Sidharth had not been in a relationship with Shehnaaz long enough to know everything about her life, but in the short three months he had spent with Shehnaaz, he knew two things for sure. One, that he loved her with all his heart. Two, that he would protect her with everything in his power. There was one more thing, he knew almost for sure. His girlfriend, his angel, was troubled. She tried not to show it, but that didn't mean he didn't see anything.

Sidharth met her at a friend's housewarming party almost four months ago. Ironically, he was not even going to go to the said event and still, by some divine intervention, like it was only meant to happen only this way, he ended up right where he was meant to be. Right across from a beautiful woman clad in his favorite shade of yellow. She had a beautiful smile, the most amazing, most melodious voice and a face so sweet, and innocent that his heart melted looking at it— if only just a little.

The way she held herself, provided testament to her strength and her perseverance. Almost twenty weeks into meeting and making an acquaintance of the beautiful person she was, Sidharth knew her, he loved her. But, he was not sure why, he had never said it out loud. He would correct that today. She deserved it. "Maybe, just maybe it would bring her out of her shell."

A part of him wanted to say it to the world, out loud that he loved her but the more rational, more grounded part of him knew his shy, naive and sensitive woman. He knew she was not one for grand gestures of love, but the small, intimate moments that defined them and their love in the real sense.

"Maybe a dinner?" He wondered aloud, almost giddy with anticipation, but almost instantly, he canceled on the idea. A dinner is too small, too— normal. She deserves at something bigger. She deserved to feel special, important, valued.

Sidharth smiled at the thought, only twenty weeks in and she had changed him enough, that the world could see it, a newer, better version of him. One that was there all along and yet, not so open, not so obvious.

He was deep in his thoughts, when someone covered his eyes with their palms. Ordinarily, his instincts would have startled him but this was someone he could tell apart from te rest of the rest of the world by a mile. This was his angel, his heart. "Hi princess.."

"Which princess?" She asked, trying hard not to let the cheery, childlike laughter erupt.

"How many do I have?" Sidharth asked, retorting playfully.

"Mujhe kya pata." She said, still not removing her hands from above his eyelids. Sidharth touched her palm and brought them to his lips. "You are the only one, Shehnaaz. Tu mera iklauta antique piece hai!"

She finally laughed and the melody practically drove him crazy with the amount of love that surged in his heart for her. On second thoughts, nothing can be more special than saying it when you're so overwhelmed, so deep in love you can not hold it in for the life of you.

"I love you" He spoke in a soft, gentle voice, reflecting the affection that he felt overwhelming him.

Shehnaaz smiled, wrapping her tiny palms around his. "It's not exactly a secret"

"You're mean."

"I am not. I am only stating facts. Speaking of, another fact —I love you too."

"Prove it."

Shehnaaz laughed, again. She grabbed his face between her palms and tilted his head back. "Say it again."

"Prove that you love me. Do it!"

Shehnaaz visibly shrugged and bent over to kiss him.

She was shy, at least he thought so, but seeing this, he fell in love harder. She had the power to make him dance on fire. For her. Only her!

"I love you so much, baby" He whispered against her lips, before pulling her into a second kiss, deeper, more passionate, more overwhelming, more real.

Sidharth tugged her hand, guiding her to stand in front of him and smiled at her. "You are home early.."

After a good ten minutes, Shehnaaz tilted her head. "I came to you earlier than usual. I do get home by this time."

"So I have to wait for 2 more hours to see you, even though you can come at six?" Sidharth asked, almost whining in a child-like voice.

"I have to feed myself—"

"I can cook for you."

"I have to do laundry.."

"Bring your clothes, I have a washing machine."

"Sidharth, aise nahi hota baby.."

"Kyu nahi hota, kaise nahi hota. Tu heartless hai, tu mujhe pyaar nahi karti.. You just pretend." Sidharth complained

Shehnaaz sighed, sitting in front of him. "You don't say that, please."

Sidharth sensed a shift in her tone and stepped back with his whining, "Oye, dramebaaz.. You know I don't mean it."

"I know— don't say it."

Sidharth nodded. "Tu mere pas kyu nahi aa sakti roz, jaldi?"

"Mai aa sakti hoon, Sidharth. But, you have to realize something, even if we know how much we love each other, this is the first time we have said it out loud. Both of us." She said calmly. "4 mahine mein ek I love you and 300 visits to your home."

"Its your home too.."

"Dinn me 10 baar aati hoon mai, baby. Of course I know this is my home. This is my home, but that is a safe place too, that is my home too and I have to— I have to go sometimes, just to remind myself—"

Shehnaaz stopped abruptly and shook her head.

"Remind yourself of.. what?"

Shehnaaz looked up at him. "You will expect things from me if I.. if I come here. You will want to— you will.."

Sidharth looked at her, his face contorted in confusion and concern. He reached for her and cupped her face. "It's ok. It's too fast for you."

"No.." She shook her head, "it's not that."

"You can come at eight. I can still cook for you though, right?" He asked softly.

Shehnaaz looked at him, apologetic. Guilty.

"You can say anything you want to me, princess. This relationship is yours as much as it is mine." He said softly, kissing her head.

"I.. don't know what— I know you were...— We were okay. I kissed you today, I did it because I love y— I messed up. I..."

Shehnaaz shook, breathing quick. Sidharth reached for her. "Baby.. Shehnaaz— what happened? Its okay, "

"I.. messed up, I can't—"

"You didn't do anything, sweetheart. It's okay. You didn't mess anything up, baby.."

"I—"

Sidharth let her speak, as he slowly shook his head and touched her forehead with his. "You have done nothing wrong, angel. Kucch nahi hua hai.. Shh, baby."

"I love you.."

Sidharth nodded. "I know, sweetheart."

Shehnaaz looked at him, her eyes teary. "I don't want to ruin it."

"You won't. Not listening to me, putting up boundaries for your peace, stepping back if I suffocate you— suppose I do! It's all well within your right. Saying no won't make me leave."

Shehnaaz looked down at her lap, "Ay, I know I have you. Tu ghar aayegi, chaahe paanch minute ke liye ya paanch ghante ke liye, yeh tera decision hoga."

"I know I got eager, I know mene bacchon jaise behave kia but I don't want to pressure you, princess. You just told me you love me. You kissed me— that's like the wildest thing I've seen you do in all the time I have seen you. That is all I need, baby."

"You're not mad?"

Sidharth shook his head, smiling softly at her.

"I.. love you."

"I know, angel."

She tilted her head, surprised. "I know you love me, baby. I also know I scared you."

"It's not your fault."

"I did trigger something"

"I'm sorry.."

"You don't have anything to apologize for, Shehnaaz. We have known each other for four months and we might be in love.. but that doesn't mean we know each other well enough. We have a lot to know.. a lot more to share."

Shehnaaz looked at him, for a few seconds, completely bewildered. "What are you looking at?" Sidharth asked curiously. He had a soft, assuring smile on his face

Shehnaaz shrugged. I.. don't know how to respond to that.. I have not had anyone see something with my eyes the way you.."

"Before you, there was.. a person.. I thought I loved, but of course.. I was wrong. He would just be so demanding and controlling.. he wanted me in front of his eyes forever and I mistook that for.. love.. he was— crazy."

"You left him."

"Within a year.. but he made me.. paranoid." She confessed. "When you asked.. why I can't just come to you.. your house— a wall went up instinctively—"

"Its okay."

"I'm not trying to push you away.."

Sidharth nodded. "You're just protecting yourself. I understand. It's fair to take your time, baby. It's all good." He said gently.

"I.. just.. got scared."

"I know, baby."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Sidharth pulled her into a hug and kissed her hair. "It's okay, baby. I told you you don't have to apologize."

Shehnaaz sighed, snuggling into him.

"I won't drive you away, right? You are my safe place."

"Oh precious, you could never do that."

Sidharth held her tighter, as if to assure her. "When you need time, when you need space. Just say the word. Relationships are easy like that, if you know to communicate with each other. And we.. we do. Right?"

Shehnaaz nodded. Sidharth smiled. "I could never find you."

"But you did. I love you."

Some people did not like the color scheme of the instagram update, and it was just too much work to repost there, so here we are!! After too long, with an imagine

Here to hoping you like it!

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