The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 29

Nishant blinked to open his eyes in the morning waiting for the sting of the sunlight to hit his eyes but nothing happened. He sat up on the bed rubbing his eyes and found that the room was still quite dark.

How many hours has he slept?

He was about to get up when Lakshman entered the room.

“Good Morning, Nishant Bhaiya,” he greeted, going straight away to the bathroom.

“Good Morning! Nishant said in a sleepy voice.

Looking around the room, he found all the curtains had been closed. So, that is the reason for the darkness.

“Who did this?” he asked as Lakshman came into the room again.

“Aparna Ma’am.”

Looking at him strangely, he gestured to Lakshman to open all the curtains, but he only opened one.

“Aparna Ma’am has told me not to let too much sunlight enter the room. She says it’s bad for your headache.”

When Nishant did not say anything, he continued, “Bhaiya, I have started the geyser. Do have your bath and then I’ll get your breakfast.”

Saying this Lakshman turned towards the door, when he was stopped by Nishant.

“Where is she?”

“Ma’am has gone to the site. She should be back in a couple of hours.”

Sighing, Nishant slumped back to the pillow, just not ready to let go of the warm bed. As he scrambled to get into a comfortable position, his back touched something papery. Sliding off, he picked up a piece of paper and read.

“Sorry, had to leave for the site. Some urgent work. I have told Lakshman everything. Please do have your breakfast and take your medicine. And, sleep.”

He had actually hoped to see her by his side when he woke up but nevertheless if it was work, then he couldn’t say anything.

Closing his eyes, he remembered everything that had happened in the night. Slowly, in his mind’s eye flashes of every little word spoken, every little touch and every little tear shed by her played like a slide show.

He also remembered his own pain and anguished words. Suddenly Nishant sat up on the bed as realisation hit him.

Had he told her he loved her?

Yes, you have, his brain answered.

Closing his eyes, he tried to remember if she had said anything in return: she hadn’t.

What if she said no?

Did it matter?

All that mattered was that she was with him right now.

Nishant got up from the bed and went inside the bathroom. Looking at the leftover water and towel by the bathtub, he remembered how she had held him while giving him a head bath. Every touch of hers had soothed his sore nerves little by little.

Quickly he had his bath and finished off with his breakfast. Taking his medicine, he pulled the duvet over his body and snuggled close on his pillow. Looking to the other pillow lying next, he noticed wrinkled evidence of her sleeping on it. He stretched his hand and pulled it to him. Putting his nose to it, he inhaled hard. The smell of her hair and body spread to his veins instantly making him remember her caring hands as they tried to soothe his pain. Even in his deepest of sleeps, he had felt the soft touch of her lips and fingers on his forehead and hair.

The way she had held her nerve had surprised him. In those moments of weakness, he had realised how strong Aparna could be when required. If it hadn’t been for her then, he would be still in the same state.

Hugging the pillow to himself, he slipped into blissful sleep, which was full of dreams, where she was smiling, caressing and holding him in her arms.

*******************

Aparna sat inside the car and closed her eyes. Leaving Nishant’s side in the morning had been one of the toughest decisions she had taken. The vulnerability on his face while he slept had been too difficult to resist. Still she had somehow managed to leave. Hopefully he had had his breakfast and also his medicine. She smiled thinking about seeing him after what had happened yesterday. Would he stay away from her or would he take in his arms and make her feel all loved again?

Yesterday night when he had confessed his love for her, she had wanted to hug him tight but hadn’t. Whether it was his condition at that time or her inner fears, she didn’t know what had stopped her. But, she knew he hadn’t said it just like that. She had felt the purity of his words inside her as he had hugged her tight to himself at night when she had snuggled close to him.

His touch, the beat of his heart and his arms around her had made her feel protected and cherished. And, she did not want to let go of that feeling ever. Aparna suddenly hugged herself hard as the urge to be in Nishant’s arms intensified inside her.

She stepped out of the car and started to walk uphill towards the guest house thinking about the surprise she had planned for him tonight.

Lakshman had told her that Nishant was still sleeping, so she did not disturb him when she reached home. She straight away went towards her bedroom.

Aparna opened the bedroom door and a huge truckload of rose petals along with jasmine flowers fell on her. As she looked around the room, her eyes widened. The entire room was filled with different flowers and in the middle of one of the tables was a whole bunch of tuberose blossoms (rajnigandha). She didn’t need to second guess to know who had done all this.

Walking to the table, she picked up one of the blossoms from the vase and inhaled hard. The heavenly smell of the flower filled her with freshness and tenderness.

“Aparna?”

Hearing his voice behind her, she smiled but did not turn. Suddenly, she felt shy and timid. Lowering her head, she stood near the table not moving a muscle.

Nishant understood the emotions erupting inside her. They were the same as his. Closing the door behind him, he slowly walked towards her giving her time to turn towards him, but she did not.

By the time he reached her, Aparna was trembling with anticipation. What would he say? What would he do? Would he touch her?

But, Nishant just came and stood behind her, trying his best to not touch his body to hers for he knew the moment he did, he won’t be able to control the fireworks.

Both of them stood there close to each other without touching for endless moments. As seconds and minutes passed, their proximity to each other became electrifying.

Not able to take it anymore, Nishant touched her shoulders and made her face him.

Aparna did not want to look at him not with emotions raging havoc inside her. The moment he touched her to tip her chin up, she closed her eyes.

“Open your eyes,” commanded Nishant softly.

Slowly, Aparna opened her eyes and looked into his for the first time after yesterday night.

Nishant’s gaze became transfixed the moment their eyes met. In those two days without her, these eyes of hers had made him go on, made him believe he did not have any other choice but to totally surrender himself to her.

Aparna saw the expression in his eyes change from love to something quite different. The power of his gaze washed all over her body and her eyes misted over. A lone tear escaped the confines of her eyes and slid down her smooth cheeks.

Taking her face in his palm, Nishant brushed the tear away with his thumb.

“I love you, Ms. Aparna Mathur,” he said with conviction.

Everything around her ceased with his words and she lowered her eyes shyly.

He closed the space left between them and took her in his arms. As Aparna rested her cheek on his chest, her mind, body and soul melted with his. She wrapped her arms around him and he closed his eyes, trying to savour the moment.

The flowers fell away from her hands as their hearts started to beat in unison.

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