His Bride

16 / My Wife and My Daughter

Arushi's Pov

Everything was set. Dhruv and I were married—on paper, at least. A mere contract bound us together, a piece of paper that dictated our future, yet it held no promises, no warmth, and certainly no love. It was an arrangement, nothing more. But for Aadhi, it was everything.

The moment she heard the news, her eyes sparkled with a joy I hadn't seen in a long time. She ran around the house, her excitement uncontrollable, her innocent heart believing that she finally had what she had always longed for—a father. The way she clung to Dhruv, as if she had known him forever, made my heart ache. She didn't hesitate, didn't hold back. She accepted him with open arms, pouring all the love she had stored up over the years. And Dhruv? He let her. He didn't push her away, didn't show the coldness he reserved for the rest of the world. It terrified me how easily she was letting him in.

But beneath her happiness, I was drowning in fear.

This marriage was a façade, a necessity forced by circumstances neither of us had foreseen. Dhruv Chauhan was ruthless, a man feared by many, and yet, in my daughter's eyes, he was her hero. But I knew better. I had seen his cruelty, his ability to destroy anyone who stood in his way. He was a storm, unpredictable and devastating, and I was standing right in its path.

What if Aadhi got hurt in the process? What if this illusion of a family shattered before her innocent heart could understand the truth? What if... what if I got hurt?

I couldn't let my guard down. I had built walls around myself, had learned to survive alone. But now, with Dhruv so close, with his presence looming over every corner of my life, those walls threatened to crack. He was dangerous in more ways than one. Not just because of the world he ruled, but because of the way his presence unsettled me.

I told myself this was temporary. That this was just a means to an end. But as I watched Aadhi hold Dhruv's hand with pure, unfiltered love, I realized something that sent a shiver down my spine.

For her, this was real.

And that scared me more than anything else.

Dhruv's Pov

Aadhi was exactly like her mother in looks—big, expressive eyes that could reflect a thousand emotions, soft features that carried an undeniable innocence, and that same natural beauty Arushi possessed without even trying. But beyond appearances, they were nothing alike.

Arushi was guarded, a fortress built out of mistrust and pain. From what little I knew of her, she trusted no one, not even herself at times. She carried the weight of her past like a shield, always careful, always on edge. She was serious, composed, and distant. She kept people at arm's length, as if letting them too close would burn her.

Aadhi, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She was light where Arushi was shadow. She was warmth where her mother was ice. She was a bundle of pure joy, a small force of nature that didn't hesitate to pull me into her world as if I belonged there. And the most terrifying part? I let her.

In the span of a minute—no, less—she had already wrapped me around her little finger. One smile, one giggle, and I was gone. This child had no idea who I was, what kind of man I had become, or the darkness I carried, yet she accepted me so easily, so wholeheartedly.

She looked at me like I was someone worth loving. Like I was someone who could be her father.

The thought unsettled me.

I wasn't a father. I had never imagined myself as one. My life was built on power, control, and ruthlessness. There was no room for softness, no space for innocence. And yet, standing here, watching this tiny human smile up at me with unfiltered joy, I felt something shift inside me—something dangerous, something unfamiliar.

I turned to Arushi, meeting her wary gaze. She didn't trust me. I could see the hesitation, the unsaid words burning behind her eyes. She was scared—not for herself, but for Aadhi. She thought I would hurt her, disappoint her, break the little girl's heart the way people had broken hers.

I wasn't sure if she was right.

But for now, I wasn't going to let her doubts cloud the moment.

"We're going to my home," I told her, my voice leaving no room for argument. "I'll explain everything to them."

Then, I bent down to Aadhi's height, letting my usual cold exterior slip for just a moment.

"Let's go home, Princess."

The second the words left my mouth, she let out the sweetest, most heartwarming squeal, her tiny arms flailing with excitement. She didn't question it, didn't hesitate—she simply accepted it, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

And just like that, with one single word—home—I realized I might have stepped into something far bigger than I had anticipated.

After two long hours on the road, we finally pulled into the driveway of my mansion. The towering structure stood tall under the evening sky, its grand presence exuding power and history. It wasn't just a house—it was a symbol of the Chauhan legacy, a place where every decision, every alliance, every betrayal had taken place. And now, it was about to witness something none of them had ever expected.

As I stepped out of the car, I instinctively glanced at Arushi. She stood stiff, her fingers gripping the edge of her saree, her face carefully blank—but I wasn't fooled. I could see the way her breathing had changed, the slight tremor in her fingers. She was nervous.

"It's okay. Everyone will love you both," I assured her, my voice softer than usual.

She didn't respond immediately, but after a beat, she gave me a small, uncertain nod. I knew she wasn't convinced, but she wasn't going to back down either. She wasn't weak—she never had been.

Holding Aadhi's small hand in mine, I led them inside. The second we stepped into the foyer, the sound of my siblings' laughter and chatter reached us from the hall. Their voices were loud, unfiltered, filled with the kind of ease that came from growing up in a house where power and love coexisted in the most chaotic way.

"Hai, Bhai! You're back!" Amar's voice rang through the air as he spotted me first. He was sprawled on the couch, a drink in his hand, looking far too comfortable. But the moment his gaze landed on the two figures beside me, his amusement faded, replaced by curiosity.

One by one, the room fell silent as every pair of eyes turned to us.

And then, to Arushi and Aadhi.

I watched as the realization settled in, expressions shifting from confusion to surprise, then something else entirely.

"Arushi..." My Bua's voice broke through the silence, a mix of recognition and disbelief lacing her tone.

Arushi's posture straightened instantly, her chin lifting slightly, her eyes guarded. "Ms. Chauhan," she greeted, her voice steady, respectful yet distant.

A sharp intake of breath. A flicker of surprise in Bua's eyes.

"How do you know her, Dhruv?" she asked, her sharp gaze locking onto mine, demanding an answer.

I didn't hesitate. I had never been the kind to explain myself, but this wasn't just about me anymore.

"Well, this is my wife," I said, my voice even, deliberate. Then, glancing down at the tiny hand still gripping mine, I added, "And my daughter."

A collective gasp filled the room.

I watched as jaws dropped, as my siblings exchanged stunned glances, as my Bua's lips parted in pure shock. No one spoke for a long moment, the weight of my words settling like a storm about to break.

And then, the questions would come. The disbelief. The outrage. The chaos.

But for now, I simply stood there, waiting. Because I had just changed everything.