The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 104

As dinner slowly commenced, everyone kept dragging Aparna to their side. Although he loved her laughing and basking in all the attention but still the pang of her not being there with him was eating him up. He kept on looking at her and tried getting her attention but somehow failed.

The dinner got over and one by one everyone retired to their rooms. Aparna took Prakriti to her room and helped her to undress. As Prakriti slipped in her night pyjamas and t-shirt, she heard Nishant’s voice from the corridor and instantly she jumped down the bed and ran out of the room.

“Prakriti?” Aparna shouted as she ran after her.

But the little girl was faster than her. She reached inside his room and looked here and there. Then she saw the terrace door and bounded towards it.

Nishant was talking to Sid and Naina but still saw her running towards him. Spreading his arms, he picked her up just as she reached him.

“Daddy, I wanted to say good night to you.”

His heart just swelled with all the love he saw in her eyes. As her little arms went around his neck, he instinctively hugged her back.

Somehow, Prakriti did not let him go. She just kept on hugging him.

Aparna looked at them as she came and stood near the terrace door. Sighing, she went near him and offered to take her but he refused.

Instead, Nishant walked out of his room towards theirs and slowly placed Prakriti on the bed. As he tugged the blanket around her, the little girl looked at him.

“Daddy, you’ll still be here in the morning?”

He just nodded, too choked up to answer her.

“Good night, Daddy.”

Clearing his throat, he placed a small kiss on her forehead and said, “Good night, Princess.”

Aparna had hoped that Nishant would stay but he slowly walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.

When everything had been settled then why isn’t he with her?

Why this physical distance?

She was about to step out of the room when she heard Prakriti call from behind. Sighing, she gave up and went to her.

It was almost past midnight when finally Prakriti was sleeping peacefully. Restless and unable to sleep, Aparna got up from the bed and went out to the balcony. As the cold air surrounded her, she shivered a little, wanting him more than ever.

Has he slept off?

Silently she came inside the room again and crept towards the door. But the moment she turned the door knob, Prakriti turned in her sleep soundly. Sighing, Aparna just shook her head and was about to go back to her when the door opened.

Thinking it was Nishant, she turned with a huge smile but it disappeared the moment she saw Madhu.

“Don’t force a smile,” Madhu teased as she came near.

“What are you doing here?” Aparna whispered.

“What do you think? Rescuing you, obviously.”

Madhu looked at her questioning expression and smiled.

“Go to him now.”

Aparna gave her a look of surprise as Madhu sat down next to her daughter and then shook her head.

“But he doesn’t want me to.”

“You still have doubts, Aparna?” Harish asked standing near the door.

Confused with Nishant’s behaviour, Aparna did not know what to say. She just stood there and looked at both of them.

“You know, we men always keep things bottled up inside us. But Nishant is not like that. He follows his heart,” Harish said coming near her.

“Aparna, he needs you. But he won’t say it.”

 “Is it because of Prakriti? Because he thinks she needs me more than he does?” Aparna asked looking from Harish to Madhu.

“Some of it, but not all. Aparna, he is scared to give in to his feelings just like the way you were before.”

So, he is scared of getting hurt again.

“Will you guys……”

“We will take care of Prakriti, don’t worry. Now go!” Madhu said placing a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

As the door closed behind her, Aparna looked at the door of the loft.

Oh please let it be open, please, she prayed as she climbed the stairs one by one. Her fingers trembled as they clutched the doorknob and turned it.

It’s open!

Happy, she stepped into the room and instantly got startled by the sheer darkness inside. There was not a single bit of light in the room. Slowly as her eyes adjusted, she slowly crept inside.

Where is he?

Terrace?

She was about to open the terrace door when the sound of water made her turn. Slowly, she retreated in the darkness not wanting him to know she was here.

The washroom door opened and Nishant stepped out. It was the third cold shower he had had in the past 2 hours. He tossed the towel on the sofa and sighed.

Has she slept?

Aparna looked at him and her heart skipped a thousand beats. Clad only in his towel, he looked more delectable than ever. His hair was all dripping as was his body. As her gaze travelled over his torso, she licked her lips almost wishing she could lick all the drops away.

And then, suddenly her eyes fell on the cut mark on his shoulder and her desires just vanished. But in place of it came a craving to hug him real hard.

Nishant combed his wet hair with his fingers and pressed his temples. There was no way she can leave Prakriti tonight.

But if she could, do you want her to?

Isn’t your heart too scared to sink in those emotions again?

He took a deep breath realising that it’s a long night and sleep was not something that he would be getting today. Better to get some work done, when he has the time. Tomorrow is anyways going to be hectic with his parents leaving and his promises to Prakriti of taking her for a sightseeing trip. So, better now than later. He looked around for the laptop and was about to get to it when he realised he was dripping wet.

Nishant picked up the towel and brought it near his chest to wipe his body.

“Don’t!” 

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