Aryan Singh Rathore heard her scream before he felt the impact. His body thudded against the ground, and he felt the fight within him give up. The blood trickling down his eyebrow was indication enough that his body couldn't survive another set of blows. The lids of his eyes dropped downwards and had almost enclosed his hazy vision when he heard her scream again. It was as if an intangible energy has passed on from Imlie voice and into his being. She hadn't even uttered a full sentence, yet it was enough for him to reunite with his willpower.

This time, when the stick had come down to strike the back of his head, he had anticipated its trajectory and blocked it effectively. One by one, he reduced the goons to dust, as Imlie and Mr. Tripathi did the same. The last one fell in front of his feet, and he stepped around the nuisance, his eyes trained on her, as always. He thought he saw a smile stretch across her face as she stared back at him, but he chalked it up to a figment of his imagination. Her stance assumed a determined resolution and Aryan watched as Imlie broke into an unexpected sprint.

His blurred vision only provided a silhouette of her running towards his direction and given the situation, it was still a sight to behold. As Imlie - his wife, his partner - grew closer, his vision cleared, and his hands tingled in anticipation of holding her once she was in his arms. A few months ago, Aryan Singh Rathore would have expressed sheer disgust towards the display of weakness, such as affection. But he had since realized that his greatest strength lied within the bundle of sunshine running towards him. Previously, he would have done anything to keep her at arm's length and more. Now, he couldn't bear an inch of distance.

Aryan had just lifted one foot to step forward, to shorten the anticipation, when he noticed Mr. Tripathi standing just a few feet in front of him with his arms wide open. His eyes darted between the two and his steps faltered backwards.

He pivoted towards the opposite direction when her shriek halted his movements. "ABP," she panted out while continuing her journey towards him. Aryan watched as she crossed paths with Mr. Tripathi, a fleeting glance towards him as if to recognize his presence but not acknowledge it. The brief interaction had no impact on her pace, and it wasn't long before she'd be colliding right into him.

The tingling sensation had returned and this time he listened to its indication, lifting his arms up in await. Just a shy moment later, Imlie leaped into his arms and circled her arms around his neck. Her grip was firm, intentional, and completely welcomed by her ABP who had wrapped his arms around her and lifted her till her toes just grazed the ground. He moved one of his hands upwards, leaving a trail of fire along her spine in his pursuit. She sighed in satisfaction as his hand sunk through the handful of tresses that lined her scalp and applied the slightest pressure.

No clear set of adjectives were appropriate enough to describe the feeling that had overcome Aryan yet if he had to rely on a singular world, it would most likely be sukoon. The rapid beating of her heart that matched his own gave him sukoon. The way her arms tightened around his neck every few seconds as if he'd disappear if she let go, gave him sukoon. Her head nestled into the crook of his neck, tears soaking his shirt in concern for him, gave him sukoon. It had started as a little ball of hesitation in his heart but had soon festered into a well-developed sensation that had spread across the entire expanse of his body – sukoon.

She had chosen him. She had run towards him sans any inhibition, any hesitation. Her mind, heart, and body had led her towards him – not out of obligation, but with her consent. He wasn't the obstacle nor the path, but rather her destination. She wasn't bending for that despicable man, but neither was she bending for him. She was meeting him halfway, shoulder to shoulder, head held high and Aryan Singh Rathore wouldn't have it any other way. As he lightly pulled her head back and nudged her nose with his own, he saw it. He saw it in her eyes, her tear-stained cheeks, her labored breathing, her insistent touch – he was enough.

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