It's driving me crazy you know.

Sindhu listened attentively but then stayed quiet for a long time. She just leaned on Gautham's shoulder and Gautham just let her be.

After what seemed like hours Sindhu finally spoke, "I am trying... I am trying not to doubt myself... but it's just so hard." Sindhu paused and shifted her head to look straight into Gautham with clear vulnerable eyes and asked, "Is it really okay to trust myself again??"

Looking at Sindhu, Gautham's breath got stuck at his throats. At that moment Sindhu did not look anything like a 27-year-old girl who confidently runs an office by herself. She looked like a little girl asking her parents whether she can accept candies from a stranger.

At that moment, Sindhu looked as if she will believe anything Gautham says. And that almost brought him to his knees. Her trust in him humbled him.

Gautham simply brought her into his embrace and said, "You can." His voice was firm when he said it without an ounce of doubt. He could not even imagine what it would be like for Sindhu to not be able to trust herself… he can only imagine how terrifying a place it should be where she had to question her each small step. He wished to pull her out of that place somehow… if only it was possible.

Sindhu simply buried her face on his shoulders and relaxed. After such a long time she felt as if she can breathe again. The relief she felt at that moment almost left her faint.

She did not even know why, but she just believed in Gautham at that moment… it was as if she had been waiting all this while for someone to come and say it to her… that it was enough… that she can live her life now… that she can make her own choices.

It was as if someone was validating the fact that her mistake did not cost her, her life… That she still had time to make up for her mistakes… she still can pull her life around.

After a while, Sindhu let out a yawn and her eyes started drooping. And she looked absolutely adorable to Gautham.

Gautham brought her closer to him and said, "Come on. Let's get you to bed." And then he pulled her up with him.

Sindhu lazily leaned on his shoulders all the way to her apartment.

Once outside the apartment Sindhu reluctantly let go of Gautham. She already missed his warmth. She looked like someone had snatched her cookies.

Gautham let out a chuckle seeing her expression and just ruffled her hair and said," Come on. Go on inside and get some sleep. It's getting late."

Sindhu just nodded her head very obediently and said," Good night." Sindhu let out a big ass yawn one more time and it looked as if it took a lot of effort to just keep her eyes open. She kept rubbing her eyes with her knuckles to keep herself awake but her eyes stayed dazed in spite of her efforts. In short, she looked like an adorable sleepy kid.

Gautham couldn't resist anymore and pulled Sindhu into a hug. He circled one hand around her waist and the other hand he held the back of her head against his chest securely. His heart sped uncontrollably but then a sense of peace spread with it.

Sindhu was surprised by his sudden action. She did not anticipate it but she did not push him away but instead circled her hands around him and snuggled more into his embrace. For some reason, she felt safe in his arms. Even when it was sudden, she felt really comfortable in his embrace…

Gautham bend down to bury his head on Sindhu's shoulders and said, " Will you please say 'Yes' already!? I really can't wait to marry you…"

What surprised Sindhu was the tinch of desperation in his voice. He did not even know why he was reacting this way but at that moment for some reason, he just felt an overwhelming sense of desperation towards Sindhu.

How did Gautham end up feeling so much for her in a matter of a month???

Even Gautham did not know how desperate he was to make her his. Just now when he saw Sindhu make such an adorable face, he felt something break inside him at the thought that she will be showing such faces to someone else if she ended up marrying someone else. But more than that, what really drove him desperate was that if he failed to catch her, he wouldn’t be able to see her like this… and he wanted to see her like this and more… and he wanted it for a long time.

"It's driving me crazy you know. The things that you are making me feel.", Gautham said with a slightly annoyed voice.

Sindhu did not say anything. She just tightened her hold around him and stayed in his embrace.

After a while, Gautham finally let her go. He took one last look at her face, quickly said his bye, and left. He feared if he stayed any longer, he would start begging her.