"I knew I was yours before you even came into my life."

When Atharva reached the hospital, he looked like the perfect definition of madness. His hair was swept by the wind and he still wore the same clothes-now wrinkled and dirty. He rushed directly to the reception and asked, more like demanded, for Aahana Saxena.

He sounded desperate to his own ears. He had no idea if Aahana had come here to visit someone or for some other reason but he felt like he would die with everything within him if anything happened to her.

The receptionist-startled for a moment- typed on the keyboard and nodded at him vigorously.

He didn't second glance her way as he searched for Room No. 404, Aahana's room. People gawked at him on his way but he couldn't care less.

He stood in front of the door and it was the only barrier between them but he couldn't bring himself to take a step forward. He didn't know what to expect on the other side. His heart thudded and he could feel his palm sweat as he twisted the doorknob right when it opened, freezing him on his spot.

Wide-eyed, he looked at the nurse who just came out of the room and when her eyes landed on him, she frowned-her gaze questioning.

He opened his mouth to speak but his throat clogged and he felt choked. Thankfully, the nurse saved him.

"Sir, you can't go in. Ma'am is sleeping, and visiting hours are over."

He wanted to tell her no visiting hours and other shit policies of the hospital could stop him. And when he did, he saw her mouth hang open in horror.

"Uh, but-"

"Fuck off." Well, it wasn't the best thing to say to the nurse who was apparently tending to his wife, but could he help himself? He hated feeling the way he felt for Aahana, but there wasn't a choice. Love and worry caused him to forget his manners. He felt guilty for sounding so harsh and threatening when she meant no harm.

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm her husband. Can you tell me why is she admitted here?" he asked, more politely this time.

The nurse, who was unfamiliar with his mood swings, staggered back and gulped, nodding shakily. "She met with an accident. It was a police case. We tried to inform her family but she didn't let us."

"Who brought her here?"

"We don't know, sir. The woman was with her son when she saw the accident occur, so she helped Aahana ma'am."

"Oh, did she tell how it happened?"

"According to her statement to the police, she saw your wife driving when suddenly a truck collided with her car, sending her straight to a tree."

The more he heard, the more tensed he grew. His breath was turning uneven and he was covered in perspiration. "Is she okay now?"

"She has a broken leg and sprained her right hand which will take around 21 days to a month to heal completely while the minor scars will heal in a few days. She is under observation for 5 days after which she can leave."

"What about the paperwork?"

"There wasn't any." The nurse shook her head.

"And she was operated?"

"She knows the doctor."

"Oh okay, thank you. Can I please see her?"

The nurse nodded slightly and left.

With a relieved sigh, he went in to find darkness, only the bed lamp glowing brightly which outlined the room. He could faintly see the bare walls and blue curtains. A TV was placed in one corner and a tiny couch on the other side near the queen-size bed.

He couldn't help but feel doubts cloud his head.

Did she not trust him enough to let him be with her when she was ill? He was her husband. He had every right.

She is mine. So why?

He walked towards the bed with quiet steps to not disturb her sleep. But what he saw was not what he expected. In the flimsy hospital gown, head resting on the headboard, madame was reading a novel. Her head was wrapped in a bandage so was her right hand. Her right leg was covered in a cast.

Though she didn't look comfortable, she looked peaceful.

Sighing, he slouched on the chair beside her. "You didn't bother to wish me good night?"

Aahana screamed and jumped slightly, her book flying out of her grip. She turned to look at him with eyes big as saucers. "I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Atharva nodded. "Of course you are. Or else how would I be here when you didn't tell me anything."

"Right." Aahana nodded and started to read again.

Atharva stared at her incredulously.

"Oh, hello!" Atharva waved his hand in front of her face and snatched the book from her grip. "How stupid are you? First, you didn't inform anyone and then you switched off your phone."

"Hey, how did you get here?" She poked his arm with a confused look to see if he really was here. "Anyway, I didn't want to worry you all."

"Contacts," he mumbled and looked into her eyes. "You could have called me, Aahana. I was worried about you."

"I'm sorry." Aahana squirmed under his steady gaze. "I didn't want to be a bother, but I promise this won't happen next time."

Atharva shook his head. "You can never be a bother, Aahana, and there isn't going to be any next time. I'll keep you safe from now on."

Aahana smiled and lifted her hand to hold his but ended up wincing in pain.

"Hey, are you okay?" He moved towards her and stroked her cheek.

"Honestly? I feel like shit otherwise absolutely brilliant."

Atharva let out a small laugh and smiled at her with reassurance. "I'll take care of you."

Her eyes suddenly watered and she looked down at her lap, her voice quivering as she spoke. "Y'know to-today when I was brought to the hospital, I-I thought I wouldn't s-survive."

Atharva let out a shaky breath and lifted her chin to face him. "I wouldn't let you go anywhere Aahana." He wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb and pressed his lips to her forehead.

Aahana buried her face in his chest and nodded quietly. "I love you."

His heart nearly leapt out of his chest after hearing her honeyed words and he shut his eyes in contentment, his arms hugging her closely. "You should rest."

Aahana pulled away. "What about you?"

"I'll sleep on the couch after grabbing a coffee from the canteen."

Aahana wanted him to go home but a bigger part of her needed him to stay with her.

Atharva couldn't help but feel strange about the so-called accident. It seemed like a well-planned plot to kill Aahana. Frankly, hit and run cases were common in Delhi but it was very unlikely for a truck to be passing on the road which Aahana took- more like a narrow street.

When he came back with his coffee, Aahana saw the frown on his face. "What's wrong?"

He looked up at her and shook his head. "Nothing."

Aahana shrugged off. "Okay. Lock the door please."

"Huh?"

She stared at him with a serious face. "Just do."

He locked it and gave her the 'What now?' look while he dumped the plastic cup in the dustbin.

She patted the space beside her.

Atharva arched a brow and said the words a little too slowly as if he were to explain a kid. "This is a hospital."

"This is my room for the next 5 days. Come on," she insisted.

Atharva stood there for a while, his face blank. He felt conflicted as his eyes moved between Aahana and the tiny bed, and finally, he nodded with a heavy sigh.

He was about to jump on the bed when he realized he was still wearing the tux. Groaning, he took them off and put them on the couch, only leaving his pants and white shirt on. He switched off the lamp and fell on the bed beside her.

"Aahana?" he called in the darkness as he tried to adjust his tall frame.

"Hmm?"

"I don't want to hurt you, but you know how I sleep."

Aahana chuckled. "Don't worry about it."

Atharva went quiet.

He heard some shuffling before he felt her face rest against his chest. "Sorry. This has become a habit."

He wrapped his arms around her waist gently. "Mine too."

It was impossible to not touch each other when they were just a breath away.

●●●

Aahana woke up to the feel of someone toying with her hair. She opened her eyes and blinked before staring right at Atharva who was already gazing at her face with an unfathomable expression.

She smiled slightly and rubbed her eyes. "How long have you been awake?"

"Good morning to you too." He chuckled and leaned closer to her face. "Just a few minutes?"

"Hmm, checking out your wife, eh?" She teased while trying to get up but failing miserably.

Atharva turned red and coughed. Quietly, he helped her sit up with the support of the soft pillow behind her head.

Aahana was about to say something again but the knock on the door silenced her. Atharva got up from the bed and unlocked the door.

The doctor, quite young and good-looking stared back at him with a puzzled expression.

"You are?"

"Atharva Saxena," he stated in a gruff voice.

"Oh, Aahana's husband?" The doctor now had a genuine smile as he held his hand out.

Atharva shook his hand after a moment with a firm nod and forced smile.

"Good morning, Doc." Aahana was the perfect distraction at that time because Atharva felt like he'd do something he never did. He was feeling jealous if that was even possible but knowing that Aahana and he were acquaintances didn't feel right, not when he smiled brightly and greeted Aahana with so much enthusiasm.

"So, how are you feeling?" His foot moved in her direction and Atharva's face hardened.

"Excellent!" The sarcasm dripped from her voice very clearly and the doctor couldn't help but chuckle as he ruffled her hair.

"Alright, rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10."

"7."

"I'll tell Maya to give you some painkillers."

Aahana nodded. "Thank you."

He smiled again and left wordlessly.

"How do you know him?" Atharva felt himself ask once they were left alone.

"Yash is my family doctor. He is like a brother and friend to me. We went to the same school." She explained.

"Oh!" Atharva breathed. "That reminds me, I should inform your parents "

"No." She grabbed his arm with her good hand, halting his movement. "Don't wanna worry them."

Atharva thought for a second before he nodded understandingly. "Okay but since you are on bed rest for nearly a month, everyone is bound to know."

"No one will. Who will tell them?"

"Point." Atharva agreed. "Are you up for the one-month rest?

"Please. You really think I'll rest?"

"And you think I'll let you out of the bed?" He retorted with his arms crossed across his chest.

"Whatever. We'll see." She huffed and tried not to stare too hard at his bulging biceps.

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