Published on :- 6/April/ [Saturday]
..

Looking outside at the street of the capital city, the scene was serene as Sunaina nestled into the embrace of her angel. Her movement was as graceful and content as a cat curling up in a warm spot.

With each gentle touch and whispered word, she found solace and comfort and she was melting into the safety of Nilay's arms.

It invoked a serene image of intimacy and warmth.

As Sunaina nestled closer, she could feel the gentle rhythm of their breaths intertwining and creating a soothing melody in the quiet embrace.

The soft touch of his arms wrapped protectively around her offered a sense of security, like a protective shield against the world outside.

With each moment, the sense of protection deepened between them and formed an unbreakable connection that transcended words.

In the warmth of his embrace, time seemed to stand still and enveloped her in a sanctuary of love and comfort.

At this moment, Nilay's phone pinged and highlighted a text message from Shlok.

Nilay clicked the message and read it: 'Divita is Back and wants to meet you'.

Nilay's breath caught in his throat as he read Shlok's message. The mention of Divita's return sent a wave of conflicting emotions flooding his senses.

The bitter and sweet memories flooded his mind and stirred up a storm of unresolved feelings.

With a heavy heart, he glanced downward as he was unable to escape the turmoil that surged within him.

The past, once buried was threatened to resurface now and cast a shadow over the fragile peace he had worked so hard to find.

Devil's eyes scanned the message as
She listened intently to Dino's briefing.

"Princess! Work done. Miss Divita will not get a chance to think or come close to Sir Nilay. What's your next command?".

A sexy and alluring smile danced on her lips but her mind couldn't help but wander to the implications of Divita's return and what it might mean for Nilay.

Dino waited for Sunaina's response. She could not talk to Dino in front of Nilay who was in a daze.

So, she took hiccups and wiped her fake tears which were hanging at the corner of her eyelashes.

Dino caught the hidden meaning behind her hiccups.

"Alright. I understood", Dino said and the call disconnected.

The earpiece was still hiding in her ears behind the curtains of her hair.

On the other side, Nilay's attention shifted towards Sunaina's hiccups and the faint traces of tears, a pang of concern tugged at his heart.

Sensing her distress, Nilay reached out a hand to comfort her, and his thoughts of Divita were momentarily pushed aside by his concern for Sunaina's well-being.

"We are going home. Then we will return to Shimla", Nilay said softly and Sunaina's facade faltered for a moment as she gratefully accepted his gesture of support, silently communicating her gratitude for his understanding.

In that brief exchange, a silent understanding passed between them and a bond strengthened by shared experiences and unspoken words.

Sunaina looked at Nilay and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay? Is something troubling you?".

Caught off guard by Sunaina's inquiry, Nilay hesitated for a moment but his gaze softened as he met Sunaina's concerned eyes. He appreciated her genuine care and concern and he quickly composed himself.

With a faint smile, he replied in a quiet tone, "I'm alright".

Sunaina licked her teeth as her chest was constricted because of jealousy.

"One message, one name 'Divita' can change the tune of all your strings. I am hurt, Nilay. Why is she so special to you that even her mention makes a difference to you? Ahhh! I have time to change the tune of your strings. I will become your star and then we will make our tune. I don't know why the hell I chose this name for myself 'Divita', hmmpp. My name Sunaina is far better than this name", Sunaina thought as she looked at Nilay who was texting a message to Shlok.

"Nilay! Ap sach keh rahe hai?" (Are you telling the truth?), Sunaina asked Nilay whose hand halted.

Nilay's eyes met with Sunaina's gaze as he said in a tone full of sincerity and pride, "Main jhooth nahi bolta. Mujhe jhooth aur jhooth bolne wale log bilkul pasand nahi".

(I don't lie. I don't like lies and people who lie).

Sunaina's heart sank as she absorbed the weight of Nilay's words, recognizing the depth of his honesty and integrity.

***

Back to the outside of the cafe, Divita stared at Shlok who left with Perna.

Divita was about to step inside the car but suddenly she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She turned around, only to be met with a sight that pierced her soul-a figure from her past. Someone, she had hoped never to encounter again.

Shock and heartache washed over her. Despite the turmoil within her, Divita steeled herself and faced the person. Her voice trembled as she uttered the words, "Why are you here?"

The figure before her remained silent for a moment as his gaze pierced into Divita's soul with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I am here to show you, your place".

The voice sent shivers down Divita's spine as she struggled to maintain her composure.

She recognized the person standing before her. That person was none other than her husband whom she despised the most.

At this moment, his presence ignited a flurry of emotions within her-fear, anger, and a haunting sense of deja vu.

Despite the tremor in her voice, she managed to muster strength as she confronted him.

"I won't let you intimidate me anymore", Divita declared and her voice laced with defiance, determined to stand her ground against the shadows of her past.

Suddenly, a voice from behind Divita interrupted the tense atmosphere.

"Is everything alright?", It was the waiter from the cafe as he glanced between Divita and the man before her.

Divita's heart skipped a beat as she seized the opportunity and was grateful for the unexpected intervention.

Summoning all her strength, she forced a composed smile and nodded at the waiter.

"Yes, everything's fine. Thank you," She replied and her voice was betraying none of the turmoil raging within her.

The waiter hesitated as he still sensed the tension in the air. After a moment's hesitation, the waiter retreated towards the cafe, leaving Divita alone once more with the man whose presence threatened to unravel her carefully constructed facade.

That man regarded Divita with a mixture of amusement and disdain as his lips curled into a mocking smirk.

"You can't hide forever, Divita" " he taunted as his voice dripped with malice as he continued to speak, "No matter how far you run, I will always find you".

Divita's heart raced at the chilling words and her resolve wavered for a moment before she clenched her fists and summoned her inner strength.

"You don't scare me now. I am in India. I won't let you dictate my life anymore", she retorted and her voice tinged with defiance.

With a scoff, the man took a step closer as his presence loomed over Divita like a dark shadow.

"We will see about that. You are still my wife, Mrs. Divita Joseph, and I will not welcome and appreciate any scandal or rumors about you. Remember this", the man spoke coldly, before turning on his heel.

Divita stayed there alone as she felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"How did he know I was here? Wait! Does he know I've come to see Nilaya? No, I can't let that happen. This time I won't lose Nilay", Divita thought but after a little bit, she knew that Angel was already under the claws of the devil.

Dino; Sunaina's bodyguard witnessed the scene and then patted his shoulder, "Well done, Dino. Our princess is such a devil. She found out everything about this Divita and made a plan to ruin her chance to search for Sir Nilay. How dare she come and think to steal our Princess' Angel from her huh?. Mrs. Divita Joseph Lockwood won't know what hit her. I will ensure that she doesn't pose a threat to our Princess or her Angel. Now, let's see how you will deal with your husband".

***

In the woods, inside the hut, a lone female figure sat motionless. Her gaze was distant and lost in the depths of her thoughts as she grappled with the weight of her solitude.

The hut was vacant now and the absence of medicines and medical equipment spoke volumes about the sudden departure of the patient.

The absence of these essential items hinted at a hasty departure and left behind an unsettling silence that hung heavy in the air.

"Why? I know my confession was not good. I know I am not good for you. We are two different people who live in two different worlds but still, why did you do this, Avyyan? I love you. I did everything to protect you but you left me here. You did not spare me a glance. Am I not pretty? Can you look at me once? Why did you brutally reject me? Why? You are cruel. A cruel devil", Tarana spoke and tears dropped on her cheeks.

Tarana's anguished words echoed within the empty confines of the hut and, the weight of her despair hung heavy in the air.

Each tear that dropped down her cheeks seemed to carry with it a torrent of pain and heartache, as she grappled with the cruel sting of rejection.

Her voice trembled with emotion and, each word had a raw expression of the love and longing that consumed her soul.

Despite her best efforts to shield her heart, the words of Avyyan and his abandonment cut deeply into her heart and left her vulnerable.

***

Avyaan was returning to his base and the memory of Tarana's tear-streaking face weighed heavily on his mind.

Despite his attempts to push aside the haunting image of her despair her presence lingered like a specter and refused to be ignored.

The image of Tarana standing resolutely in the empty hut with her eyes filled with hurt and sadness replayed in his mind like a recurring nightmare.

He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crawled at him and knowing that he had left her behind without a second glance when she declined to leave the hut with him.

With each passing mile, Avyaan couldn't shake the nagging bell that was giving him a headache.

"I want a brief report of Tarana and what happened in these 3-4 months when I was not there", Avyaan commanded Kian.

Kian nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Avyaan's command.

"Understood, King", Kian replied his voice tinged with a sense of determination.

"Where is Naina?", Avyaan asked.

Kian responded, "Princess is in the capital city".

Avyaan's brow furrowed with concern at Kian's response.

"Why is she in the capital city?", Avyaan inquired as his voice tinged with apprehension.

"King! The princess is in love and wooing her future husband", Shark spoke hurriedly and everyone closed their eyes except Avyaan who blinked his eyes perplexedly.
...

How's the chapter readers?
Thank you
ShineeSunshine ❤️