Chapter 53: 50. Samyuktika's dadi

Ekansh’s gaze lingered on Samyuktika, the steady rise and fall of her chest calming the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. The warmth of her body against his, the softness of her presence—everything about her made the harsh world he lived in feel just a little bit lighter.

His eyelids grew heavy as he watched her, the peace he felt around her pulling him deeper into an unexpected sense of comfort. For the first time in what felt like ages, he didn’t feel the weight of his responsibilities or the darkness of his past pressing down on him. Instead, he felt… content.

A small smile tugged at his lips, and before he knew it, his eyes fluttered shut. The tension in his body melted away, and he dozed off, his arms still wrapped protectively around her, their breathing falling into a synchronized rhythm.

As sleep overtook him, the last thought that crossed his mind was a simple, undeniable truth: she had become the one person who could silence the chaos in his life. With her, everything just seemed to make sense.

The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. Samyuktika stirred awake, feeling the gentle weight of Ekansh’s arms still wrapped around her. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, and then her eyes landed on him.

Ekansh was still fast asleep, his face softened by the peacefulness of sleep. For a moment, Samyuktika watched him, her heart conflicted. There was a part of her that was still angry with him, frustrated with the way he had treated her, but seeing him so vulnerable, a quiet warmth spread through her chest. She slowly untangled herself from his embrace, careful not to wake him, and slipped out of bed.

The house was quiet as she stepped into the hallway, her feet padding softly against the floor. As she descended the stairs, her mind was still spinning from the events of the past days, but she felt strangely lighter this morning. And as she reached the living room, she paused, seeing someone she hadn’t expected to run into so early—Naira.

Naira was sitting by the window, lost in her own thoughts. Samyuktika stopped for a moment, unsure of how to approach her. There had been so much tension between them for so long, mostly due to Naira’s attachment to Ekansh. But something had changed recently. Naira had pulled away, no longer lingering around Ekansh or trying to insert herself into their lives.

Steeling herself, Samyuktika approached her. Naira noticed her presence and turned, offering a small, tentative smile.

“Morning,” Naira greeted, her voice soft, lacking the usual sharpness it once held when she spoke to Samyuktika.

Samyuktika returned the smile, feeling the shift between them. She wasn’t used to this quiet, almost peaceful exchange with Naira, but today, it felt right. “Morning.”

There was a brief silence before Samyuktika spoke again, surprising even herself. "You know... to be honest, I didn’t think I’d ever like you."

Naira raised her eyebrows, but there was no defensiveness in her expression—just curiosity.

"But," Samyuktika continued, "now that you’re no longer trying to be… well, behind Ekansh all the time, I think you’re okay. Maybe even more than okay."

Naira chuckled lightly, leaning back in her chair. “I guess I deserved that,” she admitted. “I was a bit… obsessed with him, wasn’t I?”

Samyuktika shrugged, her expression softening. "A bit."

Naira smiled, and for the first time, there was no competition, no hidden tension between them. “I’ve come to realize that Ekansh doesn’t feel the same way. He never did, and clinging to that… well, it wasn’t good for anyone. Least of all me.”

Samyuktika nodded, appreciating the honesty. "It’s good that you see that. I’m glad you’re not holding onto it anymore. It’s… easier this way. For all of us."

Naira looked at her, genuinely. "I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but… you and Ekansh, you make sense. You’re what he needs."

Samyuktika didn’t respond immediately, her mind still processing the words, but she felt a sense of relief. Maybe things really could be different from now on. Naira wasn’t a threat anymore—just another person who had once been caught up in Ekansh’s orbit but had finally found her way out.

With a small nod, Samyuktika turned, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Maybe today would be the start of something new.

Samyuktika took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth as she glanced over at Naira, who was still enjoying her coffee. A playful smile danced on her lips as she said, “You know, I think you and Rihaan would make a really cute couple.”

Naira looked at her, surprise flickering in her eyes before a shy smile spread across her face. “You think so?”

“Absolutely!” Samyuktika replied, leaning in slightly. “I mean, the way you two interact is so sweet. You both have that fun, easy-going vibe. Plus, he seems to light up when you’re around.”

Naira blushed slightly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I never really thought about it like that. I mean, he’s my childhood friend's friend, and I just—”

“Come on,” Samyuktika encouraged, a teasing glint in her eye. “You can’t deny there’s chemistry between you two. The way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching? It's kind of adorable.”

Naira chuckled, her cheeks still flushed. “You really think so?”

“Definitely!” Samyuktika nodded enthusiastically. “You should totally flirt with him a little more. You never know where it might lead. Besides, it would be nice to see you happy.”

Naira’s smile widened at Samyuktika's encouragement. “Maybe I will. It’s just that I’ve been focused on other things… but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see where it goes.”

“That’s the spirit!” Samyuktika said, feeling genuinely pleased. “And who knows? You could end up being one of those couples that everyone loves. You know, the kind that makes everyone else a little envious.”

Naira laughed, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of their past tension had completely lifted. “Thanks for believing in me, Sam. I appreciate it.”

“Of course! We’re on the same team now,” Samyuktika replied, raising her teacup in a mock toast. “To cute couples and new beginnings!”

Naira joined in, clinking her coffee mug against Samyuktika’s cup. “To cute couples and new beginnings!”

As they both laughed, Samyuktika felt a sense of warmth bloom in her heart. Maybe this was what she needed—a supportive friend who understood her and shared in her hopes. The morning felt lighter, and the possibilities of the day ahead seemed a little brighter.

The day unfolded peacefully in the household. Ekansh had left for the office early, leaving behind an air of tranquility. Naira and Samyuktika, now comfortable in their newfound friendship, settled into their respective routines. Naira had taken on some work, engrossed in a meeting from her room, while Samyuktika sat in the living room, a stack of history MCQs spread out before her.

Samyuktika scribbled down answers, her pencil moving quickly as she focused on the questions. She was determined to keep her mind sharp, knowing that whether she was officially teaching or not, her command of the subject needed to remain intact.

Just as she was about to move on to the next question, her phone buzzed insistently on the table. Frowning, she glanced at the screen and saw Mahindra’s name flashing. A mix of anticipation and nervousness filled her as she answered the call.

“Mahindra uncle?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Samyuktika, I have some good news,” Mahindra replied, his voice warm yet serious. “Your Dadi is out of danger now. The doctors say she’s awake from the coma.”

Samyuktika’s heart raced at the news. “Really? Is she… is she okay?”

“Yes, she’s stable. The doctors are optimistic about her recovery,” Mahindra reassured her, and she could hear the relief in his voice. “You can finally visit her, and I think she’d love to see you.”

Tears of joy pricked at Samyuktika’s eyes as she absorbed the news. “Thank you for telling me. I want to go see her right away!”

“Of course, but take your time. You’ve been through a lot, and I want you to be ready to see her,” Mahindra advised gently.

Samyuktika nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I understand. I’ll head to the hospital soon.”

As she hung up, a wave of emotions washed over her. Relief and happiness intertwined, filling the void that had been weighing on her heart for so long. Dadi had always been her guiding light, and knowing she was safe brought a profound sense of peace.

Naira stepped out of her meeting just in time to catch the end of the call. “What’s going on?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

“My Dadi is out of danger! She’s awake from the coma!” Samyuktika exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

Naira’s eyes widened, and she rushed to Samyuktika’s side. “That’s amazing news! Are you going to see her?”

“Yes, I am,” Samyuktika replied, a smile breaking across her face. “I can’t believe it. I thought I’d lost her for good.”

Naira beamed at her, sharing in the joy. “Let’s get you ready. I’ll go with you to the hospital.”

Samyuktika hesitated for a moment but then nodded. “I’d love that. Thank you, Naira.”

As they prepared to leave, Samyuktika felt a surge of gratitude for the support she had found in Naira. The day had shifted from mundane to monumental in a heartbeat, and as they stepped out together, she couldn’t help but feel that the bond they were forming was a welcome change in her life.

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.

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Ekansh was in the middle of scolding one of his secretaries, his frustration evident as he berated her lack of efficiency. “Why can’t you focus on your work? You put on makeup well, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect your responsibilities!” he snapped, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.

Just as he was about to continue, his phone buzzed on the desk. Seeing Samyuktika’s name flash across the screen caught him off guard. He smiled instinctively, but his expression quickly shifted to concern; she rarely called him during office hours.

“Samyuktika?” he answered, trying to sound calm despite the worry creeping into his voice. “Is everything alright?”

“Ekansh,” she began, her tone a mix of relief and joy. “I have some good news. My Dadi is out of danger. She’s awake from the coma!”

A wave of relief washed over him. “That’s incredible! I’m so glad to hear that,” he said, his earlier irritation evaporating. “But how did you find out?”

“Mahindra uncle just called me to let me know,” she explained, her voice brightening. “I wanted to tell you since you’ve been so supportive through all of this.”

Ekansh felt a smile tugging at his lips, but he couldn’t shake the urge to be there for her. “I’m coming with you to the hospital,” he declared without hesitation.

“Really? You don’t have to,” she replied, slightly surprised.

“I want to,” he insisted, a sense of determination filling his voice. “You shouldn’t go alone, especially now that things are looking up. I’ll finish my work quickly and meet you there.”

“Okay,” Samyuktika agreed, her heart warming at his offer. “Thank you, Ekansh. It means a lot to me.”

“Just take your time getting ready. I’ll text you when I’m on my way,” he said, feeling a rush of excitement mixed with the urgency of wanting to be by her side.

As they ended the call, Ekansh leaned back in his chair, a smile breaking through his earlier frustrations. He felt a sense of purpose in wanting to be there for Samyuktika, knowing how important her Dadi was to her.