"Chapter 18 is already Available on Scrollstack!

Link:- https://thesyntheticayu.stck.me/story/492037/Husn

My Scrollstack ID:-

Thesyntheticayu

◇

"रुख़सत की घड़ी थी, आँखों में आँसू थे,

दिल कह रहा था के बस अब तुम्हें कभी न जाने दे।

पर रस्म-ए-दुनिया है अलविदा कहना,

ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़, हम फिर मिलेंगे, ये अफ़साना कहना।"

◇

Vote Target :- 350+

Comment Tareget:- 50+

Author Pov

Avyansh entered his mother's room quietly, the soft glow of the evening light casting a warm hue over everything. There, on the bed, lay Avantika, curled up like a hedgehog, her small frame tucked in under the blanket.

A few strands of hair had fallen across her face, and he noticed how peaceful she looked in sleep, her usual guarded expression softened.

He also noted something else-her dark circles were lighter now compared to when she first came here as his wife.

The exhaustion that had seemed to permanently settle on her face had eased a little, and that tugged at something inside him.

He crouched down next to the bed, careful not to disturb her. Sitting there quietly, he allowed himself to just observe her, his gaze tracing the gentle rise and fall of her breath.

Her vulnerability, her quiet presence-it was all a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in his own mind.

He studied her face for a long moment, wondering what went on inside her head, what she dreamed about when she was like this, lost in her own world.

There was a strange feeling in his chest, something unfamiliar but soft.

For now, he remained still, crouched near the bed, as if being close to her in this quiet moment was enough.

Slowly, almost without thinking, Avyansh reached out and gently moved the stray hairs from her face, his fingers barely grazing her skin. She stirred slightly but didn't wake up. Her peaceful expression tugged at him, making him hesitate.

"I should take her to our room," he thought, glancing around the room. But then doubt crept in. "Should I wake her up?" He debated with himself for a moment, staring down at her serene face. "No, no, that could be wrong... agar gussa ho gayi toh?"

The idea of her waking up irritated by his action made him pause. He didn't know how she would react, and he didn't want to shatter the calmness that surrounded her right now.

Avyansh hesitated for a moment before carefully removing the blanket that was draped over Avantika. His movements were slow and cautious, not wanting to wake her up. Once the blanket was off, he leaned closer, slipping his arms beneath her-one under her knees and the other around her back.

Gently, he lifted her in a bridal style, her body curling instinctively into him. In her sleep, she nestled closer to his chest, her arms loosely wrapping around his neck.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she subconsciously cuddled into his warmth, resting her head against his shoulder.

His heart skipped a beat as he held her close, surprised by how naturally she clung to him. For a moment, all the tension and distance between them seemed to vanish. Holding her like this felt...different, almost intimate, and it made him pause, his breath hitching as he adjusted his grip on her.

Just as Avyansh turned toward the door, he froze. Standing there were his mother, Anjali, and Devika, with her phone out, gleefully clicking pictures of him holding Avantika.

Anjali had a mischievous smile plastered on her face, while Devika was snapping photos from every possible angle, each click louder than the last.

"Piku, don't," Avyansh muttered, his voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

"Why not, Bhai?" Devika teased, barely containing her laughter as she continued clicking, now purposely taking them from odd, exaggerated angles. "These are for the memories, you know!"

"Memories, huh?" Avyansh sighed, rolling his eyes while trying to hide the growing heat rising to his face. He shifted Avantika slightly in his arms, careful not to wake her, but his glare at Devika held no real malice-just the exasperation of a brother trapped in an embarrassing situation.

Anjali chuckled. "Let her take them, Avy It'll be a nice family album addition."

Pakhi shook her head, amused. "Bas bas, Devika, leave them alone now."

But Devika, still grinning, made sure to take one last snap before Avyansh could protest again.

Avyansh adjusted his hold on Avantika, feeling her warmth against him as he stood up. She felt soft and delicate in his arms, and he couldn't help but smile at how peaceful she looked while curled up like a hedgehog.

The slight flutter of her eyelashes made his heart skip a beat, and he felt a strange sense of protectiveness wash over him.

"I'm taking her to our room. Send my dinner there, Maa," he instructed Pakhi , his voice a mix of determination and tenderness.

Pakhi face lit up with a knowing smile. "Of course, beta. And if she wakes up, just let me know, and I'll send something light for her," she replied, her tone warm and encouraging.

"Now, excuse me ladies ," Avyansh said, gently nudging past the small group of amused onlookers. He could feel Devika's eyes on him, but he

As he carried her, he could hear the soft giggles behind him. The way Avantika snuggled deeper into his chest made it all worth it. Reaching their room, he carefully pushed the door open with his shoulder, ensuring not to wake her.

The room was dimly lit and inviting, with soft hues creating a cozy atmosphere. He moved to the bed and gently laid her down, watching her as she instinctively curled into a ball, a faint smile playing on her lips. He tucked her in carefully, making sure she was snug and warm.

As he stepped back to admire her, a fond smile crept onto his face. The earlier chaos seemed to fade away, replaced by the sweet serenity of this moment. She looked so peaceful, and for a moment, he couldn't resist leaning down to place a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my little hedgehog," he whispered softly, feeling a flutter in his chest as he turned to leave. He felt an overwhelming sense of contentment, knowing that amidst all the noise of life, these quiet moments with Avantika were the ones he cherished the most.

Avyansh's POV

I was working on my laptop, my glasses perched on my nose, completely absorbed in what I was doing. The soft hum of the room was comforting, but then I noticed her stirring awake. A small smile spread across my face as I watched her stretch and make her way to the bathroom.

But then my heart sank as I spotted a bloodstain on the bed.

Is she having her period? I thought, concern washing over me. Without wasting a second, I jumped into action, quickly grabbing a fresh bedsheet and changing it as fast as I could-like Superman swooping in to save the day.

I didn't want her to feel embarrassed when she came back.

After a few minutes, she returned from the bathroom, looking a bit disoriented. I had already asked a maid to bring dinner, hoping to take care of her in any way I could.

"Are you okay? Mish-ahm..." I cleared my throat, trying to sound composed. "Avantika ji?" I asked softly, my heart racing a little.

She sighed and met my gaze, giving me a small nod. "I'm okay," she replied, though I could sense she was still a bit off.

I set my laptop aside and stood up, walking towards her. I wanted to be there for her, to make sure she felt comfortable and cared for.

"Should I bring dinner?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Or... um... if you're craving something else, like... in this, you know, week... girls-" I stumbled over my words, feeling my face heat up. "They crave different foods or something... um, yeah," I finished awkwardly, scratching the back of my head. I don't know why I always get nervous around her.

She shook her head gently.

I raised an eyebrow. But then she looked up at me, her siren-like eyes now soft and doe-like, making my heart skip a beat. There was something about her gaze that always caught me off guard, like she could see right through me.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice a little quieter now, wanting to make sure she was really okay.

"Can you just ask someone to bring the pastry from the kitchen? Dev bought it for me," she said, her voice calm but tired.

I felt my nose scrunch involuntarily at the mention of Dev. Of all people, being the first to know about her cravings and needs before me? That... didn't sit right. I mean, I'm her husband, shouldn't I be the one taking care of her?

"Dev," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to her.

But I quickly shook off the feeling. She needs something, and that's all that matters right now.

"Dev bought it for me." Her words echoed in my head like a bell ringing way too loud.

Yai Kamina. Why is he always the first one to know these things? I mean, I'm her husband-shouldn't I be the one doing this?

My younger cousin can't just swoop in like some knight with a chocolate pastry and take all the credit! What does he know about what my Mishti needs?

I cringed at the thought, feeling a mix of jealousy and annoyance bubbling up inside me. As if Dev, of all people, could understand her cravings better than I could.

The guy barely understands basic decency, let alone what a girl wants during, you know... that time of the month.She raised an eyebrow, amused, while I silently vowed to beat Dev at his own game. Pastry? Please. I'll bring her an entire bakery next time.

"Honestly, what does he know about cravings? He probably thinks it's all about chocolate. Typical," I muttered under my breath.

"Okay, I'll get it for you," I said, trying to sound casual, even though a part of me was still mildly annoyed. I stood up and headed to the door, determined to bring back the pastry myself, before any more of Dev's thoughtful surprises could one-up me.

I headed down to the kitchen, where one of the maids was cleaning up for the night.

Dinner had been prepared already-something light and perfect for her. I glanced at the dishes: moong dal khichdi with a side of curd, phulka rotis, and a simple vegetable curry.

It was exactly what she needed, soothing and easy on the stomach, especially during her... well, you know.

I'd already had my dinner earlier, so this was all for her.

Then, I spotted it-the pastry. A smug little thing sitting in the fridge like it owned the place, courtesy of that idiot brother of mine, of course. I grabbed it, along with some chocolate that was stashed beside it.

As I held them in my hands, I thought to myself, A mini-fridge... I should just keep one in our room. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with this whole kitchen trek.

Plus, I could stock it with all the snacks she might want, and, more importantly, I'd beat Dev to it next time. I'll be the hero of cravings.

The maid, who was getting on in age, started to follow me with the tray of food, but I stopped her.

"Hum lekar chale jayenge, Hume de dijiye," I said softly. No way was I going to let her carry everything all the way upstairs when I could do it myself.

She looked at me, surprised for a moment, but nodded and handed over the tray.

With the food in one hand and the pastry in the other, I felt oddly... content. There was something strangely satisfying about this whole thing, like I was proving I could take care of her in my own way.

Dev might have gotten the pastry, but tonight, I'm the one delivering it.

Wait... I'm jealous of my younger brother? The thought hit me like a slap. I was never the jealous type-especially not when it came to Dev. He's my little cousin, for crying out loud. But here I am, getting irritated over a pastry that he got for her.

I never used to feel like this. I was always calm, collected. But this... this sudden surge of possessiveness, it felt foreign. Almost like a reflex, something beyond my control. Was this... was this because of the forced marriage?

I shook my head as I walked upstairs. No. No, I've been through this before-this marriage wasn't supposed to mean anything. I didn't even want it. And yet, here I was, jealous over something as trivial as dessert.

I reached our room and set the tray down quietly. What's happening to me? I kept these kinds of things to myself, always have. But now, it was like every little thing she did-or didn't do-triggered something in me.

Maybe I'm just losing my cool. Yeah, that's it. Get it together, Avyansh.

She's just my responsibility. Nothing more, I reminded myself as I walked toward the room, trying to shake off the unnecessary emotions swirling in my head. I reached the door and opened it quietly, stepping inside.

And there she was, sitting on the bed, reading a book. Again. Mtlb inhe kuch aur kaam hai hi nahi. Jab dekho, padhte rehte hai, I thought, feeling a mix of amusement and mild irritation.

It's like the only thing she ever does is read. Does she even realize there's a world outside those pages?

I cleared my throat, trying to get her attention without sounding too awkward. "Uh... brought the pastry,chocolate and dinner."

Avantika's POV

After finishing dinner, my stomach began to cramp painfully. What the hell is happening? I thought, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.

Why does it have to hurt like this? I glanced over at him, still glued to his laptop screen, fingers tapping away as if the world around him didn't exist. He was working on couch earlier now beside me on bed.

Din bhar toh yahi karte rehte hain. Raat mein bhi chain nahi hai, I grumbled internally, feeling a mix of irritation and helplessness. Why can't he just take a break?

The pain intensified, and I couldn't help but groan quietly, pressing my hand against my abdomen in an attempt to soothe it. Ughhh, my stomach...

He must have sensed something because, without looking away from the screen, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I replied, but even to my own ears, it sounded weak.

Why am I lying? I thought. I'm not okay. This hurts too much.

I sighed, debating whether to speak up or just endure the pain quietly. Maybe I should just tell him and ask him to bring some painkillers?I thought, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

"Come here," he said, his voice steady and commanding.

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

"Mere thoda karib aaeae Avantika ," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"No, I'm fin-" I started to protest, but before I could finish, a wave of pain shot through my stomach. It felt like my small intestine was being pulled taut, and my core ached intensely.

I shut my eyes tightly, instinctively clutching my stomach as I tried to will the discomfort away.

But suddenly, I felt myself being lifted slightly off the bed. My eyes flew open in surprise, and I looked up at him, a mix of shock and embarrassment flooding over me.

"Kya kr rhe hai aap?" I gasped, feeling the warmth of his body so close to mine as he effortlessly pulled me closer.

"I'm helping you," he said, a hint of irritation in his voice, though it was softened by concern. He adjusted his hold, settling me against him, as if to shield me from the discomfort that had overtaken me.

I could feel my heart racing-not just from the pain, but from the unexpected intimacy of the moment. "I don't need help," I insisted weakly, even as I sank into his embrace, grateful for the warmth he provided.

But as soon as the words left my lips, I felt a wave of fear wash over me at the glare he gave me. There was an intensity in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine-like a storm brewing just beneath the surface.

His long fingers wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him. The heat radiating from his body contrasted sharply with the coldness I often felt inside.

I could hardly breathe, caught between my desire for independence and the comfort of his hold.

"Stop being stubborn," he said, his voice low and steady. "You're in pain. Just let me help you."

There was a softness to his tone that disarmed me, yet I could still feel the underlying firmness in his grip. He wasn't going to let me push him away this time.

"Why do you care so much?" I mumbled, half to myself and half to him.

"Because you're my responsibility," he replied, his expression softening just a fraction, though the intensity didn't leave his gaze. "And it's okay to let someone take care of you for a change."

His words struck a chord deep within me. I had spent so long learning to rely only on myself that the idea of accepting help felt alien.

Yet, as I rested against him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a part of me began to thaw.

"Just relax," he urged, his fingers gently squeezing my waist, grounding me in the moment.

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of his presence envelop me. "Okay," I whispered, surrendering to the comfort he offered. For now, I would allow myself to be vulnerable, just this once.

□■□■■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□

Hey there, curious readers! I noticed many of you were wondering about Akshat and why Avantika didn't react when Devika mentioned his name in Chapter 11. So, let's get to the point!

First up, who is Akshat? You'll find out in the upcoming chapters, so stay tuned! As for Avantika's reaction (or lack thereof), if you look closely at Chapter 13, Devika is actually talking about Akash Kashyap, not Akshat. So, Avantika is in the clear-she doesn't even know who Akash is! Keep reading for more twists and turns!

I need you guys to vote on the previous chapters too. It should be more than 300 votes.🌌