Chapter 34

Between Smoke and Silent Promises

The night settled heavily over the mansion.

After dinner and another cigarette on the balcony, walked into the room quietly.

The faint smell of smoke followed him.

was lying on her side, one hand protectively over her belly, eyes half-closed but not asleep.

Without a word, he lay beside her.

His arm moved around her waist instinctively, palm resting firmly over her stomach.

Possessive.

Protective.

Conflicted.

She could smell the smoke in his shirt.

A whole packet a day.

It pricked her heart.

Not because she hated it.

But because she knew it meant he was fighting something alone.

He spoke into the quiet.

“Did you have dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Tablets?”

“Yes.”

His tone was casual.

But he checked.

Always checked.

She gathered courage to ask him about the hospital appointment.

Before she could speak, he said,

“Tomorrow I’ll come with you.”

She froze.

“How… how do you know?”

He exhaled softly.

“I keep checking on everything.”

He didn’t look at her while saying it.

Because if he did, she would see the truth.

He had never really been absent.

Just hiding.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

There was a pause.

Then very softly she asked, “Can you… come home soon? Not stay upstairs.”

Silence stretched for a second.

Then he replied, “I’ll come soon. From now on.”

Not a promise shouted.

A promise placed carefully.

She smiled in the dark.

His hand tightened slightly over her belly, thumb brushing gently as if reassuring himself that both of them were there.

She rested her hand over his.

They lay close.

But their thoughts were miles apart.

She felt warmth blooming in her chest — hope, love, fragile happiness.

He felt fear pressing against his ribs — attachment, responsibility, the terrifying softness growing inside him.

Both were awake for long.

Both pretending to sleep.

Both afraid of how much the other mattered.

One line:
Ek hi bistar par soye the… par dono apne apne darr se lad rahe the.