Akash's POV

My life has converted into a masterpiece since Anita entered my world.

I've never experienced love like this before—unconditional, selfless, and pure.

For the first time, someone saw beyond me, beyond my status and expectations.

In the past, I've invested heavily in love, but it always came with conditions, attachments, and disappointments.

Yet, Anita's love has been a refreshing breeze that seeks nothing in return.

With her, I've discovered the true essence of love, which is unbridled and unconditional. It's as if my heart has awakened from a lifelong sleep.

I can still remember the first time I laid eyes on her, though it was under circumstances I'd rather forget.

My car had hit her, sending her crumbling to the ground.

She lay unconscious in a tattered saree, but even in that fragile state, her face shone with an ethereal glow. Her features, though marred by pain, captured me.

I didn't notice her complexion then; all I saw was her breathtaking beauty.

It wasn't until later, when she spoke of her own insecurities about her skin tone, that I realised I had never registered it. It was as if my eyes had been blinded to everything except the sparkle in her eyes, the curve of her lips, and the joy of her presence. To me, she was, and remains, flawless.

But after she spoke of it, I realised I had never seen anyone more breathtakingly beautiful. Her rich skin glowed with an inner light, illuminating every feature.

In that moment, I knew I was irretrievably lost to her charm. Her beauty transcended physical boundaries; it resonated deep within my soul.

And then during her birthday party, it was a night to remember before it escalated unexpectedly.

The black dress I'd chosen for her fit her perfectly, accentuating her beauty. When she hugged me to thank me, during that moment, everything else faded away. Time stood still, and all I felt was her gentle breath on my skin, which sent shivers down my spine. My heart pounded with excitement and vulnerability.

I had grand plans for us that night and the next day. I wanted us to have a cosy dinner, just the two of us, followed by a day of exploring the city's hidden treasures.

But fate had something else for us.

Her father's evil scheme shattered our peaceful evening.

I felt angry with her for the first time that night when she mentioned moving out. Many days ago, I'd confessed my deepest truth to her: I couldn't live without her. Yet she ignored those words only because she was consumed by the opinions of others.

Frustrated, I gave her the space she asked for.

I will not force her into a relationship she doesn't want, despite knowing she loves me too, even if she hasn't fully realised it yet.

That day, I ignored her calls, needing time to calm down.

But then, our studio photos arrived, capturing the perfection of our moment together. The happiness radiating from those images dissolved my anger.

As she continued calling, I waited patiently for her to make the next move.

I wanted her to come to me unafraid of what others would say and prove her commitment to our relationship.

It took a week, but eventually she came, and I knew then our love was worth fighting for.

I asked her to be Mrs. Akash Kapoor, but she thought I was joking, assuming it was just a ploy to keep her by my side.

But the truth is, I want her as my wife and best friend forever.

For the first time in my life, I see marriage not as a useless commitment but as a sacred vow to cherish and honour for her.

I've never proposed to anyone before because I never believed in it.

But Anita changed everything.

I yearn to spend the rest of my life with her, to wake up every morning with her by my side. I want to share the joys, sorrows, and adventures of life with her, and I'm willing to commit to that forever.

With her, every moment feels like a promise of forever.

Her smile is my solace, her laughter my refuge.

I envision us building a life together, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

I dream of waking up to her gentle touch, of sharing quiet mornings and chaotic evenings. I long to be her rock, her confidant, and her partner in every sense.

The thought of spending decades with her and growing old together fills me with an unparalleled feeling of purpose.

I'm ready to embark on this journey, to navigate life's ups and downs, side by side.

She may not realise it yet, but she's the missing piece I never knew I needed. She's the one I want to call my own, my wife, my forever home.

I pulled up to her restaurant.

It was evening.

Glancing at my watch, I prayed she hadn't left yet. It was 7:56, just four minutes away from her usual exit time while the restaurant officially closes at 11, but she typically leaves by 8.

Stepping inside, I made my way to the elevator.

As the doors slid open, our paths collided. She stood before me with a radiant smile spreading across her face, and mine too.

"I didn't know you'd be coming," she said.

"I was bored at home; I needed a change," I replied, shrugging.

"Let's go in then," she said with her eyes sparkling. "I'll make sure I take your boredom away."

"I don't want to trouble you," I countered. "Won't your family worry if you return late?"

"They already know you," she said with a reassuring smile. "It's not a problem. Moreover, I'm sure you won't stay for more than an hour, right?"

I nodded as I stepped into the elevator with her. The doors closed, and its soft hum filled the silence.

We entered the restaurant, where there were a crowd of people engrossed in conversations and enjoying their meals.

She led me through the bustling space, exchanging warm smiles with the staff and customers.

We reached the staircase, and she gestured upward. "Let's get some fresh air."

I followed her to the rooftop, where the city's energetic energy transformed into serenity. The open roof offered a stunning 360-degree view of Mumbai's glittering skyline.

She guided me to a cushy seating area, and I settled in, taking in the breathtaking panorama. She joined me, her eyes sparkling in the evening light.

A waiter then appeared who looked very attentive.

"Two coffees and a cake," she ordered, her gaze drifting to me. "Or are you hungry for food?"

I shook my head, smiling. "Just needed some fresh air."

Her lips curled into a warm smile. "Great. Coffee and two slices of cake, then. The cake is my special recipe; I hope you'll love it." Her voice dropped to a whisper, and I chuckled at the sudden tone.

The waiter nodded and vanished, leaving us alone. I reached out, my hands enclosing hers, which rested on the table.

Our gazes met, and her smile reduced for an instant before rekindling.

"You know I love everything that comes from you," I replied sincerely.

Her eyes glistened, but her expression soon turned somber. "There's still no news about my father."

I tightened my grip on her hands. "Let's not talk about that tonight, please." I didn't want any darkness to encroach on our beautiful moment.

She sighed, her smile returning, though this time with melancholy. "Can I say what's been on my mind, though?" Her voice was hesitant, her eyes searching around my face.

I nodded, encouraging her to share. "Of course. Please be free." My thumbs caressed her hands, offering comfort.

Just as she was about to confide in me, the waiter reappeared with our orders, expertly setting them on the table before quietly leaving.

Her gaze met mine again, and her expression turned grave. "I don't know... I've been thinking about Rajiv's mother a lot lately," she whispered. She inhaled a deep breath, her chest rising and falling.

My brows furrowed in question, intrigued by the sudden thought.

"What about her?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Her eyes seemed to cloud over, her thoughts drifting to a place I couldn't see.

After a moment, she spoke, her voice very soft. "I'd forgotten about her completely, but then... two or three weeks ago, I'm not sure, she appeared in my dream. She was crying uncontrollably."

Her eyes clouded over again. "When I approached her, she hugged me tightly with tears streaming down her face. Ever since, she's been on my mind."

She paused, collecting her thoughts. "I wanted to visit her, but travelling to Banaras..."

"His family moved here, too," I said, and her face brightened.

"Perfect. I'll visit her tomorrow when he leaves for work. He usually leaves by eight, so I'll go around ten. It'll put my mind at ease."

I nodded in understanding, supporting her decision.

"I'll pick you up, and we'll go together since your father's still missing," I said.

She nodded, her smile initially bright but soon faded. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she inhaled deeply, struggling to compose herself.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," she whispered. "I shouldn't have cut her off all this time. No matter what, she was my mother once." A tear escaped, rolling down her cheek.

"Our relationship wasn't perfect, but she didn't mean harm. She was bound by the traditions." Her shoulders sagged. "But like me, she should have broken free of it and said it would end with her."

She brushed away the tear, forcing a smile. "Sorry, I'm emotional. It's just my period and guilt." Her laughter echled with her sadness.

"I remember she gave me whitening cream to enhance my complexion," she added, still chuckling.

I tightened my grip on her hand.

"Forget the past," I mumbled. "You've grown and changed. That Anita didn't forgive or forget, but this one does. You're letting go of grudges."

Her eyes met mine, and she burst into laughter. "I don't know... I want to let go of the grudges, but it's hard—very, very hard." Her smile faded, replaced by an introspective gaze.

"When I saw her in my dream, I wanted to go the very next day. She may not be my mother-in-law anymore, but she'll always be a mother to me. I respected and loved her as one. I obeyed her." Her voice cracked. "Seeing her in tears hurt so much."

"We'll go tomorrow. You'll feel at ease when you meet." I replied, and she nodded.

Wanting to change the mood, I said, "Now, let me taste the cake. It's been tempting me."

She giggled while I cut into the frosted red velvet cake and savoured a bite. The flavours danced on my tongue—rich, decadent, and undeniably the best I'd ever tasted.

"Out of ten?" she asked.

"100," I replied, and she burst into laughter, also eating the cake.

I took a sip of the signature coffee, its rich flavour calming my senses and invigorating me.

"What do you think I should get her tomorrow?" she then asked, her brow furrowed in thought. "Fruits? A saree? Ladoos?"

My gaze returned to hers, struck by the sincerity in her eyes. Her attachment to his mother was deeper than I'd thought.

"Anything you feel is right," I said simply, trusting her instincts.

Her face lit up with a warm smile.

"I'd love it if she could visit the restaurant too and bless it," she said. "And if your parents aren't busy, I'd like to pay them a visit at their residence too."

My face lit up. "Certainly! I'll inform Mother. But Father is currently abroad."

"Then I'll visit your mother," she said with a smile.

We finished our dessert and coffee, and I signalled the waiter.

"The bill?" I asked.

"On me," Anita replied.

I raised an eyebrow, but she just smiled.

I laughed and nodded while she settled the bill with cash.

"By the way, have you opened a bank account yet?" I asked.

"Yes, I did," she replied with a smile. "Your friends forced me to."

I chuckled. "So what's your account number?"

"You said what you do isn't a debt, so what's the use of..."

"I asked for the account number, not money," I clarified.

"Fine, Akash. I'll send it to you later," she said tiredly.

I stood up, offering my hand. "Let's go; I'll drop you off."

"10:20 already? How did time fly by without us noticing?" she asked, amazed.

"Because we're good company for each other," I replied, smiling.

Our eyes met, and we shared a gentle laugh. Her hand slipped into mine as we strolled toward the elevator.

"Want to make a quick stop at the beach before I drop you home? Just for a few minutes?" I asked.

She hesitated. "I'm scared of so much water, and it's really late."

"Come on, I'm with you. I'll help you face your fear tonight."

Though her expression remained uncertain, she nodded.

•••••

We arrived at the empty beach under the faint glow of a crescent moon.

The late-night hour covered us like a shroud, and the only sounds heard were the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and the distant hum of crickets.

The beach stretched out before us, a vast expanse of soft, cool sand that squished beneath our feet.

The ground was dotted with scattered shells and seaweed, remnants of the day's tide.

The air was heavy with the salty scent of the ocean and the sweet hint of blooming beach flowers.

Her hand trembled in mine as we stood at the water's edge. The waves rolled in, their foamy crests glowing like spectral fingers in the moonlight. The water's dark surface reflected the star-studded sky above, creating an illusion of infinite depth.

Her face, illuminated by the moon's silvery light, showed a map of fear. Her eyes, usually bright and sparkling, were wide and anxious; her brows furrowed in concern. Her full lips trembled, and her skin became pale against the dark backdrop of the ocean.

As I took a step forward, her grip on my hand tightened. "Let's not go closer, please," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the waves.

I turned to her, concern etched on my face. "Facing your fears is the first step to overcoming them. Come on."

Her voice trembled. "Water kills people, Akash. No, I won't go closer. Let's watch from here."

I gave in because my intention wasn't to scare her but to spend peaceful moments together.

"Okay, we'll stay," I said gently, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

She leaned into me, her gaze fixed on the waves crashing against the shore with relentless force.

"But I hope you know the famous saying that what we're afraid of kills us," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

But her response was a rapid, nervous breath. Her chest rose and fell beneath her clothes, and her eyes remained fixed on the turbulent water.

She turned to me, fear etched across her face. Her eyes pleaded, and her voice trembled. "Let's go, please. I'm suffocating."

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. "Calm down, Anita. Nothing will happen. I'm here. I won't let anything harm you. Besides, I was just joking."

My words seemed to penetrate her panic, and she took a deep breath.

Her body relaxed slightly, leaning into mine more. I stroked her hair gently.

"We'll go, let's go," I whispered, guiding her away from the beach's edge.

After we stepped back, the sound of the waves diminished, replaced by the soothing crunch of sand beneath our feet.

She stared at me, and suddenly she burst into tears, embracing me with a power that took my breath away.

"I love you, Akash!" she mumbled, her voice trembling and barely audible through her sobs.

Time stood still. I wondered if I'd heard her correctly, but the sincerity in her eyes before she hugged me left no doubt.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as she shook. My fingers continuously rubbed her back.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she contended. "Please don't leave me, and don't let me leave you either."

Her sobs intensified.

I knew in that moment that she had truly confessed her love.

I held her tighter, whispering back with joy. "I'm not going anywhere, Anita. I'm here for you, always."

I then gently pulled away, my eyes meeting with hers. Tears continued to stream down her face, and I sensed there was more to them than just her phobia.

"Anita, what is it?" I asked, my voice soft but pressing.

"Father!" she sobbed, her body shuddering.

My jaw clenched. I knew that her fear was linked to that despicable man.

"Tell me," I coaxed. "What happened with your father?"

Her eyes welled up with fresh tears, and she buried her face in her hands. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

"Let it out," I whispered. "I'm here for you."

The beach's waves continued to crash against the shore, but my focus was solely on her.

"People can't breathe in water," she whispered. "I've experienced it. It's suffocating, impossible to breathe. Father... he used to punish me by dunking my head in a bucket of water."She paused and shook her head violently. "No! I don't want to think about it. Take me home, please. Get me out of here."

I nodded, my expression grim, and guided her back to the car. Helping her in, I walked around to the driver's seat, my mind racing with anger.

After I drove away from the beach, I glanced at her again. Her tears had stopped, now replaced by a hollow stare.

My jaw clenched.

I would confront her father personally, even if he is hiding under the earth, and ensure he pays for the trauma he inflicted on her. No one deserved to suffer like that.

The drive to her home was quiet. Her eyes remained fixed on the window, her thoughts a thousand miles away.

I stepped out of the car and opened the door for her, offering a supportive hand.

Seeing her hurt again pierced my heart. I regretted taking her to the beach, which would have spared her from reliving the painful memories.

"Let's go," I said softly, leading her toward her home, our hands intertwined.

As we entered, her mother rose from the living room couch, her face etched with worry. But upon seeing us, her expression transformed into relief.

"Anita, why didn't you answer my calls? I was worried," she said, rushing toward her. "I thought something terrible had happened. Why didn't you tell me you were with Akash?"

Anita's grip on my hand tightened, and I sensed her hesitation.

I intervened. "We went to the beach, Mother," I explained. "Signal was poor, and her phone was on silent mode. We lost track of time."

Her mother eyed us with concern but nodded. "I'm just glad you're safe. Come, sit down, both of you."

"Not now. It is late, and she needs to rest."

She looked at her daughter, then back at me, then nodded.

"I'll take her to her room, then return," she countered, taking her hand from mine.

I watched them disappear upstairs.

Moments later, her mother returned, her expression concerned.

"Why haven't you sat down?" she asked, gesturing to the couch.

I sat down.

"What happened to her, Akash?" She prodded, her eyes searching mine.

I took a deep breath. "The beach... it triggered something," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Memories of her father."

Her face fell, and she sat beside me, her hands clasped together.

"Did she tell you?" she whispered.

I nodded, my jaw clenched. "She did. I'll find him. No matter where he's hiding, I'll make sure he pays for what he's done."

My fists tightened more with rage. "Jail will be the last place he'll end up," I continued, my teeth gritting. "He'll face my wrath first."