Page 93 of Mrs. Rathore

It was seven in the morning when I opened my eyes, and everything felt silent and still. Yesterday’s images rushed back like ice-cold water down my spine.

I hadn’t eaten dinner the night before. I just lay in bed for eight hours without moving. As promised, Aryan had brought a doctor, and he stayed the entire time, but we didn’t exchange a glance.

I was too embarrassed. So much so, that even the doctor noticed the red patches on my cheeks. What he didn’t know was that I had kissed my husband for the very first time since our marriage.

I still didn’t understand why I did it. Why did I kiss him when I was so angry? But last night… There had been something in Aryan’s eyes: a quiet ache, guilt, and genuine remorse. It melted something frozen inside my heart.

The pain in my legs had dulled a little today, but the doctor had warned me: I’d have to use crutches for at least a month. Hewas furious when he found out I’d tried to stand alone. He told me bluntly that if I didn’t stop pushing myself, I might end up limping for life. That was enough to make me swear I’d take it seriously.

“You’re awake!” Rhea rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug. I almost burst into tears, overwhelmed by her warmth. I had missed her so much in the past week.

“When did you get back?” I asked, clearing my throat; my voice was still rough from sleep and dryness.

“We arrived at three in the morning. You were fast asleep, and I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Bhai told me what happened to your leg and that you’ll recover soon.”

“What exactly did he tell you?” I asked cautiously.

“That you lost your balance in the kitchen and hurt your right leg again.” She pouted, clearly upset. “I’m really sorry.”

I let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least Aryan didn’t tell her the real story behind my injury. If anyone ever heard it, they’d laugh, especially Kavya. She’d probably post about it on Instagram and tag me for fun. I couldn’t even remember what I had told Aryan in my anger yesterday. He had looked stunned, hurt… and oddly patient.

“Bhabhi?” Rhea’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was looking at me with a puzzled expression. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” I shook my head. “How’s Dadi? Did her appointment go well? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” she said with a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. It seemed like she was hiding something. I thought about pressing her, but I let it go. Whatever it was, it could only add more weight to my already heavy heart. I didn’t have the strength for more bad news.

“Anyway,” she continued, “Bhai is leaving now. His flight is at eight. He’s asking me to help you into the wheelchair so you can spend a few moments with him. God knows when he’ll be back. It’s hard to get leave when you’re leading an entire troop. This was the longest holiday he’s taken since joining the army.”

I forced a small smile, but my mind went back to the kiss.

I could still feel his body pressed against mine, the way he devoured my mouth like he couldn’t get enough. I could taste him, feel the warmth of his skin. It scared me how much my body longed for him again.

But then doubt crept in. Was Aryan still physically involved with Ira? I didn’t think so. That night when I saw them together, they looked more like old friends than ex-lovers. It seemed they were discussing something serious, maybe Ira’s injury or her new doctor. I didn’t know, and maybe I didn’t want to know.

God, I needed to stop thinking about him like that. It was just a kiss. A kiss that meant nothing, just a moment of weakness, an escape. And I let him kiss me.

“I swear I’ll never marry an army guy,” Rhea said suddenly, grinning. “I’ll probably end up with a doctor.”

“What if you fall in love with a soldier?” I asked her, amused.

“Not a chance. Honestly, if it were up to me, I would’ve never let Dad or Bhai join the army. It’s too risky, too dangerous. Do you know Bhai has been posted in Kashmir for the last eight years? Do you know how scary that is?”

I nodded, listening quietly.

“But he doesn’t care,” she continued. “He actually likes the danger. According to him, if there’s no risk, there’s no fun.”

As I listened to Rhea, a wave of worry suddenly washed over me.

“Now that he’s leaving, he’ll barely have time to call,” she said, echoing my thoughts. “Sometimes we wait a whole month just to hear his voice. If it gets unbearable, he sends letters. But thanks to Dad, we always stay updated.”

Noticing the look on my face, Rhea gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Bhai is a tiger, Bhabhi, and you need to be a tigress. Please don’t ever tell him you’re scared or worried about his duty being risky or unpredictable. It’ll only make him upset.”

“I’m not scared,” I said quietly. “I’m proud of him for everything he’s doing for our country.”

“That’s my girl,” she replied with a bright smile. “Now come, spend a few minutes with your husband.”