Chapter 49
The atmosphere inside the haveli had changed after the chandelier incident, because even though everyone had returned to their usual places and normal conversations had started again, nothing actually felt normal anymore, and beneath every word and every movement there was an invisible layer of tension that nobody was acknowledging out loud.
Most of the family remained focused on Aariv.
Shanti kept checking on him every few minutes, Rajnath stayed unusually quiet, Pandit Harinarayan had disappeared into his thoughts after examining those marks, and Veeransh had not left Aariv's side even once since the accident, keeping him close in a way that looked calm on the outside but felt almost possessive underneath.
But Rudra was not looking at Aariv anymore.
His attention kept drifting somewhere else toward Yug.
At first, he told himself he was overthinking.
The entire haveli had been tense for days.
Everyone was behaving differently. So maybe Yug was too.
But the more he observed him the less that explanation worked.
Because Yug was not behaving scared and that itself felt wrong.
Rudra lay on the bed, one arm resting over his forehead, his eyes closed but his mind far from asleep, because no matter how much he tried, he could not shake off what had happened in the corridor, the way Yug had spoken, the way he had looked, the way that e
mpty space had felt anything but empty.
Beside him, Yug lay unusually still.
At first, it seemed like he was asleep, his breathing slow and even, his face calm, almost peaceful, but as the minutes passed, something about that stillness began to feel unnatural, as if it was not rest but silence.
Rudra shifted slightly, his eyes opening halfway as he turned his head toward Yug.
"Yug..." he murmured softly.
Rudra watched him for a few seconds, then exhaled and closed his eyes again but just as sleep began to pull him under a soft sound broke the silence.
Rudra's eyes opened instantly.
The space beside him was empty.
His body stiffened as he sat up abruptly, his gaze snapping toward the room.
"Yug?" he called out, his voice low but alert.
There was no answer. The door was slightly open. Rudra stood up immediately, his instincts already on edge, and walked toward the door, pushing it open fully as he stepped out into the corridor.
Then at the far end of the corridor he saw him. Yug was standing near the window, his back facing Rudra, completely still, his figure outlined faintly by the pale moonlight filtering in.
"Yug..." Rudra called again, this time sharper.
Slowly Yug turned and something in Rudra's chest tightened instantly.
Because the moment Yug faced him, it was clear something was wrong his eyes looked dull and unfocused.
"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Rudra asked, walking closer, his steps cautious now.
Yug didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze shifted past Rudra... as if he was looking at something behind him.
Then he spoke.
"Vo aa gayi..."
Rudra stopped.
"Kya?" he asked, his voice tightening.
Yug smiled.
But the smile did not belong to him.
"Tumhe dikh nahi rahi?" he whispered.
Rudra's expression hardened instantly.
"Yug, bas karo," he said firmly, stepping closer and grabbing his arm.
"Room mein chalo."
But Yug did not move. Instead, his head tilted slightly, his eyes slowly locking onto Rudra's.
"Is baar..." he murmured, his voice lowering into something deeper, colder,
"...use koi nahi rok payega. Rok lo use"
A chill ran down Rudra's spine.
Before he could react to Yug's hand shot up suddenly and gripped Rudra's wrist tightly.
Rudra winced.
"Yug ..."
But Yug pulled him closer to his face now inches away. His eyes were completely empty.
"Vo Aariv ko lene aayi hai..." he whispered.
Rudra froze and in that exact moment the lights flickered. Everything went dark for a second. When the light returned Yug collapsed. His grip loosened instantly as his body went limp.
"Yug!" Rudra caught him quickly,
holding him before he hit the floor.
Yug's breathing was uneven now, his face pale, his eyes closed as if he had been drained of all strength.
"Yug... suno... aankhein kholo..." Rudra said urgently, shaking him slightly.
After a few seconds Yug groaned softly. His eyes fluttered open.
Confusion filled his expression.
"Rudra...?" he whispered weakly.
Yug frowned slightly, trying to remember.
"Mujhe kuch yaad nahi..." he whispered.
Rudra nodded once.
"Thik hai... chalo room mein."
He lifted Yug carefully and brought him back, placing him on the bed, pulling the blanket over him.
But this time Rudra did not lie down.
He sat beside him and watched him till he slept.
..
.. .. .. ..
After everything that had happened during the day, after the fear, the questions, and the strange tension that seemed to settle into every wall of the house, this room felt like the only place where Aariv could breathe properly.
Aariv had just come out of the shower. His hair was still slightly damp, tiny drops of water resting near his neck while he loosely tied the belt of his bathrobe and walked toward the mirror.
For a few moments he simply stood there. His eyes unintentionally drifted toward his wrist. The faint bluish marks were still there. His expression softened slightly. His fingers moved toward them but before he could touch them two familiar arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
Aariv relaxed immediately.
"...Veer," he said softly.
Veeransh didn't answer. He only rested his chin lightly on Aariv's shoulder and looked at him through the mirror. For a few seconds neither of them spoke. Then Veeransh lowered his head and pressed a quiet kiss against Aariv's shoulder.
Aariv's eyes softened.
"Veer..." he whispered again.
Veeransh's fingers adjusted slightly around his waist before he gently moved the bathrobe off one shoulder just enough to press another soft kiss there. His fingers moved slowly and tucked a damp strand behind Aariv's ear.
Then he asked softly...
"Baby... can I kiss you?"
Aariv looked at him for a second.
His cheeks warmed instantly. Even after everything, Veeransh still asked.
As if every small thing between them mattered. Aariv lowered his lashes shyly and bit his lip before giving a small nod.
Veeransh's hands moved around Aariv's waist and gently turned him fully toward himself before pulling him closer into his arms.
Then he kissed him.
His lips rested against Aariv's softly for a moment before moving again in a quiet, lingering kiss. Aariv froze for barely a second before his shoulders slowly relaxed. His fingers moved up and held Veeransh's shirt lightly.
Aariv slowly melted into him and closed his eyes. After a while he pulled back slightly, cheeks warm.
"...aap aaj zyada hi pyaar nhi kar rahe hain," he whispered shyly.
Veeransh looked at him for a few moments before his expression softened even more. His hand moved slowly through Aariv's damp hair while he looked at him quietly.
"Main to roz itna hi pyaar karna chahta hoon, baby..." he said softly.
Aariv looked up at him.
There was something unexpectedly vulnerable in Veeransh's voice.Aariv smiled faintly and stepped a little closer until there was almost no space left between them.
"Veer..." he said quietly.
Veeransh looked at him. Aariv reached up and lightly held his face.
"Sab sahi ho jayega..." he said softly.
Veeransh remained silent.
Aariv smiled a little.
"Don't worry."
For a few seconds Veeransh just looked at him and suddenly something inside him softened.
Because Aariv looked so innocent standing there.
Veeransh looked at him for a second longer before suddenly pulling him closer.
Aariv let out a small surprised breath.
"V....Veer..."
But Veeransh only held his face and kissed him.
This time is deeper than before.Like there were too many feelings he couldn't put into words.
Aariv gasped softly at first but after a moment his eyes closed and he tried to kiss him back shyly, his hands slowly moving upward and wrapping around Veeransh's neck.
Veeransh's hand moved to Aariv's waist and guided him gently backward until Aariv's back rested lightly against the wall.
Veeransh started kissing him roughly whoe pinning his wrist above his head.... He entered his tongue inside Aariv's mouth and started sucking.....
Aariv was also trying to kiss but his breaths getting uneven... So he try to push veeransh but veeransh was too lost in him and continue to kiss...
And at last Aariv but him a little so veeransh back away a little then he attacked on his neck.......
Aariv: ahhh veer... aap...ye...
Veeransh: baby don't you want the same?
Aariv : v...vee.. what if ...
Veeransh: nothing will happen jaana... Trust me....