Chapter 15: 13 | this was how they ended their search for love.

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A/N: Keep voting and commenting, and yeah recommend this story to your friends if you loved reading about Krishna and Samiksha.

Video Attached: Cover of 'Hasi ban gaye' by Arjun Kanungo and Sanah Moidutty. Listen to the song... It's something that made me download it and put it in repeat mode for a long time. Perfect for the chapter :)

He checked his metal wristwatch for what felt like the hundredth time, his gaze darting between the timepiece and the announcement board overhead that listed all the train arrivals and departures at Nagpur Junction. There were plenty of trains heading down, but one number caught his attention and tugged at his memories—Chhattisgarh Express. The sight of it made his lips curl into a broad smile, the kind that only deep joy could produce.

Navigating through the bustling crowd, he made his way to the staircase, the simple steps that would take him up to the next platform. His heart raced with anticipation, each step taking him closer to something he had been eagerly waiting for...years.

Across the station, she absentmindedly played with the heart-shaped locket around her neck, lost in thoughts of him—the only man who had ever truly captured her heart. She knew from now she needed to distract herself, perhaps by immersing in her work with her patients, but her parents' incessant nagging about marriage was a constant distraction.

The last time they suggested a match with a cardiologist in New Delhi, she'd been devastated. The thought of a marriage, especially to someone she hadn't even met, had nearly broken her. She had tried to brush it off, telling her parents she was focused on further studies, but they persisted with their emotional appeals.

Things had been somewhat manageable until her sister's wedding. Now, with all the eligible bachelors being pushed in her direction, she was overwhelmed. The endless stream of photos on matrimonial sites was both horrifying and frustrating. She had told her parents to take charge of the matchmaking themselves, comparing each prospective groom to the unforgettable Bronze Man was tiring to her. After having seen him, her heart had refused to settle for anyone else.

Curse you, Samiksha!

Once again, her thoughts were consumed by him. Though she knew he was out of reach, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be his wife. It was a dream she knew was unlikely to come true, but she couldn't shake it.

Alisha, her friend, finished her coffee and glanced at her. "You want some tea?"

Samiksha scoffed. "I hate it," she lied. The truth was, it wasn't the tea itself she hated but the memories tied to this particular station. The train Alisha had chosen for their journey brought back uncomfortable recollections. Alisha had booked the tickets in a hurry last month, planning a surprise for a friend and some family time before their vacation. Life in Delhi was fine for her but lacked the warmth of home, making the trip a welcome escape.

Alisha shot her a confused look. "I thought tea was your life," she said, tossing the cup into a nearby bin.

Samiksha closed her eyes and exhaled. "I hate tea," she repeated.

"And here I thought you could down them like shots!"

Just then, her whole being tingled with a familiar warmth. She didn't need to turn around to know who the voice belonged to. It was him, the man who had dominated her thoughts.

Alisha's face mirrored confusion, while Samiksha's own expression was one of shock and disbelief. Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly—shock wasn't quite the word for what she was feeling.

Why is he here?

How does he know I'm here?

Her fingers gripped the pendant of her locket tightly, cutting into her skin as she tried to process the situation.

Krishna shot her a stern look—one that seemed to carry a weight of disapproval.

Is he angry... and if so, why?

He held two Styrofoam cups of tea.

Samiksha blinked, trying to make sense of the scene before her. She blinked again, hoping it was a figment of her imagination. But when she opened her eyes, he was still there.

Krishna cleared his throat. "I need to talk to you, Samiksha. Now. Alone."

The command in his tone caught Samiksha off guard. Why did he need to talk now? Was it to thank her for leaving earlier? Or was there something else?

Alisha, not one to hold back, pointed a finger at Krishna. "Excuse me! What do you think you're doing? This is eve-teasing!"

Krishna raised an eyebrow, his demeanor unfazed. "As a police officer, I know a thing or two about eve-teasing, and I assure you, this isn't it. I'm here to talk to Samiksha. You might want to mind your own business."

Alisha's confusion turned to anger. "What? How dare you talk to me in that tone!?" She paused, and added slowly, "How... How do you even know she likes that peculiar drink?"

Krishna rolled his eyes. "I just do. And your beautiful friend here knows that I know," he smirked when Samiksha coughed rapidly, watching her submitting to his statement.

"Iksha... What the hell is going on?" Alisha asked, her voice tinged with concern and confusion.

"Ali, please..." Samiksha said, trying to keep the situation under control.

Alisha's eyes widened in disbelief. "You are interested in talking to this item of the brother-in-law of Xavier? Are you freaking out of your mind!" She was clearly struggling with her emotions, her irritation palpable. "I don't know what happened when you went down there out of the office, but your sour mood is messing up with everything. God! How I want to slap you..."

"We know each other," Samiksha said softly, hoping to clarify things. "Once he gave me a loan of five rupees."

Alisha's jaw dropped in stunned silence, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. Her gaze shifted slowly to Krishna, noting every detail with a mix of fascination and disbelief. There was his impeccable physique, honed and athletic, contrasted sharply with his sun-kissed, tanned skin. His dark, wavy hair framed his face, and the distinctive line in the middle of his left, bushy brow stood out.

She had seen those eyes before, and as the pieces fell into place, she realized the gravity of the situation. The recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning, and she blinked rapidly as if trying to dispel the vision in front of her. But Krishna remained right where he was, his presence undeniable.

Turning her attention back to Samiksha, Alisha saw her friend biting her lower lip anxiously, lost in thought. With a deep sigh, Alisha spoke gently, "Doll, do you want to talk to him?" She was ready to support Samiksha no matter what, but she knew her friend well enough to understand how much this meant to her.

Samiksha's reaction was both poignant and clear. Alisha knew her friend couldn't let this chance slip by, even if it meant facing her fears and love. She had seen Samiksha get sentimental over the smallest things, like a mere piece of paper, and it was evident how much she cherished the man standing beside her.

Samiksha wrestled with her emotions, questioning what they might talk about. Her gaze flickered toward Krishna, and after a moment of contemplation, she nodded resolutely. It was clear she needed to confront these feelings, or else the unresolved pain would overshadow her happiness for the foreseeable future.

At that moment, happiness seemed a distant concept, overshadowed by the turmoil she felt. Her life felt chaotic, and she had lost sight of what she truly wanted.

Alisha wrapped her arms around Samiksha in a supportive hug. She whispered "All the best" into her ear, giving her friend a reassuring smile. Then, with a gentle push, she maneuvered around Krishna and slipped past him, giving Samiksha the space she needed to face this pivotal moment.

Krishna settled next to her and offered her one of the cups. He had deliberately bought these drinks, remembering how much she had enjoyed them five years ago. He wanted her to feel comfortable.

But as he saw her move away from him, his smile faltered. Anger bubbled inside him. The woman he loved was recoiling from him as if he were a monster.

"Someone should teach you some manners," he muttered, trying to mask his frustration. Despite his inner turmoil, he tried to maintain composure, but his patience was wearing thin.

Samiksha choked and spat out a few drops of tea in surprise. "What do you mean by that?" she snapped, her eyes flashing with hurt.

Krishna took a deep breath and sipped his tea, trying to steady himself. "I said I wanted to talk to you. It's important," he said through gritted teeth.

Samiksha's anger flared. "Important things like how beautiful your wife is? Or maybe how much you love your son?" she retorted, her voice trembling.

Krishna choked on his tea. "What the fuck, Samiksha? My wife and son?" he asked, bewildered. He grabbed her wrist as she tried to pull away, his confusion growing.

When he saw the tears in her eyes, he realized how harsh he had been.

Shit!

He hadn't intended for their first real conversation to be so painful. He'd wanted- or dreamed- it to be sort of romantic and sue his luck that his anger management failed. He mentally punched himself like a punching bag and shuddered from the imaginary pain. Why would he act so rashly?

But despite his self-reproach, he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Even in her tearful state, she looked ethereal. He wanted to hold her, to kiss off her tears with his love, and cherish her with everything that he could afford, that he could muster from his soul.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but instead, the words came out unbidden. "I love you."

Samiksha's world seemed to stand still. She felt as though she had forgotten how to breathe. His words were powerful enough to make her doubt reality. She rubbed her eyes, hoping to clear the blur of disbelief.

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Krishna opened his mouth to repeat himself but then stopped. He sighed and shook his head, a mix of frustration and desperation in his expression. "First, explain what you meant by your earlier comment," he said, trying to make sense of the confusion.

Samiksha was still trying to process his confession. "You mentioned your wife and son—"

"I didn't say anything about a wife or son," Krishna interrupted, his voice tinged with irritation. "You said it first, and I just agreed."

What?She crossed her arms across her front as she got more and more confused. "But you said that kid is your—"

"Let me finish," Krishna said firmly. "The child is my brother's son, Ansh. That lady is my sister-in-law, Nishita. I call him my boy because he's the only child in our family."

"Oh!"

Really?

Krishna's face softened as he took her hand in his. "I love you, Samiksha," he said gently, his thumb caressing her fingers.

They both gasped when they felt the same spark and her eyes started to well up with a new set of tears.

"I started loving you the moment I saw you blushing that day,"  he murmured with a smile painted on his face. The smile, that she had imagined over and over, and swooned happily.

Ohmygod! He'd observed that.

Lowering her eyes, she sobbed silently, overwhelmed by everything. She felt a wave of emotion, happiness enveloping every cell of her body by the long-awaited confession. Despite the noise of the station and the curious gazes of passersby, she didn't care. She was lost in the moment, savoring the realization of her dreams.

The blaring horn from a nearby train sliced through the station's ambient noise, but neither of them even flinched. Their world had narrowed to just the two of them, leaving everything else as mere background noise.

Their fingers entwined naturally. Gently, he lifted her chin to meet her gaze. His eyes softened with an apology. "I'm so sorry that you thought the worst," he said, his voice laden with regret as he carefully wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I could love no one else but you."

As she gazed into his eyes, she saw the depth of his feelings laid bare. His onyx eyes held a sincerity that spoke of boundless love and devotion—everything she had dreamed of for the past five years. There was no hint of deceit; his eyes were like windows to his soul, showing her a world of love she had only imagined.

She kept crying as she continued to look into his eyes, feeling the weight of their shared emotions. Around them, the station's usual hustle persisted—the rhythmic chanting of a tea vendor, a child's gleeful squeal, the ongoing chatter of couples, and the constant screech of luggage wheels on the platform floor. Yet, in that moment, all of it seemed to blend into a soothing symphony.

The world seemed to shift from black and white to vibrant color as Krishna's gaze enveloped her, making everything around them feel more alive and precious.

Grasping Krishna's hand tightly, she heard him make a heartfelt promise. "I want to be yours. Only yours, my lovely Samiksha." His words were a soft, reassuring echo against the backdrop of the busy station, solidifying their connection and sealing their shared moment of vulnerability and love... forever.

This was how they ended their search for love!