56
It had been a week since the stabbing.
A week since the doctor shattered a part of me with that one sentence:
"She may never become a mother."
Since then... I hadn't left the room.
Not once.
I didn't speak. I barely ate. I didn't cry anymore-I was past tears. Just numb.
Dattatriya had tried everything.
From his quiet presence, to loud frustration, to begging me to come out.
But I stayed curled in the corner of our room. Still.
My family came too.
Bhairava bhaiya held me like he used to when I was little-arms so tight, like he could protect me from this pain if he just held me hard enough.
Arya bhabhi sat beside me, cradling little Jayash-yes, they'd named him Jayash Bhairava Choudhury, and that tiny boy was now the only light in my dark world.
He giggled when he saw me. Laughed. Reached for my fingers.
And my heart shattered again.
Dyan bhaiya lingered silently near me like a storm waiting to shield.
Swarna bhabhi teased him constantly, her own pregnancy giving her the most unpredictable mood swings-yet she still smiled at me like I was her baby too.
Gyan bhaiya and Adya bhabhi never gave up. They cracked jokes, tried to pull me into silly banter. But even their laughter couldn't pierce the fog in my chest.
But it was him...
Dattatriya.
The one who broke down alone every night thinking I didn't see him.
The one who hadn't left my side since that day.
The one who still whispered "Sunshine" even when I didn't respond.
Tonight, I sat outside in the garden. The air was cool, the moon silent, and Sheraa-my gentle giant-rested his head on my lap, warm and quiet.
I stroked his fur slowly, staring into the nothingness.
Then I heard footsteps.
He was here.
Dattatriya.
He stood in front of me, hands in his pockets, just watching me. His jaw clenched.
"You're still punishing yourself, aren't you?" he said quietly.
I didn't answer.
He stepped closer. "Katha, for once, talk to me. Scream. Cry. Hit me. Just... don't do this. Don't disappear from me like this."
Still silence.
"You think I want children more than I want you? You think your worth was ever tied to that?"
He knelt down, eyes locked with mine.
"Do you even know what it's like... seeing the strongest woman I know break like this, and not being able to fix it? It's killing me."
I turned my face away, jaw trembling.
And then-
He lost it.
He stood up, pulled me into his arms, and before I could even blink-
He picked me up and walked straight to our room.
"Datta-" I gasped, but he didn't stop.
He dropped me onto our bed-not harshly, but firmly. Like he was drawing a line now.
He stood above me, eyes dark, voice rough.
"You think I don't deserve you? I'll show you exactly how much I do. You think I won't love you at your weakest? I'll worship every part of you till you remember who the hell you are."
And that night...
He didn't just hold me.
He broke every wall I had built in silence.
With his touch, his kisses, his whispers against my skin.
He didn't love me to fix me-he loved me to remind me.
That I was still Katha.
Still his sunshine.
Still his everything.
And by midnight-
When I lay against him, breathless and safe-
The fog was no longer choking me.
Maybe healing doesn't come in one day.
Maybe I still had guilt.
But for the first time in a week-
I felt like I was still alive.
Morning sunlight peeked through the curtains as I slowly opened my eyes, only to realize-I couldn't move.
Every bone in my body ached.
I groaned and flopped back onto the bed like a lifeless fish.
"Damn..." I whispered, "Oh, how can I forget... my husband is a certified beast in bed..."
I shifted slightly-and winced.
Stitches?!
I gasped and immediately checked under the blanket with trembling fingers.
Please don't be open, please don't be open-
Relief washed over me.
"Safe. Still sealed." I whispered, thanking the stars.
But seriously, the way this man pounced on me last night like he was making some declaration of war-I thought my soul would leave my body halfway through.
And yet... the beast was gentle.
Well-only with the stitches.
I tried sitting up again, groaned, and gave up.
I flopped back and landed directly on his bare chest.
A sleepy chuckle vibrated beneath me.
"Morning, Sunshine. Did the hurricane hit you? Or was it just me?"
I turned to glare at him, only to find Dattatriya smirking, hair messy, lips curved in the most infuriatingly hot way.
"You absolute demon. I can't move. My spine is gone. My thighs are protesting. Even Sheraa gave me a pity look this morning."
He laughed, eyes darkening as he reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I warned you, didn't I? I said I'd show you how much I deserved you. And from the way you're stuck to this bed..."
He smirked. "I think I proved my point."
I slapped his chest playfully. "My stitches were screaming."
He leaned in closer, voice dropping, "And I wasn't even rough."
He kissed my temple, then my cheek, then whispered against my lips,
"I don't care if we never have kids, Katha. But I'll be damned if you ever think I don't deserve you. You're mine. You'll always be mine."
I exhaled shakily, melting into him.
"Fine. You win, Mr. Mafia Husband. But help me walk today or I'll sue you for attempted murder by love."
He grinned wickedly.
"I'd like to see the Queen of Justice prosecute her own husband in court. Especially when the entire jury saw her screaming my name last night."
My face turned red.
"Datta!"
"Hmm?" He stretched, smug and bare, "What? Just telling the truth, Sunshine. The bed has evidence. The floor has witnesses. Even the headboard's in trauma."
I buried my face in his chest and groaned.
I was never going to survive another night like that.
But damn it... I wouldn't have it any other way.
And somewhere outside, Sheraa growled softly-probably judging his dramatic parents.
Dattatriya gently helped me out of bed and into a hot shower, his hands tender as he made sure the water wasn't too harsh on my stitches.
I sighed in relief as the warmth soothed my sore body.
He even shampooed my hair like I was made of porcelain, murmuring things like "meri jaan," "my sunshine," and "I've got you. "
After the shower, I got dressed carefully into my comfy black pants and a soft top. I took slow steps down the stairs, and the moment I stepped into the kitchen, I froze.
Dattatriya - Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Italian Mafia head, the man who could kill with a look - was wearing an apron and flipping something on the pan.
"Waah CM saab, waah," I said with a smirk, leaning against the island and sitting down cautiously so I wouldn't trigger my stitches. "Are you trying to bribe me with food after yesterday's bedroom destruction?"
He turned around, smirking that sinful smirk of his. "Only food? I thought I'd already fed you quite a meal last night, sunshine."
"Datta!" I said, cheeks heating up.
"Don't move too much. Sit straight. Or else I'll take you right back upstairs," he warned playfully and placed a plate of steaming pasta in front of me.
I laughed softly, petting Sharaa who had padded over and placed his large head on my lap. "Good morning, baby," I whispered, and placed his raw meat bowl near him. Sharaa began eating contentedly while Dattatriya fed me a forkful of pasta.
"Mmm," I said. "Okay, you've definitely done a crime - no CM has the right to be this good at cooking."
"Add it to my list of sins," he said, winking.
Just then the door flew open.
"Hellooo!" Arya bhabhi's voice rang out.
"Careful!" Bhairava bhaiya hissed, holding baby Jayash like the world's most fragile treasure.
Behind them walked in Dyan bhaiya with a heavily pregnant, very grumpy Swarna bhabhi who had her arms crossed and an annoyed pout.
"I told you I wanted golgappa and you brought me chocolate milk. Do I look like a toddler?" she grumbled.
Dyan bhaiya just smiled helplessly, "Sorry, jaan. I got distracted by the bhajji stall."
Then came in Gyan bhaiya and Adya bhabhi - arguing as usual.
"I'm telling you, that delivery guy was flirting with you," Gyan snapped.
"He was 70 years old, Gyan! He just called me beta!" Adya rolled her eyes.
Utsav followed last, holding his forehead, muttering, "This is why I'm never having kids or relationships. You people are nuts."
The moment they all spotted me, there was a loud "Katha!" and I was enveloped in a group hug - well, as gently as possible.
Bhairava bhaiya ruffled my hair. "How's my little one?"
"Alive," I smiled.
Arya bhabhi sat beside me and handed me Jayash. "Someone missed his bua."
I held my nephew close, inhaling his baby scent. "You're the light in my dark tunnel, Jayash."
Swarna bhabhi smiled and hugged me lightly. "You look better today."
Adya bhabhi nodded. "Your color is back too."
Suddenly, Arya bhabhi narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer. Then she gave me that look.
"Wait a second... what's that?" she smirked, pointing at my neck.
Everyone turned to look. I froze.
Gyan bhaiya gasped dramatically. "Is that a hickey!?"
"DATTATRIYA!" Dyan yelled while Swarna bhabhi covered her face laughing.
Dattatriya just walked over like it was no big deal, wiped his hands, kissed my cheek and said, "Claimed. Again. Any more questions?"
Arya bhabhi looked at me and wiggled her eyebrows. "Stitches mein bhi?"
"Shut up!" I laughed, hiding my face in Jayash's blanket as everyone burst into teasing laughter around me.
The chaos, the warmth, the family - for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe again.
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