Dedicated to Pinecone - thank you for the request 
In the quiet hours of the night, when the world seemed to hold its breath and the darkness wrapped around her like a lover's embrace, Abhira found herself sitting by the window, watching Armaan sleep. The moonlight spilled through the curtains, casting a soft glow upon his features, highlighting his well-built physique and the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed in slumber.
Abhira stifled a slight chuckle - Armaan was meticulous about his appearance, even in sleep. His hair, always perfectly styled, lay in neat ripples against the pillow, a testament to his fussy insistence on it being set just right.
As he slept, his features relaxed, softening the lines of worry that seemed to etch themselves into his face during waking hours. Behind closed lids, his piercing green eyes lay hidden, windows to a soul that Abhira longed to explore. And even in sleep, a faint hint of that hearty smile of his graced his lips, a reminder of the warmth that lay buried beneath his stoic facade.
Abhira looked away as she felt that familiar longing stir within her again. But as she did so, the awareness that she was in her childhood home, struck her again, and memories of her mother flooded her mind like a torrential downpour. She could still see Akshara's smile, hear her laughter echoing through the halls of their home. She could still feel the warmth of her mother's embrace, the gentle caress of her hand against her cheek. And yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could never bring her mother back.
The tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision, as her heart whispered into the silent darkness, "Mumma, I miss you, Mumma. I miss you so much."
And in that moment, as the weight of her grief threatened to crush her beneath its heavy burden, Abhira felt more alone than ever. It was a loneliness that consumed her, a hollow ache that seemed to stretch on for eternity. For in losing her mother, she had lost a piece of herself, a part of her soul that could never be replaced.
She longed for the comfort of her mother's arms, the soothing sound of her voice, but all she found was the empty silence of the night. And as she watched Armaan sleep, a bitter knot formed in the pit of her stomach. She longed to reach out to him, to seek solace in his arms, but she held back, reminding herself that he saw her as nothing more than a responsibility, a burden he was forced to bear in the aftermath of her mother's sacrifice. And no matter how much she wished it were otherwise, she knew that she could never truly be his.
But still, the desire burned within her, a flame that refused to be extinguished. She longed to feel his touch, to lose herself in the depths of his embrace. And yet, even as the longing consumed her, she knew that it was nothing more than a cruel fantasy, a dream that could never be realized.
As the night stretched on, Abhira's thoughts turned to the past, to the days before her world had been shattered by tragedy. She remembered the warmth of her mother's love, the laughter that had filled their home… And then, in a moment of painful clarity, Abhira realized just how alone she truly was. Her mother was gone, her father a distant memory, and Armaan, the man she had been forced to marry, saw her only as a burden to be borne, an imposed responsibility, a constant reminder of a tragedy that had torn their lives apart.
Ruhi’s oft-repeated words echoed in her mind like a cruel taunt, reminding her of her place in his life, in this world. She was ungrateful for the favours that were being bestowed upon her, a freeloader, a liability that they had no choice but to bear. It weighed heavily on her mind, a constant source of guilt and shame.
She hated that her mother's actions had made her into some object of pity, a symbol of sacrifice and loss. She hated that she was being seen as a burden, a bojh that they had to carry for the rest of their lives.
It was a harsh reality, one that threatened to crush her beneath its weight, but she refused to give in to despair. She would find a way to endure, to survive, no matter the cost. But even as she made this silent vow to herself, Abhira couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at her soul. She longed for something more, something beyond the confines of duty and obligation. She longed for a love that was unshackled, a love that would set her free.
And as the tears continued to fall, Abhira knew that she would never find that love in Armaan. He was a prisoner of his own guilt, trapped in a world of his own making, and she was nothing more than a reminder of the pain he had caused. It was a bitter truth, one that tore at her heart with every passing moment, but she refused to let it break her. She would endure, she would survive, and she would find a way to carve out a life of her own, no matter the obstacles that stood in her way.
In the darkest corners of her heart, Abhira knew that she would always be haunted by the ghost of what could have been. She would always wonder what might have happened if fate had been kinder, if she had been given the chance to choose her own path. As the darkness closed in around her, she knew that she was destined to spend the rest of her days yearning for a love that could never be hers, even after she would have parted ways with Armaan.
She shook herself - Enough, Abhira, enough.
A deep breath.
She could not be weak. Her mother had taught her better.
Abhira's eyes fell on the piece of paper that bore the agreement she had prepared acknowledging her debt to Armaan, the one Armaan had refused to sign. If only he knew how important it was for her that he sign that agreement...
For she knew no way out of this crushing pain, but to try to grasp on to the faint remnants of self-respect that she still had. There was no other way. She would have to find a way to pay Armaan back for the money he was spending on her. Perhaps that might reduce the guilt she felt for burdening him and his family with her presence. She could never truly repay all that Armaan had done for her, that there was so much more to it than just money. But still, she had to try. Yes, she would pay him in due course... and before that, she needed this financial arrangement to be formalized in a written agreement… an agreement she could look back on everyday as a reminder of the reality of their relationship.
She couldn't afford to get swayed away into believing that he was hers, that his family was truly her family. Heck, she was not even his best friend. That place was Ruhi's.
I'm on it, no worries!
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