"Do you need a hug right now?"

He asked me gently, uncertainty laced in his voice.

I froze at my place, completely shocked.

No one had ever hugged me. No one had ever even asked me like he just id.

All my life, whenever I was troubled or hurting, I had wanted a hug... but I never got one.

That's why, usually at night, I would hug myself whenever I wished someone would just hold me in their embrace.

I slowly pulled my face back and looked at him, while still gripping his collar tightly.

His black shirt was now clinging to his body, his face filled with pain... and empathy for me.

His eyes searched mine-looking for hesitation, for discomfort.

But there was none.

If there was anything in me right now... it was pain. Just pain.

And at this moment, I wanted something-someone-to hold on to.

I closed my eyes, lowered my head, and slowly nodded.

And soon, I felt his arms around me.

Gentle. Certain. Warm. Safe.

Unconsciously, I tightened my hold around his waist, and he placed one hand on my head and the other on my upper back.

His touch was hesitant... but comforting.

And I started crying again.

The moment I found out that my own family had sold me like a slave... I broke.

But even more than that, it hurt to think that Viraat was involved in all of this.

Because I was used to such behavior from those people... but Viraat...

I had started seeing him as a good friend. A Good Person.

That's why I was angry at him... and even more than that, I was hurt.

He had called me so many times, but I ignored every single call on purpose.

I didn't want to answer. I didn't want to talk to him.

But while searching for me... he came himself.

And when he made it clear that I was not an object to him...

I felt peace.

A kind of peace I had never felt before.

Deep down, I wanted... I desperately wanted... that Viraat hadn't betrayed me.

And he proved me right.

And then I did something I never do in front of anyone.

I cried.

I cried hard.

Even then, I hid my face, gripping his collar tightly-so he wouldn't see me crying and I wouldn't feel embarrassed.

Because honestly... I just wanted to feel him close to me.

Only him.

I swear, I didn't even want to cry in front of Viraat... but I couldn't stop myself.

Because all my life, whenever I cried, people made me feel like...

I am too much.

But with Viraat... I felt from my heart that he would never judge me.

I trust him in this.

I was trembling-because of the rain, the pain, and my tears.

He kept tapping my back slowly.

I was crying hard when suddenly I heard him speak, his tone firm and dark-

"I swear, I won't spare those people who made you cry like this, Myra."

I tightened my grip around him even more.

But then his voice softened, worry evident in every word-

"But... please, Myra, never do something like this again. If anything I say ever feels wrong, then talk to me once. Don't ignore me like this... don't run away like this... you have no idea how scared I was. I can't even tell you how much... I looked for you everywhere."

Guilt filled my heart.

"I am sorry... you... you got worried because of me..." I said, hiccuping between my words.

"You don't have to be," he replied softly.

But suddenly, I felt dizzy.

And before I even realized it...

I lost consciousness in his arms.

Suddenly, I felt like her entire body weight had fallen onto me, and the hands that were holding onto me tightly... their grip loosened.

I quickly bent towards her.

Her eyes were closed.

She had fainted.

Seeing her like that, fear rushed through me. My heartbeat spiked instantly.

"Myra... uthiye... uthiye Myra," I said, gently tapping her cheeks.

But she didn't open her eyes.

The rain was still pouring heavily.

Without wasting another second, I picked her up in my arms and rushed towards my car.

Holding her carefully, I opened the car door and made her sit in the front seat.

She was still unconscious.

I adjusted her properly, making sure she didn't fall, then closed the door and quickly went to the other side, getting inside.

I checked her pulse-it was fast, but weak.

Her breathing... shallow, but present.

Then I touched her forehead.

It was burning.

"Oh God... she has a high fever...why Didn't I notice it before?"

I immediately fastened my seatbelt, started the car, and drove towards home.

As soon as I entered the house, Maa saw me. It was already 12 at night.

I was still holding Myra in my arms.

"Beta what happened to her?" Maa asked worriedly.

But I didn't stop.

"Maa, I'll tell you Later," I said quickly and rushed to my room.

I laid her down on the bed.

Her clothes were still wet-and that was a problem. It could make things worse for her.

So I called Maa and asked her to change Myra's clothes.

Maa did as I said, and I stepped out of the room.

Leaning against the wall, arms folded, I just stood there... waiting.

After a few minutes, Maa came out.

"Viraat I've changed her clothes, but you should change too...you'll catch a cold !!" she said softly, placing her hand on my cheek.

"Ji Maa," I replied.

She left.

I went back into the room.

She was still unconscious.

But now her clothes were changed-light pink night t-shirt and pyjama.

The color looked soft against her skin... but her face had lost all its glow.

I stepped closer.

Changing my clothes could wait.

Right now, she couldn't.

I brought my medical kit and placed a chair beside the bed.

I checked her forehead again.

Still burning.

I took out the thermometer and checked her temperature.

"104.8°F..." my voice dropped.

"This is too high..."

I quickly took out my stethoscope and checked her heartbeat, pulse, and BP.

Then I prepared an antipyretic injection.

Right now, bringing down her fever was necessary.

I cleaned the skin on her arm.

My hands paused for a second before injecting.

Because this wasn't just a patient.

It was her.

As a doctor... it shouldn't affect me.

But as her husband... it did.

What if it hurts her?

What if she's scared of injections?

But this wasn't the time to think all that.

So finally, I injected the antipyretic into her body.

She didn't react.

No movement.

She was still... completely still.

But now I was sure... she would be fine. Her temperature would start coming down soon.

I took a deep breath.

But I knew... I wouldn't feel at peace until she opened her eyes.

Still, I wasn't calm.

So I called the hospital and talked to one of my colleagues.

Explaining everything, I kept looking at Myra.

He told me it wasn't something to panic about-especially since I had already given the injection.

He said it could be due to stress, exhaustion... maybe she hadn't eaten anything... and the fever could be because of the rain.

I stayed on the call, my eyes still on her.

Is it possible... that she didn't eat anything?

Her face had turned pale now.

The glow on her face... it felt like it had disappeared somewhere.

I switched off the lights, and the room fell into a soft dim glow.

Picking up my clothes, I quietly walked into the bathroom.

🌺

After a while, I stepped out. I was feeling fresh... but not from within.

My eyes landed on her lying figure.

And without even realizing, my steps moved towards her.

I slightly bent towards her and placed my hand on her forehead.

She still had a fever.

Frowning a little, I got up and walked to the kitchen. Filling a bowl with cold water, I picked up a soft cotton cloth and made my way back to the room.

I sat down beside her again.

Dipping the cloth into the cold water, I gently squeezed it... and carefully placed it on her forehead.

For a few moments, I just kept looking at Myra.

Her face...

So fragile.

In the morning, she was smiling so brightly... and now she looked completely different.

All because of our families.

I know today she must be feeling worthless.

Because when your own people weigh you in money... anyone would feel broken.

Anger... hurt... everything at once.

I slowly raised my hand and placed it on her head, gently caressing her hair.

"It's strange... you've been so alone that maybe no one ever hugged you when you needed it the most.

No one held you together when you were falling apart..."

I continued...

"The worst feeling in this world is when people force someone to believe that even after being surrounded by others... they are completely alone.

And that's exactly what has happened with both of us till now..."

"But not anymore... not while I'm here.

I won't ever let you feel that way again... never.

I will be there whenever you want an embrace, I will be there to hear you crying. I will be there to wipe your tears away . You are not Alone Myra . Not Anymore."

I kept looking at her, my hand still moving softly through her hair.

Then I took her hand in both of mine.

Leaning closer, I whispered,

"You don't know how scared I was when I couldn't find you...

You don't know how much peace I felt seeing you again...

You.... don't know that in those few hours... I forgot everything... except you."

I paused.

Resting my forehead against our joined hands, I closed my eyes.

My voice trembled...

" Jaldi theek ho jaiye Myra... please...aisa dekha nahi jaata aapko "

("Please... get well soon, Myra...I can't see you like this")

🌺

I was in a deep sleep when I heard a faint sound-like someone moving.

I opened my eyes and saw that Myra was awake, trying to get up from the bed.

"Myra..." I stood up from the chair, and she instantly froze in her place.

I bent towards her and checked her forehead.

"How are you feeling? Is your head hurting?"

Her fever has reduced a lot now.

When I looked at her, I realized she was already looking at me.

"Myra, are you okay?" I asked again, gently.

She nodded and lowered her gaze.

"Thank God, Myra... you really scared me," I said, letting out a breath of relief.

She slowly sat in the middle of the bed while I went back to my chair.

"What happened to me?" she asked innocently.

"You fainted... and you had a very high fever. So I brought you home, and after coming here, you started getting better."

The color on her face faded suddenly after hearing this, but before she could overthink, I added-

"Don't worry, my mom changed your clothes."

She nodded again. She still looked weak.

Her eyes moved to the table where the water container was kept, then to the wet cloth near her pillow, and finally back to me.

"What time is it, Viraat?" she asked, looking straight into my eyes.

I checked the time.

"It's 3 a.m., Myra."

"And you're sitting here like this? Why? Why didn't you rest? It must be so uncomfortable on that chair..."

Before I could respond, she continued-

"I troubled you, didn't I?" Her voice turned emotional.

I immediately stood up, shook my head, and sat beside her-maintaining a little distance.

"No, Myra. Not at all. What are you saying?"

"You got troubled because of me... I ignored you, didn't take your calls, didn't listen to you, doubted you... then I fainted, you had to handle me, bring me home, take care of me... and now you're awake the whole night, sitting on a chair because of me. Everything is because of me... and I don't like this... I don't like that you have to deal with me like this..."

She tried hard to suppress her sob.

"Myra, listen... look at me."

She hesitantly lifted her eyes towards me.

"I won't explain much... but remember one thing-when it's about you, I can never feel troubled. No matter how much you trouble me."

A few tears escaped her eyes. She closed them and lowered her face.

I gently placed my index finger under her chin and lifted her face up. Her eyes were still closed.

I leaned closer and whispered-

"And one more thing, Myra Srivastava...ise jhelna nahi , Sambhlna kehte hain "

( this is not 'tolerating.' This is called taking care.)

Her eyes snapped open.

"It's my responsibility to be there for you when you need me. And if I call it 'tolerating,' then I don't deserve to be called a man."

For a few moments, we just kept looking at each other.

Her eyes were fixed on me... and honestly, it was doing something to me.

Finally, she broke the silence-

"Why are you so good to me?"

I took a deep breath and chuckled softly.

"Even I don't know the answer to that, Myra... I just know that I can never think bad about you, even if I try."

"Thank you, Viraat..."

And then something happened that made my heart race wildly.

She hugged me.Willingly.

Her arms wrapped around my back, pulling me into a warm embrace.

I know this had happened before... but that time, it felt like she needed it out of compulsion.

But this time... it was different. She did it consciously.

And I liked it.

I placed my hand on the back of her head and gently stroked it.

Without breaking the hug, she looked up at me.

"I can hug you anytime, right?"

"Yes... whenever you want, my little fighter," I said, pinching her nose lightly.

She smiled and rested her head back on my chest.

I felt... happy.

At least we were moving Forward .Slowly.

After a while, she softly asked-

"Viraat tell me one thing ..."

" Hmm..." I hummed .

" Why do you call me Myra Srivastava... and not Myra Oberoi?"

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

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