✤✤✤Riyansh’s POV✤✤✤

I flipped her towards me quickly and then pulled her into myself and confined her once again. Drowning myself in her profound eyes and this time whispering to her lips I uttered, "Don't doubt me, I am giving you a promise that I won't disrespect your answer."

She gulped down a breath and her hands  shifted reached to my face from my shoulders. She looked at me with the admiration which I had never admitted before in anyone's eyes towards me. Her lips were not parted for once but her eyes were recited a poem to me.

She was staring into my eyes as her breaths were giving humming a melody to her eyes. I was reciprocating her passion with the same intensity.

Her index finger came and stopped above my lips fondling my lower lip as she sheepishly bit her lower lip and licked it like she wanted me to not see what she did and her innocence was just making it more difficult for me to have a check on my senses.

She didn't say anything she just kept her finger on my lips gazing at me in my dilemma. I knew she was confused whether she should tell me or not about the thing going in her head. But my ears were itching to hear her answer.

When she took her time, a mischief came in my mind. I realized her finger was still on the same place as before, placed on my lower lip. So, I flicked my tongue out brushing it against her fingers gently. But her wet finger was still kept above my lips.

Her small eyes widened all of a sudden at my mischief and I devilishly grinned.

"Oh! Sorry, Arya I was just tasting my lips as they were feeling dry." I stated with a naughty smirk while still gazing into her eyes. She immediately pulled her hands to herself.

She looked downwards in embarrassment and held me more tightly. She became wobbly and If I hadn't hold her she would have fallen on the ground.

She pushed me away from herself hiding her eyes from me and stated, "I think we should go inside. The result will be announcing soon."

I let her go this time because it was enough torturing my poor little lioness. She became a little kitten in embarrassment. I didn't wanna annoy her more.

She pulled me taking my hands into hers and took me to the auditorium and we sat on our respective places. I tried to steal little glances at her , all the while when she tried to avoid looking directly into my eyes and behaving shy. She kept clenching my hand tightly, digging her nails in my palm.

I wondered if she was the same girl who was being playful since morning. She behaved so innocent and timid but like she had never troubled anyone with her own mischiefs.

Her naive face and behaviour was such a clever disguise of my roaring little, mischievous lioness, still I adored her irrespective of everything.

The moment which Arya and I both were waiting from forever came, The anchor came upon the stage. He was a man looking in his mid 40's. He had few grey hairs but a bright smile plastered on his face. His blue suit was looking good on him.

He started demanding everyone's attention in his deep voice.

I crossed my fingers being nervous. My eyes were stuck at the anchor but he was trying to bring suspense, his clever smirk telling me he enjoyed seeing audience's reactions. His wrinkles showed brightly under the spot light.

I looked at Arya, she was looking more anxious than I was. So, I squeezed her hand, trying to calm her.

"So, The third position goes to..... Shikha Pandey, Please have a great round of applause for this gorgeous lady and I would like to call her up on the stage" The anchor announced thrilling my heart beats. While the Hall echoed with the sound of applause.

Sweat was trickling on my forehead. I had never been so nervous before.

A petite, charming looking girl walked over the stage.

"So, the second award goes to.............Vayu Jain. Once again I ask you all to give a big round of applause for this talented man. And Vayu, Please come to the stage."

I bit my lips wondering when this all would get over. And Arya held my hand more tightly. I could tell that she was freaking out. Her eyes were all out. And her other hand was on her chest clutching her heart from coming out.

But suddenly the anchor's voice caught my attention back," And now, the moment you all were waiting for patiently. So, the first position goes to..... " The anchor stopped in the middle taking a good look at audience's reactions.

"The first position goes to ........... Aaina Ali, Once more I request you all to give a big round of applause for our winners and to gifted poetess Aaina . And I would like to call Ms. Aaina up on the stage." The anchor finally broke our suspense. A big cold sigh escaped me.

I exhaled in disappointment and then I took a look at Arya. Little tears were sparkling in her eyes like pearls and she was trying her best to not let those pearls drop down her eyes.

I felt really sorry for her but I knew she gave her best. I cupped her cheeks in my hands and turned her face towards me.

"Hey! It's okay. You must not win the competition but you won over your stage fright today, That's why you are my real winner. And will always be my little Arya." I tried to comfort her with my words. Though I was feeling a little hurt too. But not because she didn't won as I said she was my winner. It was her tears that were hurting me.

And now the pearl that she was holding in her eyes started glistening on her cheeks. She looked at me and gave me a sad smile.

I smiled at her and brushed her tears with my handkerchief. "It's alright, let your tears flow you will feel a little light. And always remember you are my champion. Never let anything discourage you." I looked in her eyes with affection kissing her cheeks.

"How can I be discouraged when I have you? As long as I have you I can't feel fear, sadness or discouragement. Because you make them vanish with your magical spells." She sweetly remarked while grinning widely, though her eyes were still wet but the tears in them behaved like a jewellery for the pride she carried and make her look like a warrior with beauty.

Though she didn't win but she was still called up on the stage for the participation certificate. And when she held that participation certificate in her hands, her smile was the brightest of all. She was looking more happy than the winners.

I clicked her picture in my phone. For cherishing her victory over her stage fright for forever. My little Arya, My little lioness was really not less than a hero. The more I looked at her, the more my hearts buzzed.

She was just a key to happiness for me. I, sometimes felt jealous of her bravery and sometimes felt proud that I got to know the real her.

The real her was the one standing in front of me turning her defeat into a triumph, wearing confidence on her face. Not the one who looked emotionless, peeking out of a window trying to avoid the glances of people, finding a story for herself and an emotion for herself.

She never knew she didn't need to find an emotion because she was the emotion herself. She was innocence, purity mixed with a lot of bravery and cuteness, powdered with a messy elegance that fit her just perfectly.

She beamed with bliss on the stage posing for photographs while I just stare her with an emotion of contentment. I could not get enough of her.

While she posed, she gave me a flying kiss sneakily from far away and my mouth suddenly hung open, seeing my reaction she chuckled loudly on the stage without caring about anyone else. Her laughter made all the heads turned into her direction but she didn't bat an eye to anyone. Her eyes were fixed at me. Trying to make fun of me.

I nodded my head smiling to myself. My little lioness would never change. She will be the same, getting pleased in teasing me and caring about nobody in the world.

I returned her favour by giving a flying kiss back to her. And she gave me her shocked monkey face while shyly tugging her hair behind her ear, not giving a clue to anyone about what just happened.

To be continued...

»»————>Author's Note<————««

Your thoughts on this chapter. Comment 💬 them. Don't be shy 🙈😳. Hehe😏 You smiled when he licked her finger. Didn't you? You naughty😈 naughty. I caught you😌 Your secret is out.

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