008

                                    

                                          
In the days that followed, Niyati's life had turned upside down.
An unexpected element had entered her life in the form of a handsome man, one as smitten with her as she was with him.
That morning, she left home wearing a new lavender-colored suit she had bought during a shopping trip with her family. Her hair was plaited simply-she could no longer leave home with her hair down, not with the "devil" back and monitoring every little change. But it wasn't just the suit or her neat hair; it was the vibrancy within her, the extra bounce in every step, and the smile that seemed glued to her face. Not even Manorama's taunts could dull the light she carried.
The excitement in the household was palpable, as news about a potential suitor coming to see Shivangi brought a wave of happiness. Even their grandmother, who typically had much to say, chose to remain silent this time-a miracle in itself.
Niyati made her way to the road, and there he was, leaning against his Jeep-a vehicle that was new to her-and talking on his phone. The moment Achintya saw her walking shyly towards him, he cut the call. She kept her eyes lowered, her cheeks glowing as she struggled not to smile but failed miserably.
"Morning." Achintya lowered his phone as she came to stand in front of him, clutching her bag nervously.
He removed his glasses, his eyes feasting on the girl who refused to raise hers. In that moment, his fatigue vanished.
He had been in Patna the day before for election work and had traveled overnight just to return to Begusarai by morning. Running on barely two hours of sleep, the campaign had drained him completely. Some nights, he would collapse on his bed without even realizing when the night turned into morning.
Niyati, noticing the slump in his shoulders, the heaviness in his eyes, and the absence of his usual playful energy, felt a wave of concern. Everyone had been talking about the upcoming election, their voices filled with apprehension. Campaigns were in full swing, with parties loudly promising things they'd never fulfill. She had noticed the changes in him too-the dark circles under his eyes, his hollow cheeks, and his hair, longer and brushing his neck. On anyone else, it might have looked disheveled, but on Achintya Chaudhary, it only added to his charm.
"Are you not feeling well?" she asked, making Achintya's heart soar.
"No..." he teased. He loved teasing her, loved the way she would puff up in mock anger, her eyes widening like an irritated kitten.
"Why? What happened?" Her worry was endearing, and he couldn't help but revel in the feeling. Achintya was used to making others nervous, so this role reversal wasn't something he was about to complain about.
He wanted to tease her more, but in the face of her genuine concern, he couldn't. "I just didn't sleep well last night," he admitted. There was something about her that made him want to be completely honest, like she had some magical power over him.
"Why? What were you doing all night?" Her anxiousness made Achintya smile, her concern warming his heart.
"Waiting for morning... so I could see you."
Her face flushed at his words, and she blinked, opening and closing her mouth, unsure how to respond. "That-you-uh... fine, don't tell me. I didn't want to know anyway."
Achintya laughed, but quickly quieted when she huffed and tried to walk away. He straightened up, stepping in front of her to block her path.
"I went to Patna yesterday for some work-"
"Then why are you here?" she interrupted, already suspecting what he was going to say.
"I traveled overnight just so I could get back to Begusarai and see you in the morning. I already told you that," he said, his tone serious. Niyati could tell he wasn't joking. How could he be so... intense?