Published on:- 24/5/24 [Friday]
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The bamboo pillars, wood, and stones appeared before her eyes as she stared at the traditional Himachali house.

The slate roofs, wooden beams, and intricate carvings showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region and its architectural charm was also capturing the essence of a timeless heritage.

The structure of the house stood with an earthy elegance as its weathered stones stacked in precise harmony and bamboo pillars supported a sloping roof.

It created a warmth inside and also invited the facade that blended seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

Sunaina's eyes observed the old stone house which was maintained with modern techniques and technology.

As she stared at the house, her mind unexpectedly flooded with memories.

She felt as if the weathered stones of the house were telling their own story to her and also seemed to draw her back in time.

"Āmā! Malā'ī ḍara lāgyō. Malā'ī khōjnuhōs, kr̥payā chiṭō ā'unuhōs".

[Mother! I am scared. Find me. Please come quickly].

A little girl's pleading and crying voice echoed in Sunaina's ears.

The desperation in the voice tugged at her heart and made the memories even more vivid.

She could almost feel the fear and longing in the child's words and a haunted reminder of a time when she, too, sought comfort and safety within these walls.

The echo of the past seemed to blend with the present and enveloped Sunaina in a powerful wave of emotion.

Suddenly, her legs tightened and she stood there frozen as if she forgot to move while continuing to stare blankly at the house.

"Let's go". The sudden voice of Nilay startled her.

Nilay looked at her pale face as he observed her frowns and the unspoken words in her eyes.

"What's the matter? Are you not feeling well?", Nilay asked her.

His eyes held concern for her. In a swift, she composed herself and smiled brightly while looking at him.

"I'm fine, just a bit overwhelmed by looking at this beautiful house," she replied and her voice was steady despite the lingering echo of the past.

Nilay nodded, though he remained unconvinced by her sudden cheerfulness because unknowingly he could still smell her trembling fear.

By changing the topic, Nilay said to her, "This is my maternal great-grandfather's house".

Sunaina, whose eyes were still running all over the house, suddenly stiffened as she heard the faint voice of a woman who seemed familiar yet distant, like a forgotten lullaby.

'Naina'.

Her heart accelerated. It was a gentle murmur, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.

The combination of Nilay's words and the familiar echoes made her feel a deeper connection to the house as if it were not just a part of Nilay's life but intertwined with her own in ways she was only beginning to understand.

"This house must hold so many stories and memories", Sunain remarked and her voice was filled with genuine interest.

Nilay could see the waves of emotions and traces of emotional conflicts on her face. However, he did not ponder it and replied to her, "It's been in our family for generations and each brick and beam carries a piece of our history."

"Wow! Is it pristine?", She asked in a chirping tone as her excitement was palpable.

Nilay who had been observing her expressions, pursed his lips in a thin line and said grumpily, "It's only superannuated".

Sunaina giggled softly as all colors returned to her face.

"Today, I found another reason to love you, Nilay", Sunaina said and Nilay felt a headache coming on.

"You started again", Nilay spoke, rolling his eyes, but unable to suppress a small smile.

Sunaina chuckled softly as they went inside the house.

"I rely on luck, but even more on my hard work. I won't stop until your heart starts beating for me. I will not give up until I write my name in your every breath. You are mine, Nilay. It doesn't matter if you love me or not. It doesn't matter if you accept me or not. My love is enough for us to live together forever," Sunaina thought as she followed him into the house.

The determination in her heart fueled each step she took and her eyes lingered on Nilay's back with a mix of affection and unwavering commitment. She knew that her love, persistent and patient, would eventually find its way into his heart.

On the other hand, Nilay had different plans. He suddenly stopped and looked at her with a serious expression and said, "Take the last corner of the room. It's a guest room. Don't enter the other rooms and don't touch anything in this house."

Sunaina's heart sank a little at his stern tone, but she nodded obediently and masked her disappointment with a soft smile.

She understood that Nilay had his reasons, and she was determined to respect his boundaries, even as she silently vowed to find a way to his heart through patience and love.

"Don't go anywhere. Food will arrive shortly," Nilay told her.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

Nilay hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yes, I need to take care of a few things. I'll be back soon," he said and his tone was firm but not unkind.

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked into his bedroom, leaving Sunaina standing in the guest room doorway.

Nilay freshened up and changed his clothes. When he returned, he looked fresh and handsome and his appearance almost startled in its transformation.

Sunaina forgot to blink her eyes as she was mesmerized by the sight of him.

The way he carried himself, with an effortless charm, only deepened her admiration and longing.

For a moment, all her worries and questions faded away and it was replaced by the simple joy of seeing him like this.

"Haye! My Angel is enchanting. Oh heaven, please keep my love safe from every evil eye of the world", Sunaina thought while drooling over him.

Nilay shook his head negatively as he snapped his fingers in front of her eyes.

Sunaina's trances got broken by his click. She smiled shyly as she could not stop himself from showing her love and concern by touching the sides of his head with both of her hands and then similarly touching her head with curled fingers.

This action of her signified the transfer of all his woes and troubles to herself.

Nilay stared at her as her actions left him speechless.

"What are you doing?", Nilay asked her.

"I am warding off the evil eye", Sunaina replied with a mischievous smile.

Nilay was stunned as his expression was a mixture of bewilderment and exasperation.

Grumpily, he turned around while murmuring under his breath, "She is too much. God knows what's running in her head."

Sunaina chuckled softly as she found his reaction endearing.

Despite his gruff exterior, she could sense the faint hint of amusement in his voice, which only strengthened her resolve to win his heart.

Nilay left the house, and the main door closed behind him.

Sunaina stood on her spot for a few seconds while absorbing the silence that followed Nilay's departure. Then she turned and looked around the house.

Her steps were slow and deliberate as she walked to a spot that seemed to be calling her.

The pull was almost magnetic and drew her towards a particular corner of the house.

Each step she took deepened her connection to the house and, the whispers of the past and traces of her memories grew louder in her mind.

"This was the reason why I was finding the name KHANNA familiar. Life is a circle. I have come back and stood at the same place from where my story started. That's fascinating", Sunaina spoke to herself and then she called her shadow guard, "T-Rex".

A shadow entered the house through the main entrance and stood before her, "Princess", T-Rex called her politely.

"What's going on with the BASE?", Sunaina asked T-Rex.

"King returns to the BASE but he is worried about you", T-Rex responded to her.

She nodded her head as she badly wanted to return to her brother's side but on the other hand, she wanted to stay closer to Nilay; her love.

"How's Tara?", Sunaina asked T-Rex who blinked his cold eyes and replied honestly, "Entangled with the King".

Sunaina's brows raised questioningly and T-Rex said, "King is solving the puzzle of Miss Tarana's presence at the accident site".

Sunaina stared deeply at T-Rex as his words made her heart stumped shockingly.

***

~• Back to the art and craft class:-

"Don't tell me that you are a spy working for my enemy but you fell in love with me and ditched your comrade?", Avyaan said and his tone was laced with suspicion.

Tarana's face turned pale as the accusation hung in the air.

She struggled to find the words to deny the implication as her mind raced with the weight of Avyaan's distrust.

"It's not the truth. I am not working for anyone", Tarana said boldly her voice tinged with defiance.

Avyaan scrunched his eyes dangerously as his gaze pierced through her with intensity.

The air crackled with tension as he searched her face for any sign of deception.

Tarana held her breath and, steeled herself against his scrutiny as she was determined to stand her ground and prove her innocence.

"Then tell me the truth and remember there will be no more chances in the future", Avyaan said sternly and Tarana's heart shrudded at his words.

With a deep breath, she steadied herself and was ready to reveal the truth, no matter what the consequences would be.

"Yes, it is true that I already knew about your accident", Tarana said as she was extremely nervous while facing the devil whose eyes were red because of coldness and danger.

Avyaan's expression darkened as his anger simmered beneath the surface. The revelation stung him deeply and stirred a feeling of betrayal and resentment.

Tarana braced herself for his reaction as she knew that her honesty might cost her dearly.

"It is also true that I was already present at the accident site", Tarana continued to disclose the truth.

"Why?", Avyaan questioned her.

His voice was tight with suspicion and confusion. The weight of his gaze bore down on her and demanded an explanation for her presence at such a pivotal moment in his life.

Tarana took a deep breath as she hardened her heart to reveal the full extent of her involvement even after she knew that her answer would determine their fates.

"Because I love you", Tarana confessed her love again.

Her voice trembled with raw emotion. The intensity of her words pierced through his defenses, leaving him momentarily speechless but his devilish mind whispered about her lies in his mind.

Avyaan's eyes narrowed down dangerously at her words, "Don't talk nonsense".

Tarana's heart stung by his coldness as her heart accelerated and she responded, "It's not nonsense. My love for you is the truth of my life. I am telling you the truth and after disclosing everything today. I will not appear before your eyes".

Avyaan rolled his eyes and said, "I don't have time to hear your rambling".

His dismissive words struck Tarana like a dagger to the heart and the sting of rejection cut deep into her soul.

She swallowed hard and suppressed the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Tarana nodded silently as her gaze dropped to the ground as she struggled to hold back tears.

In that moment of rejection, she felt the weight of her love crashing down upon her and left her feeling more alone than ever before.

She shook her head negatively as she scolded herself.

Tarana pursed her lips, and lifted her head while steeling herself as she told him the piece of the truth, "I was there because I was indebted to you and Naina. Now, I'm free from all the burdens and debts".

Tarana took a deep breath and stared at him and then continued to speak, "Naina was the one who told me to go to the place where your accident was supposed to happen. It was she who told me the exact location and also about the car blast. I had only a minute to get you out of your car. I took Omy with me. He was the one who helped me to protect you and also took care of you. Now, if you have any questions, then please ask your sister. Apart from these things, I don't know anything. Thank you for everything."

Tarana finished speaking as her words hung heavy in the air and without another glance back, she swiftly gathered her bag and left the room.

Avyaan stood there in a daze and his mind reeled from the weight of Tarana's revelations.

Her words echoed in his ears and the truth was raw and unfiltered that seeped into every corner of his consciousness.

He stood there, lost in thought, as the echoes of Tarana's confession reverberated through his mind.

He struggled to make sense of it all as his thoughts swirled in a chaotic whirlwind of confusion and disbelief.

"Naina?", Avyaan whispered and the name hung heavy in the air as his mind turned completely blank at this moment.

...

Word count ' 2260+

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