Shreya Arrives

The morning light came through the curtains of Surya's room as he sat at his desk, he was designing the blueprint for the next batch of weapons.

Just as he was finishing the barrel design for the next rifle, a soft knock came at the door. He barely had time to react when the door creaked open, and young girl came inside. She was the daughter of the Anand Verma and his his fiancee, Shreya Verma.

She was a sight unlike anything he had expected. Dressed in Western clothes—a crisp blouse and a knee-length skirt. Her fair white skin, long legs, which added to her tall and commanding figure, made her look even more mature than her eighteen years. Her charming face, though beautiful, was drawn with grief.

Surya stood up, startled but trying to gather himself. "Shreya," he said, voice soft. "I didn't know, when you'd arrived."

Shreya gave a small nod, her eyes slightly puffy from what was undoubtedly hours of crying. "I came back as soon as I heard... about Baba (father)."

Her voice broke slightly at the mention of her father, and Surya's heart clenched. To know, she had been in America, far away when the tragedy struck. He couldn't imagine how devastating it must have been for her to return home, knowing her father was gone.

She walked over to his desk and glanced at the papers spread out in front of him—drawings of rifles, pistols, and ammunition. "What are you doing?" she said, her voice trembling. "Even with everything going on."

Surya sighed, stepping forward. "I have to. If we stop now, everything Uncle Verma fought for will be for nothing. I owe it to him to keep going." He hesitated before meeting her gaze, said.

"Do you want to sit?"

Shreya nodded and sat down on the bed beside him, her eyes looking his face as if searching for answers. "How did he die, Surya?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "I need to know the truth. No one will tell me what really happened."

Surya inhaled deeply, unsure how to start. He knew that the truth would only deepen her sorrow, but she deserved to know. "It was an execution," he began, his voice low. "Your father was caught during one of our raids. The British... they didn't give him a trial. They called him a traitor and sentenced him to death."

Shreya's face paled as Surya continued.

"He was brave, Shreya. He didn't flinch. Even in his final moments, he stood tall. They executed him publicly, to send a message to us." His voice faltered for a moment. "It won't break us."

Shreya listened in stunned silence, her fingers trembling in her lap. Tears welled in her eyes as the of his words heard in. She had always known her father was a brave man, but hearing the details of his execution shattered her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was filled with the quiet sobs.

Suddenly, Shreya stood and walked to the side of Surya, her steps quiet but purposeful. She sat down beside him on the floor, her body trembling as she tried to keep her composure. Then, in a simple gesture, she leaned her head on his shoulder, her head pressing heavily against him.

"I wasn't there," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I wasn't there to say goodbye."

Surya's heart ached as he placed a gentle hand on her back. "He knew you loved him," Surya said softly. "He was proud of you. That never changed."

Shreya's body shook as her tears began to fall, quietly at first, then uncontrollably. She wept deeply, her sobs rubbed against his shoulder. Surya stayed still, letting her cry, feeling her pain in his own heart. The girl who had once been so full of life and dreams was now in sorrow.

For a long time, they sat like that, her head resting against him, her tears soaking into his shirt. There were no words he could offer to ease her grief. There was nothing to say that could undo what had happened. All he could do was be there, to let her know she wasn't alone.

After what felt like an eternity, her sobs quieted, and she pulled away slightly, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "For telling me."

Surya nodded. "You needed to know."

They sat in silence for a while longer.

As the hours passed, the room remained silent save for the occasional rustling of paper as the breeze moved through the open window. Shreya's quiet sobs had faded, and now she lay fast asleep on Surya's shoulder, her breathing soft and steady.

Surya glanced down at her peaceful face, her chest gently rising and falling. She looked vulnerable in her sleep. Her dark hair had fallen slightly across her face, and without thinking, Surya reached up and gently brushed it aside. His hand lingered for a moment, caressing her hair softly, as he realized just how exhausted she must have been.

He could have moved, could have gently nudged her awake or made an excuse, but he didn't. Surya knew she had just returned from a long journey, physically and emotionally drained from her loss. She needed this rest. And so, he sat still, letting her remain where she was, content to provide whatever small comfort he could.

For hours, he simply watched the light shift in the room, his own thoughts drifting between their childhood memories and the heavy responsibilities.

They had once been close—children playing in the courtyard, carefree and unaware of the burdens that awaited them. But now, as adults, things were different. The responsibility had hung heavily between them.

But there was something else, too. Shreya wasn't just his childhood friend. She was his fiancée. The promise of their family and they had been made years ago, when they were still too young to fully understand what it meant. Now, sitting here with her asleep on his shoulder, that promise felt more complicated than ever. They had both grown, both changed.

Time passed, though Surya barely noticed until he felt Shreya stir beside him. She shifted slightly, then her eyes slowly blinked open, taking a moment to adjust to the light. For a second, she seemed confused, her body still heavy with sleep. But when she realized she had been sleeping on his shoulder, her body stiffened in surprise.

Shreya quickly sat up, her eyes wide as she glanced around the room, then at Surya. "I—" she began, but her voice faltered. She looked at him, uncertain how to respond. Although they had played together as children, the fact that she had fallen asleep on his shoulder now, as adults, felt awkward and strange.

Surya gave her a gentle smile, his voice soft. "It's alright, Shreya. You were tired. You needed the rest."

She blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as she looked down at her lap, still feeling the warmth of where her head had rested. "I didn't mean to... I didn't even realize," she murmured, clearly flustered. The surrounding had suddenly become stiff.

Though they were fiancées, it wasn't something they often spoke of. Their relationship had always been tied to family expectations, to duty. But now, sitting so close to him, Shreya felt the something different and it unsettled her.

Surya, sensing her discomfort, reached out and placed a hand on hers, the gesture both familiar and calming. "It's okay," he said again, his tone reassuring. "We've been through a lot, and there's more to come. You don't have to apologize for anything."

Shreya looked at him, her eyes softening at his words. He had always been this way—steady, dependable. Even now, with everything happening around them, the one person she knew she could rely on.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again, her voice smaller now. "It's just... everything feels different. We're not kids anymore."

Surya nodded slowly, his eyes holding hers. "No, we're not. But that doesn't mean we have to pretend like we don't know each other anymore."

Shreya's gaze faltered for a moment before she nodded in agreement. "You're right. It's just hard sometimes... knowing what's expected of us."

Surya's expression softened, his voice quiet but firm. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Just like we always have."

For a moment, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, replaced by a quiet understanding between them.

She extended her hand and hugged the waist of Surya and placed her head on chest tightly.

Surya didn't expect her to be like this. He raised his hand slightly and rubbed against her back while comforting her.

[A/N : Did you enjoyed the chapter?]

[Please, if you have anything to add in this you can comment down.]

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