Hi all, I know that updates hasn't been consistent lately. Well, life wasn't great lately. Life happened and put me through some hard time. It's been real difficult. Thank you for everyone who checked up on me. It really means a lot to me.

I needed some time to figure out stuff. But I would never leave the story hanging, coz I love you all. And Vikram.

You can read the previous part to understand this chapter well.

Small precap: Vikram and suhana finally kissed in the last chapter😭

• Suhana •

We were no longer under the rain. Somehow we found our way back inside the living room.

Rain droplets were falling down from our drenched hair.

And the next second, I could feel my back against the wall, our lips entwined, my hands holding on to his tee, while his' cupping my face.

I was unsure. Unsure of everything that was happening.

I hope this moment never ends. I wish I could hold on to this moment. Forever.

I don't want this to end. Never.

He withdrew his lips from mine, his eyes piercing my skin with his laser gaze.

There was nothing but tension between us.

It was evident that neither of us wanted this moment to end.

We were breathing heavily, trying to hold on to the oxygen in the air.

Vikram leaned forward to indulge in a kiss again, as I could feel his breath against my face.

His lips were only a few millimeters away from mine, as my stomach growled loudly.

Loud enough to wake up the entire house.

"How about we eat something first?" Vikram asked, controlling his smile, as I stood there, not knowing whether I was going to die out of embarrassment.

Or if I would be dying after witnessing that cute smile on his face.

•••

•••

"You're gonna love this dish" I said proudly, as he headed inside the kitchen with a towel in his hand.

"That's just...Maggi?" He asked, confused.

But I can't proudly flaunt to him that it's the only dish I can cook.

"Yes, but I'll add paneer and cheese to it, so it'll be Paneer Cheese Maggi, and not the normal one" I replied, self satisfied, carrying the Maggi packets towards the stove.

"Huh-okay" I could hear him behind, walking towards me.

"So how many packets should I add extra?" I asked, holding two packets in my hand.

"Extra? No need, this is enough for us. Right?" He replied, while drying out my hair from behind with a towel.

"Huh?" I turned back facing him, flabbergasted.

"These two packets are for me" I answered disappointed with him.

How could he even think that two people can share two packets of Maggi?

"Ohh" Is all he replied, probably rethinking his decision about us being together.

"How about you first change into dry clothes, I'll boil the water for maggi" He replied in a suspicious tone, as he pushed me out of the kitchen.

Dusting off the suspicion, I nodded and left the kitchen.

Confused, I walked into the closet, grabbing a pair of warm clothes as my eyes landed on the mirror.

Everything was different now.

Everything is completely different to how it was an hour ago.

Subconsciously, my hands traced to my lips as I was blushing in front of the mirror, rewinding back to a few minutes ago.

I closed my face with my palms smiling like an idiot inside.

After changing into warm clothes, I walked out of the closet as my eyes landed on the wardrobe.

His wardrobe. The one containing that picture. Of him and her.

The smile on my face had already downturned on reminiscing the day I had accidentally witnessed that photo.

It was not even a month after our marriage when I had stumbled upon his diary and that photo.

My heart clenched when I first saw that photo. I was never truly in love with Vikram back then.

But still it hurt so bad watching him with another girl.

It made me so confused on who she was.

His lover? If yes, then what am I doing here as his name sake wife?

All those thoughts made me come to a conclusion that I would never have a place in his heart and made me put a distance between us, right from the beginning.

Even Though I unknowingly crossed the boundaries, I drew. Several times.

But even now, I have no idea who she is. His ex?

Or should I just take the photo out again and confront him about this?

Should I just go and ask,"Vikram, who is she and why the hell is she standing so close to you?"

Ugh, it's making me go crazy.

After taking a few minutes, I walked out of the room, deciding not to ruin our first day as a couple, fighting about his ex.

Ex? No, I just hope it's his long lost sister.

Don't think about it Suha, I told myself as I walked towards the door to leave the room, as Vikram walked in carrying a huge tray.

"What's that?" I was confused as I sniffed around the closed plates on the tray.

"Well that doesn't smell like maggi" I gaped at him as he gave a hideous smile.

"Well I made something better than that" He replied as his lips curved slightly.

Trust me, they were curved upwards, just slightly. Very slightly, but it was cute and noticeable on his grumpy face.

"And what would that be, sir?" I faked an accent as he opened the lid, revealing the dish.

"Creamy lemony linguini with Exotic Mushrooms" He flaunted proudly as I was staring at the super-good-looking dish with my jaw on the ground.

"You've got to taste it" He said enthusiastically, as he placed the tray on the bed and immediately made me sit on the bed.

My jaw was still on the ground.

He stood there in front of me, leaning forward, taking some of the creamy pasta using a fork, which was now advancing towards me.

Before I even knew what was happening, my mouth opened wide, as I devoured that beasty tasty undeniably delicious pasta.

What the hell. This man can cook.

Why didn't I know this all these while?

"It's not good?" He asked with his eyebrows shot up as I denied saying a no with my mouthful.

"Is this store bought?" I wondered.

"What? No I made them" He replied, chuckling as he switched on the TV and sat beside me on the bed.

"How can you cook so well?" I asked, impressed by his skills.

Trust me, my jaw was still on the ground.

But still, how is he so good at everything? Best in his profession, cooking, kissi--

Uh ho let's not go there. Or else I might end up as a blushing balloon.

"If it's really up to your liking then...I can teach you how to cook as well.
If you're not interested...then I can cook you everyday, I don't mind being your cook, ma'am " Now he faked an accent as there was a slight smirk on his face, as my heart was busy doing somersaults.

Clearing my throat, I tried to avoid him, as I jumped right into the bowl of pasta.

Creamy lemony linguininini or whatever he had named it a few minutes ago.

"But how come you cooked so fast? I was just away for 5 minutes" I asked, confused.

"5 minutes? You've been away for an hour"

An hour?

I was a blushing mess here in this room for an hour?

I was anxiously worried about that sister/ex for an hour?

"Now enough of the questions, how about we just relax, have dinner and watch a nice movie" His lips played a smile.

I don't know about that movie. But this smile on his face...I could watch it forever, with no regrets.

As he played a rom-com, We both relaxed on the bed with 2 plates filled with linguininini and two superly satisfied hearts, considering now that our confessions were finally out in the light.

But somewhere deep within, I wanted to ask him. Ask him everything about that girl.

I really wanted to go for it, but didn't knowing it wasn't the right time.

•••

"No, no it's getting late" I grabbed all my stuff and dumped it into a small bag.

I barged out of the room door as Vikram followed me from behind like a lost puppy.

"Do you really have to leave?" He sounded disappointed as I paused on my trails and looked back, facing him.

"I better leave before dad goes to Aisha's home to check up on me." I tried to sound patient though I knew I wasn't.

Megha just called and informed me that dad was feeling uneasy about me and was planning to check up on me to make sure I was doing well.

It's been 3 days since I went home.

"Fine, I'll drop you" He was sulking, as I gasped.

"No no I'll go myself, what if dad sees us together. I'll text you once I reach home"

"Wait" He said calmly as he took the bag from my hands. "We're not cheating, so even if I got caught by my father-in-law, I'll manage. So now come on I'll drop you" He replied with a smile.

Now could someone resist that? Before I could even reply, I was in the car pulled in by his hypnosis.

All the way back home, I was a blushing mess. It wasn't like I'm in his car for the first time.

But it hits different this time.

As the car came to a halt right in front of my house, I blushed facing away from him hoping he would drop my hand from his hold.

"I should probably leave now" I tried to pull away from his grip, though I couldn't. Shyly, I turned towards him asking him to leave, as he gave a small peck on the back of my palm.

Come on, someone kill me. Why is this man bursting fireworks in my heart?

As I removed my hand from his, "Vikram...I'm planning to meet Harshad today, to clarify everything" I could see his face stiffen.

"Okay" He said lightly as I was taken aback, astonished by his response.

He was all clingy that day, asking me not to meet Harshad at all and today he's okay with it?

"So, you're okay with it? No issues at all?" I asked doubtfully.

"Of course I don't like the concept of you meeting him at all. But...I trust you Suhana, and at the end of the day, I want your decisions to be solely yours" I smiled unknowingly as I had no idea what I did to deserve this guy sitting over here.

Understanding? Check.
Mature decisions? Check.
Hopelessly clingy? Check.
Hopeless Romantic and Good at kissing? Check. Check. Check.

Blushing to myself, " Thank you Vikram " I said in a very light tone as I leaned forward and pecked his cheek for a second and barged out of the car immediately before it could get steamy right in front of my own house.

•••

It was almost 6 in the evening when I entered the cafe and looked around cautiously looking out for him.

After a few seconds, I finally found him in the extreme corner, secluded from the rest of the crowd.

With a half-hearted smile, I walked towards his table and sat opposite to him.

"Thanks for coming Harshad" He nodded as he leaned forward, placing his hands on the table.

"I'm very confused, Suhana. You have no idea what kind of a mess I am right now." I nodded as I took a deep breath and placed my bag aside.

"I'm really sorry for everything that happened that day Harshad"

"Why are you apologizing Suhana? It was Vikram. He was the one who picked up a fight with me. He was the one who was blackmailing as well" Harshad sounded pissed and extremely angry.

"Harshad, I really am thankful to know that you're looking after me. But to be honest it wasn't what it seemed like.
He wasn't blackmailing me. It was just something that he was joking about...and you came and...and at the end of the day it was just a misunderstanding Harshad."

"You are defending him. But why?" Harshad leaned back on his chair, slightly disappointed.

"Harshad...there's something you need to know..."

"No suhana...there's something you need to know. Why does it look like you're forced to be with Vikram at times. I really don't know, you both were supposed to get married but then called the wedding off, and met only because of Megha and Rohit, but why at times did I feel like you both weren't just meeting each other because of that?"

"I don't know suhana. I really don't want to think about that, but you need to know how much you mean to me. My heart wasn't mine the minute I met yours for the first time at Rohit's house. I found myself losing track of time whenever I was with you. I enjoyed spending time with you. I know it's not the same for you. I know you don't feel the same way for me. But still, I feel that if I don't confess now, then I might never do it" His voice quivered almost at the end of the sentence, as my heart broke into two.

Never did I even want to break someone's heart, intentionally or unintentionally.

I know how painful it is to love someone wholeheartedly and never get that love back in return. It hurts.

"Harshad. You're a great person, you really are. However, I don't think I would ever be able to reciprocate your feelings, ever. I'm really sorry, I can't be what you want me to be"

"Why? Am I not good enough for you, Suhana?" I could feel his pain through his words, yet I remained still having no idea how to make this right.

"No, not at all. It's not about you being good enough. It's about me not being able to give you what you deserve. You deserve someone who can make you happy and give you the validation you deserve."

"Guess I'm getting rejected in the worst way possible"

"Please don't say that. You are an amazing person Harshad, but...I'm in love with someone else and..."

"Vikram? It's Vikram right?" He asked, as I was taken aback, with my lips slightly parted.

Neither did I agree nor did I deny.

"I know. I've seen the way you both look at each other. In the medical camp, that time when you were shot, and at the hospital, at your house. Everytime. But...I was just delusional, convinced that there wasn't anything going on between you two. "

I know, I did nothing wrong. But yet I was feeling wrong in so many different ways. I was feeling guilty, even though I shouldn't be feeling.

We didn't exchange any other conversation for the next few minutes. We remained silent sipping some water.

I gave him some time. It looked like he needed it.

Suddenly Harshad looked up hurriedly, "So that in front of the restaurant, what he said..."

"Yes Harshad, whatever Vikram said is true. We're married and he's....my husband."

I felt goosebumps all over my body.

It felt so weird to say it out loud and felt so satisfying at the same time.

It felt like I was signing ownership over Vikram, claiming him to be my man.

Harshad took a deep breath and leaned back trying not to express his emotions.

"I should've told you sooner. But we were asked not to inform anyone for the time being. I never wanted to lead you on Harshad. If I had known that you had feelings for me, I would've told you long back, I..."

"It's okay Suhana, it's not your fault. Don't feel burdened now that I've confessed to you. It's okay, I'll figure this out. I'll get over this. I'll be fine." His voice quivered yet there was calmness in his voice.

I was feeling glad and worried at the same time from his response. Glad that he understood the situation but at the same time worried for him.

We sat there for some more time until I felt like the situation was much calmer.

"Suhana, we should leave" I nodded as we decided to leave the cafe.

There were some sudden shutter noises, pulling me off guard.

Did someone click a picture right now?

•••

•Author•

Parting away, Harshad walked towards his car, with his head low and sat on the front passenger seat.

"Driver, just drive back home home" Harshad tried his best not to break down in front of his driver.

"When did I become your driver?" He looked up in shock as he realized that the car's interior wasn't familiar.

As reality kicked in, Harshad turned towards the driver's seat with his eyes wide open, only to find Anika staring right into his soul.

• • •

Hey guys, I know the updates ain't regular and that many of them are upset about that, I'm trying to actually write whenever I can but it isn't sufficient enough.

The only reason I won't abandon this book is because this book has been a comfort book for me and for many others(I assume)

Much love and good vibes.