Shiddat

Chapter 40

The mansion lay in quiet stillness, its hallways dim and silent under the moon's pale light. Outside, the garden stretched like a darkened canvas, the soft rustle of leaves breaking the silence. Arjun stood alone, his gaze lost somewhere beyond the treetops, his mind filled with the weight of Ananya's words.

The question she had asked him-you want this marriage?-echoed in his mind, refusing to fade. Her voice, trembling and raw, had pierced through his defenses, leaving him more vulnerable than he'd ever allowed himself to feel. He had seen the pain in her eyes and heard the plea in her voice. The truth she had laid bare forced him to confront something he had tried so hard to ignore: the space between what he felt and what he showed her.

He wrapped his arms around himself, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. The reality of his feelings felt heavier than the humid warmth of the summer night. Did he want this marriage? He had been raised to fulfill obligations and to carry the weight of family expectations on his shoulders. But beneath that veneer of duty, a tempest was brewing, fueled by the flickering embers of desire and fear.

Back in the mansion, Maya stirred in her sleep, reaching groggily for the glass of water on her nightstand. But as she tipped it back, she realized it was empty. With a sigh, she slipped from her bed, padding softly down the hallway to the kitchen for a fresh glass.

On her way back, as she passed the main staircase, something unusual caught her eye. The door to the garden was slightly ajar, a thin strip of moonlight spilling onto the polished marble floor. She stopped, her brow furrowing. It wasn't like anyone to leave the door open this late at night.

Curious, she drifted closer, her steps cautious, and peered through the gap. In the garden, under the quiet glow of the moon, she saw a familiar figure-her brother, standing alone amid the shadows and softly rustling leaves.

"Bhai?" she called gently as she stepped outside, her voice barely a whisper against the stillness of the night. The cool air brushed against her, and as she moved closer, he turned to look at her, his expression unreadable yet softened by the quiet atmosphere.

"What are you doing out here?" She asked, her surprise quickly replaced with a knowing smile. "Couldn't sleep?"

Arjun shook his head, offering her a faint smile, though his gaze quickly drifted back to the trees. He didn't need to say anything-Maya knew her brother well enough to sense the restlessness that often lay beneath his calm exterior.

Not wanting to press him, she gave him a comforting smile, sidling up next to him. "Well, I couldn't sleep either," she said lightly, her tone casual as she looked out over the garden. Then, nudging him playfully, she added, "You know, I've been hearing some interesting things about you lately."

He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "About me?"

"Oh yes," she said, her grin widening as she turned to face him. "Seems you've been very thoughtful these days, especially with someone in particular. The whole office is buzzing about the gifts Ananya's been receiving-you know, the flowers, the bracelet, that little journal with her initials..." She paused, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'm actually impressed. Who knew my brother could be so... romantic?"

For a brief second, Arjun's expression remained blank, but his mind raced, piecing together her words. Gifts? He hadn't sent anything. But he quickly composed himself, his face an unreadable mask. What was going on? Was someone else trying to win her affection? The thought twisted uncomfortably in his gut.

She laughed, shrugging. "Maybe you're just better at these things than I thought. Well, whatever the reason, it's nice to see her smiling at work. So keep it up, big brother."

With that, she took her leave, heading back inside with a satisfied smile. As she slipped through the door, she glanced back once more, watching her brother standing alone in the moonlit garden, a faint shadow of tension visible in his posture.

Arjun's thoughts, once tangled, now churned with a new kind of tension. The mystery of these gifts and the effect they seemed to have on Ananya disturbed him in ways he couldn't fully grasp. And now, as he stood in the shadows of the garden, Maya's words echoed in his mind, mingling with Ananya's question from earlier. It was as if every unasked question, every unsaid feeling, collided within him, demanding to be acknowledged.

After a while, he turned back inside, his footsteps soundless as he made his way to his room. Ananya lay asleep, her breathing soft, her face peaceful against the pillow. He watched her in the dim light, a thousand questions swirling within him, each one striking at a place he didn't want to acknowledge.

It wasn't in his nature to ask, to seek out answers from her. Their relationship had always been built on the unspoken, on an understanding he hadn't questioned. But tonight, a part of him itched for certainty. He hesitated, feeling the tug of instinct pulling him toward his phone. His fingers found Rudra's number, and after a moment's pause, he dialed.

"Yes, sir?" Rudra's voice was alert, the quiet professionalism unmistakable.

"Rudra," Arjun murmured, his voice low, "I want you to keep a close eye on Ananya. Discreetly." The words felt strange, like an intrusion on the delicate balance of their relationship. Yet, the anxiety that had taken root within him pushed him to act. His instincts screamed that there was more to this than mere gifts.

Rudra hesitated, clearly taken aback by the unexpected instruction, but he knew better than to question Arjun's requests. "Understood, sir."

Ending the call, Arjun settled beside Ananya, the weight of the night pressing down on him. He studied her face, the way her hair framed her sleeping expression, the softness that was so at odds with the storm of emotions he felt. In the quiet of his room, an unfamiliar ache twisted within him. Did she understand the depth of what lay beneath his surface? Did she see the turmoil he battled with daily, the struggle between desire and obligation?

She belonged to him now, and he would ensure she knew that. He thought fiercely about how he had grown to protect her, to shelter her from the world, yet felt that same world encroaching upon them. Whatever these gifts were-whoever was behind them-would soon learn that there was no room for anyone else in her life.

Reaching out, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering for just a second longer. She stirred slightly, murmuring in her sleep, but did not wake.

With a silent resolve hardening within him, he leaned back, watching her as the minutes passed, each one filling him with a possessive determination. She was his, bound to him in ways that went beyond mere words or expectations. And no matter what, he would ensure that no one could take her from him.

Tonight, in the silence, he made a vow to himself. Whatever it took, he would protect what was his.

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