"So, I dare you to say 'be mine' to the new history teacher."
Maaya said and everyone nodded.
And Sameera sighed.

"What is it with this new history teacher. I'm seeing since five days. It's looking like you are playing a matchmaker for him and I."
She whined and Shrishti gave her a -_- look.

"Duh! Because she is. Now now you cannot back down. You have to do it. You lost the bet. Pihu proposed Raj officially first. So do what she says."

Pihu grinned at Sameera and she sighed.

"Okay. But I don't know what he looks like. And if I get it in trouble you people are to blame."
She pointed her finger at her friends.

"Don't worry. I'll bring him here with me in exactly.........fifteen minutes. The one with me will be the one."
Shivam patted her back and ran off to somewhere.

Everyone once again patted Sameera's back and she sighed twirling the rose Maaya has given her. Standing in the center of the cafe.

She was in a cafe directly in front of her college with her friends. Two months ago she made a bet with her friends that Raj will be the one to propose Pihu officially first. But turned out that Pihu did it. And now she was getting the punishment.

She turned around to find the whole cafe isolated and her friends nowhere.

"This sure is giving me the Main hoon na vibe."
She spoke to herself. Ten minutes passed and no body came. When the clock struck exactly 3:25 the door of the cafe opened. She closed her eyes without even glancing at the man.

She could hear his footsteps coming closer and stopping in front of her.

Her heart was racing. It was a really risky dare her friends have given her. What if the man complaints to the principal. She might get suspened and even resticated. But she has to do it.

So she lifted her hands up holding the rose and with tightly shut eyes she spoke.

"Look, please don't complain to anyone. But..............be mine."

She said taking deep breaths. It was quiet. She could only hear her breathings along with those of that man.

And suddenly she felt the tender touch of someone fingers of her hands.
The fingers reached the rose and a voice, very familiar whispered

"Already yours."

Sameera snapped her eyes open and jerked her head up to look at him. And she was right. It was him.

Her eyes were wide and mouth was open.

He smiled and took the rose from her hand brushing their fingers ever so lightly.

"Did you ever think of touching me? To see whether I was real? All this time, a whole week, I've been with you. But you refused to even consider the thought of me being real. Even when I told you I was."
He said softly peeling off the petals and dropping them on her.

She closed her at the light touch of his fingers caressing her face.

"So........my friends knew?"
She asked and he nodded.

"I told them the day I came."

"And.......how did you come back?"

_______________________________

Flashback

"My grandma cannot hurt anyone."
Jayant said and Maadhavi pushed him away a little. Then standing up she wiped her tears.

Cupping Jayant's cheek she smiled.

She smiled and Jayant nodded.

"I'll free him now itself."
Saying this suddenly she vanished. Jayant smiled at this. He was glad that he was the one to melt his grandmother's stone cold heart.

Maadhavi ji appeared in the cell. The cell which was made in the basement of Shrithik's bunglow.

But her eyes went wide when she saw the condition of the cell.

Eight men were lying there. Seven of them dead and one, still alive. And he was none other than Shrithik.

He looked up at her with his red eyes and pointed his bloodied finger at her.

"If you want kill me now. Because I cannot live without her. Punish me as much as you want, however you want but don't keep me away from her. I accept that I did a sin. But can't I be forgiven?"
He asked and upon getting no reply he chuckled.

"Oh yeah. You don't have a heart. But remember, I'll kill you. Now.it.self."
He gritted and stood up. With shaky hands he picked up his weapon which was a piece of a broken mirror. Though it was hurting the person on the other side it was also digging in his own skin.

Maadhavi's eyes filled with tears and she stopped him.

"Wait! I'm here to free you. Go back to her."
She said and he lowered his hand to his side.

Looking at her with his narrowed eyes he once again made a move to kill her. That lady cannot be trusted. A person who held a grudge against him for such long time was suddenly freeing him? Wasn't it too good to be true?

As he made a move Maadhavi held his hand and pushed him away. He flew in the air and slammed in the wall.

"I said I'm here to free you. Free you from your curse and this cell. You can go back to her. And what I'm saying is true.................My grandson......he opened my eyes. He showed me what I was doing. I cannot go on hurting someone like this."
She said walking towards him.

Shrithik watched her dizzily with blood dripping off of his wounds.

"But there will be a consequence. You'll loose your powers. The-"

"I don't care. Just let me go back to her please. I beg you. I beg you."
He sobbed holding his head. At first he was not ready to believe her but she he saw the genuine expression on her face when she talked about her grandson, his guard shattered.

"I will. I will. Don't worry."
She said and ran her fingers through his hair. Like a mother does to her son. Like she does to Jayant.

Shrithik suddenly felt sleepy. Soon his eyes closed and he went into a deep slumber."

_______________________________

"And when I woke up, I was in your bed. Without any wounds and powers. And when I came out of my- sorry your room, I saw Maaya. I told her everything and she helped me along with your friends."

Shrithik told Sameera, brushing her hair back. Sameera looked away. Her lips which she desperately tried to control, quivered. Her lips etched into a frown and her eyes filled with tears. She took deep breaths to control herself and looked up to not let any tears fall. But one touch from him was enough to leave her a sobbing mess in his hands.

She cried and cried and cried. She cried for an hour straight. In her special place. On his lap and hugging him.

Her friends left, leaving the two of them alone. And as the whole cafe was booked by them nobody else came.

She continued crying. Finally stopping when no tears were left.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left any hope. I thought that you were probably dead. I'm so sorry."
She sobbed and connected their foreheads and closed her eyes.

"There's no need to be sorry sweetheart. I should be the one to apologise to leave you like that. I thought that it was my punishment to stay away from you. But it became unbearable."

Sameera hugged him again. They stayed in that position for almost thirty minutes. And only seperated when her friends came back.

"Okay love birds. Now get off of each other. And smile Sameera. Don't be so depressed. How will Mr.sweetheart feel seeing you like that?"
Maaya spoke and Shrithik cleared his throat. His ears were red and hot.

"Are you......are blushing Mr.sweetheart?"
Shrishti asked and he looked away.

"No I'm not."

"Oh yes you are! You've got an adorable man Sameera."

"Sure I have."

"So now I've to shift back to the hostel? Otherwise where will you live?"
Maaya asked and Shrithik nodded.

"I can stay with Sameera in her room. You don't have to shift."

"You can live without any problem of me being there. But I can't. God knows what cringey things you both might do. Oh Shrishti. Please help me shift back to the hostel."
Maaya exclaimed and everyone laughed.

"If you want I can help you too."
A voice spoke from behind her and she gasped. Her breathing slowed down when the owner of the voice turned her around.

"Shrey!!"
She jumped on him and he laughed.

"Yes dear it's me."

"But....how......You-"

"Hey, I was not kept captive in a cell. I came like normal people in a normal aeroplane. Nothing of surprise."
He said and after pecking her on the lips he looked Shrithik dead in the eye.

"So it wasn't you? Or was it?"

"It was me. I begged her and she made me do it."

Both Shrey and Shrithik talked about something in a very cold manner. Anyone who would see them would think that they were just going to fight. Even Sameera was thinking that.

But when they both shook their hands and hugged each other, suddenly turning very giddy, it gave them a surprise.

"So you two were just acting? Bastards."
Sameera said holding Shrithik's forearm and he looked down at her.

"You've started swearing a lot."
She laughed.

"Then make me not."

"Are you challenging me sweetheart?"

"Yes I am!"

"You are gonna regret it. Sorry guys but see you soon."
He said the last part when Sameera ran out of the cafe.

He chased her till they were inside the house and as soon as they were Sameera pushed him on the sofa.

He was still in shock when she climbed up on him and connected their lips.

His wide eyes closed and his hands went on her neck.

When their kiss became something else they didn't know. But whatever it was, it was sweet, passionate and filled with love.

"Don't leave me. Ever."
She said hugging him and he kissed her forehead.

"Never. Ever. I love you."

" I love you too. Sweetheart"

_______________________________

Announcement

So guys, this book has come to an end. Thankyou for staying with me and this book. Thankyou for staying with Sameera and Shrithik in their journey.
Please forgive the spelling mistakes and do let me know if you didn't like anything.

And please let me know if you'd like an epilogue.
😃