Shubman's POV

A man with a suit was on the stage, he helped Aditi onto the stage. Doing so, I caught a glimpse of his face. It was the same guy whom I comforted...

Ayush was Ayush Singh, the heir to Hotel Singh.

The way he looked at Aditi made me want to punch him in the face. Aditi's eyes landed on mine. Her soulful brown eyes widened with shock. She bluffed an excuse and practically sprinted toward me. She gestured for me to join her. I waited a few minutes before following her.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed under her breath, I could notice some hope in her voice.

"I can't attend my girlfriend's wedding?" I snorted jokingly, Her eyes flashed with hurt.

"Aditi," I spoke in a softer voice, her eyes flicked to my pocket where the letter was left. I placed a hand on her cheek, she struggled to mask her emotions.

"This is wrong..." She looked away from my eyes.

"You're my girlfriend." I pointed out with a smile, she gave in and hugged me.

"I'm so sorry." Tears streamed down her cheeks. I brushed them past with my thumb.

"Don't be," I added with a laugh. "You suck at lying.". She buried her head in my chest and hugged me tighter, I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"My bike is parked outside." I got to the point, I was hesitant but I blurted it out.

"You can't be serious...." Aditi gaped at me, I nodded.

"Shubman, I'm getting married." She pleaded with me.

"Not to the guy you're in love with." I sighed and massaged my temple.

"But what did Deepika do to deserve her life being made to hell?" Tears slipped down her cheeks once more. I didn't have an answer to that question. I leaned forward and kissed her. The kiss was consoling and sweet. The type that makes you smile with joy that your OTP is back. We broke apart and I brushed her tears away.

"I'll figure something out," I promised her with a lot of determination. I heard clapping, whipping my head around, I saw Ayush.

"Amazing." He clapped and chuckled.

"What a cliche heart-touching scene." He shook his head with disbelief.

"Let's make it more cliche, and have the villain enter shall we?" His eyes hardened, he clenched his jaw.

"Ayush." I took a deep breath, knowing how much of a toll I took on him.

"Just think about what's right and wrong for a second." I tightened my grip around Aditi's waist.

"Aditi's is being threatened into this alliance. She doesn't want it." I added with a tinge of hesitancy. "You know that now."

Ayush turned around abruptly and marched toward the wedding. A cold hand of fear clutched me hard.

"Ayush!" I called out and ran after him. I ignored the shocked gasps of recognition and chased after him.

"What are you doing?" I hissed to him quietly.

"Doing the right thing." His eyes were cold and merciless.

"I nor Aditi are interested in the marriage. We're fine with becoming allies in business but not in life." Ayush's voice carried the message across crystal clear to the crowd. I felt respect toward this man whom I'd met just fifteen minutes ago.

"To make matters worse, this marriage would have been forced." He shot a pointed glare at who I assumed was Aditi's grandmother.

"What is your son talking about!" the elderly woman let out a cry-out out-rage.

"We'll talk to him." Another woman, Probably Ayush's mom, consoled the fretting elder.

"Take Aditi and go," Deepika ordered me, I smiled thanks to her and made my way to the doorway. Aditi was on the verge of happy tears. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into a passionate kiss. There were more shocked gasps from the crowd. I pulled away with a smug smirk.

"This is outrageous! I'm her legal guardian, Delilah." Aditi's grandmother sputtered with rage.

"Deepika." I provided helpfully, containing my laughter.

"Besides, you have no idea what I can do! I'll file a court case on you." She added with annoyance. Deepika smiled sweetly and pulled her phone out of her handbag. She clicked a button on the screen.

"Listen Deepika. My family name is more important than Aditi to me." The grandmother's voice came from the phone, the elderly woman's eyes widened.

"But she's your son's daughter." Deepika's voice protested.

"So? Ganesh made his choice when he married that low-life. I need more economical success, the alliance with Hotel Singh will give me that." The elderly voice grimace. Deepika stopped the recording.

"This reporter's got tricks up her sleeve." Deepika had a smug face, the grandmother was horrified. I gripped Aditi's hand and led her away from the room.

"Take good care of her," Deepika grunted and faced the mob. I took Aditi's hand and led her away. Aditi sniffled and rested her head on my chest.

"I'm sorry Shubman. You had to go through all of that because of me." Aditi whimpered and came closer to me. I stopped in front of the bike.

"Aditi, I'd go to the ends of the earth for you." I met her gaze, the bottom of her lip trembled. Aditi hugged me, I placed a kiss on her forehead. Aditi wrapped her hands around me as we drove. When we came into the hotel there was a bit of commotion from the ICT.

"What is she doing here?"

"What the heck?"

"Why is Aditi dressed like that?"

"Stop." I raised a hand tentatively, I gestured for Aditi to give me a minute alone.

"What is she doing here?" Hardik gritted his teeth.

"Look." I took a deep breath and started retelling the story.

"She was forced to do it. I expected you to know this." I gritted my teeth with annoyance.

"Her precious grandmother threatened Aditi using Deepika." I sighed and massaged my temple trying to explain what happened. Hardik's hatred simmered a bit. I walked into my hotel room to see Aditi sobbing.

I rushed over to her, she looked up at me with tear-stained eyes. I kissed her forehead and comforted her.

"I'm right here." I cradled her, her tears seeped into my shirt.

"I always will be," I smiled, she buried her face in my shirt.

"Promise?" She begged.

"Forever," I confirmed and stroked her cheek. I pressed my lips against her cheek.

"Forever." She pouted, I laughed and kept her close to me.

"I love you," I murmured into her ear.

"I love you too." She mumbled and cuddled closer to me. I pressed a kiss onto her neck, she moaned.

"S...Shu...Shubman." She moaned once more when I trailed kisses down her neck. I kissed her on the lips. I trailed my tongue across her bottom lip, she gasped and opened her mouth. She tasted like sea salted caramel. I felt her fiddle with the buttons of my shirt. I broke apart and pressed a lingering kiss on her sweet spot, making her moan. I traced her facial features with my thumb.

"I want you, Aditi..." I mumbled into the skin of her neck. She wrapped an arm around me, I held her closer to me. Soon her breathing became steady. I heard her snore slightly, which made me laugh.

"I love you, Aditi," I murmured into her ear.

"I love you a lot Shubman." She muttered drowsily. I chuckled.

****

HA! Bet u don't wanna kill me now!

~ Ria.