With breakfast finished, they cleaned up together, seamlessly moving around the kitchen in a choreographed routine that had become second nature. As they washed the dishes, their hands brushed, and they exchanged covert glances, their desire for each other evident in their gazes.

Mithran's phone rang, breaking them out of their passionate eyelock.

Chaahat stiffened seeing the name on the caller ID.

"Hey Pierre, long time.." Mithran greeted the other man cheerfully.

"I should be the one saying that Mithran. It's been a long time. You missed three races consecutively." Pierre recalled and Mithran sighed.

It was true. With his father's surgery and the impromptu marriage that followed, he has been staying away from the racing circuit for a while. Or maybe it is the fact that the adrenaline rush he feels every time he races, he felt a bit more of that during his verbal altercations with Chaahat.

A smile made its way to his face when he thought about that.

"Anyways, I called to inform you about something important." Pierre said.

"What is it?"

"There is this new guy. He is new to the racing circuit. A young lad." Pierre said.

"What about him?" Mithran asked, curiously.

"He won the last three races. If you miss any more races, you will lose your followers completely to him." Pierre warned and Mithran's expression hardened.

"When is the next race?" Mithran asked coldly.

"Tomorrow morning at half past six." Pierre said.

"I will be there..." Mithran said.

"Cool.." Pierre said happily and hung up the call.

"I have a race tomorrow morning. Would you like to come with me?" Mithran asked.

Chaahat froze for a moment. Motorcycles are death traps. The thought of Mithran on it, risking his life is giving her the chills.

But he looked so excited. She remembered Isha once mentioning that racing is like breathing for Mithran. Should she let her worries dampen his passion? He has put up with all her problems and loved the broken girl in her. Couldn't she atleast support him in his passion?

"Of course, I would love to." Chaahat said, pasting a smile on her face.

*****

The early morning sun cast long shadows over the ruined village square, where blocks and debris littered the makeshift racing track. Mithran stood at the starting line, his fingers gripping the handles of his sleek racing vehicle. The engine roared to life, a symphony of power that sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers.

Chaahat watched with bated breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen Mithran race, but the determination in his eyes and the confidence in his stance told her that he was a force to be reckoned with. She clutched her phone tightly, praying silently for his safety.

She feared she would get a panic attack anytime, but she was determined to overcome that fear for Mithran's sake.

The race began with a deafening roar as the vehicles shot forward, tires screeching against the rough terrain. Mithran's racing instincts kicked in, and he navigated the treacherous path with finesse, expertly dodging the blocks and debris that seemed to appear out of nowhere. His competitors were hot on his heels, but he maintained a slight lead.

As they raced through the ruined village square, the onlookers could hardly believe their eyes. The speed and precision with which these racers manoeuvred their vehicles were awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Dust and rubble flew in every direction as they tore through the track.

But then, in a blink of an eye, something unexpected happened. Mithran's vehicle vanished from sight, obscured by a cloud of dust and debris. Panic spread through the crowd, and even Chaahat felt her heart plummet. She couldn't see him; she couldn't see anyone.

She felt like the walls were closing in on her.

Seconds felt like hours as the onlookers waited with bated breath, fearing the worst. Chaahat's eyes were wide with fear, her thoughts consumed by the possibility of Mithran being injured or worse. She clutched her phone tightly, her fingers trembling.

And then, just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a distant roar echoed through the square. Mithran's vehicle emerged from the dust cloud, racing back into view with a burst of speed that left his competitors in the dust. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, relief washing over them like a wave.

Mithran's vehicle skidded to a stop at the finish line, and he stepped out, his helmet held under his arm. His face was covered in dirt and sweat, but there was a triumphant grin on his lips. He had done it; he had conquered the treacherous track again and emerged victorious.

Chaahat couldn't contain her emotions any longer. She rushed towards Mithran, her eyes brimming with tears of relief and joy. Without a second thought, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Mithran was taken aback for a moment but then returned the embrace, holding her close.

"Don't ever do that again, Mithran." Chaahat mumbled. She was trembling in his arms and he could feel it.

When Pierre had informed about the racing and the new guy at the track, he had totally forgotten about Chaahat's phobia towards motorcycles. He cursed himself for being so careless.

Mithran held Chaahat even tighter, realising the toll his passion had taken on her. He gently stroked her hair, whispering reassuring words into her ear. "I am so sorry, Chaahat. I won't put you through this again. Your safety and well-being mean more to me than any race."

Chaahat nodded, her grip on him slowly relaxing. She knew Mithran loved racing, but she also knew that he loved her even more. Her heart swelled with love and gratitude for the man who was willing to set aside his own desires for her.

As they pulled away from their embrace, Mithran looked deeply into Chaahat's eyes, his expression earnest.

"I promise, from now on, I will prioritise us and our future together above everything else. No more reckless races, okay?"

"I love you, Mithran. More than anything in this world.." Finally, Chaahat uttered those words making Mithran want to scream in joy. And he did just that.

"She loves me...." He screamed in joy and the people around cheered for them.

A/n

I am finishing this story with this. An epilogue would follow. Sorry for hurrying this off, but the story has been lagging behind for a while now. I hope you all enjoyed the book.

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And the next book in L&M series, I will not sign it anywhere before completing it in Wattpad. That's a promise!

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Love,

SF ❤️