Hola! *waves meekly*
I know I have been AWOL for more than three weeks but there’s a solid reason behind it (Or I think so!). But do read the author’s note at the end. But for now, the next chapter is up! Happy reading:)
Link for the previous chapters~
Previous chapters
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Neil stared into the space impassively. He was sitting on the floor with his back slumped against the wall. The room was in a complete dishevelled state. Papers, files, overturned chairs, broken glass pieces of the vintage vase were strewn all over. The last conversation with Samaira kept replaying in his mind. He hadn’t intended to hurt her, but the damage was already done. It seemed as if he was not in his own being when he threw those spiteful remarks at her, but he did. This was the reason why he stayed away from her, because he simply couldn’t think straight when he is near her. The shield that he had built around himself seemed to shatter in her presence. But he needed to strengthen his resolve. That was the only way he could protect his Samaira from those hounds of the past.
He got up and made his way carefully through the mess towards the left corner of the room. There was a small cupboard with two drawers. Neil opened the first drawer- there were a lot of unnecessary items stuffed in it. He rummaged his hands towards the back of it and brought out a small key that he was looking for. Inserting the key in the hole of the second drawer, he opened it. The first thing that caught his sight was a small black velvety box.
Flicking it open, his eyes fell on a gold chain with a small oval locket, which had few stains of blood over it. He handled the chain with utmost care. It belonged to his mother, the last reminiscence of her. That incident had occurred many years back but it seemed as if it was yesterday. The memory of his mother tickling him, loving him, playing with him, making his favourite breakfast were clearly etched in his mind. But along with it, the vision of the brutal murder of his mother was also fresh in his mind. He clenched the locket tightly while tears threatened to escape his eyes. After she was snatched away from him ruthlessly, he had completely shut himself out from the world. He was not the same 5 year old Neil anymore, it seemed as if he had grown into a different person overnight. His father had tried his level best to bring him out of his shell but it was all in vain. Neil never let his guard down. It was different in case of Radhika, she was just 4 months old when their mother passed away. She didn’t have any clear memories of her, hence she didn’t experience the trauma that he did. He tried to smile for his baby sister and took care of her, he loved her a lot but he knew a part of him was missing…vanished in the hands of time.
But things began to change their route when he met Samaira and no it was not when their marriage was fixed. It was when he saw her at the orphanage happily laughing and playing with her friends not giving a damn about the cruel selfish world. The sun shining brightly across her face, her hair swaying sideways as she ran painted an innocent picture, an innocence that Neil had lost way back. Unknowingly a smile had crept up on his face at the view. He had gone there with his father. Samaira was ten years old and his father had decided to sponsor her. The secret that the Khannas were the ‘benefactor’ of Samaira was not known to anyone, not even Radhika because it was a known fact that nothing remained inside the stomach of his baby sister. He turned his gaze towards the bunch of letters in the drawer. All these years, Neil had kept them safely. He really enjoyed reading them and loved the way Samaira had described how she felt in her new school, how some subjects seem to pass through her head in college and so on. He had a felt an unknown feeling for her, as if she was a co-passenger of his in the journey of life. And he had intended to keep it that way.
But all hell broke loose when his father got him their marriage proposal. He knew that by this move they are risking her life and their enemies would show up as soon as they got this news. He couldn’t let that happen, he couldn’t let Samaira’s actual identity to sneak out which they had kept hidden for 22 long years. Therefore he decided to treat her as a mere responsibility and not let his emotions wander in between them.
But not everything goes according to the plan. Right?
Locking the drawer back, he got up and left his study. Making his way up the staircase, he entered his room where Samaira was already fast asleep. He climbed onto the bed stealthily and stared at her tear stained face. It was evident that she had cried herself to sleep. Neil felt as if a knife twisted through his heart seeing her haggard condition. It was all because of him. She was so delicate like a flower and what did he do!?
He had hurt her, questioned her on her character and humiliated her on being an orphan. He closed his eyes in disgust. He was angry and frustrated at himself for falling so low in order to stay aloof from Samaira. How could he forget that she too had gone through the same pain as him, actually more, because on that fateful night when Neil’s mother died, the one year old Samaira had lost both of her parents to a cold and grotesque murder?
He didn’t want to hide the truth from her but he had to for her safety.
Brushing past a few tendrils of her soft hair behind her ear, he sighed. This was a daily routine for him- to come late in the night, stare at her sleeping figure and then run away early in the morning before Samaira could wake up. He didn’t know what he was doing but he was sure whenever he saw those deep hazel orbs, an unknown surge of emotions washed over him. He had tried to keep those feelings at bay but it was getting difficult for him as days went by. Neil was uncertain about his feelings but no matter how hard he tried, he could never imagine a future without Samaira.
He pulled his wife closer and wrapped his arms possessively around her. Samaira stirred a little bit in her sleep but then she just snuggled into him more putting her arms around him. The frown on her face slightly turned into a small smile.
Neil just whispered not intending to wake her up “I’m sorry for being such an inhuman douche.” With that he kissed her forehead and let her soothing touch to knock his senses out and drown into the world of slumber…
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A/N:
I’m really very sorry for being sooooo late in updating. But college has started and the classes have been like hell. With so much of work, I had hardly got time. But I did make a resolve to write a chapter everyday but it flew out of the window when the day came to an end (Nevertheless u should give me credit for my resolve;) LOL)
I hope to update the next one soon and chart out an update schedule for the story- once in a week
Also I’m sorry for not being able to read the amazing stories written by my awesome co-authors here. Hope to catch up on them
Anyone of u happen to be on wattpad? If so, do tell me ur ids. Mine is~ adu_nupur
I’m thinking of posting this story there too just like my earlier ones. What say, should I?
Do tell me because clearly I feel my stories kinda childish…
Lastly, thank u so much for patiently waiting. Do tell was the chapter worth the wait? *fingers crossed*
Till the next time we meet again, keep smiling:)