Chapter 15- The Realization of Love

....

The dim hotel room was quiet except for the low hum of the AC and the occasional sound of passing cars outside. Reet lay curled up on the bed, her face pale with pain. Abeer gently placed a warm water bottle near her abdomen and sat beside her, worry all over his face.

"Reet, I brought you something light to eat," he said softly, placing a tray on the table. "And if you want, I can give you a head massage or something... just say the word."

Reet looked up at him, surprised at how gentle he was being. “You don’t have to do all this,” she whispered.

“I want to do this,” Abeer said quietly. “You're my wife. You’re in pain... I can’t just sit and do nothing.”

Their eyes met for a moment, and something shifted between them.

That moment wasn’t just about taking care of each other—it was deeper. Abeer noticed the small things about her: the way she held in her pain, the way she didn’t complain, the way she looked at him with trust. Reet, on the other hand, saw how much he cared, without asking for anything in return. How he stayed up for her, comforted her, respected her silence.

Something was blooming—soft, real, and undeniable.

That night, as she rested and he sat beside her on a chair, both of them realized one truth:
It wasn’t just a forced marriage anymore.
It was becoming love.

---

The next morning, they returned to the hostel.

As they walked through the gates, eyes followed them. Whispers traveled faster than footsteps.

"Hey, did you see them yesterday?"

"They left together..."
As they stepped into the classroom, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual.

Groups of classmates were whispering, casting glances at Reet and Abeer. The sudden disappearance the previous day, the way Abeer had supported Reet out of the building—nothing had gone unnoticed.

Reet quietly sat on her bench, clearly still a little uncomfortable. She placed her hand on her stomach, trying to hide the cramp she was dealing with. Abeer noticed her discomfort immediately and sat beside her.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

She gave a soft nod. “Just a little pain... but I’m fine.”

He looked around at their classmates—the murmurs, the stares, the sly questions in their eyes.

“Do you want me to say it?” he asked gently, eyes full of concern.

Reet blinked in surprise. “Say what?”

“The truth. About us.”

She hesitated, then gave a small, brave smile. “If you want to... I’m okay with it.”

Abeer straightened up in his seat and turned to face the class. He raised his voice just enough to quiet the murmurs.

“Okay... since most of you are already making guesses—let me tell you clearly.”
There was a pause. Reet held her breath.

“We’re married. Reet and I. It wasn’t something we planned. It just happened. But yes, we’re married.”

Silence.

And then...

“WHAT?!”
“You guys?!”
“No way!”
“I knew it!”
“Wait, is that why you left yesterday?”

A few students were shocked. A few were wide-eyed. And then came the flood of congratulations.

“Congratulations, yaar!”
“That’s why you were so protective yesterday!”
“Omg, this is like... a love story!”

Reet blushed quietly as Abeer sat back beside her. He leaned in just a little and whispered, “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

She looked at him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Yeah... not so bad at all.”

---

Thank you for reading Chapter 15.
🌸 In the next chapter: Life after the big reveal—how will their friendship circle treat them now? And how will they manage their new bond in public? 🌸