Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

Bonus Chapter [ MATURE ] ■

Two months later:

Shimla. Himachal Pradesh.

'It's so beautiful ... ' Gauri says, gazing at the snow-capped mountains.

It is mid-February and Shimla's landscape has turned mystic white. Tall coniferous trees are coated with snow. Smooth, glass-like ice crystals hang from the leaves. Everything looks frostbitten. Layers of snow feel like a large soft cushion beneath the shoes, crunching as they move their feet.

Gauri and Amarnath are wrapped in thick coats, mufflers and woollen gloves. Gauri shivers as another cold wave of air stings their faces. Amarnath gazes at her. Her hair is combed into two little braids coming out of her beanie cap, cheeks turned pink from the cold.

It has been four months since their wedding and the feeling hasn't fully sunk in yet.

Gauri is his wife now. He is going to share the rest of his life with her. She is his. Forever. 

He knows she could have easily chosen anyone else. But she chose him. If that does not make him the luckiest man on earth, nothing will.

'What is that?' she nudges him now, pointing to the faraway mountain.

'What?' he looks in the direction.

'That,' she points again.

Amarnath puts his hands into his coat pockets and steps forward, observing. 'All I can see is sn-'

Gauri hurls a heap of snow at him. She laughs and runs. Amarnath catches up with her easily. He picks up a handful of snow.

'No, don't throw it, please!' she covers her face with her arms. 'It's so cold!'

Amarnath smiles, putting the snow down. He wraps his arms around her.

'Is it warm now?' he asks in her ear.

She smiles against his chest. 'Yes.'

Her whisper is enough to melt his heart, even at the freezing temperature.

'Gauri,' he says guiltily. 'This was the only place I could afford to take you. I couldn't take you out of the country ... '

'Yeah. About that ... ' she suddenly wriggles out of his arms. 'Dad said he'll book our tickets to Switzerland. I wanted to go there too. I don't like this place at all.'

Amarnath goes pale. 

Gauri stares at him and slaps her forehead. She looks up at the sky. 'God, how do I make this man realize that the place doesn't matter to me?!'

Amarnath blinks. 'I got a leave for just three days. Foreign would have been difficult in that. And I just wanted to take you out with my own money ... '

'Amar, not again,' she groans, hugging him. 'I've told you many times that I don't care. Besides, this is as beautiful as Switzerland. Any place is beautiful when you're with me.'

Amarnath looks down lovingly at his wife's nonchalant expression. He smiles, cupping her cheeks.

'Why don't you say anything when I get angry?' she shakes her head.