{Eclipsed Series #1}
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Eclipsed Ardent Affection~The Tragedy In The Sands Of Chronicles
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I lost consciousness momentarily and then saw a woman with her back to me, holding...
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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Year 1870 सन् 1870 सन्१८७० •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• SHAMSHER GARH:-
The three days since the battle had passed in a blur. My body had healed from the wounds, though a lingering ache and weakness remained, gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. Yet, it was nothing compared to the storm of thoughts whirling inside my head. The memories of the kidnapping, the searing tension between Yuvraj and me, and the echo of our last confrontation all played on an endless loop. I could still feel the weight of it, like a shadow I couldn't shake off.
Yuvraj had not left my side once during these three days. He hovered around me like a protective shield, tending to me with a tenderness that belied his own injuries. Though he had been gravely wounded himself, he neglected his own pain, focusing entirely on me. Somehow, despite his stubbornness, I managed to ensure his wounds were treated before mine. It was a small victory, but it brought me some comfort. He wouldn't have let me live it down if his health had worsened because of me.
Today, for the first time, the physician allowed me to leave my bed. Fresh air would do me good, he said, after being confined to the room for so long. I wandered into the palace gardens, the soft rustling of the leaves and the scent of flowers doing little to calm my restless thoughts. I felt like I was trapped in a haze, walking aimlessly while every painful memory resurfaced. Every moment of fear, every flash of Yuvraj's anguished face, played over and over in my mind.
I didn't hear anyone approach.
Suddenly, a firm hand covered my mouth from behind, and my heart nearly stopped. My eyes flew open in terror, and I instinctively tried to scream. But before the sound could leave my throat, I heard a voice - low, familiar, and soothing in its command.
"शांतहोजाइए, नंदनी। हमहीहैं।"
(Calm down, Nandani. It's me.)
It was Yuvraj. Relief and anger surged through me in equal measure. I signaled for him to remove his hand, and he did so slowly, with deliberate care. The moment I was free, I whirled around and began hitting him with my fists, my fear pouring out in each blow.
"How dare you scare me like that!? Do you have any idea what you've done? I thought... I thought I was being kidnapped again!"
My voice cracked, and I was trembling. But Yuvraj...he just stood there, utterly unfazed. He didn't flinch, didn't back away, not even when my fists landed against his chest. He simply watched me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, his eyes never leaving mine.
