Closing his eyes, he was taking soft breaths. He was tired from doing all the work and now Sakshi was at home too. A smirk curved his lips when he reminded himself, Rian was sleeping in Sakshi's room.

He turned on his back, looking up at the ceiling. His wife was lying right beside him, not sleeping and deep in her thoughts.

"We are all alone in this room," he mumbled, making her let out a sigh. "And we are married."

"I remember, we are married. Because I am still upset with the arrogance of my husband who doesn't care how his words can hurt his wife," said Pihu while closing her eyes.

Raghav looked at her, his hand reaching to intertwine with hers. "Come on, you know I didn't mean those words. I was exhausted and you kept bawling over Sakshi's issue," he whispered.

"You seemed proud of what you did to me," she mumbled, turning on her side. So, now her back was facing his side.

"I am proud of making an angel fall in love with me," he whispered softly, raising on his elbow. He moved closer to her, snaking his hands on her waist which Pihu removed immediately.

"I am not in the mood, Raghav. Let me sleep," she said, irritated by him.

"That's the nightie you wear when you are in mood. That lace makes me dizzy," he whispered, putting his chin on her forearm. His fingers tickled her waist. "You know, I regret all my actions."

"I am sorry."

Pihu's eyes opened and she turned around to meet his eyes. Her gaze softened when she saw his worried face. She chuckled in her head, knowing he was all acting innocent.

"Will you forgive me?"

She rolled her eyes and was turning back to sleep when he held her forearm. "I am not proud of how I forcefully married you. But I am proud that I managed to show you my love in between all of that forcefulness I did," he said quietly.

"I will do whatever you'll tell me to," he whispered to her. "About Sakshi, about any other topic. Just don't be angry with me. These last days, I feel like nothing. I am going crazy."

Pihu chuckled to herself, controlling when she saw his face turning stern. "Is this a joke for you? I am here begging something."

She raised herself and sat on the bed. In the light of the lamp, he raised himself too watching her smiling goofily at him. "Yes, you are a joke to me. Because one day, you don't give me any attention, no thought to my thoughts. And the other day, when you are craving for sex, you talk all sweet and be sorry for nothing," she whispered, her face inches away from him.

"Sorry for nothing? I am really sorry for everything," he said, stressing out when she yawned tiredly.

"By the way, I wear this lace, this silk all to make myself feel good about me. Not for you," she huffed and laid down.

Raghav kept watching her in a daze. "Well, as long as I am the good husband, you are all fine. Once, the inner possessive devil gets out from me, you'll be tamed, my angel." He smirked.

Pihu closed her eyes, smiling to herself. "Love is the devil himself. What have I done to myself by marrying him?" She breathed out.

"Like you had a choice," said Raghav proudly while smirking.

Pihu's eyes widened as she immediately looked at him, her lips pressed tight. Raghav realized what he just said, and nervously chuckled. "I mean, you are just made for me. . . Pihu," he groaned when she closed her eyes and started sleeping for real.

He groaned and ran fingers through his hair. His dark eyes falling back on her. When things were going fine, he just had to have that tongue slip.

He sighed, while laying beside her, looking at her back. He knew, she was awake but angry too. He needed her, tonight and he had to make things right.

"I was thinking about a date on Christmas," he said, correcting himself when he saw her shoulders tensed. "I mean, all of us. Mom, Dad, Sakshi and us."

She didn't answer while he turned empty. Her ignorance had the power to kill him. He couldn't sleep. "We can go to a family vacation to Shimla, begin our new year well. You love that place. Don't you?"

She didn't answer and he sighed heavily. She really was upset with him, but he did apologise. His jaws clenched at the thought that he couldn't force her. Pihu was sensitive, she would get more upset if he'd behave aggressive.

With sadness lingering in his eyes, he closed his eyes and finally decided to sleep. The fact says if he would be still for fifteen minutes, he'd be asleep before he would know it. So, he tried.

Ten minutes passed, he could feel his eyes getting heavy. But all of a sudden, be felt a kiss on his cheek. His heart started pounding as he controlled not to smile. Flutters happened in his chest, when she kissed on his lips.

He could feel the reluctance. She was always shy at initiating. Before he could even realize, he had turned themselves so he was now hovering over, kissing her hard.

His hands moved along her waist, desperately, he felt himself hardening. He knew she could feel as she started laughing in between the kiss, making him back away and stare at her mesmerized.

"You are such a baby," she whispered. He smiled slowly while she added, "I hate you."

"You love me." He grinned while kissing her back, making her chuckle along.

_______

Aarush stared at the wall in thought. He couldn't sleep because of all the shock. He still wasn't able to soak all of it. Worst of all, he didn't know how to solve this mess. How to get those pictures deleted?

Sakshi was gone and while she was away, he couldn't just tell her that her nudes were out in wrong hands.

Aditi was the culprit herself.

Ronnie wasn't the right person. He couldn't just trust him.

He sighed, closing his eyes. Who could he just share this problem with?

Shrey's face appeared in his mind. He thought about it, narrowing his eyes. Aditi had mentioned about him coming over and which was why, Sakshi left all of a sudden. If he could just know, Shrey really loved Sakshi or not.

He bit his lip while raising himself as he picked his phone from the drawer. Immediately dialling him, he pressed the phone against his ear.

For a moment, he thought that he wouldn't pick up. But Shrey did pick up, saying an active but hoarse, "Hello?"

Aarush gulped before asking, "Shrey, what did you do?"

No voice came until he heard a deep breathe. "I got to know about her fiance. I got angry and left. When she comes to convince me, I am not at home. My brother insults her and throws her out of my life. I go to convince her but she tells me to go. She leaves me."

Aarush closed his eyes, rubbing his temple. "What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know."

He breathed heavily. "Look, just tell me on thing. Is Sakshi just a plaything? Does it matter to you that she is gone? Tell me like a man."

"I want to marry her."

Aarush was relieved as he said, "There's a grave danger lurking around her."

"I'll push that professor out of my way. I know, Sakshi doesn't like him and he has hurt her," replied Shrey.

Aarush gulped before finally saying, "Come and meet me at my flat, the first thing in the morning. I can't talk about it but can only show you. If we both doesn't solve it, Sakshi's life will be ruined."

He heard a thick silence and then, Shrey asked, "What is it?" He was desperate.

"I will show you." Aarush said, "Sleep for now, because we have lot to do tomorrow."

He hung up and closed his eyes. He didn't know if he would be able to sleep but his heart was lightened a bit after sharing it with Shrey.

_____

Just like he had said, Shrey arrived at Aarush's flat. Not wasting any time, Aarush made him sit on the couch before finally telling about what Aditi did to Sakshi.

Words were not enough to define the anger that reflected in Shrey's eyes. He was getting crazier by each second, threatening to reach the flat and get the girl arrested.

"But what of Kabir? He still has her pics. If he gets warned about Aditi being punished, he might leak them." Aarush stressed while calming him down. "Have some water, please. You look dehydrated."

Shrey's eyes were covered with red circles, skin dull and stubble not shaved. His hair were messy and wasn't quite conscious about his appearance. He was anxious about Sakshi.

"I tried to think of many ideas but nothing is coming in my mind. If we do like they do in movies, make Aditi act interested in Mihir. But going to Kabir's house and then, checking his laptop and gadgets, can only happen in movies. And if we go to police, they will help us in checking his gadgets and everything. But they will need to see the victim. And Sakshi doesn't know about it," explained Aarush.

He bit his lip observing Shrey who was looking far at the wall with his eyes half opened as if he was on drugs. But he wasn't, he knew. This was just the aftermath of losing your love.

"We can stop the engagement from happening by telling about these pics and his divorce. But Kabir is clever. His mother is heart patient and he would be triggered if this happens in front of his mother. He will leak the photos."

"Show me the pics." Shrey asked, making him look at him. "Did you see them?" His jaws clenched.

Aarush gulped, cringing in heart. "Only when I wanted to make sure if I recognize the girl. I stopped when I got to know it was her," he said quickly. Bringing out his phone from pocket, he opened the mail and showed it to him with shaky hands.

Shrey breathed slowly, taking the phone with courage, his eyes stoning as he swiped the pics. Of course it was Sakshi. The mark from the shoulder injury was there. There piercings. He could feel smoke leaving his ears as he felt extreme anger, an urge to destroy that stalker.

Aarush stared at him, observing his expressions. He bit his nails, waiting when all of a sudden, Shrey unlocked the phone and returned back to him. He looked in his eyes.

"I have a plan."

_______

Shrey's mother nodded shakily at Alisha who answered Rishabh on the phone.

"You did wrong. He told us the words you said to her and they were all cruel. How could say something like that to her," said Alisha. "Are you. . . okay now?"

Rishabh sighed, his torn voice could be heard from the other side. "How can I be? Mom was horrified by looking at the bandaids. Just tell me what wrong I did. That family hates him. I know because of me. I admit that I am at fault. But now, nothing could happen with them. A wedding link would be a disaster. They'll eat him up."

"You should have asked Shrey about it," Alisha got quiet when the main doors burst opened and walked inside, with him entering the harsh sunlight of the noon.

"Shrey," his mother got up.

Without any response, he walked towards his room and shut the door after him.

"Was that him?" Came the voice from the phone.

Alisha breathed out, "Yes. You need to come here and apologise to him. You should have talked to him like a true brother. I feel bad for him. It's unhealthy for him. He seems anxious since last night."

"Please, take care of him. He could do anything," said Rishabh. "He needs to understand that the relation with Rathore's won't work-"

"Shrey?" whispered Alisha while getting up from the chair.

He was standing in the hall, hanging a bag on his shoulder, dressed in a T-shirt with full sleeves and jeans. For some reason, he looked freshen up.

"Where are you going?" His mother gasped at seeing big enough bag.

Without any doubt, Shrey replied, "Chandigarh."

Alisha widened her eyes while his mother covered her mouth.

"Shrey, not alone. Please. You want to marry her? I will call your father. We both will go with you and ask for her hand. Son, I will do anything for you. Just," his mother burst out in tears. "Please don't leave me like this. Don't go alone."

His gaze softened as he walked towards her. "I am going to talk to her family. I promise, I'll be polite. Sakshi loves me, mom. She will not let me get beaten or rejected. She will answer me. I know."

"Don't act impulsive, Shrey." Alisha said worriedly, the phone call completely forgotten. "Chachi is right. If parents will talk to parents, it will look better. We are all here to support you."

"If I back down this time, I will lose her." He told them, slowly. "Her brother needs to know that I am the perfect one for his sister. When he will accept me, you all will have to go there and support me anyway. But this is my own fight."

"Shrey, please. What if he hits you?" His mother cried. "Last time, you went there. You came back home beaten and sick. I will go with you. Just wait for me. I will go pack my own bag."

Shrey sighed desperately. "I won't take days. I know this Christmas, I will gift myself my love. She will be ours before we know it. I need to leave. I will miss the bus."

"Bus? The driver is here. . ." Alisha shrieked, "Look at you, all anxious. In bus, you'll be hell tired and will reach there in the evening. You are in no energy to travel. Have you even taken your medicines."

"I did." He answered numbly.

"Where will you stay?" His mother gasped.

Shrey closed his eyes. He opened them to shake his head. "I have friends there I know who can help me. Don't worry about me. Worry about that Rishabh, because if I find him back in this home or anywhere near you, mom. I'll kill him."

Alisha gulped, feeling hurt but could she blame him? No.

"I need to leave," Shrey said while his mother started hugging him.

"Promise me, you'll pick up all my calls." His mother cried.

"I promise. Now, I must go." He said, giving her a tight hug. "Take care of Tau ji. I don't want him to know that I and that jerk fought. Or what he did to me."

Alisha blinked in wonder as she hugged him back. "Take care. And just as you feel the need. Call us if any chaos start to happen. We all will be there the next hour."

Shrey swallowed the lump that was forming at seeing his Mom crying. He turned around to leave but not before telling them.

"She is worth all these chaos, all these fights. She is worth all of this adventure. Because she is one in a million," he smiled to himself and whispered the next words to his heart.

"The one."

______

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

I seriously can't judge how this chapter shaped up. I am quite sleepy after studying whole day and couldn't sleep without writing an update. (If that makes sense) It came out more like a filler.

Hope, you like it.

____

Please check out my other books too. 🙈