ShraMan SS - The Light of Her Life - Chapter 5 Updated 04/07 - Page 4

Chapter 3

Shravan walked out of Delhi airport in his white shirt with denims pulling his suitcase behind him. Instantly a wave of Delhi heat hit him as he got out of the air-conditioned airport. His eyes looked around searching for her. As if on cue he heard her voice, "Shravan, look here,". At an instant he jerked his head in the direction of the voice and saw her bright face smiling back at him with her arms waving frantically. He walked towards her and hugged her. His strong arms wrapped around her petite waist, while she snuggled in his chest. Her scent reminding him of all that was good in the world. He looked down at her, while she looked up at him. His Sumo. Her long silky hair was in a braid, her face resembling the sun and although her eyes were shining brightly at him, he didn't miss the dark circles underneath them that she had oh-so-cleverly tried to hide with her concealer. They broke out of the embrace, realising how intimate their position was.

"How are you?" he asked trying to be nonchalant.

"Better after seeing you!"

"Good, acha listen, can you drop me at my apartment, I need to catch up on some rest and I'll meet you for dinner at Water's Edge, okay?"

"Won't you go home?" She questioned him softly.

"Sumo, you and I both know that is not my home, it hasn't been for 5 years, can we please not talk about this, I've only and only come here for you and Nanu. Understood?!" He replied sternly

"Yes Mr. Sadu Malhotra, I've understood. Now, will you just stand here or sit in the car as well?" She joked trying to lighten the mood

He shook his head with a smile and sat in the passenger seat after putting his suitcase in the boot.

The whole way was spent catching up on everything that was going on since the last time they had met. Shravan had become a well-known lawyer in London and was thinking of expanding his law firm to other cities. The way that he presented his arguments and found legal loopholes in every case made it so that no matter who the opposition was, they had no chance of winning if they were against Shravan Malhotra. Suman's restaurant on the other hand had become a household name in Delhi. It was the only restaurant whose food gave a taste of the true India. The flavours and taste of Suman's food was blended in so well with her dishes that everyone would want more no matter how much they had already eaten. Needless to say both were proud of the other's achievements. Suman's nerdy awkward little chashmish had become a strong man who exuberated confidence and flair had made a name for himself outside of his family name. Shravan's jhalli motu wrestler had become this poised woman who had gained maturity and had made her passion her work and was successful. He knew that one day Priraj was going to be the biggest restaurant in India and not just in Delhi.

After half an hour they reached Shravan's apartment, he got off the car and turned towards signalling her to put down the window. She complied and he bent down resting his head on the car door, his eyes staring deeply into hers, "I'll pick you up at 7:30 okay? If you have work, we can go later, it's fine," he said flashing his pearly whites at her.

"7:30 is perfect actually," She replied.

Shravan stepped into his apartment for the first time in a year. Everything was the same, and clean. His housekeeper and cook, Ramu-kaka, had kept his house in impeccable condition. He stepped inside, taking his shoes off. The white tiles were so shiny that they reflected his feet. Putting down his bag, he walked towards the kitchen on his left and opened the fridge taking a bottle of water and sipping it as he carried the bag into his bedroom. He slumped on the bed as the realisation dawned on him. Sumo, his Sumo, was getting married. She wouldn't be his after a few months. He felt an uneasiness settle in as he thought about it and the fact that after her marriage he wouldn't have the same rights on her as he does now. He might not even see her anymore, he would go back to London and have no reason to come back. A tear rolled down his cheek. He couldn't do this, it wasn't right. She had finally moved on and he couldn't bring her back to where she stood ten years ago. Shravan and Suman couldn't be together and so he decided that he was going to live these last few moments with her as if they were their last. He was going to give his best friend the best memories before she got married, he was going to see what it would be like to make her laugh and cherish her. What it would be like to be amidst her beauty and innocence and bask in her smile for the final time. He was going to make sure her wedding was lavish and everything she wanted.

***

Suman parked her car on the side of the road a few kilometres away from Shravan's house. Without warning her eyes filled up with warm tears, threatening to spill. A part of her wanted to run to Shravan and live in his embrace forever, but she knew this was wrong. It couldn't happen. They couldn't happen. They were better off staying as friends, but for how long could they be friends for. She knew that Aaryan couldn't tolerate her relationship with Shravan, but little did he know, Shravan was her strength, her guide, her inspiration. He made her want to become a better person. She knew that her and Shravan had a very strong relationship, but they also had their limits which they had set long ago. Although all she wanted was to be with Shravan forever, she knew it wasn't possible. She couldn't bring him back to the same place that he was 10 years ago. Where all he saw was pain and betrayal. He was a broken man, and she had tried very hard to mend his broken pieces and the last thing she wanted to do was reverse his healing. He had worked day and night to get to where he was today she would be the last person to ruin it. Suman let the tears fall for the first time in years. She knew as soon as soon as she got home she had to go back to putting her strong faade and she couldn't be weak. She was the Sumo, and the Sumo wrestler within her is the strongest. She wiped her tears and drove home thinking about treasuring these last days she had to be herself and be with Shravan.

Tum ko bhi hai khabar

Mujhko bhi hai pata

Ho raha hai judaa

Dono ka raasta

Dur jaake bhi mujhse tum meri yaadon main rehna

Kabhi alvida na kehna

Kabhi alvida na kehna

***

She had just came back from work and checked the time. Her watch read 7:20, cursing herself for being late she rushed to take a shower knowing that Shravan was going to be there any moment. She walked out of the bathroom clad in just a towel, her eyes became wide as saucers as she saw the scene in front of her. On her bed was a smirking Shravan Malhotra in a white t-shirt with a blue blazer and black jeans. He got up and started to take long strides towards her, like a panther capturing his prey. Suman took a step back with each step he took forward. Eventually her back hit the cupboard and he caged her in between him and the cupboard door. Her face became flushed as Shravan looked down on her, his smirk increasing as he realized the effect he had on her. She started to breathe deeply with each breath taking in his cologne and her desire for him increasing. Her eyes became hooded as he brought his hand towards her face, stroking her cheek. He bent his head down towards her ear and said in a husky whisper, "tumhaari abhi bhi late hone ki aadat gayi nahi naa?" He took a step back, shaking her out of her reverie. "I'm waiting for you downstairs," He said leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Suman let out a breath that she didn't realise she was holding in the first place. She looked at herself in the mirror, her face was as red as a tomato and her breathing was labored. She knew if things continued, it wouldn't be a matter of time she would lose her resolve.

***

I hope you all liked that. Please be sure to like and leave a comment (it really helps). I will be back shortly with the next update and things are going to take a turn. You have been warned 😆😆

Love,

Aanchal

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