Mishti stirred restlessly in her sleep, her head unintentionally resting on Abir, who was seated beside her, deep in slumber. Suddenly, she became acutely aware of his unnaturally warm body, almost burning with fever. Concern etched on her face, she shook him gently, hoping to rouse him. As he opened his eyes, he found himself nestled against her neck, instinctively pulling away in embarrassment.

“Abir, you’re burning up with a fever!” Mishti exclaimed, her voice laced with worry. He rubbed his eyes, as he stried from the sleep.

“Yeah, it happens. I catch a fever whenever I get soaked in the rain,” Abir replied, attempting to sound nonchalant despite his evident discomfort.

With a mix of scolding and concern, Mishti shot back, “Then why didn’t you tell me earlier? I practically drenched you in the rain!”

Abir met her worried gaze but chose silence, slowly rising from the bed. His body swayed unsteadily as the high fever took its toll on him.

“Abir, sit down! You can’t just ignore this!” Mishti urged, grasping his hand and guiding him back onto the bed.

“Seriously, it’s just a fever. It’ll pass. Don’t fret over it,” Abir insisted, trying to downplay his condition.

“Of course, I’ll fret! You’re my husband! What if something happens to you?” Her eyes brimmed with anxiety.

Feeling awkward under her intense gaze, Abir looked away, guilt creeping in. “You shouldn’t have to worry about me like this, Mishti.”

“But I do! I mean...how will I manage alone, who will protect me,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Determined, Mishti quickly returned with a glass of medicine, offering it to him. “You need to take this. It’ll help you feel better.”

Abir shook his head defiantly. “I’m not in the mood for medicine right now.”

“You have only one option: take it quietly, or I’ll feed it to you myself!” she declared firmly, arms crossed.

“Okay, okay! Just give it to me,” Abir relented, defeated.

He swallowed the medicine and lay back down, his body still burning with fever. Slowly, he closed his eyes as Mishti placed her cool hand on his forehead.

“Just hold on a little longer, Abir. You’ll be alright,” she whispered softly.

With an unwavering resolve, she soaked a cloth in cool water and gently placed it on his forehead. Throughout the night, she sat on the floor, vigilantly changing the cloth, her own fatigue beginning to weigh on her.

As dawn broke, Abir awoke to find Mishti dozing on the floor, her head resting on the bed, still holding his hand. She looked fragile, her complexion pale.

A wave of pity washed over him, realizing the burden he was placing on her. His heart melted, yet his mind wrestled with the reality of his feelings.

Gently, he removed her hand and attempted to rise, inadvertently waking her.

“Abir, are you feeling any better now?” she asked, her voice thick with concern.

“Yes, I’m okay now. Just a viral fever. But why did you stay up all night?” Abir responded.

“Because I wanted you to be able to sleep,” she replied firmly, her determination evident despite her weariness. “You needed me, and I wasn’t going to leave your side.”

Abir's eyes brimmed with unshed tears as he processed her unwavering care. Pain coursed through him. He was starting to fall for her, but his heart was still in turmoil, battling against dark shadows from his past.

“Mishti, I don’t deserve this kind of love. You should be focusing on yourself too,” he said, guilt lacing his voice.

“Don’t say that! You’re my priority. You always will be,” she insisted.

Later, Mishti brought him breakfast, feeding him with tender care despite her own declining health. “You need to eat, Abir. It’s important for your recovery,” she insisted.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from outside, nearly grazing Mishti, leaving both of them frozen in shock.

Mishti gasped, breathless with fear. “Ab… Abir, I’m so scared! It’s Aayan…”

“Don’t worry, Mishti. Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let anything touch you,” Abir promised, moving closer.

“I trust you completely, Abir, but if something happens to you… no, I can’t lose you!” Her voice trembled as she began to sob.

Abir’s eyes filled with tears again as he pulled her into a tight embrace, their emotions raw and exposed. “You won’t lose me. I’ll fight for us, no matter what it takes.”

Just then, he spotted someone aiming at Mishti from the window. In a split second, he pushed her away, but the bullet missed and struck the cupboard instead, sending debris crashing down on him.

Mishti panicked, rushing to him and clearing the wreckage away, revealing his injured right hand, blood seeping through the makeshift bandage.

“Abir! You’re hurt! This must be so painful…” she cried, her heart breaking at the sight of him in pain.

“It's just a minor injury; don’t cry. I’ll be fine,” Abir said, forcing a smile despite the agony coursing through him.

“Minor? You’re bleeding, Abir! You need proper care!” she protested, helplessly.

Abir chuckled weakly at her innocence, his heart aching for her. “You really worry too much, don’t you?”

“Of course I do! Because I care about you!" she declared, her voice filled with unwavering affection.

Inside his mind, he pondered, “Who is behind these attacks? Who wants to harm Mishti?”

Meanwhile, outside their home, the assailant removed his mask, revealing Kunal, who smirked to himself. “This was unintended; I didn’t mean ki bhaii ko lag jaye, but mera kaam toh ho gaya. The plan is in motion. I just need him to protect Mishti from Nishant, aur bhaii ko pata bhi nahii chalega kab woh bhabhi ko mujhse protect karte karte Nishant se protect karne lag jayenge.”

“Now because of bhai's injury they’ll grow closer. Mohobat toh ho karr rahege Bhai, aapko bhabhi se. Don’t worry, bhabhi, aapke iss criminal husband ko aapke pyaar mein giraftar nahii karva diyaa toh mera naam bhi Kunal nahi!”

“Aur jo bhi hua, acha hi hua. Bhai legit deserves this, aaye bade Mishti ko Nishant ko de dunga, then she'll be his problem.”

---

Mishti devotedly cared for Abir, feeding him with her own hands and managing every little task for him despite her own deteriorating health. Each passing day, he became more enchanted by her, his defenses crumbling.

Finally, the day came when Abir was fit again.

“Wow, Abir! Your hand is all better!” Mishti exclaimed joyfully, her eyes sparkling with relief.

“Only because of you. Thank you so much,” Abir replied, his heart full of gratitude.

“Keep your thanks to yourself; you’re more important to me than anything. And when I see Aayan, I’ll make sure to hit him with my slipper, till it breaks!” she declared fiercely, her spirit unyielding despite her fears.

“Are you not scared of him?” Abir asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

“I am terrified! Just thinking about Nishant and Aayan makes my soul shiver. But when I look at you, I forget everything. I believe that as long as you’re by my side, nothing can harm me,” she stated proudly.

“Mishti, you have so much faith in me?” Abir asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

“More than in anyone else. You’re my strength, Abir. You give me hope,” she replied with a warm smile, her determination shining through.

“And what if I told you the greatest danger to you comes from me?” Abir questioned, guilt washing over him.

“Even if you said that, I wouldn’t believe it. Because I know you’re fighting for us, fighting against your past,” she countered confidently.

Abir was taken aback by her unwavering faith, sinking deeper into guilt as memories of his past and dark commitments to Nishant loomed over him. Yet, Mishti was slowly carving her space in his heart.

“Mishti, if you only knew what I’m hiding, you might not feel the same,” he confessed, his voice heavy with regret.

“Then tell me! Because I want to understand you, all of you. I want to help you bear this burden,” she urged, her eyes pleading.

“Promise me you won’t regret it,” he said, his heart pounding.

“Promise,” she vowed, her expression resolute.

As they locked eyes, the tension thickened, each of them acutely aware of the storm brewing within their hearts. In that moment, something shifted between them, igniting an unspoken bond that transcended their fears.

“Mishti, whatever happens, I’ll always protect you,” Abir said, his voice firm with conviction.

“And I’ll always stand by you, no matter the darkness you face,” she replied, her eyes shimmering with determination.

Their shared moment was profound, a silent understanding forged in the face of adversity, marking the beginning of a deeper connection that neither of them could ignore.

---

Utre joh zindgi kii gehriyeon mein hum
Mehfil mein reh kar bhi rahe tanhiyon mein hum
Deewangi nahii toh aur kyaa kahe
Insaan dhudhte rahe parchiyon mein hum