67. Riya learned about Arav

The night unfolded quietly, a soft tension lingering in the air between Shivaay and Niharika. After their conversation, there was a shift, an unspoken understanding between them, one that neither could ignore. Time seemed to slow as they shared fleeting glances, each one loaded with meaning.

As the evening stretched on, their barriers came down, and the subtle distance that had remained between them disappeared. In the quiet of their room, Shivaay’s gentle touch on Niharika’s face felt like a promise, a quiet assurance that everything was changing, evolving. Niharika, her heart racing, surrendered to the pull she’d felt toward him from the very beginning.

In the stillness of that night, they became one, both emotionally and physically. It was a moment of connection, of deep trust, and vulnerability. The world outside ceased to exist as they shared a closeness they hadn’t yet experienced.

As they lay together afterward, the room was filled with a sense of peace and completeness. Their bond had deepened in a way neither had expected but both had longed for. The night marked a new beginning for their relationship, one where their love no longer just existed in fleeting moments but was now woven into the very fabric of their lives.

And for the first time, both of them realized that their journey together had only just begun.

Shivaay woke up, the early morning light softly spilling into the room, casting a warm glow. He turned his gaze to Niharika, who lay beside him, her face serene in peaceful sleep. Her hair was slightly tousled, and her lips curled into the slightest smile, even in her dreams. Shivaay couldn't help but smile too, watching her so content, so vulnerable in this quiet moment.

His heart swelled with emotions he hadn’t expected, a mix of tenderness and protectiveness. He gently brushed a lock of hair from her face, admiring the way she seemed to trust him so completely, even in her sleep. It felt like everything had shifted overnight—not just between them, but within him too.

For the first time, he allowed himself to think about the future, not just as the man who had a dangerous empire to protect, but as the husband of the woman lying beside him.

With a soft sigh, he leaned in and kissed her forehead gently, careful not to wake her. As he pulled away, he whispered, “Good morning, my love,” and, for the first time, the words felt right.

He settled back against the pillows, content to simply be in that moment with her. Life had always been unpredictable, but right now, with Niharika by his side, it felt like everything was finally falling into place.

After a refreshing shower, Niharika stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a soft towel, her mind still racing with all the tasks she needed to handle. She walked over to the wardrobe, quickly picking out an elegant outfit for the day, suitable for the duties and responsibilities that awaited her as the eldest daughter-in-law of the family and the queen of the household.

She glanced at the clock once again and sighed. It was already getting late, and the last thing she wanted was to keep everyone waiting, especially with the meetings and matters to take care of. As she dressed, her thoughts kept drifting to Shivaay. His presence in her life had changed everything, and while she loved every moment with him, sometimes it felt like the weight of her responsibilities never let up.

Once dressed, Niharika applied a light touch of makeup and hurried downstairs. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she caught sight of Shivaay sitting in the living room, sipping his coffee and watching her with an amused expression.

"Shivaay," she called, walking toward him, "I’m late for my meetings, and I still need to check on the family. Can we talk later?"

Shivaay set down his coffee and stood up, walking toward her with a smirk. "Late? You? Never." He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his hand lingering on her cheek. "But I do understand. Go ahead, handle your business. I’ll be here when you need me."

Niharika smiled at him, grateful for his support. "Thank you," she said softly, squeezing his hand. "I’ll make it up to you later, I promise."

"Don’t worry," Shivaay replied, his voice full of warmth. "Just come back to me in one piece."

With a final glance at him, Niharika turned to leave. She was ready for the day ahead, determined to balance her duties with her love for Shivaay. As she walked out the door, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of purpose. She was a queen, a wife, and a woman with goals—and nothing could stop her from fulfilling them.

As Niharika entered the room, she noticed Riya, Ivaan, and Ishaan waiting for her. Their teasing glances made her feel a bit self-conscious. She could tell they had something on their minds, especially with the way they exchanged knowing looks.

Before she could say anything, Ivaan, always ready with a cheeky remark, grinned and said, “Bhabhi, Bhai, what were you two up to that you’re so late? Did something keep you occupied this morning?”

Niharika’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly glanced at Shivaay, who was standing behind her with a calm expression, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. She could tell by the slight twinkle in his eyes that he wasn’t fazed by Ivaan’s teasing.

Shivaay chuckled softly, stepping forward and leaning toward Ivaan with a smirk. “Ivaan, I’m sure you’ve got plenty of stories of your own. Don’t worry about us.”

Ivaan raised an eyebrow, but Ishaan, who was usually more composed, couldn’t help but laugh at the playful atmosphere. Riya, trying to change the topic, shot a knowing glance at Niharika. “Let’s focus on the matter at hand,” she said with a teasing smile. “We have bigger things to discuss than what went on this morning.”

Niharika, grateful for Riya’s intervention, took a deep breath and nodded. “Right,” she said, trying to shift the attention to their day’s plans. “We’ve got a lot to handle today, so let’s get to work.”

But as she turned to look at Shivaay, she caught him smiling, clearly enjoying the lighthearted moment. He winked at her, making her heart flutter a bit. Even with all the teasing, she couldn’t deny that moments like these were what made their bond even stronger.

As Ivaan and Riya made their way to college, the usual chatter between them was filled with playful teasing and discussions about the upcoming events. The day felt somewhat different, though, as Saanchi was absent. It was unusual for her to miss college, especially with her usual enthusiasm for everything, but today she hadn’t shown up.

Ivaan, who had always been fond of teasing his friends, raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what happened to Saanchi today. She’s never this quiet. Maybe she’s sick or...,” he trailed off, as if contemplating the possibilities.

Riya shrugged, though she had her own suspicions. “Maybe she’s just tired, or something came up at home. She’s been pretty busy lately.”

As they arrived on campus, the absence of Saanchi did seem to leave a noticeable gap in their usual dynamic. Ivaan, noticing the shift in energy, decided to take a more serious tone. “I hope everything’s okay with her. You know how she can be... strong on the outside, but a little fragile sometimes.”

Riya nodded thoughtfully, her mind wandering to the last time they’d all been together. She, too, was worried. Saanchi had been acting a bit different lately, and though she hadn’t voiced any concerns, there had been moments when she seemed distracted.

Ivaan quickly changed the subject, as he usually did, eager to avoid overthinking things. "Anyway, let’s get to class. We’ll check on Saanchi later. She probably just needs some rest."

Riya agreed, but in her heart, she couldn’t shake off the worry. She’d always been protective of Saanchi, and today, her absence felt more unsettling than usual.

Riya and Kriti were walking together on the college campus when Kriti noticed Arav in the distance. She turned to Riya and asked, "Who's that guy?"

Riya responded casually, "That's my bodyguard, Rohit Parihar."

Kriti narrowed her eyes, skeptical. "No way. He looks like someone else. I think he's Arav Gupta, the famous spy."

Riya shook her head, brushing off the suggestion. "No, Kriti, you're mistaken. He's just my bodyguard."

Kriti, still not convinced, grinned. "Try me." She walked confidently over to Arav and, standing behind him, whispered, "Arav Gupta."

Arav froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. He quickly recovered, not giving away any emotions, but his brief hesitation didn't go unnoticed. Riya, observing the entire exchange, now felt a knot forming in her stomach.

Before she could say anything, Kriti playfully looked at her and winked. "Told you."

Riya felt a wave of confusion. She was about to question Arav when suddenly, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Ankit. Arav answered, his voice steady. "Yes, everything is fine," he said with no trace of worry.

Riya's mind was racing. She glanced at Arav, but he seemed unfazed by the whole situation. The call ended, and Riya couldn’t help but feel like there was more to Arav than he was letting on. She felt an uneasy tension growing inside her, unsure whether to push him for answers or let it go. But just before she could ask, Arav gave her a faint, reassuring smile and said, "Yes, everything is fine."

Riya’s suspicion lingered, but she stayed silent, watching him carefully.

Riya’s mind was spinning as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. The weight of the situation hit her suddenly, and she felt a sharp sting of betrayal. Her trust in Arav, which had been growing steadily, now seemed shaken. She turned away without saying another word, her heart heavy with the confusion and uncertainty that had taken over her.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, not wanting to break down in front of anyone. She hurriedly walked away, her pace quickening as she tried to escape the swirling thoughts in her head.

Arav stood there, his heart sinking as he watched Riya walk away from him. He wanted to call out to her, to explain everything, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. He had kept his identity a secret from her for a reason, and now, seeing her upset, he regretted not being open with her from the start. Without thinking, he started to follow her, hoping to talk things through.

But Riya, her emotions running high, felt a surge of anger mixed with confusion. She spun around abruptly when she felt Arav behind her, her voice trembling as she spoke, "Stay away from me, Rohit. Just stay away."

The use of his alias hit him like a punch to the gut. He paused, guilt and regret flooding him, but he respected her space. He watched her walk away, helpless, knowing that he had hurt her and that the path to redemption wouldn't be easy. He had no idea how to make it right, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't afford to lose her.

Arav stood there, his voice filled with desperation as he called after Riya, "Please, Riya, listen to me just once." His steps quickened, trying to catch up to her, but she kept walking faster, her shoulders rigid with tension.

He reached out, gently grabbing her arm, urging her to stop. "I didn't mean for you to find out this way. I never wanted to hurt you." His voice softened, full of regret.

Riya, however, pulled her arm away sharply, her eyes blazing with frustration and hurt. "You lied to me, Arav! You weren't who you said you were. Everything we had... it feels like a lie."

The pain in her words hit him harder than anything else could. He stood there, struggling to find the right words, his mind a whirlwind. He knew he had messed up, but the idea of losing her was unbearable.

"I never meant to deceive you," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was trying to protect you... from my world. I didn't want you to get caught up in it."

Riya shook her head, tears welling up again. "Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me the truth? We could've faced it together."

Arav's heart clenched, and he stepped closer, his voice pleading, "I was trying to keep you safe, Riya. I’m so sorry for not being honest with you. Please, give me a chance to explain."

But Riya, shaken and emotional, took a step back, wiping her eyes angrily. "I don’t know if I can trust you anymore, Arav."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, torn and helpless. He watched her go, feeling every inch of their distance growing wider with each step she took.

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Actually that was part 68 which I mistakenly uploaded, this is part 67.