Page 54 of Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

“I didn’t do anything,” he said.

“You set me on this path. You gave me the initial push and the confidence.”

“You’re the one who’s saving me,” he said “From myself. From a world that sometimes only takes and doesn’t give back. From a life that was nothing but an endless cycle of loneliness and broken promises.

“You’re my always and forever. My new beginning and my happy-ever-after. My very own love story. Will you marry me, Naina?

“Because my life is nothing but a cheap, commercial sellout without you by my side, Dream Girl.”

She went close to him and he buried his face in her belly. She dropped the bouquet and buried her fingers in his hair thinking her heart might just explode with all the happiness filling it. “Yes, I will marry you, Vikram. And for the rest of my life, I will love you. I will never doubt you. And I...” Her knees did finally give in.

And he caught her, her real hero.

Naina fell into his arms, his mouth claiming hers with a need that quivered through her entire body. Applause broke out around them. She heard Daadiji and Zara and Virat cheering and Jaya Ma screaming, “That’s my stepdaughter. That’s my girl,” at the top of her voice.

She laughed into his kiss and he bit her gently and then he was putting the ring on her finger and Naina was terrified that it might all be just a dream. She laughed a lot, they both touched Daadiji’s feet, Virat squeezed her into a bone-cracking hug and Zara kissed her cheek and hugged Vikram.

His mother, even more beautiful up close, kept snatching looks at her son as he looked at Naina. Waiting to be introduced. Naina felt a flicker of shame lick up her cheeks. God, this had been their anniversary party and Vikram had just simply hijacked it.

She walked up to Mrs. Raawal and introduced herself, knowing Vikram wouldn’t be able to avoid his mother after that. His arm came around her waist not two seconds later.

“I’m sorry for...interrupting your party, Mrs. Raawal. I’m...”

“Oh, please. I didn’t mind at all. In fact, whatever the reason my son wanted to prove to you that he loves you, I’m glad for it. I got to see up close just how much he adores you.” She offered her cheek and Naina dutifully kissed it. “And please call me Vandana.”

“Will you bring her to meet us properly after the party?” she asked her son, a wealth of hope in her eyes. “I would like to get to know this girl who’s made my son so happy.”

Naina squeezed Vikram’s hand for all she was worth when she saw the instant refusal on his lips. He pressed a kiss to her temple and smiled. His expression and his words when he turned to her were tempered. And Naina had never been so proud of this man she loved. “Not just yet, but soon, Mama. I want her to myself for a little while.”

Mrs. Raawal nodded and kissed Naina’s cheek. “Welcome to the family, Naina. I have no words to tell you how glad we are that you’re in his life.”

Naina swallowed at the open ache in her eyes. They left in a whirlwind of camera flashes from a myriad of mobile phones. But instead of driving across the city to his own home, they stopped at Zara’s flat for the night. Which was much closer.

Once they entered Zara’s expansive flat, Naina turned to him. “I’m... I have no words. I know you hate that kind of drama and invasion into your private life... I never needed it, Vikram. I just wanted your love.” She pressed her hand and her mouth to his chest, loving the tight squeeze of his arms around her.

“I know you didn’t ask for it. But you deserve it, Dream Girl. You’re the best thing that walked into my life and I will constantly try to let everyone know, including you, how much I love you, and you’ll just have to put up with that.”

“I love you too,” Naina whispered, knowing that she finally had her very own hero.

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