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Author pov

Sugandha woke up to the sound of rustling, she rubbed her eyes and looked around. She found Rudra rummaging through his clothes. She sat up and realized that she wasn't wearing any clothes. She remembered last night's events and blushed profusely. She tied her hair up and held onto the duvet against her chest.

"What are you doing, Rudra ji?" She inquired. Rudra glanced back and smiled.

"Oh,you woke up. I umm...I was just packing my luggage." He said while folding some of his clothes.

This made Sugandha's brows furrow in confusion. "Par kyu?" She asks while draping the saree around her loosely.

Rudra sighs and turns to look at her, but lord, has he got turned on in that exact moment. She was just standing there with a hair bun and loosely draped saree and hickeys all over her neck and... the mangalsutra dangling against her chest in all its glory.

He cleared his throat and tried to focus on the situation. "Mujhe kuch din bahar dusre gaun jaana hai." Sugandha's eyes widened, she surely didn't expect to hear such a thing early in the morning.

(I need to go to the neighborhood village for a few days.)

"Huh? Abhi?? P..par.. aapne bola tha ki aap kahi nahi jayenge." Sugandha holds his arm with a pout.

Rudra glances at her form and then her waist, which was clearly visible. He's definitely getting distracted early in the morning. "Bhaiya ne kuch zaroori kaam saupa hai. Jaana padega. Jaldi hii wapas aajaunga." He says while cupping the side of her cheek.

(Brother gave me some tasks, and I have to go. I'll come back soon.)

He didn't tell her the whole truth because the situation that he was about to face was a bit dangerous. He didn't want her to worry.

"What's so important?? And how many days?" Sugandha kept inquiring because she didn't want to stay apart from him at all.

"I don't know how many days. Maybe 4-5 days or more than that. I'll try to come home as soon as possible, meri jaan. The work is actually important." He says while holding her head against his chest.

Sugandha buries her face into his chest and hugs him tightly. "Aren't you tired?" He asks.

"Mhm...I am. I just want to keep hugging you, Rudra Ji. Can't you not go?" She says with tears brimming.

Rudra sighs and makes her look into his eyes. Her glossy eyes meeting his vulnerable pupils. "Tulasi bhabhi's health is not stable. I can't just ask bhaiya to do it alone. If Bhabhi can stay strong while Brother is away, so can you." He says while wiping her tears.

Sugandha just nods, as she can't argue in such a situation. Her heart was aching already, watching him pack his stuff. Reluctantly, she helped him pack.

When he was all ready and was about to walk away, Sugandha held his arm and tied a red thread around his wrist.

"Don't take this off at all cost." She says strictly, and he nods.

"Take care of yourself and don't leave the house unnecessarily." Rudra pats her right cheek while Sugandha is on the verge of crying again.

Rudra blinks and sighs. He holds her waist and dips his face into her neck. He nibbles on her skin hard, and Sugandha hisses in pain. "Ugh! Rudra ji... it hurts." She says and pushes him a bit.

He pecks her cheek and stands straight. "This one will not fade until I come back. I'm sure of it." He says while admiring his mark proudly.

Sugandha touches the mark and hisses again. It was sure hurting but didn't complain one bit.

"Okay, I'm leaving... don't cry while I'm away." Rudra says and tries to walk out but sugandha hugs him from behind.

"Y..you be careful, even if a scratch appears on your skin. I won't forgive you. A..and d.. don't look at any other woman." Sugandha continues to demand stuff, and Rudra lets out a chuckle.

"Thik hai baba... jaane doh mujhe abh." Sugandha hums and lets him go at last.

(Okay, okay...fine. Now let me go.)

Sugandha watched as he disappeared. She was having a bad feeling. That something might happen, and it's not going to be good. She decides to do pooja for his well-being and safe return.

Rudra's pov

I woke up to the sound of a man. "We've reached, saheb." I nodded and paid him.

I was walking while looking around. This whole village was a lot quieter than mine. After a while, the sarpanch of this village welcomed me.

"I'm so glad to see you." He says with a grin, and I smiled back.

"Me too." I said, and he started chatting with me, and we both walked around discussing stuff. I had a fulfilling meal, his family was very welcoming and polite. I'm very happy to see a good man sitting in power.

It was now evening, I wanted to look around. So I stepped out, normally the streets would be chaotic. But strangely, it's all quiet here.

As I kept walking, my chappal snapped. What a timing... I groaned in frustration and held them in my hands as I kept walking barefoot.

My gaze fell onto the sunset, it was so beautiful. It reminded me of Sugandha in a yellow saree.

"Saheb, yeh chappal aise hath mai kyu pakde ho?" A kid's voice broke me out of my bubble.

("Saheb, why are you holding your footwear?")

I looked at the kid, he was... holding a bag wrapped around his forehead. It looked quite heavy.

"It broke. I had no option." I spoke with a long sigh.

"Don't worry, I can fix it! But...you have to pay me." He says while keeping his bag down.

What a hardworking boy. But how does he know such work at a ripe age like this?

"I will pay you, but what is your name?" I asked curiously.

"Krishna." He says with a smile.

He... has the same name as my father and my wife's favorite god.

"You don't have to fix it, I'll just buy a new pair." I said and his smile dropped.

"Saheb, humne bola na ki hum thik kardenge." He kept persisting.

"There's no need for that. Take your school bag and go home." I didn't want such a young guy to roam around at this time. Afterall, there are kids being kidnapped.

"It's not my school bag." He says.

"Huh? Then what is it?" I asked.

"I work at a mechanic shop. My owner asked me to bring some spare parts, so I went to fetch them." He says calmly, like it was nothing.

I looked at his form closely now, his clothes were all torn and dirty, but his face still had this bright smile.

"How old are you?" I asked, and he made a confused look. "I don't know, saheb."

"I really need money. Can I please fix your footwear? I promise, they'll look brand new. I...if not, you don't have to pay me." He says while fidgeting with his fingers.

My heart melted, he looks no more than a 7-year-old. I can only imagine how his life is running. He should be in school studying, but... life is not fair for all.

"What do you want? I'll buy you." I said while ruffling his hair.

"R.. really!?" He says, and I nod in return with a smile.

"Come with me!!" He yells while running. My smile drops, and I run after him.

"Heyy! Stop running" I yelled back.

"The shop will close if we don't hurry." He says while running, and I held his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. He can't outrun me.

"No shop will close at such an hour. You'll get hurt if you run." I tried to lecture him.

"Ohh... it's okay. It's nothing that I can't bear." He then held my hand and guided me to a clothing store.

"Here?" I asked.

"Yes, and I want that." He says while pointing at a little frock. I was confused.

"Why do you need such a thing?" I asked in confusion.

"It's for my little sister... I was saving money to buy it. But it's never enough." He says while looking down.

"I'll get it for you." I said, ruffling his hair again. We need more kids like him. He's smiling through all hardships.

As promised, I purchased that little frock and handed it to him. His face was brimming with happiness. He was jumping around while hugging it.

"Don't you want anything?" I asked while looking at him with a smile.

"No... I don't need anything. This is more than enough for me." He spoke with a grin.

This boy.... What a gem. He didn't wish to buy anything for himself even though all of his clothes were torn and he had no footwear on.

"Where are your parents?" I asked him. What if they were worrying about his return? I need to drop him home.

He didn't even answer me, he just fell quiet. "Kya hua?" I inquired in worry.

"Saheb... humko koi mera kehne wala nahi hai sivai meri behen ke."

(Saheb, I don't have anyone, except my sister.)

I was stunned. Tears immediately brimmed in my eyes, I couldn't help it. But this little boy, he didn't even show any tears. Such a strong heart. I don't want to imagine how this boy has reached this stage.

I bent down and hugged his little form. God bless the child.

I bought him a pair of clothes and footwear. I made him eat to his fullest. He seemed so ecstatic. "Meri behen meri intezaar kar rahi hogi. Mein chalta hu." He said while putting on his bag on his little shoulder.

(My little sister must be waiting for me, I'll go now.)

"I'll drop you." I didn't want him walking home alone at this time.

"Don't worry, saheb. Nothing will happen to me, i know everyone around here." He tried to reassure me.

"Still..." I accompanied him to his.... Little Hut. The situation was crushing my heart. He left his little sister in the hands of an old lady. He took her in his arms and twirled around. He made her wear that little frock and walked towards me.

"You can hold her. I trust you, saheb." He said while handing me that little girl.

As soon as I held her, she brimmed with a long smile. She was so cute... She's just a 1-year-old baby. She looks healthy and nurtured. He has been taking good care of her.

"What's her name?" I asked.

"Gauri." He said while poking her cheek.

It surely suits her, and the name rolled off my tongue. "Gauri..." that little bundle immediately cuddled into me while making cute little noises.

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Thanks for reading...✨

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