Aashna's pov:

Aditi and I drove to a seaside which was guarded by a railing. Literally so common in Mumbai.

She parked her car and we both got out to get some fresh air.

I stood on the edge looking out to the vast dark sea and Aditi stood by me calling someone on her phone.

But I guess the person was not picking up so she gave up.

A few moments later, we saw another car coming to a halt at around 200 feet of distance.

Two men got out and I instantly recognised them as Shubman and Ishan.

What the hell are they doing here?

I ignored them and kept staring at the waters.

From my side view, I saw Shubman too walk to the railing and light a cigarette from his pocket.

Will he ever stop?

He didn't smoke once in the entire period of our courtship. Or did he?

Aditi received a call and she went to take it. Leaving me alone in the cool night breeze.

I kept glancing at Shubman but all he was doing was taking drags on his cigarette and staring into the ocean.

Ishan however was no where to be seen.

I looked back in the direction of our car and it was nowhere to be seen.

Ishan and Aditi were also not visible. Does it mean they took off leaving me all alone with Shubman at 200 feet?

My breathing got rough because of anger and I gripped the railing to control myself.

I heard a car stop at my back and the door to the car opened and closed making me look back.

What I saw were two men walking up to me. Shit!

I braced myself for whatever was coming my way.

I glanced at Shubman and it seemed like he went deaf and blind, can't he see that I'm unsafe?

The men came closer and I tried my best to ignore them.

"Madam! Kahan ja rhi ho? Kucch help chahiye kya?" One of them said in a disgusting tone.

"Oh madam kuchh toh bolo, ese chup chap kyu khadi ho?" The other one said with a laugh.

"No thanks, I'm fine!" I said sternly.

Shubman please come here!

"Fine lag toh nhi rhi...bolo toh kuchh help kar dein aapki?" He said slightly touching my arm.

I quickly retreated my arm and he came closer.

Shubman ab toh aa jaa pleaseee!!!

"Arey ham acche se puchh rhe hai toh zyada bhav kha rhi he? Chal chup ho ja! Aur shanti se hame apna kaam karne de!" The first one said and pushed me back on the railing.

I glance at Shubman and the cigarette is still in between his fingers while he's exhaling smoke.

How can he be so cold? I'm literally on the verge of getting raped and he really doesn't care?

My attention is brought back when one of them forcefully holds my hand and I start to struggle against him.

"Leave me! Chhodo mujhe! What the hell are you doing?" I try to pull my hands out of his grasp but I'm too weak. My struggle has no impact on his grip.

Maybe Shubman loves his cigarettes more than me....

He really doesn't care? He was the one who kept loving me when I hated myself.

But I guess there is no one in this world who really loves me...

This thought dries me up and my struggle against the man stop.

"You want to rape me right? Go ahead, no one cares...." I said very quietly.

They both shared a laugh and high fived each other.

The 2nd guy held my hand and turned me around. He then bent me over the railing.

He slowly hitched up my dress and I cringed when I felt his touch up my thigh causing me to close my eyes shut tightlytightly and tears flow out.

I was waiting for it to happen when the man who was bent over me suddenly fell to the side helping in pain and holding his jaw.

I looked slowly to the back and saw Shubman, standing their with his fists closed tightly and breathing heavily.

Shubman's pov:

I waited for a call, for a shout of my name from her. But I didn't even hear a whisper in the dead silence of the night.

So she would really go through anything than take my help huh?

I kept glancing in her way to see if things were still under control.

And my cigarette was almost finished when I heard her struggle but she still didn't call for my help.

Then everything went silent. I heard the men laugh and looked their way throwing my cigarette in the water.

My heart beat quickened and my breathing stopped for a moment when I saw Aashna bent over the railing and the men touching her inappropriately.

"Shit!" I cursed and walked speedily their way.

The anger pumping my blood causing me to walk faster. I clenched my fists ready to take on anyone who dared to touch her.

My first approach to the man bent over her was a hard punch to his face. The hardest I've ever punched someone in my life and he fell to the floor holding his jaw.

The other one tried to tackle me as I punched him too and and for a moment he was harmless.

In that time, I held a bewildered Aashna's hand and pulled her aside to check for any injuries. Thankfully there were none.

But she was scared, she looked hopeless, I decided to wipe her tears later and handle the situation first.

I pulled her to my back to safeguard her because those bastards seemed to be recovering.

I rolled up the sleeves of my black denim jacket. Ready for whatever shit to come my way.

One of them charged for me and I smashed his head against the iron railing hard, but not enough to kill him.

Then the 2nd one came forward and I kicked him to the ground. He fell with a loud yelp and I climbed over him and punched him repeatedly. Saw his face turn into a bloody pool.

Once he became unconscious. I finally stood up and turned to Aashna who was crying and had her shivering hands covering her mouth.

I walked in front of her.

"Let's go!" I said, feeling the adrenaline rush still.

But she kept on standing in the same position.

I took a deep breath.

"Aashna, let's go!" I tried once more and she started to cry harder.

I huffed and got hold of her hand and started walking towards our car feeling a bit mad already.

In the way she stopped and struggled against me.

"Shubman, leave me, let go Shubman!" She said pulling her hand out of my grasp.

Why the hell does she have to be so hard? Can't she quietly come with me? Does she wanna stay here and die?

I'm just making sure she's safe and what is she trying to do? Get the best of her ego!

I tried to move forward but she kept trying to pull her out of my grip.

"Shubman, I swear! Chhodo, let go!" She shouted and I lost it completely.

I turned around and intended to slap her hard but it got slow leading me to slap her, not so hard but enough to make her shut up.

I left her wrist and she looked down to the ground.

"Marne ka itna shauk he tumhe? Huh?" I asked her.

Then I held her hand and pulled her to the railing.

"Jump!" I said and she looked at me shockingly.

"Kya hua? Get it over for once right? Come on, jump!" I said and she kept standing staring at me with tear filled eyes.

"That's what I thought!" I said and pulled her to my car, her heels clinking on the stone and made her sit on the passenger seat.

Not like I could let her ever jump though!

I sat on the driving seat and leaned over her to fasten her seatbelt like I always did.

On our way back to the hotel, I kept stealing glances at her.

But all she was doing was sobbing endlessly in silence, her tears falling down to her lap and stare out of the window.

I parked my car in the doorway.

"Get out." I said quietly and she looked at me.

"Get out Aashna!" And she got out silently.

But as I was about to leave, I saw her still standing, she's just pissing me off.

I got out of the car in anger and walked her inside the hotel, inside the elevator, into the corridor leading up to her room. Will she ever stop crying, her eyes are swollen and red.

Looked like the door to her room was already open. So we went in.

We found Ishan and Aditi sitting peacefully playing with Bear.

We stopped in our tracks on seeing them.

I let go of Aashna's hand and try to understand what is going on?

"Kya ho gya guys? Tum log ke beech kuchh ho gya kya?" Ishan asked.

"Hua toh bohot kuchh he, par tu mujhe bta ki ki tu kahan chala gya tha?" I asked him.

"Me....wo...mujhe Adi mil gyi toh ham dono idhar aa gye....aur hame laga ki tum dono ko akele chhod dena chahiye.......guys kya ho gya you're scaring me!" He said.

"Akela? Kis ko? Ham dono ko? Ya isko aur iski cigarettes ko?" Aashna spoke angrily through crying.

"Well....." Ishan trailed off.

"Isse puchho kya hua? Ye batayegi!" I pushed her forward.

"Bolo Aashna kya hua tha?" I asked her loudly. We heard some voice outside of the room and I recognised it to be di's.

She came inside a moment later and seeing our positions and faces, she locked the door behind herself.

She walked slowly over to us with a frown.

"Kya ho gya tum dono ko?" She asked quietly and none of us said a word.

"Aashna batayegi, chalo Aashna speak!" I said.

She turned towards me with a tight finger pointing towards me.

"Shubman, stop!!!" She said with clenched teeth.

"Ok me hi bta deta hu!" I said looking at everyone's confused faces.

"Hua yeh ki tum dono toh hame chhod ke chale gaye, aur Aashna itni egoistic he ki chahe iske saath kuchh bhi ho jaye lekin yeh mujhe help ke liye nhi bulayegi!" I said.

"Haan Shubman bhi koi kam egoistic nhi he, chahe kisi ke saath kuchh nhi ho jaye, yeh apni cigarette khatam karke hi aayega!" She said glaring daggers at me.

"Mujhse mat bolo! Khud ko dekho pehle! Tumne ek bhi baar mera naam tak liya?" I asked her and she kept quiet.

"Guys hua kya yeh toh bta do!" Aditi spoke.

"Ham dono ek distance pe khade the, 2 guys came out of a car to her and they were about to rape her and I thought she will call me for help but she never did! Itna ego lekr kahan jaogi?" I said.

"Ok yk what? Sit down Aashna, yeh le paani pi le." Di said sitting her down on the edge of the bed and offering her water.

"Are you ok? Are you hurt?" The girls asked her and she nodded.

"Itna ehsaan mat dikhao Shubman! I never asked you to come, why did you? Aur agar tumhe baar baar same cheez bol ke jatana he na? Then I wish that you'd have never saved me!" She shouted at me.

"Fuck off Aashna, if I'd never save you, THEN YOU WOULD BE LYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BLEEDING!!" I shouted back.

"Fuck it! YOU KNOW WHAT? I WISH I HAD NEVER MET YOU, NEVER DATED YOU, NEVER HAVE GOTTEN ENGAGED TO YOU, aur pta nhi konsa time tha jab tumse shaadi kar li mene!!!" She shouted.

"Meri life perfect chal rhi thi, until you decided to show up and fuck it all up!" I shouted back.

"Wait a second! What did you just say?" Di said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Aashna? What was the last line? Can you repeat it?" She asked her.

"I...I...D-don't remember what I said?" Aashna said.

"Guys....you got...married?" She said quietly.

"No! No we didn't! It was in the heat of the moment! Not official! Not proper!" Aashna said.

"That's what you thought about it huh?" I asked her.

"That was all it meant right?" I said with a dry laugh.

"Shubman don't! Please.." She said crying again.

"You don't have to answer, see? That's why I love my cigarettes more than people!" I said pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Causing Aashna to cough slightly.

"Shubman fek isko!" Ishan said.

"What about no?" I said.

"Shubman, there's people who are coughing!" He said.

"They can fuck off for all I care!" I said.

"Yaar guys! Come on! You're friends right?" Aditi said.

"No Aditi! What are you saying? Shubman doesn't befriend his exes, he straightaway marries them!" Aashna said in the most taunting way.

"Ohk, so now you're jealous? And what about you flirting with all of my friends huh?" I said.

"I never flirted! They did, I was just being nice! And now don't you dare turn this around, you're fucking getting married!" She said.

"About the wedding....it won't be happening!" I said.

"What, shubman you can't do that, someone is waiting for tomorrow, what are gonna do, break her heart?" Aashna said.

"She has been breaking mine from the start..." I said and went out of the room to wash the blood off my hands and go to knock on Sara's room.

Alisha, her best friend opened the door.

"Kya hua jiju? Rha nhi ja rha sara ke bina?" She said.

"I need to talk to her, it's urgent!" I said.

"Ok I'll call her." She said with her smile fading.

Sara came outside and pulled me inside while alisha went out.

"What happened shubuu?" She said standing on her tip toes.

"Get off me!" I pushed her off.

"This wedding is not happening! I don't love you! We have zero chemistry, and I'll never be able to love you! Now don't ever force me into this shit again!" I warned her and walked out without hearing another word.

I walked outside to my car and sat down to clear my mind.

Aashna's liv:

Ok...alot of stuff happened today. I'm in my room, Bear is cuddling in my lap. Shahneel di and Aditi on my either side and Ishan is booking my fligh tickets back to Agra.

I can't stay here anymore.

I get up and start to pack my stuff and in around an hour, I'm done.

Tbh, I'm quiet satisfied that this wedding is not happening. Feeling bad for sara though.

"Itni jaldi kya he jaane ki? Kal subah tak ruk jaati?" Ishan said.

"Nhi Ishu, I need to leave!" I said and got to cuddle my not so big baby again.

"Ok fir, ticket toh ho hi chuki he, aaj subah 5 bje ki flight he." He said.

"Di ab kya hoga? He called off the wedding, I hope everything will be alright." I said to shahneel di as she put eyedrops into my eyes lying me on her lap.

"Yeh toh wahi jaane! But I'll keep you informed if something happens." She said touching my cheek.

It was already about 2 when we arrived at the hotel. A lot of time passed in fighting, screaming and shouting. And packing and now it was almost 4.

"I think I should leave for the airport, it's about time." I said.

Ishan had fallen asleep on my bed.

"Don't wake him up! I'll call him later." I said to Aditi as she was about to approach him.

"But you're gonna need help with your luggage right?" She said.

"I'll manage, don't worry!" I said.

I dragged my bags outside with their help and got the hotel staff to get them downstairs.

Then I went inside the room to see Bear snuggled up in bed. I feel bad waking him up because he is a big puppy and he still needs his baby sleep. So I just pick him up in my arms, even though he's like....10 kgs now, I'll manage to pick my baby up.

So with a sleeping Bear in my arms, I wait for my taxi to arrive.

Suddenly, the headlights of a car turns on and off.

I squint my eyes and cover Bear's eyes. Who the fuck?

The door of the car opens and I saw Shubman get out and walk towards me.

"Kahan ja rhi ho?" He asked very normally as if we weren't throwing it in each other's faces a while ago.

"Ghar." I said without looking at him.

"Itni kya jaldi he ki raat me hi jaa rhi ho? Kal subah chali jaana?" He said stroking Bear's head.

I moved him away.

"So rha he, jag jayega!" I said.

"Ab kiska wait kar rhi ho?" He said.

"My cab, it will be here shortly." I said.

"Chalo me drop kar deta hu." He said.

"Nhi thanks me chali jaungi!" I said.

He looked at me for a moment and picked up my luggage and walked to his car.

"Shubman!" I whispered shouted.

He came back for more luggage and loaded it in his car.

"Chalo Aashna, I'll drop you." He said politely.

"Don't act like everything's okay, it's not! You slapped me!" I said.

"It wasn't a slap, but like really, it was a feather. I haven't slapped anyone do lightly." He said.

"Still you did!" I said.

"Because you were not listening to me and it wasn't safe for you to be out there, and I was angry. Aashna it was a wake up call!" He said.

"Accha ok I'm sorry, alright?" He said.

"Please now let me drop you, don't go alone like that!" He said.

I shrugged and walked towards his car.

He opened the car door for me and I got in.

He closed the door silently and got in on the other side.

"He looks cute while sleeping." Shubman said gazing at Bear.

"He does, I didn't wanna wake him up so I carried him. He's getting heavier though!" I said.

"He's getting cuter." He said with a smile.

I noticed his hands on the steering wheel. His knuckles were cut.

"Shubman, your knuckles, are you ok?" I said.

"It's nothing. Are you ok?" He said.

"I'll be fine." I said.

He halted his car in front of the airport, it was silent as it was still dark.

We looked at each other in silence.

"Ok....so bye....ig?" I said.

"Why does it feel like the last time?" I said.

"Last time what?" He asked me slowly.

"We being together?" I said.

He leaned in slowly. Brushing his lips against mine, I felt his warm breath on me and I resisted the urge to lean in, he said.

"I can assure you it's not, believe me." And yes I believe him.

It's like I get blind when it comes to him.

He leaned backwards and I got out of the car flustered.

He came outside and took out my luggage and walked me to the security area. Now Bear will have to walk. So I wake him up and put him down.

And gathered my luggage and walked through the security check.

I looked back to see Shubman standing and watching us.

I waved at him with a smile and he instantly waved back and turned around fast and left. What happened to him?

But I continued and was able to catch my flight without any problem.

Thank you Shubman, for everything.

He helped me do many times in this span and not once did I thank him.

Huff.

I'll just sleep.

AUTHOR'S RANT: Hey guysss, so here is it. Get ready for them to be together now.

Vote and comment on thie chapter ❤❤❤.