Author's note: I have three announcements to make.

1. Healing The Void has been Featured on the Wattpad official New Adult profile NA. I never expected it'd be featured officially! I was so damn happy when the notification came. *wipes off tears of happiness*

2. As y'all know, I always put something related to the next book in bonus chapters. So, you'll have a heads up for the next book in this chapter. Don't be confused with the dates. These bonus chapters are before Abhimanyu and Shreya's one year of marriage contract ending. ✌️

3. & I have a complaint to y'all!! Readers, why do you skip voting on the chapters? I know the climax chapters are exciting, but still I'd like to have those star buttons pressed. So, I kindly request, please go and vote on the chapters (especially 36-41) ... I'll be happy. You know, how much I love when you interact with me.

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A few days after Gyan left for study abroad,

16th January,

"Regardless of what you need done in this situation, I want that property," Abhimanyu sternly said to Sunny when Shreya and Dona came with the food trays.

The men fell silent as they came. Dona put down the tray and left right away while Shreya sat down beside Abhimanyu and poured the tea into the cups and offered the men. Sunny took it and thanked her gently with a smile. Shreya smiled back and pushed the plate of poha towards him.

"This wasn't needed," Sunny softly complained.

"This isn't much. You have been working the whole afternoon. Even refused to have lunch. So, keep quiet and finish this," Shreya commanded genially.

Sunny gave in and nodded; his eyes squinted with mirth while Shreya beamed at his easy obedience.

She shifted her gaze to her husband and asked gently, "Would you like to have something?"

Abhimanyu turned his head and stared at her; his lips pressed together firmly. When their eyes met, his unwavering stare made her drop her eyes. She averted her gaze back on the tea-tray and waited patiently for him to response. But it never came.

Factually, she knew the reason behind his silence. It wasn't the time for him to eat anything. Abhimanyu had always been careful with what he ate or when he ate.

It was still unbelievable to her that she had agreed to marry this stoic man for an impossible length of a year.

She really hallucinated when she hoped things to become better. But it was only her hyper-fantasy.

Abhimanyu was still the distant person he was before. He never changed his ways towards life, he never changed the way he treated the members of the family; but what changed was his trust for her.

Although it was a huge improvement, she knew a there was a long way ahead. Even she consulted with the psychologist Devina Mukherjee again. But all she suggested was, Abhimanyu needed several cognitive therapy sessions to heal his core wound.

However, unsurprisingly, Abhimanyu disregarded that.

He simply wouldn't accept that he had any kind of personality disorder and he needed help. According to him, people needed to mind their own businesses and not be too intrusive in others lives.

Abhimanyu was still as reluctant as before in social interaction. He'd deliberately avoid any social functions or parties and work instead. When he wasn't in the mood of working, he'd engage her, Shreya, to his entertainment. Not that she was complaining, but the family members were still very disappointed of his tendency towards a sheltered lifestyle.

Shreya's mother-in-law, Priyasha felt dejected because of her son's emotional detachment towards his own parents or siblings, and her husband, Abhiraj was equally sad because of his son's general disinterest and indifference towards almost every social norm and expectations.

Shreya personally had no say as she only focused on her husband's satisfaction. Because she knew any kind of displeasure from his side could disintegrate their relationship, which was only connected by a thin thread, in no time.

A while later, Abhimanyu asked Sunny, "Have you personally met with Mr. Basu?"

Sunny nodded. "I have. The orphanage is not doing good. There are 17 kids aged between 3 to 11, but the funds they get isn't enough. Since Mr. Basu has aged, he's incapable of doing any physical work. So, it has been difficult for him to take care of the orphanage."

A momentary pause later, Abhimanyu fixed his eyeglasses before asking, "What about his grandson? I heard he has a bakery."

"I haven't met him personally. But I don't think his bakery is much of a help."

Abhimanyu tilted his head. "Then, the deal is in our favor. They're in need of financial help. Even if the orphanage is listed for auction, do your thing and set it up. No matter what, I want that property."

Sunny nodded understandingly.

"Well, It's late enough. We should wrap it here for today. Mail me the report by tomorrow evening," Abhimanyu said and stood up.

Other two were about to stand up when he stopped them. "No need." He exchanged a brief glance with Shreya before walking off.

Sunny noticed their small exchange before clearing his throat. "So, how should I address you? Ma'am or Mrs. Roy?"

Shreya shifted her gaze on him. "I'd feel immensely uncomfortable if you address me that way. Just call me Shreya as you used to."

Sunny let out a soundless chuckle before consenting with a few nods. "But I can't call you Shreya in front of others."

"Don't address me with honorifics, please. If feels weird to be addressed by honorifics." She batted her eyelashes dramatically making Sunny chuckle again.

A small pause later he asked, "So, how's everything?"

Shreya's gaze wavered for a quick second before she pretended everything was alright. "It's all good." She was glad that Sunny's focus was on the food as he ate a spoonful. She gathered a little courage before enquiring, "Who's Mr. Basu?"

Sunny looked up chewing on the food. "Mr. Basu? Oh, Mr. Basu! He's is the owner of an orphanage. Their property is getting auctioned as they were unable to pay the loan back to Bank. AR wants to buy it and make a shopping mall in its place."

Shreya nodded. An orphanage. "Where will the children go afterwards?"

"That's not our problem to look after." Sunny ate another mouthful and chewed on it deliberately. "By the way, this is good. Thank you."

Shreya smiled.

Some time later, Sunny left. Shreya went back to their room and saw Abhimanyu sitting at his working desk. The high back ergonomic chair moved slightly as she entered the room and closed the door behind.

The air inside the room seemed to be thicker than usual. She quietly crossed the room and went towards the wardrobe. Tomorrow, there was a puja at her mother's house. Trishna, her mother, had invited her and Abhimanyu over. It's been quite a while since she had met her parents. Although she hadn't yet spoken to Abhimanyu about it, she knew he'd care less about it.

She took a brief glance at him, working concentratedly before pulling the slider to the side. All her outfits were neatly piled up inside the wardrobe. She ran her hands over them, stopping at a mauve colored saree. It was a new saree, from Abhimanyu.

Shreya absent-mindedly pulled it out and grazed her hand over it a couple of times.

One day, Abhimanyu came home late night and surprised her with the saree. Quite understandably, she was stunned at this gesture. She had to pinch her secretly to believe it wasn't a dream. That night, there was no bound for her elation. Although he said it was Sunny who went to shopping in his behalf, later she learned he lied. It was Sunny himself who revealed the truth to her.

While returning from a meeting, Abhimanyu especially stopped the car before the boutique and picked up the saree himself.

A smile broke free on her face as she neatly placed the saree on top of the bed.

"Are you going somewhere?"

She straightened at the voice immediately as her eyes flew towards the owner of the voice. Abhimanyu was staring at her through his glasses, one hand propped up on the armrest while the other lazily laid on his lap. Their eyes met as she replied, "Tomorrow, there's a puja at Maa's place. She invited us."

His eyes shifted and focused on the saree before staring back at her. "Okay."

She hesitated for a moment. "Will... will you go?"

He turned his chair back towards the table and fixed his eyes on the computer screen. "You know the answer."

Shreya looked down, disappointed. "It'll make them happy if you can go."

"I have work." His response was short.

Silence followed. She knew it'd make no difference if she tried to take him there forcefully. Sometimes his indifference towards everything hurts like a painful pinprick. She wanted him to change despite knowing she fell in love with him just because he was different than everyone else.

"Can you not manage an hour or two?" She pleaded. "They'll really be happy if you..."

He interrupted, "Shreya." His firm monotonous voice echoed around the room. "I told you I have work. Besides, I don't like going to parties. I think you know that bit."

Her eyes wavered. "I-" She inhaled shakily before saying, "When will you understand that the people, you're pushing away are the ones that love you, want to see you happy?"

His hands froze on the keyboard as she said that. She flinched. Wrong choice of words. She really shouldn't have said that. Panic overwhelmed her as she started getting heart palpitations.

Abhimanyu slowly turned his chair and focused his undivided attention on her. His expressionless, cold eyes regarded her unblinkingly for a few seconds until his lips twitched slightly. He crossed his hands against his chest and said, "Imposition. Is it? Have we already reached that stage where you can meddle with how I act? Really?"

She shook her head. "I didn't mean that. I just want you to be normal like everyone else. How can you be so insensitive? My family... I know they're not equal to your status, but shouldn't you care at all about their wishes? They're just like your parents Abhi. They just want their son-in-law to be present in the puja. What's wrong with that?" Her words seemed to come out on their own. "I know you don't like spending time with my cousins or my other family members, and I'm not asking you to do that either. Just be present at the puja for a little while. Can't you do that?"

There was no change of expression whatsoever. He calmly listened to her, then sternly said, "What do you mean by 'normal like everyone else'?"

Her eyes widened. Out of all she said, he picked that bit of remark? He was really impossible.

When she didn't respond he asked again, "Since when do you consider me abnormal?"

She winced. "Abhi! I didn't say that!"

"Then what did you mean?"

"I- I- I was... I just want you to come with me."

"That's a separate issue. 'Normal like everyone'. What's normality according to you?"

She kept quiet. She really didn't have an answer to his question, or if she tried to answer, she'd mess it up for sure.

Abhimanyu pressed. "You called me insensitive. I can understand that bit. Perhaps, I am insensitive. But can you elaborate..."

Shreya talked over him. "Why does everything have to be a struggle with you?"

He stopped talking and stared at her quietly. His eyes could literally kill.

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I really don't understand you sometimes."

"How about..." He paused until she opened her eyes and looked at him, "you don't try?" Her eyebrows furrowed as he added, "I never asked you to understand me."

She kept quite unable to come up with anything proper to say.

Meanwhile, he continued, "You're still allowed to leave me if living with me makes you uncomfortable."

Her breathing stopped as he said that. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me, I'm sure."

"Abhimanyu!" She raised her voice slightly. "Think before you say something! I am not here because of the comfort and luxuries of life I am getting in this house! I am here, because I love you!"

He looked away as soon as she said that.

"Abhimanyu! Don't look away! You promised you'll try! But are you actually?"

He said nothing, didn't even move.

"You cancelled the appointment with the psychologist. Your aloofness remained intact even after all this time. Your parents... do you even know how much you hurt them with your disinterest towards your family affairs? They want you to take responsibility, Abhi! Why don't you understand that?"

He turned his head back. "Responsibility? What do you think how is Permabell functioning these days?"

She tsked. "Not the business. No! I mean the family! Where is your responsibility towards them? Have you gone to check on your sister after she got her consciousness back? Not even once? Did you?"

His stoic face made no difference whatsoever.

Shreya sighed, defeated. "I am not being intrusive. I am your wife!"

"Then act like my wife," he said in his flat but firm voice.

She blinked a couple of times as her hands fell to the sides limply.

He languidly took off his eyeglasses and put it on the table, beside the keyboard. "I've had enough of this conversation. You want me to go to the puja. Alright, I'll be there for a few minutes. But you'll have to return with me. You can't stay there." He focused his eyes back on her and observed the confusion and disbelief crossing over her face.

"What?"

"I'm sure, you heard me. There's no need to repeat myself."

"But how can you do this to me? I'm meeting them after a long time."

"And you're wasting my time. Now, come over here."

Shreya's mouth fell open. She blinked twice, still unable to process what was going on.

"I don't like to repeat myself, Shreya." Abhimanyu leaned back on his chair and put his hands on the armrests.

Although immensely confused, she walked over to him and stood a feet away.

His eyes raked over her while he commanded flatly. "Come closer."

She did when the next command left his lips. "Kneel."

"What?"

"On your knees. Sit."

"Abhi!" She raised her voice only to get talked over. "You want me to go to puja tomorrow?"

Realization washed over her. "So, you're blackmailing me now."

"I haven't even started. Kneel."

She should say no. This was disrespecting. How could he do that to her? This was the same man who, while making love, talked sweet nothings in her ears. The same man who promised he'd try for better. Then what was this?

Her eyes wavered. But she really wanted him to go to the puja. She didn't understand why was he treating her like that, she obliged nonetheless.

She got on her knees and looked up. He was staring at her fixedly the whole time. Their eyes met when he asked, "Tell me what you want?" He paused momentarily before adding, "Right now?"

She deliberated on her response. Did it really matter what she wanted right now? Or was he wistfully wanted her to say something he would like right now?

She took a few seconds before settling on, “I want you to kiss me.”

"Try again."

She bit on her bottom lip while her cheeks colored. "I want to please you."

He straightened and leaned over making the gap between them almost nonexistent. His right hand raised and touched her cheek as he said, "Good girl."

His touch sent fireworks down to her belly right away. She closed her eyes and tried to prevent herself from reacting erratically. Her hormones couldn't just betray her right now. Because the adrenaline rush was making her feel hot all over.

"Don't close your eyes." Abhimanyu whispered. His warm breath brushed on her skin making tingles run down her spine. Goosebumps erupted on her skin as she opened her eyes and looked in his twinkling ones.

His lips moved again. "You have no idea what's going on inside my head right now. Each of my thoughts about you are improper. And I like them like that."

She had no idea why her brain turned hazy suddenly. She felt unbelievably hot and bothered. Her core tingled like million butterflies swimming in an ocean of moondust while she felt something warm dripping down below.

This couldn't be! How could she get turn on by this? It was unbelievable.

Abhimanyu's thumb moved from her cheek to her lips as he grazed it over them lightly before ordering, "Open."

Her eyes never left his as she opened her mouth. As soon as she did so, his thumb slid inside. "You know what to do, mirage."

She clasped her lips around his thumb and slowly sucked on it. Rolling her tongue around it, she tried her best to appease him.

"You like that, don't you?"

A moment later he pulled the thumb out of her mouth. It popped out with strings of saliva attached to it. He noticed its condition before putting it into his own mouth. Her eyes widened at the act. She tried to get up hastily, when he quickly stopped her. "No, you can't get up. I'll mess you up if you try to."

"What are you even doing?" She whined.

"You look best when you're at my mercy. Just stay like this, and it'll be smooth for both of us."

"Abhi!" she moaned as he grazed his hand over her neck and placed a kiss on her temple.

"I want you. Right now. Right here."

"Who's stopping you?"

He covered her face with a bunch of wet kisses, forehead, her eyes, cheeks, nose, her chin... until it stopped before her lips. "What do you want, mirage?"

She panted lightly. "Make love to me."

"Say it like you mean it."

"Please, make love to me. Please, make me yours. Please."

He placed his forehead onto hers as both closed their eyes. "Better. Why?"

"Because I love you. No matter what, I love you. And I know you love me too. Please, I need to hear you say it. Tell me you love me. Please tell me you love me."

Both panted lightly until he whispered, "I love you" and closed the minimum distance between them by placing his lips onto hers.

~~~

A/N - Well, just to give this tiny info.

#1 Priyasha was delicate but a strong protagonist.
#2 Shreya, however, is understanding and submissive. I hope you have noticed that so far.
#3 & we know Ritu. Heart in the sleeves! So, expect some exhilarating scenes in Book #3.