𝟏𝟒: 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

"saaya bhi tera main hone na du judaa."

Masking my face, I left the dead and naked body of the man at the corner, before going upstairs.

I am dressed as the man who I just saw in the abandoned hospital building with my face masked like him, so that the other men wouldn't recognise me.

And those fuckers will themselves spill out their plans to me.

I walked up till I reached the fourth floor, where I saw five other men wearing the same kind of mask as me, with black coloured jackets, probably because they don't want to be differentiated from each other.

"Vikas, come here bro," one of them called out looking at me.

So the man I am disguised as is called Vikas.

I walked towards him, trying to speak in a low voice, "What are you all doing?"

One of them, who was also trying to be a little bossy, looked at me with a frown, "Itni jaldi bhool gaya, saale? Taiyari kar, us papa ki pari ko uthane jaana hai."

[You forgot it this quick, dude? Start preparing, we have to go and get that father's princess.]

I tightened my fists at his words, the urge to punch him on his face rushing through all pores of my body.

Control, Nirwan. Control.

I have to let them approach Aakriti and see if I get any signs to get closer to Aryan.

I'm sure they will inform him that they caught Aakriti after they kidnap her, and then I'll deal with them in my own way.

Only to get one step closer to Aryan.

I nodded slowly while looking down, making sure he doesn't see my rage filled eyes.

☆

"She will be going to a temple at six, she will be alone on the streets when we have to kidnap her. I'll stop the van, and Vikas, you will open the door and pull her inside," the bossy guy narrated the plan to everyone, while I nodded in response.

But how do they know that Aakriti will be going to the temple today?

Someone close to her is probably informing Aryan, that is for sure.

But who?

The bossy guy turned around and started walking towards the van, while I settled down with the guy who first called me when I went upstairs.

"Vikas, don't make a mistake this time. Keep some guts in you and just pull her in," that guy whispered while sitting beside me, and I only nodded in response.

Such idiots they all are, they aren't even doubting my silence.

The bossy bastard started driving, until we were near the Shiv temple, on the street behind.

And there I saw her, in a light blue kurti hugging her curves. She looked so effortlessly gorgeous, her face full of innocence as she looked around her while walking slowly with baby steps.

Calm down, Nirwan. You are here with her, she is technically not in danger.

That bossy asshole stopped the van suddenly, and my heart skipped a beat fearing the tyre climbed on her feet.

I quickly opened the gate and grabbed her delicate wrist, pulling her inside. I made sure not to pull her so hard, but not so lightly that she gets a moment to escape.

I made sure she is softly pushed back on the seat and closed the gate, while the bossy rascal started driving rapidly.

Aakriti started shouting and crying in mere moments, making my heart shatter.

Please don't cry or I'll fucking kill them all for making you.

They all started throwing lame comments on her, but I felt a sense of pride when I saw her wiping her tears and bearing the consequences confidently.

She was looking at me again and again, and I felt as if just for a moment, she understood I was someone she knows.

I just know she did.

But my tolerance broke when the guy sitting with me snatched her dupatta, and the one on the passenger seat tried to touch her.

I caught his hand and twisted it around, making sure I broke it from his wrist.

He groaned in pain, and all the other four idiots in the van, along with Aakriti, knew I was the imposter.

The bossy idiot stopped the van, and I wasted no time and pulled Aakriti on my lap, opening the door for her.

I asked her to run, and she listened.

I turned to look at the other men, and got out of the van, while they did the same.

"Kaun hai bey tu?" the bossy bastard shouted, approaching me, while I removed the mask from my face.

[Who are you?]

"Nirwan Malhotra," I replied with a smirk, while his face went pale in an instant.

I punched his nose, while he groaned in pain. I walked towards those two guys; the one who snatched her dupatta and the one who tried to touch her.

I grabbed them by their hair and smashed their heads against each other, turning around to face the others.

Before I could make a move, I heard the police siren. A police jeep stopped in front of me while Vihaan and Nikhil, along with the police constables, got out of the jeep.

I ran when Nirwan ji asked me to, but I knew really well he was alone.

Those men were five in total. What if they had weapons with them? What if they do something to Nirwan ji?

I stopped running and hid behind a tree, watching Nirwan ji take off his mask and fight with those men.

Minutes later, I heard the police siren and then saw the police jeep going in their direction.

Nirwan ji planned it all.

To save me.

And he is not drunk this time. He really cares enough that he ended up disguised as my kidnapper.

And risked his own life.

Tears streamed down my face while I walked towards him slowly. The police constables began arresting those men, while Nirwan ji was busy talking to Nikhil.

Nikhil spotted me, and Nirwan ji slowly turned around, following his gaze.

I suppressed my sobs and ran towards him, wrapping my arms around his body, hugging him tightly.

My sobs slipped free, while I let myself out on him, soaking his shirt with my tears.

I felt his arm protectively wrapping around my waist, while I felt his other hand stroking the back of my head gently.

"You are safe, Aakriti," he said, the vibrations of his voice could be felt from his chest.

I snuggled my face in his chest a little harder, clutching his shirt in my hands tightly.

"Aakriti, listen to me," he said, while I slowly broke the hug and looked up at him with a blurred vision.

He wiped away my tears with his thumbs, cupping my small face with his big palms, "You're really strong. I appreciate you for being so confident, Aakriti. I'm proud that you-"

I cut him off while standing on my toes and smashing my lips on his. I don't know where that came from, but I felt the urge to do it.

It seemed like it was the only way left using which I could thank him. It seemed as if words wouldn't be enough to tell him what he means to me now.

I didn't really know how to kiss, so I remained standing on my toes with his support and kept my lips pressed against his.

I slowly pulled away and took a step back from him, looking down at the ground.

Did he not like it?

Maybe he didn't. He kissed me when he was drunk.

He might be cringing out right now.

I fucked up.

I gasped when I suddenly felt his strong arm wrapping around my waist. He pulled me towards him with a jolt, causing me to slam against his chest. He slid two fingers under my chin and raised my face up before I felt his lips on mine, his tongue sliding in my mouth.

He started kissing me slowly, while I closed my eyes and gave in for the kiss. I don't care if anyone else around sees us.

Maybe they won't, because they are all busy in dealing with those men to spare us a glance.

Our lips collapsed against each other, sparking a weird urge to continue the kiss inside me.

I tried to slowly follow his tongue's movement and try to kiss. I sucked his lower lip slowly.

He wasn't drunk today, I didn't taste alcohol from his mouth.

Does he...love me now?

We broke the kiss when we saw the others turning and walking towards us with the corners of our eyes.

I took two steps back and wiped his saliva from my lips, feeling the wetness down there increasing.

This is not a time to be wet, Aakriti.

"Sir, we need a few investigations to be done, please come with us to the police station," the police officer said to Nirwan ji, while he shook his head.

"I can't come. Please take these kidnappers and pull the truth out of them in your way, I have other things to do," Nirwan ji replied, focusing his gaze back at me.

I looked down at the intensity of his gaze. What does he mean by 'other things'?

"Okay, sir. But please come and meet me tomorrow if possible."

"Sure."

The police officer turned around and walked away, while Nirwan ji took two steps towards me, closing the little space between us.

He grabbed my wrist gently, "Nikhil called the car. We have to wait until that time."

I nodded slowly, "Nirwan ji...I also want to tell you something."

"What?" he asked softly, while I gulped.

Should I tell him I read his first wife's journal?

"Please stop the car at the Shiv temple. Mom and bua were there when I left. And I also wanted to go there once," I said, diverting the topic.

That wasn't what I wanted to say. I just don't know how to tell him the truth.

He is completely different from how I expected him to be. If he recalls his first wife, his behaviour might change in an instant.

I'll tell him some other time, when the situation feels alright.

"I know they were with you. I safely escorted them back home," he replied, while I nodded in understanding.

"Sir, the car is here," Nikhil's voice made us turn around to face Nirwan ji's car parked at the road. He started walking towards the car, still holding my wrist in his hand.

He opened the door of the back seat while I settled down, and he surprisingly sat down beside me.

How did he change so much in just a month?

"Nikhil, stop the car at the Shiv temple," Nirwan ji ordered Nikhil, who was sitting on the passenger seat.

The driver stopped the car in front of the Shiv temple as per the order, while Nirwan ji got out of the car with me.

I took off my sandals and waited for Nirwan ji to take off his shoes, but he just stood there like a statue.

I looked up at him, "Aap nahi aayenge?"

[You aren't coming?]

He shook his head, "Mujhe bhagwan par vishwas nahi."

[I don't believe in God.]

"Arey, aise kaise nahi hai?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

[Huh, how not?]

"Time waste mat karo mera, jaldi karo," he scoffed, while I rolled my eyes.

[Don't waste my time, be quick.]

How does his nature change from second to second?

He is a human, right?

"Ruko!" he suddenly stopped me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards him with a jerk.

[Stop!]

My breasts slammed so hard against his chest that I felt them aching for a second. "Kya kar rahe hain aap? Pagal ho gaye kya?"

[What are you doing? Have you gone crazy?]

I gulped when I realised what I said, only to receive a glare from him. He took off the jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around my body.

"Look at yourself, your deep neck kurti is revealing almost everything, and hide this mark on your neck."

Pink blush flushed into my cheeks, a burning sensation enlightening under my skin.

I bit my lower lip and wore the jacket, zipping it enough to hide my body. I know I was looking nothing less than a joker, but what Nirwan ji said was right.

I took a few strands of my hair and hid the love bite, before walking inside the temple.

I joined my palms in front of the shivling and thanked Mahadev for saving my life today.

I know Nirwan ji is the one who saved me, but Mahadev was the one to plan it all.

He is the planner of every single thing happening in this world, and we should be thankful of every good thing happening to us, because it's only his will.

I opened my eyes slowly and went to the priest to take the prasad. I took some for everyone at home and walked outside the temple.

My eyes scanned every corner, but I didn't find Nirwan ji there. My heart paced a little when I realised he was gone.

I descended the stairs and wore my sandals quickly, before walking towards the car.

"Nikhil, where is Nirwan ji?" I asked Nikhil, who was standing outside the car.

"Sir had to go somewhere urgently. Please sit in the car, ma'am. We will drop you home," he replied, while I shook my head.

"How did he leave without telling me? Didn't he tell you where he was going?" I asked, my mind racing.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. He has strictly told me not to tell you anything without his permission."

I sighed, knowing really well Nikhil wouldn't tell me anything. Maybe it's better to just go home?

☆

"You're okay, right?" mom asked me for the hundredth time, while I nodded once again.

Everyone at home was worried sick about me. But all I could care about right now was Nirwan ji.

He literally vanished in only five minutes, he didn't even wait to tell me or let me know where he was going.

I went to the room telling them all I was tired. I locked the door and called Nirwan ji.

One ring, two rings, three rings...

He received it in the fourth ring which I thought he wouldn't.

"Nirwan ji, where did you-"

"I'll call you later, go to bed and don't wait for me," he cut off, while I sighed.

"I won't. I will wait for you! You can't leave without informing me and leaving me in that state!" I said, while I heard him sighing and walking. His footsteps were probably echoing wherever he was.

"In what state?" he asked slowly, while I closed my eyes and gulped.

"Leaving me all worried and we-"

The fuck was I just about to say?

What is wrong with me?

Ab toh gangajal se nahana padega.

[I need to bathe with gangajal now.]

"Worried and?" he urged me to continue, but I cleared my throat.

"Nirwan ji, please just come back soon, okay? I need to tell you something really important," I said, while he hummed in response.

"I'll be back soon. I need to go now."

The line went dead after those words.

I kept my hand on my racing heart; how did Nirwan ji change so much? Just one month of caring for me made him like this?

But it's obvious I would never take Aakriti Sharma's place in his heart.

Sorry for being slow with the updates.

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Love,

Ayra.