CHAPTER 57
AARAV
Gaurav groans from the ground, still clutching his bleeding arm, but his voice is loud enough to cut through the silence. “Where the hell did you come from?” he spits, eyes darting wildly between me and Anika. “We made sure she was alone.”
I smile. Not the polite, charming one I use with aunties and investors. No—this one’s sharp. Cruel. It comes from somewhere dark and personal. “She will never be alone,” I say, stepping closer, “not as long as I’m alive.”
His brows furrow in confusion.
I tilt my head, amused. “I was in the backseat, Gaurav. The whole time.” I glance at Anika. "I heard you calling me a rat, by the way; you might have to make up for that." She rolls her eyes, but I can see her lips twitching.
When we got the message yesterday, I knew whoever was behind this wouldn't let this wedding happen, and it was my plan to call Aunty to our house because I knew there was only one time span where Anika could remain alone and the bastard would try to get to her, so when I came to see if Anika was okay last night, I told her the plan and asked her to act as if she was shit scared.
She was against all that, worried about me, but she doesn't know her husband can fight anyone, God himself, if he has to for her.
Reluctantly, she did agree, and I am glad.
"Your acting was mindblowing, baby." I chuckle as she pretends to bow and winks at me.
“You’re insane,” Gaurav hisses.
“No,” I say, crouching to his level, “you are. You really thought you could threaten her, touch her, take her—and I’d sit back and do nothing?”
Gaurav lets out a weak laugh through his pain. “She’s not your wife,” he wheezes. “I’m the man she deserves. Not some coward who hides and attacks when I wasn’t even looking.”
I look at him, really look at him. And something inside me… snaps. “Man?” I laugh once, twice, then harder. “You’re calling yourself a man?”
My eyes flicker to Anika. She’s standing quietly by the side, her expression unreadable—except her eyes.
Her eyes are locked on mine, like she knows exactly what I’m about to say and she wants me to say it.
I turn back to Gaurav. “You threw acid on a girl because she said no to you. That’s your definition of manhood? ”
I lean forward, so close that he can see the anger in my eyes. “A man protects. A man doesn’t destroy. A man doesn’t try to own women like they’re property. You want to know what makes me a man?”
I rise slowly to my feet, brushing imaginary dust from my sleeves.
“I don’t have to scream my masculinity from the rooftops.
I don’t need to mark territory. I make her feel safe.
I hold her when she cries. I stand between her and anyone who dares raise a hand or voice.
And I’ll do it every single day, whether the world sees it or not. ”
Anika's breath catches. I don’t look at her yet. I can’t. Not until these bastards are out of sight.
“Jay,” I call, never taking my eyes off the broken heap that is Gaurav. “Take these two away to the police station. Give them my name. Tell them I’ll come in the morning to give my statement.”
“Yes, sir.” Jay walks over and kicks some dust toward Gaurav’s feet before turning to me. “You walking on your own,” he asks them, “or should I break your legs so I get the excuse to carry a grown-ass man like a baby?”
I chuckle under my breath and shake my head. Jay’s too dramatic, but right now, I love it.
As they’re dragged away, both of them cursing and crying like the cowards they are, I finally turn. Anika’s looking at me like I’ve just stepped out of a dream—equal parts shock, awe, and a little bit of Is this really my life?
I walk to her, place both hands on her cheeks gently, and brush away the mess of curls sticking to her face.
“Let’s get married, wifey,” I murmur, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
My thumb grazes the edge of the bruise on her arm, and my heart clenches.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, “for being that ruthless in front of you. I hope you don’t… ”
She cuts me off with a smile that steals the air from my lungs.
“Let’s get married, husband,” she says, and rises on her tiptoes.
“I love you,” she whispers, and before I can even respond, her lips are on mine.
Soft. Sure. Everything I’ve ever wanted in this lifetime. This girl—this woman—is mine. And I’m hers. And nothing, nothing, will ever change that.