A lot has happened recently. Varun hasn't spoken a word after hearing my brave story from the lady constable and nurse. His eyes lingered from head to toe of my body causing me gasp inwardly. Silently he caressed my hairs and thanked everyone for looking after me in his absence...

Daily, he used to feed me though I opposed him I can eat myself. Walked beside me when I'm out of the bed. Held my hand when I sleep. Tucked me to bed when I fall asleep on the sofa. But he never uttered a word. His sweet gestures have thawed the anger I have grown for him but I have lost the inner peace because nowadays he doesn't talks much.

Nope, he speaks in monosyllables. I don't know why?

Lately, he has been distancing himself thinking it isn't obvious. He never eats unless I force him to have food along with me. He takes short naps instead of sleep. Most of the time his mind is somewhere else. His face is etched in sadness. I really don't know what is rolling in his mind.

Though, I'm not ready to ask him where he went or what he was doing? But I needed to know what happened to him? Where he is lost? It kills me to see him in distress.

There, he comes with a plate full of food, ready to feed me until I plead him to stop. Argh!! Am I kid?

He wiggled his eyebrow asking me, "what?"

"Nothing!!"

Will it pain, If he spills a word? Damn him. I'm frustrated with his silent kindness and I can't tolerate this anymore.

"Varun!!!!! Will you stop acting weird?"

Why are you mourning as if a death has occurred in our house? For god sake, open your mouth and speak what is running in your dumbo mind?

He mouthed," sorry!! Hugged me so hard which made me difficult to breathe."

Humph!! I need little air to stay alive, Idiot. I punched his chest.

I heard him snickering. "What's so funny?"

He said nothing but instantly I was on the bed, straddling him. Uh-oh!! Though it was not a very good position to think something inappropriate but now my concentration was fully on Varun. Because lately, he has been sinking in his own puddle of sadness and it is painful to see him grieving himself. I'm desperate to share his pain, remove the darkness from his life.

"What is it Varun?" I asked him, patiently. He held me so close as if I will disappear any minute. I felt his chest heaving against mine.
Maybe he is getting ready to pour out his heart.

He said," I'm sorry Akshitha!!" A teardrop touched my left shoulder.

What? Why is he crying? I moved back to look at his face, but he did not let me to do. Instead he said, "He was bad at Face-face talks."

Omg!! The Varun whom I knew, has always been bold while debating and teasing but opening his heart out was not his cup of tea. Haha! I got your weakness, Varun. I smiled against his nape.

"Continue," I said, snuggled closer.

"Akshitha, I shouldn't have let you stay alone in this place when it was my responsibility to protect you from this wicked world. And I felt ashamed for not being next to you when you needed me the most." He cried, " It was all my mistake."

His securely wrapped arms loosened its grip from my body.

Is he feeling guilty for leaving me home alone, blaming himself for the recent incidents and is that why, he was creating distance between us?

Oh no!! This wasn't his fault at all. Maybe I would have been happier if he was with me while I was fighting with the stranger but we cannot expect someone to stay with us twenty-four into seven, right. And I needed to clear the misconception immediately from his heart.

I pulled his collar in anger. "Do listen to me carefully, Okay?" He was in dead silence.

" I have always had you beside me when I needed you the most Varun. And there were certain times you haven't but It doesn't mean that, you have failed to protect me. Okay?"

It is my life and I should be my own hero. So, stop feeling guilty, behave normally.

"Will you?"

He sighed.

"Hey, do you consider me as a weakling?"

Varun spoke, "Hmm, not a weaker sex but I was thinking, what would have happened if the man was too strong and if you did have a gun for self-defence?

I went speechless for a minute. I never thought in a different angle. But he did.

Varun took several breaths to calm down his raging heart and said, " I'm sure it would have lead to something terrible." He held me tight.

"What if, I have lost you, Akshitha?" My conscience would eat me alive if I had to lose you this time too... The former part came in a mere whisper.

I was shocked after hearing his sudden confession and I started thinking. Yes, Recently our bond has grown stronger and deeper than before. Now we shared something new and the untold feelings have has intensified towards him.

What he has said is correct. What if one day I had to lose him?

"No......"

Even the mere thought created an unknown pain in my heart and a heavy lump formed in the throat, eyes brimmed with tears.

Varun gently unwrapped his arms, stroked my cheeks. I pouted, leaned against his palms. He stifled a laugh.

I keenly observed his face. His eyes were painted with love, concern and a dreamy smile on his lips took away my breath instantly. He was a man of chivalry.

We were destined to meet in the name of marriage, forced to stay together against all the odds, drifted due to misunderstanding and once again we were fated to meet by the destiny.

Thus, I got the answer to all my questions which I was searching for. Varun is my soulmate, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, forever. His presence makes me happy and content. Today, his actions proved that he is the man of my life, made me realise my own feelings for him which I have been neglecting to acknowledge so far.

In these two years, Varun has slowly crawled into my fortress, burrowed piece of land for him and succeded in capturing the throne of my heart which I never desired to lend him. But today I'm ready to share the life with him, my Varun, My beloved. I Love you so much.

Varun pulled me closer, gave me a boyish grin. I felt his hot breaths fanning all over my lips and I bit my lower lip in nervousness. There, my heart began its race. Omg, he is going to kiss, I'm well excited for it. I tightly grabbed his shirt for the support, as if my life depended on it.

Now he was awfully close to my face, I batted my lashes to check if it is real and it is was. God! His eyes lingered on my lips for a second, then captivated my eyes, then again on the lips. I gulped the saliva in fear. It was getting hot.

Gradually he leaned down, sealed my lips. The kisses were slow, gentle yet deep. His fingers played with my hair and caressed every inch of my skin. His hot tongue traced the seam of lips giving me goosebumps, sent shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes tightly and mimicked his actions.

Varun's fingertips grazed from the roots of the palms, headed towards the nape of my neck. I grabbed a fistful of his hair and steadied myself from falling apart.

I curled the toes around his waist and kissed him back gracefully. Our kisses turned from slow to a passionate and urgent one. An unbearable amount of warmth spread across my skin, setting the body on fire. I felt tipsy.

We were in dire need of oxygen, eventually, we gave up and panted for air. We did not kiss anymore. We just sat in complete silence and enjoyed the presence of other.

A wide smile crept across my lips reminiscing the small adventurous exploration kiss. He kissed my forehead, buried his face in the crook of the neck which in turn erupted tingles spread all over my body. The kiss replayed again, again in my mind.

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