chapter 1 my sweetheart can never leave

POV: Narrator

The grand mansion of the Deshrath family was alive with commotion. Adithya Deshrath, the formidable patriarch, stood tall among the throng of relatives gathered in the sprawling hall. The air was thick with anticipation, the hushed whispers of family members growing louder with each passing moment. The Deshrath name carried immense prestige, and tonight, everyone awaited the arrival of the next heir—or so they hoped.

The heavy teak doors to Sita's room remained closed as muffled cries echoed from within. Inside, Sita, dressed in a pale pink saree now stained with sweat, clutched the sheets tightly. Her soft, exhausted voice broke through the rhythmic encouragement of the midwife. "Adi ji…" she whispered, her voice frail but determined, "Is he…is Adi ji outside?"

"He is waiting, madam," the midwife reassured her, patting her forehead with a damp cloth.

Outside, Adithya paced near the doorway, his expression stoic, though his heart pounded in his chest. His carefully crafted facade of arrogance cracked for a moment when he heard Sita cry out again.

"How much longer?" he growled at the attending doctor.

"Sir, it’s progressing well. Just a little more patience."

Patience was not Adithya's virtue, but for Sita, he would wait an eternity.

POV: Adithya

The wails of a newborn shattered the tension. My heart skipped a beat. The door creaked open, and the midwife stepped out, a bundle wrapped in white cloth nestled in her arms.

"Congratulations, sir," she said hesitantly, her tone betraying the news she bore. "It’s a girl."

For a moment, the room fell silent. I heard a disappointed sigh from one of my distant aunts. My mother clicked her tongue in disapproval. "A girl? A Deshrath girl? What a shame…"

I shot them a glare so sharp that it silenced every murmur. Walking forward, I held out my arms. "Give her to me."

The midwife hesitated, perhaps expecting me to turn away. But as the warm, tiny weight of my daughter filled my arms, I felt something I hadn’t expected—an overwhelming surge of love.

I stared at the little face peeking out from the swaddle, her rosy cheeks and tightly shut eyes. My Ruhi.

"Adi…" Sita’s weak voice drew my attention. I turned to find her propped up on the bed,her saree disheveled,her face pale but her eyes sparkling with exhaustion and relief.

I moved to her side, carefully placing our daughter in her arms. "She’s perfect, sweetheart," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You’ve given me the greatest gift."

Tears welled in her eyes. "But…but everyone wanted a son," she murmured.

"I don't F***ing care about anyone but you sweetheart ," I said firmly, my voice low but steady. I tilted her chin up so she would meet my eyes. "You’ve given me a daughter. A daughter who will carry your kindness and grace. She is everything I need. Both of you are."

POV: Narrator

Relatives exchanged awkward glances, their initial disappointment replaced with unease under Adithya’s piercing glare. No one dared to comment further, not even his domineering mother.

The room grew quieter as Adithya sat beside Sita, his demeanor softening as he cradled both his wife and child in his arms. For a man known for his ruthlessness, his tenderness was startling.

"Sir," his loyal butler intervened cautiously, "the guests are still waiting downstairs."

"They can wait," Adithya snapped, not even sparing a glance. His attention was solely on Sita and Ruhi.

Sita’s fingers gently touched his arm. "Adi ji, don’t be angry. They’re family…"

"Family doesn’t judge the worth of a child by their gender," he replied coldly, before his voice softened. "I won’t let anyone—anyone—make you or Ruhi feel like you’re not enough."

Later that evening, when most of the relatives had reluctantly departed, Adithya sat by the crib where Ruhi slept peacefully. Sita lay resting on the bed, her features serene in the dim glow of the bedside lamp.

Adithya leaned closer to Ruhi, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You’ve bound your mother to me forever, little one," he murmured. "Now she can never leave."

In his heart, he knew this wasn’t entirely true. Sita’s devotion to him had always been unwavering, but the fear of losing her had haunted him since the day they married. Ruhi’s arrival felt like a divine bond—a promise that Sita would always remain by his side.

POV: Narrator

As the night deepened, Adithya’s protectiveness swelled within him. While the world outside might judge, criticize, and question, inside these walls, Sita and Ruhi were his sanctuary. And he would destroy anyone who dared disrupt the fragile peace they had created.

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