Shraman SS: The Contract: Part (6/6) Updated Pg 13 - Complete - Page 6

Originally posted by: nileshni679

Once again you have done it. Lovely update.

Originally posted by: pinky.padda

awesome update
absolutely loved it
continue soon

Originally posted by: Faith28

Nicely written...pls continue

Originally posted by: pal655

shravans hand on her back,omg omg 🤪

Originally posted by: Zenab78

Awesome update

Originally posted by: silverleaves

Omg this is so good! Please write more!!

Originally posted by: Love_SA

loved it

Originally posted by: Aastha79

Too cute! ❤️

Part Five

The next few days flew by in a blur of unmarked time. She had dipped her toes in the crystal clear water (only to be picked up and thrown in by her mischievous room partner). She had fallen asleep under the warm sun, with a steady ocean breeze mitigating the heat. Suman found that her thoughts were easier to quiet when she focused on the rhythm of the waves. The hustle and bustle of Delhi had always comforted her on those bleak nights when her goals seemed as if they would be forever out of reach. But in this clear air, in which she could see a blanket of stars above her, her problems were no longer her constant companions.

Instead she turned her attention to her other companions, in particular the lawyer who was currently snoozing with a book lying open against his broad chest. She mentally rolled her eyes. Of course he would spend his vacation reading, of all things.

She would have guessed that about him, but he surprised her in other, smaller ways. He had always thought of Preeti as a younger sister, as she had always seen Pushkar as a brother. With their new relationship, however, there was a concern for Preeti's comfort that she had seen reserved only for his family members, with the exception of Nanu. She knew what he was willing to sacrifice for the sake of his family's happiness - she had even "helped" him pack for his self-imposed exile, her heart breaking all the while.

It helped soothe some of her worries about Preeti's station in her new household. Shravan never backed down from fighting injustice, after all.

Suman wouldn't have pegged him to be physically affectionate, either. But she found herself in his personal space often, and this Shravan, who smiled a little more easily, would think nothing of guiding her with a steady hand on the small of her back, or leaning over to whisper a private joke against the shell of her ear, or placing his fingers dangerously low against her hip as he pulled her towards him in the crowds. She in turn grew bolder, and when he would lay his head in her lap as they watched TV in the late night hours, she would let her hands tousle his thick hair until his steady breathing signaled that he had dozed off.

"Shravan," she'd whisper, sometimes a little reluctantly, sometimes wishing she could say something more. He would awaken, bleary-eyed, and stumble back to bed after wishing her goodnight. She would clutch the sheet against her, a poor substitute for his warmth.

---

"Di, come on...it's our last night here."

Suman sighed, part of her excited to wear the dress she had agonized over when packing, and part of her gazing longingly at her pajamas that awaited her.

"Sumo, don't be a party pooper na," said Pushkar.

Shravan had said nothing this entire time, merely watching her with a smirk on his face. "Leave it, Pushkar," he waved his hand. "Some people get boring when they get older."

"Excuse me?" she said indignantly. "At least I went snorkeling while you sat there and read your book...calling me boring," she muttered.

"So you'll come?" Preeti asked excitedly.

---

The music was loud, thumping in time with her heartbeat, and a crowd of bodies was writhing on the dance floor. She was grateful for the darkness that would soon translate into anonymity. Shravan cut his way through the throng, balancing their drinks precariously as he made his way towards them.

Suman accepted the water gratefully, her throat already parched. Pushkar motioned to them as he pulled Preeti behind him. Shravan nodded and held up two fingers, indicating that they would follow soon. He settled in beside her, leaning his long frame against the bar behind them.

"You ok?" His deep voice vibrated through her, his lips brushing against her ear to ensure she heard over the din.

She nodded and smiled, trying not to let her eyes linger where he had so casually undone the top two buttons of his shirt. "Waiting for a good song!" she shouted, hoping he understood at least some of it. He smiled back and took one last swig of his beer before placing the bottle down.

"No more waiting!" he grinned and pulled her towards the dance floor.

They found Preeti and Pushkar, the newlyweds swaying together despite the heavy beat. "Di!" Preeti left Pushkar's side and grabbed her sister's hand as the song changed. "This is my favorite!"

Suman couldn't help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm and soon found herself laughing at Pushkar's corny moves as he mimed the words. They took turns being silly, though it didn't seem silly at all when Shravan ran his eyes over her like a lion would its prey.

At some point he twirled her over to the other side of the floor, and she could only follow his lead as his hands went to the silky material of her dress at her waist. She held her breath as he leaned towards her, detouring at the last moment to her ear. "You look nice."

His stubble brushed against her cheek as he pulled away, and it was all she could do not to melt into his arms.

"Ow!" He pulled out his foot from under hers.

"Oh God Shravan, sorry!" she exclaimed.

He looked at her in disbelief. And then they both burst out into laughter.

---

"Come on," Shravan pleaded. "It will be worth it, Sumo."

"Shravan..." She sighed as she followed him to their balcony. "It's late, and my feet hurt."

"Listen, if anyone's feet should hurt, mine should." They stepped outside, the sky in front of them now a dark blue.

Suman settled into one of the chairs and watched him gaze out towards the ocean. "What are you thinking?"

"How many things we take for granted." He glanced at her. "Until they're not there anymore."

She felt her cheeks burn and hoped he couldn't see her reaction in the twilight. Was he referencing her younger self who had taken him for granted, or how she had most recently abandoned him for the sake of Preeti and Pushkar? Either way, how could she answer his accusations? Would anything she said make him understand?

"That's why I'm glad we had this time together, Sumo." His expression was hopeful, and she realized he wasn't keeping score in their never-ending battle.

"Me too," she smiled and looped her arm around his, pulling him down to the chair next to her.

They were quiet then, watching the waves crash and recede against the changing sky.

"Sumo?"

"Hmm?"

"How is Aditya?"

The name snapped her out of her reverie like a sudden splash of cold water. What are you trying to imply, she wanted to retort. Come out and say it, Shravan. The familiar sense of frustration at their circumstances began creeping back.

But when he refused to meet her eyes, she realized what it cost him to ask even that, and she took a calming breath. "We haven't spoken since he left," she said finally.

If he was surprised at her answer he didn't show it. "His choice, or..."

"Mine." Her answer was firm, on this one decision of her life that she felt she had any semblance of control over the past few months. "He asked me to marry him."

Shravan was surprised at that, and she watched as he fought to remain nonchalant.

"But I couldn't."

"Why?" The question hung in the air.

Suman looked into his eyes and saw the flicker of hope waiting to draw oxygen from her words. He was here, in front of her, when mere days ago she wasn't sure she would ever see him smile at her words, when it seemed every exchange of words turned into an exchange of artillery...and they both knew exactly where to aim.

She wanted to tell him everything... how she didn't know what love was until she was chasing his car down a dusty road, how she spent days and nights dreaming of them just like this, not Suman Tiwari and Shravan Malhotra but just Sumo and her Shravan, how he was the only thing in this world her heart needed to call its own.

Instead she said, "He wasn't my best friend."

It was as close as she could get to confessing without actually doing so, but seemed just as terrifying. Her heart hammered in her chest as a smile of relief finally graced his features. "Plus he was kind of short, don't you think?" he asked.

The laughter bubbled up unexpectedly. "You think everyone is short."

He shrugged, before wrapping his arm around her. It felt only right to lean her head against him. "Will you tell me what's wrong?" She felt the words rumble through his chest.

"I can't...yet."

He sighed at her answer and she was afraid they were right back where they started. "Will you let me help you?" he asked again.