36. ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ

Hello violetssssss....

Also, reminder: this chapter is unedited, so... read at your own risk 😅
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Toh chaliye suru karte hain bina kisi bak- I mean continue reading !  [20.1K+ Words]

___________

Udaipur , Rajasthan ~

A soft golden stream of morning sunlight spilled over the grand Rajput palace, painting its sandstone walls in shades of molten amber and warm honey. The entire estate looked almost unreal beneath the early dawn glow, the intricate jharokhas casting delicate shadows across the marble courtyards while the faint sound of temple bells echoed from somewhere far beyond the palace walls. A cool breeze drifted through the open arches, carrying with it the scent of wet earth, sandalwood, and blooming raatrani flowers that still lingered from the night before. Everything about the morning felt calm, regal, untouched.

On the second floor, in the last room at the end of the long royal corridor, silence rested heavily like a sleeping kingdom refusing to wake. The sheer curtains moved softly with the wind, allowing thin ribbons of sunlight to slip inside and fall directly over the figure sprawled across the massive carved bed. 

The warm light painted the bare expanse of his back in golden hues, highlighting the sharp muscles and faint scars scattered across his skin, while the dark duvet remained lazily tangled around his lower half. One of his arms was wrapped possessively around a pillow, almost as if he had unconsciously replaced someone with it in his sleep.

And that someone... was precisely the reason behind his current state.

Because the man sleeping there was none other than the great Aakarsh Singh Rathore himself,  A man whose mere presence could silence rooms, whose words carried enough weight to change outcomes overnight, and whose patience was considered thinner than the edge of a sword. 

Yet despite all that power, despite the authority he carried so naturally... he had fallen asleep last night in the most ridiculous mood imaginable. 

Sulking. Furious. Offended. Entirely because his wife had dared to leave him alone in the middle of the night.

The memory itself was enough to irritate him even in sleep.

One moment she had been beside him, and the next, Anavika had calmly informed him that some urgent work required her immediate presence in another state. Just that composed, infuriatingly graceful tone of hers before she disappeared while he was still processing the audacity of her decision. 

And honestly? Aakarsh had taken it very personally. Because kingdoms may listen to him.

But Anavika? She simply did whatever she wanted.

And the worst part was that he let it be.

No, correction. He never merely allowed it. He surrendered to it willingly.

Because while the world believed Aakarsh ruled an empire with ruthless precision, the truth hidden behind everything is that Anavika ruled him.

Without even trying. One look from her could calm his rage faster than logic ever could, and one absence from her was enough to throw the entire balance of his mood into chaos.

Which was exactly why the sulking king had made a silent decision sometime around three in the morning.

If his wife had abandoned him in the middle of the night... then he would simply continue sleeping until she returned.

Petty? Absolutely.

Childish? Deeply.

But in his defense, Anavika herself had promised that she would be back before breakfast. And Aakarsh, despite all his arrogance, trusted her words with a faith so absolute that it bordered on dangerous devotion.

After almost an hour, the palace had fully awakened into its usual rhythm. Meanwhile, inside the second floor's royal chamber, Aakarsh was already done with half a day's discipline.

He had exercised, trained, taken a long bath, and dressed himself in a crisp ivory shirt paired with dark trousers that fit him with effortless perfection. His slightly damp hair was brushed back neatly, though a few strands still rested rebelliously near his forehead, and the sharp scent of his expensive cologne lingered faintly around the room. He now sat near the wide arched window with one leg crossed over the other, slowly sipping black coffee while sunlight poured around him like liquid gold.

Because someone was still missing.

Then finally... the door opened.

Not fully. Just slightly.

And first, only half a head peeked inside cautiously.

Two blinking eyes appeared from behind the wooden door, looking around the room with the suspicious energy of someone already aware they were guilty before even speaking. Then slowly, dramatically, the rest of the face appeared.

 Large eyes. Slightly hesitant expression. Lips pressed together in the world's most unconvincing attempt at innocence.

Anavika.

For exactly one second, Aakarsh simply stared at her.

Then despite himself, despite the irritation he had carefully maintained since last night, a smile broke free onto his lips almost instantly. 

Small at first. Then wider. Because honestly, only this woman had the audacity to disappear the entire night and still enter the room looking like she expected forgiveness purely based on facial expressions.

And the worst part? It worked.

Anavika clearly knew she was late. Very late. Breakfast was long over, brunch itself was probably preparing to leave, and yet instead of entering normally, she behaved like a child trying to check whether the situation inside was safe for survival.

After realizing he wasn't about to throw a royal decree at her, she finally stepped inside properly and closed the door behind her softly. The sunlight caught against the delicate embroidery of her pastel kurta while her slightly tired face still carried traces of overnight travel. 

A loose strand of hair rested against her cheek, and despite looking exhausted, there was something deeply comforting about simply having her back inside the room again.

Aakarsh slowly glanced down at the watch resting around his wrist before looking back at her with one raised brow.

"Does the future queen of Rajasthan," he murmured calmly, though amusement lingered beneath his voice, "have her breakfast at eleven twenty-eight in the morning now?"

Anavika ignored the accusation entirely.

Instead, she quietly placed her bag aside near the couch before walking straight toward him without hesitation, like this room belonged to her more than anyone else. Which, honestly, it did. 

The moment she reached him, her arms slipped naturally around his neck before she settled sideways onto his lap with complete comfort, as if that was the most normal place in the world for her to sit.

"Queen," she replied with absolute seriousness, though sleepiness still lingered in her voice, "will directly have lunch. No breakfast policy."

A soft scoff escaped him immediately.

His arms came around her waist automatically, instinctively pulling her closer as she leaned fully against him. Anavika buried her face near his neck and inhaled slowly, the familiar scent of his fresh cologne making her eyes flutter shut for a brief moment. 

Aakarsh rested his chin lightly against her hair for a moment before speaking again, quieter this time.

"I will be going back to Italy tonight."

The words changed everything instantly.

Her head snapped upward so fast that a few strands of hair hit his face. Her eyes widened in complete disbelief while her grip around his neck tightened unconsciously.

"What?!" she blurted out immediately, staring at him like he had personally committed betrayal. "But you just came here two days ago."

There was genuine hurt in her voice now. Not dramatic annoyance. Not teasing irritation. Actual disappointment.

Aakarsh hummed softly, though even he looked mildly unhappy about it.

"Some important work needs my presence there," he explained calmly while brushing his thumb lightly against her waist. "So I have to go."

The moment the sentence finished, she smacked his arm with a sharp glare.

"You are so bad, Arsh," she complained, her voice instantly turning emotional in the most Anavika way possible. 

"You just come here to spoil my habits. I was somehow trying not to miss you properly, and then you came back and ruined everything again."

She looked genuinely offended now, her brows furrowing while her fingers curled against his shirt.

"And now," she continued dramatically, "you are leaving again."

Then she narrowed her eyes at him with complete royal authority. 

"I deny your going back to Italy."

That made him laugh softly under his breath.

God, she was impossible.

Aakarsh leaned forward slightly and pressed a slow kiss against her lips, brief but lingering enough to quiet her protests for a second. When he pulled back, his forehead rested lightly against hers while his voice dropped into something softer, warmer, far more sincere.

"I know, my lord," he murmured teasingly. "But if it wasn't important..."

His fingers brushed gently through her hair before he finished quietly, "...then I would've never even thought about leaving you here."

She let out a long exhausted sigh before melting back against him again, her arms loosely circling around his neck while she buried her face near the crook of his shoulder. 

Aakarsh felt her cling to him more tightly after the mention of Italy, and the faint crease between his brows softened immediately. One of his hands moved slowly up and down her back in a soothing rhythm while the other rested securely around her waist, holding her as though he had no intention of letting go anytime soon. 

Then he lowered his head slightly and murmured near her hair, his tone gentler now, calmer, like he was trying to reason with a stubborn child he adored far too much.

"Avi, sweetheart," he said quietly, "I am not going into some sort of war." A faint amused breath escaped him before he continued, "It's about paperwork. Meetings. Signatures. Some matters there need my presence personally."

But instead of calming down, she only snuggled even closer into his neck, almost as if the explanation itself made her mood worse. Her voice came out muffled against his skin, softer now, carrying that vulnerable honesty she rarely showed anyone else so openly.

"Mann nahi lagta yaha mera, Arsh," she whispered quietly. "I miss you a lot."

And that... that completely ruined whatever little composure he still had left.

Because there were very few things in this world capable of affecting Aakarsh emotionally. Threats didn't. Pressure didn't. Political games definitely didn't. 

But this woman sitting in his lap, speaking in that soft miserable tone while holding onto him like he was home itself? That affected him dangerously fast.

Still, instead of becoming emotional back, he chose the far more entertaining option.

Troubling her.

A slow smirk appeared near the corner of his lips as he leaned back slightly just enough to look at her face properly. His fingers brushed lazily against her waist while he asked in a deliberately calm voice,

"What do you miss, sweetheart?"

Anavika frowned slightly at the question as if the answer was obvious.

"You," she muttered simply.

But that answer clearly wasn't enough for him.

Aakarsh slowly pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, already enjoying where this conversation could go. His eyes remained fixed on her face while amusement flickered dangerously within them.

"What about me?" he asked again, quieter this time.

She looked at him for a second before answering honestly, almost helplessly.

"Everything."

That single word made his grin widen immediately.

"Everything?" he repeated slowly, his voice dropping lower with intentional teasing. "Means you miss our Italy nights?"

Her expression changed instantly. He continued before she could stop him, his tone becoming smoother with every word.

"Miss my words messing up with your system?" he murmured near her ear now. "Or miss our—"

Before the sentence could finish, her palm immediately flew over his mouth.

Completely horrified.

"I know the next word," she muttered quickly, glaring at him while trying and failing to hide the pink tint spreading across her cheeks. "So it's better if you keep quiet."

A low laugh vibrated against her palm.

Then, without warning, he pressed a kiss right against the center of her hand, making her eyes widen slightly before he slowly pulled her hand away from his mouth.

 Instead of releasing it, however, he held it firmly behind her back while looking at her with exaggerated disappointment.

"Fine then," he sighed dramatically. "I don't believe you anymore. Clearly you don't miss me or anything like that."

His free hand moved toward the phone resting nearby.

"Let me call Anuj," he continued casually. "I'll tell him to prepare the jet now itself."

Her head snapped up instantly.

"No!" she protested immediately. "No need to call that sautan of mine."

That made him laugh properly this time.

Anuj, his secretary and closest aide during international work trips, had somehow become Anavika's self-declared competition purely because he monopolized too much of Aakarsh's schedule whenever Italy was involved.

Aakarsh opened his mouth to tease her further, but before he could speak, she quickly placed her other palm over his mouth too.

"I said no calling Anuj," she repeated stubbornly, narrowing her eyes at him.

The possessiveness in her tone was so adorable that it became impossible for him not to push things further.

Without warning, he caught that hand too.

And within seconds, both of her wrists were pinned gently behind her back using only one of his hands while his other arm tightened around her waist, pulling her fully against him until barely any distance remained between them. The sudden movement made her gasp softly, her eyes widening as she instinctively looked at him.

Aakarsh leaned closer slowly, his forehead almost brushing hers now, while amusement and affection mixed dangerously inside his gaze.

"Now," he murmured calmly, holding her securely against him while she remained trapped in his arms, "say it properly again."

His thumb brushed lightly against her waist.

"How much," he asked quietly, "does my wife miss me? "

Her eyes remained locked with his, completely trapped within the intensity of his gaze. There was something dangerously unfair about the way Aakarsh looked at her sometimes, like he could peel apart every guarded emotion she tried to hide with just one glance. 

Anavika swallowed softly before finally speaking, her voice quieter this time, stripped of teasing and stubbornness both.

"I miss you a lot," she admitted slowly, honestly. "Like... even in small simple things and—"

Her words vanished completely.

Because his lips found hers before she could finish the sentence.

The suddenness of it stole every remaining thought from her mind instantly. One second she had been trying to explain herself, and the next, silence wrapped around her completely as he kissed her with the kind of restrained desperation that said far more than words ever could. 

The hand resting against her waist slowly moved upward until it reached the nape of her neck, his fingers slipping gently into her hair as he deepened the kiss without hesitation.

And unlike his teasing from moments ago, this carried no mischief.

No games. Just longing.

Years of authority had taught Aakarsh  how to control his expressions, his reactions, even his emotions when needed. 

But with her, there were moments where that control cracked quietly beneath the surface, and this was one of them. The kiss started softly, almost tender, but gradually turned deeper, fuller, like he was trying to pour every unspoken feeling into it before leaving again tonight.

Anavika's fingers curled tightly against his shirt instinctively as her breathing faltered slightly. She could feel it now, far too clearly. 

This wasn't merely about her missing him. It was about him too. 

About the way his arms tightened around her like he never truly got enough of holding her close. About the way his lips lingered against hers like he was trying to memorize the feeling again before distance stole it away once more.

It started with him asking how much she missed him.

But the kiss itself answered a completely different question.

Because in those few moments, she could feel exactly how much he suffered whenever she wasn't around him.
How deeply silence irritated him when her voice wasn't filling it.
How badly he craved her presence in the smallest parts of his day without ever admitting it openly.
Her laughter.
Her arguments.
Her scent lingering on his clothes and bedsheets. Even her dramatic complaints.

He missed all of it.

Missed her.

More than someone like Aakarsh would probably ever confess directly.

When he finally pulled back slightly, his forehead rested against hers while both of their breaths remained uneven. His thumb brushed slowly against the side of her neck, almost absentmindedly, while his eyes stayed fixed on her face like he still wasn't fully satisfied even after kissing her.

And honestly? He probably never would be. Because loving Anavika had turned into the kind of habit that no amount of distance could weaken anymore.

[A/N: Chalo bohot glimpse mil gya inki love story ka ... ab thora ladaku logo ko bhi attention de de LOL .]

****

VKD Group Headquarters, Mumbai ~

The atmosphere inside the executive cabin had turned noticeably heavier over the last twenty minutes, though the room itself remained as polished and luxurious as ever. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked the city skyline, muted sunlight spilling across the expensive marble flooring while the soft hum of centralized air conditioning filled the otherwise tense silence. 

The CEO of VKD Group sat across from Arini with visible restraint in his posture, his fingers repeatedly tapping once against the armrest before stopping himself midway every single time.

Meanwhile, Arini looked entirely unaffected by the pressure sitting in the room.

She sat with composed elegance, one leg crossed over the other, Her expression remained unreadable, calm enough to look almost disinterested, which somehow made the situation even more intimidating for the people sitting across from her.

Because unlike most business negotiations, Arini never looked desperate for deals. She looked like someone deciding whether something was worthy enough to deserve her attention.

The CEO inhaled slowly before speaking again, trying to maintain professionalism despite the growing frustration evident in his tone.

"But Mrs. Singhania," he said carefully, attempting to reason with her while keeping his voice diplomatic, "you cannot propose such conditions for a joint project. This is highly irregular."

Arini barely even glanced at him properly.

Instead, her gaze shifted lazily toward the city outside the glass walls, as if the traffic below interested her more than the discussion happening inside the cabin. The lack of immediate response only made the man across from her more uneasy. It felt less like a negotiation and more like standing before a verdict already decided long ago.

Finally, after a long pause, she spoke.

"Then," she murmured calmly, her voice smooth enough to sound almost gentle, "don't expect SR Enterprises and AR Group to collaborate with VKD Group on this project."

The words landed with brutal simplicity.

No anger. No raised voice. Just a clean, direct statement that carried enough weight to shift the entire atmosphere of the room instantly.

She slowly turned her gaze back toward him now, her sharp eyes locking onto his with controlled precision before continuing.

"And if we withdraw," she added evenly, "the other twenty-eight companies currently associated with our network will back out too."

That made him visibly stiffen.

Because that was the real problem.

Not the project itself. Not the conditions.

But the fact that everyone in the industry knew exactly how much influence Arini carried in the corporate world. Businesses followed her decisions the way markets followed economic crashes, rapidly, fearfully, and without needing formal announcements.

The CEO leaned back slightly and exhaled through his nose, clearly trying to calm himself before this discussion spiraled further.

"But your demand to permanently terminate one of our smartest advisors," he muttered, slower this time, "and transfer the manager to another branch..."

A pause followed before he finished with visible discomfort. "...is extremely problematic."

Arini hummed softly, almost absentmindedly, as if she genuinely did not consider his concern important enough to deserve deeper thought.

"Then the deal is off."

The response came so instantly that the man looked momentarily caught off guard.

For a second, he simply stared at her.

Because people usually threatened to walk away from deals.

Arini actually did it.

And that difference alone made her terrifying to negotiate with.

The CEO straightened in his seat immediately, panic beginning to slip through the cracks of his professional composure now.

"How can you let go of such a massive project over personal demands?" he asked, disbelief mixing with frustration. "This collaboration could benefit both our companies significantly."

That made her chuckle. A sharp, quiet chuckle.

Not amused.

Insulted.

Finally, she leaned forward slightly, resting one elbow against the armrest while tilting her head .

"Big project?" she repeated, her voice softer now, though somehow even colder than before. "You believe this is a massive project because you are getting an opportunity to work with us."

Her gaze sharpened.

"But for me?"

A faint smile appeared on her lips, elegant and dangerous all at once.

"This is an average Tuesday."

The CEO fell silent.

Arini continued without giving him room to interrupt now, every word deliberate, controlled, and terrifyingly clear.

"I receive offers bigger than this multiple times a day," she said calmly. "If this deal disappears right now, another company will place an identical proposal before sunset."

Then her expression hardened completely.

"But your company," she added slowly, "will not receive another opportunity to attach itself to the 'SR' or 'AR' name this easily."

The room became silent again.

Heavy. Pressurized.

The kind of silence where even breathing too loudly feels inappropriate.

Arini leaned back once more before speaking again, her tone clinical now, stripped entirely of politeness.

"Your PR team will publish hundreds of promotional articles using SR Enterprises and AR Group's involvement to increase your own market value," she said. 

"Your shares will rise. Your public image will improve. Investors will gain confidence simply because our names are attached to your company."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"So no," she murmured, "you will not receive all those benefits without paying a price."

The CEO opened his mouth again, but she didn't let him speak.

"That price," she continued smoothly, "is the permanent termination of Mr. Abhay Chaudhary from this company."

Her voice remained calm. Too calm.

"And the manager accompanying him," she added, "will be transferred to another branch immediately."

Then came the final blow.

"I also want an official public notice released through your verified social platforms confirming the termination."

The CEO looked genuinely stunned now.

Not because he didn't understand what she was demanding. But because he was slowly realizing she was absolutely not bluffing.

His fingers tightened slightly against the desk as he attempted one final protest.

"Mrs. Singhania, this is highly extreme for a corporate disagreement—"

Arini stood up before he could finish.

The sudden movement immediately silenced the room again.

"You have all time in universe until  evening," she said calmly.

Then she glanced at the watch resting around her wrist.

"And by evening," she clarified, her tone sharpening slightly, "I mean before 4 PM."

The CEO stared at her speechlessly.

She smiled then. Not warmly.

Victorious.

"After that," she continued, "I will personally announce that the deal between VKD Group and SR Enterprises, has officially collapsed."

A pause.

"And trust me," she added softly, "the market reacts very badly to companies I publicly refuse to associate with."

The meaning behind those words settled like poison inside the room.

Because everyone knew she was right.

Without another glance toward him, Arini turned gracefully and walked toward the exit, the sound of her heels echoing sharply against the marble flooring with controlled authority.

And the moment the cabin door shut behind her... A slow smirk curved against her lips.

Because there was one thing Arini knew better than almost anyone else in the world.

How to bend people exactly where she wanted them to break.

Ice cream khaunga... date pe jaunga.'

The line repeated in my head for what was probably the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes, and honestly, at this point I was beginning to question my own mental stability. 

Because what kind of grown man, a fully functioning adult who handled board meetings, security crises, billion-rupee discussions, and corporate warfare on a daily basis, sat in front of a mirror internally singing like an overexcited teenager before a date?

No, seriously.

What the hell was wrong with my brain today?

I stared at my own reflection suspiciously, narrowing my eyes as if the man in the mirror had personally betrayed me. And the worst part? The idiot staring back at me actually looked happy.

Not normal happy.

Pathetic happy.

The kind of happy people get after receiving a text from someone they're hopelessly in love with.

My expression immediately deadpanned.

"Bro," I muttered to myself under my breath, dragging a hand down my face dramatically, "you've officially gone crazy."

A pause. Then the next thought arrived automatically.

Because you're going on a date with HER.

And just like that, every remaining fragment of logic inside my brain collapsed again.

Her.

My wife.

The woman who could glare at people so coldly that fully trained executives forgot how presentations worked. 

The same woman who insulted me daily, threatened violence casually, and somehow still managed to make my entire nervous system malfunction with one look.

Love of my life.

The realization hit with embarrassing force.

I looked back into the mirror again, only to immediately freeze in horror.

"...What the fuck?"

My face looked slightly pink.

Pink.

I leaned closer toward the mirror with visible suspicion, tilting my head left and right as if better angles would somehow change reality. But no. Unfortunately, reality remained committed to humiliating me.

I was blushing.

Actually blushing.

"AM I FUCKING BLUSHING?" I whisper-yelled at my own reflection, sounding personally offended by biology itself.

This was criminal.
Absolutely criminal.

I immediately tapped both my cheeks lightly a few times as if physical violence would somehow reset my system back to normal functioning human behavior. Maybe blood circulation would calm down. Maybe my face would stop acting like I was some newly confessed lover standing outside a tuition center.

Nothing changed.

Fantastic.

I exhaled sharply and pointed at myself through the mirror with complete seriousness.

"Control yourself," I muttered sternly. "You need to act normal."

Another pause.

"...At least pretend to act normal."

Because there was absolutely no way I was surviving this date if my brain continued behaving like an overenthusiastic background dancer in a Bollywood love song.

And the worst part?

Today, I hadn't even gone to the office.

Not because I was sick. Not because work was light. Not because I had free time.

No.

I had deliberately shifted all my meetings, calls, approvals, and work online just because I didn't want to miss even a single second with her today. Every important discussion had been redirected to video conferences, every unnecessary interruption had been cancelled, and half my staff was probably wondering why I suddenly became allergic to physical office presence.

But priorities were priorities.

And right now? Arini ranked significantly above corporate productivity.

Because what if some unnecessary meeting appeared at the last moment?
What if some investor decided to suddenly develop emotions?
What if a presentation stretched longer than expected and I got late?

And worst of all...

What if she got irritated and cancelled the date?

No.

Absolutely not.

I refused to take such life-threatening risks.

Which is exactly why I had decided very early in the morning that today, under no circumstances, was I leaving the house for anything except her.

I walked toward my side of the closet and slid the glass door open, my eyes scanning through the neatly arranged rows of clothes hanging inside. 

Usually, choosing an outfit took me less than two minutes. I simply grabbed whatever shirt was placed in the front row, paired it with trousers that looked decent enough, and left before anyone could accuse me of caring too much about fashion.

But today was different.

Today was not some random business meeting or family dinner where I could survive looking merely "presentable."

Today, I was going on a date with Arini.

Which unfortunately meant my brain had decided that every single outfit inside this closet was suddenly inadequate.

I folded my arms and stared at the clothes with deep concentration, as though I was preparing for an international diplomatic event instead of dinner with my own wife. My gaze moved from black shirts to white ones, from charcoal grey to beige, but none of them felt right enough.

Because normal was not an option today.

Not when it was her.

And then, almost automatically, a thought crossed my mind.

Navy blue.

As much as I remembered, navy blue was Arini's favorite color. I still remembered that day clearly, the day I had offered her my navy blue shirt almost absentmindedly, only to later realize how ridiculously attached I became to that piece of clothing afterward.

Not because it was expensive or because it looked exceptional.

But because she had worn it.

That alone had somehow transformed an ordinary shirt into something dangerously important inside my brain.

In fact, I had kept that particular shirt entirely separate from my other clothes now. Folded carefully. Untouched. Protected like some emotionally valuable artifact.

Because genuinely speaking, if someone accidentally ruined it during washing, I would absolutely lose my mind.

I opened another section of the closet and immediately found what I was looking for, another navy blue shirt. Then another. Then another.

I blinked once before realizing I owned an unreasonable number of shirts in the exact same color.

Eight.

I had around eight navy blue shirts.

Now technically, it wasn't only because Arini liked the color. Navy blue genuinely suited me too. It made me look sharper, cleaner, more put together. Even my mother used to say darker shades worked best on me.

But still... The fact that Arini liked that color too somehow made wearing it feel different now.

My fingers brushed across one of the shirts as I mentally started planning the entire look. Which watch. Which shoes. Whether I should roll the sleeves slightly or keep them formal. Whether the top buttons should remain open or not.

God.

I had truly become hopeless.

Right when I was deciding between two nearly identical shirts like my life depended on it, my phone buzzed against the bed.

Without much thought, I picked it up. And the moment I read the message, the lightness inside me vanished instantly.

Unknown: Don't make a fool out of yourself. Had you really forgotten what you used to ask a few years ago?

My jaw tightened. Immediately.

The warmth from moments ago disappeared so quickly it almost felt unnatural, like someone had poured cold water over my thoughts. For a few seconds, I simply stared at the message without blinking, irritation and something darker settling heavily inside my chest.

Then another line flashed through my mind automatically.

Agh. I don't want it anymore.

The memory alone made disgust crawl beneath my skin. I exhaled sharply and ran a hand through my hair, my grip tightening around the phone unconsciously.

I regretted it.

Deeply.

Everything connected to that phase of my life felt like something rotten buried beneath years of silence, something I wished had never existed at all. And no matter how many times this unknown number resurfaced, trying to drag me back toward those memories, the answer remained the same.

No.

I was never repeating those mistakes again.

Without another second of hesitation, I blocked the number again.

But even after doing it, frustration remained sitting heavily inside me because this wasn't the first time.

I had changed my phone.
Changed SIM cards.
Changed almost every possible way someone could contact me privately.

And still... This contact kept finding ways to return.

Like a shadow refusing to disappear completely.

I stared at the blocked screen for a few seconds longer before tossing the phone onto the bed with visible annoyance. My thoughts had become restless now, tangled in irritation and unease.

And for the first time in a while, another thought quietly rose inside my subconscious.

Should I tell Arini about this too?

The idea lingered for a moment. Then I immediately rejected it.

She already carried too much pressure on her shoulders. Corporate responsibilities, family expectations, endless meetings, security issues, managing entire empires worth of problems every single day.

The last thing I wanted was to increase her stress further.

Especially over something I could handle myself.

But then my subconscious spoke again, quieter this time, yet somehow heavier.

What if this concerns her too?

That made me pause. Completely.

Because if there was even the slightest possibility that this situation could somehow affect Arini, then ignoring it would become dangerous.

My grip tightened slightly against the edge of the closet shelf as conflicting thoughts collided inside my head.

'Then I'll stop it before it reaches her.'  The thought settled firmly inside me.

No matter what this was. No matter who kept trying to drag the past back into my life.

I would handle it myself before it ever became her burden to carry.

Because Arini already fought enough battles every day. I refused to let this become another one.

I looked at the blocked contact again, my thumb resting motionlessly against the side of the phone while the last message still remained visible on the screen like an unwanted stain from the past. Irritation had already settled deep in my chest, but beneath that irritation sat something heavier, something far more dangerous.

Guilt.

Not fresh guilt. Old guilt.

The kind that never truly disappears no matter how many years pass.

My jaw tightened slightly as I stared at the screen, and for a brief second, memories I spent years trying to bury clawed their way back into my mind without permission. Mistakes. Words. Decisions. 

The version of myself I genuinely hated looking back at now. 

There was a time when confusion, anger, ego, and emotional exhaustion had twisted everything into something ugly between me and her.

 A time when misunderstandings became weapons instead of conversations. A time when silence hurt more than screaming ever could.

And the worst part? I had allowed it.

That realization still disgusted me sometimes.

Because no matter how much the situation had affected me too, no matter how broken or furious or lost I had been back then... one truth remained unchanged.

She had suffered because of it.

Arini.

The woman who now trusted me enough to slowly lower her walls around me again.
The same woman who acted untouchable before the world but still unconsciously searched for safety in the people she loved.
The same woman whose eyes occasionally softened around me before she immediately rebuilt her composure as if vulnerability itself offended her existence.

And once upon a time... I had become one of the reasons those walls grew even higher.

The thought alone made something inside me twist painfully.

I lowered the phone slowly and leaned back against the closet, exhaling through clenched teeth while frustration simmered beneath my skin. Whoever kept sending these messages clearly wanted something. Maybe they simply enjoyed dragging old wounds back into the present.

But whatever the reason was... They were too late.

Because things had changed now.

I had changed.

And more importantly, my priorities had changed.

My gaze shifted toward the mirror again, but this time I wasn't looking at my reflection properly. My thoughts were elsewhere completely, tangled around one person only.

Arini.

The woman who somehow became home without even trying.

The woman whose presence calmed every restless part inside me while simultaneously making my heart behave like an unstable idiot.
 The woman who fought the world every single day with terrifying strength, yet still quietly cared for the people she loved in ways most would never notice.

And suddenly, the idea of anything or anyone trying to come between us again felt unbearable.

No.

Never again.

I glanced once more at the blocked contact, my eyes hardening now, all traces of earlier nervous excitement replaced with something colder, steadier, more certain.

"It will never become me against her," I muttered quietly, though the firmness in my voice made the words feel more like a promise than a statement.

A pause followed.

"Never again."

"Never say never, Bhavya."

I murmured the words calmly while leaning back against the leather seat of the car, my gaze fixed lazily outside the tinted window where Mumbai's evening lights blurred past in long streaks of gold and white. 

The city was slowly transitioning into night, roads still crowded with movement, horns echoing faintly through the traffic while the sky above remained painted in fading shades of orange and deepening grey.

Bhavya sat in the front seat, entirely focused on the road as always, both hands steady on the steering wheel while navigating through the traffic with practiced precision.

 She only glanced at me once through the rearview mirror after my statement, clearly aware I was referring to the conversation we had earlier regarding one of the company matters.

But wisely... she chose not to argue.

Because experience had taught her that when I spoke in that particular tone, calm, quiet, almost detached, it usually meant my mind was already ten steps ahead of everyone else.

And honestly?

Today had been exhausting enough already.

The entire day felt like one endless chain of meetings, negotiations, corporate damage control, legal discussions, approvals, security briefings, and people continuously testing the limits of my patience.

 By the time evening arrived, even my shoulders carried that faint heaviness that only came after handling too many problems without pause.

Which was exactly why I had decided to return home earlier than usual today.

Not because the work was finished. Work never truly finished.

But because for once... I had promised Aksh something.

A date.

The thought alone made a faint sigh leave me internally.

Still ridiculous. Still strangely unfamiliar.

And somehow... still sitting in the back of my mind throughout the entire day no matter how busy I tried to remain.

Meanwhile, the tablet resting beside me continued playing recent news updates at low volume, the reporter's polished voice filling the otherwise quiet atmosphere inside the car.

"According to current details," the reporter spoke from the screen, her expression professionally grave, "Mr. Abhay Chaudhary, a highly successful advisor at VKD Group, has been found dead."

My eyes shifted toward the screen slowly.

The news continued.

"First, the company terminated him, as confirmed through updates released on their official social media platforms. Soon after, reports suggest he went bankrupt. Sources also claim that his own family forced him out of the house..."

A brief pause followed before the final line came.

"...and later, his penthouse caught fire under mysterious circumstances."

The screen shifted to visuals of flashing police lights, partially destroyed property, reporters crowding outside barricades, and dramatic headlines running endlessly beneath the footage.

Bhavya instinctively lowered the volume slightly.

I didn't stop her.

Instead, I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the moving visuals while my thoughts drifted somewhere far quieter and darker than the news itself.

Because the world had always been strangely simple when it came to death.

Once people heard someone was dead... They stopped searching.

Stopped questioning. Stopped looking deeper.

The dead became stories. Headlines. Temporary sympathy.

And then eventually... forgotten. But reality was rarely that clean.

Some people died for the world long before they actually stopped breathing.

And sometimes... the people declared dead were still alive somewhere, merely erased carefully enough that no one thought to look again.

Suffering in silence.
Hidden in places unreachable to ordinary people.
Places where names disappeared.
Where power disappeared.

Where even screams lost meaning because no one remained willing to listen anymore.

My fingers tapped once lightly against the armrest as the news kept playing in the background, the fire reflected faintly against the tablet screen.

A slow breath left me.

Because death was not always the worst punishment. Sometimes survival itself became one.

And somewhere deep inside my mind, beneath all the calmness resting on my face, one cold thought settled with absolute clarity.

Some people deserved consequences far worse than funerals.

I reached the mansion just as the evening sky had begun melting into deeper shades of blue and silver, the massive structure glowing softly beneath the warm exterior lights. 

 The day had been exhausting in every possible way, mentally draining enough to leave a dull pressure behind my eyes, and for the first time in hours, all I genuinely wanted was a few moments of silence before tonight's date with Aksh began.

The cool evening breeze brushed lightly against my face as I walked toward the mansion entrance, my heels clicking softly against the stone pathway lined with garden lights and trimmed hedges. 

And then my phone buzzed.

I frowned slightly and unlocked the screen while still walking.

System Breach : Someone is trying to log in your security.

My steps slowed immediately.

The exhaustion in my body disappeared almost instantly, replaced by sharp alertness as I opened the notification properly and checked the details. 

Within seconds, the interface expanded into encrypted logs and tracking routes, lines of codes reflecting faintly against my screen while my eyes scanned through them with practiced precision.

And then I saw it.

The IP address belonged to Aksh's phone.

A dangerous stillness settled inside me.

Now who the hell was trying to interfere with the chip installed in his device?

Because Aksh himself had absolutely no idea that particular security layer even existed. His own technical team couldn't access it. 

Nobody from his company could breach through my coding structure that easily. Which meant only one thing.

There was a third  person attempting to force entry into his system.

I stopped walking altogether and took a slow breath before changing direction toward the garden area instead of entering the mansion immediately.  The fountain nearby continued flowing peacefully, completely unaware that my brain had already started calculating potential risks, possible servers, encrypted routes, and breach intentions within seconds.

I sat down quietly on the marble bench near the garden pathway and reopened the security panel again, this time checking every network layer more carefully. My fingers moved swiftly across the screen as encrypted windows opened one after another.

The network itself was stable. No internal corruption. No malware spread. No direct tampering with my base coding.

Which meant whoever was attempting this... knew exactly where to hit.

My jaw tightened slightly.

I checked Aksh's device activity next.

He was inside the mansion. The location tracker confirmed it immediately. His phone activity remained almost zero apart from basic screen unlocks. No suspicious browsing. No outgoing system permissions. No unusual app access.

Just twenty-eight phone calls.

And four messages.

From which he had blocked one contact.

A quiet sigh escaped me as I leaned back slightly against the bench, staring at the glowing screen for another moment before locking it halfway.

Sometimes... genuinely sometimes... I feel like a crazy obsessed stalker of my own husband.

The thought crossed my mind with enough self-awareness to almost make me scoff at myself. Because honestly? Keeping encrypted surveillance chips inside your husband's device did sound clinically concerning if described without context.

'You are doing exactly that,' my subconscious mocked instantly.

I rolled my eyes internally.

No. There was a difference.

I wasn't checking his personal conversations for entertainment.
 I wasn't invading his privacy for emotional insecurity.
I never cared about random details like who he talked to, what he searched, or what nonsense he discussed with people during the day.

I only monitored necessary things. Security threats. Suspicious activity. Risk factors. Anything that could potentially harm him.

Like right now.

Because someone trying to crack through my security codes on his device was not normal. And definitely not accidental.

My gaze lowered back toward the screen again, my expression hardening slowly as calculations continued forming in my head one after another. 

To trace the source properly, I would need direct access to Aksh's phone for at least ten uninterrupted minutes.

Ten minutes would be enough.

Enough to either strengthen the encryption further... or locate the exact server currently attempting the breach and destroy its access permanently.

And suddenly... tonight's dinner date had gained an entirely different purpose too.

Not just dinner.

Now I needed his phone.

A faint exhale left me as I finally locked the device completely and slipped it back into my bag before standing up from the bench. The mansion lights glowed warmly ahead of me while distant laughter echoed faintly from somewhere inside the house.

[A/N : Aksh ki merese ab personal dushmani hai guys . Hamesha uski khushi me aag lga deti hun mai .]

I walked upstairs quietly, But instead of walking toward my room immediately, my feet automatically changed direction toward the one creature in this mansion who somehow demanded attention with more entitlement than actual humans.

My attention seeker Billa.

The moment I pushed open the door slightly and stepped inside, two golden eyes immediately locked onto me from across the room. And before I could even properly react, that oversized dramatic beast literally launched himself toward me like he hadn't seen me in centuries.

"LEO-"

Too late.

A whole heavy-weighted lion disguised as an emotional house cat crashed directly into me with full force, and within the next second, I lost balance completely. 

My back hit the floor with a loud thud while the giant criminal stood proudly over me like he had accomplished something extraordinary.

"Mota kahi ka," I muttered dramatically under my breath while trying to breathe normally again.

Honestly, what else was supposed to happen? A literal overgrown lion jumped on me as if gravity and human bone structure were optional concepts. Of course I fell.

 At this point, surviving his affection itself deserved recognition.

Leo, meanwhile, looked entirely unbothered by the destruction he caused. His giant paws rested beside me while he lowered his head slightly, almost demanding affection as compensation for assaulting me emotionally and physically.

I sighed softly despite myself and raised my hand to pet his fur slowly.

"One day," I murmured while scratching behind his ears gently, "you will actually break my bones, Leo."

His fur felt warm and unbelievably soft beneath my fingers, thick enough that my hand practically disappeared into it as I stroked him slowly. 

The giant menace instantly relaxed further at the affection, blinking lazily as if he was the victim here and not the one committing attempted manslaughter through love.

But still...

Hai toh mera billa hi. Kaisa bhi ho.

No matter how huge he became, no matter how terrifying he looked to others, somewhere in my brain he would always remain my overdramatic emotionally needy cat.

After a moment, he finally moved off me and sat directly in front of me instead, tail swaying lazily while his golden eyes remained fixed on my face with full concentration, like I was personally responsible for entertaining him further.

I sat up properly and crossed my legs on the floor before looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"Did you eat something in the evening?" I asked suspiciously, brushing a few strands of hair away from my face. "Or are you planning to continue behaving like a starving jungle criminal?"

Leo blinked once. Slowly. Innocently.

Absolutely not trustworthy.

I pointed toward him accusingly. "You know," I continued with complete seriousness, "you can also try eating the person who lives two rooms away from here."

Another blink.

No reaction. No concern. No loyalty toward me in murder planning whatsoever.

I scoffed dramatically. "Wow. Betrayal."

Then I leaned forward slightly again and gently caressed the top of his head, my fingers moving through the fur around his ears while his eyes slowly narrowed in visible satisfaction.

"You know..." I murmured more quietly this time, my tone softening without permission, "I am going on a date with that potential meal of yours."

Leo's ears twitched slightly at my voice while I continued absentmindedly petting him.

"The same person," I added after a pause, my expression turning quieter now, more thoughtful, "you saw me crying for."

For a brief second, the room fell silent except for the soft sound of Leo breathing near me. And somehow, saying those words aloud felt stranger than expected.

Because this entire situation with Aksh still occasionally felt unreal to me.

The same man who once became the reason behind some of my worst emotional breakdowns... was now becoming the person I waited for at the end of exhausting days. The same person I was now getting ready to go on a date with.

Life was genuinely ridiculous sometimes.

Leo nudged his head lightly against my arm again, immediately dragging me out of my thoughts.

 Attention seeker.

A faint smile finally appeared on my lips as I glanced down at my watch.

"Okay," I sighed softly while ruffling his fur one last time, deliberately messing it up despite knowing he hated it, "now I'll be going."

He immediately looked offended.

I almost laughed.

"Don't miss me too much," I added while standing up from the floor slowly, before walking backward toward the door.

Leo continued staring at me with that deeply judgmental expression animals somehow master naturally, like he personally disapproved of every decision I made in life.

And honestly? Considering my current emotional situation... maybe he had valid concerns.

I walked inside our room quietly, still mentally preparing myself for tonight while adjusting the sleeves of my shirt slightly. 

The room was dimly lit with warm ambient lighting, soft enough to make the entire space feel calm after the exhausting day I had survived. 

For a moment, I glanced around casually, expecting to find that handsome jerk somewhere near the couch, the balcony, or buried inside his laptop like usual.

But he was nowhere in sight.

Good.

At least I could take a peaceful bath without him standing nearby and casually destroying my peace of mind with those stupidly smooth comments and even more stupidly attractive face expressions.

I exhaled softly and picked up my towel before walking toward the washroom, completely unaware that fate had apparently woken up today with personal hatred against my emotional stability.

Because the moment I stepped inside and turned properly toward the shower area, a scream tore out of my throat before my brain could even process the situation in front of me.

"AAAAAAAAA—!"

"YAAAAAAAA—!"

Arini screamed first. Loudly. Sharply. Pure shock exploding out of her system before her brain could even process what her eyes had just witnessed.

And then, almost immediately, Aksh screamed right after her.

Not because he was injured. Not because something dangerous had happened. But because when one human suddenly screams like the apocalypse has arrived, the second human apparently loses all remaining intelligence and screams too.

The entire bathroom echoed with absolute chaos for one glorious second.

Because the moment Arini had stepped inside, she had frozen on the spot after seeing him standing beneath the shower, water running over his shoulders while his upper body remained completely visible through the misty glass and scattered droplets. His wet hair was pushed back messily, streams of water sliding down his chest and arms while the warm steam filled the luxurious bathroom around him.

And unfortunately for both of them... neither had expected the other to be there.

Arini immediately turned around so fast it was almost violent, her back facing him instantly as her heart practically attempted to escape through her ribcage.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" she yelled in utter disbelief, one hand flying dramatically toward her chest.

Behind her, Aksh looked equally startled, still trying to recover from her scream triggering his own survival instincts.

"Taking bath, of course!" he shot back in the exact same panicked tone, sounding personally attacked by the question itself.

Arini squeezed her eyes shut in frustration.

"Why the hell was there no fucking sound or sign that you're here?!" she snapped while desperately trying not to picture literally anything she had accidentally seen two seconds ago.

Meanwhile Aksh, who was still standing under the shower with water pouring over him, blinked twice before looking mildly offended.

"I was literally showering," he defended helplessly. "What sign was I supposed to put? A public notice?"

Ignoring him completely, Arini immediately grabbed the door handle and tried opening it again.

Nothing happened.

Her brows furrowed. She tried again. Harder this time.

Still nothing.

Then her eyes landed on the small red sensor light blinking near the side panel of the door.

And suddenly the situation became worse. Much worse.

Her eyes widened so dramatically they nearly looked ready to fall out of their sockets.

"IT IS NOT OPENINGGG!!" she yelled in full frustration, the last word echoing through the bathroom while panic and irritation mixed together beautifully in her voice.

Aksh immediately snapped out of his own shock and grabbed a towel nearby, wrapping it quickly around his waist before stepping out from beneath the shower to help her. Water still dripped continuously from his hair and skin as he walked toward the door, leaving faint wet footprints behind him on the marble floor.

"Maybe some drops of water fell on the sensor," he explained while pressing the side panel himself. "It happens sometimes. It'll take a little time."

But the moment he came closer, Arini instantly walked a few steps away from him again with visible alarm, maintaining dramatic distance like he was suddenly radioactive.

And unfortunately for her... the bathroom floor was wet.

Her foot slipped instantly.

"Ow—!"

Her balance disappeared completely as her hands flew out automatically, trying desperately to grab literally anything for support before she hit the floor.

But before she could fall—

Aksh's arms came around her waist immediately, pulling her back against him with quick reflexes. Her back collided against his chest while his grip tightened instinctively to steady her completely.

For one suspended second, everything froze.

Except...

The hand Arini had stretched outward searching for support accidentally grabbed the shower knob instead.

Click.

And the ceiling shower turned on directly above them.

Water burst down instantly.

Cold. Sudden. Ruthless.

Arini gasped sharply the moment streams of water splashed directly onto her face and into her eyes. She immediately lowered her head reflexively while trying to blink properly again, but by then it was already too late.

Aksh got drenched all over again within seconds, his towel darkening immediately beneath the heavy stream of water while droplets rolled down his neck and shoulders continuously.

And Arini?

Her entire outfit got soaked completely.

Every. Single. Part.

The soft fabric clung to her almost instantly while water dripped from her hair, sleeves, and fingertips onto the marble floor beneath them. Her breathing remained uneven from the chaos while she stood trapped between embarrassment, irritation, and the deeply unfortunate awareness that Aksh's arms were still firmly wrapped around her waist.

Meanwhile Aksh looked down at her for one silent second.

Then another. And despite the situation being objectively disastrous... the corners of his lips betrayed him completely.

Because somehow... Their first official date had not even started yet.

And they were already standing fully drenched together inside a locked bathroom like two deeply unlucky idiots.

She was feeling warmth around her waist despite the cold water continuously pouring over both of them, and that realization alone was enough to snap her out of the strange daze her mind had drifted into.

 For a second, she had become too aware of the closeness, too aware of the solid arms wrapped firmly around her, too aware of the way her back was pressed against him beneath the falling water.

And the moment that awareness properly settled inside her brain, she immediately turned her face slightly and muttered sharply, almost defensively, "Let go of me!"

Her voice came out more flustered than angry, which only irritated her further.

Aksh looked down at her for a second before humming softly in response, the corners of his lips twitching faintly as he slowly pulled his hands away from her waist. The warmth disappeared instantly, replaced again by the cold shower water soaking through her clothes and hair.

Arini immediately turned toward the shower knob, determined to switch it off before this situation somehow became even more embarrassing than it already was. But the moment she took a step forward on the slippery marble floor, her foot betrayed her once again.

"Fuc—!"

Before the rest of the curse could leave her mouth, Aksh reacted instantly.

 This time both of his arms wrapped securely around her waist before she could lose balance completely, and he yanked her flush against him with enough force that she collided directly against his chest again. 

Water splashed around them while his grip tightened instinctively, almost possessively, as if genuinely annoyed that she nearly slipped again within the span of thirty seconds.

"What are you?" he snapped dramatically, looking down at her with disbelief mixed with concern. "A jellyfish? Keep sliding around like you have no relation with friction."

His wet hair clung slightly against his forehead while droplets rolled down the sharp line of his jaw as he continued glaring at her.

"Muh toot jayega na tab samajh aayega!"  he added, sounding personally offended by her lack of balance.

Arini opened her mouth to argue back immediately, but the words died somewhere in her throat.

Because only then did she fully realize the position they were standing in.

Her hands had automatically landed against his bare torso while trying to steady herself, her palms resting against warm skin slick with water. Beneath her fingertips, she could literally feel the tension in his muscles from how tightly he was still holding her.

And when she slowly looked up—

His green eyes collided directly against her brown ones.

The world around them suddenly felt strangely quieter despite the loud sound of water still falling continuously from above. 

Tiny droplets slid down both their faces while steam lingered softly through the bathroom air, blurring the edges of everything except him. Except her.

For one long suspended moment... neither of them moved.

Neither looked away.

Arini could hear her own heartbeat now. Loudly. Uncomfortably loudly.

Then, slowly, her gaze shifted downward.

First toward his neck where droplets of water slid across damp skin. Then lower. And lower again.

Until realization struck her like physical impact.

Oh.

OH GOD.

She immediately cleared her throat and looked away so quickly it almost looked painful, heat rushing straight toward her face despite the cold water drenching her completely.

Meanwhile Aksh... knew exactly what had just happened.

And unfortunately for Arini, he was not the kind of man who ever let opportunities like this pass peacefully.

A slow grin appeared on his face as he leaned slightly closer toward her, lowering his voice deliberately.

"Liked what you saw?" he murmured near her ear, the teasing in his tone almost unbearable.

Arini instantly glared at him despite the embarrassment clawing at her composure.

"I've seen better," she replied coldly, with the confidence of someone blatantly lying for survival purposes.

Aksh hummed softly, entirely unconvinced.

Then he leaned even closer, his lips nearly brushing against the side of her ear while the warmth of his voice sent an annoyingly dangerous shiver down her spine.

"But I've never seen someone like you," he murmured quietly, and this time the teasing faded into something softer, deeper. 

"And I'm not planning to see anyone else either."

His eyes traveled slowly across her face before he added, almost absentmindedly, "You are perfect."

And unfortunately for Arini... Her heart reacted. Violently.

Something fluttered so hard inside her chest that she genuinely felt offended by her own biological system.

She looked up at him again instantly, almost suspiciously now, while he simply shrugged casually as if he hadn't just destabilized her entire nervous system with one sentence.

"I mean," he continued shamelessly, a grin returning to his lips now, "meri toh nazar hatt hee nahi rahi... kya hot lagti—"

THWACK.

Her hand landed directly against his chest before he could finish the sentence. Not exactly a slap. More like an aggressive warning strike fueled by embarrassment.

"Dare to say it," she threatened while glaring at him murderously, "and I will drown you in this bathroom."

Aksh looked down at her hand still pressed against his chest before grinning even wider like an absolute menace.

"I'll love to get killed by your hands."

She pointed a finger directly at him in outrage. "Aksh, you—"

Bzzzt.

A faint mechanical sound interrupted her sentence. Both of them turned their heads toward the bathroom door immediately.

The red sensor light had finally turned green.

Unlocked.

And only then... only in that exact second... did they both properly realize how dangerously close they still were standing.

Arini immediately pulled her hands away from him like she'd just touched fire and stepped back quickly, fixing her expression with visible effort.

"Get out from here," she muttered hurriedly while avoiding his eyes now. "I have to take bath."

Aksh hummed innocently, though the grin on his face made it clear he was enjoying this far too much.

"Have you ever thought," he began thoughtfully, "to save water by—"

A fresh towel hit his face before he could complete the sentence.

"You had already taken bath!" she snapped furiously while pointing toward the door. "Now GET OUT!!"

Aksh burst out laughing properly this time, the sound echoing warmly through the bathroom as he pulled the towel away from his face and finally walked toward the exit.

And meanwhile Arini stood there completely drenched, heart still beating traitorously fast beneath her ribs, staring at the closed door afterward with absolute disbelief.

This man was genuinely going to be the reason behind her early death one day.

*****

They both were finally ready for the date, and for a brief moment, the room itself felt quieter, almost as if the air had paused just to take them in properly.  After all the accidental chaos in the washroom, the teasing, the slipping, the arguments, and the way their hearts had nearly betrayed them multiple times in a single hour, this moment felt strangely calm. 

Arini stood near the mirror, looking effortlessly breathtaking in a way that almost annoyed Aksh because he genuinely could not understand how one person could look this unreal without even trying too hard.

 She wore a sophisticated black ensemble that radiated elegance, confidence, and quiet authority all at once. The fitted white high neck top rested smoothly against her skin, the soft fabric hugging her frame gracefully while the structured black blazer layered over it added a sharp, commanding touch to her entire appearance. Luxurious gold buttons gleamed subtly under the warm lighting, adding just enough regal charm to make her look less like someone going on a dinner date and more like a woman who owned entire cities and occasionally decided to spare people by merely walking through them.

The blazer cinched perfectly around her waist, enhancing her poised silhouette while still maintaining that composed sophistication she naturally carried everywhere. Her sleek black mini skirt paired beautifully with sheer black stockings that hugged her legs elegantly, adding a subtle allure without taking away from the polished refinement of the outfit.

 Knee high leather boots completed the look with a bold edge, making every movement she made look effortlessly powerful. Meanwhile, her soft dark waves framed her face beautifully, cascading over her shoulders in gentle layers while the delicate makeup around her eyes made her doe eyes appear even more hypnotizing than usual. 

She looked expensive. Untouchable. Absolutely captivating.

 And Aksh genuinely felt like his heartbeat deserved financial compensation at this point.

Meanwhile, Aksh himself looked equally devastating in a way he wasn't even fully aware of. He wore a deep navy blue formal shirt that fit him flawlessly, the rich shade enhancing his sharp features and broad frame effortlessly. 

The top few buttons remained casually undone, exposing just enough of his collarbone to make the entire look dangerously attractive without appearing intentional. His sleeves were rolled slightly above his wrists, adding that subtle casual charm to an otherwise polished appearance, while the tailored black trousers gave him a clean, refined silhouette that suited him far too well. 

The dark tones contrasted beautifully against his fair skin and soft black hair, and combined with the expensive watch resting around his wrist and the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the room, he looked unfairly handsome.

And honestly? That was the problem.

Because every single time Arini looked at him for longer than two seconds, her nervous system started behaving like it had personally forgotten professionalism, emotional discipline, and basic peace.

They both stood side by side near the mirror for a moment, and even Arini had to admit internally that together they looked dangerously good.

Without saying much, Arini lifted her phone and clicked a picture of them together before her PR team collectively started spiraling from stress due to her inactive official socials. 

The camera captured them perfectly, her composed elegance beside his relaxed charm, the contrast between black and navy somehow blending together beautifully.

 Aksh leaned slightly closer during one of the pictures, and although she pretended not to notice, her pulse definitely did.

She quickly selected one photo and uploaded it to her socials with minimal effort because unlike her PR team, she refused to spend forty minutes choosing captions like it was a national emergency.

The moment she locked her phone, Aksh looked at her again.

And then looked again.

And again.

Arini noticed it from the corner of her eye and finally turned toward him with one raised brow. 

"What?" she asked, her tone calm but suspicious already because this man smiled too much whenever nonsense was about to leave his mouth.

He blinked once before shamelessly replying, "I am just thinking that if you walk into the restaurant looking like this, half the population is going to forget their food orders."

She deadpanned immediately. "And if you continue talking like this, I'll cancel the date before we even leave the room."

Instead of being threatened, he grinned wider like the menace he truly was.

"See?" he murmured dramatically while placing a hand over his chest. 

"This is emotional abuse. I compliment my wife and she threatens me."

"My condolences," she replied dryly while picking up her handbag.

He stared at her for another second after that, softer this time, quieter. The teasing still remained in his expression, but beneath it sat something warmer. Something genuine. Because no matter how many jokes he made, the truth remained painfully simple.

He was completely  gone for her.

Arini moved toward the door first, her heels clicking softly against the floor while Aksh immediately stepped aside and gestured toward the exit with exaggerated politeness.

"Let's go," she murmured finally.

He placed one hand near his chest and bowed his head slightly with dramatic elegance. 

"Always behind you, Madam."

And somehow, despite herself... That small smile still escaped her lips.

They both finally stepped out of the room and began walking downstairs together, and somehow the entire mansion felt unusually alive tonight.

And unfortunately for them, three pairs of eyes had already locked onto them from the very top of the staircase.

From the moment they appeared upstairs till the second they descended halfway down, Mishika, Varsha, and Rounita watched them with expressions ranging from amusement to outright emotional satisfaction.

 None of them even attempted subtlety anymore. Because honestly? How could they? The visual in front of them was far too good to ignore.

Then came the dramatically loud voice that shattered whatever dignity remained in the atmosphere.

"Woahhh... Aaru di and Bhai..." Mishika practically gasped while looking between them with sparkling eyes. "You guys are looking SO good together."

Her tone carried the exact kind of excitement people reserve for celebrity couples or dramatic wedding reveals. 

She looked genuinely one compliment away from pulling out imaginary flower petals and throwing them around.

Arini merely hummed softly in response, though the faint upward twitch near her lips betrayed her amusement slightly. 

Meanwhile Aksh looked entirely too pleased by the compliment, which immediately irritated her on principle alone.

Then, of course, Varsha joined in because apparently one teaser in the family was not enough.

"Dono pati patni kidhar chal diye?" she asked with an overly innocent expression that fooled absolutely nobody in that room. Her eyes were practically shining with mischief while she looked at both of them knowingly. 

"Itna saj dhaj ke?"

Aksh opened his mouth to answer, but before he could even speak, Rounita entered the battlefield with the calmness of someone fully prepared to emotionally embarrass her son for entertainment purposes.

"Hmmm," she murmured thoughtfully while pretending to inspect them carefully. "Dinner date par jaate honge Varsha."

Then she sighed dramatically and placed a hand near her chest as if deeply wounded by betrayal.

"Ham hi bas yaha vahi ghisa pita dinner krenge," she continued sorrowfully. "Hamari kaha kisi ko padi hai."

The sheer betrayal in her tone was so exaggerated that even the staff nearby nearly looked like they were trying not to laugh.

Arini instantly chuckled under her breath, the sound soft yet genuine, and turned toward Rounita with disbelief written across her face.

"Maa?" she said while narrowing her eyes slightly. "Aap toh meri team me the na."

Rounita immediately made an exaggerated 'O' face as if she had just remembered something deeply important.

"Oh haa haa," she nodded dramatically. "Bilkul. Dekho, main toh bhool hi gayi thi."

Then she waved her hand dismissively toward everyone else like a queen granting permission.

"Okay everyone," she announced grandly, "chalo, pareshan matt karo becharo ko."

A pause.

Then, with absolutely zero shame, she added, "Jao tum dono."

Another pause. "Thora late hi aana."

There was exactly one second of silence after that.

Then Mishika nearly choked holding back laughter while Varsha openly grinned and Aksh looked like he had just received official national support for his life decisions.

Arini, meanwhile, felt her soul briefly leave her body from secondhand embarrassment.

"Maa," she muttered under her breath while rubbing her forehead lightly. "Please."

But the damage had already been done.

And Aksh, being the opportunistic menace that he was, wasted absolutely no time. Before anyone could continue the teasing further, he immediately reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers naturally before beginning to walk away toward the entrance.

Too fast. Suspiciously fast.

Like a man escaping before his family exposed even more embarrassing details.

As they walked away, Arini glanced sideways at him and noticed the ridiculously satisfied grin sitting on his face.

Then he leaned slightly closer and muttered quietly, just low enough for only her to hear, "When did Maa come into your team?"

There was clear betrayal in his voice, like he had just discovered political corruption within his own household.

Arini looked ahead calmly, completely unbothered.

"Since the beginning," she replied smoothly.

Aksh stared at her for a second in disbelief. Then scoffed softly under his breath. 

"Unbelievable."

But despite his complaint, he never let go of her hand even once while walking out of the mansion beside her.

They both finally stepped out of the mansion, and the cool evening breeze greeted them almost instantly, brushing softly against their clothes while the grand exterior lights illuminated the marble pathways and perfectly trimmed gardens around them. 

 It should have been peaceful.

And for Aksh, it genuinely was.

Because the woman walking beside him looked so breathtaking tonight that his brain had stopped functioning properly nearly thirty minutes ago.

He glanced sideways at her again, and once more his heartbeat betrayed him without shame.

Then, clearing his throat lightly as if attempting to regain some dignity, he finally asked, "If you agree... then can we go in my car tonight?"

A brief pause. Then, with absolute seriousness, he added,

 "I mean... will you be my passenger princess?"

Arini looked at him for exactly one second.

Then another.

There was something deeply ridiculous about the fact that a man who looked this intimidating could say the words "passenger princess" with complete sincerity.

And somehow make it sound genuine.

A faint amused hum escaped her lips as she adjusted the strap of her handbag slightly.

 "Sure," she replied calmly.

The satisfaction that appeared on his face after that answer was genuinely embarrassing.
Like he had just won an international award instead of receiving permission to drive his own wife.

"Okay," he replied immediately, trying and failing to sound normal. "I'll bring the car."

She nodded softly while he headed toward the basement parking area, his steps suspiciously faster than before. Meanwhile, Arini moved toward the nearby bench near the driveway and sat down gracefully, crossing one leg over the other while waiting for him.

But despite the calm expression resting on her face, her mind remained occupied elsewhere.

Because the issue regarding Aksh's device still lingered heavily in the back of her thoughts.

The system breach notification from earlier refused to leave her head. Someone was trying to access him. And that alone was enough to keep every protective instinct inside her fully awake.

She unlocked her phone quietly and opened Aakarsh's contact before typing quickly.

Arini : I think Aksh is getting traced by someone. Tell the tech team to track all the servers around my device. I will make sure to stay around him.

The message delivered instantly. For a few seconds, only silence followed while the night breeze brushed against her hair softly. Then her screen lit up again.

ASR : Team will start their work in a few minutes.

Arini stared at the message for a second before exhaling quietly.

Good.

At least now multiple eyes would be monitoring the situation.

She replied simply.

Arini : 👍👍

Then she locked her phone and looked up.

And immediately paused.

Because Aksh was driving out from the basement parking area toward the main driveway in a black Koenigsegg Agera R, the sleek hypercar gliding smoothly through the dim underground lights like a shadow wrapped in luxury, speed, and danger. 

The glossy carbon fiber body reflected the cold white parking lights sharply, while the subtle red detailing running along the curves made the car appear even more aggressive against the darkness of the night. Its low engine growl echoed faintly through the silent surroundings, smooth yet powerful enough to command attention instantly.

For one brief moment, the entire driveway genuinely felt like it revolved around that one machine alone.

[A/N: Leke meri kaali kaali car darlingg ...]

And unfortunately for Arini... The man stepping out of it looked equally distracting.

Aksh parked smoothly near the entrance before stepping out casually, though the moment his gaze landed on her sitting there beneath the warm exterior lights, he visibly slowed for half a second.

Because honestly? She looked unreal.

Everything about her tonight made him feel like he was staring at someone dangerously out of his league.

Again.

He quickly walked toward her side of the car and opened the passenger door for her without a word.

Arini got up from the bench gracefully and stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the pavement before she slid into the passenger seat smoothly.

 The luxurious leather interior carried the faint expensive scent of the car mixed with his cologne, and once he closed the door gently for her, he immediately circled back toward the driver's seat.

A few seconds later, he settled beside her and started the engine again. Arini looked at him quietly for a moment.

Then smiled very slightly to herself.

Because despite acting confident all the time, this man genuinely looked one heartbeat away from combusting due to excitement over this date.

Then, tilting her head slightly toward him, she called softly in an unusually sweet tone, "Akshhh..."

He instantly turned toward her.

"Hm?" he hummed immediately.

She looked at him with complete calmness before asking, "Do you know where I planned our date tonight?"

He blinked once. Then twice.

And suddenly the confidence disappeared from his face entirely.

"No..." he admitted slowly.

That nearly made her laugh aloud. She pressed her lips together to control her amusement before turning toward him fully.

"Then where exactly," she asked with dangerous politeness, "are you planning to drive this car of yours?"

Aksh scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his ears already beginning to turn slightly pink.

"Uh..." he started intelligently.

A pause. "Long drive?"

Arini stared at him in complete silence for two seconds.

Then replied instantly, "Shut up."

He looked personally attacked.

Without wasting another second, she unlocked her phone and opened the route directions before holding the screen toward him.

"Change the route," she ordered calmly. "Take a U-turn."

Aksh glanced at the map. Then at her.

Then sighed dramatically while following the directions anyway.

And internally? He honestly didn't care where she took him tonight.

As long as she stayed beside him like this the whole evening, he would've happily driven across the entire country without complaint.

*****

He parked the car in the vast open parking area, and the moment the engine went silent, an almost surreal kind of quietness settled around them. The entire place looked calm beneath the soft night lights, the luxurious resort standing a little far ahead like something taken straight out of an expensive dream. 

Warm golden lights glowed from the grand structure, reflecting faintly against the polished pathways and glass walls, while the cool night breeze carried the soft scent of flowers planted around the property.

Arini stepped out of the car and looked around for a brief moment. The parking area was completely empty, almost unusually empty for a place this luxurious during evening hours. The reason behind it was simple, she had booked the entire ground floor of the resort for tonight.

 Since she already held shares in the company that owned the property, arranging something like this was not difficult for her. The guests who had made prior bookings were still staying in their private suites upstairs, but the entire lower section, including the restaurants, lounges, and open spaces, had been restricted for everyone else until they both were here.

 Privacy was important for her, especially when it involved someone she actually cared about.

Aksh looked around once before locking the car, his gaze shifting toward the enormous property with slight surprise visible in his eyes. Even he could tell this entire setup was not something casually arranged in an hour or two. 

Meanwhile, Arini simply adjusted the sleeve of her blazer and started walking ahead as if booking an entire luxury resort for a date was the most normal thing in the world.

After a few steps, she turned her head slightly toward him and asked, "What do you want to do first? Vibe or food?"

Her tone carried complete seriousness as if it was the most important business decision of the evening.

Aksh looked at her for a second and then extended his hand toward her naturally. 

"First let's go inside," he replied while raising a brow softly.

She hummed absentmindedly and walked with him for a few more steps, but suddenly something struck her mind. She immediately stopped in the middle of the pathway and stepped right in front of him, blocking his way completely.

"No no... first answer me properly," she said while narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously. "First we vibe or we eat?"

Aksh stared at her for a moment before laughter escaped him quietly. The seriousness on her face over such a tiny thing was honestly adorable. 

"What do you want?" he asked instead, already knowing she would somehow twist the answer back toward him again.

Arini folded her arms over her chest and looked at him with dramatic offense. "If I tell you first, then you'll simply agree to whatever I say. That doesn't count. I am asking what you want to do first."

For a few seconds, he simply looked at her. The soft night lights were falling over her face beautifully, her dark waves moving lightly because of the wind, and those brown eyes were staring at him with complete expectation like his answer genuinely mattered to her.

And honestly, it did something dangerous to his heart.

He knew her habits now. He knew that when Arini got busy with work, food automatically shifted to the last place in her priorities. 

He also knew that if she was given a choice between spending time emotionally and eating after an exhausting day, her body would eventually choose food even if her mind tried not to.

So he answered softly, "Let's eat first."

The moment those words left his mouth, her entire face brightened slightly. A grin instantly appeared on her lips like a child whose favorite thing had just been confirmed.

 "That's what I wanted too," she admitted immediately without even pretending otherwise. 

"I haven't eaten anything properly since morning. The workload was too much and then those meetings just kept increasing and-"

Her words stopped midway.

Because she finally noticed the way he was looking at her.

Not interrupting her. Not teasing her. Not even speaking. He was simply standing there with that soft expression resting on his face, listening to her ramble like every random thing she said was worth hearing.

And suddenly she became aware of herself.

Aware that she had literally stopped him at the entrance of a luxury resort just to discuss whether they should eat first or "vibe" first.

She cleared her throat immediately and stepped aside while trying to regain her composure. "Let's get inside," she muttered in a much calmer tone.

Aksh bit back his smile and walked beside her again, but the amusement never left his eyes.

Inside the restaurant area, they walked side by side through the elegantly designed hallway where soft instrumental music played quietly in the background. The entire atmosphere carried a calm luxury that instantly relaxed the senses. 

Warm golden lights glowed from the walls and ceiling, reflecting softly against the polished marble floors, while the faint scent of candles and fresh flowers lingered pleasantly in the air. The place looked breathtakingly beautiful during the night, sophisticated without being overwhelmingly flashy, exactly the kind of ambience that felt intimate without trying too hard.

A staff member guided them toward a reserved table placed near a massive floor to ceiling glass panel. Beyond the transparent wall stretched the endless dark sea, the moonlight reflecting over the moving waves like scattered silver across black silk. 

 The combination of the ocean outside and the warm lighting inside created a strange balance, calm yet deeply romantic.

And honestly, the arrangement suited both of them perfectly.

Some parts of this evening were exactly what Aksh loved, peaceful surroundings, dim lighting, privacy, soft music. Meanwhile, other details carried Arini's touch completely, organized perfection, elegant luxury, controlled environment, and carefully planned execution where nothing was left to chance.

As they settled into their seats across from each other, the same staff member stepped forward respectfully. 

Before he could speak anything formal, Arini looked at him and asked calmly, "The lightings are done?"

The man immediately nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Everything has been prepared exactly according to your instructions." Then lowering his voice slightly, he added politely, "You can proceed after the dinner."

Aksh's brows furrowed very slightly at their conversation. He had absolutely no idea what both of them were talking about, nor did he understand what "lightings" she had arranged. But instead of questioning her immediately, he simply leaned back in his chair and watched her quietly.

Because if there was one thing he had learned about Arini, it was that whenever she planned something personally, it always turned out unexpectedly beautiful.

And somewhere deep down, he trusted her enough to simply wait and see.

Arini picked up the menu briefly and then looked at him. "I chose an Italian menu," she said casually while placing it back down. "Since... we both like it. But do you want to add anything else?"

Aksh answered almost instantly, "Ice cream."

The response came out so naturally that even he looked slightly surprised at himself afterward.

Arini frowned immediately, confusion visible on her face. "Ice cream in main course?"

For a second, he just stared at her before realizing what he had actually said aloud. The image of himself earlier, internally chanting about ice cream and dates like some lovestruck teenager, flashed through his head and he nearly wanted to punch himself.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and corrected quickly, "No, I mean... dessert."

A faint suspicious look still lingered on her face for a second before she simply nodded. Meanwhile, the staff member spoke respectfully, "We will serve dessert in the setup area later, if that works for you, Ma'am?"

Arini gave a small approving hum. "Great then."

The staff member left after taking the final instructions, leaving both of them alone again beneath the soft warm lights.

For a brief moment, silence settled between them comfortably.

Aksh rested his arm over the chair slightly and looked outside toward the sea, but his attention kept drifting back toward her again and again. 

The reflection of the ocean lights danced faintly in her brown eyes whenever she glanced toward the glass panel, and the soft glow around her somehow made her look even more unreal tonight.

Meanwhile, Arini picked up the water glass calmly, completely unaware that the man sitting in front of her had already forgotten what the sea outside even looked like.

She picked up her phone quietly while sitting across from him, and Aksh's gaze unconsciously settled on her again.

 Honestly, he had lost count of how many times he had stared at her tonight without realizing it himself. There was just something dangerously mesmerizing about her existence at this moment.

 The soft screen light reflected delicately against her features, highlighting the smooth curve of her cheeks and the tiny expressions appearing on her face every few seconds. Her dark waves framed her beautifully, some strands resting over her shoulder while others moved slightly whenever the cool air from the sea drifted inside each time the restaurant doors opened.

And then there was that slight frown on her forehead.

Almost invisible.

But noticeable enough for him because he had begun observing her far too carefully.

She looked serious even while using her phone, like she was handling another million dollar deal instead of sitting on a dinner date. Her fingers moved slowly across the screen while her lashes lowered slightly in concentration, and Aksh found himself staring so openly that he forgot basic human decency for a moment.

Then suddenly, she looked up. And caught him staring directly at her.

His soul almost left his body.

Immediately, he grabbed the glass of water resting near him and gulped it down like his survival depended on hydration. Then, in a very poor attempt to act normal, he turned his face toward the massive glass panel beside them and pretended to admire the ocean outside.

Except even then, his eyes betrayed him.

Because through the faint reflection visible on the glass, he was still looking at her.

Meanwhile, Arini remained completely unaware of the level of crisis happening inside that man's brain. She had opened her notes application, and at the top of the screen, written neatly in capital letters, was:

'THINGS TO DO IN A DATE'

Because despite being terrifyingly intelligent in business, negotiations, security systems, management, and practically every professional field possible, Arini was embarrassingly clueless when it came to romance.

Dates.
Surprises.
Soft moments.
Emotional intimacy.

All of it felt unfamiliar to her.

There was a time when she used to believe in fairytales. Back then, she had imagined countless little things she would do someday for the person she loved. She used to think dates would happen naturally, effortlessly, beautifully. 

But somewhere between betrayals, responsibilities, sleepless nights, and becoming the version of herself the world feared and respected, that softer side of her had faded quietly into the background.

So instead of naturally understanding what to do tonight, she had done what Arini always did whenever she didn't understand something.

She researched it.

Earlier in the day, she had literally searched online about what people usually do on dates, read multiple articles, ignored half the nonsense, selected the few things that actually sounded reasonable, and made a proper checklist.

And right now, she was reviewing it seriously.

1. Smile more : This is a date not your business meeting.
2. Let him talk and make decisions : Date is a two way thing.
3. Pick the nicest place and plan everything best possible.
4. Pick his favorite food menu : You had asked for date.
5. Make sure to not pick a fight.
6. He loves oceans so make sure there is something related with ocean.
7. Slow Dance .
8. Flowers .
9. Stargazing if possible : Anything is possible for me .

She stared at the list for a moment.

Then one by one, she quietly ticked off the completed points.

A small sense of satisfaction settled inside her seeing the check marks appear beside the tasks. The place was perfect, the ocean was there, she hadn't fought with him yet, she had even let him decide something earlier. 

Technically, the date was going successfully according to her calculations.

The thought almost made her lips twitch upward faintly.

After locking the phone, she finally placed it aside and looked at him properly. 

"How was your day?" she asked calmly.

Aksh immediately turned his attention back toward her, grateful that she thankfully hadn't mentioned catching him staring earlier.

"Like usual," he replied while leaning back slightly into his chair. "Had meetings, replied to mails, handled some work and things like that."

She hummed softly while listening, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the water glass resting near her plate.

And slowly, the conversation started flowing more naturally between them.

No business pressure. No arguments.

Just the two of them talking.

The dinner arrived soon afterward, and warm delicious aromas instantly filled the space around them. While eating, they continued speaking in between small pauses, sometimes teasing lightly, sometimes discussing random things from their day, sometimes simply sitting in comfortable silence while watching the ocean outside.

Once the dinner was over and the plates had been cleared away quietly by the staff, Arini stood up from her chair and extended her hand toward him across the table. 

"Now," she said calmly, though a tiny hint of satisfaction rested in her eyes, "we vibe."

Aksh could not stop the smile that appeared on his face.

There was something unintentionally cute about the way she spoke sometimes, especially when she tried sounding serious while saying things that were absolutely not serious. He placed his hand in hers and stood up, his fingers automatically curling around hers more securely than necessary.

And she did not pull away.

Instead, she simply turned and began leading him toward another side of the restaurant where a second set of enormous glass doors stood. The moment the doors slid open, cool sea breeze immediately brushed against their skin, carrying the scent of saltwater and the calming sound of waves crashing softly against the shore.

The private beach stretched beautifully beneath the moonlit sky.

Since the property itself owned a personal section of the shoreline, there was complete privacy around them. No crowd. No strangers. No loud voices disturbing the atmosphere. Just the sound of the ocean, the cold breeze, and distant moonlight reflecting endlessly over the water.

Aksh walked beside her quietly at first. And then he looked ahead properly.

His steps slowed.

For a moment, he genuinely thought his eyes were deceiving him.

A little farther away near the shoreline, exactly where the sea waves softly touched the sand before retreating again, an entire setup had been arranged beautifully. At the center of the beach stood a breathtaking canopy tent draped in flowing white fabric that moved gently with the wind, making the entire place look almost dreamlike beneath the night sky. Warm golden fairy lights were wrapped delicately around every pillar and corner of the canopy, glowing softly against the darkness and illuminating the sand beneath in a warm amber radiance.

The setup looked intimate. Peaceful. Magical.

Almost unreal.

Tiny hanging heart shaped lights swayed lightly from the upper edges of the canopy each time the ocean breeze passed through, adding a soft romantic charm to the elegant arrangement. A beautifully decorated low seating arrangement rested beneath it along with candles protected inside glass holders, while nearby lanterns cast moving shadows over the sand. Even the distance between the setup and the ocean had been planned perfectly, close enough for the waves to be heard clearly, yet far enough that the water would not disturb anything.

For a few seconds, Aksh simply stared.

His brain genuinely stopped functioning.

Meanwhile, Arini quietly picked up a bouquet resting nearby and held it toward him.

 "You like lavenders, right?" she asked.

It was a bouquet made entirely of fresh lavender flowers. The soft purple shades looked beautiful beneath the fairy lights.

Aksh accepted it slowly, but his attention kept shifting between the flowers and the entire arrangement around him. Then finally, still visibly stunned, he looked at her properly and asked almost disbelievingly, 

"You... did this?"

Arini gave a small hum. "I sent the details and framework. The management team handled the execution."

As if arranging something this breathtaking was just another organized task in her schedule.

Then she added casually, "Since we already had dinner, let's call this the dessert setup. Your ice cream will be served here whenever you want."

A faint laugh escaped her afterward, soft and small.

But Aksh was still standing there in complete shock. Not because the setup was luxurious. Not because it was expensive.

But because she remembered.

The ocean.
Lavenders.
Italian food.
The atmosphere he loved.
Even the ice cream.

She remembered every tiny thing.

Arini looked at him carefully after a few moments, and since he still was not saying anything, uncertainty slowly crept into her expression. A thought struck her mind almost instantly.

What if he did not like it?
What if she overdid everything?
What if this looked ridiculous to him?

Her fingers curled slightly against her palm before she finally asked quietly, "Do you... like it?"

That sentence snapped him back to reality immediately.

Aksh looked at her. Really looked at her.

At the woman standing in front of him who had probably researched dates like a business project , despite her work schedule just to make sure he smiled tonight.

And suddenly the overwhelming warmth inside his chest became almost unbearable.

Before she could even process his expression properly, he stepped forward and pulled her against him with one arm wrapped securely around her waist, hugging her tightly.

"I loved it," he murmured against her.

Not liked.

Loved.

Arini froze for half a second in surprise. Then she slowly realized she could actually hear his heartbeat.

Rapid. Heavy. Almost uncontrollable.

She looked up slightly and noticed the way he had rested his head near her shoulder as if he genuinely did not trust himself to speak anything more right now. 

The grip of his arm around her tightened slightly, almost unconsciously, and for the first time that evening she understood that this setup had affected him far more deeply than she expected.

Something softened quietly inside her chest.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his back too and rubbed it gently, her movements calm and comforting despite the slight nervousness still lingering inside her.

Meanwhile, Aksh shut his eyes for a brief second.

Because at this point, he was genuinely one step away from either kissing the life out of her or doing something embarrassingly emotional like crying.

And both options felt insane right now.

So instead, he chose the safer option. He simply kept holding her.

Trying desperately to calm down the overwhelming amount of love rising inside him before it completely destroyed whatever composure he still had left.

After a moment, he slowly pulled back from the hug, though his hands lingered around her for a second longer as if he still was not ready to let her go completely. 

 He carefully kept the lavender bouquet on the nearby table beneath the glowing canopy lights, while she quietly looked away toward the dark sea and inhaled a deep breath to calm the strange feeling blooming inside her chest.

The fairy lights reflected faintly in her eyes as she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and then finally murmured in a softer voice, almost hesitant for the first time that evening, 

"Dance karoge mere saath?"

His gaze instantly lifted toward her face, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, slow and genuine. There was warmth in the way he looked at her, something unguarded and deeply affectionate. He stepped a little closer and replied quietly, 

"Kabhi mana kiya hai?"

A small smile finally escaped her too. "Mana kar bhi nahi sakte."

She unlocked her phone and connected it to the music system that had been perfectly hidden inside the decoration setup earlier. She had specifically instructed the management team to conceal every technical detail because she wanted the beach to look natural and dreamy, not crowded with visible speakers or wires ruining the aesthetic she had spent hours planning.

 Within seconds, soft music slowly filled the night air.

PLAY - DIL IBAADAT by KK

The melody blended beautifully with the sound of crashing waves, creating an atmosphere so intimate that even the ocean itself felt quieter around them. 

The cool breeze lifted the ends of her hair gently, making them brush against her cheeks while the fairy lights around the canopy glowed warmly against her black outfit. Aksh extended his hand toward her without taking his eyes off her face, and after a tiny pause, she placed her hand in his.

The moment their fingers intertwined, something softened between them again.

She stepped closer, and his other hand slowly settled around her waist, careful yet possessive enough to make her heartbeat slightly uneven. Her hands rested lightly against him as they began swaying slowly with the rhythm of the song, their eyes locked in a silence that somehow spoke louder than words. 

After a few moments of dancing quietly, she tilted her head slightly and murmured, "In sangeet function... this was the song that made you win that challenge for the first time. Special toh hoga na tumhare liye?"

A soft chuckle escaped him. He gently lifted her hands and rested them around his neck before wrapping both of his arms properly around her waist, pulling her a little closer as they continued moving slowly with the music. 

His eyes never left hers when he answered, "Tumse judi har cheez special hai mere liye. No matter if it's winning or losing."

The sincerity in his tone made her heart stumble for a second.

She smiled faintly and spun lightly away from him, her hair swirling beautifully with the motion before he pulled her back into his arms again effortlessly. The movement made her laugh under her breath, and then she looked up at him and asked quietly, 

"Do I matter this much now?"

He held one of her hands and twirled her once more before bringing her close again, his expression softening further at her question.

 "Now?" he repeated softly. "Since the beginning. You always mattered."

Her eyes flickered slightly at those words.

The music continued playing in the background while he slowly dipped her backward with one arm supporting her waist securely. His face came dangerously close to hers during the movement, close enough for her to feel his breath against her skin before he carefully pulled her upright again. 

Their bodies swayed together once more, but this time the atmosphere had shifted. It was no longer only romantic. Something deeper had entered between them.

Then she spoke again. Very softly. Very calmly.

"If I matter this much... then why did you never trust me?"

The question did not sound accusing. That was what made it hurt more.

Their movements slowed.

Their joined hands loosened slightly before tightening again unconsciously, as though neither of them truly wanted to create distance despite the heaviness of the conversation. He looked at her quietly, the ocean breeze pushing against his shirt while conflict flickered through his eyes.

"Apart from that one time," he said slowly, his voice lower now, "I always trusted you... but..."

She completed the sentence for him before he could. "But you still never believed me."

Silence followed immediately after. No raised voices. No anger. No dramatic arguments.

They continued dancing slowly beneath the lights while speaking words heavy enough to reopen wounds both of them still carried somewhere inside themselves. 

And perhaps that was what made the moment even more painful, because calm conversations often cut much deeper than loud fights ever could.

She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck again, her fingers locking behind him while the music continued flowing softly around them. The breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean between them, yet neither of them paid attention to anything beyond the other anymore. 

Her eyes searched his quietly before she finally murmured in a trembling low voice, "Kyu yakeen nahi kiya tha mera? Tumse hi toh ummeedein thi meri."

(Why didn't you believe me? You were the only one I had hopes in.)

The words did not come out loudly, yet they hit him harder than any scream ever could.

His breathing faltered slightly.

He lowered his forehead against hers, their noses almost brushing while his arms tightened unconsciously around her waist. 

For a moment, he simply closed his eyes as though carrying the weight of those words physically hurt him. The fairy lights above them swayed softly with the wind, scattering golden reflections across her face while he whispered quietly, 

"Majboor tha mai... I had only one option."

The moment those words left him, her lashes lowered faintly.

There was hurt in her eyes again, old hurt, the kind that never truly leaves a person no matter how much time passes. She kept looking at him without moving away and murmured in the same painfully calm tone, 

"And I wasn't included in that?"

He immediately opened his eyes at that.

His gaze locked deeply with hers, intense and sincere in a way that made it impossible to look away. One of his hands slowly moved upward from her waist and rested gently against her cheek as he replied without hesitation, 

"You were never an option for me, Arini. You were... and you still are my priority."

Something inside her chest clenched painfully hearing that.

Those same green eyes.
The same eyes she once trusted more than herself.
The same eyes that had once shattered her completely.

She stared into them for a long moment before finally whispering again, her voice softer now yet carrying years worth of pain beneath it. 

"Kaisi majboori thi, Aksh... ki itna dil dukhaya tumne mera? Ek baar bhi mera khyaal nahi aya tha tumhe?"

(What kind of helplessness was it, Aksh, that you hurt me so deeply? Didn't you think of me even once?)

His jaw tightened. The question visibly broke something inside him.

His eyes closed again while his breath fanned shakily against her lips, and for a second it genuinely looked like he wanted to answer, wanted to tell her everything buried beneath all those years and silences. 

But whatever truth existed there still chained him somewhere. He could not say it.

And perhaps she understood that too.

Because after watching his silence for a few seconds, she quietly changed the question instead of forcing him further.

"What about now?" she asked softly. "Will you still not think of me even once?"

The music shifted into another verse as she slowly spun outward beneath his hand, her body curling away gracefully while one of her hands still remained locked in his hold. 

The fairy lights reflected against her dark hair as he pulled her back toward himself again, his fingers tightening around hers almost instinctively.

"I'll never repeat that again," he murmured firmly.

Then he twirled her once more before pulling her close enough that their breaths mixed again, and this time his voice carried no teasing, no arrogance, no masks. Only honesty.

"Shayad ab tum mujh par utna yakeen kabhi na karo," he whispered. 

"Shayad tum mujhe apne dil me jagah kabhi na do... but I'll keep trying. I'll keep working hard for it till you actually believe me this time. Till I win back whatever I had lost. Till I win you back... till I win us back."

Every word settled heavily between them.

Not dramatic. Not loud. Just devastatingly sincere.

Then slowly, carefully, he dipped her backward again in his arm, his hand securely supporting her waist while the ocean waves crashed behind them. His face hovered close to hers beneath the golden lights as he whispered against the silence of the night, 

"Until my last breath, Arini... I won't let even a shadow of what happened come near you again."

Her heart trembled hearing that promise.

When he finally pulled her upright again, her arms automatically slid back around his neck while his remained around her waist. They continued swaying slowly to the music, but now there was something raw and vulnerable standing between them openly for the first time.

She looked into his eyes carefully and asked the question that perhaps mattered the most to her.

"Do you trust me now?" she whispered. "Will you believe me if something happens this time? Will you choose me if I'm standing against the whole world?"

This time he did not even pause to think.

"Yes," he answered instantly, firmly. "You above everyone. Anyone. Always."

The certainty in his voice shook her more than she expected.

Her fingers curled slightly against the back of his neck before she asked one final question, quieter than before.

"Still after all this... if I don't forgive you?"

He took one slow step back with her and then pulled her close again immediately, as if distance itself disturbed him now. His thumb brushed lightly against her waist while he replied softly,

 "Then also... my more than half of life is still pending. I'll keep making efforts."

Her eyes searched his face carefully.

"Why?" she asked finally. "What will you get after all this? Why are you even willing to do this?"

A faint breath escaped him.

Then suddenly his hands tightened around her waist and before she could process it properly, he lifted her completely off the ground effortlessly.

 A startled sound nearly escaped her lips as her feet left the sand, and the next second he spun her slowly beneath the glowing lights while holding her securely against him.

The ocean breeze rushed around them.

Her hair flew softly behind her.

And in the middle of that quiet spinning motion beneath the stars and fairy lights, he looked up at her with a fearfully honest expression and whispered,

"Because I'm afraid to lose you again."

She looked into his eyes quietly after his words settled between them, and for a moment neither of them spoke anything further. The music continued playing softly in the background while the ocean waves crashed rhythmically against the shore nearby, but everything around them had started feeling distant now.

 The only thing either of them could truly focus on was the closeness they were sharing beneath those warm golden lights.

Very slowly, almost carefully, she leaned downward while still being held securely in his arms and rested her forehead against his. The movement was so gentle, so intimate, that it made his breath hitch instantly. 

Her eyes fluttered shut the moment their foreheads touched, and her fingers tightened slightly around his shoulders unconsciously as if she had finally allowed herself to stop fighting her emotions for a few seconds.

And he... He still had her lifted in his hold.

Still close enough to hear every uneven breath she took.

Still close enough to feel the warmth of her skin despite the cool night breeze surrounding them.

His heartbeat had already refused to remain normal from the moment the dance began, but right now it had completely lost control.

 It pounded violently against his chest, so loudly that he genuinely wondered if she could hear it too. Every second she remained this close to him made something inside him soften and ache at the same time.

Because this was Arini.

The same woman he once lost.
The same woman standing in his arms again tonight.

For a long moment, neither of them moved at all.

The fairy lights above them swayed gently with the breeze while shadows of their figures stretched faintly across the sand beneath the canopy. The world around them felt impossibly quiet despite the ocean nearby, as though even time itself had paused just to let them stay like this a little longer.

Then slowly, she opened her eyes again.

Her lashes lifted softly, revealing those warm brown eyes looking directly into his, calmer than before yet carrying emotions too deep to explain aloud. 

He stared at her for a second longer before finally lowering her carefully back onto the sand as though she was something precious enough to break if handled carelessly.

The moment her feet touched the ground again, he did not let her move away.

Instead, he gently twirled her once more beneath the fairy lights, her dark hair swirling beautifully around her as the soft melody continued playing around them. 

Then he pulled her back against him until her back rested flush against his chest. One of his arms wrapped securely around her waist while her head naturally leaned against his shoulder as though it belonged there.

They both continued swaying slowly together.

No urgency.

No rush.

Just quiet closeness.

After a few moments, she looked upward toward the open sky beyond the canopy and murmured softly, "Look... it isn't cloudy tonight. Stars are visible."

Her voice carried childlike softness for the first time that evening, and hearing it made his chest tighten strangely.

He hummed quietly in response while continuing to move with the music, his chin almost brushing against her hair.

 Then he lifted his own gaze upward too, looking at the scattered stars glowing faintly above the dark ocean horizon.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured softly.

The sentence made her pause slightly.

She slowly tilted her head upward to look at him instead of the sky, understanding immediately what he truly meant beneath those words. 

And just as her eyes met his again, he looked down at her with that unbearably soft smile resting on his lips.

"Not more than you though." The teasing warmth in his voice wrapped around her heart instantly.

Before she could reply anything, he leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss against her forehead once again, softer this time, slower too, as though he wanted to memorize the feeling of her being this close to him.

Then against her skin, he murmured quietly with a grin hidden in his tone, "Maarna mat mujhe iske liye."

She remained leaning against him for a few more quiet moments after his forehead kiss, the soft music still flowing around them while the ocean breeze played with the loose strands of her hair. His arms were securely wrapped around her waist from behind, and the warmth of his chest against her back strangely made her feel calmer than she wanted to admit aloud.

Then softly, almost as if she was trying not to ruin the peace between them, she murmured,

"Tomorrow... I'll be leaving for Italy. For a couple of weeks."

The moment those words left her lips, she felt his body still slightly behind her.

It was subtle. Very subtle.

But she noticed it immediately.

She slowly turned her head enough to look at him, and her chest tightened faintly at the sight of his expression. His face did not dramatically fall, nor did he react loudly, but the change in him was visible enough for someone who observed him closely. 

Those bright green eyes that had been glowing ever since the date started suddenly lost some of their warmth for a brief moment.

Like someone had quietly dimmed the light inside them.

And somehow, that affected her more than she expected.

She looked away first and continued softly, "So... I want you to attend all those events where my presence will be needed. And... a few meetings of AR Group too. Rest, I'll handle everything online."

He kept looking at her while listening carefully, but internally his entire existence had already turned sulky.

Because things had finally started feeling normal between them again.

Not perfect. Not healed.

But normal enough to breathe around each other without constantly hurting.

And now she was leaving.

Not for hours.
Not for a day.
Not even for a few days.

But for weeks.

Weeks without seeing her.
Without hearing her random arguments in person.
Without her walking around the mansion.
Without accidentally finding her asleep on the couch while working.
Without her presence near him.

The realization alone irritated his heart irrationally.

She frowned slightly when he stayed silent too long and finally looked at him properly again. "Kuchh bolo?"

Instead of answering immediately, he slowly turned her in his arms until she was facing him completely again. Then without another word, he simply pulled her close and hugged her tightly, resting his face near her neck while the music continued softly around them.

"Fine," he murmured quietly against her skin. "I'll handle it."

The reply was simple.

But the way he held her made it obvious he disliked the idea completely.

A small breath escaped her.

Then the song finally came to an end, the last soft beats fading into the sound of ocean waves. She slowly pulled back just enough to look at him and murmured lightly, trying to ease the heaviness again, 

"Let's eat dessert now."

He nodded with a faint hum.

Then reluctantly released her and walked toward the restaurant area while she settled herself beneath the glowing canopy again.

The moment he disappeared inside, her expression shifted slightly.

She immediately picked up his phone from the table and unlocked it quickly. She did not have enough time tonight to completely trace whoever had attempted to break into his security system earlier, but she could at least strengthen the encryption layer before leaving for Italy.

And right now, that mattered more.

Her fingers moved rapidly across the screen as she entered the device settings and accessed the hidden layer she had embedded long ago. A green processing bar appeared on screen as the upgraded security patch slowly began installing.

42%.

She exhaled softly and glanced toward the restaurant entrance.

Meanwhile inside, Aksh was standing near the dessert counter while speaking with one of the staff members. He asked them to prepare two bowls of ice cream, one chocolate and one butterscotch.

The staff member politely offered to bring them outside themselves, but Aksh refused almost instantly.

"No, it's fine," he had said casually. "I'll take it."

Because somewhere inside him, he still wanted to do small things for her himself.

Even if it was just carrying dessert.

Back outside beneath the canopy lights, Arini looked back toward the screen.

68%.

She tapped her fingers lightly against the table while pretending to remain relaxed, though internally she was counting every second.

Then she saw him finally stepping out of the restaurant doors.

He was walking toward her carrying two bowls of ice cream carefully in his hands, his navy blue shirt moving softly with the night breeze while the golden lights from the resort reflected faintly around him.

And despite herself, a small smile appeared on her lips.

The green bar climbed upward.

80%.

Quickly, she picked up her own phone and pretended to casually click a few random pictures of him approaching with the ice cream bowls in his hands. The sight genuinely looked adorable enough to capture anyway.

He noticed her camera and laughed softly while walking closer.

When he finally reached near her, the security bar had climbed to 88%.

Then 90%.

Her fingers tightened faintly around his phone hidden in her other hand.

She immediately raised it slightly and said casually, "Let me click a few selfies. Your phone has better camera quality, right?"

He hummed naturally without suspicion. "I can click them for you if you want better angles?"

She immediately shook her head. "No no... I just need a few selfies."

He shrugged easily. "Fine. Go ahead."

Then he sat down nearby while turning his attention completely toward her.

Meanwhile she stood a little farther away so the glowing resort building behind her could fit into the frame. From outside, it looked exactly like she was trying different selfie angles.

But in reality, her eyes remained fixed on the tiny loading percentage on screen.

92%.

95%.

97%.

Come on...

99%.

The second it reached there, she instantly lowered the phone and clicked her tongue dramatically. "I'm not able to get a perfect angle. Let it be. Now I don't want selfies."

Then the moment the final verification could visibly appear, she casually returned his phone back to him and walked over to sit beside him again.

He took the phone without questioning anything and shrugged lightly. "I told you, I can do it for you."

She hummed while picking up her ice cream spoon. "Maybe next time."

The moment those words left her mouth, his entire mood visibly improved again.

A grin instantly appeared on his face as he leaned slightly toward her and asked teasingly, "Means you're saying there will be more dates?"

She ignored him completely and quietly began eating her ice cream instead, though the tiny smile tugging at the corner of her lips betrayed her badly.

For sure.

Opportunistic handsome jerk.

****

They had returned from their date quite late into the night, yet the moment Arini stepped back inside the room, it was as if the softness of the evening dissolved and the ruthless businesswoman within her resurfaced all over again. 

Without even properly resting for a minute, she picked up her laptop and phone and walked straight toward the balcony area, already scrolling through unread mails and pending documents with that same focused expression settled over her face. 

The faint night breeze moved through her hair while the city lights shimmered far away below, but her attention remained trapped inside graphs, reports, schedules, and responsibilities that never seemed to end for her.

Inside the room, Aksh too had been occupied with his own work for the past couple of hours. Meetings, approvals, endless mails, and pending documents had swallowed most of his attention, yet despite being busy, a part of his mind kept drifting toward the balcony where she was sitting. 

Every few minutes, his eyes unconsciously shifted toward the glass doors separating them, almost as if his mind needed reassurance that she was still there. And the moment his own work finally ended, the very first thing he did was search for her instead of resting himself.

Quietly, he walked toward the balcony and slid the glass door open with careful movements. The soft sound barely disturbed the silence around them. 

His eyes immediately landed on her figure leaning back against the couch placed there. Her laptop was resting abandoned on the nearby table now, while her head tilted slightly backward against the cushion.

 Her eyes were closed peacefully, strands of soft hair framing her face beautifully under the dim balcony lights, and for the first time that entire day, she looked calm. Not stressed. Not irritated. Not exhausted. Just... peaceful.

A slow smile found its way onto Aksh's lips at the sight before him. He rarely got moments like these with her. Tonight, somehow, fate had become kind toward him. 

The breeze moved lightly around them while he slowly walked closer and sat beside her carefully, almost afraid that even the slightest sound might disturb this rare moment.

A soft murmur escaped his lips as his eyes stayed fixed on her sleeping face. "Sote hue kitni pyaari lagti hai ye..."

[A/N: Bhaiiii dekh toh le vo so rhi hai ya- nvm.]

There was something dangerously tender in the way he looked at her then. Not obsession. Not attraction alone. It was much deeper than that. The kind of love that slowly becomes a person's breathing habit without them even realizing when it happened.

 He leaned back against the couch too and exhaled slowly, his tired body finally relaxing near her presence as if this was where all his exhaustion disappeared.

"Mann toh karta hai ki sanyaas le lun aur jaha jaha tum jao vaha tumhare saath jau..." he murmured softly with a faint smile resting over his lips. "Vaise bhi ameer toh ho hi."

("I feel like renouncing everything and just following you wherever you go. Besides, you are rich anyway.")

His own words made him chuckle quietly under his breath, but the emotions hidden beneath them were painfully genuine.

 He tilted his head slowly and rested it against her shoulder with such natural comfort as if he belonged there. His eyes closed for a moment while the cool night wind brushed against them both.

"Itna kuch kiya maine..." he whispered tiredly, almost speaking to himself now. "Par akhir me... aadat bann  gayi tum meri..."

("I did so much... yet in the end, you became my habit.")

The confession escaped him so helplessly that even he probably did not realize how vulnerable he sounded in that moment. 

Usually, Aksh hid everything beneath teasing remarks, grins, flirtatious comments, or careless behavior. But tonight, exhausted after an emotionally overwhelming day with her, his guard had slipped entirely.

He closed his eyes fully this time and murmured near her shoulder in an aching low voice, "Kaash... tumhe keh pata... ki matt jao. Dil nahi lagta mera tumhare bina..."

("If only I could tell you... don't go. My heart doesn't feel right without you.")

And somewhere between exhaustion, emotional vulnerability, and the comfort of her nearness, he ended up falling asleep right there beside her. 

His head remained resting against her shoulder while one of his arms naturally settled around her midriff protectively.

For a long quiet moment afterward, nothing moved except the soft curtains swaying with the breeze.

Then slowly, Arini opened her eyes.

There was absolutely no trace of sleep in them.

She lifted one hand calmly and tucked the strands of hair behind her right ear, revealing the tiny earpiece hidden there all along. 

Her gaze slowly shifted toward Aksh sleeping peacefully against her shoulder, completely unaware of the fact that she had heard every single word he spoke.

Then suddenly, a dramatic singing voice echoed through her earpiece.

"Tere bina nahi lagta dil mera dholnaaa..."

Aakarsh sang shamelessly from the other side of the call.

Arini instantly rolled her eyes in irritation and muttered under her breath, "Shut up, Jiju. I got your point. Now cut the call. And yeah, forget whatever you just heard."

The loud laughter coming from the other side only irritated her more.

Aakarsh spoke between his laughter, "Haan haan, milo tum kal phir discuss karte hain kitna forgettable tha ye."

("Yeah sure, meet me tomorrow first, then we'll discuss how forgettable this actually was.")

Arini immediately glared at absolutely nothing and whispered-yelled angrily, careful not to wake Aksh up,

 "I swear, Jiju, abhi aap plane me baithe nahi ho aur agar aise hi raha toh baith bhi nahi paoge kyunki I'll blast your private jet."

("I swear, brother-in-law, you haven't even boarded your plane yet, and if you continue like this then you won't even get to board it because I'll blast your private jet.")

That only made him laugh harder before she aggressively disconnected the call altogether.

The truth was, Arini had never fallen asleep in the first place.

She had been discussing upcoming Italy meetings and business schedules with Aakarsh through the call for quite some time. The entire conversation had become painfully boring and overloaded with work details, so eventually she leaned back against the couch and simply closed her eyes while listening to him continue speaking endlessly in the background.

And somewhere in between that silence, Aksh arrived, assumed she was asleep, and unknowingly laid his entire heart bare in front of her.

She looked down at him for a long quiet moment, her gaze softening in a way it rarely ever did around anyone.

A very small smile appeared on her face as she kept looking at him for another second before murmuring softly under her breath,

"Cute."

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[20.1K+ Words]

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