21.

Dev's POV

Breathe, Dev. Breathe. I told myself as I loosened my tie. My eyes followed her as she walked inside the mansion, swaying her body effortlessly. A smirk formed on my lips as I watched her from behind.

Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I quickly dialed a number.

"I'm sending you a photo. Bring that person to the basement.....safe and sound. Not a single scratch" I ordered in a low, firm voice before cutting the call.

My jaw clenched as I looked toward the mansion. Now wait baby. Watch what I'll do to every man you get touchy with. With that thought, I stepped inside.

Inside the living room, everyone was seated on the couch. I walked toward them and sat beside Mira.

"How was your day?" she asked gently stroking Zar's head, which was resting on her lap.

"It was nice. What about yours?" I asked, looking at her.

A shy smile appeared on her lips. "It was nice too" she replied softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

My eyes narrowed as I noticed her unusual shyness. Then, I shifted my gaze to Abhi, who was smiling more than necessary. My smirk widened as I leaned back.

"Why are you so shy? And why is Abhi smiling like an idiot? Did you guys…?" I trailed off smirking as I glanced at both of them.

Abhi's head snapped toward me and he glared. "Shut up Dev" he warned his voice firm.

I chuckled and raised my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright I'll zip my mouth."

"Bhai you are such a boring person. Do something thrilling with my bhabhi! I mean, you’re a mafia, after all!" Jiya said with a teasing grin.

Mira, who had been quiet, immediately turned to glare at her. "Bhabhi huh?" she raised an eyebrow. "And what do you mean by do something thrilling? Should he set the sky on fire while talking to me? Or should he throw bombs into the water like we throw stones? Or should he give me flowers made of bullets?"

At the end of her sentence, she burst into laughter and soon, all of us joined in.

"It would look so good though!" Jiya said between her giggles, clearly enjoying the idea.

I leaned back, my eyes resting on her face as she laughed. My love. My heart clenched at the sight of her ignoring me but I quickly masked it with a small smile.

"You know" Mira spoke again, turning toward me. "I saw a kitten outside the mansion when we were coming back. She was so cute!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

The moment she mentioned the kitten, Zar's head immediately lifted from her lap. He sat up straight, his face suddenly serious but his big blue round eyes held a hint of curiosity.

"Yeah she's a real cutie" I said nodding. "And very intelligent too. She belongs to one of our guards' daughters. Sometimes, she visits with her dad and brings the kitten along"

Zar, who had been listening intently, immediately switched to his Zar Singh Rajvansh mode. His face turned cold, his expression intimidating, as if he were preparing for war.

I sighed internally. Here we go again.

"Aww, cutie kitten" Mira said with a bright smile, her eyes shining with excitement.

The moment those words left her mouth, Zar's expression completely changed. His face twisted into something close to devastation, as if he was about to cry at any moment.

Mira immediately noticed. "What happened to you baby?" she asked tilting her head in concern. She cupped his face gently, her thumbs brushing over his face.

Zar, who usually carried himself like a cold and dangerous tiger, suddenly changed. His big, round eyes blinked at her as he tried to act cute. Woah. What a scene. This white tiger who is  feared by the world, is now pretending to be an innocent baby just to get Mira’s attention.

Abhi, who had been watching, smirked. "He's not liking that you're talking about another pet instead of him" he said shaking his head.

Mira giggled softly. "Awww, my baby" she cooed pulling Zar closer. "The kitten was just cute but you are the cutest" She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead.

Zar instantly relaxed, his cold act melting away like ice in the sun.

But now, it was Abhi’s turn to react. His jaw tightened slightly and he shifted uncomfortably. His usual dangerous mafia aura dimmed, replaced by something close to… jealousy.

I smirked, unable to resist teasing. "Mira, now Abhi is jealous. He's jealous of Zar because you kissed him"

Mira's face instantly turned red, her cheeks burning as she looked down. Meanwhile, Abhi my dangerous mafia friend, pouted slightly. What am I even witnessing?

Lately, I had been seeing things that were impossible to believe. These two a mafia father and son.....are acting like soft little puppies in front of Mira.

After a while, we had our dinner and everyone started heading to their rooms.

I, however had something else to do.

Stepping out of the mansion, I got into my car and drove off. The road is dark and quiet, only the sound of my engine filling the silence. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. Be ready, Mr. Romeo. I'll show you hell for hugging my woman.

A few minutes later, I reached my destination—the basement.

I stepped out of the car, adjusting my sleeves as I made my way inside. The air is thick with tension, the dim lights casting eerie shadows on the walls.

In the center of the room, a boy is tied to a chair, struggling against the ropes. His breath was uneven, his eyes darting around in panic.

"Why have you taken me here?! Please leave me!" he shouted  his voice shaking.

Ignoring his pleas, I walked forward, my footsteps slow and deliberate.

The moment his eyes landed on me, his whole body froze. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped. His breath hitched and sweat formed on his forehead.

"S...Sir… you?" he stuttered his voice barely above a whisper.

I smirked, taking a seat in front of him, resting my elbow on my knee as I leaned slightly forward. My gaze locked onto his, unblinking.

"Yes. Me" I said my voice low and sharp.

He trembles under my gaze, his hands clenching into fists. His entire body screams fear.

"S....Sir… what did I do? What's my fault? Why have you tied me here?" he asked slowly, his voice filled with pure terror.

My smirk faded as I leaned in closer, my eyes darkening. He should have thought about that before laying his hands on my woman.

I crossed my arms, my eyes locked onto the boy as I leaned forward.

"What is your relation with Jiya?" I asked directly not wasting time. He looked at me, confusion spreading across his face.

"Tell me fast. And why did you hug her today?" I demanded my voice sharp and loud.

His entire body stiffened, and he trembles slightly before speaking. "I'm really sorry, sir but… she’s the one who told me to do this" he admitted hesitantly. "We are like brother and sister. I treat her as my sister."

I narrowed my eyes, studying his expression carefully. Is he telling the truth?

"And why did she tell you to do this?" I asked, my voice calmer but still firm. My eyes locked onto his, reading every flicker of emotion in them. His confidence didn’t waver. He is not  lying.

"She told me she wanted to make someone jealous" he explained. "So she asked me to hug her after work. At first, I refused but she blackmailed me into it" he added.

I clenched my jaw. Jiya…But I can’t trust him this easily.

"Call her" I order my voice cold. "I don’t trust you"

He nodded quickly. "My phone" he said, gesturing to his pocket.

I signaled my guards and they stepped forward, untying him. He immediately reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. His fingers moved swiftly as he dialed her number. My eyes flickered to the screen. Jiya Sis.

He’s safe.

The phone rang and after a moment, Jiya’s voice came through the speaker.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hello, Jiya" Sahil said casually.

She hummed in response. "Are you okay? Why are you calling at this time?" she asked concern lacing her tone.

Sahil glanced at me before speaking. "Actually… I’m really curious. Why did you tell me to hug you after work?" he asked his voice neutral. Smart boy.

A dramatic sigh came from the other side. "Offo Sahil! I already told you! I wanted to make someone jealous, that’s why I needed your help" she said, sounding slightly annoyed "And since you’re a nice person, I asked you! And don’t tell me now that you won’t help me, because you always say ‘Jiya, your brother is always here for your help’" she added imitating his voice at the end.

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. This girl…

Sahil quickly wrapped up the call. "No, I was just asking. Okay bye!" he said before cutting the call.

I exhaled, standing up from my chair. "Leave him safe and sound at his place" I ordered my men. Then I turned to Sahil. "And don’t tell anyone that we ever met like this. Especially Jiya. Understood?"

He nodded quickly. "Understood, sir" Without another word, I turned and walked out of the basement.

Sliding into my car, I leaned back in the seat, a smirk slowly forming on my lips.

She wanted to make me jealous.

My fingers tapped against the steering wheel. Should I fire back and flip her plan on her?

I thought for a second before shaking my head. No no. I’ve already made mistakes before. Not again. But the smirk never left my face as I drove back to the mansion.

Abhiraj’s POV

I was sitting in my room, focused on my laptop, going through some important work. The only sound in the room was the faint clicking of the keyboard.

Zar had gone to Mira and Jiya’s room because Jiya had called him. The mansion is quiet and I am lost in my work when I suddenly heard footsteps approaching.

It must be Zar, I thought without looking up. But then, a soft, familiar voice spoke

"What are you doing?" It isn't Zar. It is my baby.

I immediately looked up from my laptop and as soon as my eyes met hers, a wide smile spread across my face.

"Nothing" I replied, closing the laptop and setting it aside.

She walked toward the bed, her movements soft and effortless and then sat beside me. Without hesitation, she leaned against me, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped an arm around her, holding her close, feeling the warmth of her presence.

"You know what?" she mumbled, tilting her head up to look at me.

"Hmm?" I hummed brushing my fingers through her hair gently.

"You’re not behaving like we’re in a relationship" she said, a small pout forming on her lips.

I frowned slightly, confused. "What do you mean?" I asked my fingers still caressing her head.

She huffed and crossed her arms. "Like… you’re not being clingy! You don’t even tell me to sleep with you! And you don’t ask for any other things either!" she said pouting even more.

I couldn’t help but smile at her thoughts. So this is what’s been going on in that little head of hers.

I cupped her face and looked into her eyes. "It’s not like that baby. I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable" I explained softly. "It’s only been three days since we got into a relationship. If I start being too clingy or ask you to sleep with me, you might feel uncomfortable. That’s why I’m taking things slowly… so you don’t feel pressured in any way"

As I spoke, I saw her eyes shine with pure emotion. She sat up straight and out of nowhere, grabbed my face and pulled at both of my cheeks.

"My sona munda" she cooed, giggling.

I chuckled at her cuteness, the sound filling the room. Then without letting her go, I pulled her back into my embrace, wrapping my arms around her tightly. My fingers moved up and down her back, tracing soothing circles.

After a moment of silence, I spoke again. "By the way why do you both sleep together? There are so many rooms in the mansion. You can choose another room for yourself" I said, curious.

She immediately shook her head. "No way" she said stubbornly, burying her face deeper into my chest.

"No, we’re fine like this" she said, her voice soft yet firm. "It’s not about the room or anything else. We grew up sleeping beside each other. That’s why we still share a room. And after marriage, we’ll have to sleep with our husbands, so we won’t get a chance to sleep together again"

Her explanation made me pause for a moment. A strange sense of peace settled inside me as I listened to her. They are not just best friends they are each other’s support system.

I kept caressing her back slowly, feeling the warmth of her presence. "Where is Zar?" I asked my voice gentle.

She chuckled. "He’s with Jiya watching  ganji chudail" she said laughing.

I scoffed. "Jiya and you will surely turn him into a kitten. A giant kitten" I teased, shaking my head.

She playfully smacked my arm, making me smile.

Just then, as I moved my hand, my fingers accidentally brushed against her bare waist. The soft, warm skin under my touch made my breath hitch. My first instinct was to pull my hand away, worried that she might feel uncomfortable. But to my surprise, she didn’t react at all. She is completely fine with it.

Before I could think too much about it, she sat up straight and looked at me with wide, curious eyes.

"You know, Jiya was telling me that Zar killed a person in front of everyone because that man tried to attack you. Is that true?" she asked, clearly amused.

I nodded, but my attention wavered as her bare waist remained in my line of sight. Why does her skin look so smooth Like butter… My fingers twitched with the urge to touch her again but I controlled myself.

"He looks so cute! How can he kill someone?" she kept talking, her voice filled with disbelief but I am not listening anymore.

My entire focus is on her waist. My brain wanted to listen to her words, but my eyes refused to look away from that soft, tempting skin.

"Dhiyan kaha hai aapka?" she suddenly asked, shaking my hand lightly.

(Where are you lost?)

Without thinking, I blurted out "Tumhari chikni kamar par" The second the words left my mouth, I realized what I had just said.

(On your smooth waist)

She gasped dramatically, her eyes wide with shock. But instead of getting angry, a teasing smile formed on her lips.

"Are you flirting with me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes.

I blinked, still processing my own words. But when I saw her playful smile, I couldn’t help but grin too.

"Yes" I said pulling her toward me, my grip firm but gentle.

She raised a brow, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Then take more flirting classes because this one didn’t impress me" she said, pushing me away.

I laughed at her words, shaking my head. "You haven’t even seen 0.00001% of my flirting yet. Trust me, when I start, you won’t need any blush because my words will give you a natural one" I said, my voice low and confident.

As expected, her face turned red and she looked down, smiling shyly.

"You’re the Mafia King, Abhiraj" she whispered.

I smirked, pulling her close again. "So what? Can’t a mafia flirt with his woman?" I asked my gaze locked onto hers.

She stared into my eyes for a second before giving a small nod. My eyes flickered to her lips, and I swallowed hard. Control, Abhiraj. She’s yours and you have an entire lifetime to worship those lips.

Just then Roar!

We both flinched as Zar’s  roar echoed in the room. She quickly moved away and I let out a sigh.

Zar looked at us, his sharp gaze analyzing the situation before he ran toward us and flopped down between us. He snuggled into her, completely ignoring me.

To be honest, this is something I had imagine for a long time....Mira, me and Zar lying together. Our little family.

"Did Jiya sleep?" she asked stroking his fur.

Zar nodded, pressing closer to her. Sometimes, I wonder does he help me get close to Mira or do I help him?

"Okay, I’m going. Good night" she said standing up.

Before she could walk away, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She looked at me, confused.

"Good night kiss" I said tilting my face slightly.

Her face flamed up instantly and she quickly looked at Zar. After a second of hesitation, she leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

Then, her eyes met mine.

I smirked, covering Zar’s eyes with my hand before tilting my cheek toward her.

She hesitated for a second, then leaned in and pressed a soft, tender kiss on my cheek.

That is it. Just a touch of her lips and my inner beast stirred awake. Damn it, Mira.

She pulled away quickly, her face red and rushed toward the door.

I smiled, watching her go but my attention shifted when I felt movement under my palm. Looking down, I realized I had been holding Zar’s face the whole time. His eyes are covered by my hand and he looked uncomfortable.

Chuckling, I removed my hand. "Sorry buddy." Zar let out a huff, stretching lazily.

Still grinning, I pulled him into a tight hug. "Your mother kissed me twice today, my tiger baby" I whispered happily ruffling his fur.

Best. Day. Ever.

Mira’s POV

I step out of the room, a soft smile playing on my lips. He is really something.

Abhiraj makes me feel things I never imagined I could feel. My heart still flutters from our little moment just now.

As I walk down the hallway, I pause, noticing someone standing there. Dev.

He looks lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the floor. His expression seems off troubled, maybe even sad.

"You didn’t sleep?" I ask walking toward him.

He lifts his head slightly but doesn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he exhales deeply and rests his hands on the railing.

"What happened?" I ask stepping beside him. I don’t push him. I just wait, giving him time to gather his words.

After a few seconds of silence, he finally speaks.

"I love Jiya" he confesses, his voice barely above a whisper.

I blink before breaking into a wide smile. Finally!

"I knew it!" I say excitedly. Dev looks at me with narrowed eyes, as if asking, How do you know?

I chuckle, leaning against the railing. "It’s obvious the way you behave around her, how you look at her. You’re not as smooth as you think, Dev" I tease.

A small smile tugs at his lips but it quickly fades. "I need your help" he says, his voice serious.

Without hesitation, I nod. "Of course! And you know what? You’ll never find a girl like Jiya. I’m not just saying this because she’s my best friend  she’s truly special. She’ll stand by you in tough times, love you like no one ever had and take care of you like you’re the most precious thing in the world."

Dev listens to every word with full attention, his eyes reflecting emotions he isn’t voicing out loud.

"I know" he says after a moment, a soft smile on his face. "I’m lucky to have her. Please help me....I want to propose to her."

I gasp in excitement. "Really?" He nods firmly.

"Then consider me your partner in crime" I say, grinning.

"Thank you" he says gratefully but then his expression turns serious again. "But… do me one more favor."

I raise a brow. "What?"

"Keep her away from other boys" he says.

I blink, then smirk. "Oh? Someone’s jealous?" I tease. He doesn’t even deny it. He just nods.

"And" he adds "don’t tell this to anyone. Not Jiya, not Abhiraj, not even Zar" I nod my head.

"It's a secret between us" we say together. But before we can enjoy our little moment of secrecy.....

"Wahhh wahhhh! I lived to see this day!"

A voice echoes through the hallway. Our eyes widen and we turn around in sync....

Only to freeze in pure shock.

I have a humble request to all of you—

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Second update at 11:30 PM 🥳🥳❤️