ANSH

"Devi... Devi, wake up."

I gently pulled the blanket away from her face, trying to wake her.

She frowned softly and immediately dragged it back over her head.

"Uhmm... please... thodi der aur..." she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep..

"It's already 9 a.m., Devi," I said, trying to sound firm.

"Five minutes more... please... I'm tired..." she whispered, barely audible.

And just like that-

I melted.

Picking up my coat and keys, I sighed.

"Okay. Wake up soon and freshen up. Don't forget to have your breakfast-it's on the table. I'm leaving for the office."

No response.

I turned to look at her.

Her head was still buried under the blanket, but one hand slipped out, lazily waving in the air-as if saying, bye... I don't care about your words.

A soft chuckle escaped me.

Ye ladki kaafi bigad gayi hai... my mind muttered.

But it's okay. Maine hi bigada hai.

Taking a quiet breath, I walked back to her side.

Leaning down, I placed a gentle kiss on her head through the blanket.

She didn't move.

Still asleep.

Still careless.

Still mine.

With one last glance, I walked out of the room.

As I went downstairs, I saw Lily and her pup, Rocky, coming toward me. I bent down and ran my hand through their fur. Rocky hurried upstairs, while Lily followed me outside-as she always did.

Lily was a gift from my late mother when I was seventeen. She had cared for me ever since, almost like Maa herself. I don't know how much time she has left... but I wish she stays with me as long as possible.

___

By the time I reached my office-

AD Cyber Security.

The "A" stood for Ansh.

The "D" stood for Devika.

My company. Built with my own blood and sweat.

It took time. Endless patience.Countless sacrifices.

But I did it.

I built all of this... for that one girl-

the girl who now sleeps beside me, in my bed, in my life.

Patience and hard work always pay off.

I've hidden my identity. No one at home-and no one on the internet-knows that I'm the owner of this company. Except my brother and a few trusted employees.

And no one dares to leak my information.

They know what I've done.

And what I'm capable of.

I may not be the richest man...

but I am definitely the most powerful man.

Because my love is with me, she lives with me and I live with her. I will always be beside her..

As soon as I stepped inside,

greetings echoed around me as usual. Walking into my cabin, my PA briefed me on the schedule.

"Sir, you asked for a girl's result. Here it is."

"Hmm. Keep it there. You can go."

I picked up the result card.

Bengal Board of Education

Devika Chakraborty

ISC 2017

As I opened it, my eyes scanned the marks.

97.7%.

She had topped the twelfth.

Then I picked up another card.

Failed.

My jaw tightened.

Her fake parents had done this... just to make her suffer.

A dangerous calm settled inside me.

I won't leave that man.

Let him enjoy a few more days.

Soon... he'll see death.

How much she must have suffered-believing she failed... even when she knew she couldn't.

I hate them.

I hate them to my core.

That bastard... and his father.

Placing the file back on the desk, I took a slow sip of my coffee.

I will bury both of them alive.

____

After finishing my work, I finally checked the time.

12:45 p.m.

Taking out my phone, I opened the Salva App-my creation.

And there she was.

Brushing her teeth... eyes still half-closed. Like a lazy child forced to do something she didn't want to.

A faint smile touched my lips.

She woke up this late...

Soon, she rinsed her mouth and washed her face. As she wiped it with a towel, her eyes slowly opened.

Through the mirror, I could see our room.

She stood in front of the dressing table.

Then suddenly-

Her hands paused.

She touched her lips.

As if remembering something.

And then... she blushed.

A soft pink spread across her cheeks.

My smile widened at her action, I love her..

She admired herself in the mirror for a moment, then turned and walked away. A second later, I saw her opening the plate kept on the table.

Breakfast.

Bread and omelette.

I frowned.

It's already lunchtime.

If she's eating breakfast now, then when will she have lunch?

Shaking my head, I dialed her number.

The call started ringing.

But she remained completely unbothered-busy eating, as if the sound didn't exist.

I tried again.

Still no response.

I could hear the ringtone clearly through the app, but she was ignoring it.

Again, And again.

Until finally-

"Who the hell is this? Chain se khane bhi nahi dete!" she snapped, irritation clear in her voice.

I watched as she walked toward the bed and pulled her phone out from under the pillow.

"Hello..." she said, her voice slightly muffled-still full of food.

"You woke up?" I asked calmly.

She quickly gulped down what was in her mouth.

"Haan, kab ka uth gayi thi. Naha bhi liya aur nashta bhi kar liya," she lied.

My brows furrowed.

"Then what are you eating now?"

"It's lunchtime, na? So obviously I'm having my lunch, Ansh ji," she said-lying again, without hesitation.

I sighed

She was never like this,is it because of her new freind, Before I could question her further, I heard her cough.

"Devi, are you okay?" I asked, my voice tightening.

She tried to respond-but failed.

The next second, she rushed toward the bathroom.

And what I saw-

Made my blood run cold.

She bent over the basin, coughing violently-

and then she vomited.

Red.

Blood.

My heartbeat spiked as I shot up from my chair.

"Devi!" I called, panic rising in my chest as I tried calling her again.

But she couldn't answer.

She kept coughing-

Struggling-

Grabbing my keys, I rushed out.

My PA called out something behind me, but I ignored it completely.

Right now-

all I could think of, hear, and see... was my wife.

Driving back to Pratap Manor, my mind was in chaos.

I don't know how many signals I broke.

I don't know how fast I drove.

And honestly-

I didn't care.

Within minutes, I reached the mansion and ran inside.

"Nani maa saw me and asked, "Dikra, what are you doing here?"

I didn't stop.

Didn't answer.

The door to our room was already open-I must have left it that way.

I rushed inside.

And then-

Everything inside me shattered.

She was lying on the bathroom floor.

Motionless.

Blood was still smeared across her lips... and around the sink.

"Devi...!" my voice broke.

I rushed to her side, sprinkling water on her face, patting her cheeks desperately.

"Devi, wake up... please... wake up..."

No response.

Nothing.

Tears blurred my vision as I gathered her into my arms.

Only I know how terrified I was in that moment.

Carrying her downstairs, I saw Nani Maa following me, worry etched across her face.

"Kya hua bahu ko, dikra?"

"She's not well. I'm taking her to the hospital," I said hurriedly.

Laying her carefully on the back seat, I rushed to the driver's seat and sped away.

At the hospital-

Everything moved too fast.

Stretchers.

Voices.

Chaos.

They took her from my arms.

And I stood there-

Helpless.

Her hand slipped away from mine as they rushed her into the emergency room.

My gaze fell to my empty palm.

Just a moment ago...

she was here.

Now-

She wasn't.

That was it.

I broke.

I dropped to my knees on the cold floor.

My hands covered my face as tears streamed uncontrollably.

I couldn't stop.

I couldn't breathe.

And then-

That voice echoed in my mind.

" jiske liye tu sab kar raha hai na...

Uske paas zyada zindagi nahi bachi hai,

Mar jayegi...Marr jayegi woh teri aankhon ke saamne,

Aur tu kuch nahi kar payega..."

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I looked up-

Through blurred vision

Aryan bhai,

I stood up and hugged him tightly, breaking completely.

"I don't want to lose her... I don't want to lose her again... main marr jaoonga bhai... main marr jaoonga uske bina..." I cried, my voice shaking.

He held me firmly, patting my back.

"Kuch nahi hoga use. Tu hai na... aur Bappa bhi uske saath hai. Kuch nahi hoga teri Devi ko," he said, trying to calm me down.

By then, Nani Maa and Revati bhabhi had also arrived.

I sat outside the emergency room, waiting...

counting every second like it was a punishment.

After what felt like an eternity-almost forty-five minutes-the doctor finally stepped out taking our his mask,

I stood up immediately.

"How's my wife, doctor? Is she okay?" my voice came out more desperate than I intended.

He adjusted his glasses and looked at me seriously.

"She vomited blood due to internal irritation. She is undergoing treatment for second-stage cancer. Her body is very weak right now. It could be a side effect of her treatment... or stress. We've stabilized her for now, but she needs proper care and monitoring."

His words hit me like a storm.

"She may have also missed her periods for a few months. She needs general care. Avoid non-vegetarian and oily food-her stomach won't be able to digest it. She will regain consciousness in a few hours. You can meet her then."

I nodded silently.

After some time, I was allowed to see her.

I sat beside her, holding her fragile hand carefully in mine, gently caressing it... as if she might shatter even with the slightest touch.

My heart ached just looking at her.

I had been so careful.

I changed her diet.

Made sure she avoided oily food.

Gave her medicines-without even knowing the full truth.

And yet...

I was failing.

Why, God...?

Take my life instead... but don't do this to her.

She had already suffered enough.

Wasn't that enough?

She thinks I don't know anything...

but she doesn't know that I know everything-

her every pain,

her every silent ache.

My chest felt heavy... as if something inside me was slowly dying.

I closed my eyes, silently praying.

Please... just let her be okay.

A slight movement.

My eyes snapped open.

Her fingers twitched.

Then slowly-

Her eyes fluttered open.

Her gaze met mine.

For a moment, she looked confused... almost surprised.

"Aap...?" she whispered weakly.

When I didn't respond, she spoke again-

"Are you okay, Ansh ji?" her voice was soft, trembling.

She tried to sit up.

"Don't you dare," I snapped instinctively.

She froze.

"You were the one who fainted. You're lying here like a patient, and you're asking me if I'm okay?" I scolded, my voice laced with anger... and fear.

She looked at me-

And then... chuckled softly.

A faint, tired smile curved on her lips.

And I just stared at her.

Is she... joking right now?

She tried to sit up again.

This time, I helped her, supporting her gently. I picked up a glass of water and handed it to her.

She took a small sip.

"So... you know the truth," she said, her eyes glistening with upcoming tears .

"One of the many brutal truths about me."

My brows furrowed.

"What truth, Devi?" I asked, confusion creeping into my voice.

She looked straight into my eyes.

And said with the same low smile teary eyes

"I am a cancer patient."