||Togetherness||

*-*-*-*-*

Shravas and Lasya seated adjacent to each other in the flight, and a sweet smile adorned their faces, beautifully.

Shravas was looking at her intently, with his gaze filled with so much love that Lasya couldn't bear so she just did what she had to; Yeah, she just turned to look away, as a crimson slowly started to cover her face, and as she couldn't take more, she thought of taking a small nap.

She could hear his chuckle. But then she ignored it, as her face burned with embarrassment but lucky enough he didn't dare to say anything.

*-*-*-*-*

After three hours, their flight landed back in Bangalore at 4 a.m.

All this while, Lasya had a good nap whereas Shravas was just admiring her.

'she looked so cute, while asleep', Shravas thought but now he had to wake her up as their flight was about to land and the flight attendants had already announced to tie up their seat belts...

But seeing her sleeping, he doesn't have the heart to wake her up, yet.

So he started to buckle her seat belt; and for that, he bent sideways onto her left side so he could get hold of the plug but then somehow Lasya stirred in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes, and what she saw surprised her.

Shravas was so near to her face, almost their foreheads touching and she forgot to breathe.

The lungful of air stuck up at her throat as a lump, and she couldn't release it as his proximity was doing something to her heart, to her whole body and what is it, she didn't have any idea about it.

'damn he looks so ... So....', she thought to form a sentence while biting her lower lip but it was like her tongue had tied up and was not able to form words.

'oh no, did I wake her up? And why did she stop breathing?', Shravas thought but kept a neutral face as he didn't want to startle her.

He knew his closeness had affected her just like hers did with his heart. He was internally dancing as he understood, that his love wanted him to be close, to forget everything just to be with him. But then, all could wait until the time is right. He sighed mentally.

Shravas was the one to break the trance looking down, and again locking up on her face, "Oops sorry. Did I just wake you up?"

Lasya jerked back as if there was more space behind her. She licked her lips and tried to form any words, heck anything was even better than this silence.

"Hmm..no..nothing like that", Lasya said softly.

"Okay, since you were sleeping I thought to do your seat belt as we are nearing the runway and I didn't want to disturb your sleep somehow", Shravas said moving back from her.

"Ok, I understand, and thank you for feeling that way", Lasya appreciated.

"I will do that", saying this Lasya buckled herself up.

Lasya took a deep breath to control her emotions, and she turned to look at him who was already looking at her with so much love in his eyes.

'how did even get this much luck?', Lasya thought while looking at him.

"What are you thinking about, my little hearts?", Shravas came forward with a smile and pushed her hair strands that were falling on her face, behind her ear.

Lasya felt her heart exploding with happiness as he calls her by that special name. She found it so cute and moreover she felt being loved.

"Thank you", Lasya said softly, "nothing I am just wondering how did I get so lucky all of a sudden and I still can't believe you love me".

Shravas gave her a 100 watt smile.

"It's true Lasya. And to be honest, I am lucky in my life that I got you and you reciprocated my feelings. I was too scared to even confess but then I don't want to lose you so yeah, here I am. Confessing to you again, that I am in love with you ever since I have known and I will love you forever and ever, until death drifts us apart", Shravas held her palms giving her a silent promise.

"Now, no. I don't want any more tears on your face", Shravas warned.

"I will not cry, and I too love you Shravas", Lasya beamed with happiness.

"My friend, Nihi will be so happy to know this as she always wanted us to be together", Lasya said feeling shy.

"Aww, that's great right. At least someone was there to cheer you up for me", Shravas teased.

*-*-*-*-*-*

By then, their flight had landed.

*-*-*-*-*-*

After all the customs and checking processes, Shravas collected their bags and made their way towards the outside gate.

"I will drop you at home, and now I don't want to negotiate with this", Shravas deadpanned looking at Lasya.

Lasya just mumurmed a small ok as he didn't give any option to deny.

He could see his driver waiting for them. Shravas waved his hands, and luckily the driver noticed and smiled at him. He immediately came and helped them to load the luggage in the backside of the car trunk.

"Namaste Baba, namaste madam, congratulations to both of you for the trophy, and I hope you both had a great time in Delhi", the driver said as he got into the driver seat.

"Yeah Anna, it was good and we enjoyed it a lot", Shravas said looking at Lasya tapping the space, silently asking her to sit closely.

"I also enjoyed it, Anna", Lasya responded silently, conveying no to him through her eyes, while adjusting the strands of hair that were falling on her face.

"Let it be", Shravas told for which Lasya looked at him confused.

"It looks beautiful on you when those few strands slide over", Shravas said with a smile.

It made Lasya blush more, and tried to look outside the car's window.

Shravas took her palms and gave her a slight press.

Lasya bit back a smile and didn't dare to look at him but allowed him to keep her palms in his.

After a while,

"Lasya, now I will drop you at home first. Then, I will come and pick you up in the late afternoon so that you can get your Ritchie back. Will that be ok for you or should I just bring him?", He asked while removing his jacket.

"Yeah, okay. But no. It's not necessary for you to come and pick me up. I shall come up there and get Ritchie. You take rest", she tried to make him understand.

"Nope, that's not happening. I shall bring Ritchie to you then", Shravas said while looking ahead.

"No, that is also not going to happen", Lasya said for which Shravas turned to look at her.

"What do you mean, not happening?", Shravas asked in confusion.

'If she doesn't want him to bring Ritchie, then what is she trying to imply?', Shravas thought suddenly.

"I meant, you come to pick me up by yourself and later I would like to visit your parents and sheethal too, Lasya said looking down as she could not stop blushing profusely.

Shravas got it, and he too had a smile on his face.

"Wow, brilliant. So, that's final. I will come by late afternoon and then you come with me to visit my family and then I will drop you off back at your home, with Ritchie", Shravas said.

"Perfect", Lasya said looking at him lovingly.

*-*-*-*-*

For some time, none of them spoke and they welcomed the silence comfortably.

Upon reaching Lasya's apartment, the driver unloaded her luggage and kept it near the main door. Shravas accompanied her, in opening the door.

"Let me help you", he snatched her keys from her hand and helped her to open the door.

Once entering the apartment, Lasya let out a sigh.

"I missed being here", she said looking all around and then turned to look at him, her Shravas, who was already staring at her with so much love in his eyes.

"I have never stepped out of my comfort zone for these many days, and this trip was my first", Lasya stated.

"You will have to be comfortable for your own sake, Lasya. Else how will you navigate through the future?", Shravas asked raising his brows.

"So true, I agree with that. But then, you know these are all very new to me. Ever since I know, I was all alone, by myself so..it's....", she just trailed off, ducking her head down, leaving herself in a vulnerable state in front of him.

Shravas was fast enough to take her in a tight embrace, "Sh...it's fine. I understand. Now, you have me".
He lifted her chin, making her look at him, "Life throughout. Okay, no worries. Let me love, pamper and cherish you so for the time being, just smile"

Lasya's eyes filled with unshed tears, but didn't dare to let them down, not at least in front of him. She just smiled at him with affirmation and thought, how did she get Shravas in her life, was she lucky now? It was very hard to believe...

"And what I confessed earlier, it is true like there is a moon outside witnessing our moment", Shravas stated, "and I wish to marry you one day, and that's what my promise is"

Lasya tightened her hold around him, and she could see the honesty and sincerity in his eyes.

"I love you Shravas. I need you in my life as much as I need water to survive", Lasya confessed again.

"Feelings are mutual Lasya. I too love you a lot. The words are not enough to express how much. But I just know, that I can wait for you as much as you want the time in the world", Shravas affirmed.

Lasya nodded her head and hugged him again.

"Now, I will miss you, love", Shravas whispered in her hair while he was caressing it.

"I will miss you too, Ravi. Come soon, but later in the afternoon, please. Because I am going to sleep until then", she said while hugging him tightly.

"You are crushing my bones", he teased.

She smacked his shoulders and buried her face in his chest taking in woody musk cologne.

"Okay now. If you don't let me go, I will sleep here along with you holding you tight"

Listening to him, she pulled away from him narrowed her eyes at him, and gave him a look of really.

He gulped and cleared his throat.

"I was just kidding. Don't look at me like you will kill me now".

Within a second, she burst, laughing out loud.

He grinned sheepishly at her. But to his shock, she tiptoed and leaned to whisper, "I wouldn't mind, if you want to sleep here, with me".

She then smirked, looking at him daring him to ignore the plea.

His eyes widened with her boldness.

He instantly pulled her, wrapped his arms around her waist, held her tightly, and stared at her.

"I would love to. But, let's take everything slowly. I want you to cherish these moments, forever and I want to spoil you by meeting and fulfilling all your demands from now onwards and that's what my heart says and needs".

She could see his sincerity in his words so she just nodded her head in agreement.

His words touched her deeply, and why not because these days most boys want their girlfriends in their bed first, before anything else.

But this guy, standing in front of her is saying to take it slow. So, she could be happy, step by step, and imprint all the memories that they make hereafter in her heart forever.

'Shravas is a true gem, and I am indeed lucky to fall in love with this guy', Lasya thought mentally.

"Also, I need to share this happy news with my parents who are eagerly waiting...", he was cut off by her.

"What do you mean, waiting?", She thought about it for a while when she gasped, "Oh God, don't tell me, they all know about us, all this while"

"Well, they do know", he said shrugging his shoulders as if it's not a big deal.

"What?", She almost shouted.

"God, don't shout like this my little hearts", he rubbed his ears.

"Do you want to marry a deaf guy?", he just shook his head in disbelief.

Lasya just giggled, looking at him.

"Yes, they know I have been in love with you, and they confirmed it during your visit to my home for some project. They only asked me to confess it soon before losing you", He said looking at her.

"My parents, really like you. They are eagerly waiting for your arrival, at my house to make it home. But then, for that, there is still time. You need to complete your studies and later, we shall see. Okay?", Shravas asked while caressing her jaw..

"Hm hm..", she cooed him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I hope I can be a blessing to you and your family, and I always wanted a family to hope for; because family makes me feel wanted and I have never experienced that closeness in my life. So yes, their acceptance and consent matters, and your family matters to me a lot", Lasya said, for which Shravas couldn't agree more.

He smiled and pulled her cheeks.

"They already love you, my little hearts. They do it from their heart. We just need to stand in front of them and they will set us up at a marriage venue the next minute", Lasya gasped, "that much they are interested in is to start our life. But it's too soon and that's what I feel. We are still in our college life. You need to be successful. Later, when you are ready I will let them know so that we shall get married and become husband and wife. What say?"

"I agree with you Ravi. You are a very good planner. Let us get settled in our career first, later we can get hitched so that way I will be more mature and responsible", She said, after thinking.

"Yup, I agree", Shravas said.

"Okay now. It's already 15 minutes. Your driver will be bored of waiting for you. Message me once you reach home", She pushed him out, of the door seeing him off.

On the way, Shravas chuckled and bid bye, and called it a night.

The driver drove the car onto the highway and Lasya went to the washroom to freshen up. After spending 20 minutes, she came back and drank water.

Soon, she jumped onto her bed, allowing herself to fall into a deep slumber.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Meanwhile, Shravas was welcomed by his parents with a big smile. They hugged him like there was no tomorrow and he shared the happy news about his Lasya as he couldn't wait till morning.

They were very happy especially his mom to get such a lovely girl as her daughter-in-law. His father also liked her and thought that she would be the best for his son since she was more responsible than her age.

After talking for a while with them, he departed to his room.

Once reaching, he messaged Lasya, sharing the information that his parents had already accepted her as a daughter of the house and thus in turn letting her know, they had indeed accepted their love.

He didn't wait for her response, as he knew she might have slept already.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Shravas got freshened up and when he was rubbing his head with the towel, his mom came back with a cup of hot milk.

He smiled at her and started sipping it while sharing the other details that all happened in Delhi.

Later with a smile, he falls into a deep slumber with her dreams.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Lasya woke up after 3 in the afternoon with a smile and she quickly took a shower.

Then went to the kitchen to prepare her favorite Mac and cheese for lunch. She was very hungry cause she hadn't had anything since last night.

Within 15 minutes, her food was ready and she switched on the TV and started digging her food.

Soon, she heard her doorbell rang. She frowned, as she thought she was imagining it but then again the door bell rang and she got up while chewing her Mac. She went towards the door to open it.

Her mouth was full of Mac, and she opened the door to see him standing there with a smile.

Looking at her, seeing her like that, like a child whose mouth is filled with food, Shravas indeed had a full-blown laughter.

Lasya somehow chewed the mac, and gulped it down, "What's so funny?"

"Not...nothing", Shravas managed to say in between the laughter.

She narrowed her eyes at him tilted her head to one side and kept her hands on the hips. She tried to intimidate him but failed miserably as he didn't stop laughing.

Lasya waited until his laughter subsided.

"You looked really funny back then", Shravas said after the long marathon of laughter.

"Who are you? And what's so funny?", She snapped at him.

His laughter vanished upon hearing her question. He raised his brow and looked at her, daring to ask again.

She smirked and asked once again risking it.

Anger was out of hell, for Shravas, as it was so fast that Lasya didn't know what he did.

Yes, he pinned her to the wall, inside her apartment, while closing the door behind them with his legs.

"What are..", she was cut off by his lips.

He smashed his lips over hers making her gasp due to the sudden impact. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth invading all the corners, tasting her mac and cheese wildness and she let him do whatever he wanted cause she did enjoy it.

"Now tell me, who am I?", he asked her pulling away from the kiss and leaving her breathless.

"What was that?", She retorted back with a counter question while she took maximum oxygen from her surroundings.

He leaned closer, getting closer as possible; he huskily whispered, "I don't know what it was; but I must say, that it was very tasty".

She blushed hearing his words and ducked her head to see if something was interesting on the floor.

He didn't talk for a while and stood there in silence.

As he was not speaking about anything, she had to look above and his eyes held her in a trance, that she didn't dare to break such a beautiful gaze from her lover.

"Why are you looking at me like that?", She asked in a low voice.

"Nothing, just admiring my little hearts", he said with so much love in his eyes.

"Well, then your little heart is very hungry", she said sheepishly.

He smirked at her, cunningly. But then, she smacked his arms bringing him back into sense.

"I am talking about my Mac and cheese which is waiting for me. Over there", she directed her hand towards the couch.

"Oh, I thought it was for something..." He was cut off by her hands over his mouth.

"Now stop. Don't go on about it".

She dragged him towards the couch.

"Do you want some?", She took a spoonful of Mac and cheese and forwarded it to him.

He nodded his head and she fed him sweetly. He ate it happily and they together finished up the whole platter.

"Wow, that was so delicious. Thank you, my little hearts", he said sincerely giving her a heartwarming smile.

She smiled back and took the plate back to the kitchen, washed it, and came back.

"By the way, I didn't ask you", she said as she took her seat on the couch beside him.

"Why did you fall for me in the first place?", She raised her brows at him.

He smiled, remembering the old memories of how he wished to talk to her at that time, how he wished to hold her whenever she was near.

"I don't know why. I fell for you because of your smile. You were sitting with Tina in that Olympics cafe. I just know that I fell for your heart and smile that day. Also, I somehow knew you were the one for me, the special one who could take care of my heart", he stated as he gazed at her intensely.

She shuddered in his gaze and looked away to hide her blush.

"Aww, that's so cheesy", she said and came near him very close so that their noses were touching.

"To be honest, I also fell for you especially after I saw your beautiful eyes when I first saw you in Goa", She kissed his eyes one by one and hugged him tightly wrapping her arms around his neck. She also kissed his side of the neck which made him groan.

"Little hearts, you are not helping me here", Shravas said in a whisper.

Lasya let out a giggle and tried to move away from him but he didn't allow her.

"Alright, alright. Now let's get going. My parents are eagerly waiting for your arrival and Sheetal is jumping up and down saying her sissy is finally coming home", he said nuzzling into her hair taking her intoxicating addicting fragrance.

"I am also very eager to meet them all. Hey, by the way", she pulled away and looked into his eyes with confusion.

"Where is your elder brother and sister-in-law? Last time when I came I didn't see them"

Shravas sighed listening to his brother's name.

Their problem has not yet been resolved. He couldn't guess the cause of their issue even after much thinking about it.

Lasya could see his eyes contemplating something, so she left the matter then and there.

She accepted his silence and understood that there might be some problem with their relationship. She didn't push him much to talk about this when he was not interested so she started off to talk but she became silent when he started.

"He is good, and away for some business work. And sister in law, she is at her maternal place for months now, and because of that he has been somewhat restless or I might say disturbed. I guess he fought his wife. But I am figuring out the actual issue because they loved truly and were madly in love with each other", He then turned to another side wiping his unshed tears that were clouding his vision. He then again continued.

"My bro courted her for almost 5 years and then, they married. Now, all of a sudden a problem arises which creates some panic between them and we are trying hard to resolve it. I don't know what to do. Mom is always worried about them. And Dad, says bro is not showing any more interest in the business. I am worried here thinking what will happen to them in the future".

She forced a smile and hugged him tight telling soothing words to calm him down.

Moving away, She said while learning herself on the couch, "Just listen openly, this is according to me, okay and please don't judge? There can be only two reasons in which a relationship can shake". 

"First, someone might be cheating on their spouses", She opened her eyes and stared at him, "Second, there might be some issues with conceiving a baby, since you have said it's been 5 years of their marriage and that much people won't wait unless they never want a children", she said shrugging her shoulders.

"I didn't think about your two reasons", He stated, "and children, both of them love it as I have seen them with other babies with our family members"

"Yes that might be then. Well, you told me they have been together for more than 9 years now. So I don't think the reason might be the first one", She paused. She was about to say but was cut off by him.

"That means she is not able to conceive so that is the only problem that's coming between them", he said raising his brows at her.

"I am not sure. But there are chances of it being true. If they have some problem in conceiving, then she is trying hard to get away from his life so that he can marry someone else and get on with his legacy or vice versa. Maybe that's why she or he is creating this rift between the family so that you guys can push her or ask him to leave her out with hatred", she said nonchalantly as a matter of fact, "and more over love is the weakness here. Both of them love way too much to let go and hence the silence before the storm"

Shravas who was keenly listening to her, beamed with happiness and he started jumping on the floor as if he had achieved something.

Lasya was shocked to see him like that. But was happy as his mood had changed now.

"Oh God, thank you so much for helping us. I will discuss this soon with our family and will make sure their problem is solved", Shravas said with assurance.

"Well, then everything is settled. Let me go and get ready now. I am also waiting for my Ritchie. He might be missing me", she said as she pushed him away from her way. But to her surprise, he got hold of her wrist and didn't let her go.

"Let me help you then", he said coming towards her. Her eyes widened with shock and she smacked his arms.

"No. But thank you", She said and tried to push him away but he was so strong for her that he didn't budge let alone move.

"No," he said sternly.

"Please,  Ravi", she gave him her puppy face.

He nodded his head in negative and lifted her and carried in a bridal style.

He then moved towards her bedroom and placed her on the bed.

"Now come on. We don't want to be late, do we?" he smirked at her and she was sweating profusely not knowing what to do.

'How can I change in front of him? Is he this dense? I don't think he understands, that I am feeling shy, Oh God', Lasya scoffed mentally.

Suddenly, an idea strikes her brain.

"Okay, as you say", she went on to her wardrobe to pick up the purple top with the denim for the night. Her every movement was watched by him intensely and she could feel his gaze digging a hole in her back.

After arranging everything on the bed, she comes and stands in front of him leaving a good distance between them.

She smirked at him. He raised his brows thinking she was going to change in front of him.

She placed her hand on the bottom hem of the top she was wearing and started to pull up slowly in a very seductive way. He gulped audibly and blinked his eyes not believing what she was doing.

'what are you doing to me my little hearts?' he thought mentally.

He could see her navel, and her milky white waist which was very inviting for him,  especially his lips. He wanted to place a peppery kiss all over there but controlled his emotions by fisting his palms tightly.

She was enjoying her play as it was very hard for him to control and now when she was about to pull it off he closed his eyes tightly and turned around shouting,

"No, I can't take this. I can't take this. Oh God, you are such a tease my little hearts", he said in frustration running his fingers over his messy hair.

She giggled seeing his frustration, and quickly changed into her new outfit. She then tapped his shoulders making him look at her.

"You are such a tease you know that right!", he said wrapping his arms around her waist tightly.

"Yup," she also played along wrapping her arms around his neck.

Without any second thought, he smashed her lips with his and they kissed hungrily. Like there was no tomorrow, both of them fought for dominance but neither of them was allowed to do it.

So, this time she wanted to take control. So she did what she has to.

Yes, she started to caress his back, and slowly moved her hands to the front taking her own time. She could hear his groan and she was enjoying this.  She then started tracing his hands over his chest and slowly moved down to the buckle. She got hold of his belt, and just before she could unbuckle him, he gasped, and seeing this chance she thrust her tongue inside his mouth devouring every corner of his mouth.

After what meant minutes, they pulled away from each other and calmed down their breaths that was uneven due to their aggressive kissing.

"Damn, that was amazing", he smirked.

"Well, I didn't know you were this eager to touch..." He was cut off by her peck.

He laughed seeing his sudden nervousness while she was all bold while kissing him.

"It's not like that. I was just ..just ...ha.. just playing around", she said looking everywhere, but at him.

Once again he started laughing and this time she also joined him.

"Ok, now let's go", he walked towards the door, holding her hands.

"Wait", Shravas looked at her questioningly.

"I have brought something for Sheethal from Delhi. I shall get it and it's there in the wardrobe", Lasya said as she took something from the bag.

'aww, how interesting', Shravas thought.

"When did you get this? I saw you getting only for your friends", Shravas asked.

"It's a secret. She is like a small sister to me. So how can I forget when I am getting gifts for everyone else", Lasya pointed out.

"Yeah true. You are indeed a gem for me and my family", Shravas cooed with a smile.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Coming out from the bedroom, Shravas looked around once again, especially in the kitchen and made sure gas was off and everything else like lights and fans are turned off. After making sure, he led her and collected the door keys from her. 

Lasya was all the while looking at his actions, and she was happy. Her heart swelled with pride for having him in her life.

'thank God, this Delhi trip proved so right', Lasya thanked Lord and the stars.

After locking the door behind, "Let's go, shall we?", Shravas asked and made her walk towards the car.

"Yup. Let's go", Lasya said as she sat in the passenger seat.

*-*-*-*-*-*

Thank you for reading friends.

I hope you enjoyed their time together.

Please vote and share and support