Love Me

17

After reaching home, Roshni went straight to her room and locked the door from inside.

"Daksh will scold me now… what 'daddy'? If they lived with him, then they would know." She muttered angrily, pacing in circles. "Let me just search about this 'daddy issue'—but where is my phone?" Her hands ran through her pockets, then she dug through her bag, growing frustrated. Suddenly, realization hit.

"This man didn’t give me my phone!" she huffed, throwing herself onto the bed. Her fists clenched, eyes narrowing. "Why is killing someone a crime?" she muttered under her breath, kicking at the blanket.

"Roshni, come down. I’ve put your lunch on the table," Aunty’s voice came with a knock at the door.

Roshni sighed, dragging her feet to open it.

"Actually, I had lunch on my way, so I’m not hungry right now," she lied smoothly with a small smile.

Aunty just nodded and went downstairs.

"Nothing went right today," Roshni mumbled as she flopped back onto her chair. "Let me just finish my work so I won’t have to do it in front of him."

She pulled out her notebook and began writing furiously. An hour later, her shoulders slumped in relief. Finally done.

When she came downstairs, the house felt quiet.

"Where did Aunty go? Maybe she’ll come later for dinner…" she shrugged. Her eyes lit up mischievously. "Let’s watch a movie then, since I can’t leave the house alone now."

She sneaked into the kitchen, grabbed a couple of chocolate bars, then curled up in the living room sofa. Remote in hand, she flipped through channels, frowning impatiently until she landed on an anime movie. Her expression softened instantly, eyes glued to the screen.

DAKSH'S P.O.V

Without knocking, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The house seemed calm, but the faint sound of the TV floated in the air.

In the living room, she sat cross-legged, munching her chocolate, so lost in the movie she didn’t even sense me behind her. A smirk tugged at my lips. I placed my hand lightly on her shoulder.

She jumped so hard she almost dropped her chocolate. Scaredy cat.

"Oh my God, you scared me!" she gasped, her palm flying to her chest. The way she clutched it as though her heart would come out made me chuckle inwardly.

"Wait here, let me bring water for you," she said quickly. She rushed into the kitchen and came back holding a glass. Her habits never change always offering water to anyone who enters. It’s one of the things I like about her.

"Do you want tea, coffee, or anything else?" she asked gently after handing me the water.

"Black coffee, please."

She nodded and disappeared again and returned within a few minutes.

"You had your lunch?" I asked, studying her face. She nodded instantly. Her eyes darted away. Lie.

"But Aunty messaged me that you didn’t." My voice turned firm. "Don’t do this, Roshni. After I told you to eat something how could you still skip? Don’t ever miss meals. If you don’t have money, tell me. Understood?"

She lowered her head and just nodded.

I finished my coffee, then slid my arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Her eyes widened, a faint pink dusting her cheeks, but she didn’t resist. A few seconds later, she shyly rested her head on my shoulder, a tiny smile on her lips.