His Bride

14/ The Only One

Arushi's POV

"The king?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

"Yes," he confirmed with a slight nod, his expression unreadable. Then his gaze shifted toward the door, a flicker of anticipation crossing his face. "And speaking of the devil... he's here."

I turned slowly, already knowing who I would see. Dhruv Chauhan.

The moment our eyes met, time seemed to slow. Dhruv had the same commanding presence that had left a lasting impression on me when we first met in Rajasthan. His dark eyes held a quiet intensity, like they could pierce through every layer of my being. His perfectly tailored suit clung to his broad shoulders, and the faint smirk playing on his lips only added to his aura of control.

As he walked into the room, it was as if he owned every inch of the space. His steps were deliberate, his posture exuding confidence, and the air around him seemed to shift, thickening with an energy that made it impossible to look away.

"Arushi," he said, his deep, rich voice resonating through the room. There was a weight to the way he said my name, like it carried a meaning only the two of us understood.

"Dhruv," I replied, forcing my voice to remain calm, though a thousand emotions swirled beneath the surface.

His lips curved into a faint smirk as he took a step closer, his gaze steady and unrelenting. "Still as composed as ever," he said, his tone light but laced with something deeper.

I didn't respond, unwilling to let him see how much his presence unsettled me.

His eyes briefly flickered toward the door Aadhi had gone through. "And where's the cutie pie?" he asked casually, though I detected a hint of curiosity in his tone.

I stiffened at his question but held his gaze. "Her name is Aaradhya," I said firmly, my protective instincts kicking in.

"She's beautiful," he remarked, his voice softening ever so slightly. "She has your fire."

His words made my chest tighten, but I refused to show any vulnerability. "Why are you here, Dhruv?" I asked, steering the conversation back to the reason for his presence.

"To protect you," he said simply, as though the answer was obvious.

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing my voice. "Protect me? From what?"

His expression turned serious. "From everyone who's after you," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "You're in danger, Arushi. And so is your daughter."

The mention of Aadhi sent a chill down my spine, but I masked my fear with defiance. "I can handle myself," I said, my voice firm.

"Maybe," he conceded, his smirk returning. "But can you protect her?"

The question hit like a blow, stealing the words from my mouth.

The Chief, who had been silent until now, spoke up, his voice breaking the charged silence. "Arushi, you may not want to hear this, but Dhruv is the only one who can keep you and Aadhi safe."

I turned to look at Dhruv again, his unwavering gaze fixed on me as if daring me to argue.

"Fine," I said after a long pause, my voice begrudging. "But let's make one thing clear—this is about Aadhi. Nothing else."

Dhruv's smirk deepened, but there was an odd reassurance in his expression. "Understood," he said smoothly. "As long as she's with me, no harm will come to her—or to you."

For now, I had no choice but to trust Dhruv Chauhan, even though I knew nothing with him was ever straightforward.

"Let's sit and talk," he said, motioning toward the chairs by the side of the room.

I hesitated but finally moved to sit across from him. As I lowered myself into the chair, I noticed how his gaze never wavered from me, as if he were trying to read the thoughts I wasn't willing to share.

"Start talking," I said, leaning back slightly, my arms crossed.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "Arushi, you have no idea how many enemies you've made," he said, his voice low but firm. "And they don't play by the rules."

I clenched my fists, refusing to let him see the fear creeping in. "I've survived this long, haven't I?"

"Surviving isn't enough anymore," he shot back, his tone sharp. "Not when Aadhi is involved."

I wanted to argue, but the truth in his words was undeniable. For Aadhi's sake, I couldn't afford to take chances.