MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 51

Shivani Pov:

I sat on the sofa, feeling the weight of everything. Across the room, Sharath was silently packing my luggage, his movements swift and precise. I had been so close to refusing him—telling him no and sticking to my decision. But when I saw the fear in his eyes, the fear of losing me, my resolve crumbled. How could I say no when the thought of guilt, the heaviness of it, was already clear in his expression?

The clock on my phone read 1:00 PM, and I knew, without a doubt, that Sharath hadn't eaten. He never took care of himself when he was stressed, especially when it came to me. I thought about offering to cook, but let's be honest—he'd never let me near the kitchen right now. So, I did the next best thing. I ordered food, hoping it would arrive by the time he finished.

With nothing else to do, I wandered into the bedroom, trying to see if I could help. But who was I kidding? Sharath wasn't going to let me lift a finger. "Don't touch anything," he'd said earlier, his voice firm, his eyes softer. I had sighed, stepping back and letting him take control.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, cutting through the quiet tension of the moment. Sharath's whole body tensed, his eyes immediately snapping to mine. "Are you expecting someone?" he asked, voice low, almost protective.

I glanced at my phone. "I ordered food, but it shouldn't be here for another fifteen minutes." I started to stand, but Sharath was already heading to the door, not even waiting for my answer.

"Wait here. I'll check," he said firmly. His protectiveness, though sometimes overbearing, was something I couldn't help but find... sweet. I followed him, my phone clutched in my hand, a mix of curiosity and nerves bubbling in my chest.

When the door opened, it wasn't the delivery guy. It was Jyothi and Siddhu, standing awkwardly on the other side. The change in Sharath's mood was instant. His posture stiffened, his expression darkened. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice flat, almost annoyed.

Jyothi ignored his tone, trying to step past him, but Sharath, being Sharath, blocked her path. "I asked you something," he said again, this time more serious, a warning in his voice that made her falter.

"I'm here to see my friend," she replied, eyes flickering nervously toward me.

"Friend?" Sharath scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. Before he could throw another sarcastic comment, I stepped in.

"Sharath, let them in," I said gently, trying to ease the tension. His gaze flicked to mine, disbelief in his eyes. He was so protective sometimes it was almost ridiculous.

"Please," I added softly, and after a long pause, he sighed and reluctantly moved aside, allowing them in.

Jyothi wasted no time and rushed over to me, her eyes immediately locking onto the bruises on my wrist and jaw. Her face went pale. "Oh my god, Shivani, what happened? Are you okay?" she gasped, grabbing my wrist as if she could erase the marks with just a touch.

"I'm fine," I replied quickly, pulling my hand back before she made a scene. The last thing I wanted was for her to blow this up into something more than it was.

Sharath closed the door and moved to stand beside me, his presence like a shield, silent but strong. Jyothi's eyes flicked between us, her expression somewhere between disbelief and fear. "You can't be serious. How can you say you're fine? Look at these marks!" she exclaimed, pointing at my bruises like they were the only thing she could see.

Before I could respond, Sharath spoke. "Sit down," he said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument. I obeyed, motioning for Jyothi and Siddhu to sit across from us.

"You should put some medicine on those bruises, Shivani," Siddhu said, his voice gentle but concerned.

I offered him a small smile. "I'm fine. They're already fading."

"She won't. I bet there isn't even any medicine in this house," Jyothi muttered under her breath, clearly frustrated.

"It's not necessary," I said, brushing off her concern. "Now, tell me—why are you guys here?"

Jyothi hesitated, her gaze softening as she glanced at Siddhu. "We came to check on you, after you called us earlier."

I nodded, grateful for their concern but eager to avoid any more drama. "I appreciate it. I'm fine now, really. Thanks for coming."

Just as she was about to respond, her eyes landed on the suitcases by the door, and her expression shifted again. "Wait... are you going somewhere?" she asked, her voice full of confusion.

I followed her gaze to the packed bags, then nodded. "Yeah, I'm moving in with Sharath."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Why so suddenly?"

Sharath cut in before I could answer. "My fiancée can live with me. Is that a problem for you?" His tone was laced with sarcasm, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jyothi shot him a glare before turning back to me. "Shivani, I need to talk to you. Alone," she pleaded, her eyes darting nervously between me and Sharath.

I shook my head. "You can say it here."

"Shivani, please..." she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. I looked up at Sharath, silently asking for his support. I didn't want him to leave my side, not even for a second. Sensing my hesitation, he took my hand, pulling it against his side.

"I'm not leaving her," he said firmly. "If you have something to say, say it here. If not, you can leave."

Her shoulders sagged in defeat, but she pressed on. "Shivani, are you really marrying him?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly.

Sharath's grip on my hand tightened protectively, but I gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Yes. I am."

Jyothi looked desperate now. "You don't understand. He's dangerous, Shivani! He has a temper. He's destroyed companies overnight, made people disappear without a trace. You don't know what you're getting into!"

I'd heard it all before—the rumors, the warnings, the whispers behind his back. But none of it mattered to me. I knew who Sharath really was. The side of him no one else saw.

"I don't care about the rumors, Jyothi," I said firmly. "He's not who they say he is. He's the only one who's ever truly been there for me. That's enough."

Her face crumpled, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. "So, you're choosing him over your friends? Over us?"

I sighed, the weight of her words heavy in the air. "You made your choice long before I made mine, Jyothi. You left me when I needed you most. And now, it's too late."

"Shivani, please..." she whispered, but I was done.

"I'm sorry,"  I said looking at siddhu " Shivani don't say like that, u helped us a lot, to be frank we are here only because of your help, at least attended just on time an leave, please" "sorry Siddhu I really can't, even if I attend it would be awkward, it;s better I don't" "Shiv-"

Before she could respond, Sharath spoke up. "She'll do what she wants. Stop pushing her."

And just like that, the doorbell rang again. Sharath stood up, his hand still lingering on my back for a moment before he moved to answer it. "I'll get the food," he said, walking away.

" see guys there is no point talking about this, what's done is done, I hope u enjoy your marriage and look after Swathi, maybe he will come after her"  

"What about u then?" Siddu asked I looked at Sharath who is collecting the food automatically a smile came on my lips and said "I have Sharath"

Sorry guys for the late update  🙏.I tried my best to update it on time but couldn't for various reasons. Thank you for your patience.

 I will always try to update on time, but I hope you guys understand that I am a student with part-time job. Please continue to encourage me. Love u guys 💕