"Oh for fuck's sake, let's go, Srishti." Sahil groaned seeing her hesitating. She had been now for more than ten minutes. Srishti gave him an uncertain look and he took a deep breath, "Ayaansh is going to be fine with his Aji and ZeeZee. Now are you coming?" He was impatient and she knew it but was it really his fault that she was deliberately testing it.

Well he certainly said Aji because Ayaansh's pronunciation while saying 'Adi' was hilarious. He certainly meant 'Adi' but it came out like 'Aji' and everyone burst out laughing except Aditya who had frozen.

"Did he just say my name?" He questions not believing his ears. His eyes were on Ayaansh who seemed to just chewing his toy.

Sahil smirked, "He said a marathi word. 'Aji' which means grandmother." It was fun teasing him because Aditya glared at him at his pathetic joke.

"Aji" Ayaansh babbled again and a huge grin formed of Aditya's face. "He said it again."

"Yessss, he chose me as his grandmother. Thank you, my grandson." He stopped and looked at Sahil with a evil smile. "And you are my son. Come here and touch my feet." He ordered and Sahil actually stood up shocking Aditya and others.

He walked towards Aditya and gave a harsh slap on his back. "Son of a bitch." Aditya cursed lowly and Sahil raised an eyebrow.

"You're a bitch, then." Aditya gritted his teeth in annoyance. Sahil then took him to a corner making the ladies suspicious.

"Now take care of your grandson for tonight. I'll be taking Srishti with me and pick up Ayaansh in the morning." Sahil informed him and Aditya gave him a smug smile, "What are you going to do?"

"The same thing you won't be able to do tonight." He replied and left him stunned. Aditya then felt like throwing a vase on his back but he took pity on Srishti and let it go.

"Srishti, let's go." Sahil said and she nodded, reaching out for Ayaansh. "No, he'll stay here tonight." He stopped her and she looked at him stunned. What?

"What? Are you serious?" She asked when he didn't cracked a smile at her. He gave her a deadpan look, "Do I look like I crack jokes?"

"Well no, you don't have it in you─" She stopped realising what she blurted out seeing his narrowed eyes. "I mean, why do we have to leave Ayaansh here?" She corrected herself.

"Because I want to spend time with my grandson." Aditya stepped in knowing Sahil wouldn't be able to lie smoothly.

Srishti hesitated. "Are you sure? He can cause trouble for you both." She warned but Zevah only shrugged. "I can handle him."

"I mean, if I can handle Aditya, I can surely handle this cute little guy." She tickled Ayaansh's sides making him laugh. Aditya glared at his wife who refused to look his way.

Everyone, every single person who annoyed him, was going to pay. Later.

"Decided. Let's go." Sahil held her hand and pulled her up. Srishti still kept looking at Ayaansh and then at Zevah who rolled her eyes and gestured her to leave.

Now as they sat in the car, Srishti stayed silent not really liking being away from Ayaansh. Sahil kept glancing at her way, but didn't say a word. He knew she was upset, and he also wished to take Ayaansh with them, but he needed this time with her.

Only with her.

────────

When they reached, Sahil parked the car and switched off the engine and turned to her. She still had a tiny frown etched on her face, however, he only found her cute.

"Are you going to stay like this?" He asked and she looked at him. Sahil raised his brows in question and she whined, "I miss my baby." He chuckled at her expression and shook his head.

"Let's go." He nodded and got out of the car followed by her. Srishti looked around confused, because it was kinda secluded and looked creepy at night.

She gulped. "Sahil, where are we?" She clutched his arm and practically clung onto him. Not that he didn't like it but this was going to be fun. He thought with a smirk.

"I just wanted to show you a haunted house." He said in a hushed tone and Srishti eyes widened. "Whaaatt?" A yell escaped her mouth and he suppressed a smile.

"Shh, Srishti. You don't know what's lurking around in the dark. You might offend a ghost or two." His face was serious and she actually believed him, as her grip on his arm tightened. She looked around fearfully as Sahil kept his hand on her waist and pulled her more close.

As they stepped inside the house, everything was dark and Srishti couldn't see a thing. She gasped when Sahil left her and she screamed, "Sahil, don't leave my side."

Sahil chuckled lowly but Srishti was too scared to notice that. He switched on the light and she squinted her eyes at the bright lights.

When she opened them and looked around, her eyes went wide yet again. Everything looked new and clean, instead of being dirty and covered in spider-webs.

She frowned, "Is someone staying here? Why is everything so sparkly and clean?" She turned to Sahil who just stood there staring at her.

"Someone will start staying here." He replied and she raised her eyebrows at him. Sahil rolled his eyes when she still didn't understand.

"You need to go out and see the name plate." He said sarcastically and Srishti made a bad face but did go outside. She grumbled under her breath about him being annoying for scaring her and teasing her about ghosts.

She huffed and glanced at the name plate casually. But then she had to do a double take when her eyes landed on the name again.

'Srishti Residence' it read.

Srishti felt like she was reading it wrong, so she rubbed her eyes and checked it three more times. "If you are done checking the name ten times, come inside and meet the ghosts." She heard his yell and marched inside with an angry face.

She went upto him and started hitting him. "What the─! Why are you hitting me? Srishti." He held her hands and glared at her but she glared back.

"Why did you scare me like that! Was it fun seeing me scared?" She scowled and he smirked. "Of course. Your face was priceless. I should've taken a picture." He teased and she cried out, "Sahil."

"Alright, now are we going to see the house or not?" He asked and she sighed, moving inside. He followed her with a small smile.

"When did you buy this? And are we really going to stay with the wolves?" Srishti asked shuddering at the quietness surrounding her. Sure there were two three houses around but they looked kinda empty to her as well.

"Well firstly, yes we are staying with wolves, if that's how your want to put it. And secondly, I bought this the day you denied telling the media about you and Ayaansh. So with all the suspicion going around, I thought it would be better if we stay somewhere low. It'll be better for Ayaansh and you." He shrugged and Srishti felt her heart flutter.

He was too thoughtful and she knew he always has been, but didn't show it. Now as he did things for her, his family, made her fall for him even more.

She smiled, "I love it." He smiled back at her knowing she would say that. Not that he was overconfident but knowing his wife, she would always say polite things to others to not hurt them.

"You sure?" He just asked to confirm and she chuckled, "Yes. I'm not just saying it to make you happy. I really love it." Sahil shrugged at her response.

"Knowing you, you would do exactly that." Srishti rolled her eyes but smiled secretly as she looked around. He showed her the rooms, the kitchen, and every other corner and she felt overwhelmed.

"Let's go." He held her hand and she frowned, "Where?" However he replied nothing and just pulled her along with him. She had no choice than to follow but she didn't mind as long as his warmth enveloped her.

Sahil led her upstairs to the terrace which was his favorite place out of all and he knew it was going to be same for her. Terraces just had different importance in their lives.

Srishti gasped, awestruck at the view in front of her. She didn't know where they were, but the city lights visible from the terrace was magnificent. The sky shone with stars, her surroundings danced with the cool breeze and her eyes twinkled in the moonlight.

"Sahil, this is ─this is ─" She couldn't get the right words to describe it and he smiled knowingly. "I know." He simply replied.

Suddenly he found himself losing his balance a little, as she crashed in his arms, hugging him tightly. His arms already a mind of its own because they were around her, engulfing her more tightly.

"Thank you." She said quietly, exhaling a shaky breath. He pulled her more close if that was possible as he felt her shivering a bit.

"You don't have to thank me, Srishti. I only did this to make you comfortable. And infact, I should be thanking you, for not leaving, for staying with me even though I put you through so much pain." He sighed remembering the times he had been a cold, insensitive jerk to her.

Srishti looked up, "What could I do? You tied me." She teased but he smiled painfully.

"Sahil, let the past be the past and focus on the present. You are trying and so am I. We know life is a struggle for everyday and now that we've found each other, let's struggle together. Okay?" She smiled up at him and he stared at her with adoration.

"How are you this intelligent? I mean, with all the anger always on the tip on your nose─"

"Sahil," She chided, pushing him away and stomping inside. Sahil laughed but quickly followed her inside. She kept ignoring him when he tried to gain her attention.

Sahil groaned, "Srishti, I'm sorry. You know I don't like you ignoring me. Come on, please." Srishti smirked internally when he pleaded but it was him who started it.

When she still didn't look at him neither replied, he grew frustrated. He held her hand and pushed her against the nearest wall, roughly. Srishti gasped at the sudden change of events but then narrowed her eyes at him.

"Talk to me." He demanded and she gaped at him. We he seriously ordering her right now? She rolled her eyes and looked away arrogantly.

Sahil clenched his jaw. "You do realise that we're going to stay here the whole night and this silent treatment has to stop." Srishti's eyes widened at his statement. Whole night? Weren't they going back?

"Yes, whole night." Sahil repeated seeing her reaction. The temperature of the room suddenly dropped and Srishti found herself nervous at their proximity.

Of course they had been intimate many times before, but that was different. This time, they were this close after realising their feelings and confessing to each other.

Sahil watched her fidgeting with her fingers and sighed, "You know I'm not going to do anything you're not comfortable with, right?" Her eyes snapped at him and she found him staring at her sincerely.

"I know." She replied meekly and he chuckled. "Then why are you shy all of a sudden." He smirked and she glared at him instantly, "I'm not."

"Sureee." He drawled and she wanted to hit him again. Instead she slipped away from under his arms and he stood there shocked. Srishti stuck her tongue out at him before running away.

"Srishti," She heard him yell as his footsteps started getting closer and laughed, running faster. "You know you are going to regret it after I catch you. So stop now." He warned her playfully but hearing her laugh like that, he continued to play along.

Srishti didn't realise when she entered into one of the rooms but when she turned around, she found him at the door. He smirked, closing the door behind him and leaning against it.

Srishti stuttered, "Sa─Sahil, look this is not fair. You didn't have to close the door." She knew there was no escape but how could she give up without trying.

He took a step ahead, "Haven't you heard? Everything is fair in love and war." She rolled her eyes but tried to look for a way.

"What is this? A war?" She scoffed. He tsked at that, "It's you. You made it a war." Her mouth hung open at his accusation.

"I did? You started it." She fired back trying to distract him as he kept advancing towards her. Sahil ignored her retort and kept walking however just then she tried to run.

"Uhuh," He caught her instantly. "Not so soon, Mrs. Malhotra." He whispered and Srishti looked at him with pleading eyes. He somehow ignored the look and caged her in his arms.

She huffed, "You're mean." The pout on her face made him melt but he wasn't going to let her go again. He nodded, "I have to be, when you're this good at manipulating."

"When did I manipulate you?" She frowned and he groaned, "This. This is what I'm talking about. Stop making such cute faces, I feel like the bad guy here." He grumbled and she giggled.

"Sahil." Srishti called out after a few minutes of silence and he just hummed, content with holding her in his arms. She fit perfectly.

"What do you think about love?" He opened his eyes and stared into hers. She just seemed curious as she gazed up at him with a warm smile.

He pretended to think, "I don't know. That emotion is too foreign for me." His answer had disappointment swimming in her eyes but she quickly hid it.

"But I'm willing to experience it, feel it, with you." He added. "You will be there right?" She chuckled at his silly question and shook her head.

"You're seriously asking me? Don't you already know the answer?" He smiled at her reply and rested his chin on top of her head. "I'm not doing anything, anymore without your consent." Srishti felt like she couldn't be more happy as she snuggled more into her husband's arms.

She sniffed, "Why are you hell bent on making me cry?" She rubbed her nose on his shirt and his chest vibrated as he laughed.

"Can I say it? I can't wait any longer when you're being this sweet." She mumbled into his chest and he made a confused face. Pulling back a little to see her face, he wiped her tears, "What?"

She smiled, his face blurring as her eyes kept watering, "I love you."

Sahil froze. He had not expected that. Not at all. A lot of emotions ran through him as his breathing quickened. Shock. Disbelief. Vulnerable. Happiness. Euphoria. Elated.

Srishti only watched him as he stared at her in a daze. "What did you say?" He breathed out.

"I love you, Sahil." She repeated as a tear ran down her face. His eyes were on her but it felt like he was somewhere else. "Again."

"I love you."

"Srishti, I─" She palmed his mouth and he shut up. "You don't have to say it just because I confessed, Sahil." He gave her a guilty look but she shook her head.

"You're going to say it." He looked confused but she grinned, "You'll say it when you actually mean it. And I'll make sure that you mean it." He removed her palm and gazed down at her intently.

"You're something else, Srishti." His voice was deep and the way he looked at her, made her blush. She shyly looked away but he cupped her chin and made her look at him before leaning down and placing his lips on hers.

Her eyes widened but she quickly threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. The kiss was sweet and full of love, as he picked her up and walked towards the bed.

The two of them had a long way to go, because this was only the start to a new phase in their lives. Maybe they will fall, maybe they will rise but they will be there for each other. Always.

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