because many wanted more, here is a collection of snippets from shaurya's and sitara's future.

one last time.

thank you for keeping this story close to your heart. stay magical <3

⋆ —————— sitara ⋮ ⋆

"So, I told you about Anna right? The trainee who takes care of the stock in London?" I asked him.

"Yeah, you mentioned. What about her?" Shaurya asked, reaching to his side table to pick up a glass of water. I could see his familiar bed through the screen and a pang of longing to be with him hit my chest.

"Well, you know, she has a boyfriend," I said, looking down and picking at the loose thread in my sweater.

"And?"

"He calls her baby everytime he comes to pick her up and it's so cute. Her face just lights up like fireworks when he does that. It's so nice," I mumbled. There was a slice of silence that cut through the conversation. Then I looked up at him.

"No, nah, I am not doing it," Shaurya shook his head very firmly.

"Please, Shaurya. Just once," I said, morphing my expression into the cutest and saddest.

He shut his eyes. "No, Sitar. It's so... not me."

"Please. You can add five more kisses to the list," I said, wishing I was beside him so that I could pester him more into giving in. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"Sitara, baby, I hate you," He said and then opened his eyes. Whatever assumptions I had about it being romantic shattered into dust. I hoped Shaurya hadn't seen me cringe so badly.

"Okay, we are never doing that," I said.

"I warned you," He said, looking very displeased. I burst out laughing at his sour expression.

"Don't worry, I still owe you five kisses," I said to help him feel better.

"I am holding you to that," He said and then after a long pause, he added, "baby."

"Shaurya!"

He stuck his tongue out. Dork.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

"When will the meeting finish?" I asked Shaurya through the video call, still sleepy. He was fastening his tie around his collar and I wished he had picked out a neutral colour to go with the brown shirt.

"Around one in the afternoon," He said. "Will you be busy that time?"

"I might," I said and Aisha sneaked up from behind me. She had her eyes closed.

"Is your fiance decent?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.

"No, I am watching him take a shower. Wanna join?" I asked acidly. A satisfying grimace creeped up on her face and I turned back to the phone.

"Hi Aisha," Shaurya called, looking to the left of him with a smirk. I suspected that Aarav was in the same room with him. But Aisha didn't have to know that.

"Hello, Shaurya. By any chance, do you know where that boyfriend of mine is? I told him to call back later and he never did. I miss talking to that idiot but he never cares," Aisha grumbled. "Can you knock some sense into him?"

Shaurya held in his laughter. "I think you did that already," he said and I chuckled as Aarav stepped into the screen with a nervous wave. But before either of them could open their mouths, I told them to get their own screen to talk through and shooed them away. Aisha slapped my head before she called her boyfriend and went to the other side of the room to yell at him.

"Shaurya, brush your hair the other way. A little to the side like I always tell you," I said.

"This looks fine," He muttered but nevertheless picked up his hairbrush and combed his hair that way.

"A little that way, just a little," I said, my hands gesturing to his side. He grumbled and did as I asked.

"Oh, not so much. It should not look like you have forced your hair to that side. It should appear as if the wind has casually blown your hair that way and even then you are sexy," I said and Shaurya glared at me.

"What? I want you to look good!"

"You like my hair messy, Sitar. How should I trust you?"

"Fine, do whatever you want."

"Fine," He said and he combed his hair again. When I glanced at him, I realised he was taking my advice after all.

"See, you look so handsome that I could kiss you right now!" I grinned and a tiny smile came onto his face. "What would you ever do without me, Shaurya?" I asked, dramatically.

"Get to my meeting on time?" He asked.

My smile slipped. "I hate you," I said.

"I love you too," He laughed and hung up. Idiot.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

"So, I have something to tell you," I said, staring at Shaurya through the video call. "I caught one London guy in the cafe down our rooms checking me out. He has been doing that for a week now. And today, he gave me a bouquet of white lilies and told me I look really beautiful and wanted to take me out on a date."

Shaurya's jaw twitched a little but he didn't say anything. He just stared at me. "Then?"

Why is he not even showing any signs of jealousy? "Then, Aisha told me that you are the one who asked me to have fun and one innocent date will be harmless."

I paused to get any reaction but he didn't say anything; just had his jaws clamped together as if he would break if he spoke. "So, I agreed. It's tomorrow night. You don't mind right?"

"I don't mind it. Have fun on that non-existent date," He smirked, and I gaped at him.

"I am really going, Shaurya. Do you think I am not beautiful enough to be asked out?" I asked.

"No, I think no guy would be foolish enough to ask a woman with a ring on her finger for a date," He said and I wanted to facepalm myself.

"Fine, you win. He didn't ask me out on a date but he gave me that gorgeous bouquet of flowers," I said, my lips pursed.

"Every woman deserves beautiful flowers," He said and I wanted to throw my phone at him. Why? Why doesn't he get even a little jealous? Or possessive?

"What if someone flirts with me in front of you?" I approached this another way.

"You wouldn't flirt back but even if you do, I wouldn't say anything to you," He replied.

"Are you at least a little possessive over me?"

"I am but I don't show it to you," He sighed when I simply blinked at him. "When you told me that guy had been checking you out, I wanted to bash him in the head. But if I told you that, you would act like a kid who is high on sugar and I sure as hell can't deal with that energy now because it's two in the morning here."

Oh.

"Sometimes, I hate that you know me so well," I kept my neutral face but it wasn't long before a smile creeped in.

▬▬▬▬

"Ma, I am switching off my phone. If anyone in the family calls me again and asks me if I am planning to get pregnant, then I would jump into the big ocean front of me," I snapped into my phone as I walked back into the room.

"Situ ma, don't get angry. They are excited for you," Ma said.

"Well, tell them I have no plans to get pregnant. I just want to flirt with my husband and spend time with him on my honeymoon and not on the phone answering everyone's suggestive questions. Is that too much to ask?"

"Okay okay. You two go have fun. We will not disturb you," Ma said and my shoulders sagged in relief as I hung up.

I grumbled and set my empty mug on the side table before I slipped into bed next to Shaurya. "Go easy on them, Sitar," He said, his hands on my bare knees to calm me.

"Don't act as if you weren't pressured at all," I said. "I remember the look on your face when Paati came to you and asked you to give her a great-grandchild before she passed away. I just can't deal with another Be productive in your honeymoon, Sitara and Make sure we get some good news soon. Ugh!"

"Okay, now come here," Shaurya opened his arms and I burrowed myself close to him. His scent was exactly what I needed to calm myself down. He kissed my hair and then pulled me close, his arms caging me in a safe embrace.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" I asked, my hands tangling in his hair.

"Anything you want."

"Even if I want to stay in bed all day and order room service instead of sightseeing?"

"Especially that. Do you think I'll complain?" He asked and I laughed, brushing his nose with mine.

"Have I told you that you couldn't have chosen a better place for our honeymoon than this?"

"Have I told you that you look like a goddess in my shirt?"

I blushed. "Guess we both know now."

▬▬▬▬▬▬

Shaurya's family was loud. It was odd to me because I was never allowed to get high-pitched in front of my family. I wasn't brought up like that. Amara akka's voice rang through the walls whenever she spoke and Shaurya said she had gotten it from his mother. I was glad that Shaurya's father had been soft-voiced because my husband took after him, luckily.

I could hear the loud laughter of Shaurya's grandmother in the living room and Amara shouting at her son to stop twisting his sister's doll. It was chaos but it didn't bother me anymore. I liked a lively place.

I lifted the tub of damp clothes that were fresh out of the washing machine and headed out to the balcony to pin them on the drying line. The two unspoken requirements of Shaurya's grandmother's visit was that I wear saree until she leaves and that I should never call Shaurya by his name. His grandmother had shaken her head in disapproval when I did that the first time. Out of the two, calling Shaurya Bava was the toughest one.

Shaurya was like my best friend before he was my husband. I couldn't bring myself to call him Bava as if he is some elderly person I had to respect. Trisha loved calling her husband that way and it had become her substitute for darling or hubby but I didn't get used to it. I only carried the pretense around Shaurya's grandmother.

I bunched up the loose end of my saree and tucked it around the saree-fold around my hip. I took the clothes one by one and then hung them on the line. I heard footsteps approaching me and I knew it was him just by the sound of it. Six months of marriage did that to you.

Shaurya snaked his arm around my waist and lifted me to the hidden side of the balcony. My eyes widened as he buried his face in my neck.

"Shaurya, your grandmother is here," I hissed, slapping his arms silently.

"I think she is planning to stay another day at the expense of Amara visiting India after a long time," He said, "It's been three days already. I haven't spoken to you properly."

"But, this is not the time," I peeled his hands from around my bare hip.

"It's our house. I don't care," He said and I sighed. When it was just the two of us, it was very easy and simple cooking for two and cleaning up later on. Amara akka's visit was a welcomed one but running after her kids just invited too much work. Shaurya's family had been visiting her from time to time as well, some staying for a day and some leaving after a cup of coffee. The company was nice but the thought of more work after leaving my office everyday twisted a knife into me.

I sighed and buried my head into his shirt, wrapping my arms around him. He balanced his chin on my head. "I know that you have been so tired for the past few days. You fall asleep at night when I am still talking and you massage your neck when you think no one's watching," He said. "Should we hire someone to do the cleaning everyday?"

"No, this is just for a few days. After Amara akka's gone, no visitors. It will be just you, me and the house. We do a pretty good job together," I said, mustering a smile.

"I'm sorry I can't help you now. Avva hates it if the husbands help out in the kitchen or do household work. She will blame you for it and scold you. She is still stuck in the past," Shaurya said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. He wiped away something from my forehead.

"What?"

"The kumkuma got smeared," He said simply and I saw some of it stuck onto his shirt where I had leaned. I dusted it off.

"Amara leaves next week and then we'll go somewhere on the weekend. Maybe to that resort Deepika was talking about?"

"Yes, please. I need it," I smiled at him and he kissed my forehead.

Amara ka poked her head into the balcony. "I thought your romance will die after a few months after your marriage but you two are attached together. I am so jealous of your relationship," she said and I waved at her to stop teasing us. That's all she's been doing lately.

"God, Avva finally went to sleep and she told me Dharma Mama is coming to pick her up today evening. She has scolded me about everything possible in this world and I was scared I would snap at her. Finally, I'll get some peace and quiet after she goes," She stretched her arms upwards. "Kriti and Aditya have been nagging me for ice cream. I am going to take them out after Avva leaves. Let's go out!"

The thought of ice cream lit something in me. "I love you, Amara ka," I cried, hugging her.

She laughed and then pulled my husband into the hug as well.

▬▬▬▬▬▬

"You know, this place should have been our first date," I said, as Shaurya parked the car near Sunset Pier. "This shop played matchmaker for us and the fact that we don't come here often is so sad."

"That's because we order in everytime," he said and Shaurya clasped my hand with his before we crossed the busy road. Feeling something odd, I stopped before the shop and frowned. I felt like I was missing something but... where was my phone?

"Do you have my phone?"

"You never gave it to me," He said.

"I think I left it in the car. I'll go pick it up. Order the usual for me but with extra ice cream," I told him before I crossed the road again and looked for my phone in the passenger seat. It was stuck between the seats. I realised it must have slipped from my jean pocket and then took it before shutting the door.

When I was about to step into the shop, my eyes caught Shaurya through the windows. He was still near the counter, but he had someone talking to him. A girl with brown hair braided in a fishtail and a yellow work uniform, had her hands on the counter, just near where Shaurya's thumb was gripping it, his wallet open. She was chatting him up rather animatedly.

This should be fun, I thought and quietly slipped inside the shop and took a comfortable seat. Shaurya's mouth opened and the girl started talking about something else so he closed them again. His shoes were one behind the other, as if deciding between running back and finishing the conversation abruptly. The uncomfortable glances he sent towards the door (in hopes of me walking in) and the forced smiles he gave her sent me shaking with quiet laughter. He hadn't realised I was inside already.

I decided that a few more seconds of watching him squirm would be fun but the second the girl's finger touched my husband's thumb, I straightened up. Shaurya pulled his hands away quickly, dropping the wallet in his hands. I thought it was time.

When he stood up after picking up the wallet, I quietly appeared beside him and snaked an arm around his waist. Relief flooded him. Idiot, he could have just told her he was married and had a beautiful wife.

"Hi, did my husband get my order right? It's one Classic Caramel with chocolate drizzle and topping of ice cream," I said, displaying my sweetest smile.

Her smile dropped. "H-husband? Shaurya, you got married?"

"Sorry, Nisha. I was trying to tell you that but you never gave me a chance," He said, pulling me a little tighter. They were familiar with each other's names. He knew he had some answering to do when we got home.

"I-I thought you - Aarav never told me," she said at last and I felt bad for her. I wouldn't blame her for flirting with Shaurya. I wasn't much different from her a few months back, except that I got lucky and she didn't. Thank God.

"I'm sorry," Shaurya said, giving her a few seconds of silence to process the information and then quietly added, "Did you take our order?"

She quickly recovered and forced a smile before typing in and tearing off a bill. "You two look good together," she said for formality, and I knew it must have pained her to say it.

"You are gorgeous too. I hope you find a man who deserves you," I said and she thanked me. Shaurya had this look in his eyes as if he worshipped me.

"You just made me love you more," He said, handing me my milkshake later.

"That was the plan."

He looked at me and I looked at him. We both knew what we wanted to say to each other so we quietly sipped our milkshakes, smiling and falling in love a little more.

⋆ ————————— ⋆

glossary:

paati: grandmother in tamil

akka: sister in tamil / ka: shortform for akka

avva: grandmother in kannada (shaurya's maternal family is kannada)

mama: uncle

saree: indian traditional wear

kumkuma: red powder used for sacred and religious occasions. married woman in india have the centre of the crown of their heads marked with this, the first mark given by her husband on their wedding.

⋆ ——————–——— ⋆

PLEASE VOTE ☆ IF YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER. THANKS FOR READING!

⋆ ————————— ⋆

If you want to read cute and cosy romance novellas, make sure to check out the other parts in the "for sale" series:

> soulmates for sale

In which Airaa Mannan anonymously sells the soulmate potion to Jasper Kline, the rich and reserved guy of WFCA. Well-made plans are threatened and paper-thin love is tested when he comes after her, claiming she is his soulmate.



> heartbreaks for sale

In which Akshara Zim, the owner of too many heartbreaks, finds her soulmate only to realize his name could ruin her final chance at love.