'I Choose You'

Naina entered the church, she took a seat and then folded her hands and looked at the cross infront of her.

"Di always used to say that when your heart and mind are pulling you in two different directions, then you should always go to the one person who will always help us make the right direction, God. She used to say it doesn't matter if we go to a church, a temple or a mosque, God will be God, no matter how we are praying to him, as long as our heart is pure and our pray is sincere, he will always listen to us, he will always guide us, so please help me God, I don't know what to do, one side is my father, and the other side is the boy who I recently met, but somehow he is someone who I've grown extremely fond of, I don't know if it's love, I haven't felt love before so I can't really say, but I do know that Seenu is special, he makes me feel special, he's given me the love and respect I've been craving for since I was a child, my heart wants me to choose him, but my mind keeps saying how can I not choose my father? How can I not choose the person who is the reason I'm in this world? So please help me god, help me make a decision between the man who brought me into this world, or the man who seems to make me his whole world".

Naina then stood up and walked over to alter, she lit a candle, she then kissed the side of her pointer finger, put it on her forehead, then below her chest, left side and then her right side, and then finally walked out the church.

***

As Naina stepped out the church, she smiled seeing the children playing, she stood there for a second admiring the happy faces of the children, she then looked to the side and saw their parents of the kids standing there, watching their children with a happy smile on their faces.

Seeing the scenario caused the smile to leave Naina's face, that is the exact way she wanted her father to look at her, but he never did, Naina can't even remember one scenario in which her father smiled at her, called her his daughter, or even supported her dreams, all she remembers is being called a bad omen, being yelled at, her confidence being shattered due to her father's words.

"Are you insane?!".

Naina's thought process was broken when she heard a yell of man, turning around she saw a young man glaring at a young woman.

"Don't yell at me Karan, this is not my fault, this is your fault".

"My fault?!" a shocked Karan asked, "Preeta Arora, did you hit your head when you were a child?".

"First of all, it's not Preeta Arora, it's Preeta Karan Luthra, second of all, what are you implying Karan Luthra?".

"I'm implying that you are crazy" Karan snapped.

"Of course I'm crazy, only a crazy person will love a person like you" Preeta snapped back, she turned to leave but Karan grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.

"Don't walk away from me Preeta" Karan whispered, a sense of vulnerability in his voice.

Preeta stared into Karan's eyes, she then sighed, "Karan, I'm sorry for leaving the house without telling you, I didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't let me go to the academy".

"Of course I wouldn't have let you go, you have a fever Preeta, come on, we're going back home" Karan stated.

"Karan, your coach called, Shiv has injured himself, he needs a physio" Preeta argued.

"Your not the only physio in this world, Preeta Luthra" Karan argued back, "That stupid Shiv can find another doctor, we are going home".

"But--".

Before Preeta could finished her sentence, Karan had picked her up in his arms.

"Karan!" a shocked Preeta yelled.

"Shh babydoll" Karan said, "We're going home and you are resting till your fever goes away, maybe even one or two days after that".

"You are impossible Karan Luthra" an amused Preeta said.

"Thank you" Karan simply said, making Preeta laugh.

Naina watched Karan and Preeta walk away, both of them lost in their own little world to care about anyone else.

When Naina was looking at Preeta and Karan, she wasn't observing them, she was imagining herself and Seenu there, already Seenu's care made Naina's heart flutter, she wondered what would happen when he takes care of her because it's his right, what would their future look like if they were together?

"Why am I thinking so much about you, Seenu?" Naina wondered.

"Because you've fallen in love with me" someone whispered into her ear.

A startled Naina immediately turned around and came face to face with Seenu.

"Seenu" Naina whispered, a small smile forming on her face seeing the person infront of her.

"Admit it sweetheart, you've fallen in love with me" Seenu said, swiping his index nose on her nose.

"Love scares me" Naina admitted.

"Everything scares you" Seenu retorted, "First your father, then this world and now love, when are you going to stop being afraid Naina? Instead of making love your weakness, make it your strength, use the power of our love to fight the world".

"Will our love win from this world?" Naina asked.

Seenu shrugged, "Ask that to the real Seenu".

"I am" a confused Naina said.

Seenu shook his head, "Sweetheart, I'm not actually here" he said, disappearing right infront of Naina's eyes.

"What?!" a shocked Naina whispered, looking around in confusion, "Now I'm daydreaming about this guy?!", Naina lightly hit the back of her head, "You're making me lose my mind, Seenu".

***

Seenu sat at the college coffeeshop, drinking his coffee while going through Instagram on his phone, when someone came and sat infront of him.

"How can you love a coward?".

Seenu looked up from his phone and saw Naina sitting infront of him, "What?" he asked, confused as to what Naina was saying.

"I am a coward, Seenu" Naina whispered, "I'm scared of everyone and everything, I'm scared of my father, I'm scared of the society, but mostly I'm scared of love, how can you love someone like me?".

Seenu smiled at Naina, he then reached across the table and grabbed Naina's hand in his, "Try seeing you from my eyes Naina, then you will see why I love you, I don't care that you're scared, I only care about your heart, which I know is pure, probably the most purest heart anyone has ever seen, the first time I saw you, it wasn't your face that drew me in, it was the innocence in your eyes that made me fall for you straight away, you're not a coward Naina, you are a good person, you're a good daughter, and I know if you give us a chance, you will be a even better life partner".

"You will fight the world for me, what if I can't do that?" Naina asked, scared of letting Seenu down, "What if I end up disappointing you?".

"Naina, if my love for you is true, then it will give you the strength to fight for it against this whole world" Seenu replied, "You just have to believe in it, you just have to believe me".

Naina sat there, letting Seenu's words sink, and Seenu realising that Naina needed some time to think, quietly stood up and went to walk away, when Naina grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"If I hold on to you, promise to never let me go?" Naina asked.

"The moment you hold on to me, I will never let you go, nor will I let anyone come between us" Seenu promised.

Naina stared at Seenu for a moment, tears welling in her eyes, she then stood up from the chair.

"One more promise" Naina said, "Promise to never break my heart?".

Seenu placed his hand on Naina's cheek, "Breaking your heart will mean breaking my heart, and Seenu can do a lot of things, but he will never hurt something that is his".

"Am I yours?" Naina whispered.

"From the moment I saw you" Seenu whispered, "You just refused to accept it".

"What happens if I accept it now?" Naina asked curiously.

 A smile formed on Seenu's face, "Then get ready to be part of the greatest love story this college as ever seen".

Naina let out a small chuckle, she then looked into Seenu's eyes, who were looking back at her with immense love and adoration, going to the church, seeing Preeta and Karan, and now listening to Seenu's words, the battle between Naina's heart and mind had finally ended, she had finally made her choice.

Without wasting another second, Naina wrapped her arms around Seenu's neck and hugged him, tightly, "I choose you" she whispered, into his neck, "I choose you Seenu, I choose us".

For a moment Seenu stood there shocked, once the shock had worn off, an excited Seenu wrapped his arms around Naina's waist and pulled her against him.

"Say it again" Seenu pleaded, "Please say it again Naina".

Naina slightly lifted her head from Seenu's shoulder, "I choose you Seenu Pandey, I want to give you a chance, I want to give our story a chance".

An extremely happy once again pulled Naina into a hug, he lifted her off her feet and span her around excitedly, making Naina let out a happy laugh.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Seenu yelled, setting Naina back on her feet and looking at her, "I promise you won't regret this".

Naina pulled Seenu down and attached her forehead to his, "I know" she whispered, as Seenu placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled her into another tight hug, both their hearts full of extreme happiness.

***

Presenting chapter thirteen of Hero!

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Naina in the church?

Thoughts on the Karan and Preeta cameo? I don't know if there are any Preeran fans reading this book, but I am a HUGE Preeran fan and currently Kundali Bhagya has been pissing me off and I miss my old Preeran so I decided to bring them to my world for a brief moment, I miss them so much, it's not even funny anymore 😭

Thoughts on Naina finally choosing Seenu over her father?

Next chapter: Seenu and Naina first date & the entry of the Singhal siblings! 👀