College fest week completely ruined Kashvi’s peace.

Because Aditya suddenly became unbearably excited.

And dangerously clingy.

“Kashu wear black.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“No.”

“You hate my happiness.”

Kashvi continued arranging books calmly while Aditya followed behind her like emotional burden.

“I already selected matching outfit mentally.”

“That sounds like your personal problem.”

“It’s our problem. We’re a unit.”

Aarav sitting nearby looked exhausted already.

“You both fight like married people.”

Aditya looked proud hearing that.

Kashvi threw notebook at him immediately.

The entire college already knew they were together now.

Actually knew.

Not rumors.

Not guessing.

Because Aditya behaved like Kashvi personally invented love itself.

Waiting outside classes.

Holding her hand openly.

Taking her bag without asking.

Kissing her forehead casually when she stressed.

Even teachers had stopped reacting.

Fest preparations made campus crowded and chaotic.

Music everywhere.

Lights.

Decorations.

Dance practice.

Excited students running around constantly.

And somehow through all that chaos…

Aditya’s eyes still found Kashvi first every single time.

That afternoon Kashvi stood backstage adjusting earrings nervously before dance performance.

Soft black lehenga.

Silver details.

Hair left open in loose curls.

Beautiful enough to completely destroy Aditya’s remaining sanity.

When he entered backstage and saw her…

He stopped walking.

Actually stopped.

Kashvi noticed instantly.

“What?”

Aditya slowly came closer.

Very slowly.

Like he forgot other people existed.

“You’re trying to kill me.”

Kashvi laughed softly.

“You’re dramatic.”

“No. I’m suffering.”

His fingers gently fixed one loose strand near her cheek.

Then his gaze lowered slightly.

“You look…” he exhaled softly. “Mine.”

The possessiveness in that one word sent warmth through her instantly.

Before she could answer, suddenly a boy from organizing committee walked near them.

“Kashvi, you look really beautiful tonight.”

Aditya immediately looked at him.

Calmly.

Too calmly.

“Thank you,” Kashvi smiled politely.

The boy continued standing there unnecessarily.

Dangerous decision.

Then casually he asked,

“So after performance maybe we can grab coffee?”

Complete silence.

Kashvi blinked once.

Because Aditya’s entire expression changed.

Not angry.

Worse.

Territorially calm.

Aditya slowly wrapped arm around Kashvi’s waist and pulled her gently against himself.

Possessively.

Naturally.

Then looked directly at the boy.

“She already has plans.”

The boy looked awkward instantly.

“With who?”

Aditya smiled slowly.

“With me. Her boyfriend.”

That last word felt deliberate.

Claiming.

Certain.

Kashvi’s heartbeat immediately betrayed her.

The boy awkwardly excused himself and disappeared quickly.

Aditya looked satisfied.

Very satisfied.

Kashvi turned toward him instantly.

“You scared him.”

“He was flirting.”

“He was talking.”

“He breathed too confidently near you.”

Kashvi burst out laughing.

“You’re impossible.”

“And deeply in love.”

That answer softened her instantly.

Music from stage suddenly echoed loudly announcing next performance.

Aditya looked toward stage before looking back at her.

“Nervous?”

“A little.”

Without another word he held both her hands gently.

Then kissed her forehead softly.

“You’ll shine anyway.”

And somehow…

Those words calmed her immediately.

Later during performance, entire auditorium exploded cheering loudly.

But Aditya barely noticed anyone else.

Because Kashvi stood under golden lights dancing beautifully.

Gracefully.

Like poetry.

Like magic.

Like home.

Aarav sitting beside him finally whispered,

“You’re staring like obsessed man.”

Aditya answered without looking away,

“I am obsessed.”

After performance ended, Kashvi walked backstage breathing heavily from dance.

The moment she entered corridor…

Aditya pulled her gently into empty classroom nearby.

Kashvi gasped softly.

“Adi!”

“You were illegal tonight.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means every male in this college was looking at you and I hated all of them.”

Kashvi laughed breathlessly while he trapped her gently between himself and desk.

His hands rested lightly against her waist.

Eyes darker now.

Intense.

“You danced too beautifully.”

“You’re jealous of dance too?”

“I’m jealous of oxygen around you.”

Kashvi smiled helplessly.

Then softly whispered,

“Crazy.”

“For you.”

Always for you.

Aditya leaned closer slowly.

Close enough for her breath to mix with his.

Then kissed her softly.

Deep enough to silence every teasing word between them instantly.

Kashvi’s fingers tightened against his shirt while his forehead rested against hers afterward.

Both breathing unevenly.

Then suddenly someone knocked loudly outside classroom.

“Bro stop romancing and come outside.”

Both immediately jumped apart.

Kashvi covered burning face instantly while Aditya looked deeply irritated.

From outside Aarav shouted again,

“Whole college already knows anyway.”

Kashvi groaned in embarrassment while Aditya laughed softly.

And somewhere outside noisy college fest lights…

Their love continued becoming impossible to hide anymore.

CH 32 FOREVER

The college fest ended late at night.

Campus slowly emptied while lights turned off one by one.

Music faded.

Crowds disappeared.

Only soft wind and distant laughter remained now.

Kashvi sat quietly on edge of empty stage removing her heels slowly.

Completely exhausted.

Aditya walked toward her carrying two coffee cups.

And smiling like idiot again.

Kashvi narrowed eyes immediately.

"Why are you smiling?"

"You were looking hot during your performance"

Kashvi laughed softly and took coffee from him.For few moments both simply sat there quietly.

Looking at empty campus.

The same college where:
they fought,
laughed,
missed each other,
lost each other,
and somehow found love too.

Aditya looked at her quietly beside him.

Then softly asked,

“Tired?”

“A little.”

“Come here.”

Without arguing this time, Kashvi leaned slowly against his shoulder.

Comfortable.

Natural.

Like she belonged there.

Wind moved softly around them while silence settled peacefully.

Then after few moments Kashvi whispered quietly,

“Adi?”

“Hm?”

“If life gets difficult again someday?”

The question made him look at her immediately.Aditya gently placed coffee aside.

Then turned properly toward her.

His fingers slowly intertwined with hers.

“If life gets difficult…”

He lifted her hand softly and kissed her knuckles gently.

“…then we stay.”

Kashvi looked at him silently.

“We fight together.”

His thumb brushed softly against her skin.

“But we don’t leave.”

Those words settled directly into every broken corner inside her heart.

Healing what still hurt quietly.

Kashvi’s eyes filled slightly.

“Promise?”

Aditya immediately moved closer.

Forehead touching hers softly now.

“I swear on every version of me that loves you.”

And somehow…

That felt bigger than promises.

Kashvi closed eyes briefly before hugging him tightly.

No hesitation.

No fear.

Just trust now.

Complete trust.

Aditya held her just as tightly.

Like losing her again wasn’t even possibility anymore.

Ch 33 WIFE

After some time both finally returned to Roy house.

It was almost midnight.

Lights still on downstairs.

Which meant trouble.

The moment they entered…

Sia looked up from sofa and smiled knowingly.

Aryan folded newspaper suspiciously.

“So.”

“So?” Kashvi repeated nervously.

Aryan looked at Aditya.

“You enjoyed festival?”

“Very much, Mr. Roy.”

“Too much?”

Aditya wisely stayed silent.

Then suddenly Sia noticed something.

Kashvi was still wearing Aditya’s hoodie over her lehenga blouse.

Immediately suspicious.

“Oh.”

Kashvi froze.

Aryan looked up instantly.

“What oh?”

Sia smiled innocently.

“Nothing.”

Dangerous sentence.

Very dangerous.

Aryan narrowed eyes slowly at Aditya.

“Why is my daughter wearing your hoodie?”

Aditya answered shamelessly,

“She was cold.”

Kashvi coughed immediately.

Because that was technically true.

But not fully true.

Sia tried controlling laughter while Aryan looked deeply unconvinced.

Then suddenly Aditya casually said while walking toward kitchen,

“My wife gets cold easily.”

Complete silence.

Dead silence.

Aditya stopped walking.

Slowly turned around.

Realization hit.

Hard.

Kashvi nearly died.

“Maa…”

Sia completely lost control laughing.

Actually laughing tears now.

Aryan looked personally attacked by universe.

“What did you call her?”

Aditya rubbed forehead dramatically.

“Mr. Roy…”

“No no. Repeat.”

Kashvi covered burning face instantly.

“I hate this family.”

Aditya tried recovering dignity.

“It slipped accidentally.”

“Interesting slips,” Aryan replied calmly.

Sia still laughed uncontrollably beside him.

Then suddenly Aryan looked at Aditya seriously.

“You planning permanent residence here?”

Aditya blinked once.

Then answered honestly,

“If she lets me… yes.”

That answer softened room instantly.

Even Aryan.

Though obviously he hid it.

Kashvi slowly looked toward Aditya quietly.

And once again…

That dangerous warmth spread through her chest.

Because every time he spoke about forever…

He sounded certain.

Like loving her was no longer emotion.

It was decision now.

Later that night Kashvi walked toward kitchen for water quietly.

And naturally…

Aditya followed.

Like destiny with no shame.

The moment they entered kitchen alone, Kashvi immediately turned toward him.

“My wife?”

Aditya smiled slowly.

“Sounded nice.”

“Adi!”

He moved closer casually.

“One day it’ll become habit anyway.”

Kashvi’s heartbeat instantly betrayed her.

“You’re impossible.”

“And completely yours.”

Before she could answer, Aditya gently held her waist and pulled her softly closer.

Then kissed her forehead.

Her cheek.

And finally her lips slowly.

Warm.

Lingering.

Comfortable.

Like home.

When kiss broke, Kashvi whispered softly against his lips,

“You really mean all those forever things?”

Aditya looked directly into her eyes.

“With everything I am.”

And for first time in her life…

Forever no longer sounded frightening.

It sounded exactly like him.