Page 104 of Cherish my Heart

Her face crumbles.

Like I just tore open something inside her she’d tried so hard to keep sealed. She stares at me like I’ve finally said the thing she’s been waiting to hear.

“Yes,” she breathes, voice shaking. “You do. You idiot. I care. So much. I love you, Abhimaan.”

And then she’s in my arms.

And I’m gone.

The tears come before I can even register them. Raw, unstoppable, silent at first but blinding. I don’t hide them. I don’t wipe them. I let them come. Because for the first time, I’m not crying alone.

She’s crying too. And somehow, that breaks me more than anything else.

Her hand moves in slow, soothing circles on my back, anchoring me. I cling to her shirt like if I let go, I’ll disappear again. Be lost again.

“I…” I try, but my voice fails me. The words are stuck somewhere between pain and relief.

She pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. Her voice is soft and tentative. “Can you tell me what it was? The nightmare?”

“I was in that room,” I say softly. “The punishment room. They used to keep us there sometimes. It was pitch dark. No windows. Just four walls and spiders.”

She gasps. Her eyes were burning, probably from rage. “Why did they punish you?”

I take a breath. “I didn’t want Harsh to go through it. He was sick, so I’d hide him when it was his turn. And I’d go instead. I thought I was being brave. But it was… it was scary. Every single time.”

She sniffles. “That sounds exactly like you. Taking someone else’s place. Always thinking about others.”

“I didn’t want him to suffer,” I whisper. “But I never stopped being scared. Even now. Sometimes it’s like I’m right back there.”

She touches my face. “I want to go back in time and break that door. I want to get you out.”

“You’re helping now,” I say softly. “You’re here. You have no idea what that means.”

She gives me that look. The one she saves for when her heart is too full and words aren’t enough.

And suddenly the weight lifts a little.

I look at her. Really look at her. This woman who’s fearless and soft. She stands between me and my demons like she was born for it.

And something clicks.

“You know,” I say, voice thick, “in hindsight… I’m glad I went through all of it.”

She pulls back and frowns. “Why would you say something like that?”

“Because,” I murmur, “if I hadn’t… I wouldn’t have met you. And I wouldn’t have known how to treasure you.”

She opens her mouth to argue. I stop her.

“I mean it, Aditi. If I had a normal life… if I’d grown up with love, I might have taken it for granted. I might not have recognized what you’re giving me. Your care, your anger, your love… I see it. Every day. I feel it.”

I swallow hard. “And not having you in my life? That thought… that’s more terrifying than any dark room I’ve had to survive in.” A tear escapes my eyes as I smile, gently caressing her cheeks.

She stares at me, frozen. Then she lunges forward, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. “You absolute—beautiful—idiot,” she sobs into my chest. “Don’t say things like that. You make me cry.”

I hold her. One hand stroking her back. The other clutching her hand.

“I love you,” I whisper again.