Chapter 35
Sana
I glance down at the small velvet box in my hands. “Jai, you really didn’t have to.”
Jai sits across from me on the couch in my living room, his eyes soft. “I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”
I nod as I ask, “Why didn’t you come to the engagement?”
He looks away, letting out a small breath before his gaze finds mine again.
“Sana…” His lips curve into a sad smile, and I frown, wondering what’s wrong.
But before I can ask, he continues. “It’s not that I didn’t want to come.
But it’s just that I knew seeing you with him would hurt.
” He exhales, shaking his head. “And I thought… maybe staying away would be easier.”
I gulp hard. I never knew Jai felt this way. I always thought what we had was friendship, nothing more than that. But now, hearing the quiet ache in his voice… I realise I was wrong.
When I don’t answer, Jai runs a hand through his hair, letting out a forced chuckle that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Will you stop overthinking and just open the damn gift already?”
I hesitate for a moment before shaking my head at him with a soft smile. Slowly, I lift the lid, revealing a delicate silver bracelet with a small coffee cup charm resting at its centre.
I look up at him, my throat suddenly tight. “Jai… it’s beautiful.” My fingers trace the charm, my heart aching at the thoughtfulness of it.
Jai shrugs, attempting nonchalance. “You love coffee more than anything. And I wanted you to have something that would remind you of me and…” His voice trails off.
“I—” I stop myself, unsure of what to say.
Jai forces another smile. “You don’t have to say anything,” he says, his voice quieter now. “Just… be happy.”
“Thank you, Jai. For the gift. For caring. For everything,” I say, even though my heart feels heavy.
“Can I put it on you? I want to see how it looks on you.”
I hesitate for a second before holding out my wrist. He takes the bracelet from the box, his fingers brushing against my skin as he carefully fastens it around my wrist.
“There,” he murmurs, his eyes tracing the bracelet before meeting mine. “Perfect.”
Before I can respond, the door swings open.
“You just can’t stay away, can you?” Aditya’s voice cuts through the room, and I close my eyes for a brief second. Just my luck.
When I look up again, he’s already stalking toward us, his gaze darkening as they flick between me, the bracelet, and Jai. Jai pulls his hands back instantly, but the damage is already done.
Jai and I rise to our feet as Aditya closes the distance between us, his hand wrapping around my waist possessively. He glares at Jai, his jaw tightening with barely restrained anger.
I sigh, placing a hand on Aditya’s chest in an attempt to keep things from escalating. “Aditya, before you lose your temper, Jai is here to give me my engagement gift.”
Aditya scoffs, looking at me. “Engagement gift? How thoughtful.” His tone drips with sarcasm as he turns to Jai. “Should I expect a wedding present too? Maybe a honeymoon package?”
Jai offers a small, almost amused smile. “Relax, man. It’s just a gift for a friend.”
Aditya’s fingers tighten slightly around my waist as he tilts his head. “Right. And I’m supposed to believe that’s all you feel—pure friendship?”
Jai chuckles dryly. “Believe whatever you want, man. I don’t owe you an explanation.”
Aditya glares at him, his body tensing as he takes a step forward, but I quickly step between them, pressing a hand to his chest. “Will you stop?”
Jai clears his throat, drawing my attention. I glance over my shoulder at him as he offers a small smile. “Take care, Sana. And congratulations,” he says, his tone calm.
I nod in acknowledgment, watching as he turns and walks away.
As the door shuts behind him, Aditya lets out a sharp breath. “I don’t like him.”
I roll my eyes. “Why are you always like this?”
In a swift movement, Aditya cups my face, his thumbs grazing over my cheeks, his intense gaze locking onto mine. “Marry me. Now.”
Between the pounding of my heart and my nerves going wild, I manage only one word. “Now?” I blink up at him, thinking I must have heard him wrong.
He leans in, his forehead almost touching mine. “I don’t want to wait, Sana,” he murmurs, his voice raw. “I want to marry you right away. Let’s go to a temple.”
I press my hands against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palms. “Aditya,” I whisper.
“I’m yours. You know that.” I let my fingers splay out.
“Marriage is just a license—whether we get it today or in a few days, it doesn’t change what we are to each other.
” I look into his eyes, hoping he understands.
“And remember, we’re doing it right. With our parents, with proper rituals, the way we’ve always planned. ”
“I know… but…” His voice falters before he continues, “I don’t know why, but I’m scared.”
My heart twists at the confession. I gently cup his face. “Talk to me.”
He exhales shakily. “My mom told me about coming to your house with the wedding clothes and the conversation she had with you.”
Oh damn. I murmur the words under my breath, my shoulders stiff.
“Yes, sweetheart,” he confirms, his arms wrapping securely around my waist, pulling me closer. The intensity in his gaze sends a shiver down my spine.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice is steady, but I can hear the frustration simmering beneath.
“Aditya, I didn’t want you to stress. It was something I was able to manage.”
His jaw ticks. “You should have spoken to me.”
I sigh. “And that’s how it’s going to be for the rest of our lives? Every time something happens, I come running to you, crying?”
“Sana, you don’t understand. All of this—everything—is overwhelming.
The prenup, my mom throwing her weight around, people’s annoying judgments…
It fucking feels like a battlefield.” His grip tightens, as if he’s afraid I might slip away.
“And when you keep things from me, it feels like you don’t trust me to handle any of it. ”
The raw emotion in his voice makes my heart clench, and I feel the lump in my throat swell painfully. “I know that, Aditya. This isn’t easy for either of us. And I do trust you, but if there are things I can handle on my own without burdening you, I don’t mind.”
His voice drops, edged with desperation. “You don’t have to handle it alone. You shouldn’t have to. This is our life, Sana. Ours. And I need you to share everything—no matter how messy or complicated it gets—without worrying about burdening me.”
I nod, swallowing past the tightness in my throat. “I won’t hide anything from you.”
He pulls me into his arms and whispers. “I keep thinking… what if something goes wrong? What if I lose you? What if someone takes this happiness away from me?”
I lift my head and look him in the eyes—his vulnerability laid bare, but he doesn’t hide; instead, he continues. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Sana. And I don’t want to risk anything coming between us.”
I stroke my thumb over his cheek, my own eyes stinging. “Nothing is going to take us away from each other.” My heart aches at his vulnerability. “We’re stronger than that.”
“I just—” He swallows hard, as if battling his own fears. “I love you so damn much, and the thought of not having you—” His voice breaks.
I press my forehead to his. “You have me. Now, tomorrow, forever. That’s not changing.”
He lets out a breath, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. I smile pulling back slightly.
“We should get going,” I say. “We need to pick Mom up from the temple and then head to your house to fix the wedding date.”
Aditya groans. “I just hope they set it for tomorrow.”
I laugh. “Tomorrow? Someone is impatient?”
He grins, pulling me closer by my waist. “You have no idea.” His fingers toy with the strands of my hair as his voice drops teasingly.
“On second thoughts… we’re going to the temple to pick up Mom anyway—so let’s just get married while we’re at it.
I’m sure she’ll be with me on this and will give us her blessing.
That way, we follow the ritual, have your mom’s blessing, and then go to my parents to get theirs. ”
I shake my head. “That’s not happening, Mr. Impatient. You better learn the art of patience.”
He smirks. “Sorry, but patience isn’t my forte.”
I swat at his arm, and he chuckles before lacing his fingers with mine and leading me outside. As we slide into his car, he steals a quick glance at me before starting the car.
And just like that, we drive toward the next chapter of our forever.