Chaahat's POV:

He kept looking at me and suddenly I noticed his eyes were on my lips...

I swallowed a lump in my throat.

Next minute I felt his fingers on my lips and my breathing literally stopped!

I closed my eyes at the contact of his fingers on my lips. My heart was thumping hard like a little 18 year old. But next minute nothing happened.

I opened my eyes when I heard the knob click of the changing room.

He left??? 😕

Why Chaahat you didn't want him to 🌝😉

Shutup!!! No!!! Good he left!!!

Realllllly 🌝🌝🌝

Oh yes ofcourse!!! Good!!!

Then why are you having that grumpy face 🤭

Oh Shutup...I'm..I'm tired...
I must probably change!!!

Yeah Yeah.... Change!! Go onnnn!!

Ignoring the shit my brain was spewing I got up and began removing my heavy jewellery one after other.

I was stuck at the heavy punjabi chooda and kaleerein that was quite complicated. SonaPie instructed me to not remove the Chooda for a month 🙄. But these Kaleerein were getting stuck to everything.
I was struggling to remove them.

While I heard the door knob click again...I looked through the mirror and saw him in a tshirt and pajama.

'You didn't change?' he asked..

Huhh!!! Is he really that dumb... can't he see I'm struggling in between these jewellery and Lehenga...

I forced my lips to let a smile trying to maintain poise of a bride and continued fighting a WWE with these Kaleerein...

While I felt his hands on my hands and I lifted my head up...

My throat went dry as he sat next to me and began helping me untie the Kaleerein...

While I quietly cooperated I heard him say...

'Chaahat'

My name from his mouth is like honey syrup in my ears...
I hummed a response softly...

'If you need anything, any help, please feel free...feel comfortable...' I nodded with a smile...

After some serious struggling we managed to untangle and finally removed the Kaleerein off my hands..

'Ummm Chaahat.. that's the changing room and that's the washroom... Change yourself feel comfortable' he said and I smiled...

I quickly went and changed into tshirt pajamas, removed all my makeup and lens and came out wearing my glasses while my heart was beating hard on what to talk to him... what to say... how to... there are so many questions...so much to talk, explain, tell, listen.... express!

Looking at myself one last time in the mirror I stepped out to see Neiv wasn't on the bed. Instead I saw him in the balcony.

I slowly opened the balcony door to see him on a video conferencing call 😕

I mean seriously???

He was attending a meeting with my team back in Australia...

But the minute my team looked at me they began congratulating me on the video call...

I was blushing hard...even Neiv looked really pink n nervous...

While I heard Venessa my new PA ask me...

'Mam...when are you coming back'...

And before I could think what to answer...

I heard Neiv's reply ...

'Soon...now please make a print of all that I asked you for Venessa please and fax it to me asap'

And she nodded and left...

While I kept looking at Neiv...

Did he say soon???

He wants me to go to Australia???

I thought I'm shifting here forever post marriage!!!

I stood there for a while but he was extremely busy with the meeting. And I felt like a fool standing there as most of the employees were either excited that Neiv is back at work post the accident or the rest were gossiping about our sudden wedding announcement.

I wondered what on earth for him was so urgent that he had to start working from today itself 🙄

Honestly I was pissed!!!

I sat on the bed reading my updates of my current favorite book 'Affection' by my favorite author UniqueNImperfect. Wiping my tears with my hands at how emotional it was I felt a handkerchief passed on to me. I lifted my head up to see Neiv smiling and sitting next to me.

I quietly took the kerchief and wiped by tears...

'I hate to see Dave like this ...why did he get so hampered...it hurts' I said 🤧 wiping my nose while he chuckled...

'Chaahat...it's just a book... And anyways... Time and circumstances change people a lot'

He said looking deep into my eyes... those spoke volumes...

Next he removed his thick glasses kept it on the side table and picked a pillow and began walking towards the couch 🛋️

I kept looking at him while he pulled out an extra comforter from the cupboard and threw it on the couch.

I was shocked 😳

Is he not going to sleep on the bed?

Now I thought I must speak up...

The meeting, he not coming closer to me, avoiding me, now this couch!!!

I was done!!! After 3.5 years of seperation this is how he was behaving on our first night.

While I stood up in one go...

'Neiv...' I called out and he turned around..

I went near him...Stood infront of him..
'Has time and circumstances changed our relationship too?' I asked...

To which he stopped on his tracks, turned around and looked at me...

'We all evolve Chaahat...' he said and began walking away...

'I love you Neiv' I said softly...

He stopped on his tracks and said...

'I know Chaahat...I know'

My anger was going notch higher with every passing minute...

I walked closer to him... Looked straight into his Russet Brown Devil Orbs!!!

Uffffffffffffffff!!! Those eyes...

'Thats not the answer I would get usually when I used to say...I love you... Neiv' I said softly...

He looked elsewhere and said ...
'Everything is not like designing Gaya's Behir's summer collection for the fashion week or approving decisions as a CEO Chaahat!!! These are emotions... And I'm sorry to say... Things aren't really same!!!'

My eyes filled with fresh tears and I looked at him...while he silently blinked through his tears and lied down on the couch...

'You can take the bed Neiv...it's your room' I said...

He adjusted the pillow and said...
'If you know me well in these many years ..you will know I will never let you sleep on the couch... Ive promised to take care of you Chaahat...I will fulfill my vows!' he said going to lie down...

'Well if that's so then accepting me as your wife whole heartedly is one of the most important vows in this marriage' I said softly trying to control my tears...

'You are Chaahat... You are my wife...I will do everything to keep you like a princess in my house and my life...'

'I want to be the queen of your heart Neiv...I don't need anything else 😢' I said while a drop of tear fell from my eyes...

While he got up and took a step ahead and stood infront of me...

Next minute I felt his warm palms cupping my face...
Next he wiped my tears with his thumb fingers...

'You are the only one who has ever made that space in my heart Chaahat...you know that... But somethings are broken beyond limits at times...

I AM ... broken!!!

I need my own time and space Chaahat...it isn't easy for me Chaah...it....it never was!!!' he said while my throat filled up...

I bent closer to him and hugged him warm....

But I didn't feel his arms around me and I was shocked 😳🥺

I lifted my head up and looked at him...

He kept looking towards the roof
..I squeezed him tighter and literally snuggled into his broad chest... pressing myself more and more into him...

But he was unaffected!!!

Although I could feel his heart was beating loudly...

But his eyes were damp and it pricked to see him like that...

'Neiv... I love you baby' I said and kissed his chest...

But I didn't get a response...

That's when I left the grip over him and took a few steps behind and looked at him...

'Im not the same Neiv Chaahat...Time and situations make a lot of impact on relationships Chaahat...one such is ours...' saying he slowly lifted his leg up and kept the walking stick aside and lied down on the bed

'If it's about your leg...I want you to know it was the only reason I could give to marry Karan then as I was scared for Aahir...' I said trying to explain him the scenario..

While he chuckled saying...
'Its never my leg Chaahat!!! It's my heart!'

And he closed his eyes while a drop of tear escaped his right eye and he mumbled...

'Goodnight Chaahat'...

And next second I felt like although we took a big step we are still at the same spot!

Nothing changed except the fact that now I'm his wife, in his room going to feel his rejection more and more!!!

I closed my eyes while multiple drops on tears fell from my eyes and I thought for a moment...

Woooow!!! What a new beginning this is 🥺😢