Page 47 of Since You Stole My Heart

The room seemed to shrink around them. She briefly closed her eyes as the heat of the memory flashed through her.

For years, she had perfected the art of laughing things off with Swayam, swatting away his teasing remarks with eye rolls and sarcastic comebacks. Humour had always been her safest shield with him. But the kiss last night had changed something, and she needed to patch it up quickly.

‘How about you make up for it by giving back my pendant?’ she asked, forcing a casual tone.

‘No. I won it fair and square. And you should know that’s not the last thing I plan to steal. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ he said with a cheeky smile.

Kashvi played with the collar of his T-shirt. ‘Swayam, we want different things in life. You already know that I never want to get married, and if you’re suggesting something like this… you should know it may not last.’

Swayam looked away, and she hoped that might be enough to make him step away.

But then he looked back at her and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. ‘I know, and I understand that. But I’m still choosing it because what I feel doesn’t disappear just because it might not last forever.’

‘Do you realise you’re saying dangerous things?’ she asked, trembling beneath his touch.

A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. ‘I’ve been thinking dangerous things about you for a long time.’

No longer able to pretend the line between them was as clear as she had wanted it to be, Kashvi said, ‘My birthday is in two days, which means we’re talking about getting married tomorrow, Swayam. Tomorrow! Did you wake up this morning thinking you’d just decide to get married?’

She searched his face for any sign that he understood how absurd and impossible that sounded, but he held her gaze without flinching. ‘No, I didn’t wake up today knowing I’d get the chance to marry you, but I’ve known for a long time that I see you in my future. The rest of it, the how, the when, and the way it happens… that’s something you get to decide for us.’

Before she could argue, Swayam went on. ‘I told myself that if I ever got the chance to kiss you, I’d probably ruin our friendship by refusing to stop. I’ve wanted you for years, Kash. I’m done hiding that you’re who I want to be with.’

Kashvi gasped. The blunt honesty of his confession made her stomach flip. ‘You never…’ she trailed off.

Swayam gave a faint, reluctant smile. ‘I would have done this differently if I’d had more time. I would have asked you out, annoyed you into saying yes, built a happy life together, andif one day you decided you wanted more, then we would have figured that out too. But that’s not the hand we were dealt, so this is the way it has to be.’

‘And if I say no?’ she asked past the lump in her throat.

His jaw tightened. ‘Then I’ll respect that, but it won’t change the fact that just thinking about you standing next to someone else, sharing his name with yours, and letting him be the one who gets to hold you close like this breaks my heart.’

For the first time since she started arguing, she could not find a single word strong enough to push him away. The fight drained out of Kashvi, and she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his shoulder.

Swayam played with her hair as he said, ‘I know this is a mess you never thought you’d be in, but you’re not alone in this. I’m right here, willing to stand in the middle of this storm, holding your hand. You just have to say yes, baby.’

‘You deserve someone who knows what they want, someone who will choose a life with you without hesitation, and I’m not that person, Swayam.’

‘What I deserve or don’t deserve, I want it only from you. I’m asking you to trust that what I feel for you is real. You like me enough to want to kiss me, so I know it’s not one-sided. All I can ask is that you choose me, and if I fail at making you happy, I won’t stop you from walking away. No questions, no guilt, I promise.’

‘Then why do this at all?’ she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Swayam wrapped his arms around her, lowering his forehead to rest against hers. ‘Because I want to be with you, and if this is the only way I get that chance, I’ll take it. I’m not asking you for forever, just a yes for now.’

Her heart pounded against her ribs, and the intimate way he held her overwhelmed her, blurring her thoughts. Her mind screamed at her to step back, to hold onto the solitary life she had planned, but it was fading fast.

All she could do was hold onto the fragile hope echoing in his words.

Kashvi pulled back, holding his gaze as she said, ‘Yes.’

Swayam went still for a moment. Disbelief shone in his eyes, then something akin to joy settled over his expression. He lifted his hand to tuck a strand of hair away from her face before leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Kashvi closed her eyes at the contact and held onto him for a moment longer before stepping back. She brushed her fingers through her hair as she tried to gather her thoughts. Swayam took her hand in his, and they walked out of the room.

When they stepped out, everyone turned towards them almost in unison. Siya’s gaze locked onto them, sharp and searching.

Kashvi took a deep breath, and with a racing heart, declared, ‘We’re getting married tomorrow.’

Chapter 10