The Sun & the Stars Aligned

31: The Threat

(Whatever will be, will be. The future is not ours to see. Don't worry, if it's supposed to happen, it will.)

ADITYA

"Get in," I commanded, opening the car door for her.

"Bhai, today Bhabhi is coming with us," Ananya interjected, linking her arm with hers.

"No. She's going with me. Tara, get in the car," I said firmly. 

There was no way I was letting her out of my sight. Since last night, she's been trying to avoid me. She pretended to fall asleep early, and this morning at breakfast, she wouldn't even look at me. Her eyes would flit to me, but the moment I looked back, she would quickly look away.

"Adi, I need to discuss something important with Ananya. Please, can you ride with Rohan? Everyone's heading home anyway, so what does it matter who goes with whom?" she pleaded, biting her lip. I raised an eyebrow at her.

Really? Fine. How long can you run, my love? Sooner or later, you'll have to come to me. Today, no matter what, you'll confess with your own lips that you love me.

"Fine," I conceded. "Ananya, wait for her in the car. I need to say something to Tara first." Ananya nodded and left.

I took slow, deliberate steps towards her, and she instinctively took steps back. Our eyes were locked in an intense gaze. Seizing the moment, I closed the distance quickly, standing so close to her that our bodies were nearly touching. I placed a hand on her back and pulled her even closer until there was no space left between us.

Her breath hitched at our proximity. I could feel her heartbeat racing as I grinned down at her. With my other hand, I lifted her chin so her eyes met mine.

"Adi, let go of me. Someone might see," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"And they'll see that you stopped breathing at our closeness," I teased. A red blush spread across her cheeks, and she bit her lip again.

Damn! I wanted those soft, inviting lips on mine right now, but this wasn't the right time. Once I got a taste, I knew I'd lose control.

"I never knew that the ruthless Aditya Singh Chauhan of the business world had this side to him. Aren't you flirting a bit too much?" she asked, amusement dancing in her eyes as she tried to suppress a smile.

My name had never sounded so good. It felt like it belonged somewhere, to someone, and that someone was my person, my wife, all mine.

"This side is reserved exclusively for Mrs. Tara Aditya Singh Chauhan," I replied, and her blush deepened. Teasing her further, I added, "You know, wife, there are many things you don't yet know about your husband and the things he's good at."

She immediately placed her hand over my mouth, "Adi, stop it."

I kissed her hand and she removed it instinctively, and I continued, "If you think avoiding me will work, let me tell you, you're wrong. You might want to practice now because tonight, I'm going to hear those words again. No one can save you from me tonight," I whispered huskily, leaning closer to her ear. Her ears turned a deep shade of red.

Seeing her in such a flushed state, I seized the opportunity to kiss her, then walked away, leaving her standing there, flustered and breathless.

***

"Have you found out who sent those notes?" I demanded over the phone.

"No, sir. We're still working on it," Rishi replied nervously.

"Still working on what? Your incompetent men failed to keep those away from her, and now she's seen the note," I snapped, my anger barely contained.

"Sir, we've caught the man who gave Madam the flowers with the note at the party. Our men are working on him, but he refuses to talk," he informed me.