BEYOND UNFINISHED✔️

Chapter 10. Fragrance of Obsession

Sometimes we intend to fill colors in others' lives, and we forget about our dear ones.

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Third POV

Life is a rollercoaster—some days it gifts you happiness, and some days, not even a reason to smile.

Aashi was living the life she always dreamt of. She had someone who was hers. Someone who loved her. Unlike Anaya, who was loved so effortlessly by someone as perfect as Abhi, Aashi never envied her—she admired her. But deep within, she yearned for a love just as sincere.

And then came Vihan Rathod.

A self-made man with wealth, power, humility, and a heart that beat for her. He was her peace—a composed, passionate man from a royal family in Jaipur. Aashi had met him at one of his firm's celebratory events, and from the moment their eyes locked, something shifted. In just a month, they had gone from strangers to lovers.

But their love story wasn't written in fairytales. Their families had been enemies for decades.

So, she kept it a secret.

Even from Anaya.

The guilt was eating her alive. That's why today—finally—she typed a message to the one person she could never lie to for too long.

**"Hey, I'm in town.
Need to talk. Meet me at our usual place after work.

Aashi"**

Anaya was finishing her shift when her phone buzzed.

She froze.

She forgot to call Abhi.

The man with green eyes—the stranger—had somehow blurred every other thought in her head. Arjun Rajvansh. That man... he wasn't just guarded, he was a fortress with steel walls. Yet those green eyes... they haunted her. Pulled her. Like whispers from a storm daring her to walk in.

She had never felt this conflicted before.

"Hey, Abhi..." she answered, trying to sound casual.

He could tell something was off. She knew it.

He missed her. She missed him too. Or she should. But today... today, her heart had taken an uninvited detour.

After the call, Anaya saw Aashi's message again and quickly replied. She needed to clear her head.

HOPE'S CAFÉ

"What? And you're telling me this now?" Anaya's voice echoed with disbelief.

She couldn't believe Aashi had hidden something this big. Aashi explained it all—about Vihan, their secret meetings, the family feud.

Anaya was furious, but she understood. Eventually, she softened.

"Fine. I'll meet him tomorrow. But I'm only helping if I think he's good enough for you."

Deal.

The next day, Anaya stopped at a florist's shop. She wanted to get something simple and sweet. A peace offering for the guy she was about to interrogate.

She was arranging a bouquet herself when a familiar, rough voice wrapped around her like a cold gust of wind.

"Is this your part-time job now? Doesn't your hospital pay you enough?"

She nearly dropped the flowers.

"Sir... you scared me." she said breathlessly.

"Arjun," he corrected her, stepping closer, voice dipped in gravel.