Vansh's pov

"Why won't you show me what you're going to wear tomorrow?" I asked her dramatically, leaning closer to the screen as if that would convince her. It had been almost a month since I last saw her in person. Sure, we talked over video calls every day, but it wasn't enough. Seeing her face on a screen was a poor substitute for the real thing. I missed the way she felt in my arms, the way she blushed when I teased her.

"You'll just have to wait and see," she said, her lips curving into that teasing smile that drove me crazy.

I sighed in defeat, running a hand through my hair. "Fine," I said, throwing my hands up in surrender. "You win this time."

Her smile softened, the teasing fading into something more tender. "I'm eagerly waiting for you, Vansh," she said quietly, her voice full of longing, and it made my heart ache.

Those words—simple, sincere—melted every last ounce of frustration I'd been feeling. She missed me just as much as I missed her. She was feeling the same. I knew how badly I was waiting—or rather, dying—to see her again. The thought of holding her, of being with her again, sent a rush of longing through me. The moment I see her, I'm going to kiss the heck out of her.

For a moment, we both just stared at each other through the screen, the silence speaking louder than words ever could.

"I should let you sleep," I said reluctantly, though I didn't want the call to end.

"I don't want to," she whispered. "But I guess we both need to get through one more night."

"One more night," I repeated, nodding.

She smiled softly, her eyes sparkling. "Goodnight, Vansh."

"Goodnight, Riddhima."

As the call ended and the screen went black, my mind was filled with thoughts of her. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

Riddhima's pov

All the marriage rituals are over, and now people are taking pictures with the newlyweds. I'm sitting with my cousins, but my mind isn't with them. I'm waiting for Vansh. He still hasn't arrived. Mumma and Papa are busy hosting the guests.

I keep glancing at the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of Vansh walking in. My heart races every time I hear footsteps or the sound of someone approaching, only to be disappointed when it's not him. My cousins are chatting around me, but I'm hardly listening. My mind is completely consumed with thoughts of him.

Mumma and Papa are in the middle of a conversation with some guests, their laughter filling the air, but I can't shake off the feeling of impatience. The house feels full of life, yet I feel an odd emptiness without Vansh here.

I try to focus on the conversations around me, forcing a smile when my cousins joke about the wedding, but my thoughts keep drifting back to him. Where is he? Why hasn't he come

Just as I was looking at my cousins, I suddenly felt someone place their palms over my eyes. Without hesitation, I knew exactly who it was—my Vansh. A big smile immediately spread across my lips, and I couldn't help but laugh softly. I quickly removed his hands from my eyes and, without thinking, crashed into his chest.

The moment our bodies touched, an overwhelming sense of comfort flooded over me, washing away every bit of anxiety and restlessness I'd been holding onto. The world around us seemed to fade into nothingness, and in that moment, only peace remained. His warmth, his scent, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—it felt like home, like everything was finally as it should be.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, my eyes meeting his with all the emotions I couldn't put into words. I felt complete, grounded, and utterly safe in his presence.

Vansh pov

I had planned to leave early, but just as I was about to head out, an important client reached out for clarification on a few matters. It was urgent, so I had no choice but to schedule a meeting to address all their concerns and resolve the issues.

After the meeting ended, I rushed straight to the wedding. The venue was three hours away from my city, and I was already running late. I quickly threw on something nice and headed out. Attending the wedding was important, but what mattered most was seeing her. Nothing was more important than being there for her. She was waiting for me, and I didn't want to break her heart by not showing up.

I finally pulled up outside the venue, my heart racing in anticipation. Without wasting any time, I parked the car and dashed toward the entrance. The moment I walked in, I spotted her sitting with her cousins, pretending to be engaged in their conversation. She looked beautiful, but I couldn't help the smile that crept across my face as I made my way toward her.

I moved silently behind her, hoping to make the moment special. I placed my hands gently over her eyes, knowing she'd recognize me instantly.

As soon as I placed my hands over her eyes, I felt her tense for a brief moment before she relaxed, and I knew she recognized me. A rush of warmth filled me at the thought of her knowing me so well, even without seeing me. When she quickly removed my hands and rushed into my chest, I felt an immediate wave of relief, as if all the space and time between us had melted away.

Her embrace wrapped around me like a shield, and in that moment, everything else seemed to disappear. I could feel her heart beating against mine, steady and comforting. It was as if nothing else mattered anymore. I never realized how much I'd missed this, how much I longed for the simple closeness of just being near her.

As she held me, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace settle over me. All the chaos and tension from the past few weeks seemed to vanish, leaving only her warmth and the comfort of having her in my arms. I never wanted to let go.

As we parted ways, I couldn't help but stare at her, completely mesmerized. My heart skipped a beat as I took in her appearance. She looked nothing short of stunning in the royal blue Anarkali suit, the color complementing her perfectly. The fabric shimmered slightly under the lights, enhancing her every movement. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, a few strands falling loosely around her face, adding to her effortless elegance.

I couldn't believe how much I had missed seeing her like this—so radiant, so full of life. Every detail about her, from the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me, to the gentle smile that played on her lips, made my chest tighten with affection. It was like she had an aura that drew everyone in, but it was only I who had the privilege of knowing the warmth behind that smile.

She caught me staring, and her lips curved into a soft smile, the kind that made my heart ache in the best way possible. "What?" she asked, her voice light and teasing, though I could see the flicker of affection in her eyes.

I shook my head, still lost in the moment. "You look... incredible," I said, the words barely capturing what I truly felt. "I don't think I'll ever get used to how beautiful you are."

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink at my compliment, and she lowered her gaze shyly. I could tell she was pleased, though. There was always something about the way she blushed that made me feel like I had just witnessed something rare and precious.

"Stop," she said softly, though there was a warmth in her tone that made me want to say more.

Before I could respond, I took a small step closer, reaching out to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The moment felt surreal, like a fragile dream I didn't want to end. I hesitated, reluctant to pull away, but something in me urged me forward.

Slowly, I reached into my pocket and took out a small newspaper pouch. My heart raced as I carefully took her left hand in mine, placing the pouch in her palm. Her brows furrowed slightly in curiosity, but as her fingers unwrapped the paper, her expression changed entirely.

She gasped softly, her eyes widening in surprise as the contents were revealed—a simple, fragrant gajra. For a moment, she was silent, staring at it as though it held a deeper meaning. Then, her gaze shifted to me, her eyes filled with love, pride, and a warmth so profound it made my chest tighten.

"Vansh..." she whispered, her voice laced with emotion.

I smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. "While I was on my way here, I stopped at a red light. There was this little boy selling these," I explained softly. "I didn't even think twice. The moment I saw it, I thought of you. I just... I knew you'd love it."

She looked at the gajra in her hand, then back at me, her lips curving into a tender smile that made my heart skip a beat. Without saying a word, she unwrapped it completely and reached up to tuck the delicate flowers into her hair.

"How does it look?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I couldn't help but grin, taking a moment to admire her. "Perfect," I said sincerely. "Just like you."

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she looked away, biting her lip to hide her shy smile. But even in her quietness, I could feel her happiness radiating, and it made everything—every rush, every delay—worth it.

We stood there for a moment longer, the world around us fading into the background, until the sound of laughter and music reminded us where we were. But even as we stepped back into the crowd, her hand brushed against mine, and I knew the connection we shared in that moment would stay with us forever.
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After meeting the bride and groom, taking pictures with them, and having dinner, it was finally time for me to leave. Throughout the evening, Riddhima hadn't left my side, not even for a moment.

Ever since I arrived, though, I couldn't help but notice a pair of eyes constantly watching her. It stirred something fierce in me, a burning sense of possessiveness. But I kept my composure. I didn't let it show, nor did I want her to notice and feel uncomfortable.

Instead, I made sure to stay close to her, my presence a silent warning to whoever thought it was okay to stare at her that way.

As we walked toward the entrance together, her hand brushed against mine, and I instinctively intertwined our fingers. She looked up at me, a small, content smile playing on her lips.

"You're awfully quiet," she said softly, tilting her head.

I smiled back, though a part of me was still unsettled. "Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss you again," I said, deflecting the real reason for my silence.

Her eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand. "I'll miss you too," she murmured.

We stopped just outside the venue's parking lot, tucked away in the farthest corner where it was quiet and the cool night air wrapped around us. For a moment, it was just the two of us, far from the noise and the crowd.

Without warning, she pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, her arms wrapping tightly around me. I responded instantly, holding her just as firmly, savoring the warmth of her embrace. When she finally pulled back, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

I was caught off guard for a second, but a playful grin spread across my face. Tapping my other cheek, I teased, "What about here?"

She gave me a small, shy smile before standing on her toes again, leaning in to kiss my other cheek. But just as her lips were about to touch my skin, I turned my face slightly, and her kiss landed on my lips instead.

She froze for a moment, her wide eyes darting around nervously to see if anyone had seen us. When she realized we were alone, her cheeks flushed, but instead of pulling away, a spark of determination flickered in her gaze.

She placed one hand behind my head, and with newfound confidence, she stood on her toes and pulled me down toward her, pressing her lips to mine in a passionate kiss. My arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, drawing her closer as we moved in perfect sync, the world around us fading away.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, and I tilted my head, deepening the kiss as if trying to make up for the weeks we'd been apart. It was a kiss filled with longing, love, and the promise of more moments like this to come.

When we finally pulled away, our breaths were uneven, and her cheeks were flushed. She looked at me with a mixture of shyness and boldness that made my heart race.

I cupped her face gently, my hands resting on her soft cheeks, and began planting kisses all over her face. Her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, her eyes, her jaw everywhere. Each kiss was filled with everything I couldn't put into words, every ounce of love and longing that had built up in my heart.

"Now that," I said, brushing a thumb gently across her reddened cheek, "was worth waiting for."

She laughed softly, her eyes closing as she leaned into my touch, letting me cherish her. "Vansh, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice a mix of amusement and shyness.

"Making sure you know how much I missed you," I replied with a playful grin, pausing to meet her gaze. Her laughter was music to my ears, and the way her eyes sparkled under the moonlight was enough to take my breath away.

She blushed, her cheeks warm under my palms. "You're impossible," she murmured, her smile widening despite her attempt to sound annoyed.

"Maybe," I teased, leaning in to press one final kiss on her forehead. "But I'm your kind of impossible."

"Take care of yourself," I said, my voice lower than usual.

"You too," she replied, her gaze searching mine as though memorizing every detail of my face.

Reluctantly, I let go of her hand, knowing I couldn't delay any longer. But as I walked away, I threw one last glance over my shoulder, and there she was—still standing there, watching me leave, her eyes filled with the same longing I felt.

And in that moment, I promised myself that no matter how far or how long we were apart, she'd always be mine, and I'd always protect her—whether she knew it or not.

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Longest chapter for you guys...

Only 4-5 chapters are left, guys! Please motivate me by liking and commenting on this chapter—it truly means a lot to me. I'm aiming to finish this story by the end of this year, so don't hesitate to remind me to update.

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Till then Happy Reading......

Annyeong👋