All the best.

Shrey gulped and slowly tapped on the screen, sending the message immediately. Sakshi had an exam tomorrow. He couldn't just spoil that for her at just meeting a random guy claiming to be her fiance.

But his heart was somehow convinced that the man wasn't lying. How was it possible for him to find him? He must be so hurt and frustrated that he found out about him and caught him at the market. This wasn't just some little act. It was seriously a big game.

"Shrey?"

He looked at his mom, making her gasp. "What happened to you?" She came forward to palm his cheek. "Your eyes are so red. Are you okay?"

Shrey shook terribly. Sweat appeared on his forehead. "I don't know, mom. I don't know."  He breathed harshly, closing his eyes that were burning so much.

"What happened? Tell me. You go out for two days and now come back like this. I'll call your father," she was only getting up worriedly when he grabbed her wrist.

"No, Mom. Wait."

Her mother looked at him teary eyed. "First, tell me what happened. Or I am calling your dad now. I have always been soft with you. But it's all my mistake that I am letting you ruin your life like this. Look at you, your lips are trembling-" she walked towards his feet as he was now resting on the bed, closing his eyes.

"Even the doctors need to know about the happenings. You'll have to share it with me." His mother whimpered as she removed his shoes and socks, rubbed his feet that were turning cold.

"I am fine, Mom. Stop." He slowly raised himslf and collected his legs. "Could you just pass me water?" When she moved slowly while looking at him, he nodded. "I'll tell you everything. Let me breathe."

"Are you okay, now?" She asked while handing him a glass, observing that he was calming down.

Physically? "Yes," he answered. "That was just a random current. I brought you cookies."

His mom gulped tiredly. "I have seen them. Now, don't think you can distract me. Tell me who is this friend you are staying with. Only I know, how I hid it from Rishu. . ."

"He was here?" Shrey asked immediately, wiping his mouth and putting the glass away.

His mother nodded. "He left just an hour ago with Alisha. They looked ready like they had some meet or a party."

"Of course," Shrey muttered, through clenched jaws. Jealousy filling his veins as he felt his eyes tearing up. Why was it that Rishabh had a good life and he didn't? Why? He hated it.

He had barely gotten back with Sakshi. And now, this stranger came and claimed to be her fiance.

"It's about a girl," he said, slowly.

His mother looked at him immediately, her expressions turning from concerned to curious.

"Which girl?"

Shrey gulped and lowered his eyes. "The girl I love, mom."

His mother shifted on bed, her hand coming to cover his. "How is she? Did you both fight? Why are you sad while talking about her?"

Shrey smiled to himself, breathing slowly. "Sad? No, mom. I am the happiest guy when I am with her. She. . . She's amazing. I told you, this was just a random current. I felt anxious for no reason." As if in a parallel world, for a moment, he forgot the events and spoke his heart out.

"There must be some trigger," his mother told, thoughtfully. "Is she beautiful?"

Shrey looked at his mother, chuckling. "She is."

"More than Alisha?"

He chuckled more, now turning to her fully. He nodded. "She is. She is taller and smarter. She knows everything about me. She takes care of me, mom."

His mother's smile faded. "Are you sure, Shrey? Because what happened before. . . But not much time has passed since your case. . . How. . ."

He shook his head. "We know each other from years. She was in school while I was in college. She will soon graduate and is quite rich, I must say. We met after four years and she has grown up. She is great. It's like nothing has changed but has gone better."

His mother looked away in thought. "Do you want me to share this with your father? Did you both talk about bringing her to meet us?"

Shrey's smile was gone as he suddenly realized that he had escaped the reality for a moment. He had totally forgotten that man from the market. His heart broke as he realized that he told his mom everything and now what if the fiance-thing was true.

"I will ask her soon."

His mother nodded and got up. "Fine, now rest and after some time, take a bath. I am going to prepare dinner for us. Okay?"

"Yeah," he hummed, while gulping. "I told you about her because I needed to. I don't want to lose her. Even after so many years, we came together can't just be a trick from fate. Right?"

His mother looked at him, amused. "First, show her to me. Let me know meet he properly."

Shrey rolled his eyes, suddenly feeling light from the distraction. "I know your type, Mom. Be thankful, that she is not an NRI. I know you want some down-to-earth, kind and beautiful one with morals and manners. I tell you, she is all that." Only if that man was lying.

"I wish, your Tau ji just gets fine soon. Rishabh will marry then, and we will all be free to think about you. With functions and happiness, we will all be bright again."

"We sure will," he promised, giving her a smile.

Just as she left with a smile on her face, Shrey's eyes filled up.

He didn't know if they'll be bright again. But he knew that he surely was going crazy.

And God was testing his patience.

_______

"What?"

Sakshi shook her head while checking her phone. "I don't know, Aditi. It's weird. Shrey never talks this plain. He's always smooth and expressive. All the best? That's it? Something's wrong."

Aditi rolled her eyes. "That's way too teen-ish of you. He must be doing some task. Or something must have came up."

Sakshi twitched her lips and checked more of the notifications since, she hadn't seen her phone before exam because of being late.

"Hey! How did it went?" Aarush's voice came from behind. "Damn! I am sure, Mrs. Khanna will melt at the language I wrote. Though, I am still worried about the case study. I don't know if she'll like my controversial references. . ."

"Oh! It's done now. Stop talking about it," complained Aditi when all of a sudden, phone slipped from Sakshi's hand.

Aarush bent down and picked it up, shaking his hand while about to say something when he found Sakshi's eyes filled with shock. Her mouth slowly parting in horror as if she has seen a ghost.

She pointed at the phone and Aarush looked at the screen, his eyes furrowing at seeing the mail on the screen.

Sakshi
Mom, Dad and Raghav have given their consent for the wedding proposal from Bhatia's. Kabir's parents came all the way from Kerala to meet us, yesterday. Everyone liked them and discussions happened. It's like they are already loving you for a daughter-in-law. They already talk about you that way. They brought clothes and jewelleries, more than a normal guest would bring. Clearly intending to finalize the pair, Sakshi.

I couldn't do anything because you haven't been picking up my calls. I don't want to upset Raghav by talking about Shrey. Tell me what I should do or rather you come here, and confess your love for Shrey. Because here, everyone including me thinks that you and Kabir are being more than friends. Because that is the information we got from Mrs. Bhatia. I don't trust her, because I know the truth. But rest of our family doesn't.

I am sorry for disturbing you during exams but this is urgent.

You need to come as soon as they get over and solve this for once. Or you'll be trapped badly.

I'll support you with all of my heart. I hope, Shrey'll do it too.

Ask him, Sakshi as it will be now or never.

Love,
Pihu.

P.S. You weren't even seeing my messages, so I had to email you.

"What the-" Aarush widened his eyes and looked back at Sakshi who was now staring far with tears in her eyes.

Aditi too had read mail and was now confused. "Did they fix it already, the wedding?"

"I don't know. I don't fucking know," Sakshi choked out as she let out a sob.

Aarush pressed his lips tight and read the message again. His eyes squinting as he looked back up.

"That professor lied to your family. He told them, that you like him or is in some relationship with him. The family is misguided badly. Or why would they say yes without even asking you. That's just disappointing," said Aarush while twitching his lips. "I don't get it. Why you Aunt is so keen on choosing him?"

"She is great friends with Kabir's Aunt," Sakshi sobbed while walking off the corridor, stepping on the grassy ground and took a seat, covering her mouth in horror. "I can't believe this."

"Sakshi, no engagement done. No ritual done," Aditi stressed. "Chill. Only parents have met."

"Bhabhi never disturbs me in exam, Aditi. It's way too serious. It's done, I know. She had been hiding it from my brother, continuously. But now, she can see, there's not much time left," cried Sakshi.

Aarush looked back at the mail, his teeth gritting in anger as he looked around. He couldn't see someone innocent crying. That even someone his own.

"Hey! Stop! Sakshi," Aarush sat beside her. "Stop. Nothing happened. It's twenty first century. They haven't sold you off to some Mafia leader," he joked. "It's just an average professor with good looks. You can easily say no."

You can easily say no

Sakshi felt her heart dropping immediately. How many times had she said no? She breathed harshly, getting up as she clenched her jaws.

Her eyes went to clock on the corridor wall and she glared at the way, she started walking on before getting up and ignoring her friends' calls.

"Sakshi!"

She ignored them, stomping towards the building where she would find that monster. Wiping her eyes, she flared her nostrils while pushing the doors open to his office.

A student looked back at her with confusion and shock.

Her eyes lowered on to the face, him sitting on his chair as she looked at him in disgust.

"Mr. Kohli, I'll explain this project to you in my next free lecture. Please, excuse me for now." His voice came, calm and smooth, his eyes checking her out shamelessly.

The boy who looked like a freshman, left with a nod. "No problem, Sir."

He shut the door after him, making Sakshi lose her breath when Kabir smirked.

But Sakshi was no less because she turned around, not before giving him a death stare and bolted the door. She turned around to find his smirk gone, and breathed calmly.

"I assume, you have gotten the news from a member of your family," he spoke, formally with delicacy that had burned her with anger.

Sakshi let out a snort, her eyes looking bloodshot and blank. "What do you think? Shouldn't we celebrate for your little victory?"

Kabir's eyebrows raised, he got up from his chair slowly. Walking along his table, he came in the front, crossing his arms while observing her from head to toe. "Am I getting a kiss? I am glad to know, he hasn't touch you yet."

Her heart shivered in terror. How did he know this? It was almost visible on her face because she was scared of where this man could reach. How down he could get!

"More celebratory than a kiss."

Kabir chuckled, straightening up and walking closer to her, so they were just a step away. He wiped a tear off her cheek, sprinkling it away with a smirk on his face. "And what might it be-"

He didn't even get to finish the sentence when his head turned to left with force, his eyes bulging out immediately.

Sakshi panted while watching his red face with satisfaction.

Kabir's hand came shakily upon his cheek, while his eyes observed his specs lying far away near his table. He moved his head slowly, now looking in her eyes.

"No, means no. But creep like you don't get it with words. You get it with action," she choked out. "I had been kind enough to not share it with my family. This torture you had been doing to me. I had been ignoring you, thinking you would understand and face the reality."

She looked at him in disgust, watching his eyes narrowing. "This pretty face, pretty career is not everything. God forgot to give you a class. My brother will teach you that well-"

He laughed, making her stop. Sakshi gulped, watching him laughing as he stared at her. "Have you told him already? No. But I did, Sakshi. I did. When I set my eyes on one thing, I get it. And I can't move my eyes off you."

He moved closer to her. "I have only gotten turned on by that slap," he murmured before suddenly grabbing her by the waist and putting other hand on her mouth.

Sakshi tried to scream, when he suddenly told her acting crazily. "My mother is a heart patient. She can't hear a no. She can't see me begging for you, Sakshi. She won't be able to. It's better if you accept it positively. Because. . ." He breathed while moving his face extremely close to hers.

Sakshi widened her eyes and tried to make noise but he had almost blocked her from breathing by his big hands.

". . . Because I have been controlling hard not to play it the easy way, Sakshi. Don't make me choose the easy way. I'll love to pamper you, love you, make kids with you," he chuckled, rubbing his lips against her cheek.

Sakshi squeezed her eyes and groaned, her hands wrestling in his hold as he pushed his weight against hers. "I want nothing but you to be my wife, Sakshi. If only you accept it, there will no game plays. Just a happy married life," he chuckled darkly.

Sakshi bit into his palm, pushing him hard when he pulled away his hand. He tried to manhandle her when she pointed her finger at him. "I'll scream amd you'll be famous as a molester."

He smirked evilly in return. "Just like your boyfriend, Shrey."

Sakshi's heart jolted in shock.

"You know what, I'll give you a chance." Kabir chuckled darkly. "Go and tell your brother everything about me. About Shrey. Let's see whom he will choose. Shrey will get his chance as much as I will. You convince your brother too."

"If I won't win in the end, I'll back out." He shrugged his shoulders, smirking at her while flaring his nostrils. "Fair enough?"

"I'll make sure, your mother will be present when I'll be rejecting your dumb ass in front of everyone. Because if something happens to her, it won't be I at fault. But you, her own shameless son," Sakshi shot back. "Fair enough?"

Kabir's jaws clenched, his nostrils flared as he glared at her.

"If only you didn't have a creepy inside you, I wouldn't have mind. But who am I? Not even any more deserving girl would chose you for what you are, you psychopath. For all I care, you will rot this way, creeping on girls, lusting for the ones who are off limits-"

"Lust? I am obsessed with you, Sakshi Singh Rathore." He breathed while looking at her, smirking deadly. "I won't breathe in relief until I fuck you hard on our wedding night and make you scream my name."

Sakshi's eyes filled up in disgust as he walked near her.

"Kabir," he whispered. "Kabir, Kabir. Your moans will reach my ears, completing my fantasies, living my dreams and your nightmares."

She controlled hard while stepping back slowly.

Kabir smiled innocently and further whispered, "I also won't forget to take the revenge for this slap."

"You'll get more than a slap, Kabir Nair. You are trying hard to earn it."

Saying that, she wiped her tears and opened the bolt, walking out of the door and leaving him smirking to himself.

He closed his eyes and breathed harshly while turning around. Looking down at the bulge, he shook his head slowly.

"The fuck will be worth it," he sneered.

______

"Thoughts?"

Another update only to make it up to you guys because I felt that I had been delaying this book the most, considering the high number of readers. I checked the demographics some days ago and found that my readers are from every continent.

That's just amazing.

Please vote, comment and check out my new book- 'Misty'. It's a mystery, thriller mixed into werewolf romance. I am so excited for it. Two chapters are out and let me know what you think of it.