ch 49 Hunny Bunny
at mansion
they entered Aarav holding Ashiana her head is now bandaged and her wound and bruises and bandaged too.
Meera runs at them and took Raj in his arm crying but now reliefed seeing her son safe she kissed his forehead , his cheeks, wherever she can with desperate mother love.
''My son.. my baby.. you alright.. Don.. Don't cry my baby see now mumma is here''
Raj holds her tightly.
''mu.. mummaa..''
Raghav hugs both of them saying,'' he is safe now Meera.. see everything is fine now''.
she nods holding Raj tightly.
her gaze goes on me she comes to me and hugs me saying,'' Are you okay?''.
Ashiana nodes with faint smile saying,'' Yes.. Di... i m fine..''
The night air at the mansion was cool,
the moonlight silvering the edges of the fountain where I sat.
My reflection rippled faintly in the water bandages, bruises, and the ghost of exhaustion across my face.
I dipped my fingers into the marble basin, letting the cold water run over my hand, watching the ripples dance away like thoughts I couldn't catch.
That skull ring man... his voice still echoed in my head, low and heavy like smoke.
How did he know my father's name?
How could he know things I didn't even know myself?
I traced the scar on my wrist absently, staring into the shifting water. Rajeev Sharma.(her father)
The name sounded almost foreign now, a story I'd tucked away with the rest of my past.
He'd been gone for years, and yet that man had said it like he owned the memory.
My breath trembled out. "Who are you?" I whispered to the night. "And what do you want from me?"
The mansion behind me was quit the others had insisted I rest, but my mind refused to.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that ring glinting under the dim warehouse lights. The skull carved into the metal, the way his voice had carried that strange familiarity...
I've heard that voice before.
Maybe once... long ago. Maybe in a memory blurred by smoke and fear.
The thought sent a shiver crawling up my spine.
I clenched my fist, the water dripping down my fingers.
"No," I murmured, jaw tightening. "Whoever you are... you came after the wrong girl this time."
From the patio behind, faint footsteps approached slow, steady, deliberate.
"Ashiana," came Aarav's deep voice, soft but anchoring.
I turned, meeting his gaze as he stood in the doorway, the dim light catching the shadows in his eyes.
He didn't speak again.
He didn't have to. He just came forward and sat beside me and in that silence, my mind still circled back to the same burning question:
Who was that man... and what did my father leave behind that still haunts me now?
Aarav turned slightly, his arm instinctively wrapping around me as I leaned into him.
His warmth grounded me the faint scent of his cologne, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my cheek.
For a moment, I just wanted to stay like that, away from the noise, the fights, the secrets.
My voice came out small, trembling.
"Why is life so messed up, Aarav...? Why can't we just stay happy... every time? Every time I start to smile, something comes and breaks it again."
He was quiet for a long beat, then sighed low, heavy, full of something he rarely let anyone hear.
"Because happiness isn't constant, Ashiana," he said quietly. "It's something we keep fighting for. It doesn't stay... but we can keep choosing it, again and again."
I swallowed hard, my fingers clutching his shirt as I whispered,
"But I'm tired of fighting... tired of being strong all the time."
He turned his head slightly, his voice gentler now the kind of soft only I ever got to hear from him.
"I know," he said. "But you don't have to fight alone anymore. You have me now... you have us."
Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I smiled faintly through them, curling closer into his shoulder.
"I'm scared, Aarav," I whispered. "Of what's coming. Of losing what I've found."
He pressed his lips against my hair and murmured, "Then hold on tighter. Because this time, I'm not letting anything... or anyone... take you away."
Breakfast table was set, but no one eating food
as the light of the house, Raj was not smiling since he returned.
Raj stayed silent, his little hands fidgeting with the edge of his napkin.
Meera leaned forward, trying to coax a smile. "Raj beta, look ... your favorite parathas! See how much butter I put just for you?"
she said, her voice soft and bright, pretending nothing was wrong.
Kabir added, teasing lightly, "And if you don't eat, I'll eat all your chocolates too. You know how much I love them."
Prerna pats Kabir's hand saying, '' haww raj see.. what your Kabir chachu saying ... co'mon.. complaint to your Aarav taujii... ohh my god.. this crimeee... in court of Raj's court.
she said dramatically.
But Raj still not glanced up.
For a moment, the table went quiet a fragile, heavy silence wrapping around them.
Ashiana looked at Raj again, guilt burning in her chest, and whispered almost to herself, "He shouldn't have gone through that... he's just a child."
She murmured,'' Its my fault.. I .. I .. should not taken him alone.. without guards..''
Aarav, sitting beside me, paused mid-bite and looked over.
His tone waw low but firm the kind that carried both command and care.
"Enough, Ashiana," he said quietly. "You don't blame yourself for this."
she shook her head, staring down at her plate. "But, Aarav... if I hadn't taken him out, if I'd just listened—"
Raghav interrupted gently, placing his hand on Raj's shoulder. "Hey, stop that. None of this was your fault. They planned this, Ashiana. You didn't invite it."
Ashiana suddenly stands her chair scrapped back she goes towards her room.
everyone exchanged looks.
Aarav stood too to follow her.
but froze mid step and blinked twice, completely thrown off as she hopped the last stair like a five-year-old.
her bunny ears wobbled, the big plush paws flopping with every step.
as Ashiana wearing a bunny costume.
Raj, who'd been quiet for two whole days, looked up his eyes went wide first.
Ashiana walks playfully saying, '' hmmm.. mujhe pta chala h ki koi.. yaha par bhut udas h ... smile nhi kar rha... hmm... kon h .. vo... '' she said circling the table dramatically.
(Hmm... I came to know someone is sad and not smiling here... who's.. that person here)
Everyone on table giggling.
then suddenly Ashiana stops behind Raj' s chair saying pretending to smell him with bunny nose saying,'' hmmm.. i can smell sadness here... to y h .. vo bachaa...'' she said and squeezed Raj's cheeks.
(Hmmm.... I can smell here.... ohh.. so this is the child who is sad and not smilling)
Raj looks at her stunned but still not smiling.
Ashiana crosses her arms saying,'' Acha bachooo.. to ye baat h.. mujhe challange de rhe ho.. Mr. handsome boy... ''.
(Oh... so .. now this... you gving me challange.. Mr. Handsome boy)
Ashiana then leans at Raj saying,'' Eyy... smile jaldi .. jaldi.. aao.. mere baby ke face p... warna..''
(Heyyy... smile come faster to my baby or elsee...)
then she dances dramatically
https://youtu.be/ZTl9io5scAU
she said and tickles Raj's side.
Raj finally burst into giggles, hiding his face. "Di! You look so funny!" he said between laughs.
Ashiana laughs too saying ,''Oh.. Reallyyy..''
she gasped, pretending to be offended.
"Funny? Excuse me! I am the cutest bunny in the world! Ask your tauji!"
Ashiana said, turning to Aarav, who stood there with his arms crossed the corner of his mouth twitching hard, fighting back a smile.
"Tauji agrees, right?" Ashiana said, hopping toward him, making her bunny ears bounce.
He shook his head slowly, lips curling into a soft smile. "You're unbelievable," he murmured, but his eyes were warm the kind that said he was grateful.
Kabir chuckled, leaning to Aditya. "And people think we're dramatic. Look at our lady here."
Aditya laughed softly. "Well, at least the kid's smiling again. That's what matters."
Raj jumped up from his chair and ran to her, hugging her furry legs. "You're the best bunny ever, Di!"
Ashiana bent down, scooping him into a hug, whispering against his hair, "That's all I wanted baby your smile back."
Then sound came ''pppooo.... Chokh..chookh..!!'''
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