Prologue
In the cosmos,
where stars are born
and extinguished,
hope weaves
its own constellations.
Dhruv and Tara,
their souls entangled
across lifetimes,
dance in stardust,
their love transcending
mortal boundaries.
They touch fingertips,
whispering promises
across the time.
Hope, like gravity,
pulls them together
an unseen force that defies entropy.
They seek each other
in the warmth of distant suns
a cosmic heartbeat
that echoes through eternity.
Love,
like the stars,
burns brighter in the darkness,
forever reaching toward infinity.
🌠
Dhruv's apartment
The night grew late, and the soft hum of the city outside began to quiet down. The room was bathed in dim, warm lighting, creating a serene and intimate atmosphere. Scented candles flickered softly on the shelves and the table, casting gentle shadows on the walls. The air was filled with the soothing aroma of lavender and lemon grass.
Tara returned to the couch, wearing Dhruv's shirt and a soft smile playing on her lips. The shirt was oversized on her, the sleeves falling past her hands and the hem reaching mid-thigh, giving her a cozy and endearing look. The linen was slightly worn, carrying a faint scent of Dhruv's cologne.
Dhruv's breath caught in his throat as he saw her, his heart pounding against his ribs. She looked so alluring, wrapped in his shirt. His heart swelled with love and possessiveness.
"Your ice cream," Dhruv said tenderly, placing the bowl in her hand.
"Got some cookies?" Tara asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Yes." Dhruv put a box of cookies on the table. As she stretched to reach out for the cookies, her thighs bared. His eyes wandered to her creamy legs, noticing the brown and pink scars. Scars. His eyebrows knit together, looking closely at her scars. Cigarette burns and some sharp cuts.
"Tara, who did this to you?" Dhruv asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Who did what?" Tara looked at her scars, trying to pull the shirt to cover them. Pratap. "It's old stuff, nothing to worry about."
"Those are cigarette burns, right? Who did this?" Dhruv's voice was gentle but insistent.
"It doesn't matter," Tara replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"How did I not see these scars in the bar?" Dhruv asked, his eyes searching hers.
"I was wearing tights. It feels like a second skin. Nobody can tell," Tara explained, her voice trembling slightly.
Dhruv leaned forward, his fingers gently tracing the scars on her right thigh. "You didn't do this to yourself, right?"
"Not the burns," Tara admitted, her eyes downcast.
"These cuts? You did them?" Dhruv's voice was soft.
"Not all but some. I just wanted to feel something," Tara confessed, her voice breaking.
"Must've been painful," Dhruv said, his heart aching for her.
"Keeps your mind occupied," Tara replied dryly.
"Promise me, you will never hurt yourself again," Dhruv said in a firm yet tender voice.
"I don't see the need to," Tara said, her eyes meeting his.
Dhruv's heart ached as he looked into Tara's eyes, seeing the pain she had endured. He gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You deserve so much better, Tara. You deserve happiness and peace."
Tara leaned into his touch, her eyes closing briefly. "We belong together, right?"
Dhruv smiled softly, his eyes filled with determination. "Yes. We're in this together. You're not alone anymore."
Tara nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. "We're together," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
Dhruv pulled her into a gentle embrace, holding her close. "And I'm grateful for you, Tara. We'll face everything together."
"We will." She smiled. "What's your idea of a dream vacation?"
"A cozy cabin in the mountains with a beautiful view and lots of hiking trails. What about you?" Dhruv replied, his smile reflecting the warmth in his heart.
"A beachside, mountains, forest, anything that's close to nature," Tara said, smiling.
"Nature heals. It really feels rejuvenating."
Tara looked into his eyes, her gaze soft and inviting. "Wanna get lost in the forest again?"
Dhruv chuckled, his heart swelling with affection. "As long as there are no people with guns, I'm going."
Tara giggled, her laughter like music to his ears. "I'll keep you safe, don't worry."
Dhruv's expression turned serious, yet tender. "I know. It's interesting how we both save lives, but our ways are so different."
Tara nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "That's what makes it better, I guess. It keeps things interesting."
"Indeed," Dhruv agreed, his voice softening. "Tara, can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"I noticed you haven't been saying my name. Any reason?" He asked, his eyes searching hers.
Tara blushed, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt. "I want to call you my love, mi amore. Something like that, but since we didn't discuss it before, I just didn't say it."
Dhruv smiled, his heart melting. "You can call me Dhruv."
"No. My Nani said girls are not supposed to call their husbands by name," Tara explained.
Dhruv chuckled. "That was a different era. And we're not married yet."
Tara's eyes twinkled with mischief. "We are, in my head, but that's for another day. What should I call you? My love, honey, sweetheart, baby, anything else?"
Dhruv sighed. "Think of something better, you can do it."
Tara tapped her fingers together, deep in thought. "Mi rey! It means my king in Spanish and sounds like my ray, like the Northern Star is the brightest in the sky. For a moment I forgot puns are my thing."
"Mi rey." Dhruv's smile broadened, his heart swelling with love. "Sounds perfect, mi Estrella."
Tara's eyes sparkled with delight. "Tu hablas Espanol?"
Dhruv laughed, putting his phone aside. "No, I just looked it up."
"Ah, ok. I love it. You can call me anything you like, I'm cool with it," Tara said, her voice filled with affection. "And while we are at it, what are we? I don't want to call you my boyfriend because I don't prefer that term. It doesn't have the gravitas."
"We're soulmates, right?"
Tara smiled, "I thought you didn't believe in soulmates."
"I believe in you." Dhruv cupped her cheek.
"How about lovers?" She asked.
"Sounds good to me," Dhruv replied, his smile tender as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.
🌠⋋✿ ⁰ • ⁰ ✿⋌🌌
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