Hi guys, thank you for the awesome response on the previous update, really appreciate it. I couldn’t update any earlier, extremely sorry for that. But here’s the next chapter and I’ve tried making it slightly longer, so hope that fills in. Happy Reading!
Link to Chapter 3: https://www.tellyupdates.com/riansh-it-ends-with-us-chapter-3/
It Ends With Us – Chapter 4
Riddhima turned the water tap and filled the bowl of water while folding the piece of cloth of between her fingers. Her fingers pressed onto the white cloth and she tiredly rested against the counter edge. The worry gnawed within her and she thought back to all their calls during the week. Why hadn’t he told her?
She knew the answer was simple. Her mother never knew of the times she fell ill at – she knew extremely well how to hide it from her, but Vansh was different. Vansh was not like her and she knew he’d always several house-helps at the click of his fingers. She was certain that he’d never needed to hide his problems and so, she did not know how he’d learnt it almost over-night.
When the clock struck midnight in the other room, Riddhima turned back the tap and walked back to their room. She rested the bowl on the table beside the bed and sat down next to Vansh on the bed. He looked up at her and smiled tiredly. She couldn’t miss the satisfaction that fleeted across his face in that moment.
She dipped the cloth into the water and pressed it against his scorching forehead. When she’d walked into the apartment earlier in the night, she’d seen him writhing under the high temperature. She’d been completely clueless about his health while she was away at Ahmedabad for work.
Riddhima (massaging his forehead softly): Does that make you feel better?
Vansh: Mhm.
She figured he was falling asleep and his words were becoming short and incoherent. As she continued pressing the cloth against his forehead, she noticed the tiredness that clung to him. She didn’t know when he’d fallen ill or if he’d gotten checked with any doctor. She massaged his temple and stared at him, not understanding what had surpassed. Why hadn’t he told HER?
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She sighed heavily as she sat next to him hours later, his temperature having dropped considerably. She picked up the bowl from the table and walked back to the kitchen to drain the water into the sink. Her sleep had almost dissipated and she decided against going to bed.
She walked out to the balcony in the living room then and let the silence and freshness of the air engulf her. The air inside the house was almost stale and as she turned around – leaning against the railing – she knew what she wanted to do.
Moments later, Riddhima sprayed the cleansing liquid on the solid surfaces and began scrubbing the dirt off them. Regardless of how crazy the idea seemed; cleaning was almost therapeutic for her. It was the rubbing and scrubbing mainly, that helped clear her mind. She’d told her sister several times that it was like hitting a pillow that everyone had read of to get out their frustration.
She tidied the house, dumped clothes into the laundry and stacked their suitcases on the topmost shelf of the extra cupboard. When she looked at the house later, she felt the wave of satisfaction course within herself. As the fresh air from outside flooded the indoors, she decided to walk back into the kitchen to quickly whip a soup.
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As the early morning rays of sunlight unravelled inside the room, Vansh clenched his eyes and slowly woke up afresh. He hadn’t recovered completely, but he felt much better. The bed next to him was empty besides the few pillows and he looked around the room for Riddhima, pleasantly surprised to find the tidiness of the room.
He pulled out the blanket over him and pressed his feet against the floor to look for her in one of the other rooms. As he walked out of their and into the living room, he saw her asleep on the sofa – her head rested against the wall and feet on the floor. He smiled to himself and helped her lay down, before covering her with a comfortable blanket.
He looked at her intently, noticing the way she pulled the blanket closer to herself and fell asleep quickly. The ghost of a smile covered her lips and he almost laughed at how she looked right then. When he stood up moments later, he heard the faint sound of the washing machine and shook his head at her.
Vansh (smiling): Riddhima Raisinghania, you’re a crazy woman!
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When Vansh woke up later the next evening, he had almost recovered and had started working. He’d several mails to respond to and a few pitches to check through for last minute changes. Riddhima stood across him on the other corner of the bed and folded the washed clothes, constantly looking at him. The question from before still hadn’t drained from her mind, but she didn’t want to seem privy.
Vansh: What’s it, Riddhima? If there’s anything you’ve to say, just say. I’m all ears.
Riddhima: There’s nothing. How long until you finish?
Vansh (closing the laptop): I’m done. Now, tell me what’s up with you?
Riddhima: Uhm, I don’t know if I should be asking this, but…
She shook her head and dropped the clothes on the bed before walking toward him and trying to let go of her uneasiness. She was unsure if she could expect complete transparency from him when she was afraid to open-up herself to him.
Vansh: You’d never know if you don’t ask me, Riddhima.
Riddhima (inhaling deeply): Okay, um… Why didn’t you tell me you’d fever before? You know we did talk to each other while I was away and I don’t know… did you not want me to go there?
Vansh (taken aback): What? No way! I was the one who asked you to go. (shifting closer to her) I know how passionate you are about this project. I didn’t want you to worry while you were at work, Riddhima.
Riddhima: But this isn’t you, Vansh. You can easily speak up what you feel. Hiding isn’t you and I don’t want you to change. You know, I just felt so distant when I returned home yesterday and I had absolutely no clue about you being unwell. Even Mom didn’t tell me you weren’t well. I just felt that there was something about me – something that I needed to know but no one wanted to tell me.
Vansh (clearing his throat): Just to clarify, Mom didn’t know either.
Riddhima: But why? I’m sure you never needed to hide from anyone that you were unwell. Like, you know, you could just say a word and there would be thousands of house-helps to take care of you.
Vansh (pursing his lips): Yes, but um…
He held her hands between his and looked down at the bedspread, trying to pick his words. He’d always talked about his parents among his friends, but with Riddhima, it just felt like a blackhole. Since his marriage, he’d seen how much her mother meant to her and he’d heard about all that she’d done for her daughters. He knew she was like a guardian he’d always wanted, but never gotten.
Vansh: You know I really respect Mom and Dad and I appreciate them too, but (pausing shortly) you know, there were times when I needed them and I didn’t find them. I just wanted either of them to be there, like times when I fell ill but all I had was servants around me. And that pained because it made me feel like I was an unwanted child, you know? That is the worst feeling a child can ever go through and I just never bothered them growing up.
Riddhima: Vansh, I had no idea…
Vansh (nodding his head): I know I’ve never talked of it. This is the reason I and Ishani are so close. When she was born, I never wanted her to feel that way. I just wanted to be there for her when she needed me and (laughing) the age difference really helped.
Riddhima (comfortingly pressing his hands): I’m sorry I had no idea about it.
Vansh: You weren’t supposed to, but I thought you deserved to know. Especially after the day before you just returned and took care of me without a word, I couldn’t not share with you. Thanks, Riddhima!
She smiled softly and stared at him, noticing the stubble that lined his jaws. She saw the way he was looking at her, almost as if something within her had shifted across the axis. She observed the deep-brown freckles in his eyes and as she anticipated the tension in the moment, he moved closer to her and pressed his lips upon hers.
His hold on her hands loosened and she held onto his shoulders, slowly moving closer as she kissed him back. He held onto her hair and slowly pulled out the elastic, letting her hair cascade down her shoulders. His fingers cinched onto her, anchoring her to himself and he continued kissing her with unchanged fervor.
She held onto him tighter, losing herself in the trance. The muscles in her stomach clenched and as he pulled her closer gently, she knew he wasn’t pulling only her closer. It was her heart he was pulling too.
A part of her she wasn’t yet ready to give away, but she just couldn’t move away. Not when he was loving her. Not when she wanted him.
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I’d really like to know if for ‘Becoming Mrs. Raisinghania’, you guys would want a date episode or a Holi episode. A little late for holi, but I’d a few things planned for it so I’d love to know and if possible, write too. Thank you for reading!