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Sitara was attending the annual Pharma Biomedical summit party. It felt strange to be back to the same place and see the same sweet and friendly faces after her life had changed dramatically from the previous year.
“You had an exciting year, Dr. Narayan.”
Sitara smiled. “Yes, I did.”
With people after her for a secret bioweapon formula, a jealous mentor, her dead husband coming back alive after two years of amnesia with a different identity, and then most importantly being married to the love of her life who turned out to be a secret military agent… it had been beyond an exciting year. It was still too surreal.
But sometimes truth was stranger than fiction.
“You are so lucky, Dr. Narayan. Getting married to a handsome war hero and winning the Eminent Scientist award… life can’t get more exciting than that!”
Everyone knew about her second wedding. It was a low-key wedding with only close friends in attendance, but Aarav Rathod ensured that the entire world knew they were married.
She had teased him on their second wedding night saying that given a choice, he would even tattoo her butt with his name. The possessive jerk had eyed her bare butt in speculation.
Suppressing a blush at that memory and what had followed, she smiled. “Thank you.”
“But we are still so shocked by Dr. Pathak,” one of the scientists said while looking puzzled. “I never thought she was the kind to seek an early retirement.”
Details of Dr. Pathak’s arrest had deliberately been left out of the media and the science community due to security reasons. They didn’t want any other terror organizations to think there was a potential bio weapon formula available. Dr. Pathak was made to record another video message where she said she was stepping away from all of her work commitments and traveling around the world. Dr. Pathak agreed to do that to save her reputation and legacy she wanted to leave behind.
Sitara was in denial for the longest time despite having seen the video and written confession. But she didn’t speak to Dr. Pathak because her former mentor didn’t want to face her. Aarav wanted to force the confrontation, but she told him it wasn’t needed. Although she wouldn’t forgive Dr. Pathak for what was done, she didn’t want to force further humiliation on the older woman she had once held in high regard.
“Sometimes…” she said softly. “…the people closest to us surprise us with their actions.”
They all agreed.
The party continued. It was nearing midnight when she thought about leaving soon. She had to get up early the next day to catch a flight back home. She had a long day of shopping planned with Sameera, Soniya and Preeti the next day. The three of them were going to help her get a special dress for her first wedding anniversary that was coming up in a week.
She wanted to make the day special for Aarav who would hopefully return by then. And even if he couldn’t return on time, she would still celebrate the occasion on the day of his return.
Life was unpredictable being married to a military man, especially the one who went on secret missions. But she wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe it was the added years since her family’s death, or being around other military wives and families, or the immense pride she felt towards the passionate dedication she saw in Aarav—she was not only accustomed, but thrived being his wife.
She wouldn’t discount the crippling fear of losing a loved one that she had felt over the years, which was a common occurrence among military families. But she had learned to overcome it.
Life begins when fear ends.
She agreed to the quote wholeheartedly.
And life with Aarav made her feel more than alive. Hot, bossy, possessive and fiercely passionate about her and his work, he constantly kept her on her toes.
Her cheeks heated and goosebumps rose up on her skin at the thought of him.
She missed him and couldn’t wait to welcome him the same way she had given him a sendoff before he left for a mission.
A warm, muscled arm wrapped around her waist from the behind. “Are you feeling cold, Dr. Narayan?” a deep voice drawled from next to her.
Sitara nearly jumped out of her skin.
Turning her head, she stared up in shock. Looking breathtakingly handsome in his pilot uniform, his mouth was twisted into a smile as he watched her.
“Commander Rathod! What a surprise!”
“Congratulations again to you and Dr. Narayan!”
“I guessed it last year itself!” a female scientist said in excitement. “I saw you looking at Dr. Narayan during last year’s summit party. When you followed her when she was leaving, I was telling my colleague you looked very interested. But she said you were with Mithali Kaur. I’m so happy you fell in love with Dr. Narayan. I’m sure it was her scientific accomplishments and sweet nature that impressed you.”
Sitara’s cheeks heated at the flash of amusement in his eyes at the sweet nature remark. The jerk considered her fiery and stubborn rather than sweet.
