Childish RIVAN #2
There was something so unexpectedly hopeful in those two words that Devyani's heart skipped a beat.
She looked away before answering.
"Yes."
"I will."
A slow grin spread across his face.
The kind that reached his eyes.
He actually giggled under his breath.
She rolled her eyes immediately.
She ignored him.
"Lie down properly."
RIVAN nodded obediently.
Without arguing, without teasing, he slowly adjusted himself on the bed. Every movement made him wince, but he didn't complain. He simply lay back against the mattress while watching her with those half-lidded, intoxicated eyes.
Devyani pulled the chair closer and opened the first-aid box.
Cotton.
Antiseptic.
Fresh gauze.
She took everything out with practiced hands.
When she peeled away one of the old bandages, her breath caught.
The wound underneath looked angry.
Red.
Poorly stitched.
As if someone had hurried through it without caring about the pain.
Her fingers paused for a second before she carefully cleaned around it.
The moment the antiseptic touched his skin
RIVAN hissed sharply.
"Tss..."
His fingers gripped the bedsheet.
"It's hurting."
She didn't stop cleaning.
Instead she raised an eyebrow.
Silence.
She looked up at him.
RIVAN remained quiet for a moment.
Then, with complete sincerity, he answered,
The cotton in her hand stopped moving.
He looked at the ceiling while speaking, his voice carrying no drama, no self-pity.
Just simple honesty.
He shrugged.
His fingers lazily tapped his chest.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"But..."
He looked at her.
Devyani felt something tighten painfully inside her throat.
She couldn't answer.
Couldn't even look into his eyes.
Instead, she silently continued cleaning each wound, taking far longer than necessary because her trembling fingers refused to cooperate.
When she finally finished, she secured the last bandage carefully.
She whispered.
She stood up.
Ready to leave.
Ready to escape before her emotions betrayed her.
But before she could take even one step
A warm hand gently wrapped around her wrist.
She looked back.
RIVAN was watching her.
His voice was soft.
Almost uncertain.
She frowned slightly.
He nodded without hesitation.
"Hmmm."
The answer was so simple.
So genuine.
Like there wasn't a single complicated emotion behind it.
Just a quiet request.
For a long moment she remained silent.
Then she slowly exhaled.
"Hmmm..."
She pulled the chair closer again.
"Okay."
His eyes immediately brightened.
"I'll stay."
She added calmly,
"Till you fall asleep."
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Without wasting another second, she sat beside the bed.
Before she could even settle properly
RIVAN shifted closer.
Then, as naturally as breathing, he rested his head on her lap.
Devyani froze.
Every muscle in her body stiffened.
Her heartbeat instantly doubled.
Instead he adjusted his head comfortably against her lap like he had done it a thousand times before.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
"Hmmm..."
"So comfortable."
She looked down at him in complete disbelief.
"Mr. Thakur..."
No response.
Only another contented hum.
His eyes were already beginning to close.
The hard lines on his face softened.
The constant tension in his jaw disappeared.
For the first time in what felt like years...
He looked peaceful.
Devyani hesitated for a few seconds before slowly lifting one hand.
Almost unconsciously, her fingers slipped into his hair.
She gently brushed a few strands away from his forehead.
He leaned into the touch without even realizing it.
Like someone who had been starving for comfort.
Her fingers stopped.
A thousand memories tried to return.
She pushed every single one of them away.
Yet despite herself...
She didn't move his head.
She simply sat there in the quiet room, her hand resting lightly in his hair while he slowly drifted closer to sleep, completely unaware that the woman he had hurt the most was, once again, the only place where he seemed able to find peace.
The room had grown completely silent.
Only the faint ticking of the clock and RIVAN's uneven breathing filled the darkness.
Devyani remained seated for a long moment, absentmindedly running her fingers through his hair. Every now and then he would relax a little more beneath her touch, like his body finally believed it was safe.
She looked at the sleeping man in disbelief.
How could the same person who terrified an entire room just hours ago now look so... peaceful?
Carefully, she shifted her position.
"My legs are numb," she whispered to herself.
Trying not to wake him, she slowly leaned back against the pillows and lay down on the bed.
The movement disturbed him.
Almost immediately, RIVAN frowned in his sleep.
His hand searched blindly for her.
Before she could react, he instinctively moved closer, as though drawn by familiarity.
A second later, he buried his face lightly against the curve of her neck, seeking warmth without ever opening his eyes.
Devyani's entire body stiffened.
Her breath caught.
For a brief moment, she considered moving away.
But then she looked at his face.
The constant frown had disappeared.
For the first time since he had returned, he looked completely at peace.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
She exhaled.
Her trembling fingers found his hair again.
She began gently combing through the dark strands, soothing him without even realizing she was doing it.
A quiet hum escaped him.
Then, in a sleepy voice barely louder than a whisper, he murmured,
"Kitten..."
The familiar nickname made her eyelashes flutter.
She didn't stop stroking his hair.
"Hmmm?"
His lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Do you know..."
He paused, struggling against sleep.
"...how much I love you?"
The question lingered between them.
Devyani looked at the ceiling.
Her heart felt impossibly heavy.
After a long silence, she answered softly,
"No."
RIVAN smiled without opening his eyes.
"Enough..."
Another pause.
"...to destroy both of us."
The words settled deep inside the room.
Devyani's hand stopped for just a second.
Destroy both of us...
She repeated the sentence silently in her mind.
There was no pride in his voice.
No obsession.
Only regret.
Only exhaustion.
She looked down at him.
His breathing had already begun slowing again, as if sleep was pulling him away.
Then, just when she thought he had drifted off completely
He spoke again.
This time his voice sounded smaller.
Almost like a lost child.
"Why..."
He swallowed.
"...why didn't you take my calls?"
Devyani frowned immediately.
"What?"
He continued speaking without opening his eyes.
"When..."
His breathing grew uneven.
"I desperately called you..."
His fingers weakly tightened around the fabric of her sleeve.
"...why didn't you answer?"
Devyani's eyes widened.
Her heartbeat skipped.
"What are you talking about?"
She leaned down slightly.
"When?"
"There were no calls..."
But he didn't answer.
His grip slowly loosened.
His breathing evened out.
Within seconds
He had fallen completely asleep.
Devyani remained frozen.
Her mind refused to process what she had just heard.
She had waited for his calls.
For his messages.
For anything.
Nothing had ever come.
Not once.
Then...
What calls was he talking about?
The question echoed inside her mind long after the room had fallen silent.
And for the very first time...
A tiny crack appeared in the version of the past she had believed for the last two years.
The first rays of the morning sun slipped through the curtains, painting the bedroom in a soft golden glow.
Silence surrounded the room.
After everything that had happened the previous night, it was strangely peaceful.
RIVAN was still asleep.
His head rested against Devyani's shoulder, one arm loosely wrapped around her waist as if even in sleep he was afraid she would disappear. His face looked unusually calm, almost boyish. The arrogant businessman, the feared Thakur heir, the man everyone hesitated to stand before...
...was sleeping like a child.
Devyani slowly opened her eyes.
For a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where she was.
Then reality returned.
She looked down.
RIVAN hadn't moved an inch.
A tiny sigh escaped her lips.
She tried shifting away carefully, but the moment she moved, she frowned.
Why was it so hot?
Her brows knitted together.
The room wasn't warm.
Then...
She slowly placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
The very next second her eyes widened.
"What the..."
He was burning.
His skin was frighteningly hot.
"Mr. Thakur..."
She gently shook his shoulder.
"Wake up."
He frowned in his sleep and buried his face deeper into the pillow.
"Hmmm..."
She shook him again.
"Mr. Thakur."
Without opening his eyes, he mumbled lazily,
"Kitten..."
His voice was sleepy.
"Let me sleep..."
And just like that...
He fell silent again.
Devyani blinked in disbelief.
"This man..."
She sighed, pulled his arm away from her waist, and quietly climbed out of the bed.
One last glance at his flushed face was enough.
The fever was definitely high.
Without wasting another second, she walked out of the room and headed downstairs.
A few minutes later, she found Yashodha arranging flowers in the small temple.
"Maa..."
Yashodha immediately turned around with a warm smile.
"Haan, beta?"
Devyani folded her arms casually.
"Your son has a fever."
The smile instantly disappeared.
"RIVAN?"
Devyani nodded.
"Hmm."
Yashodha's face filled with concern.
"Oh Bhagwan..."
She immediately started walking toward the kitchen.
"Wait, I'll take warm water, fresh cloth, and medicine."
Devyani leaned against the doorway, watching her quietly.
Then she spoke in an almost emotionless voice.
"Sorry, Maa."
Yashodha looked back.
"I'm not going."
"If you want, you can go."
"Or send a servant."
For a brief second...