For two years now, Zaira has lived under their roof. Not as a burden, not out of obligation. But as family. Her parents trust them, they adore her. She comes from another city to Mumbai for her education, welcomed with warmth, care, and affection into a wealthy household that treats her like their own. All except him. Aarvik Singhania barely speaks to her, barely acknowledges her presence. And when his eyes do find her, they are cold with something that looks dangerously close to anger. She is afraid of him, he rarely speak except it's important and that is what scare most people...his silence, the way he watches without looking and the way the room feels heavier when he's near. What Zaira doesn't know is that his detest is a lie.

ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟷 ᴵᴺ ᴴᴵˢ ˢᴱᴿᴵᴱˢ 𝐒𝚰𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐀𝐅 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐍 "Crawl to me Jaana" 𝐙𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐍 "It hurts"

""You want to run away, kitten?" he asked, his voice frighteningly calm. "Tell me... you wanted to get away from me?" "N-no... p-please. I-I'm sorry." She clasped her trembling hands together. His eyes were filled with a rage that made her blood run cold. She curled into herself, burying her face between her knees, desperately trying to make herself smaller. He caught her by the ankle and dragged her toward him. She screamed. Her eyes widened when she saw the glowing iron rod in his hand. Every breath caught in her throat as terror consumed her. "I-I'll never do it again! Please... leave me! Please forgive me this once!" He slowly raised the rod. Her scream tore through the room. And then- silence. He lowered it without a word, his expression unreadable. "Remember this fear, kitten," he whispered coldly. "The next time you think about running from me... remember exactly why you should never try."