Chapter 33

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Words count - 4k

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(AT MORNING 7:00AM)

A knock at the door pulled Janvi’s attention away from her paperwork.

“Princess, breakfast is ready. Let’s go down—” Shivay’s voice trailed off as he stepped inside and took in the mess around him.

“Was there a hurricane in here last night?” he asked, carefully walking around the scattered papers on the floor.

A pile of clothes from the last night, lay lifeless on the beanbag, files were spread haphazardly across the table, the bed remained unmade, and the curtains were still drawn, keeping the room in a sleepy haze.

“Nope.” Janvi barely glanced up from her laptop, fingers flying over the keys.

Shivay frowned as he picked up a few papers. “Why is your room such in a disaster state?”

She let out a sigh, still focused on the screen. “I was exhausted when I got home and crashed. I forgot I had to finish the surgical report for my last C-section.”

“Being an OB-GYN is tough, huh?” he mused, stacking the scattered files.

(OB-GYNO* : OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGISTS)

She finally looked up. “In our profession, nothing is easy.”

“Well, at least breakfast is.” He reached for her hand, but she held up a finger. “Just five more minutes.”

Shivay didn’t argue. Instead, he silently opened the curtains, letting warm sunlight spill into the room. He straightened the bed, tossed her gown into the laundry basket, and neatly placed her purse and shoes where they belonged.

Janvi was so engrossed in her work that she didn’t even notice.

“FINALLY DONE!” Janvi exclaimed, stretching her arms high above her head, feeling the weight of exhaustion lift.

Shivay watched her with an amused smile. “Good morning, Princess.” His voice was soft, warm.

Stepping closer, Gently, he placed hands on her shoulder; he leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head.

A comforting warmth spread through Janvi at his touch. Placing her hand over his, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. A beautiful smile curved her lips as she whispered, “Good morning.”

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice filled with quiet affection.

She hummed in agreement, standing up from her chair, but as her eyes swept across the room, she froze.

“Wait… did you clean my room? Why?” she asked, surprise lacing her voice.

Shivay simply shrugged. “Because I wanted to.”

Janvi narrowed her eyes. “But you didn’t have to.”

His gaze softened as he reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I never said I had to. I said I wanted to, Princess.” His tone left no room for argument.

She sighed, warmth filling her chest at his thoughtfulness. Taking both his hands in hers, she looked up at him. “It’s not good to touch someone else’s shoes.”

"Why?"

"It will decrease your fortune star."

"My fortune star is in front of me, I don't need another one, Princess." He lovingly gazed at her.

A rosy blush spread across Janvi’s cheeks, and she bit her lip, unable to fight the smile tugging at her lips. “Stop being cheesy this early in the morning.”

Yet, despite her words, she tiptoed and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Shivay’s entire face lit up at her sweet gesture, his eyes twinkling with happiness.

He bobbed her nose, "So cute, princess. Let's go."

Before leaving, Janvi turned to the window, pressing her palms together in a quiet prayer, her eyes closed as she welcomed the morning sun’s warmth.

Shivay watched her in silent admiration before she took his hand once again, their fingers lacing together as they left the room—side by side, heart to heart.

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Shivay casually enjoyed his breakfast, glancing around. “I didn’t see Shreya here last night. Where did she go?”

Sidharth snorted. “Oh, she created a whole damn circus after you guys left.”

Janvi, who had been lazily murdering apples on her plate, suddenly came alive at the scent of gossip.

“KYU? BHAI NAKSH PE LINE MARI KYA?” She almost slammed her fork down, eyes twinkling with mischief.

(Why? Did she flirt with Naksh?)

Sidharth smirked, matching her dramatic energy. “Worse.”

Shivay sighed, already regretting bringing up Shreya, while Janvi abandoned her plate and plopped into the chair next to Sidharth.

“Damn! Spill the tea, dude!” She smacked his arm for emphasis.

Shivay shot Sidharth a warning glare, but Sidharth just grinned, raising his hands in surrender. “Chill out, bro. She’s not my type.”

If Shivay’s glare was bad before, now it could burn holes through walls. “I don’t care about your type just like I don't care about you breathing.”

Sidharth, unfazed, turned to Janvi. “Anyway, here’s what happened—”

As he narrated last night’s disaster, Janvi listened like a scandal-hungry auntie at a wedding, nodding dramatically and gasping in all the right places.

By the end, her jaw was practically on the floor. Even Shivay looked slightly stunned.

“CHI YAAR! KYA MAST SCENE BHAGWAN NE MERI ZINDAGI SE DELETE KAR DIYA!” She groaned, holding her heart like she was personally betrayed.

(Shit! God deleted the best scene from my life!)

Shivay shook his head. “Where did you drop her? You didn’t bring her back here.”

Sidharth smirked. “The place where she belongs.”

Without missing a beat, Janvi deadpanned, “Sewage or dustbin?”

Sidharth sighed. “Her home. And for your kind information, I am a gentleman.”

Janvi scoffed. “Sure, and I’m the Queen of England.”

Before Sidharth could argue, a breathless Mrunali sprinted into the room like she was being chased by a ghost.

“IS ANYONE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL?!” She panted.

“Maybe at nine,” Shivay replied, unfazed by the dramatic entrance.

“Not now?!” Mrunali’s face fell faster than a dropped WiFi signal.

Janvi silently pushed her a glass of milk, knowing she hated coffee. Sidharth, meanwhile, handed her a plate of poha with a smirk.

“Mrunali, I would love to enjoy the company of sweet angels like you,” he said with a flirty grin, “but I have a meeting with my dad, who is unfortunately located in the opposite direction of the hospital.”

Mrunali groaned. “Kismat hi kharab hai meri! Where’s Naksh?”

“Still snoring, I assume.”

Before anyone could respond, the clicking of heels echoed in the living room.

A half-dead, zombie-looking Pihu dragged herself inside the house, her hair a messy bird’s nest, and eyes screaming, 'I hate life.'

She barely opened her mouth. “Tea. Now.”

Janvi started to get up, but Sidharth waved her off. “I got it. I need one too,"

Mrunali leaned forward, eyes full of concern. “Are you okay?”

Janvi, on the other hand, showed zero sympathy. “You look like shit.”

Pihu blinked at her, completely dead inside. “I’m fine, Mru. And thank you for the lovely compliment, Janvi.”

Janvi grinned. “Anytime.”

Shivay sighed. “Sorry, Pihu. Because of me, you didn’t get proper rest before your night shift.”

Pihu stretched her neck and collapsed onto the chair next to Mrunali. “Nah, it’s fine. I’m used to it. But last night was brutal—some emergency case kept me at the hospital for hours.” She groaned and banged her head lightly against the table.

Mrunali asked with sadness, “Aahan didn’t come back with you?”

"He appeared at the hospital for an emergency last night, pretty sure he’s still stuck on the morning shift.”

She squinted at Mrunali. “Wait. Are you going to the hospital?”

Mrunali nodded, pouting like a child who just dropped her ice cream. “YES! And NO ONE is there to drop me!”

Janvi shook her head. “At this point, just learn how to drive, Mru.”

Sidharth, Who appeared with a cup of tea, said, “Or marry an Uber driver.”

Mrunali grabbed a napkin and chucked it at his head.

"I know, but the car is confusing to me," She replied to Janvi while watching time on her phone, "Lag gayi Lanka! I'M LATE," She finished her sentence while running outside.

Sidharth passed a cup to Pihu, who unknowingly gave him a soft smile while mumbling, "Thank you."

The moment froze for him. It was brief, almost insignificant—yet something about it unsettled him. His fingers tingled as if they had brushed against something electric.

He sat beside Shivay, his face blank, eyes distant.

"So, what's your plan?" Janvi asked Pihu.

"Sleeping the whole day," she replied lazily, stretching her arms.

"Where is Naksh?" Pihu asked.

"Still sleeping."

Pihu frowned. "How can a gym freak like him still be asleep? Are you sure he's not dead?"

"Go and confirm yourself," Janvi replied, smirking.

Pihu finished her tea and stood up. "I’ll go take a shower. Good night, guys." She waved and walked upstairs.

Shivay noticed Sidharth, sitting eerily still, eyes fixated on something unseen. He nudged him. "Where are you lost? Don't you have a meeting?"

Sidharth blinked, once, twice. His throat was dry. The world felt... off.

"Huh? Oh... yeah," he muttered and quickly stood up, almost knocking over the cup on the table. He left without another word, his footsteps unusually hurried.

Shivay watched him go, an uneasy feeling creeping up his spine.

"Suddenly what's wrong with him?" Shivay asked, looking at Sidharth's weird behaviour.

Janvi shrugged her shoulders in response.

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MRUNALI’S POV

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I GPay to the Uber driver.

Huh? That car… Isn’t that Aahan’s? Where is he coming from?

I mumbled to myself, watching the sleek black vehicle pull into the parking lot. Maybe he went to grab Coffee? Yeah, that sounds like him - cold and bitter. A small smile crept onto my lips at the thought.

But instead of heading inside the hospital like I was supposed to, my feet had a mind of their own. Before I knew it, I was walking towards the parking lot, scanning the area for his car.

And there it was.

I was about to step closer when—wait. What?

The passenger door opened, and someone stepped out.

A girl.

Liza the Pizza?!

My brows furrowed instantly. What was she doing in Aahan’s car?

Aahan—the man who has a strict rule about never letting anyone, anyone, inside his car unless they’re family. His assistant is there, and she is definitely not a family member.

What the heck is going on?

I blinked. Once. Twice. But the scene in front of me didn’t change.

Liza the Pizza was still standing there, flipping her hair like she owned the world. And worse? She had just stepped out of Aahan’s car.

My Aahan—okay, not my Aahan, but still.

What the hell is going on?

I felt my jaw clench as I watched her adjust her dress, looking all comfortable like she had every right to be there. Since when did she get a VIP pass into his car? Last I checked, Aahan doesn’t even let people breathe near it, let alone sit inside.

My fingers curled into fists as I took a step forward. Should I ask him? No, that would make me look desperate. Should I ask her? Ugh, no way. That would be even worse.

Maybe it was a mistake.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

And then, just to make things ten times worse, she laughed.

I froze.

That high-pitched, fake, sugar-coated giggle that made my blood boil. What the hell was so funny? And why was she looking at Aahan like that?

I didn’t even realize I was gripping my phone so tight until I felt my fingers ache.

Okay, calm down, Mrunali. Deep breaths. Maybe she just needed a ride. Maybe there’s a perfectly logical explanation.

But then Aahan stepped out, looking all cool and unaffected, like this was normal.

Normal?!... 'Mein inki hone wali wife, itni mehnat kar k aari hu hospital or ye maharaj gulchare uda rhe hai.'

And the worst part? He didn’t even look guilty. Like he didn’t just break his own damn rule.

I felt something twist inside me. Jealousy? No. This was… okay, maybe it was jealousy. But could you blame me?!

Liza. The Pizza. In his car.

And for some reason, it hurts.

I needed answers. And I needed them now.

Without thinking twice, I stormed toward them, my heels clicking sharply against the pavement. My eyes were locked on Aahan, but my irritation was very much directed at the unwanted guest beside him.

"Little one?" His voice was laced with confusion, but I didn’t spare him a glance. My gaze was fixated on the girl leaning against his car for support.

"I never knew that being an assistant is a way for inside your car," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You're taking it the wrong way, Miss Wagh." Liza tried to defend themselves with hesitation.

I let out a dry laugh, tilting my head. “Really? A girl steps out of my fiancé’s car, giggling and blushing, and I’m supposed to take it positively?”

I wasn’t even trying to hide my anger or the disdain burning in my chest.

For a moment, I thought of hiding my jealousy, but everybody already knows how possessive I am of things which belong to me. I even get possessive of my favourite candy, and this is about the person who will be my future husband.

Liza tried to collect a sentence but only fumbled on her words.

"Little one!" Aahan again calls out to grab my attention.

But I bluntly ignored him. So he orders his so-called assistant, "Leave us alone."

"Yes sir,"

Liza cast me one last nervous glance before limping away, swaying slightly like her ankle really was hurt.

But I ignored her and shifted my attention to the real culprit.

I folded my arms, raising a brow. “Care to explain what she was doing in your car?”

Aahan took a step toward me, his entire demeanour softening, quite the opposite of what he was giving to his assistant.

“She hurt her foot, so I just helped her,” he explained, his voice calm as if he were coaxing a child.

And I am not a child.

I narrowed my eyes. “You—the man who doesn’t even let people touch his car—suddenly decided to play chauffeur?”

“I’m a doctor, Little One. It’s my duty to help people in need.” His tone is calm and collected.

I crossed my arms tighter, refusing to drop the subject. “You could’ve called someone else to help her.”

Maybe he is thinking, 'You’re being ridiculous.'

And maybe I am. But I didn’t care.

I hated the idea of someone else sitting in his car. Someone other than me.

"Little one-" I cut him off.

“No,” I cut him off, stepping closer. “You don’t let anyone in your car. But her? What’s so special about her?”

What nonsense am I speaking? Maybe he will laugh at me because of how childish it sounds.

Fuck it but it's hurt. I feel like crying just at the thought of him sharing his special thing with another girl.

Maybe he will ignore me like I never existed.

But he didn’t.

Instead, his expression shifted, and before I even realized what was happening, his warm hands were on my cheeks, cupping my face so gently that my breath hitched.

His eyes held nothing but guilt and concern. “My mistake, Little One,” he murmured, his thumbs brushing lightly against my skin. “I should have asked someone else to help her. I shouldn’t have let her in.” He sighed. “But this car… it wasn’t from my special collection. I picked it randomly. So I didn't think too much before giving her a lift.”

My eyes stung.

Why was he apologizing when I was the one being unreasonable?

And then—my heart stopped.

Aahan pulled me into his arms.

Not a side hug. Not a brief touch.

A proper hug.

A hug so tight yet gentle, like he feared I’d disappear if he let go.

His face buried into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

And just like that… I melted.

My jealousy and pain drain with the warmth of his softness.

Aahan never hugged me like this before.

And now that he had… I never wanted him to stop.

"It's okay," I finally manage to mumble, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just being childish."

"Bilkul nahi, Haq hai apka humpe." His voice is firm, unwavering.

(No, you have rights to me.)

My heart stutters. His words wrap around me like a warm embrace, making me feel treasured—cherished. A lump rises in my throat, and for a moment, I am speechless.

A soft smile graces my lips, but just as quickly, it falters. My gaze lands on something unexpected—something that shouldn’t be there.

A lipstick stain.

On his car seat.

My breath catches in my throat. My fingers twitch. A sharp sting of something ugly coils inside me.

He backs away slightly, sensing the shift in my expression. "Is everything fine, Little one?" His voice is gentle, but concern laces his words.

I bite my lower lip, a thought sparking in my mind. Didn't he just say I have rights?

I look at the stain again, and anger clouds my mind like a thunderstorm brewing on the horizon. What’s mine is mine. No one gets to leave an imprint on him.

And Pihu always said, if you will not make that moment unforgettable then people often forget about it. So how can I ignore her wise words?

And most importantly, I don't want him to repeat what happened today. I know he will not but I don't even want to chance for coincidence.

And I refuse to let this moment be forgotten.

So I did it.

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(AAHAN’S POV)

Mrunali falls into a deep silence, lost in thought. But then, suddenly—unexpectedly—she smiles at me.

A sweet, angelic smile.

Yet, for some reason, it sends chills down my spine. It’s the kind of smile that holds mischief, the kind that warns of impending chaos.

She rummages through her purse, and a second later, she pulls out her credit card.

I frown. What is she up to now?

"What are you doing, Little one?" I ask, utterly confused.

She flashes me that same unsettlingly sweet smile. "Wait and watch."

Then, without hesitation, she walks over to my car.

And she scratches it.

My heart leaps out of my chest.

She. Scratched. My. Car.

The sound of metal against plastic sends a shiver down my spine. I should say something, should stop her—but how could I?

After all, the destroyer of my car is also my pasandida aurat. My favourite lady.

So I silently watched.

She turns to face me, an innocent glint in her eyes as if she hasn’t just committed a crime against my most prized possession.

"I heard you love your car so much," she muses, tilting her head playfully.

I don’t answer. I can’t. I am too stunned—too captivated.

"Send it for renovation."

Then, with a smug little smile, she points at the car. More specifically, in the passenger seat.

At the lipstick stain.

Oh.

Oh.

It clicks.

Understanding dawns on me.

She’s not mad at me. She’s mad at that stain.

I nod silently, acknowledging her unspoken demand.

Satisfied, she giggles—a sound so pure, so full of joy—that my heart jumps. She saunters out of the parking lot, humming to herself, utterly pleased with her actions.

I look back at my car, now bearing the scars of her possessiveness.

My heart is in the same state as my car—wrecked, wounded but at least she is happy.

Her possessive side - It’s adorable.

She looked like an angry bird, all puffed up and furious.

God helped me, but I never knew that I would do cute things until I looked at her.

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Sidharth paced the dimly lit room, his breath uneven, his fingers trembling as they grazed his lips. He had already chewed his nails down to the skin, but the anxiety clawing at his insides refused to let him stop.

A low chuckle slithered through the darkness.

"A fearful Sidharth wasn’t on my list this year," the voice murmured, thick with amusement.

Sidharth’s eyes snapped toward the source of the sound, his pulse hammering against his ribs. "Just shut your mouth," he spat, his voice sharp, brittle.

The figure lurking in the shadows leaned back, utterly unfazed. "I was just wondering about the reason for your fear." Their tone was casual, detached, like they were discussing the weather.

"We need to do something," Sidharth insisted, desperation lacing his words. His hands curled into fists, his body tense with urgency.

The person ignored him completely, idly reaching for a chessboard resting on the table between them. They traced their fingers over the pieces, smirking as they knocked over a white knight. "If you're done pacing, then come and play with me."

Sidharth’s patience snapped.

"CAN’T YOU FUCKING HEAR ME?" His voice cracked under the weight of his panic. His lungs burned, his mind raced. "I can’t let it happen." The words tumbled from his lips in a whisper, more to himself than anyone else.

The shadowed figure exhaled heavily, as if Sidharth’s fear bored him. "Get your ass here. You’re giving me a headache."

Something in Sidharth gave way. He stumbled forward, slumping into the chair across from the man, too drained to argue.

"Wanna play chess?" The voice was almost teasing.

Sidharth’s hands slammed against the table with enough force to rattle the chess pieces. "Shove that chess piece in your ass, bastard."

The person only laughed, slow and deliberate, eyes glinting like a predator toying with its prey.

"Do you have a plan or not?" Sidharth’s voice was raw.

The smirk he received in response was unsettling. "Oh, I do."

Sidharth narrowed his eyes, his gut twisting. "What is it?"

The person reached out and plucked the white king from the board, twirling it between their fingers. "It’s time for checkmate," the person murmured, their voice a whisper of menace. The person's lips curled into something sinister. "It’s time to kill the king."

Silence.

The words seeped into Sidharth’s brain like poison, freezing his blood in his veins. His breath hitched. "Are you fucking kidding me?" His voice barely carried above a whisper.

The person didn’t blink. Their expression remained infuriatingly neutral.

"You’ve lost your goddamn mind," Sidharth hissed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Aahan will skin you alive if you even lay a fucking hand on her."

The person’s smirk twisted into something cruel. "This is the plan. And I don’t give a shit about that bastard Aahan." Their voice dripped with venom as he spat the name.

Sidharth swallowed, bile rising in his throat. "I won’t do it."

A dark chuckle. "Did you develop a soft spot for her?" The mockery in his voice made Sidharth’s blood boil.

His glare was scorching. "I SAID, I WON’T DO THAT."

The air shifted. The amusement drained from the person’s face, leaving only cold, unyielding malice.

"Don’t forget your place, motherfucker," the person snarled, voice like a blade slicing through the air. "You’re just a pawn. And pawns?" They leaned in, their breath ghosting over the space between them. "They belong under my fucking shoes."

The person's hand twitched, fingers flexing as if they were resisting the urge to strike. "I can ruin your entire fucking life with a flick of my finger. Do you understand that?"

Sidharth stared at the person, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. A slow, burning rage replaced the fear in his gut.

But he said nothing.

With one last glare, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The shadowed person remained, eyes glinting like a predator watching its prey slip away.

For now.

─── ❝ To be continued❞ ─────

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