My breath hitched in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t believe it was him on the other side of the phone.
I had spent sleepless nights worrying, imagining the worst, and now, hearing his voice felt surreal.
"Vayu!" I whispered, my voice shaky, almost afraid that this was just a dream.
“Haan Sunflower!” he chuckled softly, his voice like a balm to my soul.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I could barely form the words. “Oh my god! You..you're safe Vayu!”
“Yes, Sunflower!”
“Kahan tha tu haan? Ek mahine se upar hogaya, pata hai ki–kitna dar gayi thi main!” I sobbed holding the phone tightly.
And before he could reply realisation hit me like a wave when I registered his words—Captain Kashyap! My heart skipped a beat as confusion clouded my mind.
“Wait… you said Captain Kashyap? What does that mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, holding back the anxiety creeping in.
He chuckled softly, that familiar warmth in his tone. “It means I’ve been promoted, Sunflower! I’m a Captain now.”
A mix of relief and pride washed over me, but I still felt the weight of everything we’d been through. “Vayuu tu..” I murmured.
“Haan Reya! It's Captain Kashyap calling! And see I told you about my promotion in the perfect way! Didn't I?” he asked, his voice softening.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I whispered, “Pagal hai tu!”
“Hoon to, par sirf tere liye!” He replied giggling softly.
I bombarded him with questions, my voice frantic. “Are you safe? Did you get hurt? How are things there? Why didn’t you call sooner?”
My heart raced, and I couldn’t stop the flood of words escaping my lips.
But he cut me off, his voice calm and steady. “Hey, hey… slow down. All of that can wait. First, you need to answer my question. Dr. Sharma, will you marry Captain Kashyap?”
For a moment, everything else melted away—the war, the distance, the fear. It was just us. My breath caught in my throat as I whispered, "Yes, I will!”
His voice softened, and I could almost hear the smile through the phone, “Aa raha hoon 15 dino baad. Get your lehenga ready, aur wait nahi karna mujhe.”
A laugh escaped me, half from relief and half from the warmth spreading through my chest.
“I’ll be waiting,” I whispered, my heart racing at the thought of finally being with him after all the fear and uncertainty.
“Ab aaunga to Mrs. Kashyap banane ke baad hi jaunga!” he said with a teasing edge to his voice.
I smiled through the tears threatening to spill, my heart feeling light for the first time in days. "Better be quick, Captain," I replied softly.
He chuckled, "Bas thoda aur intezaar, Sunflower!”
We talked for a while, laughter filling the gaps between our words, but as my mind wandered to the thought that I might be pregnant, my chest tightened.
I wanted to tell him—needed to share it with him—but just as I was about to speak, he interrupted, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Sunflower, I have to go. I need to call Mummy and then head back for a briefing. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
I paused, biting back my words, and forced a smile into my voice.
"Okay, but dhyan rakhiyo apna!”
"Tu bhi." he said softly, before the line went dead.
As the call ended, I sat there, frozen in place, my heart pounding against my chest. The lingering thought, now undeniable, gripped me tightly.
Without thinking, I stood up and made my way to the drawer, pulling out the pregnancy test kit I had bought days ago but avoided using.
My hands trembled as I opened the box. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and walked to the bathroom.
I followed the instructions, my mind blank, and then waited. Each second felt like a lifetime, my mind swinging between hope and fear.
Could I really be pregnant? The thought of carrying his child, of having a piece of him while he was away at war, both terrified and comforted me.
The test stick sat on the sink. I closed my eyes, silently praying as the minutes dragged on, until finally, the time came to look.
I slowly opened my eyes and stared at the test in disbelief—two clear lines.
My breath hitched, and I felt the world tilt for a moment.
I'm pregnant!
My hands flew to my mouth, covering the gasp that escaped me. Tears welled up, a mixture of overwhelming joy and fear swirling inside me.
I was going to be a mother, and he... he was still out there, fighting a war.
I sank to the floor, clutching the test close to my chest, a thousand emotions crashing over me.
How would I tell him? And when he returned, how would everything change for us?
But right now, all I knew was that a part of him was growing inside me. The thought made my heart swell.
For a moment, I could feel him with me, even though he was miles away.
I called my mother, keeping my voice steady as I spoke, knowing she’d want reassurance that everything was alright.
Before I could dive too deep into conversation, the major called us for a short briefing.
"The situation is under control," he said, his tone calm but firm. "But the next week is crucial. We need to remain vigilant."
As I listened, my thoughts drifted to her—the love of my life, my Sunflower! I could almost see her face light up when I finally returned.
The promise of our life together gave me strength.
In just a little over a week, I would be back with her, holding her in my arms. And then, I would make her mine forever.
The thought of finally marrying her filled me with a fierce determination.
"Just one more week," I whispered to myself, "and she'll be all mine. Only mine."
As soon as the briefing ended, I retreated to my space, the weight of the day pressing on my shoulders.
My thoughts wandered back to her, as they always did, but this time, something specific gnawed at me.
Our first time.
Remembering our first time, a flood of emotions washed over me. That night had been intense, and unforgettable.
The way she looked at me, her eyes filled with trust, vulnerability, and love—it had been everything I dreamed of and more.
The way her body responded to mine, how we fit together as though we were always meant to be.
The thought of her in my arms, her soft whispers still echoing in my mind, made me yearn for her even more.
I remembered every detail—the way she looked at me, the warmth of her touch—but then a question surfaced.
Had she taken the pills? I hadn’t asked directly, but I knew she must have taken care of it.
Still, a strange feeling lingered, a subtle unease I couldn’t quite place. Something deeper, beyond just the pills, tugged at my mind.
Why did I feel this way? There was no reason to doubt, no signs to worry about. And yet, the thought wouldn’t let go.
I shook my head, trying to focus. "She must have," I muttered to myself, but the feeling refused to fade.
It was as if I sensed something significant had changed—something I couldn’t quite decipher yet, but I knew it was important.
15 days later
Just one more day and she'll be in my arms.
The thought filled me with a sense of urgency and peace at the same time.
The anticipation of seeing her, holding her, and finally making her mine forever was almost too much to bear.
I imagined her smile when she’d see me, the way she’d run into my arms, just like always. It was all I needed to get through these last few hours.
After everything, the war, the distance, the uncertainty—we were so close now.
In just a few days, she would no longer be my fiancée—she would be my wife, my partner for life.
The word wife felt powerful, like it held the weight of every promise we had ever made to each other.
I sat down on the edge of my cot, my fingers brushing over the small photo of her in my wallet. Her smile—captured in a moment of pure joy—brought me comfort.
I closed my eyes, thinking back to our last conversation, the way her voice had cracked with emotion but still held strength. That’s what I loved most about her—her resilience, her quiet determination.
The thought of returning to her, this time forever, filled my chest with warmth.
I imagined her in that lehenga she would wear for the wedding, the way her eyes would light up when she saw me waiting at the mandap.
My lips curved into a soft smile at the image, and I caught myself blushing.
I’d meet her soon, drop her off at her parents’ one last time before taking her away, before she’d be mine in every sense.
The idea of that—of her becoming Mrs. Kashyap—made my heart swell with pride and anticipation. The life we’d dreamed of, a life we had fought for, was just within reach.
I could already picture our future. Her laughter filling the room as we built our home together, her hand in mine through all the challenges we’d face.
It felt surreal that the day we had been waiting for was so close now. I zipped up my bag, a sense of finality settling in.
And then it hit me again: just one more day. One more day and she’d be in my arms, where she belonged.
"Just hold on a little longer," I whispered to myself, my thoughts entirely consumed by her.
……
I landed in Delhi half an hour ago, the familiar sights of the city flooding back to me.
Each moment felt electric, charged with anticipation as I made my way to her flat. My heart raced with every passing second; I could almost hear it pounding in my ears.
The car ride felt eternal, each traffic light taunting me as it turned red, stretching the minutes into what felt like hours.
As I approached her building, I could feel a mix of excitement and nerves swirling in my stomach.
What would I say? How would I express the whirlwind of emotions that had built up inside me during our time apart?
I wanted to tell her how much I had missed her, how every moment without her felt incomplete, like a piece of me was missing.
Finally, I stood before her door, my hand hovering over the knocker. I took a deep breath, the scent of her home wafting through the air, and knocked gently. Each echoing sound resonated through my chest, amplifying my eagerness.
As I knocked at her door twice, my heart raced with a mix of excitement and worry. The silence that followed felt heavy, amplifying my concern.
I reached for my phone and dialled her number, hoping to hear her voice. After a few rings, she picked up, but her tone was strained.
“Hello?” she said, her voice sounding distant and shaky.
“Sunflower, where are you?” I asked, my chest tightening at the thought of something being wrong.
“I’m in the hospital,” she replied, her words hitting me like a cold wave. “There was an emergency and there was no one on duty so I had to come!”
“An emergency? What happened?” I pressed, my mind racing with a thousand fears.
“It’s nothing serious, just an accident case. It would hardly take an hour. I'll be back soon, Vayu!” she explained.
I felt a surge of panic at the thought of her being in the midst of chaos. “Reya, are you okay?”
“I'm absolutely fine, Vayu. Just take the keys from my neighbour and get some rest. I’ll be coming soon.” she insisted, trying to reassure me.
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. “No, I’m coming to pick you up. I don’t want you to come alone, it's almost midnight. Just tell me where you are.”
“Vayu..I can..” she said, but I cut her in between.
“I’m on my way, babe! Please share your location.” I replied firmly, my resolve unshakeable.
“Okay, I just texted you the address.” she said softly, a hint of relief in her voice.
“I got that, I'm coming babe. See you soon,” I assured her before hanging up, my heart still racing.
I rushed out of her apartment building, adrenaline coursing through me. As I drove through the bustling streets of Delhi, the world outside blurred into a haze of colours and sounds, my focus solely on reaching her.
When I arrived at the hospital, I got out of the car and stood there, taking my phone out of my pocket.
I dialled her number again, my fingers trembling slightly. The phone rang, and each tone echoed in my chest like a countdown to something I wasn’t ready for.
After a few rings, I heard her voice on the other end, and relief washed over me.
“Sunflower,” I breathed, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m here. I just wanted to let you know that I’m outside the hospital, ready to pick you up.”
“Vayu, just 10 more minutes please! ” she said, her voice laced with exhaustion and concern.
“Okay, take your time! I'm in the car. Come soon, love!”
I hung up, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. I paced outside the hospital, running a hand through my hair, the weight of the world resting heavily on my shoulders.
I wanted to pull her close, to shield her from everything, but I knew I had to respect her commitment to her work.
After what felt like an eternity, my phone buzzed again. It was a text from her: “Almost done. Just finishing up a few things. Can’t wait to see you.”
A smile broke through my worry as I typed back, “I’ll be right here, ready to take you home.”
Minutes turned into half an hour, and still, there was no sign of her. My heart raced, a mixture of anticipation and dread gnawing at my insides.
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard, each tick amplifying my anxiety. Where could she be?
I was about to call her when the car door finally opened, revealing her—exhausted and weary. Her hair was slightly dishevelled, and her eyes, though bright, held the weight of countless hours spent studying and preparing.
As she stepped in, the weariness in her posture tugged at my heart, but the smile that broke across her face melted away my worries. She was here, finally, and in that moment, all the waiting felt worthwhile.
“Sorry, I got late! Got stuck in something at the last minute.” she said holding my hand.
“It's okay Sunflower!” I caressed her cheeks, my lips curling into a smile.
As we drove, I asked her if she wanted to stop and grab something to eat.
She shook her head with a tired smile and said, "I’ve already prepared dinner for us before I left for the hospital." The thought of her taking the time, despite her exhaustion, made my heart swell with warmth.
She rested her head gently against my shoulder, her quiet breath a soft rhythm in the silence.
The weariness in her seemed to ease as we drove, the world outside fading away while, in that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us.
As we drove in comfortable silence, her head resting on my shoulder, I quietly asked, "Are you sure about the marriage?"
.
.
.
To be continued.
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