Chapter : 29

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The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft rays over the bed where Rihaan and Ananya lay. Ananya was still tucked into Rihaan’s embrace, her head resting against his chest. She stirred slightly, her mind groggy from the emotional exhaustion of the previous night. Her eyes fluttered open, the weight of everything that had happened still pressing down on her chest.

Rihaan was already awake, quietly watching her with a gentle smile. As soon as she moved, his hand instinctively stroked her hair, his innocent gaze filled with concern.

“Anya?” His voice was soft, careful not to disturb her too much. “Are you okay?”

Ananya let out a soft breath, her body still heavy with exhaustion. She didn’t answer at first, just leaning into his touch. For a moment, it felt like she could just stay there, protected by Rihaan’s comforting warmth.

“I’m… tired,” she finally murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rihaan’s brows furrowed in concern. He didn’t fully understand what had happened, but he knew that Ananya was hurting. His childlike mind didn’t grasp the complexities of what she was dealing with, but he could feel the weight of her sadness, and it made his heart ache.

“It’s okay, Anya. I’m here,” Rihaan whispered, hugging her tighter. “You don’t have to do anything today. Just rest, okay?”

Ananya smiled faintly at his words. She didn’t know how, but Rihaan always seemed to know exactly what to say to soothe her. His innocence was a balm to the storm raging inside her. She closed her eyes again, letting herself relax against him.

“I’ll take care of you,” Rihaan continued, his voice filled with determination. He moved slightly, adjusting his hold on her as if shielding her from the world. “You don’t have to go anywhere today. We’ll stay here, and I’ll make sure you feel better.”

Ananya let out a soft laugh, the sound weak but genuine. “What would I do without you, Rihaan?”

Rihaan grinned, proud of himself for making her smile. “You’d be lost,” he said with absolute certainty, his tone filled with that innocent confidence that only Rihaan could have.

She lifted her head to look at him, her eyes a little red from the crying but softer now. “Yeah, I think I would be,” she admitted, brushing a strand of his hair back. “But you’re here, aren’t you?”

Rihaan nodded enthusiastically, his eyes wide and bright. “Always! I’ll always be here.”

Ananya leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. “I know.”

She let out a deep breath and snuggled back into his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt. She felt safe with him, in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. He was a reminder that, despite all the pain, there was still goodness in her life—still love and warmth, even if it came in the most unexpected form.

*****

Later in the morning, Rihaan was determined to stick to his word. He refused to let Ananya do anything.

“You have to rest,” he said seriously as he brought her breakfast in bed—a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea, carefully balanced on a tray. “No work today!”

Ananya couldn’t help but smile at his adorable attempts to take care of her. His serious expression, the way he concentrated as he carried the tray, made her heart swell with affection.

“I’m taking the day off,” she said softly, sitting up in bed. “Thanks to you, I’ll get plenty of rest.”

Rihaan nodded, satisfied with her answer. “Good! I’ll make sure you rest the whole day.”

After breakfast, Ananya stayed in bed, her body still feeling the strain of all the emotions she had let out the night before. Rihaan busied himself around the room, occasionally glancing at her to make sure she was okay. He would ask her if she needed anything, if she was comfortable, if she wanted more tea or a snack.

But mostly, he just stayed by her side, talking to her about everything and nothing, filling the room with his innocent chatter. He spoke about the things he wanted to do, the games they could play, and how proud he was of her for all the things she had done.

“You’re so strong, Anya,” he said at one point, his voice filled with awe. “You’re like a superhero!”

Ananya chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I don’t feel like one today.”

Rihaan frowned, his brows furrowed as if he didn’t understand. “But you are. You’re always strong, even when you don’t feel like it.”

She looked at him, his face full of sincerity, and her heart melted. She reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Rihaan. You’re always saying the right things.”

Rihaan beamed at the compliment, clearly pleased with himself. He squeezed her hand back, his eyes shining with pride.

As the day passed, Ananya remained in bed, taking in Rihaan’s care and attention. Every small gesture—whether it was bringing her a glass of water or just sitting next to her, talking about random things—made her feel a little lighter. She had gone through hell and back, but with Rihaan by her side, the darkness didn’t seem quite so overwhelming.

And by the time the sun began to set, she felt a little stronger. Not entirely healed, not yet, but stronger.

Ananya glanced at Rihaan, who was now sitting beside her with his head resting on her shoulder. He had been so focused on her all day, worrying over every little detail. It warmed her heart to see how much he cared, how much he wanted to protect her in his own way.

“Thank you, Rihaan,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of emotion.

He looked up at her, his eyes wide and curious. “For what?”

“For just being you,” she said simply, brushing her hand through his hair. “For making everything a little better.”

Rihaan’s cheeks flushed pink, and he gave her a shy smile. He didn’t fully understand what she meant, but he was happy to know that he had made her feel better. That was all that mattered to him.

Together, they settled into the quiet evening, with Rihaan holding her close. The storm that had raged within Ananya had calmed, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to just be—no more battles, no more plans, just the simple comfort of Rihaan’s presence.

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