Chapter # 24

After dealing with the mess and leaving Zaviyaar with a final warning, Nathaniel decided to stay in Mumbai for the time being. They were in an apartment, Zariah was deep in slumber and sitting beside her, his one hand was in hers and from the other, he was stroking her hair. A smile gradually adorned his lips, the adoration flashing in his eyes as he kissed her knuckles was explicit. De Villiers noticed how cherishing-ly his fingers moved across her delicate skin. 'When you love her this much then why involve her in your hatred and mess, Boss?" De Villiers whispered. Nathaniel's lack of sharing intentions was unfavorable. He hated how he kept it all in his mind but never expressed it. 'Why is she here?" De Villiers asked again when he received silence, making him slightly ire. 'Do you know how old I was when I first fell for her?" Leaning back, he rolled his eyes as Nathaniel rested his head to her side with a beautiful smile adorning his lips. Now taking her both hands in his and kissing them with all his passion, closing his eyes to remember the memorable moment. 'Like fifteen I guess," He corrected, 'Sixteen. Now I am thirty-five." 'So?" 'Nineteen years and in these nineteen years, one year of our marriage together before she went to jail, two years of school and the past few months." Inhaling sharply, his lips quivered, tightening his grip on her as it grew uncontrollably painful to imagine how harsh it was for him. 'Three years, five months and twelve days, De Villiers…" De Villiers was taken aback at his transparent anguish. Convulsing, his gaze lowered with extreme disappointment to the point his voice broke. And then tears blurred his vision as he pressed it over his forehead, forcing out a shaky chuckle as a tear unwillingly rolled down his cheek. 'Don't you think that is too low compared to nineteen years, my brother?" 'I-" 'Tell me yourself, even now, don't I deserve it?" Sniffling, he wiped it quickly and stared at him firmly. Swallowing hard his feelings… again. Burying them and giving him an unreadable look. 'If I am asking for some unforgettable moments to create with her- Is that wrong of me?" Lowering his eyes in shame, De Villiers whispered, 'I am sorry for asking," Without speaking further, he got up and left them alone. When he was gone, Nathaniel laid beside her, snuggling to her to close his weary eyes. 'Zari…" He smiled at how perfect this name sounded on his lips as if it was made for it… 'My Zari, I won't let you go away anymore, I have lived with your imaginations and faint memories enough, I need you here physically." He murmured on her cheeks, kissing them while releasing a tear of powerlessness. At certain points he felt scattered, he felt like losing and dying but here, in this moment, he understood the meaning of his life. Never been so tranquilizing before… 'I won't let you go away, I will always be there for you, like wind, my darling…" He remained there, taking a nap with her for an hour before waking up and checking up on the other couple who were sharing a cup of coffee. 'I will always be there for you, Amanda," 'I know. I trust you wholeheartedly, De Villiers," He smiled faintly at them. Though he never saw them as couples nor expected them to hold romantic feelings for each other. But, whatever it was, he was happy for them. 'Ahem," Faking a cough, he got their attention. They left their hands and turned to him. 'Is she awake?" 'Not yet," 'Is she completing her years of sleep?" De Villiers cracked a joke. Sighing, Nathaniel shook his head and took a seat. Manspreading and pushing his hair behind to indicate his disruption for the current situation. 'So, what now?" 'Not only Elton escaped but Zoran also turned out to be fake. Wow, do they not fear us in one year?" Amanda uttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. 'Don't worry, Zaviyaar will find his location from hell now." Nathaniel informed calmly. 'Why?" 'He had finally become a parent, to save his family, he would pour all his efforts to complete my demand," 'Hmm, you are right," Humming, he rose to go back inside and not ruin their moment, at least. 'Boss, Dinner? You haven't eaten anything since morning," 'I am not hungry, I will eat with Zariah," He waved his hand, not in the mood to swallow a bite even without her. 'Your starvation won't wake her up," De Villiers muttered which he ignored and went back to the room. He stayed with her. Back resting against the frame, eyes closed, fingers slowly, very slowly, moving across her palm accompanied by a symphonic sensation. It felt ethereal. ‘Her, this close, near me, holding her, such scant yet an expensive desire of mine.' He smiled at these thoughts until he sensed her moving and waking up gradually. He sat up straight, turning to her when she rubbed her eyes. 'Nathaniel…?" 'Zari, are you okay? You are not hurt, are you?" 'What is… happening? Mother.. My mother, Nathaniel!" Gasping, she sat up hastily, holding his shoulders to tell him everything. He continued smiling, taking her hands in his. 'Yes, we have recovered her body and gave her a proper burial," 'What happened? How… and Elton. He, he is also working for-" 'He was my apprentice once. Alice's boyfriend to be exact. He handled my work in Italy," He explained everything to her softly, helping her to relax. 'He never told me that," She frowned as she had done dealing with Elton quite a few times in Italy back then and when she was an ace too. 'Leave it, tell me how are you feeling?" 'Dizzy," 'Must be from weakness. Let me grab someone to eat," Nathaniel grinned, pinching her cheeks as he got up and came back with a tray of food. Placing it on the bed, he offered her a bite himself. She smiled faintly, his care, his closeness, his affection. Nathaniel wasn't the only one who found himself rich with his ‘expensive desires'- She felt the same too. It was all mutual. 'Where are we? What is this language?" She mumbled, looking out of the window. 'We are in Mumbai for now and in hiding." He replied, putting the tray away and wiping her lips with a tissue. 'Why?" 'This,"