Rayaan's pov:

She was breathless beneath me, her lips still trembling from the kiss we had just shared, her eyes closed like she was afraid to open them and find the moment gone.

But I was here.

And so was she.

And nothing about this felt fleeting.

My forehead rested against hers, the heat of our closeness making it hard to think straight. Her hands were still pressed lightly against my chest, but she wasn’t pushing me away.

She never would.

Not tonight.

“Don’t ever try to bite your lips,” I murmured, brushing my thumb gently across the soft curve of her lower lip.

She nodded, eyes still closed, and whispered, “I won’t.”

That did something to me.

Made something tighten deep in my chest.

I kissed her again, slower this time. No rush. Just us. Just the moment. Her fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer, and I didn’t need another invitation.

I lifted her gently into my arms.

She let out a soft gasp, her arms wrapping around my neck instinctively. I carried her to the bed, softly not wanting to hurt her.

She looked up at me, eyes wide, trusting, unguarded. And I knew this wasn’t just about desire.

This was something far deeper.

I traced my knuckles down her cheek, committing every expression to memory. “Tell me to stop, and I will,” I said, voice rough with emotion I couldn’t hide.

Her response was silent, but powerful.

She reached up, touching my face with both hands, pulling me down to her again. Her kiss said everything she didn’t have to voice.

And so, I let the silence speak.

I let the way I touched her show everything words never could be the gratitude, the guilt, the awe, the protectiveness, the way my heart had become hers long before I admitted it.

She was soft, so soft, and every time she looked at me like that with eyes full of love I didn’t think I deserved it undid me a little more.

Clothes fell away like they never mattered, and all that was left between us was skin and soul.

Every inch of her was poetry under my hands. Every sound she made was a promise I wanted to spend lifetimes earning.

And when she whispered my name not as a question, not with fear, but with complete surrender I knew.

I wasn’t just making love to her.

I was giving her all the parts of me I’d never shared with anyone.

This wasn’t a night I’d forget.

It was the night I stopped holding back.

Because Arvi wasn’t just mine.

I was hers too.

Completely. Forever.

She was still asleep when the first light filtered through the curtains, golden and soft like it didn’t want to disturb her.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t dare.

Arvi lay beside me, curled into the sheets, her hair messy across the pillow, her lashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks. Her breathing was steady, lips slightly parted. Peaceful. Like she finally let go of every weight she ever carried.

And I’d be damned if I let the world touch her in this moment.

My arm was around her waist, and I didn’t want to let go. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Last night… she gave me a piece of her soul. Not just her body. Every touch, every look, every whisper it was all her. Vulnerable. Brave. Mine.

And now?

Now she looked like something I wanted to protect for the rest of my life.

She stirred a little, wincing softly, and I was instantly awake, alert. I gently shifted closer.

“Don’t move yet,” I murmured, brushing my lips against her shoulder. “You’re sore”

She didn’t reply, just nestled into the pillow, her face turning slightly toward me. A quiet nod.

I pushed her hair back from her face, letting my fingertips trail across her warm skin.

“Bachaa, you okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low. Like the moment was sacred, and too loud would break it.

“Yeah… just a little tired,” she whispered.

God, the way she said it soft and honest it hit me in a place I didn’t know had cracks. I leaned in and kissed her forehead gently, holding there for a second longer than I should’ve.

She was tired because of me.

Because I let go last night.

Because she gave me everything.

I pulled back the covers and sat up, careful not to hurt her. Grabbed the water bottle from the nightstand, unscrewed it, and turned to her.

“Small sips,” I said, holding it to her lips. “Aaram se.”

She did. Just let me take care of her, and somehow that made something inside me settle.

When she was done, I tucked her in again. She looked so small like that. Small, but not weak. Just… precious.

I brushed her hair back again. “Sleep a little more, bacha. I’ll stay right here.”

But her fingers reached for mine, clumsy and slow, and when I laced our hands together, she murmured, “I don’t want to sleep… I just want to stay like this. With you.”

I swallowed hard.

That one sentence did something to me I wasn’t ready to admit out loud.

I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. “Then we’ll stay like this. No rush. No noise. Just you and me.”

Because in this room, in this bed, with her hand in mine

I didn’t need anything else.

She drifted back to sleep for a little while after that, her head tucked under my chin, breathing soft and even.

I didn’t move. Didn’t want to. Just lay there holding her like the world outside didn’t exist. And maybe for now it didn’t.

But the moment I felt her stir again, eyes fluttering open slowly, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, “Stay. Don’t move.”

She blinked up at me, still sleepy. “Where are you going?”

I smirked. “To make your breakfast.”

She frowned adorably, voice still hoarse. “You? Cooking?”

“I’m not completely hopeless,” I said, brushing her hair back from her face. “Besides, I’ve watched you enough to know a thing or two.”

She smiled faintly, but concern crept into her eyes. “Rayaan—”

“No arguments,” I cut in gently. “You cooked for me. Now it’s my turn. And today, you don’t lift a finger. You’re my patient. My wife. My baby.”

She blushed instantly. “I’m not a baby.”

“You are to me,” I said, tapping her nose. “And I take care of what’s mine.”

Before she could respond, I was already up, grabbing a hoodie and tossing her a wink as I left the room.

It wasn’t anything fancy just toast, scrambled eggs, and that masala chai she liked, slightly sweet with a pinch of ginger. I even cut some fruit because she once told me she likes starting her day light.

By the time I returned, she was sitting up against the headboard, wrapped in the comforter like a sleepy burrito, cheeks flushed and hair a mess.

Still the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“Sir chef,” she teased as I walked in with the tray, “look at you.”

I placed the tray in front of her, sitting down beside her like it was just another quiet morning in forever.

“I told you,” I said, leaning in to peck her temple, “For you… I’ll learn anything.”

She looked down at the tray, then back at me with those soft, shining eyes.

“I really love you,” she whispered again, like she couldn’t help it.

I smiled.

“I know,” I said, brushing a crumb from her lip after the first bite. “And I really, really love you too Mrs.Oberio.”

She was quiet, finishing the last bite of toast I’d made, sipping her tea like she was trying to remember every detail of this morning. Her contentment was soft and glowing something I wanted to protect.

But somewhere between her “I love you” and that peaceful silence, something stirred inside me.

A shadow.

A name I hadn’t said out loud in years.

I shifted slightly, setting the tray aside, and looked at her. She noticed the change in my posture immediately, her brows pulling together.

“Rayaan?”

I didn’t speak for a moment. I just took her hand in mine, running my thumb slowly over her knuckles. “There’s something I want to tell you.”

She straightened, alert now. “Mhm.”

“From before you. Her name was… Ayesha.”

Her eyes softened, but she didn’t interrupt.

I exhaled. “She was the first woman I loved. I thought… I really thought she was it for me. The kind of love that makes you believe you’ve figured everything out. We were friends first, for years. She knew me inside out. Or I thought she did.”

“What happened after?” Arvi asked gently.

“She left,” I said, voice quieter. “No fight. No closure. One day we were planning a trip, the next she was just… gone. Moved to another city. Blocked my number. Sent a one-line message: Don’t wait for me. That’s it.”

Arvi’s fingers tightened around mine. “Rayaan…”

“I spent months blaming myself,” I went on. “Thinking I wasn’t enough. That maybe I was too much, or not the kind of man she needed. I started building walls I didn’t even realize. Controlled everything I could. Locked my emotions in places even I didn’t visit.”

“And then I walked in,” she said softly.

I looked at her, smiled a little. “Like chaos wrapped in innocence. You challenged every wall I built. You made me feel things I’d buried. And I hated it at first.”

She chuckled through the emotion in her throat. “You were very grumpy about it.”

I laughed, but it faded quickly. “But then… I started looking for you in places I hadn’t even looked for anyone before. And the scariest part? You weren’t trying to fix me. You weren’t trying to win me. You just… stayed.”

She reached up and cupped my cheek. “Because you were worth staying for.”

I turned and kissed her palm, my voice low. “With you, Arvi… I’m not afraid to love again. And this time, I know I’m loved back.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she smiled, leaning forward to rest her forehead against mine.

“I’m not Ayesha, Rayaan,” she whispered. “I’ll never leave.”

I closed my eyes, breathing her in. “I know.”

And this time, I believed it.

Arvi's pov:

The room felt quiet without him.

I pulled the blanket around me, still warm from where he’d slept beside me. His scent lingered on the pillow soft, musky, calming. I closed my eyes for a second, letting it wrap around me like him.

My body still remembered every touch from last night. Every kiss. Every whispered word.

It hadn’t just been physical. It had been… everything.

I’d given all of me to Rayaan. Willingly. Lovingly. Without fear.

And in return, he gave me something I hadn’t even known I was starving for his heart.

Slowly, I reached for my phone on the nightstand.

The screen lit up.

My wallpaper him. In that crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up, eyes focused on something far away. I saved that photo from his social handles secretly.

I smiled softly and pressed a kiss to the screen.

“I love you,” I whispered, like he could hear it through the pixels.

I hugged the pillow tighter, cheeks warm, heart full.

I was his.

And he was mine.

Just as I hugged the pillow tighter, the door swung open with its usual dramatic flair.

“Arvi!” Aleesha burst in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I blinked at her sleepily. “Aleesha? What happened?”

“Get ready,” she said, already heading to my wardrobe like she owned it. “Please, please don’t ask questions. Just trust me.”

I sat up straighter, heart thudding. “Where are we going?”

“To meet someone,” she said, holding up a kurta like she was on a mission. “And I really need you with me.”

I frowned. “Aleesha, you’re being way too—”

“Please,” she interrupted, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, her voice softening. “I need you. I can’t do this alone.”

That stilled me.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed and seated beside her in the car, still confused. She fidgeted the whole way, chewing her lower lip and tapping her nails against her phone.

We reached café

The café was cozy, with hanging lights and the smell of roasted coffee beans in the air. Aleesha was fidgeting beside me, practically vibrating with nerves or excitement I couldn’t tell which.

“Okay,” she said, adjusting her dupatta. “We’re here.”

I stepped inside and followed her gaze toward the table near the back.

And then I stopped dead in my tracks.

Riaan.

He was already standing, that infuriatingly familiar grin spreading across his face.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

“Arvi Bhabhi!” Riaan greeted like this was the most natural thing in the world. “Long time.”

Aleesha turned to me, eyes hopeful. “Surprise?”

I stared at her like she’d grown two heads. “You’re dating Riaan?!”

She winced. “Please don’t yell…”

I took a step back, trying to process. Riaan the walking disaster, Rayaan’s best friend.

“You didn’t think this was something I should know?” I hissed.

“I wanted you to meet him and then tell you,” she said quickly. “Because if you found out randomly, you'd freak.”

“Well, I’m freaking,” I snapped, still in disbelief.

“Arvi bhabhi,” Riaan spoke up, his tone unusually serious. “We didn’t plan to fall for each other. It just... happened.”

I crossed my arms. “Does he know?”

They both exchanged a look.

Silence.

Then Aleesha said quietly, “No.”

“No?” I gaped. “Are you both insane?! He’s going to kill both of you. You're his baby cousin, and you’re his best friend.”

“That’s exactly why we need you,” Riaan said, stepping closer. “You’re the only one who can help us break this news without causing a war.”

“Absolutely not,” I said, backing away. “I am not getting in the middle of this. I like being married. I like not being murdered in my sleep.”

“Please, Arvi,” Aleesha begged, gripping my hand. “You know him. You know how to talk to him when no one else can. If you tell him, he'll at least listen.”

I bit my lip. She looked so hopeful. Riaan, for once, wasn’t joking he looked terrified.

“You two...” I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. “This is such a bad idea.”

“But you’ll help?” Aleesha whispered.

I closed my eyes. God, what am I getting myself into?

After a long pause, I opened them and nodded. “Fine. But if he throws something, I’m blaming you.”

Riaan exhaled in relief. “You’re the best, Bhabhi. I always said that.”

I shot him a glare. “Don’t push your luck, Riaan.”

As we stepped out of the car and walked up the steps of the Oberoi Mansion, my head was still spinning.

Aleesha clutched my hand tightly, her earlier excitement replaced by visible nerves.

“Arvi,” she whispered urgently before we entered, “please. Don’t tell anyone else. Not Badi maa, not Vivaan, not even Arekha &  Mumma. Just… just Rayaan bhai.”

“Okay Aleesha Relax.”

She kissed my cheek and dashed to her room, whispering, “Tell him tonight, okay? Just him. No one else. Please, Arvi.”

I nodded.

I turned to head up the stairs, rehearsing lines in my head. “Rayaan, I need to tell you something.” No. Too serious. “So, funny story your best friend and cousin…” Ugh. Worse.

But just as my foot touched the third step, his voice stopped me cold.

“Where were you?”

I froze.

Rayaan.

I turned slowly to find him leaning casually against the staircase railing, his sleeves rolled up, hair slightly tousled like he’d run his hands through it in frustration. His eyes were sharp too sharp. Observant.

“Oh,” I said quickly, faking a casual smile. “You’re home early.”

“You didn’t answer me,” he said, arms now folded. “Where were you?”

Crap. Think, Arvi, think.

“I—uh—I was just out with Aleesha,” I said, praying he wouldn’t press further. “But why are you home so early? You usually work till seven.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then sighed. “Dad called. Said it was important. So I wrapped up and came.”

I nodded,  calmly even as my heart hammered in my chest. “Is everything okay?”

“Not sure yet,” he said, glancing toward the direction of the main hall. “He wanted to speak to all of us after dinner.”

“I’ll go freshen up,” I said, already turning.

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you avoiding me?”

“Me? Never,” I tossed back over my shoulder and hurried upstairs before he could catch the guilt on my face.

I pushed open the door to our room and stepped inside, my mind whirling with everything that had happened

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a second, letting out a slow breath.

But before I could take even two steps, the door opened again.

Rayaan.

He stepped in, eyes locked onto mine. Calm, steady, unreadable but I could feel the storm brewing behind them.

“What’s going on, Arvi?”

I blinked. “W..What?”

“You’re jumpy. You didn’t answer me properly downstairs, and now you’re acting like I’m interrogating you.” His voice wasn’t angry, just firm. Focused. “So I’ll ask again where were you?”

I swallowed. “With Aleesha…”

“Doing what?” he pressed, stepping closer.

I backed up slightly, bumping into the edge of the bed. My heart pounded in my ears. “Rayaan, I was going to tell you just not like this…”

His eyes darkened. “Tell me what?”

I paused.

This was it.

The moment I’d hoped to delay until dinner was over, until he was relaxed until anything other than this.

But he wouldn’t stop. He knew me too well. And I was never good at lying to him.

So I took a breath, clasped my hands together, and said it.

“Aleesha is… she’s dating someone.”

He blinked, processing. “Okay. And?”

“It’s…” I hesitated. “It’s Riaan.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Rayaan just stared at me, expression unreadable.

Then he laughed once. A humorless, sharp laugh. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

He didn’t speak for a moment. Just turned away, jaw tight, eyes hard.

“She’s a kid,” he muttered. “And he is a bastard. He’s supposed to be my  second brother my best friend.”

“She loves him, Rayaan,” I said quietly. “And he loves her too.”

He turned back to me sharply. “And you knew? You were covering for them?”

“No!” I said quickly. “I only found out today. They begged me not to tell anyone else. Just you.”

He exhaled, “I can’t believe this. Riaan of all people he didn’t even have the guts to tell me himself?”

“Maybe because he was scared of this reaction,” I whispered.

Rayaan stood up from the bed suddenly, the tension in his shoulders sharp, his expression hard.

“No,” he said flatly. “This is not happening. It’s not possible.”

“Rayaan—”

“She’s a kid, Arvi!” he snapped. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

I stepped toward him, voice calm but firm. “She’s 22. I’m 22. We’re the same age.”

He stared at me, unblinking.

“If I’m old enough to be married,” I continued, my voice lowering, “then so is she. And maybe, in a year, I might even become a mother.”

That was it.

Something shifted in his face.

His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened.

And then his voice exploded.

“DONT TALK ABOUT KIDS!”

I flinched.

His words were sharp. Cold. Final.

The room fell into stunned silence.

He turned away from me, breathing hard, fists clenched at his sides.

But the damage was done.

I stood frozen, my chest aching like someone had cracked it open. His words echoed like a slap.

Don’t talk about kids.

“Ok,” I said softly, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

He didn’t turn.

And that hurt more than the yelling.

My voice trembled, but I kept it steady. “I didn’t bring up motherhood to scare you, Rayaan. I said it because it’s real. Because this is real. You married me. I’m your wife. I deserve to know what you want… or don’t.”

Still, silence.

I took a shaky breath. “I’ll give you time. For everything. For Aleesha. For this. For us. But don’t shut me out like that again.”

And with that, I turned and walked outside the room, closing the door gently behind me leaving him alone with his storm.