You Are My Unique Gift

A Calculated Move

Vihaan's POV

A chuckle escaped me at the sight of her frightened expression. There ain't any more escaping, Sarkaar.

"I am never scared of anything," I mimicked, a wide grin illuminating my features as she stuck her tongue out at me.

The sunlight danced upon her ivory scarf, teasing the gentle breeze that caressed her flushed cheeks. She wore a charming mid-length dungaree ensemble paired with pristine white sneakers, captivating my gaze with an enchanting spell. My heart swelled with a euphoric serenity, threatening to leap out of my chest as I marveled at her presence.

My love for her was undeniable, an unshakeable certainty in my soul. Yet, did she reciprocate these fervent emotions? Would she commit to an everlasting bond with me?

"That was very lame for a genius like you, Malhotra. With your level, I am doubling over with worry for the future of the Heramb Group. 160 IQ, my foot!" I dodged when she retaliated by throwing a basket full of worms at me.

My laughter echoed over the soft shuffle of the Tons River. Rolling over, I watched as she puffed her cheeks, seemingly exasperated.

"Your shrieks told me otherwise, Ms. Sikarwar," I chuckled, darting away as she charged after me with an oar.

The camp served as our Valentine's date, and it was the best we'd had so far. It was perfect for adrenaline junkies like us. Amidst the wilderness, whether trekking, relaxing, or rafting, it was exactly what we needed to divert our minds from the chaos back home.

It was chaos for me, while Komal had nothing to do but worry about her best friend, Kratika.

Kratika was set to marry her fiance in less than a week, and Viraj, my twin brother, had been wreaking havoc ever since he had found out.

Honestly, I felt for Viraj. He loved that woman immensely, putting in every effort possible. Yet, all he could do was watch her smile and blush in someone else's arms. It was unfair and almost heartbreaking.

"He'd be more heartbroken if he knew you were dating his obsession's best friend," the little voice inside whispered. But I silenced it promptly.

I wanted to tell Viraj about Komal and me. But every time I tried to speak about it, something told me: that now wasn't the right time. Viraj was already overwhelmed. He didn't need another blow to topple him over.

That's why I had to plan this vacation.

Viraj needed space, and I needed a distraction, something to regain my sanity before returning home to tend to his deep scars.

"Run, Vihaan Malhotra! But the moment I get you...oh, you're gonna regret it so bad," I laughed, swiftly dodging the swing of the oar before it could hit me.

"You won't! For your o****m's sake!" I yelled back at her flushed face.

Komal despised worms so intensely that she'd sooner brave anything than lay a finger on them. A softie for animals and a staunch vegetarian, she didn't mind my occasional fishing trips, a fact that allowed me to sneak in a bucketful of worms and a fishing rod without raising her suspicions.

Forty minutes later, here we were, chasing each other in the safe jungle near the bank of Tons, giggling and sweating.

"What? Are you exhausted already? You weren't any closer last night, Oh, Vihaan! Faster!" I teased, a playful grin forming on my lips.

We had just conquered a steep slope. The morning dew lent an elusive slipperiness, yet the resilient grass offered a yielding ascent, at least for me.

"Shut up!" I watched as Komal, preoccupied, misjudged her step and teetered dangerously.

But before her butt could hit the ground, reacting swiftly, I encircled her waist, inadvertently cushioning her fall as we landed in a tangle. Her exasperated huff warmed my chest, and the dew-kissed emerald blades seeped through my shirt, leaving a chilling sensation against my skin.

"You ok?" I groaned at a burning sensation. Scratches had always been a constant companion for the adventurers, but an oar's rawness felt different on my calves.

"Oh my god! Did...Did I hurt you? Ouch! I am so sorry Vihaan. I didn't mean to—"

"It's ok. I am fine. It's just a small cut."

"No, it isn't cool. You're bleeding, and I messed up. Trust me, hurting you was the last thing on my mind, Vihaan. I—"

"Sakaar!" A grin tugged at my lips at her worry.

Smitten by this incredible woman, barely five-foot-two, with those captivating brown eyes, hair down to her waist, and that caramel skin that always got me, I kinda liked knowing I was the only one who could get under her skin like this.

"Looks like we're even now," I remarked once she finished inspecting the barely noticeable wound. It was a minor scratch, yet a trickle of blood adorned a few spots where it might have grazed a bit deeper into the skin. Nothing too serious, just enough to add a touch of intrigue.

"Huh?" the brown eyes pinned me with confusion and I almost...almost gave myself away if I hadn't caught myself in the meantime.

Brushing a strand of her hair to the side, I leaned closer and whispered in her ear in a slightly husky voice. "I made you bleed the first time we made love. You returned the favor on our first camping ever." The crimson of her cheek burnt a fire in the pit of my stomach as early arousal brought a sensation in the south of my body.

"If that's the case, I think you owe me more than some drops of blood. I bled a river while yours doesn't even equal to the water in a tank." She complained pushing me on the ground as she straddled on my lap.

"Oh, I'll make it up to you! But this time it won't be blood." I turned us around and pressed her gently on the dewy grass, lightly brushing my lips with hers.

"And how are you gonna replace the blood if I may ask?" She purred as I explored the warmth of her skin.

"This I will show you and you will find out. By the way, how did you know it wasn't that much? Maybe you want to get back at me by making my heart bleed?" I challenged her, anticipation raging in my veins as I unbuttoned her cardigan and rolled her crop top over her shoulder before she got rid of the damn fabric.

I visibly swallowed at the sight of before me. The softness of the flesh, the mild rise and fall, and the memory of how it'd felt beneath my palms.

"Death would find me before that ever happens, Malhotra," she teased, a soft moan escaping her lips as my mouth attended to the tender spots. "Now hush and tend to all my aches."

"As you command, Sarkaar!" I replied playfully, adopting a mischievous tone.

I blinked, the memories momentarily clouding my vision before I refocused on the figure jogging away from me. I wasn't one to revel in someone else's miseries, but this instance marked my re-introduction to her—as her demon, a devil oozing out insanity!

Komal had always embodied bravery. If I were asked to sum up the essence of my significant other in a single word, it would undoubtedly be "FEARLESS."

Her startled squeals, unexpected and uncharacteristic, struck me as much as they did her. It was a rare glimpse of vulnerability from someone I'd only known as unyielding and unafraid. I'd be lying if I said it didn't soothe the ache in my soul.

I purposefully crept forward at a deliberate crawl, relishing the slow, tantalizing approach—savoring the thrill of watching her squeal and bolt faster each time I neared.

It was like a predator toying with its prey moments before it was to relish it, satisfying an insatiable hunger.

"Vihaan Malhotra, cease this insanity this instant unless you want your teeth rearranged! And if you don't know, I SUCK AT BEING DENTIST!" Her voice pierced the air, jolting me.

This voice! I gulped a bile and clutched the steerwheel hard to remain unperturbed. Her threats didn't hinder my advance.

Instead, I pondered silently. In her absence and amid my flourishing multi-billion-dollar business, I'd learned the most valuable lesson: mastery lay in the art of mind games.

It was a philosophy etched in my mind—speak only when absolutely necessary and armed with every fact needed to steer the conversation in my favor.

The clock ticked away another fifteen minutes as I let the game progress. I had a hunch she'd be restless after tying the knot. Despite her professional composure, patience wasn't Komal's strong suit. She thrived on impulse and was an expert overthinker. Deliberately staying indifferent through her ghastly engagement and subsequent absence, I aimed to ruffle her enough to drop her guard.

Originally, I'd planned to ghost her for a solid week, but my foolish heart couldn't endure more than forty-eight hours. It was almost humiliating to acknowledge the impact she still held over me after all these wretched years.

Before I knew it, I found myself behind the wheel, heading toward her father's house. I had no clear intention or rationale; perhaps, I merely craved a glimpse, a fleeting insight into her thoughts. Whatever the inexplicable pull was, I couldn't deny the demands of my heart. Even if succumbing to those demands felt degrading, the alternative was teetering toward insanity.

Thus, there I was, skulking in her shadows, silently praying she'd never turn around. But fate had other designs.

"It was your fault!" Her rage reverberated through the deserted streets.

Neither of us had noticed how far we'd strayed from the original path. The atmosphere crackled with unresolved tension.

"So, you're planning to run me over now?" She huffed, her breath possibly a mix of fatigue from the jog and anticipation pulsing through her veins. Yet, despite it all, she seemed exhilarated enough to engage in conversation.

I eased my foot on the accelerator, deftly maneuvering the wheels until the car halted mere inches from her. I relished the sight of her wide-eyed horror as she planted her heels firmly, desperately avoiding collision with the door.

Stepping out leisurely, I loomed over her, observing the tremors racking her petite frame. Our last encounter was when I was a struggling youth—thin, riddled with conflict, and utterly drained.

A decade had passed, filled with heartaches, and yet here we stood—she, still a mere five-foot-two, while I had morphed into a towering figure at six feet. Physically, I held every advantage, every edge to overpower her, but that wasn't my intention.

There were greater pursuits on my mind than stooping to a level that would cause me to question my very existence, upbringing, and sanity. My desire was more profound, an insatiable longing not for dominance, but for something far deeper—I craved to entwine our souls, to ensnare hers until it melded seamlessly with mine, forging an inseparable union—becoming one in every sense of the word.

"Enough!" Fury surged through every fiber of my being, a brewing tempest hinting at imminent chaos. "Enough of this futile escape, this dance of evasion." My words slipped out in a chilling whisper as I edged closer. She mirrored my movements, stumbling backward.

"I... I'm sorry, Vihaan! Pl... please, just let me go!" Her voice trembled, desperation etched across her face. I could almost decipher her thoughts like an open manuscript.

Even though she'd been absent from our lives, she was well-versed in Viraj's dealings with Kratika. She understood the extent of the Malhotras' capabilities. Excellence was our hallmark, whether in the thriving Heramb Group or in holding onto grudges.

"You had stabbed me, and I had happily granted you freedom. You had uttered those crushing words, declaring you love had dissipated, and I had willingly retreated even though it'd taken me an eternity to nurse my wounds. But you chose the coward's path to dismantle our once beautiful relationship, I. Will. Never. Forgive. You!"

"I...I'm sorry." She wept, shaking like a leaf bearing the harsh rattles of a thunderstorm.

"Shut up!" I hissed. Step forward. Forward. Forward. "I don't want your f*****g apologies. I demand answers, Komal Singh Sikarwar. None of us are departing until I've checked off every item on my list. And believe me, the list is excruciatingly extensive!"

The charged atmosphere crackled with unspoken tension, a labyrinth of unresolved emotions simmering beneath the surface as I pinned her with a question that had been haunting me forever.

"Why?"