Aryan drove the car while Disha gazed out of the window, both maintaining a profound silence throughout the journey.
Aryan had much on his mind, but he struggled to find the right words to initiate a conversation.
Upon arriving at Disha's home, her parents welcomed the newlywed couple warmly, and they all shared lunch together. After the meal, Disha's mother suggested they take some rest, considering the potential fatigue from the journey.
With that suggestion, Disha's parents retired to their room, allowing Disha and Aryan some private space. Without uttering a word, Disha made her way to her room, and Aryan, uncertain about what to do, trailed behind her.
Sensing Aryan's presence, Disha's heartbeat quickened, and memories of the previous night flooded her mind.
Disha hurriedly reached her room, intending to close the door. However, Aryan's hand unintentionally got caught between the closing door, surprising both of them. Startled, Disha quickly opened the door and looked at Aryan.
Realizing there was no escape, Disha stepped aside, offering Aryan room to enter. Despite the small size of her room, it was beautifully decorated. Lacking additional seating, Aryan sat on the bed.
Disha, standing near the door, hesitated to come inside. Witnessing her apprehension, Aryan felt a pang in his heart. He sighed and softly called out to her.
Disha, who had been anxious about sharing a room with Aryan, was taken aback by the vulnerability in his voice, intensifying her own distress. He called her name again, this time looking directly into her eyes.
It seemed as if Disha was completely captivated by Aryan's gaze. She took a few steps towards him but stopped midway, maintaining a careful distance.
Aryan noticed Disha's hesitation to come closer, likely due to the fear stemming from his actions the previous night. In an attempt to make her more comfortable, Aryan slowly extended his hand towards her, hoping she would hold it. However, she remained in place, and Aryan sensed that she might not reach for his hand.
Feeling defeated, Aryan was about to retract his hand when, unexpectedly, Disha placed her hand in his. Aryan was initially shocked, then, composing himself, he gently held Disha's hand, pulling her closer with great care.
Now, Disha stood right in front of Aryan. As their eyes locked, an inexplicable serenity enveloped Aryan's heart. With tenderness, he placed his hands on Disha's waist, pulling her closer. Resting his head against her stomach, Aryan, in a hushed tone, expressed, "Disha, I am sorry."
Disha, adorned in her saree, the fabric leaving her waist and stomach bare, could feel Aryan's breath gently caressing her skin. The unexpected touch sent a thrill through Disha, momentarily leaving her breathless. Despite the sudden closeness, she managed to regain her composure. Aryan's nearness awakened a cascade of novel emotions within Disha, emotions that danced in the realm of newfound intimacy.
Then, Aryan closed his eyes, feeling a sense of peace holding Disha so close. It was an emotion he had never experienced before.
In a soft voice, Aryan called out to Disha.
Disha, listening to Aryan's words, found herself unable to reply.
Once again, Aryan slowly called her name, "Disha."
Disha responded with a simple "hmm."
Aryan sighed and said, "The hoodie you wore yesterday was a symbol of betrayal, a deception that I may never forget."
Disha, unaware of Aryan's past and lacking the courage to inquire, now found herself listening intently as Aryan shared.
Taking a deep breath, Aryan continued, "I had a girlfriend back then, and she was the one who gifted me that hoodie. After her betrayal, I kept it as a reminder, ensuring that every time I saw that hoodie, it would serve as a constant memory that I should never make the mistake of trusting and loving someone again."
Disha, who had been listening attentively to Aryan's words, felt both upset and angry upon hearing about Aryan's past girlfriend.
Aryan then continued, "By sharing all this, I am not justifying my actions from yesterday. What I did with you was entirely wrong, and I will never behave like that again."
Disha felt honesty in Aryan's words, which made her feel relieved. Unbeknownst to her, Disha's hands naturally moved towards Aryan's hair, gently caressing them with affection. Aryan, found happiness in Disha's comforting gesture.
Aryan sighed and further said, "I had loved her for 7 years, perhaps more than I've ever loved anyone. I gave her everything she wanted, but still, breaking my heart was what she intended. I promise you, Disha, through this marriage, you will receive all the things you deserve—social status, the love, and respect of my family. But don't expect love from me, Disha; I have nothing to give you in that regard."
Aryan's words seemed to pierce Disha's heart, and Disha couldn't understand why she was feeling so hurt now. Aryan had said all these things before marriage also, and she didn't feel much at that time.
Aryan and Disha remained in that position for quite some time. Later, despite being unwilling, Aryan moved his hands away from Disha's waist.
Disha, realizing the shift, was about to step back when Aryan gestured for her to sit beside him on the bed. After Aryan's heartfelt apology, Disha was no longer afraid, and she sat beside him.
Aryan gently held Disha's right hand with his left, intertwining their fingers. Disha couldn't fathom what all this meant to Aryan, as he himself might not know what he is doing, but these small gestures were creating a stir in Disha's heart.
Trying to dispel the awkwardness, Aryan said to Disha, "Your room is quite nice." Although Aryan felt quite awkward saying this, Disha could clearly hear it in his voice. As far as Disha knew, Aryan wasn't someone who enjoyed talking much.
Disha, who had been looking at their intertwined fingers, looked at Aryan after hearing his words and said, "Thank you."
Then, to prevent Aryan from feeling more awkward, Disha started talking and began sharing various senseless topics. Aryan, who had never engaged in such extensive conversations before, was listening to Disha with complete affection.
Aryan's phone rang, and upon hearing the ring, Disha stopped chattering. Aryan, excusing himself, stepped out to answer the call. Since Aryan hadn't been to the office for the last 3-4 days, the call turned out to be a bit lengthy. When Aryan finished the call and returned to the room, Disha had already fallen asleep.
Aryan walked towards the bed with soft steps, ensuring not to disturb Disha's sleep with any noise. Aryan sat on the bed, observing Disha as she slept. The adorable sight of Disha with a hair strand on her face prompted Aryan to delicately brush it aside. Her innocent and peaceful demeanor stirred emotions within Aryan, making him appreciate the beauty of the moment. The soft sound of her breathing and the gentle movements of her chest with each breath captivated Aryan, deepening his connection with Disha.
Aryan, unaccustomed to sleeping in the afternoon, lay on the bed beside Disha, watching her sleep peacefully.
In the evening, when Disha woke up, she glanced at the clock on the wall, and her eyes widened in surprise. It was 6:30 in the evening. Quickly freshening up, she descended the stairs to join her parents and Aryan in the living room, where they were engaged in conversation.
As they chatted, time passed unnoticed, and after finishing dinner around 8 PM, they left to return to the Singhania Mansion.
As the car journey continued, an air of tranquility enveloped both Disha and Aryan. Disha, feeling a bit bored, decided to break the silence by playing some songs. However, not anticipating Aryan's sensitivity to unexpected sounds, she noticed a momentary look of anger on his face. Aryan, perceiving her unease, quickly reassured her with a subtle gesture that it was no issue. The journey continued with the soothing melody filling the car, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Upon reaching Singhania Mansion, Aryan headed directly to their room, while Disha stayed in the living area. The family gathered around her, eager to hear about the "Pag Phera" ritual, and the atmosphere filled with laughter and conversation.
As Disha approached the room, a sudden realization struck her—she had torn Aryan's hoodie. Worried about the potential consequences and whether Aryan might be angry, she entered the room cautiously, taking careful steps as her thoughts raced.
Upon entering the room, Disha found no trace of Aryan, presuming he might have retired to his study. With this assumption, she began to loosen the pallu (hem) of her saree, intending to take it off before going into the bathroom for a quick shower. However, her plan was interrupted when Aryan emerged from the bathroom, engaged in drying his wet hair with a towel.
Disha, feeling a bit flustered, adjusted her pallu and quickly hid behind the cupboard, ensuring Aryan wouldn't spot her. Aryan, who had just come out of the bathroom, observed Disha's playful attempt to avoid him and couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, finding it utterly endearing.
Aryan then went to the closet, put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and came back, saying, "I'm going to the balcony; you can change comfortably." With that, Aryan headed to the balcony, while Disha hurriedly went to the bathroom, grabbing her nightclothes along the way.
Disha, having taken a refreshing shower, chose a cute rabbit-printed nightwear for the night. However, her surprise grew as she couldn't find Aryan's hoodie on the bedside table. Wondering if Aryan might have taken it, she checked the balcony, only to find it deserted. Returning to the room, she settled on the bed, puzzled by the absence of Aryan and the mysterious disappearance of the hoodie.