Chapter 22

(AAHAN POV)

As we stumbled out of the club, I wrapped a supportive arm around Mrunali's wobbly frame, her giggles echoing through the night air like music to my ears. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, shining like stars in the dim light, while her cheeks flushed a deep, becoming red. The sight was pure bliss, a vision that captivated me wholeheartedly. I couldn't help but drink in the beauty of her intoxicated joy, my eyes feasting on the radiant smile that lit up her face. In that moment, I was lost in the depths of her happiness, my heart skipping a beat at the sheer delight of it all.

"I'm soooo happy, Aahan!" she slurred, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love dancing! Let's dance with meeeee~~!!"

Me and dance! This is the last thing I will do in my life. I can guarantee that even a pole is a better dancer than me, even if it can't dance. So me too.

"Not here, Little one." I softly said.

"YOU'RE THE BEST FINANCE EVER! I want to marry you and have little fiance babies!" She screamed without knowing what she was saying.

WHAT DID SHE SAY? I internally screamed. My expression remained stoic, but I was really beyond shocked hearing her words; my heart felt like it was leaping, like a fish breaking the water's surface.

Did she really feel, I was the best fiance? Or is it the effect of Alcohol? Of course, it was the effect of Alcohol because I never did anything for her to deserve my best fiance title. But I hope she genuinely meant when she said she wanted to marry me.

I shook my head and mumbled to myself, 'I hope tomorrow morning you don't feel second-hand embarrassed after remembering what you said today, Little one.'

A hint of a smile played on my lips. "Let's get you home, little one," I said softly, my voice low and gentle, Which I also didn't know existed.

Mrunali's eyes sparkled with delight. "Yay! Home! I wanna show you my favourite pillow! It's suu fluffyyyy! And I wanna sing you a song! 'Aahan, Aahan~~, he's our man, if he can't do it, nobody can~~"

I felt like crawling under a rock and hiding when people looked in our direction. I placed my hand over her mouth before she spoke anything more.

As we walked, Mrunali's legs gave way, and she collapsed onto my chest, her arms wrapping around my waist. My grip on her tightened, holding her close. Her hug was like a warm cup of tea on a cold winter's day, soothing, comforting, and utterly reassuring.

"You're so strong, Aahan," she cooed, poking her finger in his biceps, her breath warm against his shirt. "I feel so safe with you. Can we have a picnic on the moon? I wanna eat sandwiches, and we'll watch the stars!"

Moon date? Seriously? I chuckled, a low, husky sound, and adjusted my grip on her.

"I think we should go somewhere near, Little one. The moon is a little costly for my budget." I joined her silliness.

"True. It's okay we can go on earth." She said with a pout. I just shook my head, she is really cute.

As we reached the car, Mrunali spotted a street performer doing tricks with a basketball. She squealed with excitement and tried to get out of my arms to join in.

"Ooh! Ooh! Can I try? I wanna be a basketball star! Watch this, Chuhannnn!"

I laughed and held her tight, trying to restrain her. "Not now, little one. Let's get you home. and it's Aahan not Chuhan."

Mrunali pouted, but then her face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Okay, but I'm gonna sing again! 'Aahan, Aahan, he's our man..."

I again placed my hand over her mouth before she embarrassed me more. But the tingling sensation when her lips hit the palm of my hand. Fuck!

I stuffed a struggling Little one inside the car and sat in the driving seat. She puffed her cheeks in anger and huffed in my direction. Now she is really looking like an angry child whose candy I stole.

"Hey, Little one," I called out.

She shoved the backside of her hand at my face, "Talk to my hand."

"It's the back of your hand."

She turned her hand with a force that literally hit my nose. Fuck!

"Ouch!"

"What happened?" She asked with curious eyes.

"You hit my nose."

"OMG... My hand talk to your nose." And then she starts laughing.

Should I laugh or cry? Trust me, I never heard this much nonsense in my whole life. What crime do I commit to suffer this?

As we drove, Mrunali's head lolled against the window, her mouth curved into a silly grin. My eyes flicked toward her, my gaze lingering on her peaceful face.

Suddenly, Mrunali sat up straight, her eyes wide with excitement. "Aahan! I forgot to tell you! I saw a unicorn today! It was rainbow-coloured and had sparkles!"

I sighed. It was disco light.

"That's quite a story, little one."

Mrunali nodded vigorously. "I swear it's true! I'm gonna draw you a picture when we get home!"

Draw what? She can't even stand properly. The drawing is far from expectations.

Still, I smiled, my heart full of affection for the silly, drunken woman beside me. "I can't wait to see it."

"Aahan, how come you are so cute with me but a cold monster to others?"

Her question struck a tender chord in my heart, leaving me searching for words to explain the inexplicable. How could I convey to her that she was the sunshine that thawed my frosty demeanour, the gentle warmth that brought my frozen heart to life?

I couldn't reveal the depth of my emotions, the truth that she was the sole reason I had begun to feel again. My selfishness demanded that I maintain a distance between us, yet I found myself inexorably drawn to her. And then, the words tumbled out, a confession I couldn't contain: "Because this monster's heart craved only for you, little one, not for them."

At this moment, I knew I had to confront the darkness of my past to share with her the untold truths that had shaped me into the person I am today. But for now, I let those words hang in the air, a fragile bridge between us, hoping she would understand the depth of my feelings one day, even though I knew after knowing the truth that she would hate me.

With her sleeping face, silence filled the car with a surge of pain in my heart.

.

.

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(PIHU POV)

As the night wore on, I made my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the colourful array of cocktails. The bartender, a charming smile spreading across his face, greeted me with a flirtatious wink.

I mentally rolled my eyes at him.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A beautiful woman, all alone at the bar. How can I make your night more interesting?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

By shutting your mouth, Fucker. But I didn't say it out loud.

I raised an eyebrow, a few seconds of judging with a cold face. A sly smile spread across my face. "Oh, I think you're trying too hard, bartender. But I'll give you points for your effort. Now, can I please just get a Virgin Margarita?"

The bartender chuckled, unfazed by my sassiness.

You always heard about, 'Laato ke bhoot baaton se nahi mante.'

Maybe he needs a kick on his guts.

"Coming right up, gorgeous. But don't think you can dismiss me that easily. I'm not done trying to charm you yet."

As he expertly mixed my drink, his eyes locked onto mine, his gaze lingering a little too long.

This dumb bastard! I want to poke his eyes with a straw, but suddenly, I feel dark eyes drilling holes in my skull. I turned my head slightly and met with a nerve-numbing sight.

Naksh, watching from across the VIP room, not watching but glaring at me and the bartender. A piercing stare, sharp as a knife, cut through the crowd to pin me in place. Whatever he is feeling, I know he is not liking it.

The bartender handed me, my drink, his fingers brushing against mine. "On the house, gorgeous. Maybe this will give me a chance to convince you to stay and chat with me a bit longer."

Mine eyes sparkled with amusement. This man really has a death wish. He really thinks paying my bill for a drink makes me stay.

"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you? But I'll give you the credit you're definitely more entertaining than the average bartender. But my house is on my husband's credit card."

Before the bartender could shake off his stupor, Naksh materialized beside me, his hand descending upon my waist like a claiming storm cloud. As if to emphasize his claim, his hand tightened around my waist, a gentle yet unyielding pressure that left me breathless. I felt the warmth of his palm seep into my skin, a branding iron that marked me as his own. The intensity of his grip showed a fit of simmering anger, a barely leashed fury that threatened to unfurl like a dark wingspan.

But why? Jealousy? Of course not. Naksh wasn't capable of such petty emotions. Or so I told myself. Yet, the dark, foreboding look in his eyes betrayed a depth of feeling he couldn't quite conceal. A look that spoke of primal urges, territorial claims, of a fierce protectiveness that bordered on obsession. The air around us seemed to vibrate with tension, heavy with unspoken emotions as if the very atmosphere was alive and pulsing with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Naksh's eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched in annoyance. He strode over to the bar, his presence commanding attention. The bartender, sensing the sudden tension, took a step back.

"Hey, can I get a whiskey?" Naksh asked gruffly, his eyes never leaving my face.

The bartender nodded hastily, pouring Naksh a drink. As Naksh took the glass, "Thanks, but stay away from my wife." Naksh said curtly, his gaze still locked onto mine.

"My wife." The words rolled off his tongue like a possessive mantra, a declaration of ownership that sent a shiver coursing through my veins.

If I said my heartbeat didn't skip a beat, I'd be telling a white lie. The truth was, my pulse raced like a wild animal, thrumming in my chest like a drumbeat that echoed the primal possessiveness in his eyes. It was as if my heart had become a traitor, betraying my attempts at nonchalance and surrendering to the raw emotion that crackled between us like electricity.

At that moment, I was acutely aware of being claimed, of being wrapped in the mantle of his protection and passion. And I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me, a thrill that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

He walked near me, and his fingers touched mine, sending a spark of electricity through both of us.

"Let's dance, Bossy."

Dance? Did he even know how to dance?

I raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in my voice. "Oh, I don't know, hubby. I was having a lovely time chatting with the bartender here."

Naksh's eyes flashed with a hint of anger. "I think you've chatted enough for one night."

I let out a throaty laugh, the sound husky and confident. Naksh looked absolutely scorching, his possessive gaze burning with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. Anger seemed to suit him perfectly, amplifying his bad-boy charm and making him even more irresistible. Despite my best efforts to annoy him, I couldn't deny the fact that he was ridiculously handsome. His chiselled features, piercing eyes, and sharp jawline all combined to create a face that was both fierce and captivating.

I took his hand, my fingers intertwining with his in a playful grasp. "Fine, let's dance. But only because I'm curious to see how ridiculous you'll look trying to keep up with me, not because I'm intimidated by a little harmless flirting."

He growled at my words and I suppressed a laugh inside my throat.

As we walked onto the dance floor, His arm wrapped possessively around my waist, pulling me close.

What the hell he is doing? And for the sake of god can you stop beating like a drum? He can hear us. Don't embarrass me, my poor heart.

As we swayed to the music's rhythm, my heart thundered in my chest, drowning out the melody. Naksh's whisper in my ear sent shivers coursing down my spine, his warm breath caressing my skin like a gentle flame. "Don't play with me like this, Bossy. I'm a possessive person towards what's mine." The words wrapped around me like a velvet vice, squeezing tight.

Fuck! I was doomed. His possessiveness awakened a maelstrom of emotions within me, a whirlpool that pulled me under with its intensity. As he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck, I felt the warmth spread like wildfire, igniting a blaze that threatened to consume me whole.

A wave of feeling crashed over me, a tsunami of emotion that left me gasping. It was the feeling I'd been afraid to acknowledge, the one that made my heart sing and my soul tremble. The feeling of falling, of surrendering to the unknown, of embracing the beauty and the pain.

It was a feeling that made me feel secure, yet terrified of losing. It was the feeling of being vulnerable, of being open to the possibility of heartbreak. But it was also the feeling of being alive, of being connected to another human being on a deeper level.

As I stood there, wrapped in Naksh's arms, I knew I was falling. And I was powerless to stop it. The feeling was both exhilarating and terrifying, like standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss. But I couldn't look away. I was drawn to the edge, helpless to resist the pull of the unknown.

As his face stayed nestled in my neck, I jostled him, "Naksh?" But he was out cold.

I tried again, "Naksh?" Still, nothing. I threw up my hands and let out a exasperated sigh, "Seriously? Now I'm stuck taking him home. Just what I needed. A sleeping beauty to babysit. Fuck my life."

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To be continued.

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