Chapter 30
Sidharth
The next few weeks were a breather, not because we had any solid leads, but because Sunita Aunty was finally discharged from the hospital, and Nisha was smiling again.
And though things looked normal on the surface, I knew better than to get comfortable.
This happiness was too damn fragile for me to let my guard down.
Which only meant I had to reinforce it even more.
That’s what pushed me to start self-defense training for Nisha in the small gym room at my place. She hated it. Grumbled and sulked through every damn session, but I didn’t give a damn. I’d rather have her pissed at me than ever see her powerless again in front of those bastards.
“You’re still too easy to knock over,” I say, catching her wrist midair in a grip gentle but firm enough to halt the sloppy punch.
Her chest rises and falls as she scowls at me. “You’re too strong for me.”
“Strength isn’t the point,” I say, holding her gaze. “It’s about outsmarting and being fast enough to take down your target before he gets a chance to strike.”
A low growl of frustration escapes her. “Thanks for the motivational quote. Now, if we can get back to you teaching me this stupid wrist lock again.”
My lips twitch, fighting a smirk. “It’s not stupid. It’s going to save your life.”
I release her hand and step back, motioning for her to reset.
“Alright, now imagine the attacker’s coming straight at you.” I reach out and grab her wrist with enough pressure to mimic the real thing. “When someone grabs you from the front like this, you don’t panic.”
“Easy to say,” she mutters, rolling her eyes.
“Cute. Now stop rolling your eyes and focus.”
“Yes, Mr. Control.”
I can’t help but grin, taking a moment to let my eyes rake over her.
Sweat glistens at her hairline, her ponytail is a mess, and loose strands cling to her flushed face.
And damn if that doesn’t send heat straight to my lower body.
But I shove it down and focus on the task at hand.
The last damn thing I need is my desire calling the shots.
I shift her arm slightly and tap the spot between my thumb and index finger.
“Right here. This is the break point, the weakest part of the grip.” I demonstrate slowly, twisting my wrist towards that gap.
“Rotate your wrist towards the space between their fingers. Fast enough to break free before they even realize it.” I let go.
“And once you’re free, you drive your knee straight up to the groin.
Hit hard before he even thinks of reacting. Now, let’s try again.”
I grip her wrist again. She fumbles the move. Doesn’t even come close to breaking free.
I take the opening and spin her around, her back slamming into my chest, my arms caging her in.
She groans, exasperated. “Sidharth, I swear to God, I’m not some Navy SEAL. You’ve had me doing this for forty-five minutes. I can’t do this anymore.”
I chuckle low in my throat. “Stop being a baby. I’m not stopping until you can get yourself out of my hold.”
“This is no fun,” she mutters under her breath.
“This isn’t for fun,” I lean in, my mouth brushing her ear. “This is because I need to know that if I’m not there, you’ll still fight and give that bastard exactly what he deserves.”
She stiffens slightly, her gaze dropping to the training mat beneath our feet.
I know the thought of being alone scares her, and damn, the idea of leaving her, even for a moment, scares me more.
But I have to think of the what-ifs and the buts.
Because logically, I can’t be with her twenty-four seven, no matter how much I want to.
And as much as it kills me, what she needs is to be able to fight without me there, if it ever comes to that.
I take a slow breath, step back, and move in front of her again, taking her wrist in my hand. “Again.”
This time, when she lifts her chin, there’s no frustration.
Just sharp, focused determination. I’m so taken aback, trying to figure out what sparked this change in her, that before I even see it coming, she twists her wrist exactly the way I taught her and drives her knee into my stomach with more force than I expected.
“Fuck.” The hit isn’t that hard, but it’s enough to make me crouch slightly, one hand instinctively bracing my core.
Her eyes widen, stunned. “I did it?”
Still bent over, I glance up at her, smirking. “Yes, you did.”
She claps her hands, bouncing on her toes like a kid who just beat the boss level of a game. “I did it! I actually did it!”
And despite the ache in my gut, I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.
“You sure are a fast learner,” I murmur, straightening as some of the tension in my chest finally eases. She’s getting there, and I can breathe a little easier knowing she might actually be able to protect herself.
Her eyes meet mine, softer now. “God, I still can’t believe it. I’ve never knocked someone over in my life.”
I arch a brow, rubbing the spot she hit. “Considering I can still feel the damn pain, I’d say you did more than just knock me over.”
She bites her lip, and just like that, all the control I’ve been holding onto snaps.
My hands move before I can stop them and cup her flushed cheeks, my thumbs brushing against her warm skin.
I lean in, close enough to feel her breath, my eyes glued to her lips, when she suddenly steps back, breaking the moment.
“Okay, let’s try it again before I lose my momentum,” she says, casually.
I let out a low grumble. “You sure are a mood killer.”
She raises a brow. “Well, you do want me to learn how to protect myself, right? Can’t have distractions, unless you’ve changed your mind?”
I shake my head, exhaling roughly as I rein it all back in. “Not a damn chance. Let’s keep going.”
“Alright,” she says, brushing a damp strand of hair off her face. “What’s next?”
“Floor work.”
Her eyes narrow. “You want me on the floor? What exactly do you have in mind?”
I smirk. “Stop letting that beautiful brain wander to places we both can’t afford to go right now. This is about showing you what to do when a man tries to pin you down.”
Her expression shifts instantly. The playful spark fades and is replaced by a flicker of fear. Before she can second-guess it, I drop to one knee and tap the mat beside me.
“Trust me, by the end of this, you’ll be confident enough to take down any man, even one twice your size.”
She hesitates for a beat, then nods.
I guide her down onto her back, then move over her, assuming the attacker position while keeping every muscle locked and tightly restrained, careful not to let even an ounce of my weight press into her.
“Now listen closely,” I say, meeting her eyes. “Hook your right leg over my thigh. Drive your elbow into my neck. Then bridge your hips and twist hard, like your life depends on it.”
She nods slowly, and I continue to stay perfectly still above her, holding the position.
“Go,” I instruct.
She hooks her right leg over my thigh, just like I showed her. Her elbow pushes up against my neck, hesitant at first, but then she grits her teeth and drives harder.
“Good. Now bridge and twist.”
She breathes in, then explodes into motion. Her hips thrust up with surprising power as she twists her body and, in a flash, I’m off-balance and flipped onto my back with a solid thud.
I blink up at the ceiling, a flicker of pride running through me, but I don’t get the chance to move. She quickly scrambles up and straddles me, her knees braced on either side of my hips, breathless and flushed.
“I flipped you,” she says, as if unable to believe herself.
“Hell yes, you did.” I grin, my hands hovering just above her waist. “And now you’re just showing off.”
A slow, wicked grin tugs at her lips. “Well, it’s not every day I get to knock you on your back.”
I chuckle. “Careful, sweetheart. Straddling me like this, with that sexy mouth of yours… you’re playing with fire.”
She leans in, her lips grazing my ear before she nibbles lightly on my earlobe. My breathing stutters.
“Maybe I want to get burned,” she whispers.
And damn if that doesn’t hit harder than any knee or elbow ever could. All I want is to fist her hair and kiss the hell out of her. Focus, Sidharth. Stay in control. But hell, if fighting that need isn’t the biggest test of my willpower.
I bring my hands to her shoulders and gently pull her back as I sit up. Then, with all the control I’ve got left, I press a quick kiss to the tip of her nose.
“Now let’s try another move.”
“You’re such a mood killer,” she whines, throwing my own words back at me with a grin.
I smirk. “Payback, sweetheart.”
She groans as we both get to our feet.
The next thirty minutes fly by. With every strike and counter, her confidence grows. Eventually, I glance at the clock and say, “Alright. That’s a wrap for today.”
She wipes the sweat from her brow, still catching her breath. “You owe me an ice cream.”
“I definitely do, sweetheart.”
She places a hand dramatically on her chest, her eyes going all mock-dreamy. “Aww… you really are the best boyfriend.”
I grin, grabbing a towel and tossing it at her. “Damn right I’m.”
She catches it, still laughing, when her phone beeps from the bench.
“Let me get that,” she says, walking over and picking it up.
But the second her eyes hit the screen, I see the shift. Her laughter dies mid-breath and her shoulders go tense. She inhales sharply as her thumb hovers above the phone. My instincts immediately flare, and I’m beside her in a heartbeat.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice tight.
She looks at me, swallowing hard before turning the phone towards me. My gaze drops to the screen, locking onto the blurry, greyscale image.
“Kavya’s ultrasound,” she whispers.
I look up as she takes the phone from my hand and swipes to the next picture.
“She’s showing already,” Nisha murmurs, her voice cracking at the edges.
“She looks so happy. Glowing.” She draws in a shaky breath as tears pool in her eyes, her fingers tightening slightly around the phone.
“I still remember when we were little, we’d take turns stuffing pillows under our shirts and pretend we were pregnant. We even made lists of baby names.”
She lets out a fragile smile, lost in the memory. “She always wanted to name her baby Rahil.”
I smile faintly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s a beautiful name.”
She laughs softly through the tears. “I wanted to name mine Aryan. After this fictional prince I used to write about in my diary. I even swore I’d marry someone who looked like him.”
I raise an eyebrow, half-teasing. “You mean tall, handsome, dark eyes?”
She glances at me sideways, her eyes narrowing just a bit. “How do you know?”
I shrug with a smirk. “I just described myself.”
She scoffs and nudges me lightly with her elbow. “You’re so full of yourself.”
“I’m,” I agree, then my voice softens. “Maybe we can go visit her. You could be there for the last trimester… the baby shower… the delivery. All of it.”
Her eyes widen just slightly, like she hadn’t dared to hope for that until now.
“Yeah, I’d like that.” She leans in without a word and rests her head on my shoulder, her hand splayed over my chest, right above my heart.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her close, knowing I’ll make it happen. Because her dreams aren’t just hers anymore. They’re mine now. My mission. My purpose. My command.