Hey guys, I'm finally here with the update I've kept you poor poor souls waiting for, such such a long time! I know that I genuinely do not deserve all the unconditional love and support that you positive people always overflow with, and all the patience you show me... I try in return to put huge huge amounts of effort in my chapters for you guys but because of that (and all the school work I'm struggling with) it takes so long for me to get an update finished!

But I've tried to compensate with this super long chapter! And it's actually , personally, my most favourite chapter I've ever written for this story! It feels like it's my baby! So I'd be so so so unbelievably grateful if you all could comment and let me know what you think? Pretty please ;)

Please Enjoy!!!!! I know you guys will love this one!

...

She grabbed the pillow on his side of the bed, hiding her face in to it as she sobbed. Hearing the cries, Inaaya wandered in to the room. Her little eyes widened in fear, her chachi who she had always seen as strong and poised, never scared of anything, was so broken in front of her. She climbed on to the bed, clambering toward her.

She pulled away the pillow from her face, making Aditi look at her in shock, not wanting Inaaya to see her like this.

"Chachi? Chachi aap roh rahi hu?" Inaaya kneeled on her lap, frowning in worry. She used her thumb to wipe away the tears on her cheeks slowly, making Aditi weep louder.

"Chachu aap ke saath naraz hogaya?" Inaaya asked with a cute angry face, hugging Aditi as tight as her tiny hands could, "agar chachu aapko choot pauchaya hai mein usse kabhi nahi baat karegi..."

Aditi cracked a small smile seeing her inaaya's concern, she kissed her hair, shaking her head, "Nahi chachu ki galati nahi hai... meri galati hai inaayu..."

Zain's heart shattered, seeing her in so much pain, he watched her from the doorway.

"I made a big mistake Inaayu baby..." She cried, hugging Inaaya tightly to her chest, desperately. She rested her head on to Inaaya's shoulder as she sobbed louder.

"Koi baat nahi chachi... mein hu na... mein sab teek kardungi...." Inaaya stroked Aditi's hair, adorably trying to console her, Aditi chuckled lightly seeing how loving inaaya was.

Zain wiped away the tears coming from his eyes, flinching seeing her broken state, She was crying because of him, he felt like such a jerk. First he couldn't protect her, and now he made cry.

Aditi fell asleep with Inaaya in her arms, who sat patiently, playing with her hair. Zain was still watching Aditi protectively, Inaaya climbed off Aditi carefully and looked over at Zain who she spotted in the doorway.

She kisses Aditi's cheek before running to him.

Zain looked down in confusion where she was tugging at his jeans, he forced a smile and scooped her in to his arms. Inaaya cupped his face with her tiny hands.

"Chachu kya hua?" She asked innocently, making his heart ache.

He shook his head, grinning as widely as he could, "Kuch nahi Baccha..."

"Then why are you sad?" She questioned, and he glanced at Aditi wistfully,.

He sighed shakily, his heart wrenching, " I don't like seeing your chachi cry..."

Inaaya pulled a confused face as she contemplated his heart-breaking expression.

"You love her a lot na chachu?" Zain smiled at her adorable statement, tucking her hair behind her ear.

He nodded sadly, "Haan, bahut bahut..."

"Then why are you sad chachu? Isn't love a happy thing?" She questioned naively, furrowing her brows.

Zain thought for a while, how to explain this to a small child, how much he loved Adi, how much it pained him to see her upset.

"Nahi baccha... love is a divine thing... sacred, pyaar bohot shiddat se karna chaiye" He thought how to phrase himself properly as she looked at him puzzled, "like how we pray... very religiously, devoutly na? Vese... "

"so when your chachi is happy... I'm the happiest. But when your chachi is hurt, mujhe bhi bohot dukh hota hai... tumhari chachi se bhi zyaada"

"It's okay Chachu... don't be sad..." Inaayu got teary, as if she understood the power of his love. She whispered, kissing his cheek, "I gave her a kissie from you..."

Zain chuckled remembering seeing her kiss Aditi, he patted her cheek, "Thank you inaayu baby..."

"Chachuuuuu?" Inaaya asked with a cheeky smile, making him raise his eyebrows amusingly to ask what, "jab mein badi ho jaungi koi mujhe bhi aisa pyaar karenga?"

He frowned childishly, the protective uncle inside of him coming out as he kissed her forehead, "mein hu na... mein tumse bhi aise hi pyaar kartha hu, your chachu would do anything for you... koi aur kyu chaiye huh?"

"I love you chachuu " She pecked his nose making him chuckle heartily.

"I love you too meri guddi..." he murmured, beaming at her as he rocked her in his arms. He wondered how their own little baby girl would be like, a little replica of his Adi.

"And I love chachi!" Inaaya exclaimed, as if guilty she forgot.

"Me too!" He grinned making Inaaya giggle, then yawn, "ab aao, sau jao..."

...

He laid inaaya beside Aditi, and then sat beside Aditi, perching on the side of the bed.

He brushed away the hair that had stuck to her tear stained cheeks. He tried to braid her hair, tying it with a hairband he found on the beside table. He cried softly, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

He took Aditi in to his arms and laid her in bed properly, tucking her in to the blanket. She held on to his arm in her sleep, sulking adorably, he pulled away, kissing her forehead. And she smiled in content in her sleep, hurting his heart.

He took the pillow and walked over to the couch, lying down facing the ceiling.

He looked over at her, promising to protect her dignity, her respect, promising to stand as a shield between her and anything that threatened her.

But he was angry, that she didn't trust him with everything. That she would hide something so big from him, that she would risk her own safety like that, when she knew she meant everything to him. That he couldn't live without her.

He rubs the tears of his face, failing to sleep, just lying there, looking over at her.

...

"Zain uto na jaanu..." He stirred feeling her sweet whisper in to his ear, he woke up slowly seeing her looking at him pleadingly.

He sat up, facing away from her. He got up without looking at her, knowing he would melt at the sight of her red eyes, storming in to the washroom.

She bit her lip to hold back her tears, making her way silently in to the kitchen. She laid breakfast on the table for his family and Abhi, who all arrived warily, after hearing the yelling from their bedroom the night before.

"Aloo paratha guys!!!!" Aditi yelled gleefully, though her voice was strained in sadness.

"aur yaha chocolate milk bhi hai aap ke liye inaayu baby!" Aditi picked Inaaya up and placed her in her special chair.

She hugged his mother from behind, with her bright smile, contagious enough to make everyone else happy, "good morning Ammi, good morning papa..."

They grinned back at her, his ammi kissing her cheek and his papa blessing her. Zain stood in the corner of the room, watching in awe at how lovingly she was looking after his family.

"Bus 2? Come on Abhi I know how much you love my aloo parathas" She joked, piling more on to Abhi's plate. Abhi looked up at her and she was shocked to see his tear filled eyes.

She raised her eyebrows, as if asking what, and Abhi leaned in to her ear, whispering guiltily, "I'm so sorry Adu... that I told him... It's all my fault that you two are fighting..."

"Awww Abhi..." her heart ached seeing the poor guy. She hugged him from around the back of his neck, squeezing him tightly and affectionately as she whispered back with a smile, "you didn't do anything wrong... you were only trying to help"

She ruffled and kissed his hair, making him smile again, "Thank you for looking out for me..."

"Always bhabhi..." He ripped a piece of the paratha and held it out to feed her, "ab thodi khao na..."

She held his hand to stop him, shaking her head causing him to sigh.

"Aaj karwa chauth hai na?" She whispered back to him, making a huge grin break out on to his face.

She looked over at Zain who hadn't moved his eyes away from her for a second, as if worried something would happen to her if he blinked.

"Zain kuch khaoghi nahi?" She asked tearfully, watching him in concern, her eyes begging him to stop blocking her out.

"I'm not hungry." He replied bluntly, making her wince at the coldness of his tone. She didn't realise the real reason why he wasn't eating, "And we have to leave in a few minutes for the segment, get ready soon."

She nodded dejectedly, turning away to wipe away a tear, which his ammi sees and tries to convince him, "Beta mein thoda serve karthi hu... it's not nice to leave on a empty stomach..."

"Nahi Ammi, mujhe bhook nahi lag raha hai... Aditi ke liye serve kar lijiye aap..." He murmured quietly before walking to the corner of the room as he received a call.

Aditi smiled slightly, spotting him glance back at her to check whether she was eating, seeing how he cared for her even though he was angry. His ammi tried to feed her but she politely refused, going in to their room to get ready.

....

"Wow Chachi! You look so beautiful! Bilkhul ek pari ki tarah!" Inaaya almost jumped out of her seat in excitement as Aditi came out of the room, causing everybody to look around at her.

His jaw dropped open in shock, she was wearing a gold and red off shoulder blouse and a red shimmery saree that clung to each and every one of her curves. His heart was racing in his chest, she knew he went flat seeing her in a red saree, it was his absolute favourite. Oh god, his hormones wished to rip that saree off her and have his way with her.

She laughed at Inaaya's comment, brushing her hair out of her face, and he fell in love with her again a hundred times in that second. The way her kohl lined eyes creased in laughter, her melodic giggle, the gentle clicks of her bangles adorning her soft wrists, her smile... he couldn't believe his luck that he had her in his life.

"Kisi ki nazar na lage meri bachi ko..." His Ammi blessed her, making her smile. She comes and stands next to him, ready to leave.

"Chale?" She beamed at him in the way he couldn't refuse, so adorable that his heart fluttered in his chest and he almost melted instantly.

He nodded stiffly, opening the door for her. She shakes her head, knowing when it came to a fight about her safety, he was a tough nut to crack.

He didn't say anything about her saree, he didn't compliment her or steal kisses like he usually did.

But when they were walking down the street, and whenever men or groups of men would walk past, he wordlessly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her protectively in to his side. A hand resting on her exposed lower back possessively.

Or when he stopped at a food stand on the way, and he indicated towards it asking quietly whether she wanted something, knowing she skipped breakfast. Just those actions meant a million times more than any words.

...

They were on a livestream doing a segment with a reporter they hadn't worked with before. The fans could clearly see something was wrong between them, he wouldn't even glance at her, although she would try to get a response from him, and his mood seemed off as he read the fan's messages.

Aditi also seemed hesitant and wary, which he hadn't noticed. The reporter made her feel uncomfortable, staring at her from behind the camera inappropriately. She didn't know what to do about it, she didn't want to confront him on a livestream where they couldn't edit out footage, and she didn't feel like she could tell Zain when he was so angry.

Aditi was taking a long time opening this package and there were many left, the reporter smirked, "Sir, maam, I'll come over there and help you unpack some..."

Zain nodded at him politely, and so he came and perched on the chair that was very close beside the bed Aditi and Zain were sitting on. She shrunk in her seat a bit in discomfort.

The reporter found excuses to inch closer, as he unpacked the boxes, and she just smiled as kindly as she could, ignoring it. She took out a t-shirt that a fan had gifted her and the reporter commented lewdly, "Arrey waah... that will look great... dikhao apne fans ko..."

She held the top against herself to show them, her hand shaking in as she saw the reporter using this as an excuse to stare at her. He reached out as if pointing out something to the fans but she felt his fingers brush against her stomach where the saree exposed her skin. She almost jumped up in fear.

She instinctively gripped to the fabric of Zain's shirt on his arm, it was a very subtle action but he looked up at her immediately. He asked her what through the raise of his eyebrows, a moment the fans could clearly see on camera. She clutched on to his shirt tighter, glancing over at the reporter and he understood everything in an instant.

He smiled for the camera but stood up, "come on bhai, I'll help you unpack these quicker..."

He sat in-between Aditi and the reporter, protectively sheltering her with his body. His hand moved to her thigh, stroking her possessively till she calmed down. The fans recognised what exchange was going on between them and they went crazy in happiness.

"Oh aditi maam this is for you, " The reporter exclaimed, using this as an excuse to pass the package straight to her, and touch her hand.

Zain turned around to face the reporter, blocking his view of Aditi, 'Oh let me have a look..."

He gave the reporter a stern glance as he took the package, asserting exactly what he wanted to say, that he'd better not set his eyes on his girlfriend ever again. And the reporter sat silently, and behaved properly till the segment finished.

For the rest of the segment, Zain still wasn't talking to her properly. Yet he delicately and subtly traced patterns on her stomach where the reporter had touched her while he opened the other gifts, as if he was erasing his touch and comforting her.

When he got an opportunity, he leaned in towards her, pretending as if he was chucking a wrapper behind her. He rested his lips just above her ear, whispering to her with concern in his voice although it was short and blunt, "You okay?"

She couldn't help the shy blushing smile that spread across her face as she nodded, because there was one thing she knew, no matter how angry he was, he would always protect her, and take care of her. However much his anger saddened her, and broke her heart, she could see how much love it was coming from.

...

"Zain mujhe yaha mandir ki samne chod denga?" Aditi asked patiently, looking at him warily. His heart panicked at the thought of leaving somewhere by herself.

"But-" He started reluctantly

"It's okay my friend Shruthi will join me here..." Aditi started opening the car door decisively, "And we will both come back together by cab, you go back home..."

He watched vigilantly until he was sure that someone had joined Aditi.

...

She came back from the temple with her friend after participating in the rituals of Karwa chauth and praying for him. And there he was, he hadn't gone back home, he had been waiting outside for her, not moving for almost 3 hours now.

"I told you so Adu..." Sruthi smirked at her cheekily, making her blush furiously, "I knew your overprotective boyfriend wasn't going to let you come home by cab or be in an unknown place without him..."

Aditi opened the car, looking at him in question, he averted his eyes still maintaining his temper, "I didn't have any other work... I thought I'd just wait. Ask your friend to come too, we'll drop her on the way..."

She nodded with a knowing smile, asking her friend to join them.

...

On route to their house, she become dizzy for just a few seconds, holding her head to steady herself. It didn't worry her, she knew it was just a little weakness from not eating since morning and then being in the heat. But Zain freaked out as soon as he saw it, nothing was a small deal when it came to her.

He pulled up and parked immediately at the side, unbuckling both of their seatbelts. He leaned over and caressed her forehead softly, patting away the sweat lovingly, panicking, "Chakkar aa rahi hai tumhe?"

She shook her head no, but he refused to listen. He got out of the car and opened her door, holding her arm and pulling her out. He makes her sit on the bench in front of a food stand, muttering grumpily, "I tell you not to skip meals but you never listen to me...'

He buys her food, getting impatient with the vendor when he took to long, "Usko ko chakkar aa rahi hai... can't you see? Jaldi karo..."

He gets the food and kneels in front of her and placing the food on the bench beside her, frowning as he quickly ripped the paratha, dipping it in to the curry to feed it to her, holding it against her lips, "kuch khao come on..."

"Mujhe nahi chaiye..." She turned her face away from him like a small child, making him sigh in frustration.

"I have told you many times Aditi... I don't want you fasting for me on karva chauth, I have no interest in a long life that comes at risk of your health, okay?" He snapped crossly, glaring at her sternly.

Her mouth parts in utter surprise, she hadn't told him anything and nobody else had realised it was karva chauth, she even had to remind Abhi. It wasn't even a custom his family followed, "par tumhe kaise pata-"

"I'm not blind... you think I don't know whats that's going on in your mind? You can't hide anything from me..." Her heart wallows in guilt seeing how deeply hurt he really was by her hiding what had happened with her ex.

"Ab khao..." He commands her strictly, but she still refuses.

"Nahi. I want to fast for you Zain, please Zain... I really want to do this... it means a lot to me..." She pouts adorably, making it hard for him to refuse.

"No aditi-"

"I will cry..." She threatened him with his biggest weakness, her tears, as soon as her face crumpled like a child his resolve broke.

"Ok fine. As you wish." He accepted in a split second, never able to stand her tears. He rolled his eyes irritably, still mad at her carelessness, "If you don't want to listen to me then fine, anyway you don't come to me when you have a problem... I guess I have no right to say anything."

She sighed seeing how crushed he really was, it would take a long time to convince him this time.

...

The unthinkable had happened. Despite all the effort Zain had been taking to locate her ex, who seemed to have fled, and contact his friends that work in cyber fields to prevent this and delete it without telling Aditi... Her ex had posted the photos. On his Instagram, for the world to see, her reputation in shreds.

@Khurrana_Karthik- look at how smoking hot my girl looks... Here's exclusive photos for your viewing pleasure 😂

She was numb as emotionless as Nupur hugged her, Nalini made her drink some water but she was shivering badly unable to respond properly in trauma. His ammi also sat beside her squeezing her hand. Zain's papa sat with inaaya to stop her from questioning everything, and gulfam, Jahaan, Abhi, yusuf and Zaan had all arrived at his apartment.

He was standing at a distance, wiping away his tears seeing her in this state. He was volatile, fuming with anger. He was pacing around as he roared profanities across the phone, in violent anger at nobody being quick enough to get this taken down.

She whimpered quietly, "Zain..."

His head snapped around immediately, somehow hearing her over all his yelling. He shatters seeing her lower lip wobble, like she's about to burst in to tears and rushes to her side in a second.

Everyone else moves to let him sit on the bed beside her, he scoops her in to his lap with a horrified frown. He cradled her in his arms like a baby, she buried her face in his chest, breaking out in to bitter sobs, "Zain please..."

"Adi... I'm here... shhh..." She was sat in-between his legs, curling in to him, burrowing her face in to his chest and clutching to his torso, "shhh baby... don't cry..."

"I promise Zain... I didn't know he had taken any of these pictures, I didn't mean to-" She panicked in a frenzy, clenching his shirt on his back as she hugged him tighter.

His eyes filled with tears, his heart shattering seeing her so broken, he kissed her hair, resting his lips against her scalp, "Why are you explaining? You don't have to say anything..."

She weeped, trembling, "I'm so sorry Zain... I shouldn't have hidden it from you-"

"Hey... come on now..." He cupped her face, slowly wiping away her tears with his thumb. He smiled at her softly, kissing her forehead, "you don't have to apologise to your Zain..."

"But-" She looks at him in confusion, thinking back to how angry he had been since morning. But he would never stay angry at her when she needed him the most. Her eyes watered with innocent guilt, crushing him.

"Hey... hey don't get upset... it's okay..." He whispered to her softly, tracing patterns on her thigh, "just never scare me like that again... okay?"

She nodded, throwing her arms around his neck and almost jumping on top of him. He catches her by the waist to steady her, as she buried her head in to his neck, crying sorely, as if finally being able to tell Zain what she was feeling, "Mujhe bohot darr lag rahi hai Zain..."

"No baby... no... look" He pulled away to see her face, he kissed both her temples gently, cheering her up, "Look I've kissed all your bad thoughts away... okay?"

"Now you don't have to worry about anything..." He massaged her lower back soothingly, until she calmed down, "mein hu na... mein sab kuch teek kar dunga... I promise..."

"Lekin-"

"Lekin nothing... now sleep... I'm here to take care of it..." She tried to protest but he sternly shook his head, making her smile slightly but the fear hadn't gone.

He laid her in his lap, stroking her hair, but she couldn't sleep like this.

Aditi POV

I pulled him to lay down on to the bed beside me, so I could cuddle up to him. He glanced up, and I realised our surroundings, with everyone watching. But he didn't care, I knew he'd do anything to make me comfortable.

I could feel how tense his muscles were as I laid against his chest, how worried he was, I knew he was lying down purely to give me comfort. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't sleep, when he could feel the wetness of my tears on his sweatshirt.

He turned in to me, holding me tightly, gripping to my middle with one arm, and the other gently caressing my hair. I snuggled in to him, closing my eyes, wanting to be even closer and more nestled in to him.

He turned even more, as if he could read my mind, so I could wrap my leg around his waist. I finally felt safe. And I didn't have to say anything, he knew exactly what I needed.

Something about his comfort made me upset again, fearing I would somehow lose this, that he wouldn't want me with a tainted respect.

"Zain..." I sobbed bitterly, clutching his shirt. He smelled like home, and I needed him.

"Shhh... I'm here..." He kisses my hair, and buries his face in the nook of my neck. He lingers there, tears falling down his cheeks, god I hated making him upset over me. I knew it hurt him a million times more yet I was selfish and cried, knowing that he hates it when I cry.

"It's all over..." Zain whispers into my ear softly, kissing me again. I melt away in his embrace, crying harder, almost in relief, "Slowly this will get easier... I will make it easier... And nobody will ever dare to hurt you again. I promise."

I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly, he bundles me in to his chest and pats my hair gently, putting me to sleep. But he was shaking, crying silently.

I was shivering, even in his warmth, I clung to his sweatshirt in my fists, trying to keep him as close as possible, "He's ruined me Zain... he's ruined everything..."

He took off his sweatshirt, and wrapped me in it carefully, delicately. He was so gentle that I wanted to cry more, he didn't deserve something so broken, like me.

He pecked my lips tenderly, "When I'm here nothing can even touch your respect... I will always make sure of that Adi... okay? And I don't give a shit what anybody else has to say. I will always be with you. "

I scrubbed at my body with my fist, trying to get the filth of me. The disgust I felt when remembering that monsters hands on my body.

He sighed softly, and I knew that he had understood exactly what I was doing. He gripped my hand gently and brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles, "It doesn't matter baba... just forget about him..."

I nodded slowly, and he stroked and caressed my body carefully, making me forget that beast's touch. He knew me so well.

He flinched when my hands traced over his bicep, I tried to pull up his half-sleeve to see what was wrong but he stopped me.

I realised what had happened, everything came back to me. When the photo first came out, even in that numb state I remember seeing him disappear in to the room around the corner, and now the loud clashing noises had made sense. He was taking out his anger on himself, throwing things and punching things, so that I wouldn't see his pain.

"Oh Zain-" I sighed as I tried to grab his hand, but he stopped me again.

He tucked my hair behind my ear nimbly, and he smiled down at me with so much love in his eyes that I went weak. It was in that charming way that made me forget about all my pain, and made butterflies dance in my stomach.

"It's nothing... it's okay baby..." My lips quivered as I was on the verge of crying again, in guilt.

I saw his face fall in torment.

He laughed gently, as if trying to cheer me up, as he peppered kisses all over my face, "aww my baby cries at the silliest things... don't do that to me... you know I hate it..."

"I'm fine... I swear...come on now... lets get you to sleep my love..." He propped himself slightly, whispering all those sweet nothing he knew would make me giggle. He pulled me closer, my head rested on his chest and I hugged his stomach as he petted my hair.

A tear rolled down my face as I leaned up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck to peck his cheek. I reached up to his ear, kissing the helix of his ear before whispering, "thank you Zain... for everything..."

His eyes closed in emotion, tears spilling down his face and I could see his heart breaking. He pressed a kiss on my forehead, and shook his head, "I should have protected you... I shouldn't have let this happen..."

I shook my head in to his chest, to try and say no, I wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault but words were failing me, my eyes closing in exhaustion, i tried to murmur, "No Zain-"

"It's fine... shh... sleep now..."I felt myself slipping in to sleep, burying in to him. I could hear him faintly mumble in to my hair as my breathing deepened, "I'll fix this... I fix it..."

End POV

She finally fell asleep, and Zain looked up at their family and friends who were all watching them in absolute awe. He nodded at them, assuring them that she was asleep and okay now. They nodded back with teary eyes.

...

"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU BLOODY BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU COMPROMISE WITH MY GIRLFRIEND'S RESPECT!" He bellowed, his fist was bloody from bashing Karthik's nose, he held him by the collar, his eyes were bloodshot.

The fury unleashed a side of Zain nobody had seen before, he was murderous, if someone didn't stop him, there was no doubt he was capable of killing this man.

"ADITI IS MINE! I'll do whatever I want." Karthik didn't back down, challenging him further. Zain's jaw clenched, his teeth gritting dangerously.

"DON'T TAKE HER NAME FROM YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!" Zain bashed his jaw with a blow to the mouth, sending blood pouring down his chin. Karthik hit him back, gutting his stomach, making him stumble.

"Zain! Please-" Aditi cried out, fearful tears staining her cheeks as she rushed towards them.

"Oh Aditi... my darling..." Karthik said in his menacing voice, smirking, stepping closer to her.

Zain tensed immediately in panic, grabbing her hand to pull her to hide her behind his back. He held his arm out in front of her protectively, his eyes blazing in rage, as he pointed at him threateningly, "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE! She is not going near you ever again!"

"Mr Imam... just wait and see..." Karthik grinned sadistically, making a chill do down Aditi's spine, "I'll get my hands on her sexy body again... and when I do, I swear to god-"

"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT! SHE IS MY GIRLFRIEND GOD DAMMIT!" He repeatedly struck Karthik across the face, beating him ruthlessly. Blood oozed down his face, and he looked like he would almost fall unconscious.

"Zain stop it! Zain you're going to kill him!" Aditi desperately weeped, trying to hold on to his shoulder to get his attention, "Abhi please... stop him..."

Karthik chuckled, holding his stomach where he had been hit, "Look she still loves me... come on Mr Imam give her back to me!"

"SHE IS NOT SOME FUCKING TOY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT!?" He showed no mercy, grabbing him by the neck, "MY GIRLFRIEND CRIES HERSELF TO SLEEP! SHE SUFFERS NIGHTMARES AND PANIC ATTACKS BECAUSE OF YOU! Can you imagine how it feels to have those innocent eyes look at you, filled with tears, knowing that you failed to protect her!? Huh? YOU WOULDN'T, YOU FUCKING MONSTER!"

He strangles Karthik so tightly that it was physically visible that he was struggling to breath. Abhi grabs Zain quickly, trying to restrain him from genuinely slaughtering this man, "Zain come on man... calm down..."

"HOW?!" Zain yells, his hands still tightly balled in to fists, his knuckles torn, "I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE GET AWAY WITH HURTING ADI LIKE THAT!"

Aditi shook seeing Zain so violent, she never wanted to see him in such a state because of her stupid past. She had destroyed him, she hated it.

Karthik took deep staggering breaths to try and normalise himself, wiping the blood of his face as he laughed intimidatingly, "I'm going to take her away from you Zain Imam...."

Zain faltered for a second.

He went still, his eyes softening in pure terror as he glanced at Aditi. It was his worst nightmare, his biggest fear. His heart skipped a beat, before he regained himself.

His voice was deathly silent, roaring aggressively as he broke out of Abhi's grasp. He almost pounced at Karthik animalistically, "Over my dead body... over my dead body will you ever make her cry again!"

Aditi did the only thing she thought she could do to stop him, standing in-between him and Karthik. He stopped still immediately, he could never harm her even in blinding anger.

Abhi dragged karthik outside, where the police had already been called and Aditi ran to Zain.

"Zain stop please..." She begged him, her eyes full of those precious tears as she hugged his waist, "You're going to kill him..."

"I don't care. He should be fucking dead." Zain spat out in pure, violent hatred.

"I don't care about him either. But you will land in prison. And I can't have that. Zain look at me..." Zain finally met eyes with her, and his muscles relaxed slightly as she stroked his chest.

It felt like a punch to her gut to see all the anger in his eyes disappear, and finally reveal the small vulnerable boy underneath. Who was so broken and terrified that her heart wrenched.

She arched in to him longingly, with a shaky sigh as a tear spilled from her eyes, "You can't kill him... I need you..."

She cupped his face, leaning her forehead against his and breathing deeply. He copied her, trying to control himself, crying silently like small child, exhausted from hiding his pain under anger, "Abhi has called the police and we never have to think about him again okay?"

"Are you still scared? Are you going to be okay?" He croaked, his throat stinging with the tears he didn't let out. She ached seeing him sniff like a small child, his eyes fragile, fearful and innocent.

She just winced slightly as he accidentally pressed the old wound on her stomach and he immediately moved his hand to caress her there. She grinned at his care, lifting and kissing the hand he caressed her with, "Tum hai na? Kyu Dharu?"

"Aur Bahar dhekho Zain!" She kissed his forehead, ruffling his hair, "Chaand agaya! Aur mujhe bohot bhook lagi hai!"

He smiled at her antics, he lifted off her feet, his hands wound tightly around her waist. He spun her around making her giddy in joy and giggling in his favourite way.

"Ab aao... khilathe hai meri bhukkad ko..." He kisses her nose, chuckling. He doesn't put her down, she wraps her legs around his waist with a grin. He carries into the house laughing.

...

He beams at her widely, his eyes watering as she does his aarti and the moon. She looks at the moon and then him. He makes her drink water, and feeds her a little of the sweet.

She licks her lips in excitement of finally eating, and he chuckled at her childishness. She looked stunning, her eyes lit up in happiness and purity and her skin shining like the moonlight itself.

"Thank you for staying hungry for me baby..." She blushed furiously, as he smirked, her blush was his favourite thing on the planet.

"Tumhari smile kitni kaatil hai yaar..." He mumbled as he pulled her in to him by her waist and crashed his lips against hers, devouring her. She didn't respond so he gently pinched her waist, to elict a reaction from her. She gasped softly, but she still didn't respond.

He realised something was wrong and moved away, looking at her in concern, "Kya soch rahi hu?"

"I was just- i was just wondering... this is a hindu festival and I've made you- I just-" She fumbled nervously, making him sigh, "i was just wondering if religion will get in the way of us?"

"Never!" He exclaimed, surprised that such thoughts cross her over-panicky mind. He cupped her face, looking determinedly in to her eyes.

"I have found God in you. And nothing else matters." He whispers lovingly, his eyes reflecting his devotion. She smiles softly, happy tears brimming in her eyes.

"Now let me worship you..." He teased, his hands sliding up under her shirt as naughty thoughts crossed his mind. He rubbed his nose against her cheek needily, as if begging her to kiss him.

"Badmash... chodo... you're not going to fool me like that..." She reprimanded him playfully. She bit his ear lobe cutely, just turning him on more.

"Adi we might have a big problem..." He said quietly, biting his tongue adorably like a schoolchild about to get in to trouble.

"What have you done now Imam sahab..." She warned him with widened eyes, scaring him as he looked to the ground obediently. No wonder he had thought she would make a good headmistress.

He handed over his phone to her, opened on her ex's dreaded Instagram post, but all she could see everywhere was the word ADIZA.

She looked up at him angrily, and he looked at her innocently, like a deer caught in headlights. He was no more than a child, writing an extremely snarky comment to Karthik, after beating him up.

(@Khurrana_Karthik- look at how smoking hot my girl looks... Here's exclusive photos for your viewing pleasure 😂)

Reply-

@Zainimam_official- She may be smoking hot but she isn't yours. And I've dealt with you because only I have a right on this pleasure. You can fuck off. No one is going to hurt her respect.

"Oh my God Zain! Besharam... what are you made off? What went in to your head when you were writing this!" She tried to stay angry at him but she really just wanted to burst in to laughter. His comment was the perfect thing to shut her ex straight up and the fandom were having the best day, in disbelief at his possesiveness and perfect reply.

"Are you mad! Your manager will kill you!" She let a laugh escape, making him grin.

"It's okay... the post will be permanently removed by the police anyway... and any copies of those photos..."

"Yes Zain but not the bloody uproar you've created! Now our relationship being secret is off the table..." She yelled, he just smirked, kissing her gently.

"Who cares..." He murmured against her lips, as he tugged her in to deeper kiss.

...

When she stirred and woke up in the middle in the night, he wasn't next to her. She frowned in confusion, as she sat up. She picked up his sweatshirt from the floor beside the bed and slipped it on before getting out of bed.

She wonders through the house and sees the light on in the kitchen. She sneaks in quietly, and her eyes tear up in awe as she sees him sit at the dining table. He'd tucked a napkin in to his shirt like a child, and he had chocolate smeared across his chin from pigging out on all the deserts he had on the table.

She came and stood infront of him, crossing her arms over her chest, clearing her throat, "Excuse me, imam saab... itni dher raat mein khon chocolates khata hai?"

He looked at her in shock, even more adorable as he tried to quickly lick away the chocolate on his face, with guilty expression.

He pouted like a baby, batting his eyelashes and utilising his big puppy dog eyes, "pleaseeeeee adi... I'm so so so hungry..."

She stared at him dissaprovingly and then finally something clocked in her mind. She gasped in surprise before rushing to his side.

She sat beside him, cupping his face to turn him toward her. She bit her lip so she didn't cry again, but he could see how emotional she was.

"You were fasting for me... weren't you?" She whispered in awe, a tear rolling down her cheek.

He wiped it quickly, smiling charmingly, "Aditi come on... what's the point in a long life without you huh? Tum tho meri sab kuch hai na?"

"Even when you were telling me to stop fasting... you were fasting for me... Why didn't you tell me? You didn't break your fast when the moon came out? Why did you starve yourself for so many hours even after my fast?" She told him off, looking worried as she lightly rubbed his chest.

"So you have an even longer healthier life than me..." He whispered lovingly, grinning cheekily, making her shake her head with a smile at his cute, silly antics.

"Don't say that..." She scolded him gently, taking the napkin from his shirt. She dabbed his mouth clean, wiping his lip. He admired her behave exactly like a strict wife, making him fall in love with her even more.

She served aloo parathas, and sat beside him. She furrowed her eyebrows in concern, "Eat some proper food... not all these sugary things..."

He pulled a childish disgusted face, "no... i only want sweets..."

She ripped a bit of paratha and held it against his lips to feed him, "Come on jaanu... thoda sa khao lo... I'm feeding you na?"

He shook his head stubbornly, she rolls her eyes with an affectionate smile, "Okay lets make a deal... you have 5 mouthfuls and I will listen to you..."

His eyes lit up, and opens his mouth obediently. She laughed and fed him carefully.

"Okay I ate it..." He claimed in excitement, so innocently that she couldn't resist kissing his cheek.

"Ab kya chaiye tumhe?" She asked raising her eyebrow. He smirked, his hands tracing her hips sensually making her shudder.

He buried his face in the nape of her neck, he pressed wet kisses from the nape of her neck to her collarbone and finally to the top of cleavage. She moaned breathlessly, fisting his shirt in need.

"Now I want to eat you..." He murmured in to her ear, before kissing her, parched with desire. She arched in to his arms, craving him.

...

Don't forget to comment and vote! I would so appreciate your feedback, positive or negative! I just want to know that there are people out there that are enjoying all the effort I'm putting in to this story!

All my love

xxx