Page 155 of Obsession

“You go, Ananya,” Devina said. “Just leave me here. Maybe I deserve this for all that I did to you.”

“I can’t leave you to die,” Ananya said.

“Your baby…you have to go, Ananya,” Devina said.

Ananya’s heart warred with indecision. Suddenly, she saw a figure running through the flames, straight toward her.

Mihir.

He was here. Joy filled her heart, followed by blinding fear.

She ran to him. “Why are you here? Are you crazy?”

“I couldn’t wait outside while you were stuck inside.” He caught her in his arms, quickly scanning her. “Oh my God, Anna. You’re alive and you’re okay. Thank God. I’m getting you out of here.”

“Mihir, no, wait!” She pointed to where Devina was sitting against a wall. “I can’t leave her.”

“I won’t let you die because of her,” Mihir argued.

Just then, two more figures emerged from the flames. Armaan and Vedant rushed to them. She pointed to Devina.

“Go, brother. Take Ananya,” Armaan said. “We’ll get the other one.”

Taking Ananya’s hand, Mihir ran to the side of the warehouse where a wall had now collapsed. He pushed Ananya through it before jumping out himself.

He hurried with her far away from the flames before holding her against his side. His eyes were fixed on the warehouse. Only once Armaan and Vedant made it out safely with Devina did he yank her to his chest. The sounds of fire trucks and ambulances resounded around them.

“Oh God, Anna, tell me again, are you okay?” he asked, his eyes wet with tears. His face was streaked with soot and grime.

“I’m fine. We got out in time,” she said, wiping his face.

“That fire… God, and you were caught in it. I died a thousand deaths when I realized you were inside.”

She suddenly realized something vital. “You came through a fire for me. Despite your fear… you came for me…”

“I’d do anything for you, Anna,” he said.

Her chest warmed. “You know, in there, I realized that we’ve both made mistakes. I wish I’d confronted you sooner. I wish I’d forced you to talk and not simply waited like a fool, allowing the situation between us to persist. I wish I’d told you how much I loved you. Because I do. I love you, Mihir, so much. I never stopped loving you, not for a moment.”

He touched his forehead to hers. Even with the soot covering his face, he was the most beautiful man in the world to her.

“I love you, Mihir Oshnov,” she repeated. “You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

“I’m yours, always,” he promised, kissing her lips lightly.

Armaan and Vedant came to them.

“Why the fuck did you follow me inside?” Mihir yelled. “Are you both mad?”

“It’s always been the three of us against the world, brother,” Armaan said.

“We weren’t going to let anything happen to you,” Vedant said.

“You could have died, you fools,” Mihir said.

“But we didn’t!” Armaan grinned, his face streaked with black.

“You guys are un-fucking-believable…I love you both!” Mihir hauled both of them into his arms, his face wet with tears. Ananya wiped her own tears from her eyes. Mihir had walked through fire forher, and his brothers had walked through fire forhim. She thanked God they all were safe.

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