हर ज़ख्म दिल का तुझे दिल से दुआ दे

खुशियाँ तुझे, ग़म सारे मुझको खुदा दे

तुझको भुला ना पाया मेरी बेबसी है

तू मेरी ज़िंदगी है, तू मेरी हर ख़ुशी है

Hey readers, many of you were requesting me to translate the hindi phrases into English, so I'll be doing it from this chapter onwards, but translating previous chapters will take time, I hope you all will cooperate. Thank you for choosing to read this book, lots of love!

Author's POV

The first soft rays of dawn filter through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Abhigyan lies sound asleep beside Priya, his breathing steady and calm.

When she woke up, she felt slightly good.

She saw him sleeping beside her, holding her waist tightly. She caressed his cheek lightly.

As she gazed at her husband's peaceful face, Priya's thoughts drifted back to the dark days of her kidnapping. She remembered the fear and uncertainty that gripped her heart, the desperate longing to be reunited with her loved ones.

But amidst her own anguish, Priya couldn't help but wonder about the pain Abhigyan must have endured during her absence. She imagined him lying awake at night, tormented by thoughts of her safety, his heart aching with the fear of losing her forever.

A pang of sorrow tugged at Priya's heart as she reflected on the toll her kidnapping must have taken on Abhigyan. She wished she could ease his pain, erase the shadows that lingered in the corners of his mind.

Yesterday was equally tough for him. She had seen him crying this much for the first time. It must be so hard for him when she was unconscious.

With a heavy sigh, Priya reached out to gently brush a lock of hair from Abhigyan's forehead, her touch light and tender. She silently vowed to be a source of strength and comfort for him, to stand by his side through whatever trials may come.

He moved a little as his eyeballs moved under his eyelids.

She ran her fingers lightly into his hairs and saw him opening his eyes slowly.

Sunlight falling on his face from the window. He rubbed his eyes with his hands and sat up slowly. His eyes moved to look at her.

He saw her beautiful eyes. Brown eyes.

He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. He muttered in a low, soft voice,

"Itni jaldi uth gayi aap, kuch der aur so jati na baccha."

[You woke up so early, you could have slept a little longer na, bacha.]

She shook her head and held his forearm, slightly caressing it with her palm.

He cupped her cheek with one hand and asked,

"How are you feeling now?".

She gulped silently.

He placed his head on her shoulder and caressed her bare waist lightly.

She spoke in a low voice,

"Theek hai hum pehle se, bas wo dukh Mann se nahi ja Raha."

[I'm fine, it's just that the sorrow isn't leaving my heart.]

He placed a gentle kiss over her shoulder and closed his eyes after lying back.

Intertwining fingers with her, he muttered,

"Hume toh parso malum hi hua ki hum baap banne wale the, wo bhi tab jab hum usey kho chuke the."

[ I only found out the day before yesterday that I was going to be a father, and that too when I had lost her.]

She caressed his back slowly with her palm.

They remained silent, not uttering a single word, just the sound of their breaths surrounding them.

Then, he sat up slowly. Looking away, he muttered,

"Bistar se uthne ki zaroorat nahi hai, jab Tak hum nahi aate."

[There's no need to get up from bed until I come.]

She nodded, knowing that he was ordering her strictly.

He stood up and moved outside.

***

He returned back after fifteen minutes.

Moving towards the bed, he asked,

"Chal paengi Hume pakar kar?".

She smiled a little seeing his care. He shifted more closer and sat beside her on the edge of the bed.

He pushed the hair strands back from her face. She placed her palm on his chest and replied,

"Hum theek hai ab, ji. Aap kyu chinta kar rahe hai."

He shook his head,

"Nahi, tum theek nahi ho. Humse jhuth mat bolo."

She gave him a wide smile and tried to sit up slowly. Abhigyan helped her.

With his support, she stood up slowly from the bed and held his shoulder for support.

Abhigyan noticed her discomfort and without thinking twice, picked her up in bridal style. She encircled her hands around his neck and he started walking outside.

She tapped his shoulder and spoke,

"Koi dekhega, ji. Hume niche utaariye."

He shook his head,

"Dekhne do. Hum tumhe aise nahi dekh sakte."

She argued,

"Maa ji dekh lengi, Hume niche utaar dijiye na. Kya sochengi woh."

He replied angrily,

"Kya-kya sochengi. Hume koi fark nahi padta. Chup raho, nahi toh tum jaanti ho humara gussa."

She zipped her mouth.

And yes, Surekha saw them. She was sitting in the Aangan itself. She saw her in his arms and made a weird face.

Priya hid herself in his chest.

When they reached the bathroom, Abhigyan kept her feet on the floor and made her sit on a flat stone like elevated area in the bathroom.

Placing bucket full of water in front of her, he muttered,

"Brush your teeth, finish your business. I'll come back with your clothes then we'll bath together, hn?".

She nodded her head.

As soon as he left, she finished her business and was waiting for him to arrive.

He came back with her clothes and kept it on the string. He stepped closer to her and helped her to get undressed.

When she was naked finally, he undressed himself.

He washed her body properly, and she didn't hesitate. She knew he was being caring towards her. She knew she cannot stop him.

It wasn't something sexual for them, it was moment of affection, pure warmth.

After he washed her, he washed himself.

He wiped her body with the towel and helped her to wear her clothes.

He wore his and then moved out in the same way along with her in his arms, without glancing at anyone else.

***

Placing her on the bed, he went outside towards the home temple. He worshipped and then came back to her, to give her Prasad and apply tilak on her head.

Placing a light kiss on her temple, he muttered in a low voice,

"Khana le kar aate hai hum."

["I'll bring the food."]

She shook her head immediately.

He glared her and she spoke,

"Bhuk nahi hai hume na."

["I'm not hungry."]

He scoffed,

"Pata nahi kitne din se ache se nahi khai. Hum nahi chorne Wale tumhe."

["I don't know for how many days you haven't eaten properly. I'm not going to leave you."]

She shook her head again.

He touched her face with his palm and spoke,

"Acha tum mat khana, hum khaenge bas. Hume toh khane dogi na?".

["Okay, you don't eat, I'll eat. Will you let me eat, won't you?"]

She nodded with a smile.

He stepped outside.

He came back after fifteen minutes with a plate, which had Dahlia in it. He had prepared it himself.

He sat beside her on the edge of the bed and muttered,

"Humne banaya hai, ab bhi nahi khana?".

["I made it, still not going to eat?"]

She looked into his eyes.

Licking her lips, she nodded her head.

He smiled and forwarded the first bite to her. She savoured it's taste and asked,

"Aapko khana banana aata hai?".

["Do you know how to cook?"]

He nodded his head,

"Didi toh rehti nahi yahan, maa beemar hai, seekh Gaye hum."

["Didi doesn't live here, maa is sick, so I learned."]

She smiled.

He kept on feeding her and to himself also, until the food finished.

He moved out to keep the dirty plate and came back only to wipe her mouth.

He sat beside her and spoke,

"Aaram Karo. Hum yahi hai."

["Take rest. I'm right here."]

She laid down on the bed and he covered her with the blanket. She muttered,

"Aap kaam par nahi jayenge Aaj?".

["Aren't you going to work today?"]

He simply replied,

"Humari biwi beemar hai."

["My wife is sick."]

She smiled.

He patted her head, until she fell asleep and he kept on sitting there.

***

When she woke up, it was evening. She had slept literally half day.

She tried to sit up hurriedly but Abhigyan, who was sitting on the chair, stood up immediately and stopped her.

"Kya hua? Kyu uth Rahi ho, kuch chahiye?".

["What happened? Why are you waking up, do you need something?"]

She spoke in amusement,

"Itni der ho gayi aapne Hume uthaaya kyu nahi?".

["Why didn't you wake me up, it's been so long?"]

"Kyu uthate, aaram kar rahi thi tum, zaroorat hai tumhe aaram ki."

["Why wake up, you were resting, you need rest."]

She sat up, despite of stopping him.

When he asked, she replied,

"Hume ghutan ho Rahi hai kamre me, bahar le chaliye Hume."

["I'm feeling suffocated in the room, take me outside."]

He nodded and tried to pick her up in his arms again.

She stopped him,

"Ab theek hai hum. Chal sakte hai hum khud se."

["Now I'm fine. I can walk on my own."]

He nodded.

She stood up from the bed and they moved outside, he was holding her by her shoulder.

She sat in the Aangan, where Surekha was also sitting.

Priya bent down a little infront of her to touch her feet and she replied,

"Bas-bas hogaya."

["That's enough now."]

She sat on another chair, feeling slightly awkward as her face was also covered by the veil.

Abhigyan broke the silence as he spoke,

"Kaisi tabiyat hai aapki maa?".

["How is your health now, maa?"]

His mother taunted,

"Humari kya padi hai kisiko, sab apne apne zindagi mein vyasth hai, rahe."

["Anyone doesn't care about me, everyone is busy with their own lives, let them be."]

Abhigyan argued, respectfully,

"Aise kyu keh rahi hai aap, hum aapka dhyan nahi rakhte kya."

["Why are you saying that, don't I take care of you?"]

She scoffed,

"Haan .. biwi ke aage piche ghum kar humara hi toh khyal rakhte ho."

["Yes... you only take care of me by running around behind your wife."]

Priya felt her eyes welling up slightly. She stood up slowly and Abhigyan stood up along with her without thinking.

Surekha laughed sarcastically,

"Yahi keh rahe the hum, dekho kaise biwi ki ji-huzoori karte ho."

["That's what I was saying, see how you cater to your wife's every whim."]

His anger surged.

He looked into her eyes and stated directly in angry voice,

"Toh aap kya chahti hai.. kya kare hum.. aise hi chor de apni biwi ko. Bhagwan ke liye yeh sab mat boliye maa... Humne baccha khoya hai abhi apna."

["So what do you want.. what should I do.. just abandon my wife like that. Please don't say such things for God's sake, maa... We've just lost our child."]