Sometimes God hurts us not to destroy us, but to show us He never was our enemy.
Sarthak never cheated on me.
But God made me believe that he did — just to let me feel how I once broke him five years ago.
And now I finally understand.
---
I still remember when I was in twelfth grade.
Every day Sarthak came to drop and pick us up from school. At that time, he was doing his master's in college. He always looked so cold… so rude… so distant. Like his heart had been locked away somewhere no one could reach.
But once… only once… I saw a different side of him.
He was sitting in the garden, holding a little baby girl in his arms, playing with her tiny fingers, whispering to her with the softest smile on his face. He looked like a completely different man. Like someone who wasn't made of anger… but gentleness.
It melted something inside me.
Later, the first time I went to his old house, I saw so many pictures of him smiling — real smiles, bright as sunlight. It shocked me.
I asked Manya quietly,
"Why doesn't he smile like this anymore?"
Manya broke down in tears.
"Since our parents died…" she sobbed, "he never let me feel that we didn't have a mother or father anymore. He became everything for me — my dad, my mom, my big brother, my protector."
She wiped her tears but they didn't stop.
"He learned cooking for me… made new hairstyles for me… taught me sports… fought with kids who hurt me… He was just a child himself, only thirteen… and yet he carried the weight of a whole family alone."
Her voice trembled.
"The world hurt him so badly that one day… he forgot how to smile. He forgot how to love. Everything inside him died except me. I will never let him get hurt… because he never cried so that I could grow strong."
Her tears hurt me more than her words.
That was when I understood.
Behind his coldness lived a child who was still waiting to be loved.
And that day… I fell for him completely.
Not as Sarthak the powerful man.
But Sarthak the broken boy.
---
Today when I look at him sleeping beside me… my heart beats in peace again.
From today, no one will tear us apart. Not fate. Not pain. Not even our past.
It's been a week since I came back home.
We haven't kissed much.
We haven't rushed anything.
We just… hold each other.
Sleep beside each other.
Feel each other's warmth.
Every night before sleeping, his soft lips touch my forehead.
And I've learned something:
Love is not physical.
Love is feeling safe.
Love is crying together.
Love is silence that doesn't hurt.
Love is warmth when the world freezes.
This… is love.
---
I had to wake up now.
I am a professor, not a student anymore — and being late could literally get me fired.
I got up, went to the bathroom to freshen up, and rushed downstairs.
Everyone was already at breakfast.
Aarne and Abhinav were there with their little son Vihaan.
Uncle and Anvi were chatting softly.
Jai sat quietly with tea in his hand.
Manya was laughing.
Her baby had been aborted… to save her life.
It still hurt knowing that.
But seeing her smile again… gave my heart relief.
Then Sarthak came downstairs, wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissed my cheek lightly, and held my hand as we walked to the table.
We drank tea together.
Laughed softly.
Then we all left for work.
---
Later at lunch, I sat with my colleagues.
Suddenly my phone rang.
Sarthak.
The teasing started immediately.
"Madam… lover boy is calling!"
I smiled shyly and answered.
And today… I finally told everyone.
"I'm pregnant."
The room exploded in joy.
They congratulated me like I had just won something beautiful.
Everyone prayed for a healthy baby.
Some wished for a daughter.
And my heart felt… full.
---
That evening when I reached home…
Grandpa rushed towards me and hugged me tightly.
"I'M GOING TO BE GRANDPA… GRANDPA!" he shouted happily.
"You both should marry now! Turn around!"
Confused, I turned.
And there…
was Sarthak.
On his knees.
Smiling the same smile as in his childhood photographs — bright like sunshine.
My heart melted instantly.
He looked at me and said,
"When my parents died… I thought no one would ever love me the way they did. Unconditionally."
His voice cracked.
"But you… you loved me when I had nothing but pain.
You loved my soul — not my money… because you had your own world."
He smiled softly.
"I loved you when you were sixteen… an unbothered little girl.
And you loved me when you were eighteen… when I was already broken."
His eyes filled.
"When I was crying… you hugged me and said, 'Don't cry. Be strong.'
That day… I fell in love with you forever."
Tears streamed down my face.
"I don't want a perfect life.
I just want a peaceful one… with you."
Then —
"Will you marry me?"
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't think.
I just shouted —
"I WILL MARRY YOU!"
He slid the ring onto my finger in a hurry and hugged me tightly.
That night…
was the most beautiful night of my life.