Vani's POV :

My body felt heavy as if someone had put a ton on it. I opened my eyes only to clutch it back as stinging light fell on my lids. My head hurts.

"Good morning, love." A male voice cooed from my side. I tried to speak but only a little groan came out from my mouth. I felt an aggressive shuffle from my side, but I was too tired to look on that side.

A hand was tucked behind my head as it pushed my head slightly up.

"Drink some water." The same male voice ushered gently. I opened my mouth and drank until the glass was empty.

"Are you ok?" I opened my eyes and looked at the handsome man who was looking down at me with concern. His beauty reminds me of my lord Krishan. I wonder if Krishan has sent this angle for me or if is this again my test.

"Can you get up?" he opened his mouth. This man looks serine, it feels like something has touched my heart. Something warm.

I gently pushed my body up as I saw him adjusting pillows to my back.

"Do you need something? Are you hurting somewhere?" he pushed his concerns-filled questions to me. I smiled as much as I could.

"I'm fine." My voice came out as a squeak. His eyes warmed, even though they looked tired, he looked tired. The brown patch under his eyes tells me, how he has slept in the night. His disheveled hair seems like he had pulled it hard. I can see a pinch of blood on his knuckles. A sudden lump formed in my throat.

"I'm sorry." My head was hung low. His body snapped towards me. He held my hands who were furiously fidgeting with each other.

"Why, my love?" he ushered.

"For making you stressed and worried." I made quick contact with his eyes and looked down immediately.

"Look at me." His voice held gentleness.

I looked at his side and gasped. His eyes were bloodshot as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Who am I to you?" he asked, vulnerability laced in his voice. Never have I ever seen this man like this. Why now?

"Omkar-

"Who am I to you?" he closed his eyes and clenched his jaws. Why was he suddenly mad?

"My husband..." I whispered.

"Yes, your husband. Your. Husband. Am I not allowed to comfort my wife? Am I not allowed to share her burden? Am I not allowed to stress over her health? Am I not?" more tears streamed down from his eyes.

I don't know how to answer this. He got up from his squatting position and took a seat beside my waist. His hand gently cupped my cheeks.

"Vani, I love you. I love you so much, so much that I can't see you like this. If I see my love like this, tell me how am I able to live? I only have you, you are my strength, so if I see my strength like this, tell me do I not feel hurt." Now, I'm afraid. I'm afraid of the emotion that filled his eyes, love. Love for me.

My heart thumped. What is this? This emotion is something I have not seen anywhere. Not even in Raghav's eyes, when he confessed to me. And parents' love is different, but what Omkar has, is something I am unaware of.

"Om-omkar." I stuttered. Why I'm feeling my heart waver? Why do I feel sudden warmness? Why do I feel... love? For this specific man?

No, if I'm falling in love with Omkar, how can I justify the relationship I and Raghav had?

Did I ever love Raghav?

Baby, you didn't. Deep down you knew you could not love him like you love your Lord, and now you suddenly compared Omkar with Shyam ji? See the difference Vani, see the difference.

A sudden shook broke my trance.

"Are you ok?" now the tears disappeared and his bloodshot eyes remained.

Before I could answer him, memories from last night came back rushing. My back stiffened. He might have noticed the sudden change, as he rubbed my shoulders gently.

"It's ok, it's ok." He chanted. His voice made a perfect distraction from the memories. It's like I was hypnotized to be ok.

I huffed and pushed the horrible night to the back of my head. What's the point of dwelling when the time is gone, it's done, it was past, and you are out of this.

"I'm fine now." And grateful that I was able to save myself.

"Really?"

I smiled.

"I'm actually proud of myself. That bastard saw this coming." I exhaled.

He chuckled.

"You are really something else." His laugh put my heart at peace.

"You look good while laughing." I pinched his cheeks. His face stiffened, and I giggled. He cleared his throat and got up.

"Let me grab you something to eat." He turned.

"I prefer you grabbing me," I commented, he slowly turned around and looked at me like he had seen a ghost. But soon he smirked. I wonder what that smirk means.

He paced his way toward me and pulled me in his arms. I squealed as he picked me up.

"Like this, love?" his smirk deepened, I laughed. This is the best feeling, him holding me. It feels so good, so right.

"Put me down Om," I again squealed when he spun me while still holding me in his arms.

"As much as I like to pin you to my chest, but love you need to eat something and for that, you need to freshen up." He snuggled his face in my neck and put me down.

He suddenly paced his way out, like almost immediately. I smiled to myself and grabbed a towel. I was about to go into the bathroom when my eyes fell on the small figurine of my lord.

"You always listened me, didn't you?" I smiled at the figurine and noticed a small smile. I can see the sense the happiness in his usual smile.

You know, the figurine will look simple when you look at it with calculative eyes, but when you see it with love, you can sense the emotion. Like I am sensing now. The feeling of love and being loved.