Comfortable

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The house was silent, the only sound the rhythmic ticking of the old clock in the corner

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The house was silent, the only sound the rhythmic ticking of the old clock in the corner. Everyone had gone to bed, and the warmth of the evening had given way to the cool stillness of night and good moment with dadaji But sleep felt impossible.

My mind was restless, tangled with the weight of what I’d left unfinished today.

The meeting with Anish had been brief but intense. Deshmukh was making bold moves again, encroaching on territories that had been under our control for years. His arrogance was growing, and so was the risk.

Anish’s words echoed in my mind: “If we don’t act now, he’ll think we’re weak. We need to send a message, Saanvi.”

I knew he was right, but I also knew what acting now could mean. Aayansh had no idea about this part of my life, the shadows I navigated alongside my role as CEO. And I wanted to keep it that way. For as long as I could.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I stood by the window, looking out into the dark, quiet night. My phone buzzed on the bedside table, and my heart jumped.

Anish: We’ve got eyes on Deshmukh. He’s planning something big. Stay alert.

The tension in my chest tightened. Deshmukh was growing more reckless, and if he found a way to drag Aayansh into this, it would be catastrophic. I needed to stay ahead, to keep this world from bleeding into the one we’d built together.

Just as I was about to respond, I heard a quiet rustle behind me. Turning, I saw Aayansh leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“You’re still up,” he said softly, his voice carrying an edge of curiosity. “Couldn’t sleep?”

I slipped my phone into my pocket, giving him a small smile. “Just had some things on my mind. Work, mostly.”

He nodded, walking over to me. His eyes, sharp and knowing, studied my face. “Work seems to follow you everywhere, doesn’t it?”

I laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension. “Says the man who can’t go a day without checking his emails.”

He chuckled, but his gaze didn’t waver. “True. But something tells me this isn’t just about work.”

My heart skipped a beat. Was he onto something? Did he know?

“I’m fine, Aayansh,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Just a busy day, that’s all.”

He nodded slowly, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced. “You know,” he began, his voice dropping slightly, “if there’s ever anything you need to tell me, you can. No matter what it is.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, I considered telling him everything—the shadows I navigated, the threats looming closer. But I couldn’t. Not yet.

“I know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Aayansh reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle but firm. “You’re not alone, jaan. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”

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