He held her as she came down, his touch gentle and soothing.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found him watching her, his expression tender. 

"You're incredible," he said, his voice husky with emotion.

She pulled him up to her, their bodies pressed together. 

"I love you," she whispered against his lips.

"I love you too," he replied, capturing her mouth in a deep, slow kiss that conveyed all the love and passion he felt for her.

As the kiss deepened, she expected more, but he gently pulled away, brushing a stray hair from her face.

"Chalo, so jao thodi der ke liye aap. Shaam me hum Yusuf se milne chalenge. Aap bhi Hayat aur Ayaan se mil lena," he said.

(Come, sleep for a while. In the evening, I'll go to meet Yusuf. You can also meet Hayat and Ayaan.)

She nodded but was confused as to why he had stopped. Wasn't she expecting more?

"Bas itna hi?"

(Just this much?)

"Aapko aur bhi chahiye?" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

(You want more?)

She instantly shook her head, looking down as a blush resurfaced on her cheeks. He chuckled, amused by her reaction.

Stroking her hair lightly, he kissed her forehead and said.

"Aap thik ho jao, hum aapko raat me sone nahi denge."

(You get better, I won't let you sleep all night.)

"Ishhh... jaye aap," she said giggling, lightly hitting his chest.

(Ishhh... you go away.)

Lifting her face by her chin, he looked deep into her eyes and said.

"Ye laaj sharam sab utarke phenk denge. Aapke kapdo ke saath."

(I'll throw away all of your shyness and shame. Along with your clothes.)

Turning her face away, she slipped under her sheets and whined.

"Jaye aap, please!"

(Go away, please!)

He shook his head, still chuckling. 

"Oh god! Samyukta! You're so cute!"

She peeped from her blanket and giggled, making him burst into more laughter. They shared a moment of lightheartedness, their laughter filling the room.

After a while, he tucked her under the duvet and left to join Yusuf for a discussion, not before pecking her on her temple and wishing her good night.

"Goodnight, my love," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Maan," she replied, her voice soft and content.

---

Abhimanyu's POV

After ensuring Samyukta was comfortably tucked in, I made my way to Yusuf's chamber. I knocked twice before hearing his response.

"Come in."

I entered to find Hayat Yilmaz standing in front of his desk, her expression furious. It was evident they had been fighting. The tension in the room was inevitable, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for both of them. 

I wish Yusuf and Hayat had to not go through all of this. Both of them are so broken that at this point nothing seems to be able to fix them.

Upon seeing me enter, Hayat left in a rush, glaring at Yusuf with bloodshot eyes. She passed by me without a word, without even acknowledging my presence.

Ah! They fought again.

She passed from my side without acknowleging me. 

What has happened to you? Once you used to call me Abhi bhaiyaa and now...

"Abhimanyu, take a seat." 

Yusuf's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

"Yes, Yusuf. What's the update?" I asked, sitting down.

Yusuf said, his voice heavy with frustration yet managing calmness.

"He fled."

We exchanged a moment of silence, the gravity of the situation weighing on us. The realization that the fvcker had slipped away yet again was a bitter pill to swallow.

"How did he manage to escape?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.

"We had him cornered, but he had his sources. Someone tipped him off," Yusuf explained, his jaw clenched in anger.

"I'll check with Samrat to see if he has resurfaced in India." 

I said, my mind already forming plans for our next move.

Yusuf nodded in agreement. 

"Good idea. Ask him to cover all bases and make sure he's got nowhere to hide. If required, I'll send my troops there."

"You've been doing a lot, Yusuf. Don't stress yourself this much. Samrat and I will manage in India. Don't worry."

Yusuf's eyes softened. 

"Abhimanyu, don't forget that I owe you my life. You saved my reason to live; otherwise, my soul would have left by now already."

"You're my brother, Yusuf, and she is my sister, just like Shree. Whatever I did was out of brotherhood, nothing else. And if you feel so, let me tell you, you have done a lot more than I could expect. I'm grateful to you."

Yusuf's expression shifted to one of deep gratitude and respect. 

"Thank you, Abhimanyu."

We discussed some more about the plan. 

I stood up, ready to leave. "I'll head back to Samyukta now. She needs me."

Yusuf's nodded. 

"Take care of her, Abhimanyu."

I nodded, giving him a reassuring look before making my way back to our room. As I approached, I felt a sense of peace knowing Samyukta was resting  despite the turmoil outside because she is with me now. And this is all I want. 

The past few months have been incredibly challenging for both of us. We've faced so much adversity, and there were moments when I feared we might not come through it. But looking at Samyukta now, safe and slowly recovering, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I'm so thankful to God for giving me a second chance to mend everything between us.

As I walked back to our room, my thoughts were filled with the journey we've been on. The misunderstandings, the pain of separation, the terror of her kidnapping – it all felt like a dangerous nightmare now. 

For the first time in my life, I felt fear—the fear of losing her. Those four days were the toughest of my life. No hardship I faced in the mafia could compare to the torment I felt during her absence. The uncertainty, the helplessness, the constant dread—it was unbearable.

When I found her, tied up and terrified, my heart broke. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state made me realize how deeply I care for her, how essential she is to my existence.

Entering the room quietly, I saw her peacefully asleep, a slight smile on her lips. The sight of her brought a smile to my face. I quietly approached her, careful not to disturb her rest. Sitting by her side and brushing a strand of hair from her face, I gently took her hand in mine.

"Samyukta, I promise I'll keep you safe," I whispered, my heart swelling with love and determination.

She stirred slightly, opening her eyes and offering me a soft, loving smile.

"You're up?" I whispered, my voice filled with emotion.

She squeezed my hand, her eyes reflecting the same feeling. 

"Yes." she replied softly.

I removed my shoes by the side of the bed and slipped under the sheets by her side. She engulfed me in a hug, letting me rest my head partly on her left arm and partly on her chest. She rested her thigh on mine and kissed my forehead.

We stayed entangled with each other in a comfortable silence, silently promising to cherish this second chance we had been given. No words were needed to convey our feelings.

Hugging her properly after what seemed like an eternity felt nothing less than heaven. My body automatically relaxed, and I felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. The future might hold more challenges, but right now, I felt no stress about it. The weariness of my body vanished within an instant, and I slipped into a deep slumber, feeling light as a feather.

---

Samyukta's POV

It was late evening, almost dinner time, when my eyes opened. My big baby husband was literally sleeping like a baby beside me, his features softened in peaceful slumber. A gentle smile crept onto my lips as I watched him, feeling a surge of affection for this man who had gone through so much for me.

His head rested partly on my arm and partly on my chest, his breaths steady and rhythmic. I lightly stroked his hair, marveling at the vulnerability he rarely showed.

I carefully shifted, trying not to wake him, but his eyes fluttered open anyway. He looked up at me with a sleepy, contented smile.

"You're awake," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

"Yes, and you were sleeping like a baby," I replied, my fingers tracing gentle patterns on his cheek.

He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving mine. 

"You feel like home, Samyukta."

My heart melted at his words. 

He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. 

We lay there in each other's arms, savoring the quiet moment. The chaos of the past few days seemed like a distant memory, replaced by the warmth and comfort of being together.

"I'm hungry," I said suddenly, breaking the silence with a playful grin.

He laughed, the sound deep and rich. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on our door, and a member of the household staff informed us that dinner would be ready in ten minutes.

We quickly freshened up, made our bed, and approached the Arslan's dining area.

The smell of delicious food wafted through the air, making my stomach growl. As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy returning, a comforting routine that had been missing for too long.

"Mrs. Rathore, you're a guest at the Arslan's for the first time. Allow us to pleasure you with our Turkish delicacies," Yusuf said with a gracious smile.

"Thank you so much," I replied, feeling genuinely welcomed.

"Please, sit," Yusuf said, gesturing to the beautifully set table.

We took our seats, and I glanced around, appreciating the effort that had gone into making this dinner special. The table was adorned with elegant dishes, each one looking more appetizing than the last. There were various kinds of kebabs, breads, mezes, rice bowls and what not. 

Maan served me first on my plate as soon as I sat, of course winning my heart for the nth time.

"Finish everything I've served on this plate for you. This is an order." 

He whispered in an authoritative tone. Instead of sounding scary, he sounded hot.

"Umm... I don't feel like eating them..." 

I tried to mess with him.

"If you can handle me eating you for the entire night, then let the plate be as it is." 

He replied, catching me off guard. He continued to serve his plate as if no filthy words were exchanged between us. The butterflies were now flying through my veins. No matter how much I tried to keep a normal look, my cheeks betrayed me.

I pressed my thighs together because I could feel myself leaking down there.

Damn! This man! Knows how to control me, hmm!

"Relax. And enjoy the dinner," he said, sensing my uneasiness, which made me feel more embarrassed.

"Any issue?" Hayat inquired, which made me more startled, and I instantly shook my head.

"Don't worry, Ms. Yilmaz. She's sick and doesn't want to eat enough. So I'm trying my ways to make her eat."

This man won't stop making me feel embarrassed. 

I saw Mr. Arslan chuckle lightly as he kept serving food onto Ms. Hayat's plate, making me want to go under the earth and never come back.

"Oh, Mrs. Rathore, please do not skip on food. You need to regain your strength," Hayat said innocently, worry etched on her face.

"Don't worry, Hayat. Abhimanyu will take care of her." 

Mr. Arslan said while placing her plate in front of her.

Strange how a mafia leader is serving for his son's caretaker.

At this point, I am confirmed. Either Mr. Yusuf Arslan is a very humble man, not hesitating to help others, or he is madly in love with Hayat ji.

As we began to eat, the conversation flowed easily. We talked about everything from our favorite foods to light-hearted memories, temporarily setting aside the heavier issues we had been dealing with. It felt good to laugh and enjoy each other's company, a reminder that even in the midst of turmoil, there were moments of peace and joy to be found.

Abhimanyu kept stealing glances at me, his eyes filled with mischief and loads of affection. I squeezed his hand under the table, silently communicating my own feelings.

After dinner, we lingered at the table, sipping on tea and continuing our conversation. 

"Samyukta, would you like to hang out with me for some time?" 

Hayat ji asked me as we began leaving the table.

"Sure," I replied eagerly.

"Babe, stay with Ms. Yilmaz. Yusuf and I are going to his office. We need to discuss something," Abhimanyu said, stroking my back. I nodded in response.

"I'll show you the way to Ayaan's room," Ms. Yilmaz directed.

I followed her, and as we crossed the deity of Mahadev again, my mind drifted to the same question I had asked in the morning.

As if reading my expressions, Hayat ji suddenly started explaining. 

"Mr. Arslan's wife was from India. She was a Hindu."

"Where is she now?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity.

"She died."

˜”*°•°*”˜