As she reached outside the multimillion company's building, she haulted the car.

Parking the car at the parking area.

Vaidehi looked at the extrinsic building. Looking at the structure, the grandeur, Vaidehi  was so very proud of her husband. But now she had more to look into. She somehow had the gut feeling that her Raaghav was not well.

She quickly got inside. There she was greeted by the watchmans. Giving them the necessary proof, and with the needful help from Bhaskar she quickly got inside.

She had already gained the information from Bhaskar about Raaghav's office, she quickly entered the elevator and pressing for the 30th floor she waited for the lift to come to a hault.

As soon as the lift came to a hault and Vaidehi came out, she was greeted by utter silence. The floor was quite, it was dark as a night, for some moment she felt scared. The darkness and silence was overpowering her. But her Raaghav was at the other end. She had to reach him.

She started walking piercing the silence, completely ignoring the silence. As soon as she reached a cabin, that had, "Raaghav Yaduvanshi"  carved on it in golden pastels, she didn't think much and opened the door.

The sound of the opening of the door, disturbed Raaghav a bit. He was already not in the mood to talk to anybody. He knew that his whole office knew better not to disturb him. So he looked up to the source who dared to dig his or her own grave.

He looked up only to see his timid little wife standing there, with a tiffin box hugging her chest.

Vaidehi looked at Raaghav as she fully entered inside. The door closed on its own.

She saw the disheveled state of Raaghav. His hair was all messy. His coat was removed. Upper two buttons of his crisp white shirt that was crumbled now were undone. His eyes showed that he was disturbed. The files that layed on this table showed that he had overworked himself.

She started moving towards him.

Seeing Vaidehi, Raaghav too got up from his seat and walked towards her in full rage.

"What are you doing here at this point of time Vaidehi? ", he asked sternly.

" It's past 1'oclock. You still had not returned..

"So you thought it was very wise of you to come here at this hour? " , he raised his voice now.

Vaidehi was somehow getting scared of this Raaghav. But the fact was this wasn't even half of the volume that his voice could rise.

Only because it was his Vaidehi in front of him, he was involuntarily controlling himself.

"You ..didn't..even..have..your lunch.. Nor dinner.  , Vaidehi started stating with difficulty.

" Ooh... So you came here for this tiffin.." He said, now he was extremely close to her. He pulled the string of the tiffin box in order to throw it away.

He hated fake care. And he somehow felt that he was receiving the same fake care currently. The events ever since from the was not helping his state either.

"Kyu tum mere maslo mei dakhal de rahi ho ha.. " He shouted, his decibel increasing more as he pulled the tiffin in her hand in order to throw it away.

But..just then Vaidehi hugged him.

He was taken a back for sure.

It was there first hug after all.

The raging bull in him tried resisting but Vaidehi didn't give up. She clutched him even more strongly, as she closed her eyes.

Though Raaghav was trying to get out of her hold, but the truth was this was what he needed in that hour. A hug.

After few minutes Vaidehi found Raaghav relaxing and loosening up in her arms.

Yes! He relaxed in her.

He placed his head in the crook of her neck.

Vaidehi could feel his breath fanning of her neck, this made her clutch his shirt even more tightly.

They stayed like that. Minutes passed but nothing was said.

"I came here for you! ", she spoke in a utter soft voice, but in the deafening  silence, Raaghav heard it clearly.

He didn't move, he didn't bulge. He stayed as he was. Very close to Vaidehi. Still his head in the crook of her neck.

Suddenly, Vaidehi felt moist liquid touching her shoulder blades.

The fluid trailed down as more droplets made their place.

Her Raaghav was crying.

It pierced her heart. She quickly placed her one hand in Raaghav  bushy hair, caressing them softly. As she said soft nothings to him.

"Raaghav kya huwa.. Aap ro.. Aap ro kyu rahe hai?..

Please bataiye na hume...

Kuch huwa hai na..

Please share it with me...

Raaghav.. "

She continued calling out to him softly.

She gently bent down.

They both were now on the floor.

While Vaidehi was settled down. Raaghav hugged her waist, his arms around her, as his head layed in her lap.

His face was caressing her stomach, a bit.

But Vaidehi was not even a bit uncomfortable. It was as if her other half, her own self was crying with Raaghav.

She hated those tears, even though they were few, but she hated them.

She continued running her hand through his hair, calling out to him softly. But she somewhere knew that it was better for him to first get out all the things from his own self and then talk to her. So she waited.

After a while she heard Raaghav speak.

"They hate me Vaidehi! Just like everybody else. They hate me too. ", he whispered.

" Raaghav! Aisa kuch nahi hai.. "She coaxed.

" Aisa hi hai Vaidehi! Meine khud suna hai unse.. They hate me. Everyone hates me. Mana mei bura hu! Par itna jyada bura hu kya.. "He said muffling another sob.

Vaidehi ran her hand through his hair softly, as she said, " Aap bikul bure nahi hai Raaghav, in fact you are the best person I have ever met in my life. Please dont say that everyone hates you, because I don't.. I don't and neither can i think of hating you, Raaghav! "She said softly.

" You don't hate me now, but you'll also start hating me like others. I only deserve hate. But.. Why... Why.. What did I do to deserve all hate ha? "He questioned now with his head raised to face Vaidehi.

Vaidehi looked into his eyes that had tear droplets. She felt that pain that he had successfully hidden for God knows how many years.

She cupped his face by one hand as the other layed in his hair and softly said, " I can never even think of hating you Raaghav! You have no idea, what you have done for me. Before meeting you I was just existing. But after meeting you I began to live. I have been troubled by many, but you came as peace to my troubled soul. "

Her eyes directly staring into his, were radiating sincerity.

But currently both of them were not in the sane mind to decipher her words.

She placed her hand in between Raaghav hands that were winded around her waist, while her other hand laid in his hairs still caressing it, she again softly asked, " Will you please tell me what happened? "

Raaghav narrated her everything, except for the fact that Shantidhara was acquired as a return for their marriage.

He told her about the notice , about his visit to the orphanage, about how the children treated him, about the warden who was involved. He literally talked his heart out on the issue.

Vaidehi listened to him carefully. She never thought that Raaghav was so influenced by words.

She thought of the times when similarly like today, people might have said him things and he kept it up to himself, engrossing himself in work. She thought of all the times when he might have needed someone to share the little little things that mattered to him, and he had nobody to do so.

He was a lot like her, she thought.

Looking at Raaghav she promised, if it was the orphanage that made his eyes wet, then he'll have it. If it was for the hatred that he received from the children, then she'll convert it into love. She'll go to any extent for her Raaghav.

After a really long time she finally calmed Raaghav down. Making him wash his face, she quickly served the food that she had brought.

Raaghav was not in this full senses as he was quite disturbed.

Vaidehi fed him with her own hands.

Later she forced him to close his work and made him accompany her back home, as she drove the car.

______________ __________________ _________

They had returned back home. As both of them silently laid back on the bed, waiting for sleep to engulf.

Vaidehi felt asleep earlier, she was tired for the day for sure.

Raaghav on the other hand had sleep far away from his eyes. He was blankly staring at the ceiling. After lots of self arguments in his mind he finally turned towards Vaidehi. He needed her, her embrace.

He slowly placed his hands around her.

He was not a clingy man, damn he hated touches. But here, he was craving for hers.

Vaidehi in her sleep, turned facing him, and snuggled into his chest.

His heart beats rose for real.

His mind went numb.

But he didn't wanted to leave her, so he didn't.

After a while, he too felt asleep.

Both were sleeping peacefully in each other's embrace for the first time.

But the comfort that they felt was a whole another level.

_____________ _________________ ____________

~Next day~

Raaghav woke up early as usual.He had the best sleep. But he felt a light weight on his chest.

As he opened his eyes, the most serene face came into his view.

Vaidehi's head was laying on his chest, while their legs were tangled together.

His arms were securely holding her, as she slept laying more than half of her self onto him.

Looking at there position, heat started rising in him.

He wanted to do things to her,for sure.

Damn! He knew he needed a cold shower in the early hours of the dawn.

He softly placed Vaidehi on the bed, and got up, because he knew if he stayed there, in that position any longer, than Vaidehi would surely be pocked by his junior.

After getting up, he quickly moved to the washroom, letting the cold water to cascade down this sculpted body, his mind drifted to yesterday's events.

He was not someone who cries in front of anybody, but yesterday was different.

He somewhere was questioning his own self of why he did what he did.

But now the thing that was more important was, about the orphanage. He had to settle the matter quickly.

After a good long shower he retired for his morning business.

__________ ____________________ ____________

It was around 8:30 that Raaghav returned back to his room, after doing the pooja.

He went inside the closet and wore a neatly ironed suit, all ready for the day.

As he came out, he met Vaidehi.

She chirped a good morning to him, to which he just hummed, as he continued setting his hair.

Just then Vaidehi came near him, and pulling the sleeve of his coat, asked him to bend down to her level.

He was confused with her behavior for sure, nevertheless he did bend down a bit.

She quickly taking the chance, ruffled his well set hair.

"Vaidehi! " , he spoke reflexly.

"Yeh kya kiya, abhi set kiye the na, waise hi der horayi hai office ke liye! ", he said being irritated.

" Toh office kon ja raha hai aaj? "She questioned.

He just gave her a bored look.

" Aap office nahi ja rahe Raaghav! ", she said, rather commanded.

He looked at her for few second and then suddenly pulled her making her hands lay on his broad chest, as his own arm circled her waist, " Aur apko aisa kyu lagta hai biwi? "He asked huskily.

Vaidehi was taken aback by his action.

It wasn't the first time that he did this, nor was it the first time that they were this close, but everytime, her heart would race, when he is near. And that biwi that came out from his mouth did things to her.

" Woh.. Uh..

She tried saying, but words failed her.

"Aap office nahi ja rahe bus! " She said, as she pulled herself out of his hold.

"Meetings hai Vaidehi! " He said as a  statement.

"Nahi hai! I talked with Bhaskar. " She informed.

"You ..what? "

"Yes.. Koi meetings nahi hai, neither are you going to office, it's a holiday for you. " She chirped.

"Are you forgetting that i run a multinational company, Vaidehi. Company mei kaam bhi karna padta hai. Leave leave nahi khel sakte na! ", he said, again setting his hair.

" Kaal apne bohot kaam kar liye. Bhaskar ji ke shabdo mei kahe toh ek pure mahine ka kaam toh aapne ek din mei hi kar liya. So no excuses. You are taking a day off and coming with me. "She said with finality as she handled a bag to him.

" Tum Bhaskar se jyada batein nahi karne lagi ho? "He asked being irritated.

" Shut up and go and wear this. "She again commanded. She certainly looked like his wife he thought.

" Par kya hai yeh.. Jana kaha hai.. "

"Kitne sawal karte hai ap... Chaliye..

She said as she herself tried pushing him in  the closet.

" Arey.. Ha baba.. Ja raha.. Hu..

He said as he went inside .

_________ ______________________ __________

A bit late par, hope I did justice to the chapter! 🐣

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