ShraMan SS: Meant to Be [AU][Complete] - Page 13

X-X-X-X

"Khadoos." Sumo mumbled rolling around in her bed. "Why doesn't he understand anything?" She said talking to herself. "Well even if he did, it's not like he likes me back, he's going to the stupid Winter Formal with someone else, ughhh!"

She wanted to go to Winter Formal, even had a dress to wear, but she didn't have a date...well she could have had one but she couldn't get herself to say yes to Karan, and the guy she wanted to go with had his own date. Asshole. She was in class all day and he was not home when she returned, so she had just walked up to her room and slumped on her bed wondering who he was at the Formal with. He hadn't really talked to her since that day in the kitchen, they still talked, but didn't talk talk, he seemed to be avoiding her and Sumo was sure that he was spending all his free time with some busty blonde that looked amazing in her winter formal dress.

"How did he get into law school? He can't even figure out that I love him." She wondered staring at her ceiling. "What are we doing with our lives, why are we so complicated? First, I think he likes me because we sure as hell act like a couple in love, but he doesn't act on it and pulls away every time we get close, and then he tells me to go to Winter Formal with another guy and goes to Winter Formal with some girl. Arghhh. Why am I talking to myself?" She groaned wiping away the few tears that had left her eyes. She changed into a pair of lounge shorts and a t-shirt before throwing her hair into a messy bun and walking downstairs.

She opened the freezer and pulled out her tub of Cookies & Cream Ice-Cream before popping in her favourite movie into the DVD player. She sat in the middle of the couch, grabbed the dark grey throw and wrapped herself in it and placed the ice-cream in her lap. She sighed and dug into the tub as the scenes of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai came on screen. She watched quietly, occasionally sniffling when thoughts of Shravan dancing the night away with some beautiful girl and falling in love with her barged into her mind.

She couldn't help but notice the female's lead plight in the movie matched hers a lot. "Rohan's an idiot too, how does he not realize that Sonia likes him? Why is he going to the Christmas Ball with another chick...she's introducing you to her parents, like how do you not realize she wants you, ugh, all guys are idiot." She mumbled watching Hrithik Roshan be completely oblivious to Ameesha Patel's character while she stuffed her face with ice-cream. "Stupid oblivious best friend. I wonder who he went with, didn't even think it was important to tell me, maybe I should have gone with Karan. WHY AM I STILL TALKING TO MYSELF?!" She groaned and then quietened when she heard the front door open, her eyes grew wide wondering who it could be at this time.

She got up slowly, the ice-cream still in her hands - it could be used as a weapon - and walked towards the door only to see Shravan standing in the foyer with a bunch of books in his hands taking his shoes off.

"What are you doing at home?" They both asked each other at the same time when they caught sight of the other.

"I thought you were at the Winter Formal." He said looking at her attire and hair along with the tub of ice-cream in her hands, he could hear the music of her favourite movie coming from the living room. He felt the painful throbbing in his chest, that had been bothering him all evening, come to a stop at the sight in front of him.

"I thought you were at the Winter Formal." She said looking at him as he took his jacket off and hung it in the closet. He was wearing sweatpants and a long sleeved pullover rather than the tux she had expected.

"When did I say that?" He asked confused looking back at her, why would he have gone to the formal to watch her and Karan together.

"When I asked you if you were going you said maybe." She pointed out as he closed the closet door.

"I thought you were going with Karan." He said looking at her, confused, he didn't expect to find her at home, he was planning to go to his room and mope around until she got home.

"When did I say that?" Sumo asked repeating his earlier words.

"You said that he asked you." Shravan said walking into the living room and she followed behind him, why was he walking away?!

"I never said yes." She snapped standing behind him causing his eyes to go wide.

"He said he was going with-" Shravan's eyes grew even wider as realization dawned on him, he had heard Karan saying she said yes to his friend a few days after his initial run in with him at the gym, and he had assumed that the she was Sumo. "Why didn't you say yes?" He asked standing in front of the couch and looking down at her.

"Why did you let me believe that you were going to the dance with someone else?" She asked standing right in front of him and looking up at him.

"I thought you were going with him."

"And how does that factor in here?" She asked.

"I don't know." He said looking away.

"Shravan Malhotra, I swear to God that I will never talk to you again if you don't answer me right now." She said grabbing his face and forcing him to look back at her.

"I was jealous, okay!" He exclaimed.

"Then why didn't you ask me when I asked you if you wanted to go the formal you idiot?" She snapped.

"You were telling me that you were going with him!"

"I was not. I just asked you if you wanted to go, and I thought you would ask me! But you didn't, you told me to go with Karan!" She said while poking his chest at certain points because she was frustrated.

"You could have told me that." He mumbled.

"Oh, right after you told me to go with him or after you said that you were going with someone else?" She asked glaring at him.

"I never said that I was going with someone." He said exasperated, the thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Oh and what does the answer maybe to the question are you going to go imply Shravan? How are you in law school?" She yelled.

"So you were planning to say no to him all that time?" He asked sheepishly and she nodded. "Why?"

"I told you, I wanted to go with you."

"As friends?" He asked, his voice sounding unsure.

"No, seriously, how did you get into Law School?" She groaned. "You know, let me spell it out for you Shravan Malhotra. I for one thought it was blatantly obvious that I am in love with you, I have been for a long time, and you've been messing with my head for all these months and I don't know what's going on in that head of yours because you go from acting like you love me to-."

"Wait, wait, did you just say that you are in love with me?" He asked, his eyes wide.

She sighed and nodded. "Why else would I be sitting here and eating ice-cream and watching a movie on Valentine's Day Shravan?"

"Oh."

"What do you mean oh? That's all you're going to say? Oh? You know what I am done with you right now Shravan." She said with a groan and turned around only to be stopped by his hands on her shoulders as he pulled back to where she was and turned her back towards him.

"I would say something if you let me speak Sumo." He said looking down at her.

"Speak then." She murmured looking up at him.

"I love you too." He said with a huge smile.

"You are an idiot."

"You're no better."

"You are the one that kept going back and forth between giving me I love you feels to I am your best-friend feels." She exclaimed.

"You did the same thing!"

"I did not."

"You did too."

"No I didn't Shravan, you're the one that always pulled away."

He let out a sigh. "I thought that I'd ruin everything if you didn't like me back...and even if you did, what if we don't work out? I don't want to lose my best friend, I am scared." He murmured.

"I am too, but we can't not try this in the fear of a what if. We haven't killed each other in the past ten years, I am pretty sure we can handle this."

"And if we can't?"

"We can promise each other that no matter what happens between the two of us, we'll always have each other as a best friend, we'll always be a part of each other's lives."

"Promise." He whispers.

"Promise." She whispers back with a smile.

"Sooo, you love me?" He asked.

"Is your short term memory fried?" She asked rolling her eyes.

"Just making sure."

"I do love you, you idiot."

"Good, because I love you too." He nodded with a smile.

"Are you going to kiss me now or am I going to have to wait another few years?" She mumbled causing him to let out a chuckle, she was always the impulsive, no-filter one.

"I thought you'd never ask." He whispered as she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down towards her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and moved his face closer to hers. Their lips met tentatively, and they could feel the other smiling against their lips. The smiles gave away as their lips moved, slowly, softly, lovingly. She tasted like ice-cream and he tasted like chocolate - he was prone to eating chocolate when sad.

His head instinctively turned at an angle as he used the hands he had around her waist to pull her even closer. Her arms tightened around his neck as their lips danced against the others, the new feeling taking them both by surprise and leaving them in awe. They pulled away for a second and their eyes met, they both let out a euphoric laugh, their eyes twinkling.

"Your lips are so soft." He murmured rubbing his nose against hers.

"I am not done kissing you yet." She mumbled looking up at him with a pout making him let out a chuckle.

"Your wish is my command." He teased before closing the distance between them again. Their lips moved much like their relationship had progressed, slowly, they tested the waters of a new territory. They took their time because they knew they had all their lives ahead of them and there was no rush. His hands were placed firmly on her waist, pulling her closer. Her hands glided along the sides oh his neck and into his hair, pulling the strands.

He groaned against her mouth and she let out a giggle against his lips before sweeping her tongue across his bottom lip. Their tongues tangled and their lips became frenzied. Her body arched into his as her heart fluttered in her chest. He tried to pull her closer when she let out a little moan, this was so much better than either of them had expected. They broke away gasping, both of their eyes closed, as if it helped them refocus. They both had euphoric smiles on their faces that screamed "finally."

"More of that, definitely." Shravan said, his voice hoarse. Sumo laughed opening her eyes to find him staring back at her lovingly. "I've wanted to do that for so long." He murmured pecking her lips again.

"Since?" She asked curious.

"Remember in Grade 11 when we went on that camping trip and I accidentally tripped and fell on you? Since then."

"We're pretty dumb, aren't we?" She laughed realizing that was a whole three and a half years ago.

"Yep, better late than never though." He shrugged with a smile.

"Happy Valentine's Day Shravan." She said reaching up on her tippy-toes and pecking his lips.

"Happy Valentine's Day Sumo." He smiled back down at her.

Shravan was sitting against the headboard of his bed, with his glasses perched on his straight angular nose, engrossed in his book - not because it was interesting, but because it was something he had to finish before class tomorrow morning. He was almost done too, just another chapter before he could place the book back on the night table, turn off the lamp and sleep.

He smiled when he saw Sumo's familiar form in his peripheral vision as she made her way from her own room across the hall into his. The left side of the bed dipped under her weight and without looking Shravan lifted up his left arm as an invitation. Sumo smiled and snuggled up to his side, this had become a ritual of sorts on nights she couldn't sleep...which tended to be more often than not since she got used to sleeping beside him. She found it hard to sleep without the smell of his body wash, the feel of his breath on her skin, the weight of his arm around her and the warmth emanating from his body.

Sumo pressed a kiss on his stubbly cheek and settled her head on his chest and murmured a quiet good night, a smile adorning her face when she felt and heard the thumping of his heart under her ear, she was always amazed by how fast his heart beat when she first touched him and how over time it lulled back to a normal pace. Shravan smiled and buried his nose in her hair before kissing the top of her head. The smell of her shampoo and body wash permeated the air and comforted him.

He continued to read as her body relaxed against his, her muscles relaxing as she fell asleep. Shravan put his book away once he finished the chapter and turned off the lamp before scooting down the bed and bringing her with him. With one arm under her, and her head on his chest he closed his eyes, her calm breathing putting him to sleep as well.

"I love you." He whispered before sleep came over him.

X-X-X-X

"Hi." Shravan's voice came from behind her, near her right ear, and she felt his arms wrap around her body as he placed a kiss against her neck.

"Hi." She said back still stirring the food she was making, a smile had broken onto her face as soon as she had heard the front door open.

"I missed you." He murmured against her neck causing her to smile, she knew he had, he had classes all day today and she hadn't seen him since he kissed her goodbye in the morning.

"Hm, I know, I got your text messages, I am very flattered, one of them in particular made me smile like an idiot all day." She smiled as he placed his chin on her shoulder and rested it there, she had been walking around with a huge smile on her face all day which resulted in a lot of teasing from her friends, especially Riya.

"And which one was that?" He asked as his arms tightened around her, his hands splayed on her stomach.

"The one where you explained every thing you missed about me."

"Mhm, well then." He said reaching around her and turning off the stove before turning her around to face him. She arched her eyebrow at him, looking up at his face in question. "I miss your hair." He whispered running his hands through the silky soft strands that surrounded her face. "I miss your eyes." He said leaning down and placing a kiss on both of her eyes. "I miss your cute little nose." He said with a chuckle as he placed a kiss on the top of her nose making her giggle. "I miss your laugh." He said running his thumb over her bottom lip as she trembled, both from the feel of his finger against her lip and the way his eyes were piercing into hers. "I miss your lips." He whispered leaning closer while his thumb still ran across her bottom lip. "I miss you kisses." He whispered against her lips before kissing her, softly taking her bottom lip between his. "I miss you." He said against her lips.

Sumo was sure that if he wasn't holding her up she would have melted to the ground, he was so sweet and loving. Hearing the words were so much better than reading them. She felt like she was on could nine all the time, she didn't think it would be like this. They were always so comfortable with each other, but this heightened affection was new, and all these little things made her feel so loved. Something as simple as holding his hand made her stomach flutter, because before he would just grab her hand but now their fingers intertwined together and his thumb rubbed circles into the back of her hand as they walked down the street. Yet they were still the same people, nothing had really changed except that they acknowledged the love they had for each other.

"I love you." She said smiling at him. "Now you need to let me go if you want to eat dinner." She mumbled as his hold on her tightened.

He sighed and loosened his hold on her and she turned the stove on again, but he didn't move from the kitchen, rather he wrapped his arms around her again and rested his chin atop her head. Every time she moved around the kitchen, he moved with her and didn't let her go. It was cute, but also kind of annoying.

"Shravannn." Sumo groaned as he started peppering kisses down her throat, at this point she just wanted to melt into him but she was also starving.

"Sumo." He said against her skin but continued placing kisses down her neck and across her shoulder after moving her tank top out of the way. She groaned in defeat and turned the stove off again and she felt him smile against her skin before he turned her around and picked her up, placing her on the counter and stepping between her legs.

"You're incorrigible." She murmured holding his face between her hands, he was at face-level now and she closed the distance between them and kissed him.

"Persistence is a good trait to have." He murmured against her lips.

"Just shut up and kiss me." She murmured back against his lips causing him to move back a little and let out a chuckle.

"You're going to be the death of me." He whispered pulling her tighter against him. His eyes flickered down to her lips and her tongue instinctively darted out to moisten them, he closed his eyes and groaned before he looked back up at her, his eyes suddenly darker. Before she even knew what was happening their lips were moving against each other. And suddenly her hands were moving around his neck as their lips moved, slowly at first and then his hands started moving up her back and something snapped. Their lips moved faster against each other, almost frenzied and his hands cupped her face, she felt him bite her bottom lip and she let out a loud moan as his tongue slid into her mouth, entwining with hers. He pulled away a little allowing both of them to catch their breath, she opened her eyes and looked into his only to be taken aback by the desire in them, her heart hammered in her chest as he whispered a raspy, "I love you" to her, his deep voice that she adored was even deeper and raspier when he was turned on, and it did something to her. He started trailing kisses from her ear to her collarbone, and she clutched the back of his head, her fingers finding purchase in his soft hair as he wreaked havoc upon her body.

He trailed kisses down her neck, paying particular attention to area where her collarbone stuck out, where he was intent on leaving a mark again with the way he was biting and licking. "Shravannn." She heard herself moan as he ran his teeth across the spot and he groaned at the sound of her moans and gasps. All of a sudden she was being lifted off the counter, her legs instinctively wrapped around him as he walked them over to the couch before laying them down on it. Her back pressed into the soft cushions as he hovered over her with her legs still wrapped around him. The way he was staring as her made her shiver, and she pulled his face down towards hers fusing her lips with his again.

Shravan was lost in her, the smell of her shampoo and body wash, the taste of her lips, the warmth of her skin, the sounds she made, the feel of her hands wandering his body and her intense eyes. Yet he knew that they needed to stop, they ended up here a lot more these days, making out for hours on end, leaving each other breathless. But they stopped themselves and moved away panting when it went too far, there were lines that the two of them had drawn for themselves, and some days they wished that they weren't there. But they wanted to take this slow.

So when he felt himself growing hard against her, he broke away, panting. Her eyes met his as he hovered over her, knowing. She smiled up at him and held his face between her hands, feeling the stubble she loved against her hand, his eyes closed as he breathed, trying to collect himself, but they made no move to push the other away.

"Spain, Italy and France!" She said checking their passports and VISA information for the tenth time.

"Sumo, chill." Shravan laughed as they sat together on a couch, waiting for the boarding announcement to Italy.

"I am so excited that I can't deal with this." She smiled, she had gone on a crazy shopping spree and bought cute dresses, sandals and cardigans because apparently that was what she imagined wearing walking through the streets of sunny Italy and Spain, and through chic France.

"Maybe we should try half a Xanax next time, I don't think it works right on you." Shravan murmured, she had begged the doctor to give her something because no matter how many times she got on a plane, she absolutely hated the whole plane ride, being unable to even relax for a minute until she touched the ground with her own two feet again.

Sumo just rolled her eyes and leaned against him. "We're exploring Europe together!" She smiled. Shravan chuckled at her exuberance, the two of them had spent a lot of time planning this trip out. "And then we get to go back home for two months!" She smiled.

"I still don't know how we should tell the parents." Shravan murmured referring to their somewhat recent relationship change, they had yet to inform anyone of the change, at first it was because they wanted to see how it went and now they weren't really sure on how to go about it.

"I really don't think we should." Sumo said.

"Why?" He asked confused, he knew for a fact that their parents wouldn't be against it.

"They're going to be hyper-vigilant Shravan. Forget living together in the same house and being left alone in a room together, they'll probably spend a few years being hyper-vigilant and then the next few trying to get us married."

"What's wrong with getting married?" He asked, her words bothering him.

"Nothing is wrong with marrying you." She said looking at him with a smile. "But I am not fond of the idea of getting married before finishing up my MBA at least, and I know you'd like to finish Law School and make a name for yourself."

He nodded pacified. "So we don't tell them anything?" He asked.

"I think that's wise for now."

"And if they find out?"

"Try to keep your hands to yourself and we shouldn't have that problem." She teased.

"I think you are going to have more of a problem with that Miss Tiwari." He retorted and she flushed, realizing that he was right, he had way better self-control than she did. But he was just so tempting.

June

"Spain and Italy are kind of similar no?" She said as they lay on the bed of their hotel room after a long day of exploring Rome, he was propped up against the headboard using pillows, an arm wrapped around her shoulders and her head was resting on his chest as usual, with her right hand resting on above his heart.

"I think a lot of the European countries are similar in some ways." He agreed.

"Everything is so old and pretty!" She gushed, she was enjoying their trip, a lot. A lot of it had to do with the fact that it was with Shravan. They literally just got lost in the cities they visited, hand in hand. They were both nicely tanned and managed to get numerous compliments on what a good looking couple they were from many people.

"What has been you favourite city so far?" He asked curious.

"I am going to have to say it is a tie between Seville and Florence right now. What about you?"

"Barcelona and I think probably Venice when we get there." He smiled.

"You know, I think I am really going to like Paris. The city of romaanceee."

"Was that supposed to be a French accent?" He laughed. "It was so bad." He added causing her to whack his chest. "You have to stop with the abuse woman."

"You need to stop being so rude."

"I was just stating facts."

"Shut up Mr. Lawyer."

"Make me." He teased.

"Oh you wish." She said rolling her eyes as a knock sounded on the door.

"Room service!" He said jumping off the bed and walking to the door. Sumo sat up on the bed with a smile as she heard him converse with the staff in Italian, all she understood was the names of the foods and thank you but he sounded cute when he spoke. He was obsessed with learning basic sentences in all the languages that he would hear on this trip.

He walked back into the room with a tray in his hand. "Dinner is served, mademoiselle."

"We're not in France yet." She teased.

"Thank goodness, that French accent you tried to pull would have us locked up." He laughed putting the tray on the table for two by the window that overlooked the city.

Sumo rolled her eyes and whacked his arm lightly, as always, as she sat in one of the chairs and groaned in delight. "Real Italian food!" She squealed causing Shravan to laugh as he sat down across from her.

"Wait, move back a little, a bit to the left, lean up more." Shravan instructed as Sumo moved around in front of the Eiffel Tower trying to get the perfect my finger is on top of the Eiffel Tower picture. "Okay! Hold it." Shravan laughed snapping pictures.

"I'd feel weird if everyone else wasn't doing this." She smiled as he walked up to her. "SELFIEEE!" She laughed. Shravan laughed but held their selfie stick up and stood right by her, when they had bought the selfie stick Sumo had laughed saying that she wasn't sure that she needed one since she had her own selfie stick, her taller than normal boyfriend, but it turned out to be very helpful as they posed making weird faces into the camera. He kissed her cheek in a few of them making her laugh happily.

"We should get going if we want to make it up to the top before the lights go on." He smiled and she nodded walking towards the long line to go up the Eiffel Tower, hand in hand. They stood in line, Sumo in front of Shravan, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her head per usual as she scrolled through the pictures.

"Aw, this one is nice." She said about the one they had gotten another person to take of the two of them, they were standing smack dab in the middle of the Eiffel Tower in the background with smiles on their faces, his hand was wrapped around her waist. "Awww." Sumo cooed when she saw the next one, she was laughing with her eyes closed and he was peering down at her with a loving look on his face.

"I like that one." He smiled as she scrolled to the next one. She was looking up at him laughing while he was looking straight ahead at the camera. "Damn, that man was a good photographer." Shravan said as she scrolled through a bunch of good pictures.

"Or we're just really cute together." She teased.

"Or you're just really beautiful." He said tightening his hold on her causing her to smile, and she did look beautiful in that cream dress she was wearing today and her hair in a braid to the side with her bangs framing her face. He had told her as much as soon as he saw her step out of the bathroom.

"Vous faites un joli couple." An old woman in front of them smiled up at the two of them.

"Merci beaucoup." Shravan smiled.

"Parlez-vous le francais?" She asked sounding a bit surprised.

"Un petit peu." Shravan answered.

"Ah, tres bien, votre femme est tres belle." She smiled looking at Sumo who was listening to the two of them speak but not understanding much.

"Ah oui, je pense qu'elle est la plus belle femme du monde." Shravan said with a huge smile on his face and the woman's face softened as she smiled at the couple.

She looked at Sumo and smiled, "Vous avez un bon mari, ne la laissez pas aller."

Sumo nodded not really knowing what to say, wishing for once that she had taken those French classes the school offered, she didn't really think she would need them.

"What did she say?" Sumo asked turning towards Shravan as the lines diverged into two and the lady walked to the other line.

"Well first she said that we make a very pretty couple."

"And then you said thank you and she asked you if you know French?" Sumo asked and Shravan nodded with a smile.

"And then she said that my wife is really pretty."

"Wife?" Sumo smiled up at him and he nodded. "And what did you say?"

"I said that I think my wife is the most beautiful woman in this world." He said smiling down at her, he loved the way she flushed and smiled every time he called her beautiful.

"What did she say to me?" Sumo asked curious.

"She said that you found a good husband, and that you should never let me go." Shravan smiled.

"Hm, I suppose I should listen to her and let you stick around." Sumo said leaning up on her tippy-toes and pecking his lips.

"I think your wonderful husband deserves a better kiss." He said to her with a pout.

"Well, my wonderful husband is going to have to wait for that." She said while forcing his lips into a smile with her fingers and making him laugh.

--------------

"Paris is definitely my favourite, the Eiffel Tower lit up, ahhh." Sumo sighed as she walked out of the bathroom in the pajamas she had bought, they were very silky and did not consist of an oversized t-shirt and shorts for once, but rather a modest black cami and shorts.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" Shravan asked with a smile on his face as he leaned against the headboard of the bed.

"Why, are you seducible?" She teased sitting on the bed facing him.

"By you, very much so."

"That is good to know." She giggled wondering how she ever got lucky enough to have him in her life.

"So, if I recall correctly you owe your wonderful husband a proper kiss."

"I have a wonderful husband?" She asked looking at her left hand. "No ring."

"You're horrible." He laughed reaching over to her and pulling her closer to him. She laughed and got on her knees crawling up the bed and straddling him.

"You should owe your beautiful wife something too, keep it equal you know." She tried to say seriously but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

"Whatever you want." He smiled.

"Lose the shirt." She whispered. He looked at her curiously but complied, it wasn't something she hadn't seen before, they had spent enough days on the beach in the past two months alone. She moved back to get a good look at him.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Inspecting the goods." She said making him chuckle.

"And are they up to your standards?" He asked with a smile and she made a "hmmm" sound as if she was thinking very hard about the question. But the answer was simple, she could stare at a shirtless Shravan all day, especially shirtless Shravan working out. He had a beautiful body, from the muscles in his neck to his abs, his body was very well defined, his hard work definitely paid off.

"I think you'll do." She tried to say nonchalantly but the look in her eyes and they way she had bit her lip betrayed her horribly. "Hm, and now for your favour-."

"I haven't asked for anything." He pointed oout.

"I know." She smiled before leaning in and pecking his lip softly and moving back making him groan at the loss. She giggled and reached for the hem of her black silk cami and pulled it over her head, leaving her shirtless, and threw it by the bed, it fell on top of his t-shirt. Shravan's eyes grew wide in shock and she noticed him gulp, it was comic how he looked up at her eyes almost immediately as if he was afraid to look at her without her permission and it made her love him so much more.

"I think my wonderful husband deserved a little more." She murmured, not knowing where all this confidence was coming from but a smile broke out on his face and his eyes trailed down her body, reverently.

"You're beautiful." He whispered looking back up at her, his hands finding their way to her bare waist but not moving. She smiled realizing that all of this was just as new to him as it was to her, and that gave her all the confidence she needed to move in closer to him, she gently pushed him down with one hand planted against his bare chest and leaned down slowly, pressing their skin together. His fingers trailed up and down her bare back softly, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake, as her lips met his.

They spent the rest of the night kissing and exploring the new territory, but not straying further. They whispered words of love and learnt about each other, where every scar, mark and indent came from, what made the other gasp and moan or laugh.

"Di, why are you always attached to your phone? You're only here for two months this year!" Preeti whined trying to grab Sumo's attention.

"Sorry Preeti." Sumo laughed. She had been back in Delhi for about two weeks, and had seen Shravan once since their return. She felt like a drug addict undergoing withdrawals. She tried to busy herself with work, she had only been back for two weeks but had already managed to convert all the paperwork for her mom's business into an electronic format making life easier for her mother who was wholly impressed by her daughter.

"Tell me what suit I should wear!" Preeti said.

"To where?"

"You haven't heard?" Preeti asked confused. "Shravan's cousin Varun is getting engaged this weekend!"

"Wait, we're going?!" Sumo asked confused. She knew that the engagement was happening, hence her lack of seeing Shravan who was busy entertaining family friends but she didn't know that they were going too.

"Of course!" Preeti said and a huge smile broke out on Sumo's face, she could finally see him.

"Hm, lets go pick something out."

---------------

"Do you know three women have asked my mother who you are and if you plan on getting married anytime soon?" Shravan asked as he pulled Sumo into his room and shut the door behind her.

"Aunties leave no opportunity for a good rishta." Sumo smiled looking up at him. He looked so handsome in the black tux he was wearing. She had been taken aback the moment she saw him, it had been a while since she had seen Shravan Malhotra in a tux. The jacket fit his upper body so perfectly, it stretched across his huge arms and chest, and narrowed at his waist where he had one button done, the white shirt he was wearing did nothing to help her case either. It looked amazing against his tanned skin, he had taken an aversion to shaving lately and had sported stubble for their whole trip but it had now grown out into an almost beard and she loved the way it looked on him.

She had seen his eyes light up as soon as he saw her and she knew for a fact that he could read the look on her face because he had run his hand through his hair with a flustered smile. They had greeted each other with a friendly hug to keep up the pretences, but he had whispered that she looked beautiful in her ear. They talked for a bit among other people, exchanging stories of their lives in Oxford making sure not to mention anything that would give their relationship status away.

They moved around the party talking to other people but their eyes kept straying to each other. She didn't miss how Vandana's - aka Vandy, Shravan's new sister -in-law - friends seemed to stray around her boyfriend for a bit too long. It was so obvious that they were fawning over him and she wanted to go over and stake claim many times but held herself back.

They were standing and chatting with Nirmala when Shravan mentioned that he was going to go inside and motioned her to follow him with his eyes. Sumo had taken a stroll around the party before venturing into the house and up to his room where they were currently standing.

"You look so beautiful." He murmured and she did, she was wearing a long flowing pink anarkali that looked amazing against her skin, her hair was curled and pulled to one side. And if that wasn't enough, she had turned around and he had almost dropped his glass when he realized that her suit was almost backless, his hand itched to run across her back when he had hugged her outside.

"You don't look so shabby yourself." She murmured melting into his arms. They stood by his door for a good five minutes just holding each other before she moved back and looked up at his face with a pout. "I miss you." She whispered.

"Me too." He whispered back resting his forehead against hers, the heels she was wearing making it easier. He pecked her lips softly, once, twice, thrice.

"You need to stop letting other women flirt with you, it makes me want to walk over and stake my claim." She laughed.

"And how would you go about doing that?"

"Probably marching up to you and pulling you down by the collar and planting a big one on you." She giggled.

"Best way to keep a relationship under wraps."

"Your mom was looking at us funny."

"I think it's because she hasn't heard us arguing yet." Shravan speculated.

"Ah, what shall we argue about today?"

"I am sure we'll find something, we always do." He laughed kissing her again.