CHAPTER 42
AARAV
She’s sitting on the edge of the bed, towel draped over her head as she rubs it against her wet hair, and somehow manages to splash half the water on me in the process.
I don’t say anything. I just watch her. Her back is to me, and her bare shoulders peek through the loose neckline of her kurti, still damp from the shower.
The scent of jasmine shampoo fills the room, familiar and warm.
Badi Maa’s homemade tonic apparently works miracles.
Anika’s no longer slurring her words or trying to dance with the ceiling fan.
She’s just… here. Sober. And within arm’s reach.
I’ve been trying to find the right time to talk to her, but honestly, every time I look at her, my words curl up and die somewhere in my throat. I never knew I could be so coward.
She flips her hair over her shoulder and finally turns to look at me. “You want to say something?"
Caught in 4k. I scratch the back of my neck, sheepish. “No, why would you say so?”
“Hmm,” she hums, not buying it. Her eyes linger on me for a second longer than necessary, and I see the trace of a smile on her lips. Of course she knows I am lying. She’s beautiful in this state—raw, unfiltered. No walls. No performance.
Come on dude, you are making it too big, just go and talk to her! I stand up abruptly making my way to her. Now or Never. I sit next to her, closer, but not too close. Just enough that she knows I’m here. “Anika,” I start, voice low. “I need to talk to you.”
"Knew it," She raises a brow. “About?”
“Us.” The word hangs heavy in the air. It’s terrifying how just two letters can feel like a goddamn avalanche.
Her posture changes. Just slightly, but I notice. She crosses her arms. Defensive. Guarded. And I don’t blame her.
I inhale deeply, fingers twitching at my sides.
“I know I’ve been distant. And I’ve said nothing when I should’ve said everything.
" She shakes her head and opens her mouth to say something but I don't let her, "That day… when you looked at me after I stayed silent, it gutted me. You looked—hurt. And you had every right to be.”
She doesn’t say anything. Just watches me.
“I didn’t say anything because I was scared,” I admit, voice dropping.
"Of me?" She asks tilting her face in confusion, pointing a finger at herself.
“Not of you, obviously." I chuckle and she glares at me, I raise my hand in surrender, she can be terrifying sometimes. "Of losing you, Anika." I whisper. Her breath hitches and her eyes softens.
"I’ve already lost you once. And now, you’re here, in this house, as my wife—technically—and I still can’t believe it.
I didn’t want to push you. I didn’t want to mess this up.
This is already so messy." I ramble, "You’ve always been this… impossible dream. And now you’re real and close and I just—” I trail off, frustrated.
She stares at me for a second. Then another. And just as I’m about to prepare myself for another wall to go up, she steps forward, towel slipping from her hair to the floor.
And her lips press on mine. Soft. Sure. Certain.
Her lips are warm against mine and her fingers curl into the collar of my shirt.
For a second, I forget to breathe. I forget how to do anything except kiss her back.
And I do—eagerly, completely, almost desperately.
Because this is Anika. Kissing me like she means it.
When she pulls back, she doesn’t step away. Her lips are pink, eyes half-lidded, breath shaky.
“Does this mean,” I tease, “you’ll finally stop ignoring me and give us a real chance?”
She rolls her eyes, the corners of her lips twitching. "We will see about that," She shrugs, winking at me.
I laugh, surprised by how light it feels. We’re laughing. After everything, we’re here, sharing something that isn’t heavy or painful or awkward.
I kiss her again, slower this time, letting my hands slide around her waist, feeling her body melt into mine. She’s warm and soft and responsive in a way that makes my head spin.
Then her fingers tug at my t-shirt.
I break the kiss, blinking. “Anu… what are you doing?”
She looks at me with those mischief-soaked eyes. “Doing what I’ve wanted to do since you walked out of the bathroom half-naked earlier.”
I chuckle, can’t help it. “You want me, my beautiful wife?” I bite her lower lip and she shudders under my touch.
“Is that a question?” she deadpans, tugging at my shirt again. “Either reject me or do something about it, Aarav.” There’s a slight whine to her voice that does dangerous things to my self-control. It’s addictive.
“God, you’re so desperate,” I tease, brushing her damp hair back.
She narrows her eyes. “You’ve got five seconds before I start biting.”
I lean in, brushing my lips against her ear. “Are you sure, Anu?" My forehead touches hers, "We can’t take this back, baby. Once we cross this line…”
She pulls back just enough to look me in the eye. “Please, Aarav. I need this. I need you.”
She leans in for a kiss but I place a finger on her lips, I clear my throat. “Anu,” I say.
“I have a confession,” I inhale deeply. I don't know what she will think about me but to me this is important, I need her to know what power she holds over me.
God, why is my mouth so dry? “I’ve never had sex.” I whisper.
She stares at me like she’s not sure she heard it right. Then lets out this breathy laugh. Not mean, not even surprised in a mocking way. Just… processing.
“Wait—you mean like, never?” she asks, blinking. Her eyes bright.
I nod, staring down at my hands. “Yeah.”
Her eyes are wide now. “You’re a virgin?”
I nod again. I am not at all ashamed of it. She steps closer, slowly, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m serious. “Why?” she whispers. And that’s what undoes me. The way she asks it so softly. Not judging. Just… trying to understand.
“I was waiting,” I admit. “For you.”
She stills.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again,” I continue, feeling like every word is peeling something raw open inside me.
“I didn’t know if we’d end up in the same place again, but even when I didn’t know where you were, even when I told myself to move on, it was always you, Anu.
I couldn’t even imagine it being anyone else. I didn’t want it to be.”
She doesn’t say anything. She just looks at me like I’ve shifted her whole foundation. Like maybe she wasn’t expecting me to care this much. Or be this… open.
“Aarav,” she says, breathlessly, as her hand caresses my cheek, “What if you never found me?” She asks, her eyes wide but so soft, I cannot look away.
I huff a bitter breath and glance away. “ If I hadn’t found you again?” I smile, “So what. I still wouldn’t have. I still wouldn’t have given that part of me to anyone else, because… I don’t know. It’s always been yours. I belong to you. I think I always have.”
She’s in front of me now. Quiet, but her eyes—God, her eyes. There’s no teasing there, no disbelief. Just something deep and honest and maybe a little stunned.
She lowers herself to her knees in front of me, gentle fingers reaching up to touch my face. Her thumb grazes my jaw like she’s memorizing it. Like she’s afraid I might vanish.
“You’re an idiot,” she whispers, a crooked little smile on her lips.
I laugh, more out of relief than anything else. “Yeah. Probably.”
Her hand moves to my chest, resting there like she can feel my heartbeat. “A beautiful idiot,” she adds, and then she leans in and kisses me.
Soft. Slow. Like she’s trying not to spook me. And I kiss her back. Because how could I not?
It’s not frantic or rushed. There’s no need to prove anything. It’s just... right. Her lips move with mine like they’ve done this before in another life. Like our mouths know something we’re still figuring out.
When she pulls back, there’s a softness in her face I’ve never seen before. Not like this. Not so bare.
“I want you too, Anu,” I mutter, my voice quiet but clear.
Something tight in my chest lets go. “Whether you choose to stay in my life or not,” I continue, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’ve wanted you for a long time.
” I lean in, rest my forehead against hers.
Her skin is still cool from the water. “You have me,” I whisper. “All of me.”
She closes her eyes and lets out a slow breath. “Good. Because I don’t plan on letting you go either.”