In what seemed like an eternity, we broke apart. He grinned at me, a tear slipped from his eye. "I can't believe this is finally happening. Oh, Sara, I was dreaming of this moment for so long. I loved you for so long. Now here you are, mine, finally mine!" He sang, gathering me close.

"Kush..." I mumbled, overwhelmed.

"Sara," he breathed dreamily, as if drunk! "There will never be anybody except you. You have brought me to heaven. Sara Anand is mine, how often can I say that?" He laughed and caressed my cheek.

"I need to sit," I managed to say. My ability to reason left me.

"Of course," he replied, taking me back to the table. Again, I saw Sid on the other end of the room, his eyes on mine, and his expression saddened? I noticed, he was back with the Parkers and Anamika. Their heads turned in my direction. Finally looking away, I sat in the chair, with Kush kneeling before me.

"You look pale," he remarked. "Should I get you some water?"

I nodded, smiling. I gulped the entire water from the tall glass and looked at arresting gaze of Kush.

"Sara, my Mini, do you feel okay?" he asked. "Aren't you happy?"

"I am," I smiled and went back in his arms. I was happy, was it true? Perhaps yes! Kush was happy and I adored him, loved him. I was happy seeing him this happy. Maybe it was not a bad thing after all. And the comfort of his arms always freed me of my worries and stresses.

I remember him from the start when we were at college together. He looked after me the whole day, even took the same classes with me. He always dropped me home, had dinner with me and my Nani every alternate day. I smiled when he took the efforts to teach me driving. Not giving up, until I scold him about not wanting to learn. Now that I remembered it, it was made crystal clear that he loved from the start.

Soon, we all were leaving the gala, it was already midnight. Tanya smiled brightly as she realized Kush had pressed my hand in his, possessively. She mouthed that she wanted to know every detail. I smiled at her and searched Sid in the remaining guests. Our eyes locked, and there was a distinct indifference in the manner he looked. I sighed and turned to leave.

*

When we finally made it home, it was already past one. Kush, who looked cheery even after having a long night, caught me in the kitchen, drinking cold water from the refrigerator.

He snaked his hand around my waist and rested his head on my shoulders from behind. "I will not be able to sleep, my Sara!"

I turned and smiled at him. "You better sleep. Or Rishabh will eat you alive. Especially with your whole outdoor shooting."

His hands didn't budge, while my heart hammered against my chest and my nerves on their edge. "Who the hell cares about a stupid shooting, when I am with my girl," he murmured, sexily. And my heart gave away.

"Kush..." I mumbled and couldn't go on.

"What happened, dear?" He whispered, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

"I am overwhelmed," I replied, lowering my gaze.

"I am too," he said. "But I couldn't be happier. And the reason is you."

This time, I smiled fully, just drinking in his sight. Even in his white bedtime T-shirt, he looked adorable. Thinking of trying something, I leaned in, taking a considerable breath. Tentatively, I placed my lips on his. Thereafter, he took the charge and kissed me fervently, slowly biting my lip and tasting it. But a serious problem arose, I started comparing the kiss with the one I had with Siddharth. Panicked, I broke it and stared at him with troubled expressions. God, I was drowned in the guilt!

"I am sorry?" he began, surprised by the sudden loss of contact.

"Oh. I just remembered. Tomorrow is the big day for me. It critiques will be reviewing my article, the new segment. I should save the energy for tomorrow!" I explained, gulping the clawing guilt.

"Of course, honey!" he responded gently. "I understand. You should be sleeping. And don't worry, the reviews will be definitely positive."

"Thanks, Kush!"

"I love you, Sara," he declared, pressing me into a warm hug.

The words were ready in my mouth. But I couldn't speak out. So I smiled and turned towards my bedroom.

*

Next day, when I was photocopying articles for Anamika to review, I was disturbed by a voice behind me.

"Can I talk to you?" Sid asked, standing near the door of the small copy room. He was in a suit, with his grey eyes tired.

"Yes. Why not?" I replied, gritting my teeth. I left him at least four texts from the morning. I wanted to talk with him. But he ignored, even though he viewed them in the chat box.

"I am sorry about Anamika," he mumbled, rubbing his stubble. "It was last minute decision to take her to the gala."

I was taken aback with a sudden uncalled for an apology. "All right!"

"Thanks. What did you want to talk about?" he asked, fleeting his gaze and avoiding the eye contact.

"I...Well... it's complicated," I mumbled, not knowing where to start.

He took a step forward, making it even more difficult.

"Can you do me a favour?" I asked, instinctively taking a step back, hitting the coffee machine.

He came forward still and kept his one hand on the machine.

And his musky scent soothed my senses. I inhaled and drop my gaze to my feet to focus. "I want you to come with me to visit Viraj's family on this Saturday."

"And why is that?" he entered into my space, intimidating me. "Last time, I remember seeing you kissing your best friend in the freaking Gala. Now you want your ex too!"

"Don't be ridiculous." I fumed. "You don't understand. His family invited me for a lunch. I have known them for years. I couldn't say no."

"Then why don't you take your new boyfriend?" he questioned, arching his brow. And I could literally see the horns of the devil. God!

"We were supposed to be in a relationship, thanks to your stupid drama in front of Viraj!"

"Oh well. Then tell your ex that you broke up with me and got a new boyfriend," he said, looking away. He looked like a sulked kid.

"I am not going to do that," I replied, not coming up with a smart reply to his genuine scheme.

"Why not?" he challenged, this time, his gaze bore me with penetrating intensity. Like he wanted to prove a point. Damn his stupid smouldering look!

I look into his eyes, jelly legged and my mouth going dry. I clutched the machine tightly holding his stare. "You have to come!"

"And why is that?" his face inches away from me. His gaze lingered on my quivering lips.

"Because you started this stupid lie in the first place," I managed after a minute of hanging there.

"You sure about that?" he breathed against my skin. The warm breath caressed it with a hot intensity.

"Sid..." I mumbled, hating myself to the core. The man was putting things in my head. The guilt index started to soar.

"What is it, Sara?" He asked, holding himself, temptingly close to me.

I gulped. "Please come."

"Say you want me to come with you. Like a good girl!" he teased further.

"I want you to come with me," I whispered, tightening my hold on the machine.

He took a step back with intensified expressions, the sparks holding us together broke. "I will think about it." And then he walked out of the room, leaving me stunned.

**The next chapter you will see more sparks flying**