Sidharth's POV :

We were back on the road going through the forest path. Neither of us says anything, yet the silence is comfortable. My eyes were locked to the road yet my mind, as always, kept drifting back to her as she looks out of the window letting the cool breeze gushing in through the open window.

Suddenly my phone rings and I pick it up without looking at the caller ID.

"Bro will you please stop the car? You drive damn too fast!" Kabir's voice immediately rings out.

"Why? Where are you?" I ask looking through the rearer mirror.

"Right behind you! Now stop the bloody car!" He orders before hanging up and I reluctantly apply the brakes.

"What happened?" Kaira asks confused and I shrug getting out.

Another car comes at full speed and stops in front of ours and Kabir, Karthik, Nikita, and Samaira get out of it.

Yes, I made Kabir tell me about his affair. That way I got to know more about Nikita Gupta.

Kaira narrows her eyes at her friends before they pull her into a group hug.

"How come you guys are here?" Kaira gains everyone's attention.

"I'd like to know as well, why are you guys here all of sudden?" I voice out eyeing my friends.

"Sudden is what I got to know. You are out with her? Again?" Karthik makes a face nodding at my future wife for which I immediately throw him a look.

"That has nothing to do with you." Came a cool voice from behind me "Why are you here? Reason."

"Oh stop it both of you! Kiri, we decided to do camping since we get 2 holidays in a row, so we came here in search for you two." Samaira explains giving a big smile.

"And how did you knew we were here?" The question is out before I could think of framing it better.

"That wasn't a problem at all. Preeti spilled after 2 big chocolate bars." Kabir smirks innocently.

"Didn't know she is that easy to convince, damn I need to spend more time with her." Kaira nudges me which makes me roll my eyes.

Isn't how much ever she does is enough? They are getting together pretty nicely already, I just hope she doesn't pick up Preet's nonsense drama material!

"Tell me you haven't told her about this plan of yours." I turn to my innocent angel.

She shrugs "Actually, I did. It doesn't matter anyway, does it? We are still stuck with them." she jabs a finger in Karthik's direction.

"We could have avoided if you wouldn't have informed her!"

"Not really. You see here?" She nods towards her friends in the background discussing excitedly "They could have gotten information about my whereabouts from home."

"Great!" I mumbled sarcastically.

And here I thought I'd be enjoying with her alone! Great indeed!

"Fine! I'll text home, happy?" Kaira offers her friends and holds up her palm at me.

Does she want something from me?

"My phone, it somehow happens to be in your pocket." She rolls her eyes at my confused expression.

Her phone! How could I ever forget that one?

I quickly hand her phone trying to hide my smile, or rather, my smirk, which she does notice but chooses to ignore it by rolling her eyes and types away.

"Done. Where to now?"

"This place is good enough but let's head a little ahead there is a better place I saw on our way." Kabir explains and we sit in our respective cars to drive ahead until we reach his described place.

"You think this is going to be any good?" She asks playing with her phone.

"Better than just good. Come on, you can start practicing to tolerate him longer." I winked. She just groans covering her face under the palms.

I chuckled as I continue "Don't worry. I told you he just likes to guard everything with comments, you can tackle with your stock. I wouldn't mind some entertainment."

Her eyes snapped up at me as I turned the wheel behind Karthik's car.

"Entertainment huh? Why don't you amuse yourself by arguing with your friend rather?"

"I have you for that now." I winked "Plus it's you who doesn't like him. If I take a little break and entertain myself with you arguing to prove your point, then why is it wrong? Wouldn't you do the same, if it was interesting?"

She was quiet as we stopped. When she realized it, she looked up at me and graced me with a smirk.

"Sit back and relax then, your work had been stressing you before I dragged you out. Don't be mad if I unconsciously offend and snap at your best friend."

I mirrored her expression "As I said, entertaining."

We slide out together and join the circle made by our friends.

"So here is the plan. Sidharth and Kabir are getting the woods for a bonfire while the rest do the preparations out here." Samaira explains and everyone nods in agreement. Kabir instantly drags me into the forest.

"Whoa, are you her robot or what? I can walk on my own without anyone's command." I snapped pulling my hand out of his grip.

He rolled his eyes at me "Sure you can, you just needed a pull to bring you to reality. What is wrong with you these days? Since that day at movies you have been acting weird."

I snorted collecting the broken stems.

"And what's with Kaira? I swear if you are going to..."

"No. I'm serious about her." I correct immediately before he thinks otherwise.

He grinned "You better. She is a really nice girl and I like her- as a sister! Geez, you will kill me with that look of yours."

I scoffed leading him back to our campsite, our hands full of dry wood. Two tents were standing up already with some wooden blocks and large stones kept around in circle probably trying in for sitting.

Seems like Kaira's mind, she looks too much for making a proper sitting arrangements.

So tents and all huh? These people really thought out camping this time.

I immediately put the bonfire. That's when I see Kaira trying to lift up another log, I wouldn't say trying hard because she is actually strong enough to do that on her own which made me admire her more.

"Go on, help her. If you want I can give you guys privacy, what say? Should I keep them inside?" Kabir teased from my left before he turns for the tents.

Shaking my head in amusement, I go to help her. At the sides of the log, my hands brush hers as I help her carry it over to the circle and she smiles in thanks.

Damn, anything for her smiles.

"Are you coming?" Nikita calls out for Kabir as we all are seated. He comes within a couple of mins keeping away his call and slumps down beside her hanging his arm across her shoulder.

I look at my side, Kaira sat at a respectable distance, but it was closer than with Samaira beside her who was sitting on another log.

"So what do we do now?" Kaira asks and our friends look at each other confused "Don't tell me you guys are here without plans! Just deciding to go camping doesn't work you've got to plan. What has happened to you Sam, has this individual gone too much into your head?"

"Stop speaking like you are any better!" Karthik snaps.

"At least it isn't me who goes camping without plans! Just bringing tents and food and planning nothing doesn't contribute to camping! What is even camping without plans?"

"We are not here without plans! We have plans for tomorrow!"

"Who knows what tomorrow holds? You should start preparing from today itself."

"And what does it mean? Tomorrow has nothing to do with what we have planned?"

"No. It means if you don't have anything planned to do now, how do you expect anyone to stay up till tomorrow here with you? I can't!"

The smile that drew on my lips hearing their bickering vanished as I heard her last snap. She can't actually leave, not now, not ever, not without me at least!

"Okay, we could play damsharas for the time being." I come to rescue.

"Fine by me." Both snap at each other.

We were soon divided into two groups based on our sitting arrangements. One group was with Kabir, Karthik and Nikita together and another was with the rest of us.

The game starts with Nikita acting for her group. It was entertaining how long they took to guess the simple movie.

"Um... Airplane?" Kabir started. Shaking her head Nikita tried again.

"Uh... Motorbike!"

We stiffed our laughs as he went on catching up with the wrong hints.

"Use your brain, idiot! Motorbike isn't a movie neither is Airplane. Is it Airlift?" Karthik snapped at his partner.

"No!" Nikita sighed in frustration.

"Niki not allowed to speak remember?" Samaira teased from her place.

Huffing she went back at acting. Though it took them another 10 mins to guess, it was fun seeing them think out loud.

"Yes!! I know this, finally! Its Race, isn't it?" Kabir jumped.

"Finally!!"

"Okay, my chance!" Kaira was excited to act as well.

All three of them called her over when it was decided. She snorted as Nikita whispered it in her ears.

"Boring. Couldn't you find anything interesting?"

In any case, she turned towards us and grinned. She did a gesture of sealing her lips and throwing the keys away. Smiling I leaned forward slightly.

Let's see what she is made up of.

She held up 3 fingers.

"Three words"

Thumbs down.

"Hindi movie"

Two fingers stretched.

"Second word"

She clasped both her palms together, giving it a slight shake let out a content sigh.

"Have?" Samaira tried.

"Meet?" I voiced and her face brightened. Immediately she jabbed her thumb downwards.

Hindi for meet...?

"Mil!"

"It's koi Mil Gaya !" I exclaimed and Kaira did an excited jump.

Turning to our opponents she smirked "Told ya, too simple and boring. Next time give a little harder."

Nikita rolled her eyes while Karthik muttered something under his breath. It was better that way.

In Next 5 rounds our team's score was 5 while they were stuck at 4.

We continue to go on with our game when we get interrupted in the 8th round. He was around our age, with brown hair spiked up and tanned skin he had a look of innocence on his features.

Coming over to our group he looks at everyone, then his eyes stop on Kaira. Fixed to her face, which makes my anger boil at how his gaze analyzes her, he finally says "Can I have a word with you, miss?"

His voice was so polite, it sounded almost harmless as to what happened afterward.

Kaira roams her hesitant eyes on everyone before they catch mine. I'm sure she sees the angry fire in my eyes, she nods at me slightly.

Not knowing what it was meant to be, I nod a small approval.

Rather we get on with this faster and he is back on his way.

She gets up and he comes to stand in front of her. Carefully measuring the distance, she increases hers.

"Eyes up here, speak up." She snaps her fingers, eyes narrowed.

Clearing his throat he starts "I'm sorry to take your time like this... um... can we go somewhere private?"

What the fuck is his problem?

"We are in jungle, how much more privacy do you want? If its not important, please leave us alone." She rolled her eyes.

Exactly! Leave us alone.

"Fine." He snorted, his voice picking up arrogance "I was just curious to know what was your problem? Do you go around beating people every day?"

I was up on my feet before I could think and was in front of Kaira shielding her from his eyes with my frame.

"You don't need to talk to this person anymore, I'll take over from here, go sit-" I started through my gritted teeth but get interrupted as her palm comes in contact with mine as she gives a squeeze.

"Come on, Sidharth, let me clear the confusion of this gentleman here, I'm used to doing this. Can't always depend on someone else to clean the mess I created, now can I?" She whispers softly.

Soft like a snake's hiss. Sweet like venom.

"I'm not someone else." I told her narrowing my eyes.

She grinned "I know but let me this once, you show off your tricks next time. I promise to give you a chance. These petty things happen a lot sometimes."

I stared at her. Another squeeze from her and I reluctantly move to her side, glaring at him.

"I didn't know boys became so weak nowadays, that they need to go running to their elders." She places it casually, her smile harmless, yet danger booming "What is he? A young teenager? Wait, even I didn't do this shit when I was young."

"You...! What wrong did he do? Why did you do it? Give me a fucking reason!"

"Shh, keep your voice low if you want to talk to me. Wrong? Who said anything wrong? He just was trying to get his filthy hands of something that doesn't belong to him. Honestly if it had been my purse I would have let it slide but it became personal, you see, so I had to take an action. My reflexes work faster than my brain and I snap out of reflex." Her voice was just as easy as butter with a taste of acid.

"Get his hands on what? Do you even know who is he? He can own anything he wants! The whole of this city, this state belongs to him! Not even his eldest brother or I have ever raised our voices at him! Who are you to raise a hand on him? Some dirty little-" voice raised he growled until he was cut off, holding his palm to his nose. When he takes it off for a brief moment I see something dark.

Blood! Bloody blood! My god....!

Corners of my mouth quirks up proudly as I see between the stranger and my lovely wife who waters the same venom-filled smile.

"Oops, sorry my reflexes are fast. You were saying... some dirty little... what? I didn't catch it... please go on... I've got more important work to do than talking about the bullshit ways of how carelessly you've raised up your brother. Trust me I know what are elder brother's duties, I have one too."

The stranger was getting red by now, I bet it wasn't of embarrassment or jealousy. He takes a raged step forward with a burning fire in his eyes boring to my Kaira. My fist curls in a ball and I control myself from throwing a punch at his eye.

For Kaira. For Kaira.

I chanted in my mind as I waited for her to do something, which I knew she would. The way she talks, carries and presents herself says enough for me to trust her. Even if anything went wrong with her plan I'll always stand by her side to protect her.

"You don't know who I am, you don't know who he is, you don't know who our brother is, don't mess up with us." The stranger spat angrily at her.

"Exactly my point, I don't know you, you don't know me. Let's keep it that way, leave." She glares into his eyes.

He corked his head mockingly "You've heard of Vikram Chatterjee? Of course, you do, don't get into our business. Vikram Bhai can get anything his brother wants-"

That's it! This little dick has taken it too far!

Once more he as cut off, with my hand shooting out I grabbed him by his neck and glared down at him.

Yes down! This asshole was a shorty!

"Remind Vikram how he lost in Kolhapur, his own territory, his own people his own business- which is mine now. Tell him, politics won't take anywhere with me. It would be worse if he ever again tries to even think about laying his grimy paws over what's mine!" my voice comes out colder than ever.

Squeezing once more I throw him back "Leave!"

He coughed. Glaring at me he points an accusing finger "You will pay for it!"

I shrugged "I won't. He will if he ever tried anything again. Leave."

Turning on his heels he marches off into the woods.

"You took over a part of Chatterjee Enterprises?!"

I mock my eyebrows at her "30% of their businesses isn't theirs anymore."

Amused she crosses her arms "Why did you do it?"

I shrugged "I was in Kolhapur for a business deal, this Vikram wanted the same deal and was being nosy in my business, I twisted the game and took over his businesses along with my prior deal."

As soon as I finished I hear soft claps of appreciation, which involuntarily made me smile.

"Can anybody explain.... what just happened here?" We hear Nikita's confused voice behind us.

We are with our friends, shit I forgot!

Kaira slides her arm through mine and makes us turn towards them. At first their eyes are locked to our arms intertwined then at her smiling face as she announces.

"We are getting married!"

For a moment everything goes silent, their jaw drops and they look up at us like she just announced we are aliens from Jupiter.

She looks at me hesitantly and I give her an encouraging smile with a squeeze to her palm. Our moment was interrupted when we heard laughs from our audience.

"Nice joke, Kaira. Just find a better way to propose him, I doubt even after that he will agree." Karthik said.

"I'm not joking and definitely not proposing!"

"She is not joking and I already agreed!" We both say at the same time. Our eyes met and we chuckled at the timing.

Once again our moment was interrupted when Samaira shoots up and checks Kaira's temperature.

"What the hell Sam!?" She slaps her friend's hand away.

"Kaira, are you okay? We could consult you to Chetan sir in the morning if you want. We..." She starts in a worried voice and it makes me laugh.

Glaring at me with her cute narrowed eyes Kaira snaps "This isn't funny! And Sam I'm not sick! Can you guys please stop this nonsense and believe me?"

"Belive you? Of course we believe you to feed us bullshit like that. Sam, I'm sure she is sick!" Nikita says from her place "This is not the Kaira I knew from college. The hater of male species."

"Geez, Niki you make me sound like a bloody villain!" Kaira whines.

"Hater? Seriously?" I nudge her teasingly.

Damn, her friends are something.... she is something.

"What else do you expect me to do with horny teenage boys? And please, you know what are the categories I hate, most of them come in my haters' list." She clarifies before facing her friends "I'm serious Sam, Nikki, I am getting married. Sometime in December. You people are invited, sure I'll send a proper card to your place before it of course."

"What!? You really are marrying this bitch!?"