Anu has been taken aback for a moment. She stood still as she was in a trance.

"I'm already your better half. From day one, I started loving you selflessly. It may sound silly to you. But I was determined to be loyal to you and love you unconditionally, even if you didn't love me back."

When she told that, Dev's face became dull. Anu felt sorry for saying those words.

"Hey, it was past; Let us live the moment." She squatted to his level and hugged him.

"Your patience changed me, Anu." He hugged her back.

"But you didn't tell me yes." He said.

"Yes, yes, idiot." saying that loudly she showed her finger. Dev gently placed the ring on her finger like she is the most delicate thing in the world and pecked her lips.

Anu was blushing hard.

"I like the tint on your cheeks," saying that he pinched her cheeks and lifted her gently and swirled her and shouted.

"I am the happiest man alive."

"Put me down, put me down, dumbo," she shouted.

Then both fell on the flowers on the floor. It felt like a natural earthen ground. Anu was surprised and checking the ground.

"We could have gone outside instead of spending this much." She pouted.

"Already auditing, wifey."

"Be serious, Dev. Tell me."

"This is nothing, Anu. I would do anything for you. I wish we could roam this entire world hand in hand. But the situation is not good. Trust me; I will surprise you more."

"I don't need anything precious, Dev. I want you to be with me always. Whatever the situation, even if anyone of us mistake, we should talk and solve things. Please, don't leave me for anything," Anu said emotionally.

"That will happen only in dreams. Only death can.."

Before he could finish, Anu closed his mouth with her hands.

"I trust you," she smiled genuinely.

They talked for a while and had their dinner. Almost all the Chinese and some Indian delicacies were there. It was half-past eleven when they reached their room.

Anu was shocked to see the room fully decorated. Shyly she looked at his face.

"Already we missed our honeymoon, Anu. Let's celebrate here in China." He said like a three-year-old.

Before she could reply, he started kissing all over her face. She wanted to run away but was so involved in his kiss. Dev had kissed her before. But this time, Anu felt that something was going to happen, and this thought made her flush with shyness. She wanted to give herself to Dev as she madly fell in love with him and did what she decided. Dev thought Anu would stop him, but she didn't. Taking it as his cue, Dev carried her to the bed. Finally, they consummated their marriage.

When the morning rays filtered the room, Dev slowly opened her eyes. He saw Anu sleeping peacefully beside him.

He didn't want to wake her up; without moving, he stared at her face. Like being watched by someone, Anu stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes.

"Are you up?" Dev pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek.

"umm." She nodded and buried her face in the pillow.

"C'mon, Anu, look at me," he cupped her face towards him.

"He is shameless." She thought to herself.

"I am shameless when it comes to you." he chuckled.

"Wait, did I say that loud?" And panicked.

"Yes, sweetheart."

Anu felt like digging a hole and hide inside. To change the subject, she blurted,

"Hey, don't you have a conference today?"

"Yes, but I have plenty of time before that. Why can't we continue what we started yesterday?"

As there was no answer, he bargained,

"At least a morning kiss-"

Anu cannot take it anymore, she threw the pillow on his face and ran to the bathroom, but she could hear Dev chuckling at her cute reactions.

"Who on earth will believe that I have to beg my wife for a kiss?" he thought to himself. Her innocence is her beauty.

Though he was reluctant to leave Anu, it was a big day for him at the conference. He worked very hard the whole week for this presentation. After having breakfast together, Dev kissed goodbye and went to the conference hall along with his guards.

Dev was fully involved in his presentation that he failed to notice someone stealing his mobile phone. His guards were watching him, and they also missed the fact that the mobile phone kept at the table was no more there.

After few minutes, Anu got a message from Dev's number.

"Anu darling, the meeting is almost over. Get ready and come to the reception by 1 pm; we can go out for lunch."

Anu was surprised for a moment. He never called her 'Darling' in messages. "Maybe he is in a happy mood," she thought to herself. Without thinking further, she got ready. Anu had no idea that the meeting is still in the middle.

When Anu came out of the room, the policemen inquired. She told them about Dev's message. But they advised Anu to wait for Dev in the room itself. But they agreed to accompany her when she showed that message.

AIn the lobby, Anu and the police officers were waiting. Meanwhile, in the conference room after finishing his presentation, Dev noticed that his mobile phone was missing. The guards became alert and called the police officers' cellphones. When they learned that Anu was waiting for them below, the atmosphere turned tense. Dev's heart seemed to stop beating. He contacted Anu using his bodyguard's phone and told her to return to their room right away.

Anu was also panicked for a moment. She never expected that someone would text like that from Dev's mobile. She promised Dev that she would return to their suite immediately. Dev was running like a mad towards the lift on the conference floor to return to the room. His guards followed him.

He was perplexed how his phone, which had a double lock and which he only knew the passcode, had been opened.

How come someone can unlock it, and text like that was his only doubt. He felt odd and had an intuition that something bad was about to happen.