Abhimanyu's POV

It's been two weeks since that day—the day that changed so much between us. She confessed her feelings for me, I confessed to her, and most importantly, I got her back. My heart had come to my mouth when I realized she was kidnapped the same day we met for the first time in a month. Secondly, when I learned that it was my cousin who kidnapped her, my world came crashing down. Only I know how I spent those four days.

Now that she is safe and sound, I'd rather enjoy this and her presence. As soon as we reached the base that day, she was transferred to the city hospital. Yusuf and my men had secured the hospital and the VIP ward with our best security patterns and bodyguards. Visits were limited to me, Samrat and selected medical staff.

The doctors informed me that she was severely dehydrated and had lost weight. This was obvious as she looked very pale and weak. They cleaned up her wounds caused by those metallic chains that bastard used to tie her up. 

Luckily, she was not harmed in the way I could never imagine in my worst nightmares. But when I learned that she had slap marks on her cheeks, my blood boiled. 

I have decided to plan a special treatment for the leech who slapped her. Upon asking her who did this, she informed me it was none other than my dear brother. Fine. I'll not let this go.

Right now, he is hiding somewhere. Yusuf's men are trying to track him in every corner of Turkey and bring him to us. We have ceased all his incoming and outgoing facilities from the country. Sadly, my brother won't be able to return home alive. But I'll make sure to take his corpse back to the mansion and show my family what a scar has been raised among us.

Both of our families, by this time, have learned what has been going on all this while. They're angry at me and Samrat for not informing them, except our fathers. But at the same time, they're happy that their daughter is safe. They keep video-calling her. But Pallavi Bhabhi Sa, Suyash, and Khushi have not tried to contact us. Mom said they've been avoiding conversing with us and have even raised a question in the family to leave the mansion. Dadu Sa clearly rejected their plea and said every decision will be taken after our return. I understand what Pallavi Bhabhi Sa must be thinking, but none of this is their fault. Once everything here settles down, I will myself talk to the three of them.

Samrat has returned today to India after Samyukta has significantly recovered. He had to return to look into our empires. Both of us cannot be absent at the same time for long. Shree has also been left alone for a long time now.

Today the team of doctors have decided to discharge her. Regarding her campaign, her membership was postponed to next year based on the current situation. She is sad because of this decision but is pretty understanding and hasn't yet raised a question.

Right now, I'm heading to her ward to discharge her from the hospital.

As I entered the ward, I saw Samyukta video calling with our mothers. They were fussing over her, asking her to take care and ensuring she knew how much she was missed. The room was filled with their concerned voices and her reassurances.

"Ji, ji." Samyukta replied to them.

"Khayal rakhna, beta," my mother said. "Hum tumhare aane ki intezaar kenge."

(Take care, beta. We are all waiting for you to come home.)

"Aaram karo, baccha."  Samyukta's mom added. "Jald milte hain, haan?"

(Rest well, dear. We'll see you soon, okay?)

Samyukta smiled and nodded, her eyes shining with emotion. 

"I will, Maa. Thank you. I miss you both."

She ended the call and placed her phone down, noticing me standing there. I gave her a small smile and sat at a distance, aware that there were unresolved matters between us. The air was thick with unspoken words and the weight of what had happened before all of this. I waited for the call to end and then approached her.

"Today, they're discharging you," I said softly, breaking the silence. "Yusuf insisted we stay at his mansion to avoid any further attacks."

She looked at me and nodded. 

I started packing her things, trying to focus on the task at hand. She watched me for a moment, then detached the IV from her hand and held onto my palm, stopping me.

"Maan, hum baat kr sakte hain?"

(Maan, can we talk?)

Her calling me 'maan' made blush creep onto my cheeks after what felt like decades. 

I nodded, setting aside the things I was packing, and leaned on the resting chair beside her bed.

"Aapko uss din baat na karne dekar jo zurm kii hai humne...Be akal hi honge hum agar wahi bewakoofi karke aapko phir se kho de to."

I asked gently, ready to listen to everything she needed to say.

She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around my hand. 

"Maan..."

I nodded, encouraging her to continue. 

"Go on, Samyukta. I'm listening."

She glanced down, her cheeks slightly flushed, then looked back at me. 

"When you left for Bangalore, and I left for London... there were so many misunderstandings between us. I felt like we were drifting apart, like we weren't communicating properly. I thought you were prioritizing work over our relationship, and it hurt."

I sighed, feeling the weight of those words. 

"I know, Samyukta. I thought the same about you. I felt like you were distancing yourself, focusing on others and not me, and I didn't know how to bridge that gap. I thought giving you space was the right thing to do, but it only made things worse."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. 

"I realize now that we both made mistakes. We let our pride and assumptions get in the way. I want us to sort this out, Maan. I don't want any more misunderstandings between us."

I reached out, gently wiping a tear that escaped down her cheek. 

"Neither do I. We've been through so much already. I don't want to lose you over something that can be fixed with honest communication."

"Yes, from now on, let's promise to talk to each other, really talk, and not let things fester. No matter what ever we're feleing we'll let each other know first hand and discuss about it."

"I promise. No more assumptions, no more misunderstandings. We'll face everything together, as a team." I promised.

She smiled, a mix of relief and hope in her eyes.

I pulled her into a gentle hug, feeling the tension slowly dissipate between us. We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, finding comfort in our embrace. The silence between us was not awkward but comforting, a signal of our newfound understanding.

"Do not ever leave me, Maan," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

I tightened my embrace, kissing her forehead softly. 

Looking into her eyes, I said, "Samyukta, I'm to you like the moon is to the earth. The earth keeps going around the sun but does the moon leave her? He keeps rotating her all the way, all the while, all the year, forever. And it will keep doing so till the end of the universe. I'll never let you go alone. You go to any part of the world, I'll tag behind you till my very last breathe."

Her eyes filled with tears, but she smiled, her fingers brushed my cheeks, feathering them lightly.

"Aap humare bhagwaan ji - humare Mahadev k diye huye aashirwaad ho."

I gazed at her, my heart swelling with emotion. 

"Aur aap hi humare bhagwaan ho."

"Maan!" She gasped in astonishment.

"Haan, Samyukta. Aapse hi humare zindagi ki shuru aur ant hai. Aapke bina aapki Maan adhura hai. Humein iss satya ka ahsaas inn dino hogaya hai...spasht se. Maan Samyukta ke bina adhura hain."

"Aap humein chhod ke nahi jayenge, wada kijiye."

"Koi kisi ki zindagi ko chhod ke jata hai to usse maut milti hai. Aur humein apna zindagi pyaara hai. Hum aap..."

She shut me up with a kiss, deep and perfect—just like her. Her lips conveyed all the emotions words couldn't express. I instantly gave in, my eyes closing as I melted into the embrace.

Her hands cupped my cheeks, and my hands held her waist as if our lives depended on each other. The world around us ceased to exist, leaving only the profound connection that bound our hearts together. It was a kiss that healed wounds, erased doubts, and reaffirmed our unbreakable bond. And at this point, I know we have found our way back to each other, stronger and more in love than ever.

After some time, she tried to pull back. I didn't want the kiss to end, but considering her recent recovery, I didn't go rough with her. I let her go. We both were panting, and a wide smile spread across both of our lips as soon as we looked into each other's eyes.

Her eyes were shining, just like the brightest star I've ever seen. All I could see in her eyes was love for me.

I spoke, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Let's go. We'll start our lives as a couple in LOVE perfectly here in Istanbul."

She chuckled, and I realized I had been missing her laughter for so long.

While I continued to pack her stuff into a duffel bag, the doctors came to pay their last visits. They instructed her to eat well, rest, and not indulge in tiresome activities. They even asked me to keep a watch on her activities and make sure she was taking food and water often.

She often fainted and needed oxygen support in these two weeks, which still makes me worried if she is absolutely fine.

Samyukta smiled weakly at the doctors, her professional demeanor returning despite her weakened state. 

"Thank you for everything," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"Take care, Mrs. Rathore," the head doctor said, patting her shoulder gently. "You have a good support system. Rely on them."

After the doctors left, I finished packing and turned to her, offering my hand. "Ready to explore Istanbul?"

She took my hand, her grip firm despite her weakened state. "Yes, Maan."

We walked out of the hospital together. A sum of ten SUVs stood in front of the entrance, their presence a testament to the high level of security Yusuf had arranged for us.

"Wow," Samyukta whispered, her eyes wide with surprise. "This is... intense."

I chuckled, squeezing her hand reassuringly. 

"I insisted on it. We can't take any chances, not after everything that's happened."

"Ah! You've been unnecessarily causing trouble to that humble man. He's done a lot, still you insisted on more security," Samyukta teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

I laughed, shaking my head. 

"I just want to make sure you're safe, always."

We climbed into the SUV, settling into the plush seats as the convoy started moving. Samyukta leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder. As we drove through the city, I looked out the window at the bustling streets of Istanbul, feeling a mix of relief and determination.

"I love you," I murmured, kissing the top of her head.

She nodded, her eyes closing as she relaxed against me. 

"I know, Maan. I love you, too."

Samyukta's POV

The journey to the mansion was smooth, the SUVs moving in perfect coordination. When we arrived, we were greeted by Mr. Arslan's team, who escorted us inside with efficiency and care. The mansion was grand and imposing, but it felt like a sanctuary after everything we'd been through.

"Welcome home," Mr. Arslan said warmly with a small smile as he descended the grand staircase towards us. Behind him, a woman and a little boy followed, creating a picturesque family scene.

The woman seemed Indian. The child was a chubby little cute kid. His plumpy lips and long eyelashes resembled the woman's features while the green- emerald eyes resembled that of Mr. Arslan. My my assumption got confirmed—he was their son. 

But it surprised me; despite our several meetings during my hospital stay, our conversations had been strictly professional, and Mr. Arslan had never mentioned his family.

"Hello, Mrs. Rathore," Mr. Arslan greeted me warmly, shaking my hand followed by acknowledging Maan.

"Mrs. Rathore, meet my son, Ayaan Kaveri Arslan," he introduced proudly, gesturing towards the shy but curious child beside him.

"And..." He hesitated slightly before continuing, "This is Hayat Yılmaz—Ayaan's caretaker."

Caretaker?!

"Hello, Ms. Yılmaz," I said, still processing the new information as I greeted her with a polite nod.

She greeted me in tradition Islamic style. 

"Hello, Ayaan!" I waved at the sweet little child, who shyly retreated behind Ms. Yılmaz.

"He's a shy child," Ms. Yılmaz explained with a gentle smile.

"Aww, he's so cute!" I couldn't help but express. 

"Ayaan! Go! Meet aunty! She is Samyukta aunty. Say hi!" Ms. Yilmaz encouraged him gently, her voice warm and reassuring.

Ayaan peeked out from behind Ms. Yilmaz, his curiosity overcoming his shyness for a moment. He looked at me with big, hesitant eyes and offered a timid smile. 

"Hi," he whispered softly, his gaze flickering between me and his caretaker.

"Hi, cutiepie!" I responded warmly, trying to put Ayaan at ease. 

I could sense his apprehension and decided to approach him gently. 

"How old are you? Do you like playing with toys?" I asked, hoping to strike up a conversation.

Ms. Yilmaz smiled gratefully and replied, "He is three years old and loves playing with cars and building blocks," she explained, encouraging Ayaan to interact.

Slowly, Ayaan stepped forward, still cautious but visibly intrigued. He mumbled something about his favorite car, and I tried to listen attentively, nodding and smiling to make him feel comfortable.

"He's warming up to you," Ms. Yilmaz remarked softly, her eyes reflecting relief.  I nodded happily.

"Samyukta, please go to your room and rest. You're not well. It's been arranged for you and Mr. Rathore," Ms. Yilmaz requested gently.

"Thank you, Ms. Yilmaz."

"Please call me Hayat, Samyukta. I'm younger than you."

"Oh, okay, Hayat. Let's meet again later."

"Yes, please." Hayat smiled warmly before heading off with Ayaan, leaving me alone as I wandered around the mansion.

Author's POV

After exchanging some words regarding the ongoing case, Abhimanyu joined Samyukta by hugging her gently from behind while she was busy admiring the huge deity of Mahadev.

She turned around with a look of amusement on her face when she felt his touch.

"Enjoying here?" Abhimanyu asked, keeping her in his gentle embrace.

"Yes, but Maan! Mr. Arslan isn't Muslim?"

"Yes, he is."

"Then why is Shivji's idol here?"

"Because his wife is Hindu, baby."

"Who's his wife?"

"Babe, we can discuss them later. Now you need to freshen up and eat something so that you can take your meds, hmm? Let's go."

She nodded but couldn't brush off their earlier conversation. Upon reaching their room, she took a warm bath and changed into comfortable PJs.

Abhimanyu arranged a light meal for her, knowing she needed to regain her strength. After her bath, she settled on the cozy bed, where he had kept a simple yet nourishing meal of porridge.

He placed a foldable table over her legs and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before settling himself in front of her.

"Come. I'll feed you," Abhimanyu said as he dipped the golden spoon into the porridge placed in a white porcelain bowl.

She smiled at his gesture and took the bite he offered, savoring the warm, comforting food.

He watched her eat, ensuring she took small bites, his heart swelling with relief that she was safe and with him. 

She kept eating from his hands, feeling loved and cared for. Each spoonful seemed to carry with it a sense of hope and renewal.

After finishing the meal, she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"Can we explore the city today?" she asked.

"Why the city? Let me explore you!" he replied nonchalantly.

"What?" she said, baffled.

"Yes! Let me explore you! You're sick. We cannot go out. So let's enjoy here. You and me. In the room. Only us. Under the sheets. Without clothes. Our skin meeting. We—"

"Stoppp," Samyukta whined, pulling the sheets over her face to hide her flushed cheeks.

He smirked, looking at her reaction. Cute!

He moved the foldable table aside after clearing the utensils from it, all the while Samyukta tried to watch him by peeking from the sheet.

After cleaning up, he settled in front of her and tried to pull the sheet away from her face.

"Maannn...pleaseee," she whined more, gripping onto the sheet more tightly.

"What, baby? Am I not right? It'd be so fun to sleep beside you after such a long time. We'll be cuddling."

She smiled, thinking about the beautiful moments they had spent after their marriage before all this happened, but soon her smile was replaced by shock as he pulled the sheet from her grip while she was lost in thought with a sudden jerk.

He placed his face close to her, just an inch apart from her lips, and said in a hoarse voice that made her shiver to her core, "But this time, without clothes."

Samyukta's eyes widened, her breath hitching. 

"Maan..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Shh," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

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