Chapter Text
You smiled up at your love, closing your eyes as he eased your tired body into bed. You wanted him to forget the night rounds and cuddle with you instead, "Do you have to go make them? There would be people still out because o the festival. Everyone will be safe."
"I need to make sure myself, jaan, you know that." He replied, tucking the blanket around you, you'd have grabbed at his hands if yours weren't trapped in the blanket.
"But people will be safe either way," your tone edged on being a whine, "I want your attention."
"You have had it for hours; and you will have it again as soon as I'm done with work. You know neither of us will really relax unless I make sure," his tone was ever so patient and washed over you like a blanket of calmness.
You knew you should try to rest, he was doing this for you. You're the one who went and ate the old sabzi without checking it, that too in monsoon, you're the one stuck in bed with a belly ache and a fever. But somehow having his attention sounded infinitely more important than healing or resting in your foggy brain. He would heal you either way, he's been saving you since day one. Since the very day you met him, back when he called himself a different name.
Seven years ago
You remembered it so vividly.
It was a late summer evening, the sun was setting and the sky was decorated in gorgeous shades of blue and pink. Everything was so serene at this time of day, the market had begun to quiet down and shops got ready to close their shutters.
You had just finished shopping for jewellery for the upcoming festival. You were roaming the woods near the market with rotis in your hand to feed the cows that came around at this time of day, as per your daily routine. Both your hands were full.
You couldn't spot any of the cows today, which was odd because they usually came by as soon as they heard the delightful chhan chhan chhan of your pretty payal. Eitehr way, you didn't want to be in the woods for too long, so close to night time, so decided to head back.
You had only taken a couple of steps when you heard the most heartbreaking whimper from by the stream, you went over to check it out and a small, hungry looking dog was whining for help. Your akka, amma and nanna had all chastised you for over generosity at various stages of life and you had been well-warned to stay away from wild dogs as they were unpredictable, but this one was so weak and thin; it would be heartless to leave him like this. You dipped one of the rotis in the nearby stream to soften it enough to feed it to the now desperate looking pup. You will never regret feeding him, not after the relief you felt as you watched him attack the offered snack.
However, as you got up and turned to go, there was a sharp tug at your dupatta. You turned back and there were three dogs where there had been one just a moment ago. You looked up at the now orange sky as the sun began to set, and then around you at the grass that suddenly seemed taller and lonlier, "Shit." You tried to gently tug your dupatta out of the dog's mouth, while ignoring how your heart beat was a lot more audible. Your ears rang with fear when one of them tried to jump up at you. You had no experience handling dogs! Finally he let your dupatta go, to bark at you so loud it left you shaking. You tied your dupatta and rolled it at your waist so the dogs wouldn't try to bite it anymore and tried to hold eye contact with all three as you stepped back little by little, not realising as a fourth one came up right behind you.
By now your heartbeat was so loud it was all you could hear, you tried to tell yourself you'll be okay if you just manage to get out, they're just protecting territory, you'll be fine, right? You- "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" You screamed as one of them tired to jump up at you, much higher this time, tripping backwards and almost falling before you caught yourself on the bark of a tree, scratching up your palm on the rough bark as you went.
The worst? The scream seemed to have agitated the dogs, "Haye maiya bacha lo!" (Oh mother godess save me) You said to yourself even as you were losing hope.
The large one clearly geared up to jump up again and you whimpered and closed your eyes, waiting for the impact- "Hatt!" Loud deep voice yelled from somewhere in the left, startling the dog enough to stop. You opened your eyes and turned to the direction from where you could now hear heavy, quick footsteps. Within seconds a large mountain of a man was covering you and shooing the dogs away. Your breathing still struggled and you curled in on yourself to collect your thoughts.
By the time your brain was coherent enough to think thoughts, the brutish hunk had turned around, "Ji aap theek hain?" (Are you okay?/respectful)
You tried to form words but your mind was already lost in exploring every roadmap inside those gorgeous, concerned irides. He waved his hand to get you to focus, maintaining a respectful distance, "Aap theek hain, ji?" (Are you okay/respectful) he asked again.
This time you nodded. Pulling your dupatta up properly, "Dhanyavad aapka, bacha liya aapne." (Thank you, you saved me.) You grabbed the fallen cloth that you had brought the rotis in.
"There's nothing to be thankful about, just doing what anyone should. I'm not sure why they attacked you. The dogs here aren't usually rowdy." He said, "Let me walk you to the street."
"Thank you." You smiled, following him.
"You really dont have to keep thanking me," he was smiling by now. You were going to tell him to be careful of the rock he was about to step on, but he paused as something shined near the bush, "Are those yours?" You followed his gaze and your bag of jewelry -which you didn't even realise you dropped- was lying there.
"Ah yes, thank you." You went and picked it up, internally cursing as you realised you'll have to polish them all again. When you looked back up the man looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't, his smile even more amused,
"Oh shut up, there's nothing wrong with some gratitude for kind help." You meant it, yet your cheeks felt warm.
He only laughed, but didn't say anything even so. You both walked in comfortable silence until your street was close by, "Alright, I can go on my own from here. My home isn't for off. Thank-" you topped halfway when his grin just grew, "Shut up," you were smiling too.
"I'll look forward to seeing you around again," he said in a honey sweet tone that calmed you to your very bones, bowed, then walked off without wiating for a reply.
"As do I," you said to his retreating back after you thought he was far enough not to hear, yet this cheeky bastard turned around and bowed once more before continuing on his way. It wasn't until you were back in your hut that you noticed your cheeks were beginning to hurt because you had not been able to stop smiling as your mind swam with thoughts of the charming brute.
You lay down in bed, still thinking of him. You were just about to fall asleep when your eyes popped open with the realisation that you forgot to ask his name.
***
"Aktar," he told you with a smile, before stuffing his mouth with the next gol gappa. You were in the middle of chewing yours and looked over in confusion.
He swallowed with more effort than should be entirely necessary for one gol gappa, but you had gathered that he was an impatient eater, "You didn't ask my name, and didn't tell me yours, so I thought I'd start."
"Ah, I'm Y/N. But it was fun going on these random hang outs and meeting 'per chance' almost daily for month, without knowing your name," You liked his name, star, it suited his shiny personality.
"Y/N." He sounded like he was testing it on how tongue, and you could only hope he liked the taste, "So you like mystery, huh?"
"I like your attempts to spot me and pretend we ended up together on accident. It's fun. Thank you by the way, for showing me, these are probably the best gol gappas I've ever had." You said, resisting the urge to smile like an idiot when his smug smile came right back.
He took his time to chew, you had learned that food came before people in Aktar's book, before responding, "You know, the official town foodie doesn't pass up a chance to share the glory of the best gappas in town, which you don't-"
"-have to be thankful for, I know, I know." You asked the stall keeper for an extra spicy one, eating it in one bite and closing your eyes in bliss.
Bheem was watching you with fondness in his eyes, only until he was sure you wouldn't notice. He didn't have the time or safety to persue anything more than a friendship with *anyone* in this town, so naturally the gods blessing him with all the prettiest, kindest temptations. He was pulled out of his musings by the sound of familiar trotting hooves.
You turned to watch as Bheem's smile -the same one he usually gave you- turned to the man on the horse. You followed his gaze to the adonis perched atop.
"Ram."