Soon his car stopped in front of a chawl. They came out of the car and Sai noticed as soon as he entered the chawl many people, children, elders surrounded him. Sai wouldn't have believed if she haven't seen it with her own eyes. Ruthless don Virat Chavan was not less than a messiah to these people. They absolutely loved him. Apparently, he had been helping the poor here and had arranged for the jobs of many. Many people who worked in his gang also came from this chawl, that's why they were so loyal to him.

Virat took Sai to his house in the chawl. "This is the most dearest place to me, reminds me of my mom, dad and sister. It holds most beautiful memories of my childhood and the pain of losing my mom. This place has witnessed how a normal boy turned into a dangerous don. I come here when I feel extremely low or happy. I have shared everything with this place. I wanted this place to witness one more important moment of my life. 

"Whats that?" Sai asked absent mindedly as she looked around the small one room kitchen house.

Virat started saying whats in his heart. "I wanted to confess my love to you. I know I have said it before also but I wanted to do it here. Here, it feels like my family's blessings are with me. I know, Sai, you might be apprehensive about this whole thing. I mean any girl would be, its just been few days since we met and we also had a rough start but still...you know, there is something about you which pulls me towards you, which tells me that you are the one for me. And I want you to believe that I am not lying. I am not fooling around, I have no intension to cheat you or make it a temporary thing like most people do it these days. I want you to be my forever."  

Sai was looking at him nervously. She somehow knew he was saying truth. She knew he loved her and she believed it. She also knew that he would soon say it again but she was surprised that she felt butterflies in her stomach again when he said it, just like the first time.

Virat took a deep breath before saying those three magical words. "So, here it is, I love you Sai. I really have fallen deeply for you. I don't know how but I just have." 

Sai just stayed silent not knowing what she should say, how she should be reacting.

He broke her chain of thoughts again. "Please don't stay quiet. I need an answer, jaan. Its ok if you cant decide now, I mean there is no hurry, I will wait. But please at least say something now."

Among all his words, Sai could only process one word, Jaan. He called her Jaan, his jaan, his life? Is she really that important to him? Nobody ever made her feel this way. 

For few seconds Sai was silent. While Virat was being impatient to hear her voice, Sai didn't know what she should say? Did she love him? In all these days she had come to realize that Virat Chavan was definitely much more than just the don Virat. She was not afraid of him anymore. She even had good conversations with him. She liked doing things for him, specially, cooking. She liked his company. She missed him whenever he is not with her. Though he had bought her but he was the only man who treated her with respect she deserved. There is something in him which attracts her to him. She never felt loved, secure and important since very long and he makes her feel that way when he is with her.

Realization dawned upon her, shocking her out of her wits. "Holy f**k! I do love him. But how this can be possible? In such short span of time? I feel like I am losing my mind." She wondered.

Virat urged her again. "Jaan, just say something."

And it was her undoing, hearing Jaan again from his mouth while his eyes, full of love, held her captive. She decided to throw logic, reasoning, rationality and everything else out of window and just accept what her heart wanted right in this moment.

 Virat felt like he was waiting since eternity to hear her voice. Sai finally took mercy on him. She smiled but tears rolled down her eyes too.

"I love you too. I love you, Virat." Sai replied when Virat was almost about to give up hope.

They looked in each other's eyes. Sai again saw all his emotions in his eyes, his eyes were beautiful, melancholic but beautiful. She used to wonder what it will be to see happiness in them and she got her answer today. His eyes were shining with happiness. He looked even more handsome like this.

While she was busy reading his eyes he closed the distanced between their lips. He cupped her face and placed his lips on hers. Sai closed her eyes and responded to him ever so softly. This was the first kiss of their love and it was sans any lust. It was purest gesture between them to mark the beginning of their journey together.

Flashback ends

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to be continued

PS    posting another update in few minutes.