The Path to Forever

Part 9

He waited,as  his thoughts a tumultuous sea of desire and frustration. He had wanted to spend the day with her, getting to know her better, making her feel comfortable. But instead, she was buried in the kitchen with his sisters, leaving him to play the host to the rest of the family. He knew it was important, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was slipping away from him.

As the clock chimed, signaling the ten-minute mark, Karan's patience grew thinner than a sliver of moon in a cloudless sky. He needed to see her, to feel her near him. He stalked towards the kitchen, his steps heavy with purpose. The cacophony of laughter and clanging pots and pans grew louder as he approached, but he didn't care. All that mattered was the woman who had captured his heart in such a short time.

He found Tejasswi at the stove, her face flushed with the heat of the kitchen, her hair escaping its bun in wild tendrils that framed her face. She was engrossed in a conversation with Meenu, who was busy rolling out dough for the evening's naan. Karan stepped into the kitchen, his presence like a storm cloud over the sunny scene.

"Tejasswi," he called out, his voice a thunderclap in the bustling room. She turned to look at him, her eyes widening at the expression on his face. The sisters fell silent, their gazes flicking between the couple. "Could I have a word?"

Her heart racing, Tejasswi nodded and followed him into the hallway, leaving the warm embrace of the kitchen. He led her into his room, his hand a warm presence on the small of her back. The door clicked shut behind them, cutting off the noise of the house. Karan turned to face her, his eyes dark with need.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Karan's eyes searched hers, his frustration giving way to a soft smile. "I just wanted to tell you," he began, his voice low and gruff, "that I love you."

The words hung in the air between them, a declaration that seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the room. Tejasswi felt her knees go weak, her eyes filling with tears. She had been so caught up in the whirlwind of meeting the family, of trying to make a good impression, that she had barely had a moment to breathe, let alone think about the depth of her own feelings.

But as she stared into Karan's eyes, she knew it was true. She loved him too. "I love you," she murmured back, her voice shaky with emotion.

Karan's face lit up, the tension in the room dissipating like fog in the sun. He stepped closer, his hands finding hers. "You do?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Tejasswi nodded, feeling the weight of their confession settle over them. "I do," she said, her voice strong and sure.

Karan's eyes searched hers, looking for any hint of doubt, but all he saw was love and sincerity. He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her waist as he leaned in for a kiss. It was gentle at first, a soft brush of his lips against hers, but it grew in intensity, a promise of what was to come.