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An updated despite Goals are still not completed

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Apeksha's pov
I could feel Om's gaze pinning on Iqbal, causing the poor guy to recoil a step away, his hands raised in surrender.

"Just to be safe on my side, I wasn't hitting on your girlfriend," Iqbal mustered a nervous laugh, shooting me a furtive look, seeking for help. Urgently, he further chimed in, "It wouldn't have worked anyway. She is smitten with you."

I flustered.

Om perched his chin on the crown of my head, his deep, sin cloaked voice, wafting over me, "Guess my stars are shining in the brightest constellation. No ?"

It sounded less of a question, rather rhetoric and warmth buzzed throughout my nerves.

Does this man even know what he does to me ?

The warmth of his arms together with the soft blanket wrapped around my frame, and I sank more, melting in the soothing serenity, as we sat on the mat, enjoying the hustle bustle around the bonfire.

I took a sip of the hot cocoa, the sweetness mixed with lingering bitterness spreading across my tastebuds. I offered it to him, pouting when he refused, about to retreat the cup away when he held my wrist, rotating the cup, taking a sip from exactly the same spot where my faint lipstick mark was left. He shot me a wink as heat brightened on my cheeks.

"Little swan," I hummed, taking another ship. "If not for men in your books, whom would you crush on ?"

"Cricketers," I exclaimed without missing a beat. Men in the field are so hot. And it's cherry on the top if it's men in blue.

"Or ?" he probes, hinting, the jealousy in his tone hardly masked. And I bit back a cheshire grin.

"Or," I intentionally prolonged, "Sexy lawyers in expensive suits, who sometimes talk in hot but peculiar language."

"Lawyers ? Plural ?" he grumbled from behind. And I burst into laughter.

"Why so grumpy ? Are you jealous ?" I teased.

His face buried in the crook of my neck, murmuring in irritation, "I told you I don't share."

Turning my head behind to have our gaze aligned, I filled his handsome face in the cup of my small palms. "Nope. It's just you, my vakeel sahab." The frown on his forehead thawed into smooth creases. "These insignificant crushes don't matter. You are and will always be my favourite man."

The man I love. Silently. Irrecoverably.

A smile broke on his lips, softly captured by my own the very next second, as I mumbled against his mouth, "Mī mājhē hr̥daya tulā dilē āhē."

(I've lost my heart to you.)

The moment was impeded by the sound of soft fawning, and we both abruptly pulled back, finding the old couple next to us staring at us, their lips curled in a playful smile. My cheeks reddened, eyes widening noticing the tip of Om's ears heating up.

"Young love is so beautiful," the older woman gushed looking at her husband, her gaze rounding back to us. Her husband, whose attention was unwavering on her, bobbed his head. "Enjoying your honeymoon phase, huh ?" She teased further.

I was about to clear their misunderstanding, but Om beat me to it, "My wife is so beautiful. It's hard to think of something else if not her." His arms tightened around me, protective, comforting and I was stumped. "She made me the luckiest man by accepting me as her husband."

The old couple cooed blessings for us. Whereas I was still gaping at him, searching his face. But he didn't say anything. Just dipped his face, lips landing right below my hairline, as if sealing our fate with that kiss.

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Vyom's pov
She was so insistent, telling me to wake her up no matter what, so we could step out for the nature walk and bask in the morning glory. But as the early streaks of light peeked through canvas of dark sky, she only let out a whine, snuggling closer to my chest when I tried to stir her awake, looking adorable like a fuzzy kitten in my shirt that I only tightened my hold around her, falling asleep together.

That concluded with us waking up much later when the sun was already on the apex, its stark bright rays a retorting laughter, which buzzed further with Apeksha's wallowing and throwing a fit, "You didn't wake me up. Now we are late."

"I did, baby. But you looked exhausted from yesterday's bouncing around."

A scowl marred her face, "You are the older one here. You should have been more responsible."

I deadpanned. "You are going to rub off our age difference on me for our whole life, ain't you ?" My eyes narrowed, finding her nodding stubbornly. "You make me sound like someone who comes from your great grandfather's generation." I rebuked.

"Dekhiye.. ab aap mujhe daant bhi rahe hain, Ājōbā," she grumbled, exaggerating the last word and pulled the duvet on her face.

(See.. now you're even scolding me, grandpa.)

Me with that wrinkled skin, crooked teeth, hunched back, my bald crown shining under moonlight with that dirty white beard obsessing over her. The picture in my head nearly made me throw up.

For the sake of sanity, I'm just thirty.

I get it. She's still groggy from waking up just now, so it would be baseless to talk to her right now.

With countless kisses and an extra amount of Nutella added on the waffles I ordered for her, she finally stopped sulking, kissing me on the cheek with those Nutella coated tempting lips.

A mistake.

Which I rectified by tilting her face and devouring her lips, unapologetically and fiercely, leaving her processing and breathless.

She got dressed in bermuda shorts, black tank top, topped with an open button flannel shirt, pairing it with comfortable shoes. I got myself swathed in a similar looking shirt as her, which by the way was her idea, with comfortable straight pants. I was about to refute as she confined those midnight curls in a bun, but held back realising it would be a tall order for her to handle her tailbone length hair while taking part in today's activities.

Iqbal was already waiting for us, standing by the booked jeep, so he could guide us through the Jungle Safari. Apeksha greeted him with her usual contagious smile, contradictory to my poker face with that curt jut of chin.

Taking the hint, Iqbal cowered away, toning down to politeness from the friendliness whenever I would shoot him a glare, my lips instantly switching into a smile every time Apeksha would tear her gaze away from the scenic beauty to me.

Counting this frequent bizarre flip of expressions, I'm sure I'll outdo any bipolar in no time.

She would squeal, tugging on my arms, flailing her hands every time she would catch the sight of another wild animal or bird. In my conversation with Iqbal, I gave him clear instructions to choose a route that has more counts of spotting the said animals. And I really want this small wish of hers to pan out.

What kind of standards would I be setting for a future husband if I can't make these small desires of hers come true ?

The next few hours rolled on amidst the curiosity feeding, excitement thronged exploration through the dense trees. We luckily got to see a tigress, but could only capture a fleeting glimpse of the elusive black beast before it vanished somewhere in the jungle.

I made her ditch our glued-like-pest guide, compensating for the walk we missed this morning, taking delight in the solitude in her company.

We walked aimlessly, sometimes chatting endlessly and later basking in the serene tranquility, so immersed, not quite realising that it was already past the curfew time.

"Mai kuchh puchhun ?" I tilted my head over my shoulder, poking on her leg that was swaddled around my ribs, silently gesturing to her to tighten her hold. With the bob of my head, she continues, "Isn't this affecting your work ?" Her tone turns unsure. "As much I love spending time with you, I never want to be the reason you neglect your work commitments."

(Can I ask you something ?)

"Don't trouble that chhotu sa brain of yours," I smothered a grin as she pinched on my shoulders, the swan charm on her wrist glinting in the dark. Swans are believed to be forever companions. And I would want nothing less than to have her in my life forever. Before as a friend and now the dark greedy part of me is desiring for more. I further added, "Moreover I work so tirelessly that I can take leave for some days. And you shouldn't doubt the potency of the secretary I trained myself."

(little)

She scoffed, "Now you even want the credit of someone else's potential."

I squeezed my hold behind me with a shake of head, wriggling slightly, adjusting her weight sagging on my back more comfortably, "Hold on tighter."

"I told you to put me down. I've gained weight. You feed me like I've been starving for years."

"Shut up," I rebuked. I remember the sixteen year old her crying in the rose garden, mired in insecurities after her mother told her to cut some calories, otherwise no one would like her. "You have been eating just fine. And I haven't built all these muscles to flaunt in front of the female population."

"You better not," she cuts in. Her own arms, which were wounded around my neck, strengthened on cue, like a silent warning. And I stifled a smug guffaw.

Her mother needs to get her eyes checked. And her brain too. In my opinion, a chubby Apeksha would look no less angelic than she already is.

She chastised further, "And how are even managing to walk through this darkness. Are you, like those shapeshifting hotties in books, a cat?"

I shook my head, quipping, "Naah, a snake."

She yelped, jumping off my back, sprinting in fright, pulling me along with her, almost doubling us over the ground. "Deva, saanp... saanp."

(God, there's a snake.)

"Little swan, calm down," gripping her shoulders, I firmly pinned her on the spot, seizing her vigorous flight stance. "That was just a joke."

She exhaled shakily, then smacked me on my arm, chiding, "You scared me. We are already roaming outside despite the warning that wild animals frequently cross the stretch."

"C'mon," I tugged her closer, pinching her nose playfully on which she rumbled a whine. "I know my little one is a feisty fighter." Her scowls thaws, a smile blooming while my thumb toys with her nose ring.

We were not far from our cottage and reached there in no time, thankfully without coming across any supposed danger.

I took no chances the next day, and dragged her out of the sheets on time, so we couldn't be late. Most of our day was spent in the adventures of water sports. She looked thrilled, her shrieks reaching crescendo, simultaneously she gripped on my forearm like clutching on her life line. And all along, I secured her tightly, letting loose when she was to enjoy and holding firm when she looked frightened.

By the time the sun blushed, all pink and orange, shying behind the curtains of grey streaks, we two were leisurely wandering through the local areas, our hands entwined. On our way to the cottage, this time she plucked a bunch of wildflowers, binding them together with the extra hair tie, stuffing it in my breast pocket with a pat, giving me one of her heart-stopping smiles.

She crossed the hall after I put on the latch on the main door and slumped on the woven wooden sofa.

"I need a long relaxing shower and just hit the hay." She kicked off her shoes carelessly, pulling it away instantly as I bent down to pick it up, sprinting to place it on the shoe rack with a sheepish look.

"Let's go," unbuttoning my shirt, I stride closer, my tone playful, suggestive.

"Together ?" she exclaimed, dumbfounded, pink shadowing her cheeks.

I nod my head slightly, curbing a grin. "Why not ? Let's take a dip in the lake."

"In the_ lake ?" Confusion dripped from her words, before the meaning of my words dawned upon her, and she flared out an annoyed breath, "You're so bad."

Turning on my heels, I was already making my way towards the back door, throwing her a quick look over my shoulder. "Don't make me wait."

Under the endless tapestry of the night sky, beaded with grey grumbling clouds, I stood perched on the edge of the human-made lake, eyes closed, hearing night insects chirping and the trees rustling

A breeze passed by my face, carrying a hint of moisture. I hear the rustle of leaves behind me as soft footfalls approach my way. My attention gravitated, catching her petite frame growing closer, each step taken timid, hands clasped in the front, her demeanor unlikely tentative.

I watch her lips moving, as if she's speaking, but I was too stumped, gaze doubling over her frame, the fishnet type of dress, worn like a silent rebellion cultivated from the year long imposed fretters, barely hiding the hot thing beneath.

"Take it off, little swan," the words were out before I could hold back, spoken like a command, but edged to a vulnerable desperation.

As she met my gaze, her cheeks flushed even more, unmasking the fragility behind this bold move. "I am looking like a clown, right ?" Her body weight shifted from one leg to another, baring the underlying uneasiness.

Squeezing my eyes, I scoffed, the sound low and menacing, "A clown you say ?" When I zeroed my gaze back on her, her body betrayed the shivers that ran through her. "Only if you had the idea of the kind of thoughts that are swirling in my head."

"What thoughts ?" The words were barely audible, nonetheless I heard them loud and clear.

"The kind of thoughts that would make me look like an absolute pervert and far from the gentleman you picture me as."

Right at the moment, the sky rumbled, echoing its approval.

The fervency of the dark promises reverberating through my previous words danced on her skin like noticeable goosebumps. And I surpassed a wicked smirk, smothering it with a playful smile.

"Now, get in," I urged, the lilt softer now.

She hesitated, reasoning with, "But I don't know how to swim."

"Trust me," her gaze flickered to the hand I extended in her direction. And as if her body is accustomed to trust me, she already inched a step closer.

She swapped a hesitant gaze around, before gripping the hem of her over dress and pulled it off.

And me ? I guess my lungs just now forgot how to pump oxygen, rendering me breathless.

That two piece swimsuit, consisting of that high waist retro bikini shorts and a sweet neckline strappy bodice, clung to the most jewelled curve of her body, whirlwinding my imagination all wild.

She was looking like a nymph descended for the devil.

Only for me.

If not for accompanying my fashion crazed sister for shopping once in a while, or surfing through all kinds of wardrobe charts so I could find similar looking outfits from what I've seen in Apeksha's Pinterest board, I wouldn't be able to identify clothing even girls fail to name.

"You are staring," I was pulled out of my reverie by her feeble intervention.

Needless, I gave her once-over again, rasping, "As if you are not ?" Her eyes widened, quickly darting away from my naked torso, cheeks visibly tinted.

"I thought it was supposed to be a private swimming pool," she muttered, striving to avoid the building tension between us.

I shrugged.

Jutting my chin, I urged her to move closer and she complied, slipping her palm in mine, crouching gently by the lake, still appearing skeptical. A drop of rain silently slipped on our joined hands, followed by more as she beamed, gaze flickering to the sky.

She shrieked, the sound echoing in tandem to the loud splash when I tugged on her arms, causing her to topple over me, falling right in the water.

"I'm dying_ I'm dying," gasping out in urgency, her arms wound around my neck, clinging to my body like a koala.

Holding her shoulders a temporary hostage, I seize her frantic flapping, swiftly having her gaze fixed on me. "You're not," I affirmed, my tone coaxing.

She calmed down, exhaling a breath of relief, only to have her breath hitch and I gulp myself, heat sizzling at the realisation of how inseparably our bodies were entwined together.

Her lips tremble, breathe stuttering, "Om". My name falling past her lips like a dangerous spell, summoning the darkest part of mine.

Something twisted inside me, invoking a wicked impulse while my hold turned possessive on her, growling her name like a prayer, "Fuck, Apeksha!"

Our eyes locked.

And the clouds unleashed.

Then our lips were crashing together.

Chapter Words- 2840

Next Update would be the final Bonus
Chapter of TBSCHN 💗

Signing off
~T.R