Save You

"If the world turns against you,
I won't."
Kai Azer,
powerless

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~A D V I K~

The moment I was informed that Aarohi Oberoi, my wife had sneaked out of her hotel room at night, something in me shifted. I should not care about her, I know. She was forced upon me . Even on this business trip ,my time. My stupid vacation I had planned so discreetly.

And now she was sneaking out like a rebellious teenager with daddy issues. She's not a child. She's an adult.
The moment I got to know, I moved.
"Find her" I simply said on call to my men. My jaw clenched so harshly as I thought of every possible place she could be.

I got on my bike and roved it across the city , in the night. The moment I got that location. 'the seven high' .
Of course she would choose some shitty night pub full of shitty reckless heirs and buisness people . A place which disgusted me. A place where lust was openly welcomed and wolves roamed freely. Trying to get every woman under them.

My blood boils as I accelerate my bike on top speed, the cold air hitting my face. A sharp contrast to the heat which pulled inside me.

If anyone tries to look at her ,
touch her,
think about her,
he dies.
It's that simple.

I may not love her.
I may have never wanted her.
And even if I do not acknowledge her as my wife yet .
I will kill every bastard who looks at her wrong.
And not just her.
I will do it for every other woman.

The club soon was visible.
One glare of me, and the security pulled back. I toss my bike keys to the man.

I move, my strides long as I cut through the crowd. The recklessly dancing and partying drunkers.
Few women immediately start throwing themselves at me.
But none of them mattered now. None of them tempt me anymore.
My wife. Aarohi . My eyes searched for her only.
When I could not find her for a moment, panic seized through my veins.

Be safe.
Be alive.
Be with me.
I wasn't a very religious person, but at that moment I sincerely prayed for her safety.
Just a glimpse of her. Please.

Then finally I saw her. A surge of relief passed through me. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. But then I saw him. The other man.
My fists clench into a tight fist. My teeth gritted so hard.
That man was talking with her. Leaning too close for God knows reason.

It would not have taken me more than 3 seconds to take him down. But no. Advik . No. Be patient. Don't embarrass her.

I watched her dance with him. Her palms rested upon his chest. Flat. Her eyes shined differently at that moment. The way her lips parted . The way those plump lips curved into a smile. A small curl falling down her forehead. The slight flush of her cheeks .
S

he was so trusting of this man.

My heart stopped for a moment. She looked ethereal. Ravishing. Something I could never describe. The dress she wore was pure torture. She looked so beautiful at that moment. I actually wished she would smile that way at me.

My heart pounded in my chest as the music slowly faded into the background. My wife.
Someone I thought I would never acknowledge. Yet here I was , standing with my heart pounding so tight in my chest.
Taking in her beauty.

At that moment I had just realised, this goddamn woman. A very stupid, careless, stubborn woman with that stupid smile of hers, which I had trade anything to see again. Those stupid doe eyes. That small dimple flashing on her cheek. The shy batting of her eyelashes. So beautiful. So lethal.

She was going to be the goddamn death of me.

But I quickly snapped back from that beautiful daze.
When I saw that man's hand lingering upon the small of her back just for a little too long for my liking.

I grabbed the nearest glass , before pouring down the bitter liquid down my throat in one single gulp. The liquid burnt through me, the strong taste made me sick. But nothing mattered to me. The grip on the glass only tightend as anger seethed through my veins. My knuckles went white.
As I took a small step towards them.

No one touches her.

The crowd cuts through, some shoulders bumping into me . As I finally reached her. Her back was facing me .
As I slowly leaned down. To her ears. My breath warm against her skin. As I whisper lowly

"Done playing games Mrs Advik...?"

I could feel the colour drain down her face the second I said those words.
And then I took a deliberate step back.
A tiny smirk forms on my lips as I move back to the bar.
Watching her .

But the second I saw her trying to leave and that son of a bitch pulling her to a secluded corner, the muscle in my jaw ticked.

I moved so fast , at that corner where he had cornered her.
She tried to protest and I waited for whole 5 seconds. The longest 5 seconds of my life.
Seeing if he leaves her.
Seeing if she is strong enough to protect herself.

She didn't.
She tried to fight but then he whispered those filthy words.
"For tonight you are mine"
"And by the time am done with you, you will know who you bel-"

I never let him complete that.
One second I was holding back to see her fight, the other I shoved that asshole in the nearest wall.

"Biwi hai woh meri"

"Himmat kaise hui use chune ki..?"

Anger seethed through me as I showed no mercy to him. My blood ran cold .
I hated this. I hated fights. I hated disturbing my peace. I hated being violent.
For someone who only cared of themselves, at this moment. Fuck every rule.
I will kick the shit out of him so quick.
If he dies here and if am caught. I don't care about the consequences.
I will rot proudly in some jail cell .

A punch in his face, my knee slamming in his groin.
He whined in pain but I was beyond mercy. Now I was desperate.

He got his filthy hands on my wife.
Now he dies.

And I could have killed him at that very moment, until she grabbed my sleeves.
And for a second the world stopped for me.
I looked at her. She was trembling. Her fingers shook as she said those words
"Bas Advik"

Her fingers curled around my sleeve, holding onto it like I was the only one who could save her. Only one age could hold onto.

Her voice barely above a whisper
Her lips trembled, eyes little watery.
And that undeed me. I hated seeing her so vulnerable. So feared.

My heart clenched.
Hurt.
She looked so fragile at that moment.
I left the man. My hands fell down from his collar.
As I took a step towards her. And without thinking I pulled her into my arms. Her trembling body against my hard one.

"Shh"
"It's fine"
"Main hoon na..?"
I am here right
I said , my words barely above a whisper. Even I didn't know I could sound so soft .
But those words did the work. She relaxed a bit.
My hands slowly moved on her back. In soothing circles.

I placed my chin on top of her head .
"Shh"
"I will take care of him"

I pulled away, cupping her face in my hands. Looking into her dark ocean deep eyes. A quiet assurance.
"He does not deserve your tears" I said again as my thumb slowly traced the little tear which rolled down her eye.

He made her cry.
The only thing I hated the most.
Her tears.

The sun won't rise for him tomorrow
A vow.

"Let's go" I say softly before guiding her through the crowd. Shielding her from those prying eyes of those monsters .
I brought her out, the cold night breeze hit our skin.
I quietly motioned the guard to bring back my bike and pulled my phone out to dial a number. My one hand still holding her smaller one.

In a minute, a car pulls in front of us. The driver gets out of the car and hands me the key.
As I slowly opened the passenger seat door for her .
When I am sure she is seated properly, I close the door.
And seat beside her on the drivers seat.

She is still very shocked.

"I am here Aarohi"
I say as I pull the car away.

She doesn't say a word, just nods slowly.
I don't know what to say now.
When it comes to consoling someone, I am in the negative. Far below the graph.
The best I did was to hand her the bottle of water, while my one hand still rested on the steering wheel.

I haulted the car infront of the 24/7 convenience store.
"Will you wait for a minute..?" I ask , my voice lowering an octave.

"Yes" she says. Softly.

~A U T H O R~

He returns back. With a small bag in his hands.

He opened the passenger seat door slowly. Offering his hand. "Come" he says so softly, no one would believe that this man was literally kicking an asshole right in his family assets 10 mins ago.

She slowly, cautiously placed her smaller palm against his big, calloused one. He guided her slowly to a bench . Outside of the store itself.

"What's in that..?" She asks lowly, eyes curious, searching for answers. As she sat down on the bench. Without a word he removed his jacket , and before she could ask 'what..?' he draped it over her shoulder. The jacket smelt faintly like him. Expensive cologne. Woods and mint. Highly masculine. Gave her the warmth. ' I am here with you' , an indirect confirmation.

.

And then without a word, he slowly dropped to his knees in front of her.
"What are you doing..?" She asks her eyes wide, but without answering he instead took her feet in his hands. Unclasping the heels.
Before finally looking up into her eyes

"Can I..?" He asks and she just nods. So he slowly pulls the heel out of her feet. The heel had caused slight redness on her ankle. A small bruise too. He had noticed it. He repeated the same thing for the other heel. Before pulling out an ointment from that bag. And slowly, gently he applied it on that tiny bruise. It was almost invisible. But yet he insisted.

She flinched when the cold cream touched her skin and a sharp sting went through her nerves. "Sorry" he mumbled, His thumb slowly traced small circles over that bruise. Applying it precisely.

"You are precious. You should not hurt yourself" he says , his focus still on tending to her small wound.

"I am sorry" she says while taking a deep breath. "I should have not gone alone" followed. "You were right. I. Can't be alone in an unknown City"

That hurt him. "Aarohi, stop apologising to me for something which was never your fault. Some men never understand the meaning of consent. "

A beat , then he adds
"I swear when I said 'you can't be in an unknown city' it was never because I doubt you or because I underestimate you. You can damn go to any place you wish. I trust you. But sometimes when I protest ,it's purely for your own good. I have travelled the world . And I could certainly tell you that not every man is trustworthy. You are my wife. And I had never think that little of you. You are my responsibi-"

"I am not your responsibility " her shaky break cuts him, then a small inhale "you were forced upon to take my responsibility by your family. I don't deserve you. You have always been kind to me. Even when I fucked up so bad today, you are still letting it slide. I should have known better. I am only burdening you. You deserve better than this. " She says and then abruptly stops , hiding back that little sob. Her words felt like venom.
She looked some other way
Before wiping those tiny tears with the back of her hand harshly.

Then he looks, really looks into her eyes. Guilt? Pity? Hurt? Wounded by her words .
"You do not burden me Aarohi. Know that . You owe me nothing. You became mine the day I said 'i do'. So don't get any wrong ideas. I never wanted this, yes I agree. And I could never promise you of love. Or happyness. Or a happily ever after. Or White picket fence dreams."

"Because that was never a part of the plan for me. I don't know if I am capable enough of that. If I truly deserve someone as pure as you. Yes. I don't want to give you false hopes. But now that we are married and you are my wife.

I will swear on everything in this world that is considered holy.

"I don't do love. I do loyalty, protection... and now, apparently, you."

You will be safe. Secured. Provided. Protected. Respected. Attended. Wooed.
And not because of family. Not because of my jackass cousin.
But because I chose this. I had an option of running off on the wedding day, following the steps of Aditya. But I stayed. That's who I am . I chose to stay and marry you. You stubborn little woman. So stop thinking you are a burden to me. You are my wife Aarohi
Stop thinking so little of me.
Stop questioning our marriage
It's not what I wanted. Not something you wanted. But we can make this work. I swear I will try for you. You deserve all the respect in this world. And I swear I will give you that."

And he meant every single word of that. As he slowly pulled out the next item from his bag. A pair of comfortable slippers. And slowly slipped them on her feet. "They fit perfectly " he says with that smile which actually reaches his eyes, a smile which shows those full dimples on his face. "I just assumed. And it fits "

The silence streched for long. Neither of them said a word .
B

ut after sometime

She smiles faintly.Her eyes softened now. The faint glow of the convenience store light falling on her face. The light breeze makes her hair flow lightly.
Then slowly, she says "Thank you".

Her voice barely was above a whisper, but he Heard that. And after hours of tension, he felt calm.
So he did something unexpected.Veryy much.

No he did not kiss her or something.
Rather pulled out a small banana milk bottle. Two actually. One for him, one for her .

"This comforts me when I am sad" he says as he finally gets up , after long time kneeling in front of her like some lovesick puppy. And then his eyes asking for a small permission..."can i..?" Motioning at the bench, beside her.
She nods and he doesn't need to be told twice. He plops beside her. Not too close to intrude her space but close enough that his warmth comforted her.
Holding out the bottle for her.
She accepted that.

"You are too kind for your own good" she says then, a fair attempt to lighten the mood. And it did . The work.

"Coming from someone who was in a full rebellious teenager arc, wife. Am moved." he says, irony wasn't lost on her.

"I Have a name"

"Nah, It's wife to me." He said with a loop sided grin. As he takes a slow sip of his drink , looking up. In the sky.
She mentally gave him a big eye roll before joining.

The silence streched. But for the first time in weeks. It wasn't awkward. It was warm. Comfortable.

"Let's try being friends first" She says out of nowhere. He looks at her shocked for a moment so she deliberately adds
"I would love being your friend Advik Oberoi"

The way she said his name, he stood frozen for a moment before nodding.
"Friends is it then. Wife"

"Aarohi"

"Mrs.Advik" he loved riling her up.

"Shh. Go back to stargazing " she hated how he could easily get a reaction out of her.

"As you wish wife"

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