Sidharth's POV:

Crowd. Sweat. Alcohol. Blasted music.

My senses immediately registered as I walk in the club behind my friends to a booth where a gang was already waiting for us.

"Sid, my man! I'm so glad you could come this time." Yelled Daksh, one of my team mates of junior college "You and Abhi weren't last time so we had to reschedule this party."

Abhi laughed as he threw his arm over his shoulder and I gave a smile as I slide in a seat beside Karthik leaving one seat beside me for Abhi.

We joked and rewind back to college days until Nikhil, another team mate brought over shots. We cheered for this party's reason and took a shot each. Toasted again for second round and gulped down.

Around Half an hour past midnight, most of the boys from my table were on dance floor, either dancing by themselves, their group or flirting with girls.

They dragged me for sometime and I let loose all my work stress before this girl came over trying to get in my pants.

Girls! Why so desperate?

Ya I wouldn't have said no a few months back but now I have only one girl in my mind, heart and life, others can go fuck themselves!

Feeling my mood drop I came back to our booth to see 2 shots left. I gulped one and before I could take the second one Abhi came over grabbing it. I rolled my eyes at his sweaty form.

"Hey Sid! Here, keep my phone with you, I may loose it!" He yelled in my ear as he slipped the gadget in my hand and went back to dance. Shaking my head I let it be on my lap as I go through my phone.

I wasn't drunk yet, fully sober rather than Abhi and more than half of the gang of mine.

Something vibrated on my lap and I looked at Abhi's phone to see he recieved a message. I decided to ignore it when the name of the sender caught my eye.

Bunny.

My conscience yelled at me to stop as I opened the message on lock screen. I knew it was wrong but I haven't met her after that agitated day a few days back and I need to know if she's okay.

Yes we did chat but it wasn't enough for me to know if she is okay, when she replied without emojis and through short text.

My eyebrows furrowed as I read her text. Reading it out in her voice that sounded panicked with her "..." usage.

It read: Milkshake! No, I can't... I can't think anymore... the more I think... the more I get back in... I just had a dream... it looked everything like that... milkshake... plz... do something... take me out of here... I need a change of atmosphere. Plzzzz! Its like... call me when you see this.

She is panicked.

I realised. But why?

Why is that person disturbing her so much? Who is it and what did he do to my love?

My Kaira was strong, still is with whatever she is dealing with right now. I wish I could deal it myself and lessen her burden.

When is she going to tell me anyway?

I should ask her, if she wants to and has overcome her last reason, she may.

I want to see her now. Badly.

I haven't seen her in these days and its worrying me. I was busy in work and was getting irritated with my cousin's talks about my love, like seriously couldn't he stop already after I told him nicely?

My mind went back to the day when he came. I returned home after long hours at work, quietly had my dinner and went to my study.

As I was working on my laptop, a knock came on the door then Adi popped his head in before coming in fully and making himself comfortable on the chair in front of me.

"Hey Sid bro! How was your day?"

"Busy." I muttered typing on my laptop.

A few mins were silent as he played with a cube before he asked "So— Kaira huh?"

I lifted my head to look at him, he leaned back in chair and played with his rubrics cube like he owned the place.

I hummed not taking my eyes off him.

"Nice choice. She hasn't changed much, though she's grown hotter." He shrugged carelessly.

Something in me snapped and I knew I didn't like the way he talked about her.

"Well, now she is your bhabhi so respect her." I couldn't help but snap as I looked down at my screen wallpaper which was our picture together from our engagement.

He laughed "Oh come on bro, you have to agree. She—"

I still didn't like his tone and decided to ask "From where you know her exactly?"

He looked up startled "Hm? Oh, she was in my junior college. I had a little crush on her back then."

I raised my eyebrows. He did? Who wouldn't?  But then—

"Then you better tell me that little crush is long over, because I don't want my brother to drool over my wife and make her uncomfortable." I tell him, coming back to my spreadsheet on laptop.

He laughed again, which suspiciously sounded sarcastic "Oh yes, Sid bro, I don't like her anymore. She's all yours, as long as she is over her love for her bestfriend. Isn't his name something like Abhi?"

My eyes snapped to him boring holes in his head accusingly as he just disrespected their bond and hinted elsewhere.

"Why are you here at this time Adi? To talk about my wife's personal life? I don't want to hear it, I know her enough and if I wish to know her more I'll ask her to tell me, thanks for the trouble. If there is something else, tell me tomorrow, I need to finish this and sleep." I told him in my serious business tone as politely as possible.

That night I thought once again about Abhi and Kaira's relationship and was satisfied with my prior decision of being in their favor. I've seen them with my own eyes, I can't rethink just because someone tells me something, be it anyone.

But that was one day, in the next 2-3 days Adi came back to me with something or the other to discuss and somehow he would jump to Kaira's life and tell me to think about them again.

It was irritating. I know what I'm doing idiot, stay in your limits. I even warned him off a few times and he shifted from Abhi to boys she used to flirt or liked.

So what she flirted back in college? Who doesn't? She is a human and was a teenager back then, if my hormones can get me to fuck with girls, why won't hers to at least flirt back then?

Plus she literally is okay with my history with girls saying it was my life and she wasn't in it before, then what makes me think bad of her when she just flirted with boys when I didn't even knew she existed.

I used to tune off and concentrate on work rather than his gossips.

Why won't he leave my Kaira alone?

I was brought out of my memories of past few days when few of the boys returned to the booth, Abhi one of them. I unconsciously passed his phone back to him and he went through it with narrowed eyes.

His fist clenched at his side as he read Kaira's message. Though my eyes were in front as the twins talked off, my mind was at him eyeing him from the corner of my eye.

He then called someone, mostly Kaira as she had asked him. Once again my conscience was yelling at me to tune off his convo, instead my ears focused more.

"Sleeping?... Bunny, don't think about it. I told you to stop stressing yourself... I know." his voice softened at last as he closed his eyes.

He cares for her so much, just like me.

He continued talking in low voice "Bunny... yes, think about what I told you... Have you considered telling... Bunny... Fine take your time... I understand... He won't think like that dumbo... Ok fine... You still want to go out somewhere?... Hmm... I'll see... Ah... No I don't have a ride... ya, I'll ask... Oh stop it bunny." He snorted at last and I knew he hung up.

Unconsciously I smiled when he talked about me then frowned when I guessed she probably told him what my reaction would be.

What is going on in her mind? Is she fearing my reaction to what happened and that's why taking her time to tell me?

Didn't I told her I'll be with her as her rock? What is she going to tell me?

I was brought out of my thoughts when my phone vibrated in my hand. My heart fluttered and I raised my eyebrows at Kaira's name, unconsciously smiling.

"Hey." I picked up.

"Hey Sidharth, enjoying the party?" Came her calm voice, I could feel her small smile.

I smiled nonetheless "Eh, not so much. I'm thinking of leaving soon."

She chuckled and my heart skipped a beat as I listened to her after long time.

"Really? Didn't you guys have drinks or what? I'm sure most of the guys must be drunk already." She said.

"Ya, most of them are. I've just had 3 shots, so I'm pretty sober." I told her looking around. Abhi went in for another beer and I shook my head.

"Good, controlling yourself are you?"

"Yup, my wife doesn't want me to drink much, you know?" I smirked.

She chuckled "Thank you." She paused "Hey as you are driving yourself home can you—"

"Drop Abhi's drunk self home? Sure, as I remember you telling me his friends are useless and how you hate them." I interrupted.

"Sidharth, I wouldn't ever hate you and that was long back, I told you. And please, his friends are anyway useless, have you seen that Daksh? I bet he is going on about himself." She snorted at last.

I chuckled because I knew it was somewhere true.

"Hm, but what do I get if I come that far just to drop him?" I asked in a teasing tone.

"What do you want?" She replied in my tone.

"You." My voice turned serious "I want to see you, come down to meet me."

There was silence on her side before she whispered a small "Okay."

Did she miss me too? Like I've missed her?

Agreeing to text her when we leave, we hung up. Now I couldn't wait to get out of here and see my love.

It wasn't long, within 40 mins, I was driving through their area with Abhi sleeping in my passenger seat.

A smile made its place on my lips as I saw a figure coming out of shadows as I stopped on Abhi's driveway.

I got down as she came closer. My eyes raked down her skinny face and body as she pulled her sweater closer.

Did she loose weight in like 4 days!? Her face has drained colour so much!

I reciprocated a smile pulling her in a hug. It felt heaven to finally have her in my arms.

Backing off I took her face in my palms looking in her gorgeous brown eyes "How are you?"

She leaned in my touch and smiled "Good, now that you're here. I missed you."

I smiled, caressing her cheek with my thumb "So did I. Have you been dieting or what? You look like you lost 10 kg in a few days."

She gave a awkward chuckle and I knew she has been skipping meals.

"If you don't take care of yourself, then I'll have to interfere with your food." I told her sternly "Will you like that now?"

"I wouldn't mind much." She whispered but I knew I wouldn't do that.

"Hm, tomorrow's Sunday, come home for dinner?" I asked after just looking at her beautiful face illuminated with moonlight and some artificial lights from Abhi's driveway.

She blinked and stuttered "Sidharth... I.."

"Please, sweetheart? We haven't even talked for what feels like weeks. Plus, mom was asking me that day to bring you home for dinner sometime. We haven't had a family dinner like that from my birthday."

"Alright, I'll be there." She nodded in a blink making me smile.

For a few mins we stood there in each other's arms, sometimes in silence, just looking and feeling each other's presence, then sometimes having a small talk.

It was getting late and time to say goodbye. Giving her a big hug I tried to let her go, I would have if she loosened her grip on me.

I pat her back as she kept hugging me "What happened, sweetheart? Hm?"

She sniffed lightly then whispered against  my shirt "Is it bad that I don't want you to leave just yet?"

I smiled as my heartbeat fastened and pulled her close if possible "Not at all. But if you stay out for so long you'll catch cold and it's getting late huh? I'll have to get back home."

She just hummed and we stay like that for another 2 mins before we were ready to let go. I kissed her forehead and gave another set of instructions to take care.

We then woke up Abhi from my car and she took him in as he leaned half of his weight on her. Before going in Abhi's house to probably dump him in his bed, she turned to me and smiled. Smiling in return I slide in and drive off to my home as she closed the door behind her.

●●●●

It was around 6:30 in the evening the next day, I was in kitchen with my apron on cooking a few dishes I knew Kaira liked.

Lost in the aroma of spices as I stir them, I hear a wolf whistle then a voice that made me smile.

"Wow, I could get used to this scene all my life!" Kaira exclaimed as she leaned against the kitchen frame.

Mocking my eyebrows at her I said "Well, I'm waiting for the day when you'd be here and I'll be there, admiring you work."

She grinned walking over to me and sniffed the air full of aroma "Hm, what makes you think I'll be cooking when I have you to do it for me? Especially on weekends?"

I smirked at her "You want me to cook on weekends?" When she nodded I shrugged "Done."

I pulled her in a side hug as she chuckled "You look happy, something special? Not that I'm complaining."

Once I let her go, she leaned by the counter so that I could still see her and grinned "I met your parents, saw you in here cooking for me, is there any other reason needed?"

I chuckled, getting the pressure cooker off the other stove.

"Though those reasons are purely enough, but there is something else as well." She told me jumping up to sit on the counter this time, swinging her feet.

I knew it. Is she over her depressed phase yet? If she is, no one would be more happy than me!

"Thought so, honor me?"

"Most of milkshake's songs for his album are recorded and now, we are going to mumbai for a photoshoot and other little formalities. But guess what? Sree is coming with us and mission patching them up is going to be in action!" She squealed.

I smiled though my mind was stuck to her going away.

Take me away from here, milkshake, I need a change of atmosphere.

Her words from text rung in my ears and I couldn't help but curse the person responsible for my love's disturbance.

"That's great. How long would you guys be off?" I asked eyeing her from corner of my eyes.

She bit her lip nervously then shook her head before smiling "3 days to the max, some legal things need to be done along with others, Mr. Bharve was saying that this morning." She shrugged.

Lost in my thoughts, I steal glances at her as she looked around humming a tune I haven't heard before.

"I miss him." She suddenly declared.

My eyebrows furrowed I looked at her eyeing something on opposite wall and noticed it was her painting of Gaj and his group bathing in water.

I smiled "Why don't you go give him a visit? He'll feel nice as well."

She shook her head "I wish. Milkshake's pending works, my extra courses and spending time with family is all I'm busy with these days, no time at all."

"Don't stress yourself too much Kaira, everything will settle down on it's own. Especially Abhi's career, he is talented he'll make it back to the top soon." I tell her as I finally open the pressure cooker "Hey pass me ghee from that compartment."

She laughed coming closer with the bottle and handing it to me "Need a assistant, do you?"

I get hold of her wrist and pull her back to me "Nope, I have one. I need a wife, life partner?" I whisper looking in her eyes.

A smile spreads on our faces and I let go, continuing with my job.

"Isn't Preeti home today?" She asked after a peaceful silence.

I shrugged "I heard her talk about some hang out and sleepover to mom this morning."

"Sidharth, I think we should keep a eye on her once in a while." She said after contemplating.

I looked up to meet her eyes, they were coated with worry. I nodded as I ask "Any particular reason?"

She shrugged "I don't trust her boyfriend. He doesn't look like a trust material."

I have to agree, I didn't like or trust him either.

Before I could reply, mom called out for her. Grinning at me, she did a tipping hat gesture and left me alone to smile like an idiot in love.

Damn, I love her so much!

Half an hour later, I walked out to the living room where my love was laughing with my parents at something. I stopped in my tracks and admired.

The one thing I deep down always wanted, a complete family, it felt like now it completed.

Oh wait, just add my annoying sister and 2 adorable kids of ours, it'll be perfect family photograph.

I smiled widely at my imagination only to get interrupted by my dad calling out.

"Ah, there you are Sid. Where is the dinner you prepared for your wife tonight?" He winked.

Rolling my eyes I walked over to them "I made for everyone dad. Lets go, we eating in garden shed tonight."

"Why the special treatment today, Sid?" Mom mocked her eyebrows teasingly as we make our way to the garden.

"Nothing special, mom, just small change of atmosphere. Come." I tell her as we reached to the shed where our helpers already kept the food ready.

My parents sat in front of us as Kaira slides in the seat beside me. I start serving as they continue to discuss on their previous topic.

Watching my family mixing together is pure bliss. I noticed dad and Kaira discussed a lot of topics this evening, mom gave her opinions and discussed with them as well but I stayed quite, chuckling whenever dad made a joke on something.

Once our dinner was over, I silently gestured mom to wrap their talks up and leave us alone. She just laughed.

"Come on Jay, let's give them privacy, we'll go in." Mom said as she gestured dad. I rolled my eyes at their discretion.

"Yes, we should. Let's go." Dad grinned teasing us and went in with mom, laughing on their way.

I immediately turned to my right and caught Kaira smiling at their retreating figure.