Love. Beautiful and powerful, strong and unique, pleasant and not at all painful. That was normal love that others felt, that was not what Zoya knew love to be. If she said those three words out loud would it become her weakness as it did with Yash? She needed to move on and forget but she couldn't, because it would always remain a part of her, so much a part of her that she was scared if she allowed herself to forget for a while she would remain incomplete.

Her eyes trailed slowly over Aditya as he slept beside her, a smile rose on her lips when he stretched then opened his eyes "Morning"

Aditya looked up at her as she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then sat up properly "Morning" he could still barely believe she had choosen to stay with him, but he wouldn't let her down anymore, he would love her so much that it would make up for those moments she deserved love but never got it, but he only had a day to do it.

Because today he knew his fate, he had made a promise to Zoya, to never kill again, and he wouldn't. Because he would never directly break her heart, her trust was precious, and if he refused to fight back against Pooja then he knew his fate. Rakesh had already sent him a message, refusing to meet him would only endanger Zoya. Today he would just love Zoya, bask in her presence and wish her strength for whatever came her way, she would be safe, that he would ensure.

"Shall I make breakfast"

"No, lets go out, come on up" he stood up and lifted her into his arms, her legs hung against his, chest pressed up against his and her arms wound round his neck, it dawned on him that this would be the last time he would hold her, the last time he would hear her giggle softly in his ear whenever he held her close. He put her down but still held her close, the corner of his mouth lifted when she placed her hands on his cheeks

"Thank you, i've never been out to eat before" her eyes glistened with delight before she walked around him, grabbed some clothes and moved to the bathroom

Aditya took this moment to close his eyes, living without her wasn't something he deemed possible, but dying and having her live without him? That he wasn't sure of, she was stronger now, so much stronger and of course she would never love him as much as he loved her, so he calmed himself. She would be okay. He wanted to say goodbye, leave something for her to find, she deserved that atleast.

XXX

Zoya glanced up from her food to see Aditya was looking away, as if a general reflex she reached out and squeezed his hand "Are you okay"

His eyes met hers and he smiled, beautiful eyes that always held warmth that managed to make him feel alive, that was the only way to explain it. Zoya made him feel alive. "When I have you, i'm always more than okay"

She shook her head, admonishing herself for being fearful that things wouldn't be okay "I feel the same, for once I feel, I feel okay, I feel happy, with you" she smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink "That's okay isn't it, for you to be the reason i'm happy" her voice was timid now, she was unsure

He had never intented to be her happiness, because when he died tonight, her happiness would fade and that wasn't acceptable, but he couldn't tell her that, instead he replied with half of what he wanted to say "For now, it's okay, but one day you'll have to find other things that make you happy"

She nodded "But you'll always be the first, the first thing that made me smile, I get it now"

"Get what" he raised a brow

"What love feels like"

XXX

Zoya stepped into their bedroom to see a bunch of flowers on the bed, lillies, they were her faviourate. She lifted them up, sniffing them she span around "You remembered" she whispered

Aditya nodded "I would never forget, I know your life has been far from a fairytale, but I want to change that, I want to give you what you deserve" her words before rung in his head, today would be the day she would recall as the day she lived the life she always should have

"Lillies are my faviourate, when I was small, I would steal them from my neighbours back garden, I always used to listen to the song Dil De Diya Hai, and imagined that when I was older and got married, my husband would sing that song for me atleast once a week and gift me those flowers, Abbu always said I lived in dreamland too much, but now I know, life is far from a fairytale"

Zoya looked over at Aditya who held his hand out, nervously she placed the lillies down and held his hand, allowing him to tug her to him

"I'm not much of a singer, but I thought we could dance instead" his voice was hoarse as he spoke into her ear, his eyes closed once he played the song. He wrapped one arm firmly around her waist, his left hand gripped her right one as they swayed, unbeknownst to her tears rolled down his cheeks. He had given her his heart, his everything, he was made to be hers always, he just hoped he had showed her that she could be happy. Zoya would forever be the woman that saved him, that led him to the right path. She was his salvation, he just hoped that he could be that for her too.

She pulled back slightly to look at him, her brows furrowed "You're crying, is something wrong"

He shook his head "I just can't believe how lucky I have been to have you for this long" he brushed his fingers across her cheek

"You'll have me forever, no man could ever be as good as you" Zoya wiped away his tears "When I found you in hospital, you thought I was asleep and you asked me to fix you, said that without me, you are nothing, well you fixed me Aditya, i'm healing now, without you I would be"

He shook his head quickly "Don't talk like that Zoya, please, I can't even think about it"

"I have a horrible feeling Aditya, a horrible feeling that something is wrong and you're not telling me, i'm scared i'll wake up one day and you'll be gone"

Aditya smiled "Ill always be with you, my heart is with you, I wouldn't be able to leave you completley, trust me" he cupped her cheeks "I love you"

XXX

Aditya placed his gun in the drawer, then glanced over at a sleeping Zoya and pressed a chaste kiss to her hair, pausing momentarily to take her in one more time "I love you Zoya, the only solace I can offer you is this letter, i'll die a good man, because I was your man, thank you" he scrunched up his nose, trying but failing to stop more tears from leaving his eyes, he turned swiftly and walked away without looking back, because if he did, he wouldn't leave, even he wasn't that strong.

Zoya awoke only a few moments later to see a letter folded up with her name on it as soon as she switched on the light. Her stomach churned, without even reading the letter she knew exactly what it was. Her fingers skidded across the paper as she opened it "Zoya, I doubt this will come as a shock for you because as always you see right through me and it is only with you that I can be myself, you changed a monster into a man, you gave me a reason to live and you allowed me to feel love, an emotion I didn't think I was capable of, Rakesh contacted me, I know I won't make it out alive, I made a promise to you and I won't break it, do you remember our conversation before, when you asked me what would happen if we only had today"?

Zoya closed her eyes, remembering that sacred moment, words she had said that she didn't expect to return and haunt her

"I, I do, I trust you, but you have to be safe too" Zoya held his hand, circling his palm with her fingers

"As long as you are safe, I will be too, i'll always find a way to get to you, I promise" he kissed her forehead then leant back.

She looked down continuing to read the letter aloud, her voice cracked and hands shook and the words blurred in her teary vision but she couldn't stop "I want you to know just how much you mean to me, you saved me, made me worth something, these few months have been precious to me, what you have given me is something I can be happy with, memories that I will die with and for once I can say I am dying a happy man, but not completely happy because I wanted more, more time with you, but even I must be punished for my sins, I love you Zoya, you said I was your happiness so use me to live, live for me and allow me to live through you, you saved me, you always will be the woman that tamed the monster, I promise you'll be safe, everything I have is now yours, thank you for being my salvation, yours, always yours, Aditya"

XXX

Aditya closed his eyes, took a deep breath then looked down at his phone lit up with Zoya's name, what a sad but truthful last moment, she had lit up his life too. He knew ignoring it would be best, but he couldn't. "Zoya, I"

"No, don't you say anything you listen to me, you said aslong as I was safe that you would be too, that you'd find your way back to me, so do that, find a way back to me, like you always do, I don't want you to die, not like this, not until we're old and grey, I want to spend my life with you Aditya, I love you, I do, I know I do, fight this please and come home to me, where you belong, one day isn't enough, I want more, I deserve more time with you, you deserve more time with me, come home and we can figure this out please" she gripped the phone tightly and sobbed, so scared that he wouldn't listen

"Zoya" he whispered "I can't endanger you like that, you don't love me, you're to good for that"

"I do, I do love you, you can't tell me what I feel, I know now that I never loved Yash, I have only ever loved you, please Aditya, come home"

He closed his eyes, throwing his head back "I love you too, I didn't think you would ever love me, and that's why I have to keep you safe, you gave me a gift by loving me, I won't allow your love to be meaningless"

Zoya screamed his name as soon as the end tone played "Please if there is any God up there, then bring him back to me, if not now, then in another life, i'll wait forever, I will, just don't let this be the end"

XXX

Zoya looked up as the front door swung open "Aditya, you" she stopped "You're bleeding"

He stumbled forward into her arms "I came home, I found a way" he cupped her cheek, the blood on his hand now coating her cheek, then her hair as he moved his hands across her face "Ajeeb ho tum, you only confess how you feel when i'm injured" he chuckled "I love you Zoya, no matter what, I will always find a way to you, be it in this life or another"

Zoya dropped to the floor with him, her hands gripped his "No, no you have to stay awake, please" she shook her head

Aditya rose a hand to her cheek, fingers wound round her hair "I'll find my way to you Zoya, wait for me" then his eyes rolled over

So, this brings me to the end of His Salvation, it truly has been a beautiful journey but I can't bare to part with this Aditya and Zoya just yet, they deserve so much more and that's why there will be a part two. It will be called Ajeeb Ho Tum, and will be up fairly soon, as for other updates, i'm getting there:).

I cannot thank you enough for all the love you have given me and this story, and I hope you all find the love you deserve, this story has been hard to write in many ways, I was always so worried i'd get the emotions wrong but i'm actually really proud of this story but more than that, i'm proud of all of you.

I have had a few messages from people explaining how they related to this story, and yet you're all here, surviving and living and i'm so glad because the world needs you and I know you will all go very far.

I can't thank you all enough, but know that I love you all, readers, voters, commenters and the friends I have made through this story and others. You are all strong and beautiful and you will be okay, and if ever you need to talk, i'll always be here.

Lots of love, your friend

Rehanna.