47."Good Night"

As Bheeshma and I sat there talking, the girls came back from the washroom. Seeing us deep in conversation and smiling, Ammu asked, "Krishna, did we miss something?"

Waving my hand dismissively, I replied, "It's nothing." They nodded, accepting my answer, and we completed some necessary medical formalities. After ensuring everything was in order, I decided it was time to head back home. Bheeshma and Chitra chose to stay a little longer with Mr. Bheeshma, their concern evident in their eyes.

We exchanged goodbyes giving them a reassuring nod.

Anu, Ammu, and I made our way out of the hospital. The evening air was cool, a slight breeze rustling the trees as we walked to the car. The hospital lights cast a soft glow, creating a serene atmosphere despite the day's tension.

As we settled inside the car, I started the engine and began the drive to Ammu's house. The city lights flickered outside, a blur of colors against the darkening sky.

After driving for a while, we finally reached Ammu's house. As I stopped the car, Ammu got down, and I followed her. Looking at her, I smiled warmly and said, "See you tomorrow then."

Ammu returned the smile, her eyes twinkling. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

We hugged each other tightly, the comfort of the embrace soothing the day's stress. I gently patted her head and kissed her forehead, feeling the warmth of our bond. We stood there for a minute, holding each other, letting the silence speak the words we didn't need to say.

"Goodbye then," I said softly.

Ammu nodded, her eyes filled with affection, and she turned to go inside her house. I watched her until the door closed behind her, then sighed contentedly and got back into the car.

As I started the car and began driving towards Anu's house, she hugged my arm, her head resting on my shoulder. I glanced at her, a smile tugging at my lips. Her presence was a comforting anchor in the turbulent sea of our lives.

"Krishna," Anu murmured, her voice soft and full of emotion. "I'm glad you're here with me."

I squeezed her hand gently. "I wouldn't be anywhere else, Anu."

The drive to her house was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence, filled with the unspoken understanding that we were in this together. The streetlights cast a soft glow on the road, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

But before we reached Anu's house, I stopped the car. Seeing this, Anu asked, "What happened, Krishna?"

I pointed at the ice cream shop a little way down the street and said, "Want to eat some ice cream?"

Hearing this, Anu's eyes lit up. Ice cream and chocolate were her favorites, after all. I parked the car on the roadside, and just as Anu was about to get out, I stopped her. "Anu, wait a minute."

Anu looked puzzled but stopped. I quickly got out of the car and walked around to her side. Opening the door for her, I extended my hand and said with a smile, "Please, my lady."

Anu smiled sweetly, taking my hand as she got out of the car. I closed the door, locked the car, and we started walking toward the ice cream shop. The night air was cool and refreshing, filled with the subtle hum of the city winding down.

As we walked, Anu clung to my arm, her warmth a comforting presence. "You always know how to make everything better," she said softly.

I smiled, squeezing her hand gently. "It's the little moments that matter the most."

We reached the ice cream shop, its warm lights inviting us in. The shop had a charming, old-world feel to it, with vintage decor and the sweet scent of freshly made waffle cones. We approached the counter, and Anu's eyes scanned the array of flavors with childlike excitement.

"What will it be?" I asked, watching her with amusement.

"Hmm... definitely chocolate and maybe some strawberry," she decided after a moment of contemplation.

I nodded and placed our order, getting myself a scoop of vanilla and choco chip.

We found a cozy corner to sit, and as we savored our ice cream, the events of the day seemed to melt away, replaced by the simple joy of being together. We spent some time there, talking and laughing, enjoying each other's company.

As we finished our ice cream, we decided to head back. Stepping out of the ice cream shop, we started to walk toward the car in a comfortable silence. The night was peaceful, the air crisp and cool, with only the distant hum of the city as background noise.

As we approached the car, I suddenly stopped. Seeing this, Anu looked at me with concern and asked, "Krishna, what happened?"

Hearing this, I looked at her with eyes full of affection and nervously said, "Anu, you are my girlfriend, but for the past few days, I haven't given you much time. I also messed up some things. You wanted to go to your friend's wedding with me alone, but I messed that up. And then there's Ammu and Raji's situation, but you know I can't leave them. I know that hurt your feelings."

As I said this, I looked at Anu, who was just staring at me, tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing this, my heart ached. I slowly approached her and gently hugged her, feeling her tremble slightly in my arms.

"Anu, are you angry?" I asked softly, my voice filled with concern.

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she buried her face into my shoulder, her tears dampening my shirt. I held her tighter, my heart breaking at the thought of causing her pain.

Anu punched my stomach and said, crying, "Of course I'm angry, you idiot! You always mess things up, and you're busy with your things, adding new girls into your life. I am so angry!" Saying that, she hugged me tightly.

Hearing her words, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I knew she was right, but I couldn't abandon Ammu and Raji. I needed to handle the situation in front of me. I slowly cupped Anu's cheeks, looking into her eyes, gently wiping away her tears. Then, I touched my forehead to hers, and we closed our eyes. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

I leaned in and gently kissed her lips. The kiss was soft, filled with unspoken apologies and promises. We stayed like that for a minute, savoring the connection. When we finally separated, I saw a mix of emotions in her eyes—anger, hurt, but also love and hope.

"I know I've made mistakes," I said softly, my voice trembling with sincerity. "And I know it's been hard on you."

I touched my forehead to hers again and said gently, "Anu, you're beautiful—not just in how you look but in who you are. Your lips are gentle, not just in how you speak but in the things you say that I love. Your eyes shine, not just with the light of a thousand stars but with honesty and kindness. What do the stars have compared to you? You're like a pearl in an endless ocean. Yes, Anu, you are that, and I love you."

Hearing this, Anu's tears flowed even more freely, but she smiled through them. "I love you too, Krishna," she said softly.

We opened our eyes, and I smiled at her. "Now, don't cry. If Viswanath Uncle sees your crying face, he'll definitely kill me, okay?"

She laughed a little, wiping her eyes. "You're right. I don't want to explain why I've been crying over ice cream."

I chuckled and held her close for a moment longer, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. The connection between us felt stronger than ever.

Hearing this, I smiled and opened the car door for her. Anu slid into the passenger seat, and I walked around to the driver's side, settling in and starting the engine. The car hummed to life as I began driving towards Anu's house.

Anu and Raji had been my childhood friends for as long as I could remember. Raji was the more understanding of the two; she could sense my thoughts and feelings without me having to say a word. Anu, on the other hand, was more emotional. She often kept her anger or hurt hidden behind a serene expression, making it hard to gauge her true feelings.

As we drove, the silence between us was comfortable, filled with the shared memories of our years together. The streets were quiet, and the soft glow of the streetlights bathed the road in a gentle light. I glanced over at Anu, her profile illuminated in the dim light, and felt a surge of affection for her.

After driving for a while, we finally reached Anu's house. I parked the car and got out, walking around to open the door for her. She stepped out, and we stood there for a moment, under the canopy of stars, the night air cool and refreshing.

"Thank you for tonight," Anu said softly, looking up at me with those eyes that always seemed to hold so much emotion.

I smiled, pulling her into a gentle hug. "No, thank you. For everything."

We stood there, holding each other, the world around us fading into the background. After a moment, Anu pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "Krishna, I know things have been complicated, but I trust you."

I promised, my voice firm with determination. "I'll make sure to balance everything better from now on."

She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I believe you."

We hugged each other tightly one last time before she started to walk towards the house. I watched her go, feeling a mix of emotions—love, determination, and a bit of regret for not realizing sooner how much my actions had affected her.

Just as she reached the door, Anu turned back, her expression soft. "Goodnight, Krishna."

"Goodnight, Anu," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

But just as Anu was about to go inside, Viswanath Uncle came out. Seeing the bags in Anu's hands, he asked, "What is this?"

Smiling, I replied, "There is this thing called shopping, you know."

He laughed, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Aren't you coming inside?"

Waving my hand dismissively, I said, "No, it's already late. I should head back."

Viswanath Uncle nodded approvingly, "Good."

Anu looked at him, puzzled. Trying to explain, he quickly added, "I mean, it's already late, right, Krishna?"

I chuckled and said, "Yes, yes. Exactly."

After that, I said goodbye to both of them and got back into my car. As I started the engine and began driving towards my house, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. Despite the ups and downs of the day, it ended on a good note.

The drive home was peaceful. The night air was cool, and the streets were calm, giving me time to reflect on everything that had happened.

When I finally reached home, I parked the car and sat for a moment, taking in the stillness of the night. It had been a long day, but a fulfilling one. I knew I had work to do to balance everything better.

As I entered the house, I saw that Bheeshma had already returned. Raji was helping Mother with her work in the kitchen. I spent some time chatting with Bheeshma and Papa, catching up on the events of the day. The conversation was light and comforting, a perfect way to unwind after everything that had happened.

Soon, it was time for dinner. We gathered around the table, enjoying the meal together. The warmth of family and the shared laughter made the meal all the more special. After dinner, we moved to the living room, continuing our conversation.

As the night grew late, we decided to head to our rooms. Raji and I lay down on the bed, and she hugged me tightly. I gently patted her head and told her about my conversation with Anu.

Hearing this, Raji said softly, "She's right, you know."

I smiled and replied, "Yeah, I know. And I'll do my best to make you all happy."

Raji's face lit up with a smile, and she said, "I love you, Krishna."

"I love you too, Raji," I responded, feeling the depth of my affection for her. I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Good night," I whispered.

"Good night," Raji replied, her voice soft and content.

With that, we both drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth and comfort. The night was peaceful, and as I held Raji close, I felt a sense of completeness. The challenges of the day seemed distant, and all that mattered was the love and connection we shared.

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