Three weeks before

The soft glow of fairy lights cast a warm ambiance over the cozy cafe in the heart of Delhi, as Rohan and Kavya settled into their corner booth, eyes sparkling with anticipation. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of sweet pastries, creating an intoxicating atmosphere of romance and intimacy. It's been just a few days since Rohan had proposed Kavya and the duo had been inseparable since then.

As they perused the menu, exchanging playful banter and stolen glances, Rohan couldn't help but marvel at the way Kavya's eyes lit up with excitement, her laughter like music to his ears. Well, every affectionate guy finds his partner's laughter beautiful, otherwise for a commoner a girl's laugh is mostly demonic, especially when she is laughing her heart out with her girl gang, Kavya pondered and chuckled at her silly thoughts.

"What?" Rohan asked playfully not knowing what was running inside his beloved's head.

"Nothing much, just that how this feels so different....and so new....thanks for inviting me here," Kavya blushed and started playing with her fingers as if they were the new Sudoku.

After savoring their coffee, croissants, and pizza, Rohan and Kavya settled into an easy rhythm of conversation, their words flowing effortlessly as they delved into the intricacies of their lives and families.

Kavya, her eyes sparkling with interest, leaned forward slightly and asked, "So, Rohan, tell me about your family and siblings. What do they do?"

Rohan smiled, grateful for the opportunity to share a part of his life with Kavya. "Well, my parents are both doctors. My dad is a surgeon, and my mom is a pediatrician. They've dedicated their lives to helping others, and I've always admired their passion and dedication. And I've an elder brother too who's currently working as an IPS officer in Kerala."

Kavya nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "That's incredible. It must be inspiring to have parents who are so committed to making a difference. And an elder brother who's really an inspiration for you. You all have quite a variety when it comes to career, I like it".

Rohan's smile widened at Kavya's words. "It definitely is. They've always encouraged me to pursue my own passions and dreams, whatever they may be. And I always liked doing something in the field of engineering. I liked motors and all until I realized the brutal reality of mechanical guys." He faked a hurt look and Kavya looked puzzled at him.

"But now you're with me, right?" and then she realized that he was mentioning the lack of girls in the mechanical engineering department. She chuckled at his joke and nodded her head.

As they continued to chat, Rohan found himself opening up to Kavya in a way he hadn't with anyone else before. There was something about her warmth and genuine interest that made him feel comfortable sharing even the most personal details of his life.

Rohan sighed at her smilingly and asked, "so, now tell me about your family? Like who's there and what does uncle and aunty do?"

Kavya gulped a lump in her throat and her smile faltered a bit. She knew this was coming, so she sighed and said, "My father, well, he's no more with us". At the mention of this, Rohan's eyes strained and he immediately came across her side and sat on the adjacent chair, taking her hands in his. "I am so sorry to hear that Kavya, I didn't know that," he whispered noticing the moist glint in her eyes, squeezing her hands as if to give her assurance that he was with her. Always.

"No, no. It happened a few years ago. I was only fifteen at that time when I got this news," Kavya spoke and her face bent down, as she didn't want to be a crying mess in front of Rohan and that too on their first date. Rohan was noticing all this and his heart pained for her. He wanted to give her a cuddling hug but he knew she might break down more in his embrace. He started drawing circles on her hands and blinked his eyes at her.

Kavya contained herself and continued, "My father was a brave and honorable man who had served as a Colonel in the Indian Army, his unwavering dedication to duty and country is a source of inspiration to all who knew him. He was posted at Kashmir and me and Mumma were in our hometown, that is, Mathura as the area was terrorist prone and not family friendly so we stayed there only. And one day..." Kayva paused looking at nothing in particular and a cry left her mouth.

As Kavya tearfully shared the heartbreaking story of her father's demise in a terrorist attack in Kashmir, Rohan enveloped her in a comforting embrace, offering solace in the warmth of his presence. His heart ached at the pain etched on her face, knowing that no words could ever fully alleviate the anguish she felt. Instead, he held her close, silently absorbing her sorrow and lending her his unwavering support. With gentle words and tender gestures, he reassured her that she was not alone, that he would stand by her side through every trial and tribulation. And as they held each other amidst the echoes of grief, Rohan vowed to be Kavya's rock, a source of strength and comfort in her darkest hours.

Sensing the weight of unspoken words lingering in the air, Rohan rose from his chair, a silent gesture of support and understanding. With a gentle smile, he reached out to Kavya, offering her a reassuring hand as he guided her towards the exit of the café, away from the bustling noise and distractions. He walked them towards a quiet park and sat on a seat, Rohan's gaze softened with empathy, silently encouraging Kavya to unburden her heart and share her deepest thoughts and emotions. With a tender touch and a compassionate ear, he stood by her side, ready to listen, to comfort, and to offer solace in the midst of her pain. In that moment, Rohan became not just a lover, but a confidant and a lighthouse of support for Kavya, her silent guardian in the storm of her grief.

"After his martyrdom, we were even called to the President's house for receiving Papa's Ashoka Chakra for his act of bravery against those fanatics. Maa was in depression at that time and I had to receive it. I even have a picture of that. At that time, I too wanted to avenge my father's death by joining the army after my graduation by killing those terrorists but my mother...she was very weak and.....her mental state was not good too. Even I had to drop school for one and a half year as I couldn't leave my mother. I didn't want her to take any impulsive step as I knew her state was not good. I couldn't lose both my parents, Rohan, I couldn't," as she spoke of caring for her bedridden mother, her voice quivered with emotion, revealing the depth of her love and the burden of responsibility she carried on her shoulders. Rohan's heart ached at the pain etched on Kavya's face, but his presence offered her a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

"She needed me with her more than anything. All she had was me only. At that time, my paternal side of the family stood by our side but other than grandpa and grandma no one was really interested to offer us help genuinely, all they cared about was Papa's pension because they knew I was too young to all this politics and even Maa was not in the right state to see all this," she paused and sighed. Rohan had not left her hands, not even for a second meanwhile his own eyes held unshed droplets of tears. At that moment he knew that what Kavya showed to the world wasn't the whole reality. There were many layers of her that was unraveling today. He felt outrageous at her relatives actions. At such a delicate moment, all they cared was money? SICK, Rohan bemused and held Kavya in his embrace.

"But one day a miracle happened. My mother was normal when I returned from the school. She hugged me and then the next words she uttered shocked me. She said that I would be sent to the boarding school in Dehradun as my father's demise was taking a toll on my health too and I needed a change of environment. I never wanted to go away from my mother as I knew she needed my support but she said that even my father wanted that. She showed me the last letter that my father wrote to her. Even in the times of mobile phones, they still wrote letters to each other as if mimicking the song of the Border movie's 'Sandesh aate hain'," Kavya smiled faintly at the distant memory. She always adored the bond her parents shared with each other. Rohan couldn't help but smile at the mention of that song. Even he was a crazy fan of that movie as well as that song. It was always so refreshing and vintage-like to hear that marvel.

"Maa said that Papa wanted me to dedicate the last two years of my school life in a well-reputed boarding school as that will prepare me for the future. She moved us into another house as she didn't like the environment back in my paternal house as my uncle and aunt were quite....a bully. My grandparents were sad but even they understood that it was for peace only. Maa restarted her school as a teacher and then.....everything started falling in place after almost a year. Maa is still teaching in Mathura as she loves to teach small children as it really makes her forget the woes and challenges of her life and then I was sent to Dun where I met Arvika and the rest is history." Kavya ended and a sad smile was on her face. Arvika was truly the friend who supported her since day one of her boarding school.

In the halls of the boarding school, amidst the whispers of the wind and the rustle of leaves, Kavya and Arvika found solace in each other's company. They laughed together, cried together, and navigated the complexities of adolescence hand in hand, drawing strength from their unwavering friendship.

Not many people knew about Kavya, forget it, other than Arvika no one knew about this part of her life. Despite the weight of her father's demise, Kavya's perpetually cheerful nature never made anyone think that she had such a difficult childhood. Her unwavering optimism, like a beacon of light, masked the shadows of her struggles, leading many to overlook the depth of her grief and the strength it took to carry on.

Rohan felt so proud to be the partner of such a brave daughter; his heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration. Knowing that Kavya's father had sacrificed his life for the nation filled him with a profound sense of respect and honor. To be the lover and partner of someone whose family had made such a significant contribution to their country filled Rohan with a deep sense of pride. In that moment, Rohan realized that Kavya was not just a girl he admired, but a true hero in her own right. Her resilience, strength, and unwavering optimism had touched his heart in ways he never imagined, leaving an indelible mark on his soul. And as he looked at her with newfound admiration, he knew that he was privileged to have her in his life.

With each passing day, Rohan found himself more deeply in love with Kavya, not just for who she was, but for the remarkable family from which she came. He vowed to honor her father's memory in everything he did, and to stand by Kavya with unwavering support and devotion, just as her father had done for their nation.

"I am so proud of you, my warrio..." before Rohan could complete his sentence, Kavya got a call from one of her mother's colleague who was also their neighbour back in Mathura.

"Hello?" she asked in uncertainty as a strange emotion was surfacing her heart. She knew something was not right. Something was awful, definitely.

"Beta, your mother just had a heart attack. We are in Delhi only and we're taking her to a hospital...." and the line went dead as Kavya's phone left her hand and a wrenched cry left her mouth. Rohan panicked when he saw what just happened. He shook her and she couldn't even form a proper sentence.

"I....I....Maa....heart attack....critical," she stammered as panic and tears blurred her mind as well as vision. Her world shattered into a million fragments the moment she received the news of her mother's heart attack. Panic surged through her veins like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf her in a sea of despair. She felt hot air fanning her out of nowhere and the world near felt too small to her. She was close to unconsciousness but Rohan took the charge and managed to get her phone from the ground and dialed the last called number.

"Hello, please bring her immediately to Apollo's. Yes, yes I am her friend, we are reaching there in an instant," Rohan requested after dialling the last number from Kavya's phone. The other sound must be of one of the colleagues of Aunty, Rohan pondered as he supported the almost unconscious Kavya in place and called his uncle who was the trustee of a heart specialty center in Delhi.

With Kavya's mother's life hanging in the balance, there was no room for delay.

Rohan's heart raced as he dialed Dev's number, urgency driving his fingers to tap against the screen. With a voice laced with worry, he relayed the news of Kavya's mother's heart attack, stressing the need for immediate action. Without hesitation, Dev sprang into action, and drove to the hospital meanwhile Rohan too ignited his car while barking orders to get an emergency room ready as soon as possible.

'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna', Rohan kept chanting the name of his almighty as he needed to calm himself down as this was not the moment to be frenzy and emotional. He needed to perform quick and efficient actions. The condition of Kavya wasn't too good either. Her sob wrenched his heart and all he could do was to pray and drive harder for he knew a delicate thread was holding her mother's life and he wanted all the supernatural powers to strengthen that thread.

As they flew towards the hospital Rohan's mind raced with worry, his thoughts consumed by the fear of losing someone so dear to Kavya. Today only he got to know so much about Kavya's strong mother and now this news. He prayed for her well being. And yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope - the knowledge that they were doing everything in their power to save her.

In that moment, Kavya was powerless, a mere spectator in the unfolding drama of life. All she could do was cling to hope, praying to every god she knew to spare her mother's life and bring her safely home.

As Kavya arrived at the hospital, her eyes clouded with tears, Rohan embraced her tightly, offering silent support and unwavering comfort. Together, they navigated the corridors of uncertainty, leaning on each other for solace and courage. Dev too arrived by the time they reached and their hearts pounded with a mixture of fear and desperation. Each step felt like a race against time, the urgency of the situation weighing heavily on their shoulders.

In the waiting area outside the operating room, their anxiety reached a crescendo as they awaited news of Kavya's mother's condition. Tears streamed down Kavya's cheeks, her emotions raw and unbridled, as she grappled with the overwhelming fear of losing her mother.

Vasundhara, Kavita's colleague, revealed that they were in Delhi for a teacher training program when tragedy struck. She recounted the peaceful stroll through a park when Kavita suddenly collapsed from a heart attack. Shocked and helpless, they watched as Kavita's health deteriorated, their training program overshadowed by the urgency of the situation.

Kavya's father was already martyred, she didn't want to be an orphan. That thought brought more tears to her eyes.

Rohan and Dev stood by her side, their own torment reflected in their eyes. Words were scarce, replaced by silent gestures of support and comfort as they clung to each other in solidarity.

As the minutes stretched into hours, their nerves were stretched to their breaking point, every passing moment feeling like an eternity. And yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there was hope for they knew that the almighty couldn't be harsher on such a beautiful soul.

"Kavya you should go to the hostel. It's the closing time. Me and Dev will be here," Rohan knew it sounded rubbish to say this to Kavya but knowing how strict his college's hostel wardens were, he felt the need to say this. Also, he knew how exhausting it must have been for her. He wanted nothing but her to take rest. In an hour, her demeanor had changed so much so that she resembled a corpse.

"No....I will be here....I cannot," Kavya nearly yelped and held her face in her palms. She didn't want to leave her mother and go there. Kavya reminisced how she was so excited to share about Rohan with her mother.

Rohan and Dev sighed while looking at the poor state of Kavya. They escorted Vasundhara outside the hospital as they didn't want to trouble the old lady more as she had already done a lot for them. She was reluctant at first but eventually went away after making sure they call her immediately in case of any update.

Moments ticked and they all with bated breath, awaited the doctor's update on Kavya's mother's heart surgery.

As the doctor emerged from the operating room, a sense of nervous anticipation hung in the air. Then, with a reassuring smile, the doctor delivered the news they had been praying for - the surgery was successful. Relief washed over them, tears of gratitude welling in their eyes as they embraced each other, overcome with joy and gratitude. In that moment, the weight of the world lifted from their shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of hope and optimism for the future.

****

After a few days in the hospital, Kavya's mother, Kavita, was discharged from the hospital and brought to Rohan's house, where Kavya, Rohan, and Dev devoted themselves to her care. They ensured her comfort and well-being, showing her boundless love and attention.

Amidst the chaos of their own responsibilities, Kavya and Rohan found themselves prioritizing what truly mattered - the well-being of Kavya's healing mother. As Kavya bunked her classes and Rohan distanced himself from his placement interview preparations, they devoted their time and energy to providing comfort and care to Kavya's mother. With each passing day, their bond grew stronger as they navigated the challenges together, their love and support for each other shining through in their selfless actions.

As Kavya's mother contemplated her daughter's future, her thoughts were consumed by concern for Kavya's well-being. Faced with her own health challenges, she grappled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. In moments of introspection, she found herself drawn to Rohan, observing his unwavering devotion to Kavya and the depth of his love for her.

Despite her own reservations, Kavya's mother couldn't ignore the undeniable connection between Rohan and her daughter. His caring nature, unfaltering support, and genuine affection for Kavya became apparent, casting a reassuring light in the darkness of her uncertainty. And that's when she shared about this with Dev, the person who was no less than a caring son to her.

"Are they both in love beta?" she asked Dev one day when Kavya and Rohan both were not present inside the room.

Dev didn't know what to reply to this as this was not his position to disclose about their relationship to Kavya's mother but her motherly concern told otherwise. He nodded his head and said, "Yes aunty. Actually Rohan is a nice guy and their personalities matches a lot".

She smiled in silence and asked Dev for a favour.

"If anything happens to me Beta, I don't know who will take care of her. She is just an innocent, little child. Would it be too much if I ask you to arrange Kavya's engagement with Rohan as her elder brother?"

Dev was baffled and could only nod his head at her sudden request. The woman was already looking so weak and Dev didn't have the heart to say a no.

****

Present

"Actually, Kavita aunty had taken a promise from me. When her surgery was successful and was brought to Rohan's place, she had nearly pleaded me to take care of Kavya as her elder brother. She had requested me to get Kavya and Rohan engaged and perform all the duties as an elder brother of Kavya. I don't know why she trusted in me so much but she did somehow. Even Kavya and Rohan aren't aware of all this. I am sharing this with you as I think you might be able to help me with this, will you please?". Dev was driving the car but his attention was on the frowning Arvika. She was donning a cotton salwar suit today and only one song was resonating in his mind when he noticed her today.

'Tenu suit suit karda'

Arvika felt baffled at the new bomb thrown at her. Wasn't it too early for all this to happen to Kavya? But Kavita Aunty wasn't too wrong. Maybe she wanted to secure Kavya's future with a trustworthy man because she knew how cruel the world could be without any living parents. Arvika was a living example of that. She sighed and turned her attention to Dev.

"I don't know. Maybe aunty is right to do this. Rohan sir's family too needs to say yes as marriage is no game. ,"

"Yes and I am sure his parents would say yes as Kavya is really a charming girl. Rohan was never this happy. He flunked his interview today but one call of Kavya, and he was all refreshing and fine. I see how much effect she has on him and vice versa," Dev deduced, changing the gear with his left hand.

"Hmm," Arvika mumbled and looked out of the window. She was still pitying herself because Kavya didn't even think to inform her. She was her best friend, still?

"Still thinking why Kavya didn't share this news with you?" Dev asked glancing at her sideways, her hair doing salsa due to the fast sprinting car.

"Uh huh. I feel bad that she didn't share it with me. Maybe I am not a good friend," she whispered and Dev could literally hear the muffled cry her hurt words carried.

"You're stressing too much Arvika," Dev declared and asked, "Do you want an ice-cream?". He just wanted her mood to lighten but she was nonetheless too mournful for her current situation.

"No. I am good. Thanks," she replied curtly and turned her head away from him. She was angry at him too. He called her his friend and even he didn't share it with her.

What kind of friendship he is really Nibhaaying? Is that even a word? It'd have been better to befriend those monkeys of Mussoorie than this pig! Arvika pondered and shook her head angrily.

Dev understood her condition and pulled the car to a side making Arvika look at him instantly.

"Why did you stop the car?" she was getting paranoid now. It was already night and this city was still new to her. She was alone in a car with him! What if he pulled some stunt? What if?

"Sssh." Dev shushed her and got out of the car. He opened the car door and reached her side and ushered her outside his car, making her look at her surroundings. It was not a very crowded place but not too secluded either. Her questioning eyes finally got the answer to her question when she looked towards the temple in front of her.

"Let's go inside and get you some tasty prasad and some solace inside," Dev cheered and was going towards the temple when her voice stopped him.

"I can't go inside," she whispered to him and bent her head down. Dev was astounded, in a bad way. He thought that Arvika was a devotional person, wasn't she? He always thought of her as the type of girl who would hold her hands in prayer every time she saw a cockroach or lizard in her washroom!

"Why? Are you an atheist? I thought you might feel comfortable here in the aura of some positive energy," he reasoned and stared at her face for some clues. Why wasn't she ready to go inside?

Was she some ghost? In his mind's eye, Dev pictured Arvika donning a ghostly costume, complete with a white bedsheet draped over her head, as she feigned terror at the thought of encountering the temple deities. He chuckled at the absurdity of the image, imagining her hiding behind pillars and peeking around corners, convinced that the gods were out to get her.

No, no. Maybe she was afraid that he'd bribe the priest to marry her to him. Typical Indian Serials show this like really? In his imagination, Dev pictured Arvika envisioning herself as the unsuspecting victim, fleeing from an overly enthusiastic priest waving a wedding garland. He chuckled at the absurdity of the thought, picturing Arvika running like a maniac to stop this hypothetical forced marriage.

Dev was speculating and dismissing every other theory of her reluctance to go inside the temple when she answered, "Dates" and started gazing at the gravels of the slag road, wondering are they greyish grey or blackish grey?

He didn't get what she meant by dates. Was she allergic to it? But which temples put dates instead of apple, guava, grapes in front of the deity as Prasadam that even the scent of date could cause her allergy? He wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what caused her so much trepidation.

"What dates? Temples do not offer dates, madam. Even in the Kheer, cashew nuts, raisins, pistachios are there but...." he couldn't complete his sentence when he noticed how she was shifting her weight from one leg to another? Was her supersenses telling her somehow that dates were there in the temple which was causing her difficulty even from such a distance? How illogical! He mused and waited for an answer.

"You really want me to say it?" she whispered and looked at the ground to maybe find any pebble with which she could hit him if he was really faking to not know it. Bandit Queen? Maybe!

"Yes, please because I don't understand the relationship between your allergy of dates and visiting temple," Dev nodded nonchalantly and folded his hands across his chest, putting a tough demeanor.

"Once a pig, always a pig," Arvika murmured to herself and said, "P. E. R. I. O. D. S. I cannot go inside in this state". And then realization dawned on him and he felt too dumb to not get it in the first instance.

"Ohh". He groaned and looked anywhere but at her.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Now she will think I was deliberately doing this. Oh God! I am so stupid! Dev cursed and closed his eyes.

"Let's go otherwise my warden would get angry at me," Arvika mumbled and was going inside the car when Dev held her wrist and pulled her towards him making her land in his arms, almost hugging him, almost. She froze and closed her eyes, expecting the history to repeat itself but nothing happened. She opened her eyes after a few seconds and found him at an appropriate distance, looking intently at her.

"Even if you've periods now, why cannot you go inside the temple?" He asked her in a solemn tone.

"Period is considered impure and I'm impure right now. If I'll be inside the temple, even that will turn impure and the priest has to...." she was shushed by Dev when he put his fingers on her lips and another hand on her waist, pulling her closer to his body. The sparks flew instantly at their mere congregation of touches and her sharp release of CO2 filled the air.

"Never ever say you're impure. I repeat. NEVER," a rage could be seen in his eyes and it scared Arvika. Her pupils dilated and her heart skipped a beat and their closeness did the rest to make her heart palpitate like a leaf. He never directed this rage towards her. Never.

He resembled the rowdy villain of some Bollywood movie. Arvika could literally imagine Dev mimicking Akshay Kumar's famous dialogue, 'Don't angry me'.

They kept playing the staring contest when Dev broke their eye contact and cupped her cheeks, "Arvika, listen to me. The gods don't care about something as natural as menstruation. They see the purity of your heart, not the timing of your cycle. Having period doesn't make you impure, Arvika. In fact, it's the nature's most awe-inspiring process because it prepares you for womanhood, for giving birth, for renewing life. Period hurts, I know but it's the most essential thing too. It's still a taboo and I don't know why people have misunderstood what used to happen in the ancient times and pass wrong and partial information from generation to generation".

"Your body is a temple, and your spirit shines brighter than any ritual flame. The gods would welcome you with open arms, regardless of whether you're on your period or not."

Arvika was touched by his statement because she could clearly remember how once her foster mother had to sprinkle holy Ganga water in their Pooja room when she entered inside it during her periods. Well that was the only period she sustained in that house because after that she had to go to Dehradun for her new journey. She clearly remembered how her mother had made a mountain out of a mole that day just because Arvika wanted some solace in the realms of Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. That was her first period experience and she felt no less than a stigma that day.

And even in the boarding schools, the wardens were no less conservative than her foster mother. At the boarding school, the wardens enforced strict rules regarding menstruation, often treating it as a source of embarrassment and inconvenience. Girls were expected to hide their sanitary products and avoid any mention of their periods, as if acknowledging their natural bodily functions was somehow inappropriate or impure. And her docile mind grasped all this. She too started hating periods.

Arvika internalized the message that bleeding was synonymous with impurity, a stain on her otherwise pristine existence. She found herself adhering to the unspoken rules, hiding her sanitary products and avoiding any mention of her menstrual cycle, lest she be branded as unclean or impure.

Despite her best efforts to resist the oppressive atmosphere, Arvika couldn't help but internalize the shame that surrounded her. She began to see herself through the lens of the school's conservative beliefs, viewing her own body as flawed and tainted by its natural processes.

Until this moment.

"You might think I'm exaggerating but I swear you're as pure as the deity inside this temple for me, whether you're menstruating or not," and that was enough for Arvika to lower down her tears barricades as droplets of pearls started glistening down her doe eyes.

No body had ever made her so much proud of being the monthly subscriber of Nature's Menstruation than this man in front of her.

She hugged Dev and this was his time to freeze.

Too much freezing, was it Delhi or Siachen?

Author's Note

Hey people!

I know I am updating after almost two years but yes, was caught up in career, job and family and I still am, but I know that following my hobby once in a while is important too.

So.....

I will try to give an update once in a while.

Don't hate me please!

And if you like this story, please do share it with your friends too because yes, I am feeling bad for the readers I've lost through years. :(