closeness. My heart feels like it will leap right out of my chest. I try slightly to step back, but his hand is still firmly and a bit possessively wrapped around my waist.
"P-please… p-please move away…" I murmur, nervous and trembling.
His gaze locks onto mine my panic, my fear, my innocent restlessness everything about me seems to draw him in even more.
He leans in closer and says softly, "Tell me… were you worried about me?"
His voice is low, intense, and I freeze. For a moment, I can’t tell if he is trying to scare me… or comfort me.
I push against his chest with a bit of strength, but Samar lets go of my waist only to gently grab both of my hands in his. My small, delicate hands now rest safely in his strong grip, like soft petals held between firm palms.
His eyes are still fixed on me. My face, my nervous expressions, everything about me seems to touch something deep inside him. And then, without a word, he leans back slightly and suddenly scoops me up in his arms.
"W-What are you doing?" I gasp in shock.
"Don’t you eat properly? You’re so light." he says calmly.
I am completely confused. What has happened to this devil? The man who is always cold and distant is now speaking to me so gently, with such unexpected care.
He carries me to the room and gently places me down on the sofa. Throughout it all, he hasn’t let me out of his arms for even a second. Every move of his carries an unfamiliar softness.
"I’m going to Neeti… she called me," I say softly. But as I try to get up, Samar catches my hand and pulls me back toward him. "Let her call you… but you’re not going right now," he says firmly.
I look up, confusion and unease in my eyes. "Why are you saying things like this?"
He leans a little closer, eyes locked on mine. "Because I’m your husband and that gives me the right to say these things."
He takes one of my hands in his, and with the other, begins to gently feed me. I speak slowly, calm but firm, "You’re not my husband our divorce is already done."
Samar freezes. His hand stops midair. I sit there, head bowed like a helpless child, voice soft but steady.
After a pause, he says, "The divorce isn’t final yet. The papers are still with me."
I quietly reply, "Those papers are already signed. You can submit them after a month. I’ll be leaving this house after that."
I stand up and walk to the bed, lying down quietly. My face looks calm, but my eyes hold a silent sadness.
Samar keeps looking at me for a while, then suddenly, a small, determined, devilish smile appears on his lips.
It’s 7 a.m. Neeti just gets out of bed, rubbing her eyes, on her way to brush her teeth when Karan barges into the room.
"Whoa! A miracle! Neeti woke up before the sun today?" Karan says loudly.
I watch as Neeti rolls her eyes. "Karan Bro, I wake up early every day."
Karan laughs. "Alright alright now, shall we begin Mission ‘Sleeping Beauty Ruhi’?"
They exchange mischievous looks and tiptoe toward Ruhi’s bed. Ruhi is fast asleep, mouth slightly open, hair a complete mess, hugging her pillow like it’s her life.
Neeti whispers, "Look at her, Bro, she legit looks like she passed out in the middle of a forest."
"Forest? Just say it she looks like a mini polar bear!" Karan says.
Neeti tries hard to hold back her giggles. Karan gently fans Ruhi’s forehead and says in a royal tone, "Wake up, oh princess! All the monkeys in your jungle are searching for you!"
Neeti adds with a teasing snap, "Come on Ruhi, wake up, or I swear we’ll post your current look on Instagram!"
Ruhi suddenly opens one eye and, without saying a word, tosses her pillow at Neeti. Karan bursts out laughing.
"You both are insane… let me sleep, please!" Ruhi says in a sleepy voice.
"Get up or I’m gonna splash water on you," Karan says, making a fake pout.
Neeti replies, "No Bro, not water. It’s better if we just wake her up with her crush’s name!"
Both Karan and Neeti yell together, "Ruhi! Rohit is getting married!!"
Ruhi shoots up instantly, hair wild, eyes wide open. "What?! To who?!"
Karan and Neeti laugh out loud together. Karan says, "Mission successful! Polar Bear activated!"
As soon as Ruhi jerks upright in bed, her hair flies in all directions like a wild storm, her eyes filled with sleep and obvious fury. I watch her, trying hard not to laugh.
Ruhi shrugs her shoulders, in a sleepy and irritated voice. "Don’t you two ever rest? I was studying all night, and now this circus first thing in the morning?!"
Karan tries to stifle his laughter, covering his mouth and whispering, "Neeti, looks like the ‘younger sister of a cyclone’ is officially awake!"
Neeti waves her hands dramatically, adding, "Not a cyclone the entire jungle storm! Just look at her eyes like a hawk, hair like a haunted doll!"
Karan opens his phone’s camera, pretending to record. "Someone add spooky music to this. She’s giving full witchy horror film vibes!"
Ruhi, fuming, grabs a pillow and charges at him. "Bro, I swear I’ll hit you for real move!"
Karan darts behind the bed and yells, "Ahhh! She’s entered full-on Wild mode!"
The chaos reaches its peak when the door suddenly flies open. Mrs. Zrur rushes in, clearly alarmed. "What happened?! Who was shouting?"