Chapter 38 :

Anika's POV

"Welcome home beta. How have you been?", asked maa once I stepped inside his parents' mansion in Mumbai.

"Mai theek hu maa. Aap kaisi hai?", I asked bending down to touch her feet.

(I'm good, maa. How are you)

"Sada suhagan raho beti. Mai theek hu", she spoke while running her hand over my head and softly pulled me up.

(Stay married always. I'm good)

Smiling at her, I moved on to papa, dadaji and dadi. Chacha and chachi were gone for vacation with their children so they weren't here. It's good that chachi isn't here because I already have a lot on my plate instead of dealing with her.

Since it was late and Arnav and I were tired, we got fresh in his room before coming downstairs quickly for dinner.

Everyone were sitting on the dinner table having their food properly.

"Arnav beta, have you visited Dhruv?", asked maa.

I paused my hand that was bringing food to my mouth on the spoon. My eyes were stuck on my plate but my mind went back to Dhruv. I had totally forgotten that he is here in the mansion.

"I haven't met him yet. Since Aisha is having her exams, I'll meet her and Dhruv together tomorrow morning", he replied calmly.

Stuffing the food in my mouth, I kept staring at my plate and chewed on the food. It was getting hard for me to sit calmly after hearing his name. Ever since that kiss, I never met him and now that we're under the same roof, we'll cross paths surely. And I wanted to avoid this.

"Anika beta, tell me how's he treating you", this time Papa asked.

I smiled at him before sparing a glance at my husband who's seated beside me.

"He's treating me well", I replied calmly with a smile.

"He's not being a bother right?", Papa asked again.

I shook my head, "No he's not. Instead, we're on equal terms now", I replied. My last words were directed towards him and I know he's not that dumb to not get it.

A frowned took over Papa's face, "Equal terms?"

"Ji Papa. We both live with equality. It's not like he's the man so he has all the rights and all. Nahi Arnav?", I asked turning my head towards him. I smiled at him but it was simply fake.

(Isn't it Arnav)

He stared at me for a few seconds before smiling and nodded, "Haan bilkul."

(Yes of course)

"Of course bhai would do that because my bhabhi is fierce. Right bhabhi?", I heard Aisha speaking with a smile who was silently eating all the time listening to our conversation.

She's actually a sunshine. Despite being a girl in her late teenagehoood, he was matured and understanding. A nineteen year old—not all but many— normally gets over excited to explore life unlike Aisha, who's always gradual and steady. She's both studious and well mannered.

I smiled at her.

The dinner time went smoothly without chachi digging out the 'dal me kuch kala'. Even if there's nothing wrong, she'd add some black color to put it on the table and taunt me.

After dinner, I was about to walk upstairs when maa stopped me.

Everyone was in the main hall including Arnav who was working on his laptop.

"Anika beta", she called me out.

Turning around I walked over to her and sat beside her, "Yes maa?"

"How do you and Arnav sleep?"

Her question was weird.

"I'm sorry but can you please tell what you mean maa?", I asked politely.

"I mean, do you both sleep in the same room and bed?", she asked. Her eyes were focused on mine and I knew that one wrong expression and she'll catch her. I smiled while turning my head back to find Arnav staring at me.

Looking back, I smiled at her again, "Yes maa. We sleep together. Why?"

She smiled and it somehow made me feel like she was relieved, "No it's nothing. I just wondered so I asked. You should go and sleep. The flight was long so you must be tired. And you need to go for the fashion show tomorrow too."

I nodded with a smile and walked away from there after greeting everyone a good night. Arnav also trailed behind me.

Once we were inside the room, I entered the walk-in closet and got changed into a short night gown with the coat of the set over it. I just didn't tie it up because I didn't find it necessary.

After doing my night skincare, I walked out to find him again busy with his laptop on the bed. He was just wearing a black joggers and no shirt on. His upper toned body was on display and the wet hair messily scattered all over his forehead. I never saw him with beard. I wonder how he'd look with beard and short hair.

"Are you done staring doll?", he asked still focusing on the screen with his glasses on.

I looked away and walked over to the other side of the bed without replying.

Sitting down on it, I untied my hair and took off the coat before lying down with my back facing him.

I wasn't able to sleep knowing that Dhruv was sleeping just below us. I heard from Aisha that he had shifted back to his room on the second floor.

While I was immersed in my thoughts, I felt an arm circling my waist and pulled my back making my back collide with a hard surface.

I gasped.

"Why are you wearing this?", Arnav asked nuzzling his face in the crook of my neck.

"Because I want to", I simply replied while trying to stay calm and ignore how he was making me feel.

"Quel taglio profondo del vestito che rivela tutta la tua scollatura, la lunghezza corta che rivela le tue cosce seducenti e il modo in cui il tessuto di seta abbraccia le tue curve mi fa venir voglia di scoparti a sangue e marchiarti proprio adesso", he spoke.

(That deep cut of the dress that reveals all your cleavage, the short length that reveals your seductive thighs and the way the silk fabric hugs your curves makes me want to fuck your brains out and mark you right now)

"What the heck did you say?", I asked frustrated because of his language.

He chuckled, "I was just complementing you doll."

"Keep them away because I have enough fanboys to compliment me", I replied and unwrapped his arms from my waist. I must've hurt his ego because he didn't respond. Thinking he must've slept when I didn't feel any movement, I was about to fall asleep when I was suddenly turned around. My eyes widened at the sudden movement and till I realised, he had already hovered over me and had cuffed my wrists to the headboard.

His dark eyes stared down at me. He wasn't smiling but rather clenching his jaws.

"What a-are you doing Arnav?", I asked confused and shocked.

"Can you repeat what you said a while ago?", he asked. His legs were on either side of my thighs while his hands rested on either side of my chest supported his body.

"I asked what you are doing", I replied.

"No. Before that"

I furrowed my brows in confusion until it hit me what I said. Smirking at him, I replied, "I said I have enough fanboys to compliment me so I'm happy without your compliment."

He chuckled sarcastically lowering his head for once before looking back at me.

"Can you name them?", he asked, his tone deep and seductive.

"Why'd I?"

"Keep that attitude with you when I make you moan with my mere touches", he replied, more probably like mocking me.

I clenched my jaws because I knew that he exactly knew what he was doing.

"Shut up and get off. And why the fuck did you lock my hands? Untie them right now", I demanded with annoyance.

He shook his head, "No I won't. First you admit that I'm right or else—sleep like that tonight."

I gritted my teeth, "Are you serious? I can't sleep like this"

"Then why don't you admit it?"

"What should I admit when there's nothing to admit?", I asked. Fury was rushing through my veins because the way he was being so demanding.

He didn't say anything and just started at me. I also stared back until my eyes dropped on the mole near the left corner of his lips. It looked tempting but I didn't keep staring at it no matter how good it looked. I'm discovering his minute details now-a-days. He leaned in more till our noses were touching and one wrong move would cause the kiss I don't want to happen.

My breath was caught at my throat because of the proximity and the rising familiar sexual tension.

"Is it so?", he asked huskily.

I couldn't speak anything because I was so lost in his grey eyes. They were insanely beautiful and I'd love to stare at them. They were matching with his personality—calm but violent. He's always calm except the violence that always follows his calmness.

There was a mole on his lower right eyelid too.

Not getting any answer from me, he slid his one hand under my dress before caressing my waist while nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. I bit on my lower lip when he caressed the right side waist of mine while starting to place chaste kisses on my neck.

I let out an airy gasp when he bit on the skin while pinching me on the waist. It was painful but pleasuring at the same time.

His movements were deliberate and slow—a slow and sweet torment I've recently started to like.

He ran his cold fingertips over my hot stomach skin while running his tongue from my neck to my earlobe. I bit on my lower lip harsher than before trying not to let out a moan. My back at arched at the sudden waves of pleasure coursing through my veins and fibres with his each touch. His every touch ignited the fire of desires inside my chest running wild.

He bit on my earlobe slowly before placing a kiss on the same spot and whispered, "Moan for me baby."

That was enough to make me moan out loud,"Ahhh", when he squeezed my waist and bit right below my ear. I pulled my hands trying to break free from the handcuffs because it was irritating me that I wasn't able to touch him while he was touching me.

Sucking on the spot, he soothed the pain and licked that place to prevent much redness.

His hand was still caressing my waist.

I moaned for the last time when he placed a kiss on my cleavage and moved away. I hadn't realised when I had closed my eyes until I opened them half to find him seated beside me while smirking at me.

I knew why he was doing that I regreted allowing him touch me.

"Stop smirking", I gritted.

He chuckled, "I just made you admit it. Don't get angry, doll."

I scoffed before getting up on the bed and was about to get down when he stopped me, "Don't." That was all he spoke before disappearing inside the washroom.

I waited on the bed with multiple thoughts in my mind.

Arnav and I are here for one week and the whole week we'll be in the mansion. I'll be attending the fashion show for just one day, one day will be gone with my mama's family and one day with my bestfriends. For the rest of the four days I'll be in the mansion and I don't know when Dhruv shows up.

That's one matter and another one is that the more I try to stay away from Arnav, the more we comes closer to me. At his mansion atleast we had our own rooms and beds but here, not just the same room but same bed. It's good that the bed is huge enough to leave empty space between us.

Our relationship has taken one step closer and now it's all about pleasure, revenge and pain and not just revenge and pain.

My body reacts exactly opposite to his touches of how I wanted it to. When I wanted to feel disgusted, I feel pleased and crave for more.

And his changing behaviour is also no less than a trouble to me.

But my main focus is on Arshi. I was informed that she's here so she definitely will come to visit her 'bestfriend'. She herself is a successful lawyer but she does so many illegal things.

And since she owns a fashion brand too, she'd there at the fashion show and I know that she'd pull some stunts to take me out of her way.

I sighed. My mind diverted to the door opening of the washroom revealing Arnav who was back with a small tub in his hand. A white towel hung from its edge.

Walking near me, he kept it on the stool beside the bed and sat down infront of me. He didn't glance at me or say anything but simply dipped the towel in the water and squeezed it before tapping it on my face.

I didn't reply but let my eyes stay stuck to his face.

He wasn't showing any emotion except calmness. Despite the heated sexual moments we spent, he never seemed flushed or anything unlike me who keeps remembering everything. Maybe he just wants my body but his promising words makes it harder to think that he actually is using my body.

Post cleaning my face, he proceeded towards my exposed upper chest and arms. He softly rubbed my body and soaked the towel again and squeezed it. After I was cleaned, he took another towel which he had brought along which I didn't notice, dried me up using it.

Standing up, he held the back of my head in his right hand palm lightly and smiled down at me.

"Good night doll", he spoke and leaned in to press a kiss on my forehead before disappearing behind the washroom door.

I was perplexed but also my heart skipped a beat. Why's he doing this?

Shaking my head, I laid down before sleep succumbed to me.

•

1 December, Sunday, 2024

7:30 a.m.

"Goodmorning maa", I wished Neha maa, who was doing something in the kitchen.

She turned around and welcomed me with a bright smile, "Good morning Anika."

I smiled back and walked near her before bending down and took her blessings.

"Aunty, here's the box", I heard a familiar voice echo in the kitchen. As I turned around, the assumption was proven correct about the person I expected to be the owner of the voice.

Arshi stood there clad in a deep blue blouse and white midi skirt with a slit on the right side. Her dark brown hair was highlighted in cherry red. A cardboard box was in her hands.

Her gaze shifted from maa to me. Those icy blue orbs darkened a shade lower seeing me. Her smile didn't fade but for sure lost its authenticity.

"Good morning Anika", she greeted monotonously.

"Morning Ms. Arora", I replied in the same tone with a mild smile. My gaze fell on the box which had its lids open. A few books were peeking out of the box.

"Oh! You've got the books? Thank you so much dear", maa spoke walking past me towards Arshi. "You can ask one of the servants to keep it in the store room upstairs."

"No aunty it's fine. I'll take it upstairs with the help of one of the maids and also wake up Arnav. He must be asleep, isn't it?", she spoke to maa until the last two words were directed towards me.

I didn't react but simply stared back.

"No it's fine. Anika would wake him up", maa replied. I don't know why but I was kind of relieved to hear that.

I smiled at maa and was about to walk away when Arshi decided to interrupt, "Aunty let me do it today please? It's been long since we spent time together as bestfriends", she spoke so smoothly that anyone would fall for her words.

I scoffed internally.

"Okay then. You wake up Arnav and ask him to come downstairs quickly", spoke maa with a smile.

Once Arshi took her leave, maa turned towards me.

"Anika beta, please don't mind her. She's just so childish when it comes to Arnav. Both have been bestfriends for really long and meeting each other after so long is a bit hard. She's just soft. Hm?", she spoke softly, pure assurance laced her tone. I felt pity for her because of the way she was falling for that cunning woman's words. I can't even do anything.

Let's see what happens.

Arnav had promised to change and if he was true to his words, he won't do anything and if those were just sugarcoated, then I don't think I'd let him slip away so soon and easily.

If I can save him, I can kill him too.