51) Until the very end

Helloooo!

*chuckles nervously*

*checks for the ambulance ready at doorstep*

*offers tissues to everyone*

*takes a deep breath*

Here's the thing.

This is the last chapter of this book.

*covers both ears at the screams of outrage*

*waits for everyone to calm down*

-2650 years later-

I can't believe I'm saying this but the journey of Kia and Arjun has finally come to an end. It took me three years to complete this story and WE FINALLY DID IT.

I hope you guys understand and respect my decision. Please don't ask me to continue the book just for the sake of it. Every story comes to an end and this is where we have to part ways with Arjun and Kia.

It's such a bittersweet moment for me. *wipes tears dramatically*

BUT I'll be writing a bonus chapter and an epilogue after this update so yipppeee :)

PS- Please keep your tissues ready.

Sorry for any typos.

Kiara's POV

"Ahh! Ouch! Oww!"

"Stay still."

"But it hurts." I moaned in pain.

Arjun shot me a stern glare.

"Be gentle." I chided when he applied too much pressure.

"I'm trying but you're not helping." He exclaimed heatedly, sweat beads forming on his forehead.

Pressing my lips in a stubborn line, I kept quiet after that and let him have his own way.

"Are you okay now?" His concerned gaze swept over my huddled form after he was done.

I nodded tenderly and Arjun kept the burn cream away. Ever so softly, he held my palm in his hands as if it was the Kohinoor diamond and closely inspected the burn on my knuckles.

He glanced at me, his evergreen I'm-a-step-away-from-banging-either-my-head-or-yours-in-a-wall scowl making its way on his face. "How can you be so careless?"

My lips jutted in a pout and I lowered my gaze in guilt. It was not my fault I had accidentally burnt my hand.

"I didn't do it on purpose." I mumbled, purposely avoiding his eyes and an annoyed sigh left his lips.

All I wanted to do when I surprisingly woke up earlier than Arjun today (the golden moment to be written down in history, for sure) was to surprise him by serving him breakfast in bed. But well aware with my culinary skills, I knew the only thing I could manage was black coffee.

But then again, why would fate ever work in my favour?

One thing led to the other and I ended up spilling boiling water on my hand.

Seems like God has a personal grudge against me.

I was hoping to wake up Arjun with a smiling face but unfortunately his eardrums were awarded with the melodious sound of his clumsy wife screeching like a banshee at 8 in the morning.

The burn wasn't that severe, I mean it did hurt a bit but Arjun was acting as if a poisonous snake had bit me and I was dying slowly.

"Are you sure you don't want to see a doctor?" His gaze was still focussed on the burn.

Oh god.

"For the 15th time Arjun, it's only a minor injury."

"But I only asked you 11 times."

I face-palmed.

Was this guy for real?

"I'm completely fine, I promise." I said in a sincere voice. "Now can you please drop me to college?"

"How about you ditch college today and rest at home?"

I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to chuckle.

His overprotectiveness was both hot and annoying at the same time. I didn't know whether to hit his head with a lamp or kiss the hell out of him.

"I can't. I have to submit a very important assignment."

He studied my face for a second and finally relented. "Okay. Come on."

"I can carry this bag, you know?" I said when he took my bag from my hands. "My other hand is perfectly functional." I waved it in front of him.

He acted as if he didn't hear me and walked out of the apartment.

I'm gonna hit a lamp on his head and then kiss him.

Shaking my head at his over-protective hulk mode, I followed him quietly.

He proceeded to open the car door for me and waited there until I sat inside comfortably. Closing my door, he jogged to the other side and sat in the driver seat, throwing another concerned glance my way.

"I haven't slipped into a coma. My limbs work just fine." I said as I strapped the seatbelt and he started the car, suddenly turning deaf to all my complaints.

Stifling my hopelessly-in-love-with-the-hulk smile, I glanced out of the window.

Who knew the mighty, I-won't-even-glance-your-way-if-you-die Arjun Singhania was actually a mother hen?

My face dropped in a frown when I remembered that I had to submit the dreadful assignment today. Rubbing my hands together, I bounced my leg anxiously and Arjun noticed me fidgeting in my seat. "What happened?"

"Nothing. I just.." Heaving a troubled sigh, I slumped against the seat and dragged a hand down my face. "There is this new professor who despises me for no reason."

He cocked a brow, his amusement filled eyes flickering to me in question. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything!" I defended myself in a shrill voice and then pouted, picking on a random thread on my sweater. "I just corrected her statement once."

I sneaked a glance at him through the corner of my eyes and his face turned even more amused as he fought the upward twitch of his lips.

"She was stating wrong facts!" I exclaimed loudly, wringing my hands together. "So I corrected her. And she hates me now. I'm worried that she will fail me in the assignment."

"She won't fail you." Arjun ridiculed, his brows furrowed together. When he saw that I wasn't convinced, he continued. "I'll get her suspended before she even tries anything."

He made it sound so simple as if it was as easy as eating a chocolate.

My jaw dropped on the floor and I turned towards him. "You can't do that!"

His face morphed into an oh really? look. "She messes with my wife, she messes with me."

"Wha-I...wh-" I shook my head to clear my mind. "Okay, look. As much as I love the fact you're standing up for me and you look really hot while doing that,

"Are you challenging me, princess?"

"What!? NO!" My eyes widened at the smirk spreading on his lips.

Arjun stopped the car, throwing a smug glance in my direction and I glanced around to realize we had reached my college.

The pretentious smirk still hadn't left his face and I was getting a little worried now.

"Please don't do anything." Sending him a half-warning, half-pleading stare, I took my bag and was going to step out when he stopped me.

"You're forgetting something."

My brows knitted together in puzzlement.

Without jumping to conclusion like the last time and making a complete fool of myself by assuming he wanted a kiss, I decided to act sane for once in my life and checked for my phone.

But it was already with me.

"What?" Frowning, I glanced around to check if I had missed anything else.

To my surprise, Arjun leaned towards me and held my chin. My breath caught in my throat as his lips touched mine with such tenderness that I found myself melting in a puddle.

Why do we waste our time in talking? We should always be kissing.

"You're going to do good, baby." He whispered staring deep into my eyes and brushed away a hair strand from my face. "Don't worry."

Woah! Did he just call me baby? Why was he looking so good in that grey shirt? Why were his kisses so addictive? And most importantly, who gave him the right to sound so hot while calling me baby?

I'm ready to burn my hand daily if this is what will happen after.

Had the air conditioning stopped working all of a sudden? Why was it so hot in here?

"Kiara?"

I blinked in a daze.

"Princess?"

"Huh?" I looked at him with a dreamy smile.

"It's 8:55."

"Uh-huh." I nodded in a trance, smiling widely.

Amusement twinkled in his eyes as he pressed his lips together to stifle his unabashed grin. "Your class starts in five minutes."

That snapped me out of my daze. My extraordinary, retarded brain took another few seconds to catch hold of the situation and when it finally did, I gasped aloud, getting out of the car in haste.

"Bye princess." Arjun called out and winked at me.

That sneaky, evil, cunning devil! Always distracting me at the wrong time.

Huffing at the irresistible, annoying buffoon, I made a mad dash towards my classroom and hurried along the corridors. When the classroom door finally came into view, I glanced at my wrist watch and breathed a sigh of relief when I realized I still had two minutes to spare.

Panting heavily, I barged inside with a wide grin but stopped in my tracks when my gaze fell on Professor Gaur sitting on her desk.

My soul left my body as her hawk eyes shifted to me.

Shit!

Why was she early today?

My eyes hesitantly roamed around the class and horror washed over me when I saw all my classmates already present there. My friends sat in the last row, their anxious, worried expressions scaring the shit out of me.

What was happening?

"So, Miss Sharma has finally decided to grace us with her presence." Standing up from her chair, she announced to the class, the biting sarcasm in her tone not going unnoticed by me.

"Uh," Fiddling with the strap of my bag, I urged my brain to form a sensible response but I didn't know what got into me as I replied, "it's Mrs. Singhania actually."

I bit my tongue as soon as the words escaped my mouth, mentally kicking myself. My conscience face-palmed, ready to dig a grave for me.

Out of the infinite number of words and explanations in the history of literature, that's all I could come up with.

Professor Gaur crossed arms over her chest, looking down at me as if I were a measly worm that she detested with all her heart. Thankfully, she decided to ignore my comment. "The class was supposed to start half an hour before. I sent the mail last night to the whole class. You are thirty minutes late."

What?

Why didn't I get the mail then?

Fishing out my phone from my jeans pocket hurriedly, I tried to switch it on but found out that there was no battery left. My lips parted in helplessness as realization dawned upon me.

I forgot to charge my phone last night.

Shit, shit, shit!

I want to have a personal chat with the person who wrote my fate and politely ask them WHY THE HELL DID THEY DO THAT?

"I'm sorry ma'am but my phone's battery is dead. I didn't get the mail."

"There you go making stupid excuses." She sneered. "Such an irresponsible girl. Can't even handle herself properly and goes on correcting her professors, acting as if she's the smartest person in the world."

My ears turned hot and I looked down in embarrassment as she insulted me in front of everyone.

"Get out of my class right now." She ordered and my eyes snapped to her in shock.

"I'm not going to teach a brat like you. Get out!" She sat back on her chair.

"But ma'am-"

"Stop arguing with me."

I flinched at her harsh command.

"But..the assignment-"

She blew a frustrated breath as if I was wasting her precious time. "Give your stupid assignment to me and leave the class."

With trembling hands, I opened my bag and gave the assignment to her. She took one glance at it and her scowl deepened further. "What's this? This wasn't your topic."

"What?" My eyes widened and I rushed to her side. "No, ma'am. I'm pretty sure this-"

She threw the assignment on the ground aggressively and I immediately stopped talking.

"I said what I said. I won't be marking this."

"But-"

"Enough!"

I fell silent.

She shook her head, giving me a disgusted look. "You're just an annoying brat who doesn't know when to shut her mouth. No wonder why your parents got rid of you so early and married you off."

I stood beside her with my head bowed down, tears clouding my vision at her remarks. My cheeks were red in shame and the whole class observed me in silence.

I was sure I hadn't made any mistake but she wasn't ready to listen to me. I had worked so hard on the assignment and she just threw it away like that. I didn't want to create a scene or fight with her, but she could have atleast listened to me.

Professor Gaur leaned forward to pick a book but accidentally knocked down a teacup kept on the table, spilling the tea on my already burnt hand.

I cried out in pain, hissing at the burning sensation. Cradling my hand to my chest, I bit my lip as a teardrop rolled down my cheek.

It hurt so bad.

Professor Gaur rolled her eyes. "Stop crying like a child. You're not even hurt. Someone take her to the medical room."

Maahi rushed towards me and escorted me out of the class. We went to the medical room and a nurse tended to my burn while Maahi put my phone on charge. The nurse wrapped a bandage around my hand and I rubbed my tearful eyes.

"I think you should go home." Maahi suggested and I sighed.

Arjun was right. It would have been better if I didn't come to college today.

Screw this. I'm going home.

I asked for her phone and called Arjun but he didn't pick up. So I waited until my phone had enough battery and then tried again. And this time he picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Arjun? Are you busy?"

"Yeah, I'm in a meeting right now." I heard some shuffling on the other side. "What happened?"

I got even more emotional thinking how he answered my call even when he was busy.

"Oh. Well, um- okay I-" My throat clogged up, tears welling in my eyes once again.

Stop crying for God's sake!

"Princess?" He sounded alert. "What's wrong?"

"I'm kind of...having a bad day. Ac-"

"I'll be there in 15 minutes." His reply was terse as he cut the call.

Maahi looked at me questioningly after I put my phone down.

"He is coming."

She nodded.

"By the way Kia, do you know where Rohan is?" She asked. "It's been three days since we last talked. Since then he's neither answering my calls, nor responding to my texts."

She looked worried and I felt bad about not telling her before but I didn't know how to approach the conversation.

"About that..." I hesitated. "He left for London."

"Already?" She frowned. "I thought he was going there next week. And he had promised to take me to dinner before he left." She pouted and I almost didn't have the heart to tell her the truth.

I took out Rohan's letter from my bag and gave it to her. "He asked me to give this to you."

"Going all old-fashioned now, are we?" Her lips twitched in a bewildered smile but it wiped off when she noticed my solemn face. "What is it, Kia?"

"It would be better if you read it alone."

"Okay." Although baffled, she agreed and kept the letter aside.

Before she could question me further, Nandini and Saumya joined us as the lecture got over. We walked over to the college ground and sat on a random bench and they fussed over my burn, cursing the old witch. They came up with quite creative curses and for a moment, I actually pitied Professor Gaur if she was to be subjected to my friends' torture techniques.

"Oh look, here's the annoying brat." A familiar, nasal voice fell into my ears as Nandini was plotting to burn the professor alive.

I rolled my eyes, groaning internally.

Not again.

I stood up, facing Tanya, the queen bee of the class.

Can this day get any worse?

Tanya smirked as she saw my tired face, wounding her arm around her new jock boyfriend.

"What do you want?" I asked her in a no-nonsense tone.

"Just wanted to ask how your married life is going?"

"It's none of your concern." I snapped.

"He isn't fed up of you yet?"

Clenching my hands into fists, I barely controlled my anger. "You know what? I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now."

"That's what everyone says when they don't have any explanation." She scoffed, admiring her nails.

Don't punch her. You already have a bruised hand.

"I don't owe you any explanation."

"Tell me, has Arjun already left you because of your insufferable personality?" She cackled like an old witch and I pursed my lips, refraining myself from lashing out.

Someone pass me a gun please.

"Why don't you just fuck off from here?" Maahi hissed.

I was so exhausted at this point, I just wanted to curl in Arjun's arms.

"Look at her, babe." Her so-called boyfriend chuckled. "Who would be interested in that?" He said, pointing towards me as if I was a thing, not a human being. "He is just tolerating her because he doesn't have any other option."

My patience was already hanging on a thread and these two clowns were making it worse.

Arjun will bail me out of prison if I commit a murder, won't he?

"If Arjun heard you talking about Kia like this, you would be six feet under the ground." Saumya said. "You're lucky he isn't here."

"Uh-oh." Nandini gulped, her wide eyes staring right behind me. "Too late for that."

I whirled around and came face to face with a livid Arjun, his face set in a hard look and fury radiating from him in waves.

Shit!

He stalked towards us angrily and by the look on his face, I was guessing he had already heard everything. His coal black eyes were set in a death glare on Tanya who visibly cowered in fear as he came to stand in front of me, shielding my petite figure from their view.

"What the fuck did you say?" He asked lowly, the menace in his voice sending shivers down my spine. His murderous gaze flitted to Tanya's boyfriend who looked quite uncomfortable. "Say another word about her, I dare you."

I was torn between cheering for Arjun until he punched them bloody in the faces or calming my enraged hulk before he created a mess.

At last, the tiny, sensible part in me won and I decided to stop Arjun before he could actually kill them.

I placed my palm on his arm and he craned his neck towards me. "What were they saying about you?"

I shook my head, asking him to leave the matter but Maahi beat me to it. "They were saying that you are going to leave Kia because she's so annoying."

I snapped my head to her, stunned but she only winked at me and then looked back at the scene in front of her.

Wha- oh god.

She was adding her own spice to the story.

Arjun took a step forward, shoving his hands in his pockets and levelling the jock boyfriend with a glare so deadly that could send anyone running for the hills.

Wow. Even his back profile looks good.

I knew it wasn't the time for drooling over Arjun but damn, I hit the jackpot when I married him.

"This is my first and last warning to you. Don't mess with my wife."

"We weren't-"

"I didn't say you could speak." His cold voice could even freeze the burning lava. "Fuck off before you regret coming here."

"Whatever." The jock rolled his eyes but I didn't miss the panic written across his face as he held Tanya's hand and ran off.

Arjun turned towards me after they left, the dull rage in his eyes softening to concern. "Are you okay? What happened? Why did you call me so early?"

"I was just a bit tired an-"

"The professor scolded Kiara for something she didn't even do!" Nandini said in one go.

I glared at her but she immediately looked away, pointedly ignoring me.

Arjun's face turned hard. "I told y-What the fuck happened to your hand?" He exclaimed, his wide eyes snapping to me.

"Nothing, it's just-"

"Professor Gaur spilled hot tea on her hand." Saumya let out in one breath and I whipped my head to her, mortified.

Had my friends gone crazy?

Why were they provoking Arjun on purpose? What did they want? To see him go on a mad rampage and kill everyone in sight?

"She did what?" Arjun clenched his jaw, his jaw muscle ticking like a time bomb ready to go off.

Oh no. They awoke the hulk.

"Nothing! It was a mistake." I rushed to explain myself but that seemed to anger him even more.

He took a step towards the college building but I held his arm, effectively stopping him. "Arjun!"

The intensity of his glare had me quivering in fear. "She hurt you. I'm not letting her off that easy."

"It's okay. I'm fine. We'll talk about this later. I just want to leave from here right now."

He didn't budge from his place and I sighed, casting him a helpless glance. "Please?"

He glared at the ground and took a deep breath while I waited for him to calm down.

"Fine." He said in a calm, collected voice. "Let's go."

My friends who were way too excited a second before, now looked gloomy and sullen. I guess they were expecting Arjun to burn down the college in anger so that they wouldn't have to attend classes anymore but the sudden change in plan crushed their dreams.

Bidding them goodbye, we left from there and instead of going home, Arjun took us to the garden.

We got out of the car and I looked at him questioningly but he only held out a hand for me. I placed my palm on his and he weaved his fingers through mine.

We walked inside and Arjun spoke. "I come here whenever I'm angry or stressed. Calms me down every time."

I glanced around at the serene atmosphere.

"This could be our place. From now whenever either of us feels down, we can come here."

My heart fluttered in my chest as I peered at him. "Our place?"

"Our place." He touched his forehead with mine and I smiled, my heart full of love for him.

We went to the tree where we had sat the last time and settled down, side by side.

"It feels good." I rubbed my arms as a breeze flew past me.

Arjun hummed in affirmation and the wind got colder.

"I'm cold." I poked his cheek, shivering slightly.

"So?" His nose scrunched up as he made a weird face at my puppy eyes.

Ah! My darling, devil husband is back.

Exhaling a heavy breath, I rolled my eyes and stood up, only to sit between his legs, my back to his chest.

"What are you doing?" He asked, puzzled.

"Since you aren't going to do anything about it, I have to take the matter in my own hands." I laid my head against his chest. "Ah! This feels better."

"Drama queen." He muttered as if annoyed but his arms came around me, contradicting his own words as he kissed my temple.

"You feel so comfortable." I snuggled in his chest.

"This is a limited offer."

"So be quiet and let me enjoy." I closed my eyes.

We sat there in silence for some time and I would have fallen into a deep slumber if Arjun hadn't spoken up. "How's your hand?"

"It hurts a bit but I guess I will be fine."

He fell silent after that so I asked him. "What are you thinking?"

"Just thinking of a good place to hide a dead body."

I looked at him in horror but he diverged the conversation.

"I have some news."

I turned towards him. "What?"

"Guess who won the 'Businessman of the Year' award this year?"

I waited for him to continue but he remained silent and the twinkle in his eyes made me gasp out loud as I immediately sat straight.

His lips curled in a tiny smile.

"No way!"

His smile widened and I covered my gaping mouth. "NO WAY."

I shrieked in ecstasy.

"Oh my god." I threw my arms around him, squealing in delight. "You won the award!"

"Yes!" He laughed lightly, his left arm around me in a loose hug and the right arm on the ground to balance us.

I pulled back to look at him, my arms still around him. "When are you getting it?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Oh my gosh. Congratulations! I'm so happy." I screamed happily, embracing him once again and he fell backwards from the impact, taking me down with him. My ears rang with his melodious laughter and I couldn't have asked for anything more at the moment.

My hair curtained around us as I looked down at him, smiling mischievously. "Do you know what this means?"

"What?" He rose a brow.

"This calls for celebration!"

"And how do you plan to celebrate?"

"CHOCOLATE CAKE!"

*

"KIARA!" Arjun's urgent voice rang in the penthouse. "We're getting late! Come on."

"Just a minute." I called out, tying a bracelet on my wrist.

Arjun was getting his award tonight and I was the most excited person on the planet, even more than Arjun himself. I was literally floating on cloud nine since morning and if it was in my hands, I would've flown an airplane across the city throwing pamphlets saying my husband has won an award.

Checking myself in the mirror one last time, I rushed out of the room in search of my impatient husband but slammed in a granite chest and stumbled back from the impact. Before I could fall back like the clumsy human being I was, two strong arms snaked around my waist and pulled me into the same hard chest.

The number of times I've bumped into this chest is mathematically impossible.

My stunned orbs clashed with Arjun's stoic ones and my hands came to rest on his forearms to balance myself. Letting out a shuddering breath, I sub-consciously leaned into him as he brought me closer, his hold tightening on me.

"How do you manage to catch me every time I fall?" I asked breathlessly.

"Just the way you manage to fall for me every time." Arjun winked at me and my eyes bulged out of my sockets.

"Did you just use a pick-up line on me?" My jaw hung on the floor as I blinked furiously, unable to believe my ears.

He chuckled, nodding at my gobsmacked expression. "Just wanted to see the look on your face. Worth it."

Snapping out of shock, I shook my head slightly and straightened. As I smoothened the crease on my emerald dress, I noticed the unmade tie hanging around his neck and I immediately set to work.

"What took you so long?" He asked in a non-chalant tone as I knotted his tie in a record time of fifty seconds.

That reminded me of something.

Propping hands on my waist, I narrowed my eyes at him. "Professor Gaur called me a few minutes back."

"Oh."

"So did the principal of my college."

"Oh?"

This six foot, two inches tall devil had the audacity to look more innocent than a two feet tall toddler.

My eyes narrowed into slits as I pursed my lips in a straight line. "And they both apologized to me."

"Really?" He exclaimed in mock surprise, buttoning his coat.

"They both sounded terrified."

"I see." He nodded solemnly, adjusting his cufflinks.

"Did you have something to do with it?" I asked in a stern voice.

"What? Me?" He placed a hand on his chest dramatically. "I don't even know who they are."

I'm gonna get him his own Oscar.

"Arjun."

"I didn't do anything." Arjun said with full conviction and I almost believed him, heaving a relieved breath but nearly fell face-flat when he spoke again. "David did."

"What!?" I screeched.

"They're still alive, aren't they? So, relax."

"Bu-wha- What did David do?"

"He only threatened to get them expelled from college and then ship them both to Antartica to live with polar bears unless they apologized to you."

"WHAT?"

He glanced at my shell-shocked figure and rolled his eyes. Snaking an arm around my waist, he said seriously. "I won't let anyone bully you." A shy smile bloomed on my face but it only lasted until the next words came out of his mouth. "That's only my right."

"No one gets away after messing with Kiara Singhania." He told me as a matter-of-fact and then added after a moment. "Except from Arjun Singhania."

My head hit his chest as I let out an exasperated chuckle, not knowing how to react.

All things aside, he was looking smoking hot in the navy-blue suit that I had picked for him. If this function wasn't so important, I would have rather stayed at home and ogled at him all night.

I need to sort out my priorities.

Controlling my pervert conscience, I adjusted his tie, looking for any imperfection.

"And click!"

I glanced to my right at the familiar voice, only to find Sid standing in the hallway with his phone in his hand.

"Since our personal cameraman is not here, I thought I'd take up the job."

My mood turned somber at the thought of Rohan. He had only texted Arjun once after he reached London. He wanted some time away from everything and we understood that.

"This one is definitely going on the bedroom wall." Sid commented as he admired the picture he had just taken of us and I chuckled.

"I'm gonna ban you from the building." Arjun stated to which Sid only scoffed.

"Good luck trying that. And we can discuss this later. We need to leave right now or we will be late for the function. Come on!" Sid clapped his hands in urgency.

"Arjun is getting an award!" I squealed, holding Sid's hand.

"Arjun is getting an award!" Sid repeated with equal enthusiasm and we gushed over it like some fans who were going to meet their favourite actor.

"Your Arjun will get the award only if his dear wife and best friend would be kind enough to move so that we can reach there on time." Arjun deadpanned and we sobered up immediately, heading out of the penthouse swiftly.

We reached the venue in twenty minutes where Mr. and Mrs. Singhania joined us. The host welcomed us and escorted us to our seats which were in the first row. Like a gentleman, Arjun offered me his hand and helped me sit down. Instead of letting go of his hand, I entwined our fingers and placed our joined hands in my lap.

The function started soon after and I grew anxious with every passing second, eager for the special moment. Arjun was going to be awarded in the last and that just made me more impatient.

I couldn't even make sense of what those guys were talking about half the time.

"Relax, princess." Arjun leaned towards me and chuckled lowly. "Even I'm not as nervous as you."

Removing an invisible speck of dirt from his collar, I glanced at him, my nerves getting the best of me. "I can't help myself."

This was really important for Arjun. He had worked so hard and was finally getting the recognition and appreciation he deserved.

I've never been prouder of my husband.

Sid was surprisingly calm and attentive throughout the ceremony. I never knew he could be mature too.

"Coming to the end of the function, we have the prestigious 'Businessman of the Year' award." The host announced and I snapped to attention.

Holding my breath, I clutched Arjun's arm with my free hand, brimming with excitement.

"To present the award, I'd like to call Mr. Kunal Trivedi on the stage."

"And the 'Businessman of the Year' award goes to..." She stalled.

Bitch speak up already.

"Any guesses?" She glanced around with a mysterious smile and I was one step away from going on stage and announcing the name myself.

I'll throw a damn table at her if she makes me wait any longer.

"ARJUN SINGHANIA!"

The whole place erupted in cheers and I, too, let out a happy scream, unable to control myself.

I whipped my head to Arjun with a beaming smile but he had his eyes set on me, mirth reflecting in those charcoal orbs. A merry laugh bubbled out of me and his own grin widened to the point where it almost seemed unreal on him.

"Go." I said to him giddily and he raised our joined hands, pressing a kiss on my knuckles. Standing up, he adjusted his lapels and walked towards the stage.

Sid and I raised from our seats, standing side by side and cheering for Arjun like our lives depended on it. We probably looked like maniacs, screaming at the top of our lungs and clapping like chimpanzees on meth but I couldn't care less.

Arjun deserved this. All of this.

I couldn't contain my glee as he accepted the award from Mr. Trivedi who suspiciously looked a lot like Mr. Bean.

I was already having a hard time controlling my stupid tears when I saw the pride on Arjun's face and it became even more difficult when his gaze flickered to me, a ghost of smile crossing his face.

"Now I would request Mr. Arjun Singhania to say a few words." The host passed him a mic and I covered my giggles with my palm.

Asking Arjun to speak was like asking Sid to stop teasing Arjun for the rest of his life.

Everyone quietened down as Arjun held the trophy in one hand and mic in the other.

"Thank you." He said into the mic and gave it back to the host. I burst into laughter at the bamboozled look on the faces of everyone present on the stage.

What did they expect?

A long, heartwarming speech from Mr. I'd-rather-hang-upside-down-than-talk-for-more-than-ten-seconds?

El-oh-el.

My robotic husband was going to walk off the stage when he seemed to remember something and stopped. Asking for the mic again, he looked straight at me and raised the trophy higher.

"This one's for you, princess."

My heart constricted in my chest and I covered my mouth with my fingers, blinking rapidly to stop the onslaught of tears that was ready to break like a dam.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

Arjun walked down the stage, his eyes never leaving mine and those damn butterflies were having a party in my tummy.

"I love you." He mouthed softly.

Yup, I was definitely sobbing now.

Sid hugged him as soon as he came towards us.

"I'm so proud of you, son." Mr. Singhania exclaimed, patting Arjun on the back.

"Congratulations, Arjun." Mrs. Singhania smiled and he nodded at her with a small smile of his own.

My heart swelled in my chest as I saw the happiness on his face. He glanced at me and came closer.

"There you go, Mrs. Singhania." He grinned, handing me his trophy. "Your husband's first victory."

Unable to resist, I hugged him, squeezing my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around me and swayed lightly.

"And many more to come." I said hoarsely and he pressed his lips in my hair in response.

I pulled back after a few seconds and looked at the trophy. "It's beautiful."

"I would say 'Not more than you are' but that would be too cheesy even for you."

I laughed softly and glanced around as the host asked everyone to go backstage.

"What's going on?"

"We have to attend the after-party now."

"Oh."

"Or..." I perked up as he put his arm around my waist, "we could go home and watch Thor while eating chocolate ice-cream while you fangirl over a shirtless Chris and I grumble about how I could have spent my time doing some work instead of watching a stupid movie."

My face split in a wide grin. "Sounds like a plan."

He grinned back and held my hand and we were about to walk out when Sid asked. "You're not staying for the after-party?"

I glanced at Arjun who smiled as his soft gaze slid to me. "We'd rather be somewhere else."

A creepy smirk appeared on Sid's face and I punched his shoulder. "Get your mind out of gutter, you pervert. He wasn't talking about that."

"Sure." He drawled, his smirk getting creepier and we decided to ignore him.

Hurrying out of the venue, we rushed home and changed into comfortable clothes as fast as we could. I ran to the couch, switching on the TV while Arjun went to the kitchen to bring ice-cream. He returned with a blanket and two large chocolate ice-cream tubs and my eyes twinkled like Christmas lights at the heaven in his hands.

Chuckling at my drooling face, he sat beside me, keeping one tub on the table and handing the other one to me.

"NO" Screeching like he had just stabbed me, I snatched the tub from him before he could dip his spoon in it.

"Yes, I love you and all but this is where I draw the line. You get your own ice cream. I get mine." Hugging the ice-cream tub to my chest, I pointed towards the other one on the table.

A small I'm-in-love-with-an-idiot smile played on his lips as he rolled his eyes and picked up the other tub, keeping it in his lap.

He covered us with a blanket and I scooted closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder. His arm came around me and I sighed in content.

I played the movie and a very shirtless Chris appeared on screen but I couldn't seem to tear my gaze away from Arjun.

"Arjun?" I asked after some time.

"Mm-hmm?" He hummed in question, his fingertips skimming along my arm as his gaze didn't waver from the screen.

"I love you more than Chris."

A smile broke on his lips and he looked at me.

His face neared mine and my breath faltered. "Guess what?"

I peered at him expectantly. "What?"

"I love you too." He whispered softly and added after a thought. "More than my laptop."

I grinned and then forwarded my hand, looking at him with big eyes. "Always?"

Placing his palm on mine, he intertwined our fingers and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. My eyes fluttered close on their own accord as his lips touched my skin, jitters running through my body.

"Until the very end."

I'm not crying, you are.

*sniffles*

*hiccups*

*tries not to sob*

*curls into a ball*

*sobs*

*sobs louder*

*keeps sobbing till eternity*

LOVE ME SOME ARJUN SINGHANIA

Important life advice- The next time you go out and see a rich car on the road, just jump in front of it. I mean, you might die but it's gonna be worth it. Who knows, maybe the person driving the car sees you and falls in love with you?