SS:Circle of Love Part 9+EPILOGUE PG 12 MARCH 27 - Page 6

Few days passed and the case was moving really well. Shravan found out that the proprieties belonged to a Man named Berry Kapoor , he was out of the country for 3 years due to settling his hotel business in other locations . Rajan was renting the small buildings illegally !Shravan contacted Mr. Berry informing him of the whole situation .Mr. Berry gave Shravan the permission to fight this case and gave him whole support. He always kept Suman updated and she would come to their meetings and gave any relevant information.

Mr.Berry returned to India and Thanked the Malhotra Law firm taking this case in their hands! The only thing Shravan requested was that sumo's PCT and other small businesses don't shut down.

Mr. Berry was planning of making that area a construction site for a Hotel but spoke to Suman who expressed her connection to that place. She showed him her PCT and made him taste her food. He was really impressed and allowed her to stay and even offered to Invest in her company!

Suman and Shravan walked out Mr. Berry's office together .Shravan found her looking so classy yet professional in her black dress pants and blazer .She accessorized her wrist with a nice classy watch with her hair straightened over one shoulder .

"I can't believe he accepted the deal!!"She squealed excitedly walking alongside Shravan

"I told you not to worry! You had an amazing presentation! Seriously Sumo you don't stop impressing me "He praised walking outside; her confidence was so obvious .The way she was prepared to answer all the questions and dealing with the investors was impressive.

"Thank you Shravan without your support this wouldn't happen"

"Thank me when I win the case!"

She nodded smiling, once they came outside the heat hit them hard! She removed her black blazer feeling warm leaving her in her nice white tan top.

"This Delhi heat is unbearable sometimes!" She complained sitting in his car throwing the blazer in the back seat .Shravan sat in the driver seat silently checking her out! She looked very attractive flaunting her tan top with confidence. She was absolutely gorgeous he thought, she began to make a loose bun and glanced at him. He cleared his throat looking away but she caught him and smiled realizing she flustered him .

"What happened? " She asked with her cheeks turning rosy

"Nothing ..You look really pretty " He admitted gazing in her brown eyes ..

Suman could feel her heart pasting fast enjoying his praises, it was obvious that they were attracted to each other .."You don't look bad yourself"

They shared a smile as he started the car, they were both smitten by each other, and developing strong feelings for each other but they never shared it .

They were both starving and decided to eat somewhere, they sat in a quiet cafe next to the window and ordered cool drinks, fries and grilled cheese sandwiches .It was their favourite.

" I got a invitation for the reunion Party ..."Shravan started to say

"Me too, Apparently Akash and Shilpa are organizing it ..." She said biting on her fries

"I heard they became successful Event Planners, so I guess it going to be a crazy Reunion Party"

"Are you planning ...on going?" She asked slowly

"I don't know yet ..."

There was a small silence before she changed subjects

"These fries are soo good and crunchy!" She dipped them in ketchup and fed it to him!

He nodded "it's better when you mix the mayonnaise and ketchup together!" he said feeding her the fries with his special mix .Her eyes widened up delighted and she did the same in her plate

"Stop being a copy cat!" He teased as she rolled her eyes

"To bad! This is the best invention you ever made! "They started making funny faces with their fries on their plate and dived in there sandwiches. Suman put her left over in his plate, since they were kids whenever she got full she would pour her left over food in his plate ,he would eat it happily without complaints!

Their chatted about their college experiences, new friends and reminiscing old memories.

She looked at her watch as they finished their food ..

"You still have curfews?" He asked shocked

She started laughing "No Buddhu! You do! Didn't Ramnath Uncle want to meet you ?"

"It's ok Ill see him later at home!" he wasn't going to let this opportunity go away and took advantage of his time with her!

**

Shravan and Suman decided to go for a walk later; they didn't see the time pass as the evening settled in. It was a nice quiet park with a pathway made of pebble stones and huge green trees. It was the same park they would like to when they were kids and play for hours!

Suman saw the empty playground and rushed to the swings. He followed and sat on the swing next to her ,they both swung high up playfully!

"I'm still going higher then you! I guess something's never change" He said happily moving his legs up and down giving him more force

"Argh! That's because you have long legs! "She said frustrated trying to reach higher .They both laughed enjoying the ride and giving each other adoring glances .They both went to flashback mode remembering how they would swing for hours and hours and then finally jump off !

"Sumo! We're going to jump !" He announced excitedly

"Ok you go first!!"

She saw him jump of the swing laughing excitedly; Sumo waited until the swing came higher and finally made a jump . She lost her balance slightly in the sand , he stood close and held her around her waist making sure she didn't fall . They both laughed joyfully gazing in each other's eyes, she loved his firm embrace around her protectively.

"That was fun!" HE said loosening his hold catching his breath

"Lets do it again!! " She said eagerly as they both ran back to the swings They became like excited kids again and jumped off the swing together the second time! They went on the slides realizing that it wasn't as fun anymore since there height over took the whole slide but they continued to chase each other on the jungle gym and monkey bars like old times.

The park filled with their laughs and happy screams during their chase .They pointed at places around the park that instilled with fun old memories.

"Remember you got stuck on that tree once and I had to help you get down Shravan laughed

"Oh please your saying it like you climbed up and got me down like superman which wasn't the case! You just stood on the ground guiding me were to put my foot!" She corrected

"I wasn't going to climb up and get stuck too! But it did work you made it down!" He said tapping her back proudly

"Yes with the little help of Shravan Malhotra, I was so scared but you reassured me"

"Trust me I was calm but inside I was panicking, worried that you will hurt yourself" Since they were kids, he was always watching out for her and Pushkar.

They both felt their hearts warming up realizing how much time they've spent together in childhood .It flourished a strong feeling of yearn and affection towards each other .

They walked side by side when Suman was lost in her deep thoughts staring straight

"Shravan..? What happened with us?" She asked slowly looking at him sadly, as they missed out on 8 years without each other

"You tell me .." He put his hands in his pockets pursing his lips with regret as they stared at each other.

"Shravan as we grew up, things did change. You made new friends and so did I. You were the popular one and I wasn't. It gave the students an excuse to pick on me and making fun of our friendship. Your protectiveness just made things worse, people assumed many things .I wanted them to stop so thought staying away from you would fix everything" her voice was filled with sandess

Shravan stared on softly seeing the regret and hurt in her eyes.

"Shravan you never stopped being protective over me ..." She said shaking her head fondly

"Sumo , you were my friend even though at school it was different but you still were my friend and friends stand up for each other no matter what!"

Suman felt her heart swell up with warmth and love " Shravan I was just frustrated and annoyed! I was scared of other people's judgments"

Shravan listen on

"But I'm not afraid anymore; anyone can say anything they want, my ties with my close ones won't change because of people." She said firmly yet gazing warmly in his eyes "I don't care what people say anymore, I will listen to my heart and only my heart"

Shravan couldn't stop adoring her, loving her .Since he returned from London he saw the change in her she got more confidence and was self assured .Something he liked very much! She developed beautiful qualities in herself that he admired .

"Shravan when you started dating It just felt odd, seeing you with someone else. I felt like my friend wasn't the one I once knew and started keeping my distance not wanting to interfere. But I get it ,we were young and still figuring ourselves out." She said swallowing the lump in her throat

"Sumo, Trust me, my biggest regret in school was going out with Urvashi." he exasperated "I felt ...Peered pressure in a way, I just wanted to ...experiment I guess" he said uneasily, he knew he chose the wrong girl and it wasn't like he expected .

Suman nodded "I understand Shravan but for me it was hard because Urvashi made me feel like I wasn't supposed to be your friend anymore."

Shravan pursed his lips upset "I didn't know she was so mean to you Sumo, I couldn't stand it!" He said firmly

"I actually bumped into Urvashi a few months ago. She's still the same, rude, bratty and stupid! I hated her and still do! Suman said angrily

"Im not surprised she didnt change"

"I still don't understand out of all the girls why you picked her!" Suman said continuing her steps but realized he wasn't following and turned around concern.

Shravan gazed at her deeply closing their distance.

"Well there was this one girl I really liked " Shravan looked into in her puzzled eyes.

"Did you ever ...tell her?" Suman voice broke a little feeling her heart thumping anxiously!

"I tried, I invited her to The Ball Night but she never showed up". He looked at her painfully

Suman brows furrowed confusedly "She didn't show up?"

Shravan stared on intensely "Sumo I think I would know if she came or not " His voice was tad bit annoyed

"I was upset that she didn't show up , I always liked her but she didn't see it .I was hoping to fix my friendship with her and tell her my feelings. I was waiting for her but she left me standing there alone.." His heart pulled with anguish staring into her eyes sadly.

Suman swallowed nervously gazing in his eyes surprised at his indirect message, .He was talking about her!

" I guess she was really serious about breaking our friendship.." his voice dropped upset

Suman was reading his eyes as if he was pointing towards her and pursed her lips shaking her head feeling her head spinning lightly.

"Shravan ...I was there that Evening..I ..I was finishing my English essay with Bunty .When we walked out I saw you ..I remember you looked nervous and I wanted to speak to you... but then ..I saw Urvashi hugging you from the back..Wasn't she your date?"

Shravan listened on something didn't make sense

"Wait you saw me waiting and then saw Urvashi hugging me, so you assumed I invited her?"

"Well you did invite her no?She showed me the note you gave her and I thought you..."

He quickly cut her off "Wait wait she showed you that note? And you believed it was for her?"

Suman could feel her heart pasting anxiously hoping she didn't think what she was expecting .A huge misunderstanding!!

"Sumo ...do you really think I would invite her after everything she did and said to you!?" he asked frustrated

"Maybe ...I mean we weren't speaking anymore..so I thought .."

"I wasn't that desperate Sumo!... I wrote it for You " he stated firmly

Suman felt her heart drop to her stomach! That note was for her!! He wanted them to solve their issue and friendship and potentially tell her that he liked her!!!

She was shocked yet hurt gazing in his eyes, how bad he must have felt when she didn't show up! She crushed his hope!!

"Shravan ..".She whispered as they stood few inches away just gazing at each other .He slowly held her hands comfortingly seeing them shaking .

"I slid that note in your Locker " He explained as his voice became calm and tender soothing her

"Shravan ...I'm trying to recollect what happened " She said softly "I opened my locker but then Bunty called me and I turned around."

Shravan frowned his brows trying to fix the last puzzle "and then the note ...Probably fell on the floor."

"And Urvashi ..." Suman continued to say "Urvashi must have picked it up and claimed it as hers!" Suman said figuring it out!!

Shravan looked down feeling her heart tug painfully realizing all this was a misunderstanding .

"Urvashi made you believe that we were getting back together" His voice filled with agony

Suman nodded looking up at him with her eyes watering with sorrow and regret

"The note didn't say it was for me and ...I ..." She couldn't complete her sentence feeling her heart crying.

Their fingers intertwined tightly and leaned their foreheads together emotionally and closed their eyes . Suman let her tears roll down her cheeks. They could have fixed their friendship long ago but this misunderstanding caused them to have 8 years of separation. Suman felt her heart cringe and ache just thinking about how hurt He must have felt when she didn't show up . Shravan understood that it wasn't her fault at all! If she knew the letter was for her she would have showed up .It was a huge misunderstanding!

"I'm ...so sorry Shravan .."the words came out in a soft whisper

He opened his eyes noticing tears over her cheeks..He slowly cupped her face making her look in his eyes. She held his forearms encouraging his touch .He wiped her tears with his thumb and placed a warm kiss over her forehead soothing her.

"It's not your fault Sumo destiny played a game with us.."

Suman pursed her lips sadly

"I would have accompanied you in a heartbeat Shravan ... I didn't want anything more but to mend our friendship .And knowing that you wrote that note for me ... means so much" her voice broke in tears "I should have spoken to you, the matter would have been solved there and then! But...I thought you were still angry at me ..."

"I thought ...you didn't show up because you were still angry with me "His eyes glistened

"no...no I wasn't anymore." She felt more tears roll down her cheeks ..."Shravan, I'm so sorry for everything I said, and the way I spoke to you that day. I didn't mean what I said, I regret it so much"

"shhh Sumo, don't blame yourself " He comforted her seeing her cry in his palm that were cupping her face "We can't get the 8 years we lost ..But we can promise each other to never let anyone break our friendship" Shravan felt daggers in his heart when he saw her cry!

She nodded in his palms

"And promise speak to each other when a issue arises "She finished her sentence hopefully as Shravan nodded with a firmly .There was a moment of silence as they let everything sink in ..

After a while she spoke ..

"Shravan ...you liked me ...more than just a friend didn't you" Her throat felt lumpy as tears lingered on her cheeks

His teary eyes stared deeply into hers "I did, you were always special for me"

"And ...what about now? Her eyes reflected innocence making his heart warm up and errupt a smile on his face

"I think its obvious .No? He said wiping her last tears.

She smiled tenderly wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a tight hug

Shravan grinned happily and wrapped his arms around her waist and lifting her up from the ground, they fit perfectly together. He dug his head near the crook of her neck feeling a sense of relief and sanctuary .

They both felt their heart thumping fast feeling overwhelmed .They never gave each other real hug before this one was very special .

They both felt a sense of comfort and togetherness after longing and yearning for each other. A feeling of warmth and affection spread through their heart and veins .They ached to hold each other so close and never let go . From this moment their friendship was tied tightly and never going to break again.

Suman felt his lips graze her skin innocently and in response she raked his hair from the back lovingly .His head further in her neck taking a sigh of relief..For a long moment They both stayed clued together like two magnet . Shravan loved the way her frame fit perfectly against him; he didn't ever want to let her go. She snuggled her face closer to his neck finding solace in his protective arms ,it felt heavenly.

Few moments later

She ruffled his hair from the back lovingly looking in his eyes they didn't stop gazing at each other ..

"It feels so good to be close to you like this" she said leaning her forehead against his ,

He put one hand behind her head keeping it in place against his forehead . The other arm was still holding her firmly around her slim waist .Their lips were few centimetres away due to the proximity causing a yearn to lock them passionately.

"I wanted to hold you in my arms like this for so long Sumo... for so long" His voice was deep yet impactful, never wanting to let her go .

"Me too.." she whispered against his lips due to the closeness making his heart jump a beat .He was aching to close the distance but wanted to take things slow .

He lowered her until her feet reach the ground safely, but her hands didn't move away neither did his firm hold around her waist. She didn't stop playing with his hair from the back, her touches were so gentle and loving , he didn't want her to stop it gave him a sense of belonging

"Shravan why didn't you tell me before that ...you liked me" She scold warmly

"I didn't want our friendship to get affected"

Suman knew how that felt .

"I understand, I didn't say anything for the same reason. I couldn't figure out my feelings for you , it was confusing ,sometimes I would tell myself that you were just a friend and other times ..you felt more than just a friend .."She admitted lovingly

Their eyes kept lowering to each other's lips as they spoke

"I realised when I started dating Urvashi, and finally understood my feelings .It was you that I wanted, you were different, I was comfortable with you, I felt more myself .When you started taking your distance, I hated it! I was always waiting for your attention but didn't get it and it angered me . When you stopped talking to me completely it hurt so much, your silent affected me so much .I wanted to talk to you so bad I wanted to fix things with you"

Her lips pursed sadly, she cupped his jaw ,rubbing soothing circles with her thumb gently

"Even being separate for 8 years, I didn't stop thinking about you .I tried dating but your words kept coming to me" his lips curved into a small smile

Suman smiled confusedly

" I don't want to be friends with someone who chases stupid girls" he chuckled

Suman glanced down sheepishly yet with a smile taking over her lips.

"And you were right they were stupid ...nothing like my Sumo" His voice was warm and tender "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too Shravan " .She said letting her fingers caress his stubble lovingly "When you left everything just felt...Empty...I missed you so much Shravan and waited for you to come back"

He took her hand and placed a deep passionate kiss on her palm. She couldn't stop adoring him; her heart was overwhelmed with so many feelings. They stood there for long moment absorbing the feeling of togetherness.

They both didn't want to leave they just be with each other. It felt blissful, there was so much to say a but they knew it was getting late and their families were probably worried.

Shravan dropped Suman back home; it was interesting drive home, they kept shooting glances at each other and she placed her head on his arm closing her eyes peacefully. He sighed happily having her close to him without hesitation, his childhood friend became his lover and that was the best felling ever! HE couldn't ask for anything more

They arrived and he parked outside the gates of Tiwari Villa, He opened the car door for her and stood close to her. Their eyes were clued on each other lovingly for few moments ..

.Shravan slowly neared his lips boldly on her skin and planted a warm kiss over her rosy cheek , her skin was so soft and smelled amazing!!

"Good night" he whispered in his husky voice causing blood to rush to her cheeks. He couldn't hold himself back.

Her heart racing and gazed on lovingly, she lowered her head coyly feeling him adoring her shyness ! All this was new for her and she didn't know what to say and gave him a sweet smile walking away through the gates

. He watched her walking on the pebble path , but she slowly turned around and saw him leaning against his car with his hands in his pocket gazing on fondly. Her heart made her take steps back to him .

His brows frowned confused wondering if she forgot something.

She slowly cupped his jaw warmly and placed a kiss on his cheek leaving him surprised yet elated. It was such a sweet yet innocent kiss, she lingered her lips a little too long on his stubble playfully yet warm. His hand came around her waist automatically holding her against him

"Good night "She whispered against his skin boldly making his heart accelerate and turned his head, their eyes lowered to each other's lips aching to lock them but they were aware that it wasn't the place or time.

"When do I see you again?" He asked as their bodies leaned against each other, his eyes looking into hers deeply caused her heart to thump hard! Especially when they filled with mischief yet love , it was endearing but dangerous as if he can catch her into his spell!

"Soon ... "She whispered sweetly

"Make it happen fast .." He bumped his forehead against her as he let her go slowly.

She took her distance but his fingers remained intertwined with hers with a mischievous smile, not wanting to let her go .He wanted to freeze the time and have her to himself forever. With a heavy heart they let go and she walked away from him. She smiled satisfied at least she wouldn't be cursing herself all night for not giving him a kiss back!

She turned to look back at him, he gave her a wink lovingly and she went inside blushing.

Shravan drove away in total euphoria!! He wanted the moment to last longer, but he knew he will get more chances soon .The case wasn't over and talks about his marriage with her were definitely on the way! They both fell asleep thinking about each other and reflecting on everything. It felt good getting their misunderstanding sorted and start afresh knowing they both had feelings for each other. They were ready to embark in a new journey together ...journey of love.

What!! They didnt say I love you?!! 😆😉 Hi guys!!! Thank you so much for all your comments and the Like Button! ❤️ I want to save the 3 magical words for another update ,hope you understand.I was going to add in this chapter but then thought it would be nice to leave it for another occasion .Sorry if I disappointed , maybe this update could have been written differently but I tried my best.

Hope you guys continue to read the upcoming updates , its a SS so will end the story around chapter 10 ...more or else depending .

Please dont forget to press the like button!😊