42. Thunders
Fractured Crowns
Here's another one, for you guys as y'all waited.ð
To J060306 , Darling! You keep the best comments! Thank you!ð¤ð©·
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Aaryansh arrived there in 5 minutes just as he said and saw his wife amused.
He chuckled. âWhat happened, Buttercup? Amused that Iâm fast?â
âYou really came in 5 minutes!â she said, her voice carrying genuine shock.
âWhat to do? I couldnât resist when my wife was making cute promises,â he replied with a playful grin as he opened her car door.
Amrita stepped out, her eyes fixed on her husband.
The rain framed him perfectly, droplets sliding off the umbrella he held with ease.
He looked even more handsome in that momentâstanding tall, confident, and calm despite the storm.
Aaryansh noticed her gaze and smirked. âDonât get distracted, Buttercup. Come on.â
He led her to his car with the umbrella shielding her from the pouring rain.
He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to sit.
Amrita slid into the seat, and as he closed the door, she felt a flutter in her chestâa rare warmth she hadnât felt in a while.
Once Aaryansh got into the driverâs seat, he turned to her. âSo, Buttercup, where did you go? Mahima said you went to meet your Mamu,â he asked casually, his tone light and conversational.
âYeah,â Amrita replied curtly, her voice losing the playful edge it had earlier.
She looked out the window, not wanting to talk about her visit.
Aaryansh sensed her discomfort and immediately changed the subject.
âShall I turn off the AC? Youâll feel cold,â he asked, his tone laced with concern as he glanced at her drenched clothes.
âNo. I like the cold,â she said, offering a small smile.
That smile, though brief, caught Aaryansh off guard.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before a thought sparked in his mind.
âWell, Buttercup, someone said theyâd laugh as much as I want after I came. Remember?â Aaryansh said with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he glanced at Amrita.
Amrita smirked, crossing her arms. âReally? I donât remember anything like that!â she said, tilting her head as if trying to recall.
âOh, come on, Amuu! You canât do this to me. You promised!â he said, pouting dramatically.
Hearing him call her Amuuâa nickname he beautifully usedâAmrita couldnât stop the small smile tugging at her lips.
âFine, fine.â she said, rolling her eyes playfully.
But before she could continue, the sky roared with a deafening crack of thunder, and lightning illuminated the dark surroundings.
The sudden sound startled Amrita, and she stiffened.
Her breath quickened as her hand instinctively reached for her phone.
Without another word, she dialed a number with trembling fingers.
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Meanwhile, at Raghuwanshi Mahal,
The storm outside had reached its peak. The wind howled against the large glass windows, and raindrops hammered the panes relentlessly.
Ananya was sitting in the chill room, scrolling through her phone lazily.
The room was her safe spaceâa cozy corner filled with plush cushions, warm lights, and a huge glass window offering a panoramic view of the sky.
She had named it the chill room herself because everyone would often gather there to unwind, share stories, or simply sit in silence.
But then it happened.
A thunderclap ripped through the air, and her phone slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a sharp crack.
Her body froze, and her eyes locked onto the storm outside.
Another bolt of lightning flashed, followed by an even louder roar of thunder.
Ananya stumbled back, clutching her chest, her breathing growing rapid and shallow.
Her ears started to ring as her surroundings faded away.
The rain. The Thunders. The shattering of glasses.
The screams. The cries.
All the memories from that night came back to her.
Her body trembled uncontrollably as she backed into the corner of the room.
She slid down to the floor, knees pulled tightly to her chest, hands covering her ears as she rocked back and forth.
Ishika and Divya, who were in the kitchen preparing snacks, heard the thunder and rushed to the chill room.
âAnu!â Ishika exclaimed, her voice trembling as she spotted Ananya curled up in the corner, her body shaking violently.
Divya followed closely behind, and her heart clenched seeing their usually lively and vibrant Ananya reduced to such a fragile state.
âShh, baby. Itâs okay. Itâs just thunder,â Ishika whispered as she knelt beside her, gently trying to pull her hands away from her ears.
Divya crouched down and wrapped her arms around Ananya, rubbing her back in slow, soothing motions. âAnu, itâs okay. Itâs okay. Weâre here.â
But Ananyaâs breathing remained erratic. Her sobs grew louder, and tears continued to flow down her pale cheeks.
The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside the room.
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Back in the car,
Amritaâs frustration was evident as she tried calling Ananya again, her hands shaking slightly.
âUgh! Anu isnât answering!â she said, her voice cracking as worry crept in.
âCalm down, Buttercup. Try calling Aditya,â Aaryansh suggested softly, his eyes glued to the road but his focus entirely on her.
âYes. Aditya.â Amrita quickly dialed his number.
Aditya picked up after two rings. âBhabhi? What happened? Is everything okay?â
âAditya! Is Anu okay? Is she with you?â Amrita asked in one breath, panic evident in her voice.
âBhabhi, what happened? What would happen to Ananya?â Aditya asked, confusion coloring his tone.
âOh God. Arenât you with her??â Amrita asked, her patience wearing thin.
âNo, Bhabhi! Tell me what happened!â Aditya said, now clearly alarmed.
âAditya⦠Anu⦠she has astraphobiaâa fear of thunder and lightning. She gets panic attacks every time it happens.
And if she doesnât get out of itâ¦â Amritaâs voice faltered.
âWhat happens, Bhabhi? Tell me!â Aditya urged, already running towards the chill room.
âIt could get worse⦠Just go to her right now!â Amrita said, her voice breaking.
Aditya hung up without another word and burst into the chill room.
His heart clenched at the sight before him. Ananya, curled up in the corner, trembling like a leaf, her eyes squeezed shut as tears soaked her cheeks.
Ishika and Divya were by her side, trying their best to soothe her.
âAditya, please,â Ishika said, her voice breaking as she looked at him with pleading eyes. âWe canât calm her down. Sheâs getting worse.â
Divyaâs face was pale, her own tears mirroring Ananyaâs as she whispered, âI canât see her like this anymore.â
Aditya took a deep breath and bent down, carefully lifting Ananya into his arms.
Her head fell against his chest as she sobbed, her hands still trembling.
âIâve got her,â he said softly, his voice steady despite the storm raging in his heart. âYou two go. Iâll take care of her.â
Ishika and Divya stepped back, tears streaming down their faces as Aditya carried Ananya to his room.
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Amrita sat silently, her hands clasped together tightly.
âSheâs with Aditya now. Heâll take care of her,â Aaryansh said gently, reaching over and placing his hand on hers.
Amrita nodded weakly, her gaze fixed out the rain-splattered window.
âSheâs been like this since⦠that night,â Amrita said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
Aaryansh didnât press further. Instead, he focused on driving, giving his wife the space to process her emotions.
The storm outside continued, but inside the car, there was a fragile silenceâone that spoke of love, worry, and an unspoken promise to always be there for their loved ones.
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