CHAPTER 24
Two years later,
Shaurya stepped inside his room and saw his wife sleeping peacefully. He placed his laptop bag on the table and removed his tie. Slowly, he tiptoed toward her and bent down, about to kiss her forehead when she opened her eyes. With surprise, he asked, “You’re awake? I told you to sleep. I would be late.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her. “You know I can’t sleep until you come home.” Shaurya smiled, rubbed his nose with hers, and said, “My love, how many times have I told you not to wait for me? Have you eaten dinner?”
She nodded, as he never wanted her to stay hungry for him. They looked at each other as Shaurya slowly started leaning toward her. Prisha began unbuttoning his shirt. He captured her lips in a passionate kiss, and they became lost in each other, forgetting everything. After breaking the kiss, he started giving wet kisses on her neck, while she moaned in pleasure. She opened her eyes with a jerk when he bit her. She pouted and said, “Don’t give me a hickey; I have to go to the café tomorrow.” He didn’t let her speak further and captured her lips again, kissing her passionately.
While kissing her, he opened the drawer and searched for something. Breaking the kiss, he said, “Damn it, it’s finished.”
Prisha looked at his hand and saw he was talking about condoms. She sighed and said, “Shaurya, I’ll take pills.” He shook his head. Life was blissful for Shaurya and Prisha. They spent six months in Kerala, where Shaurya recovered fully and even quit his drinking habits. The journey was difficult for him, but Prisha stood like a rock for him. She supported him at every step. Seeing her support and love, Shaurya’s love for her increased tenfold. He promised himself that he would do anything for her happiness.
They consummated their marriage on their first wedding anniversary. Shaurya took her to Paris for a month-long honeymoon. He consulted a doctor for birth control methods, and she suggested condoms as birth control pills could harm Prisha’s health.
“Prisha, I can’t take risks with your health. I’m going to take a shower, then we’ll go for a long drive.” Prisha smiled as he walked to the washroom. She looked at his retreating back. Shaurya still had a fear of having a baby, and she respected his fear and promised him they would never have a baby. But somewhere in her heart, she wanted their baby—Shaurya and her baby. But she knew she couldn’t break her promise, and Shaurya would never ask for a baby, so she would never get a chance to experience motherhood. She wiped her tears, praying that one day Shaurya would overcome his fear.
The next morning,
Shaurya opened his eyes and saw his beautiful wife in his arms. He kissed her forehead and thanked God for making this sweet and kind girl his wife. He would always be in the dark if he hadn’t met her. She was the sunshine of his life, filling it with happiness and hope.
He kissed her cheek. Prisha opened her eyes and smiled, seeing him watching her with a big smile and love in his eyes. She was not surprised; it was his habit to watch her like this in the morning. He said in a husky voice, “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning,” she said with a smile, covering herself properly with a blanket as they were naked underneath. Seeing her, Shaurya hovered over her and said, “What are you doing, my love? Are you trying to hide yourself? Don’t you know I’ve seen everything already? What is there to hide?”
“Husband, you are becoming shameless day by day,” she said with a pout.
“Only for you, my love,” he said, biting her cheek. Then he leaned toward her lips and started kissing her passionately. The room filled with whispers of love and soft moaning as they lost themselves in each other.
Afternoon,
Shaurya and Prisha walked downstairs hand in hand. Seeing them, Shaurya’s mom said, “It’s good you came for lunch. Your dad and I missed you at breakfast.”
“Yes, it’s the only time we can all sit and eat together, so try not to miss it,” his father said, looking at them.
“Sorry, mom and dad. We went for a long drive and woke up late,” Prisha apologized, but his parents stopped her, saying they just wanted to share one meal with them. They told her it was a request, not an order. Shaurya listened to everything silently. His parents treated Prisha like their daughter, which he really appreciated. They also tried to mend their relationship with him, but he couldn’t forget everything and behave like nothing had happened. He still spent time with them as Prisha wanted him to be cordial with them.
They were having lunch when a servant informed them that their family friend, Mrs. Roy, had arrived. Shaurya’s mom said, “Prisha, she is my friend. Come, I will introduce you.” Prisha nodded and walked toward the living room with Shaurya’s parents while Shaurya went outside for important work.
Shaurya’s mother said, “Prisha, this is my old friend, Mrs. Gayatri Roy. And Gayatri, this is my sweet daughter, Prisha.”
“Yes, I know her. I attended Shaurya and her wedding.” I came to invite you for my daughter-in-law's baby shower. "She smiled, then said, looking at Prisha, “Darling, don’t mind, but please don’t come to the function. I don’t want a barren girl like you to attend the party.”
“Mrs. Roy!” Shaurya’s father shouted angrily.
“What? I’m not lying. It’s been two years since their marriage, and still she can’t become pregnant. Have you checked her? Is she fertile? I suggest you consider Shaurya’s remarriage. This family needs an heir.”
“Mrs. Roy, get out of here. And inform your husband that we are canceling our deal,” Shaurya’s father said angrily. Mrs. Roy was shocked. She said, “Mr. Rawat, you can’t do this. My husband and you are childhood friends. How can you break a friendship like this?”
“Do you really think I would let you go after you insulted my daughter in my own house just because you are my friend’s wife? Never!” he said angrily, while Prisha cried in her mother-in-law’s arms.
Mrs. Roy panicked. She turned to Prisha and said, folding her hands, “Prisha, I am sorry. Please forgive me. Please ask your father-in-law to forgive me.”
Prisha looked at her, then at her father-in-law, pleading with her eyes. He sighed and said, “Fine, I won’t cancel the deal, but you are not welcome in our house anymore.” Mrs. Roy nodded and walked out of the house.
After she left, Prisha said softly, “Dad, you shouldn’t have done this.”
“No, she didn’t have any right to talk to you like that,” he said, sitting beside her.
“But Dad...” She tried to speak when he interrupted her, saying, “It’s all my fault, but it’s you who is suffering. The reason behind his fear of having a child is because of me. He doesn’t want to become a father because of me.”
“Dad, please don’t say that. I am happy with Shaurya, and I don’t want anything else. Please don’t be upset, and please don’t tell Shaurya about this. You know he would be upset.” He nodded, hearing her. Then she passed him water and said, “Please drink some water. Your blood pressure will shoot up.”
After drinking the water, he said, “I am sorry.”
“Dad, please stop saying that,” Prisha said sadly. There was silence, then her mother-in-law said, “Prisha, why don’t you talk to Shaurya? Don’t you want to become a mother?”
Prisha took a deep breath and said, “Mom, when Shaurya was in the hospital, I realized nothing is more important than him. I want to become a mother, but not at the cost of losing Shaurya. I don’t want anything except his happiness.”
Saying this, she rushed to her room and burst into tears. She had masked her emotions in front of Shaurya’s parents, but it hurt. This wasn’t the first time someone had taunted her, but she never said anything because she knew she was doing all this for her husband’s happiness.
Shaurya's office
Shaurya was sitting in his cabin when his meeting got canceled. He went back to the house and saw the confrontation between Prisha and Mrs. Roy. He wanted to kill Mrs. Roy for hurting his wife but stopped when he saw his parents supporting Prisha. He had tears in his eyes, seeing them fighting for his wife. He closed his eyes and thought for a while, then picked up his phone and called Prisha.
Prisha, who was crying, wiped her tears and answered the call. “Hello.”
“Hello, my love. What are you doing?” he asked.
“I was sitting with Mom and Dad. I just came to our room,” she said, trying to act normal. Shaurya sighed. He could sense the sadness in her voice and understood she was really trying to act normal.
Composing himself, he said, “Pack your bags. We are going to Switzerland for a month.”
“But suddenly?” she asked.
“I’ve been planning this for a long time. Don’t you want to go on holiday with me?” he said in a teasing tone. He hadn’t actually planned the holiday but wanted to go out to clear his mind, and he knew after today’s events Prisha needed this holiday too.
“Shaurya, what about your office and work?” she asked.
“Prisha, don’t think about anything else. Just pack your bags, and we will go to Mom's house first, then to the airport. Now, pack quickly. I’ll be home in an hour.” Saying this, he hung up, and Prisha started packing. Shaurya treated her mother as his own. He had asked her to stay with them in the Rawat Mansion, but she refused as that house held Prisha’s father’s memories. Still, for Shaurya’s happiness, she stayed in the Rawat Mansion for three to four days, and Shaurya and Prisha stayed at her house for a week each month. Prisha was touched by his gesture toward her mother. He really cared about her, and that was the best thing about him.
The next day, they left for Switzerland
Later that day, Prisha and Shaurya left for Switzerland.
They arrived in Zurich as the sun was setting, casting a warm golden hue over the picturesque landscape. The snow-capped mountains in the distance glistened under the twilight, and the cool air was filled with the sweet scent of pine and fresh snow. As they stepped out of the airport, Shaurya wrapped his arm around Prisha’s shoulders, pulling her close.
“Welcome to Switzerland, my love,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
Prisha smiled, feeling a rush of excitement. “It’s beautiful, Shaurya. Thank you for bringing me here.”
They checked into a charming chalet nestled in the Swiss Alps, with a cozy fireplace and large windows offering a breathtaking view of the mountains. As they entered their room, Shaurya closed the door behind them and turned to Prisha, his eyes filled with adoration.
“Do you like it?” he asked, his voice soft.
“I love it,” she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. “But not as much as I love you.”
Shaurya smiled, leaning in to kiss her gently. “I love you more, Prisha. I wanted to bring you somewhere special, somewhere we could forget everything and just be us.”
After sometime,
They stood by the window, watching the snow fall softly outside. The room was warm,his arms encircling her waist as they swayed gently to an imaginary tune.
“Shall we go out and explore, or do you want to stay in and enjoy the warmth?” Shaurya asked, nuzzling her neck.
Prisha sighed contentedly. “Let’s stay in tonight. We can explore tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to be with you.”
He nodded, lifting her gently and carrying her to the bed. He laid her down carefully, then joined her, pulling the blankets over them. They snuggled close, their bodies fitting perfectly together.
They stay in Switzerland for one month.