Born to Love You

29- Nightmare

Aru's Pov:

A few days had passed, and Aryan had tried to talk to me—or more accurately, tried to get on my nerves. But I wasn't letting him have that satisfaction. I'd mastered the art of ignoring him completely. It must've bruised his fragile male ego, being ignored by some "average" girl. As it should.

He was busy with work as usual, glued to his laptop for hours. He hadn't left for the office in the last few days, though. I wasn't sure why, but from what I could see, he was deeply engrossed in work and endless calls. It felt like we were living in separate worlds even though we shared the same roof—his world orbiting around business, and mine, well, trying to keep out of his orbit altogether.

I spent most of my time in my room, doing my own thing, and only ventured out occasionally for food. To my surprise, the fridge was always stocked with chocolate—my secret indulgence. Swetha aunty mentioned that Aryan kept it for Ishaan, in case he visited, but it seemed like I was the one benefiting from that stash.

Not that I was complaining.

I'd grab a bar, savor it, and go back to my little bubble in the room, where the tension between us couldn't reach me. It was strange, though—living in a house with someone and yet feeling like we existed on entirely different continents. But in a way, it was better like this. Peaceful. At least for now.

Just when I thought I could enjoy my chocolate in peace, Aryan barged into my room like he owned the place—how charming of him. I raised an eyebrow at his sudden intrusion, bracing myself for whatever nonsense was about to spill from his mouth.

"What the hell happened to all the chocolates and ice creams in the fridge?" he demanded, his tone a mix of irritation and disbelief. I blinked, caught off guard. Seriously? I thought he was supposed to be some gym-obsessed health nut. Why was he asking about desserts?

"I don't know," I replied, feigning innocence while a guilty smile threatened to break free. I had just devoured a bar, and now I was stuck in this ridiculous game of denial.

He stepped closer, invading my space with an intensity that sent my heart racing. I couldn't help but flinch when he raised his hand, but instead of a reprimand, he rubbed the corner of my lips, where remnants of chocolate lingered. "Yeah, sure," he said, smirking as he wiped the evidence away.

His fingers brushed my skin, and I could feel heat flooding my cheeks. My pulse quickened, caught between irritation and something else entirely. Was this a teasing game, or was he genuinely trying to get under my skin? Either way, it was undeniably... electric.

I swatted his hand away, trying to mask the rush of warmth flooding my cheeks with indignation. "Get your hands off me," I snapped, my voice a mix of annoyance and something more confusing. How dare he invade my space like that and act like it was no big deal?

"What's wrong? Afraid I'll expose your secret chocolate stash?" His smirk deepened, and I could see the playful glint in his eyes, which only fueled my irritation further.

"I'm not afraid of anything," I shot back, crossing my arms defiantly. "And it's not a secret. If you want chocolate, just go to the store and buy some. I don't need your judgment."

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, mirroring my posture and watching me with that infuriating intensity. "You know, it's cute how you think you can just dismiss me. But I can tell when someone's trying to hide something."

"Like you're one to talk," I retorted, raising my chin defiantly. "You act like you're some kind of all-knowing overlord, but it's just a bunch of bravado. Deep down, you're just another guy trying to act tough."