The touch of Alisha's hand on his uninjured one sent a jolt through Aniket, a welcome reprieve from the internal storm raging within. He allowed himself to be led, his steps heavy with exhaustion and a newfound vulnerability.

Alisha's touch was a balm on Aniket's battered soul. She led him by his uninjured hand, her eyes holding a quiet strength that mirrored the storm he'd just weathered. In the hushed stillness of the mansion, the silence spoke volumes, a conversation carried on whispers and stolen glances.

In the dimly lit room, the silence stretched, punctuated only by the soft rustle of fabric as Alisha cleaned his wounds. Her touch, gentle yet firm, was a balm on his battered body and soul. He flinched at the sting of antiseptic, but her unwavering gaze kept him still, a silent acknowledgment of the pain he'd inflicted on both Rohan and himself.

Despite Aniket's initial protests, Alisha tended to his wounds with a practiced gentleness. Each swipe of disinfectant, each careful bandage, was a silent rebuke, a reminder of the price he'd paid for his vengeance. Yet, buried beneath the sting of antiseptic was a tenderness that soothed the raw edges of his guilt.

He winced as she cleaned a particularly nasty gash on his arm, the hiss of his breath echoing in the room. "itni jyada chinta na karein alisha ji ," he grumbled, more to himself than to her.

Alisha arched an eyebrow, her lips curving in a ghost of a smile. "Kisi ko toh karni padegi na ap toh karne se rehe ," she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Hum rehne dete agar apko kal phir khoon ki holi khelne jani hai toh ."

The tension in Aniket's shoulders eased a fraction. He wasn't used to such quiet defiance, especially not from someone he'd just protected with such ferocity. Alisha, it seemed, couldn't be easily cowed.

The clock ticked by, each chime a beat in the rhythm of their unspoken conversation. Finally, Alisha finished her ministrations, her hands hovering over his bandaged arm for a moment longer. "Bhook lagi hai ?" she asked, her voice soft.

Aniket blinked, surprised. The question hung in the air, unexpected but welcome. He realized he hadn't thought of food, not since the first wave of rage had washed over him. Now, with the dust settling and his adrenaline waning, a hollow ache pulsed in his stomach.

He nodded, the gesture hesitant."  Haa ," he mumbled, feeling oddly shy.

Alisha smiled, a genuine one this time, lighting up her face. "Chaliye phir ," she said, leading him towards the kitchen. "Dekte hai ki apke liye kya banaya ja sakta hai."

As they walked, the silence between them felt different. It wasn't the heavy silence of aftermath, but the comfortable quiet of shared understanding. Aniket wasn't sure what the future held, what consequences awaited him, but in Alisha's eyes, he saw a flicker of something new, something hopeful. Perhaps, in the crucible of his violence, something had been forged between them, a bond born from shared pain and unspoken gratitude.

Twenty minutes ticked by, each laden with the weight of unshed tears and unspoken apologies. Alisha flitted around the kitchen, a silent alchemist conjuring comfort from flour, cheese, and turmeric. The aroma of toasted bread and melted cheddar rose like a fragrant prayer, a balm to the raw edges of the night's events. On the counter, two steaming mugs of haldi doodh awaited, their golden glow a beacon in the hushed house.

Aniket watched from the doorway, his face a canvas of exhaustion etched with the stark lines of regret. His gaze snagged on the milk, a tremor of distaste twisting his features. "I... I don't think I can handle milk right now," he mumbled, the words sandpaper against his raw throat.

Alisha didn't turn, but her movements stilled for a heartbeat, the silence heavy with unspoken understanding. Then, with a slow deliberation, she faced him, her eyes locked on his with an unwavering intensity. "The haldi," she said, her voice a low, rhythmic hum, "it helps with the wounds, both inside and out."

Aniket's gaze darted away, guilt twisting in his gut like a swallowed stone. He knew the truth of her words, the antiseptic properties of turmeric a balm for the raw knuckles and aching muscles. But the milk, with its earthy, slightly bitter taste, felt like a harsh reminder of his own bitter deeds.

"Hum nahi pi rehe yeah doodh "

"Aniket ji bacchon wali harkatein na karein shanti se chup chap pi lijiye"

Aniket's eyes darted away, unable to meet the weight of her gaze. . Alisha took a mug, the porcelain warm against her palm, and brought it to her lips, her gaze unwavering. A beat of silence stretched, thick with tension, before Aniket, with a hand that shook ever so slightly, reached for the other mug.

The first sip was a bitter pill. The turmeric, usually a comforting warmth, tasted like ash on his tongue, a stark reminder of the violence he'd unleashed. He winced, the grimace etched on his face a mirror of the turmoil within. But Alisha, watching with eyes that held both understanding and a sliver of challenge, didn't flinch. She sipped again, the rhythm of her swallowing a metronome keeping time with the pounding of his heart.

He tried again, forcing the golden liquid past the bitter lump in his throat. The warmth spread, a slow unfurling of comfort that eased the clenched muscles of his jaw. He looked up at Alisha, his eyes searching for absolution, for forgiveness he didn't deserve. But she simply met his gaze, a silent acknowledgment that the path to healing began with confronting the bitterness, both literal and metaphorical.

The milk grew colder, the silence more comfortable. In the shared space between the mugs, a fragile truce was forged. Words, heavy and laden with guilt, remained unspoken, but the language of shared discomfort, of the silent acknowledgment of their wounds, spoke volumes. The night stretched ahead, uncertain but not hopeless. For in the shared bitterness of haldi doodh, a flicker of understanding, of connection, had been born. And perhaps, just perhaps, that was enough for now.

Aniket and Alisha finished their midnight snack and moved towards Aniket's room. Alisha asked him to change and rest, and informed him that she would return with some medicine. Aniket nodded his head, though he didn't want to have the medicine. When Alisha left, he prepared a plan in his head. He decided that he would pretend to be asleep, which would lead Alisha to think that he was asleep.

The room was dark, save for the faint glow of the moonlight streaming in through the window. The only sound was the soft ticking of the clock on the bedside table.

Aniket lay in bed, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He pretended to be asleep, but his mind was racing. He thought about Alisha, her words, and what they meant.

Alisha stood at the foot of the bed, her fingers gently stroking Aniket's hair. She smiled sadly.

"Hume nahi pata ap humare itna khayal kyun rakte hein," she whispered. "Hume yeah bhi nahi pata apko humari itni chinta kyu hai. Par apki yeah fikr aur yeah niswaarth bhav ko dekh maan ke ek kone mein khushi milti hai ki kisi ko toh humari parwaah hai."

She paused, her eyes shining with tears. "Hum nahi jante apka aur humara rishta kya hai," she continued. "Par hum itna jante hai ki jo bhi hai woh magical hai."

Alisha didn't know that Aniket had heard what she said. When she left the room, he opened his eyes and commented, "Hum jante hai Alisha ji ki apko abhi kuch samjh nahi aa reha hoga, na humare baare mein na humare rishte ke baare mein. Hum toh taiyar hai apka intezaar karne ke liye. I will be waiting for you till eternity."

Aniket closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. But he was also filled with a sense of hope. He had heard Alisha's words, and he knew that she was beginning to understand him. He was willing to wait for her, for as long as it took.

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Hello pretty people ❤
here is an another update though its short but i hope you guys enjoy it 💫🙈