Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 45

Aarohi POV

The day felt hollow, another without Mayank, and another without knowing why he had vanished so suddenly. Two days had passed, and none of us had managed to get in touch with him. It was as if he had evaporated from our lives, which was entirely out of character for him. Mayank had never been so inconsiderate as to leave without informing us.

Throughout the day, our thoughts were consumed with worry about his whereabouts. As the class ended and we prepared to part ways, I noticed Rajveer's furrowed brow, his usual stoic demeanour marred by evident disappointment. "Don’t worry," I attempted to offer words of solace, "I’m sure he’s fine. He might have had some urgent business to attend to. He’ll be back soon." My attempt at comfort, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears.

As we parted ways, Tara abruptly seized my arm and steered me towards the back exit, her silence heightening the mystery. This felt eerily familiar, a déjà vu moment that sent a shiver down my spine. Upon reaching our destination, I saw Devika waiting in a car. 'I was right, this has happened before,' I murmured to myself, the strange sense of familiarity settling over me like a shroud.

"Are we heading to your ancestral mansion?" I inquired, settling into the car as a familiar, eerie aura enveloped us. Devika nodded, confirming my suspicion.

I swiftly retrieved my phone and texted Dev:

Me: En route.

Upon arrival at the mansion, its atmosphere, steeped in regal grandeur, never ceased to amaze me. I hastened toward his chamber, while behind me, Devika and Tara, utterly exhausted, sprawled lifelessly on the couch, succumbing to the allure of sleep.

Entering the chamber, there he stood, the most striking man I had ever laid eyes on. The memories of my regrettable behaviour from yesterday flitted through my mind, stirring a sense of guilt within me. Tentatively, I called out, "Dev." He turned, ending his call, and began to approach me, each step synchronizing with the rapid pace of my heartbeat.

In an instant, I was enveloped in his embrace. One hand gently cradled my head, while the other firmly encircled my waist, making me feel diminutive and secure in his hold. His touch never failed to evoke a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. With my face pressed against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat resonated in my ears, grounding me in that moment of intimate connection.

His deep, resonant voice sent a shiver down my spine as he whispered, "Are you okay?" That voice alone could melt my resolve. I nodded, unable to find the words in his comforting embrace. His hands gently cradled my face, and he pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. That kiss held more solace than anything else in the world.

My initial nervousness gave way to a profound calm. As his lips lingered on my skin, I looked up and met his gaze. His long, curled eyelashes framed his striking eyes, and at that moment, I found myself falling for him all over again.

With gentle hands, he led me to the bed, his touch exuding a tenderness that was uniquely his. He guided me to sit, his presence a balm to my frayed nerves. The storm within me began to subside, replaced by the serene comfort of his love.

"Is your assignment finished?" he asked, handing me a drink from the nearby table. I nodded, at a loss for words to cover the lies I told yesterday. "I'm sorry about yesterday," I confessed, guilt weighing heavily on me.

"Don't be," he replied, his tone gentle and understanding. "I could wait for you until all the leaves on the trees wither, Rose. You're stuck with me for life now." He winked, and my heart skipped a beat.

I chuckled at his reaction and teased, "Stuck with you feels perfect, but even the most perfect stories have their twists."

His expression turned serious, and he replied with a warm smile, clasping my hand, "Making those twists my strength is what I excel at, Rose."