Published on:- 1/3/25 [Saturday]
...

Looking at the beaming faces of Avyaan and Tarana, Sunaina's smile deepened. Her heart swelled with happiness for her brother, for the love he had found, for the life he was about to begin.

But her eyes... they shimmered with an unspoken weight and a secret tucked away in the quiet corners of her heart.

There was a shadow, not of sadness, but of something deeper, something she refused to remember.

"He is married now," she thought and her heart was squeezing ever so slightly.

And though her joy for Avyaan was real, there was a part of her mind that was persistent that kept its own secrets and was hidden beneath the veil of her smile.

Avyaan and Tarana had just completed their wedding. It was a simple, traditional ceremony with only close family. Tarana's red and gold saree shimmered softly as she lowered her gaze and the wedding chain was resting around her neck, marking their union.

Everyone gathered around them, giving their blessings and smiling, saying kind words, and sharing light-hearted jokes.

Sunaina stood a little to the side, her hands folded, a warm smile on her face. She was truly happy for her brother and the woman he loved.

The way Avyaan looked at Tarana, like she was his whole world made Sunaina's heart feel full.

But as she watched them, how Avyaan gently fixed Tarana's dupatta or how Tarana softly reached for Avyaan's hand, a quiet feeling rose in her heart.

It wasn't sadness. It wasn't envy.

Just a soft ache, like a silent thought she couldn't explain.

Still, Sunaina didn't let it show. Her smile stayed steady as she stepped forward, placed a hand on Tarana's head, and softly said, "May your life be as beautiful as this day".

Nilay's gaze shifted from the newlyweds to Sunaina. He noticed the way her eyes were wavering causing a flicker of something hidden beneath her calm expression.

A strange feeling stirred in his heart and without a word, he reached for her hand, his fingers gently curling around hers.

The warmth of his touch startled her for a moment, pulling her from her thoughts.

Leaning in, his whispered, "Did something happen?"

Sunaina blinked, her heart skipping a beat at the concern in his voice. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, only a small shake of her head and a smile that didn't quite convince him.

"Nothing happened", She responded.

After the wedding, the bride's farewell ceremony began. The atmosphere grew heavy with emotion as Tarana hugged her parents and tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Her mother wiped her own tears while her father placed a trembling hand on Avyaan's shoulder, silently entrusting his daughter to him.

It was a simple yet heartfelt goodbye.

Soon, Tarana's parents left and their car disappeared down the narrow road.

Neil and Aashmaan also said their goodbyes, reminding Avyaan and Tarana to visit them soon.

After this, Nilay gently took Sunaina's hand and guided her towards their car.

The drive to Khadka Mansion was silent. No words were exchanged. Nilay stole glances of Sunaina, who gazed out of the window, lost in thought.

As they arrived at Khadka Mansion, everyone was waiting for the newly married couple.

Jaikesh stood at the forefront, joined by the other members of the household, all gathered to welcome Tarana, their new Queen.

Despite the late hour, tradition called for a proper welcome. A silver plate adorned with a lit diya, rice, and red vermillion was prepared.

Sunaina came forward, held the plate as she performed the small ritual, circling the diya in front of Tarana, blessing her as she stepped into her new home.

"Welcome home, Tara.... Oops, Bhabhi (Sister-in-law)", Sunaina corrected herself, and said in a teasing tone, causing Tarana to chuckle.

"Queen! Welcome to the family", Jaikesh said, others followed him, honoring Tarana's new status in their family.

Tarana's eyes brimmed with tears as she hugged Sunaina, "Thank you for everything, Naina".

Sunaina's heart melted as she patted Tarana's back while looking at her brother.

....

It was midnight, and the Khadka Mansion was quiet. Nilay woke up suddenly, a strange feeling pulling him from his sleep. He reached out for Sunaina but the space beside him was empty.

He frowned deeply and his eyes opened flutterly and then searched the room until they landed on her.

Sunaina was standing by the window and her arms were loosely wrapped around herself, staring blankly at the night sky.

Her face looked calm, too calm but her eyes held something else. A sadness she wasn't saying out loud.

The moonlight touched her skin, making her look soft and distant, as if her mind was somewhere far away.

"Wife...", Nilay called her in a gentle but worried tone.

Sunaina didn't move. She didn't react.

She just kept looking at the sky, lost in her own thoughts.

Nilay quietly got out of bed and his bare feet made no sound against the floor. His eyes never left Sunaina as he moved closer and without a word, he slipped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her gently into his chest.

Sunaina flinched and a soft gasp escaped her lips as his sudden touch broke her trance. Her hands instinctively moved to his, resting over her stomach.

"It's just me", Nilay whispered near her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

Her body slowly relaxed into his hold, but her silence still spoke louder than words.

Nilay tightened his hold around her waist and his chin rested gently on her shoulder. The night was quiet, but the silence between them felt louder.

"What are you hiding in your heart, Naina?", he asked softly but his tone had both concerns and curiosity.

For a moment, there was no response, just the sound of their steady breathing. Then, Sunaina laughed.

But it wasn't her usual laugh, it was hollow, empty, a sound that didn't reach her eyes.

Nilay didn't say a word about it, but he knew. He could feel the weight of her fake smile and the way her fingers were slightly trembled as they rested over his.

"You really think I can't tell?", he whispered, his heart aching at the walls she was trying to build between them.

Nilay's arms remained firm around Sunaina, his voice a soft murmur against her ear.

"We are husband and wife, Naina. You can share your thoughts with me", he said gently.

She didn't respond while her gaze was still fixed in the night sky, but he could feel the subtle rise and fall of her chest.

"I've been observing you. You've been acting strange since morning", he continued to speak.

Her fingers tightened slightly over his hand. If was a silent reaction to his words.

"Talk to me. Please. I want my chatterbox back", Nilay whispered.

But Sunaina only blinked at the moon, her silence louder than any answer she could give.

Nilay's hold on Sunaina didn't loosen as he asked, "Are you facing some problems in business?", while his thumb gently brushing over her hand.

Sunaina blinked slowly, her lips were parting as if to say something, but no words came out.

She shook her head lightly.

"No, it's nothing like that", she murmured.

Nilay's jaw tightened. He could sense the weight of something unsaid, something buried deep in her heart.

"Then what is it, Naina?", he asked as his worry was growing with every beat of silence and the way, she was too calm and composed right now.

"If you were asked to choose between your family's happiness and me, who would you choose?", Sunaina suddenly asked him.

Nilay's arms tensed around her waist. His heart stumbled at the unexpected question, but his reply came without a second thought.

"I will definitely choose you, Naina", He replied in a straight tone as if the answer had always been carved into his soul.

For a brief moment, the world seemed to still.

But then Sunaina spoke again, her words colder than the midnight breeze.

"But I can't choose you, Nilay".

The calm certainty in her tone struck him harder than any storm.

Nilay's mouth turned sour for a moment.

However, her gaze remained fixed on the sky while her back was still pressed against his chest.

"I want you to be prepared for the darkness that is surrounding me", She said and Nilay's breath caught.

"What do you mean?", He asked, his heart accelerated wildly as if he could read her silence that something deadly was brewing in her devilish mind.

Nilay's grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, a silent plea for her not to slip further away.

She turned around and stared deeply into his eyes.

"The way I don't know everything about you, in the same way, you don't know everything about me either. And I don't even know how to tell you", Sunaina said and she waited for his reaction.

But he didn't react as she expected.

Nilay looked deeply into her eyes as he could feel the storm brewing within her. He didn't push, didn't demand answers she wasn't ready to give.

Instead, he softly said, "Then don't tell me... just let me stay with you".

Her breath hitched, but she didn't move away.

Nilay continued to say, "Don't choose me either, because I'll always choose you".

His words settled deep in Sunaina's heart. She blinked back the sting of unshed tears, her fingers slightly trembling against his hand.

He wasn't asking for explanations. He wasn't demanding her secrets.

He was simply choosing her, again and again, no matter the shadows that followed.

"Sunaina Nilay khanna", Nilay's voice was a soft whisper against the silence of the night.

His hand gently cupped Sunaina's face, his thumb brushing a tear she didn't realize had fallen.

"You don't know what color my love is painted with. And how deep the color of this love is, you haven't seen it yet", Nilay said, his gaze burning into hers.

His words snapped something inside Sunaina. A storm of emotions full of love, fear, longing were all tangled together.

Without a word, she grabbed his collar and pulled him closer and the next second, her lips crashed into his.

The kiss was fierce and desperate like a silent scream of everything she couldn't say. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him as if he might slip away.

Nilay froze for a heartbeat, then melted into her touch, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist. He kissed her back just as passionately, matching her fire with his own, pouring all the love he couldn't put into words.

The world around them disappeared, it was just the two of them, lost in a moment where their hearts spoke louder than their voices ever could.

What darkness was Sunaina hiding that even love couldn't chase away?

....

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ShineeSunshine ❤️