69. POSSESSIVE
VEERANSH:
I never thought I would feel this kind of anger again. Not loud anger. Not the kind that breaks things or raises voices. This was quieter. Slower. The kind that burns deep inside your chest while your face stays completely calm.
After Aarohi fell asleep in the garden that afternoon, I could not stop thinking about the name she had mentioned so casually.
Nirav. She had said it so normally, so effortlessly, like it meant nothing.
But something inside me refused to stay quiet after hearing it.
My instincts had started speaking, and they were rarely wrong.
So I did what I always do when something feels wrong.
I found out everything. Within two hours, my men called back with details that made my jaw tighten harder with every sentence.
Nirav. Same school. Same neighborhood. Same childhood playground.
They had spent years around each other. Shared lunches during school breaks.
Walked home together after classes. Celebrated festivals together. Attended birthday parties. Almost every memory from her childhood seemed to include him somewhere nearby. Then one sentence stood out above everything else. "Sir... it seems he has liked Aarohi ma'am since childhood."
My grip around the phone tightened instantly.
"Seems?" I asked coldly. The man on the other side hesitated before replying carefully, "Yes sir.
Some of their school acquaintances said that.
" The call ended, but my thoughts did not.
So that was it. He had loved her since childhood.
My jaw locked harder. Before I could process the thought further, someone knocked on the study door.
"Sir?" I looked up sharply. "Yes?" The worker stepped inside carefully.
"Sir... another parcel has arrived in Aarohi ma'am's name. "
My eyes darkened immediately. Another one.
I ended the call without another word and told him to bring it inside.
A few moments later, the neatly wrapped box rested on my desk.
Too neat. Too careful. My fingers slowly opened it.
This time there was no rose inside. Instead, a delicate camellia flower rested on top beside a jewelry box.
I opened the box slowly. A sea pearl necklace lay inside.
White pearls. Elegant. Expensive. My jaw tightened further.
Another letter was folded beneath it. I unfolded it carefully and began reading.
"Aarohi, you once told me you loved sea pearl necklaces, the kind that look like the ocean. I remembered that. So I brought one for you. I do not know if this will reach you or not, but I wanted to give it to you. Nirav." For several seconds, I simply stared at the words.
Then suddenly, I crushed the paper in my fist. The necklace box followed immediately after.
Both went straight into the dustbin. My voice came out low and dangerously calm.
"I am staying quiet only because of Aarohi.
Otherwise, if someone sent gifts like this to another man's wife, especially a woman carrying his children, I would have killed him. "
The room fell silent again. I took a slow breath, forcing control back into my body. Only because of Aarohi. Otherwise that man would not even be breathing peacefully right now. I picked up my phone and dialed another number.
"Hello?" the jeweler answered immediately.
"I want a sea pearl necklace," I said coldly.
"Of course, sir." "Within twenty minutes.
" There was a nervous pause before the reply came quickly.
"Yes sir. Immediately." I ended the call without another word.
If she loved pearls, she would receive them from her husband.
Not from some man who suddenly remembered her after years.
When I entered the bedroom later, half the storm inside me disappeared instantly.
Aarohi sat cross-legged on the bed watching cartoons with complete seriousness while slowly eating fruits from a bowl.
God. She was about to become a mother and still watched cartoons like a child. I walked closer and sat beside her.
The mattress dipped slightly under my weight, and she immediately turned toward me.
The moment she saw me, her face brightened completely.
"Veeransh!" she exclaimed happily before throwing her arms around me tightly.
"You are not giving me enough time these days," she complained softly against my shoulder.
Guilt slipped quietly into my chest. "I am sorry," I murmured honestly. She pulled back slightly and looked at me carefully. "Really?" she asked. I kissed her hair gently and nodded. "Yes. From now on, work comes later." Her eyes sparkled immediately with excitement.
"Really?" she asked again. "Hmm. I will stay with you.
" Her happiness grew instantly. "Then let us go somewhere.
Please. Let us go out," she said eagerly.
I raised an eyebrow slightly. "Go out?" She nodded quickly and began listing old memories excitedly.
"Like when we went to Kashmir. Or your aunt's wedding. That was so much fun."
I chuckled softly at her excitement. "Aarohi.
" "Hmm?" she replied. "Traveling should be avoided right now.
" Her face immediately fell in disappointment.
"I knew it," she muttered dramatically while crossing her arms. "You would refuse.
" Pregnancy mood swings. The doctor had been completely right.
I tried not to smile. Then suddenly she leaned closer and whispered, "Fine.
Then at least give me a kiss." God. She looked like a stubborn child demanding candy.
I shook my head faintly before kissing her cheek softly. She smiled instantly.
"Do you want chocolate?" I asked casually. Her eyes widened immediately with excitement. "Yes." Then louder, "Yes, yes." I laughed softly. "Close your eyes." She obeyed instantly like a child waiting for a surprise. Right at that moment, there was a knock on the door.
Perfect timing. I stepped outside, took the velvet jewelry box from the jeweler, and returned to the room. "Open your eyes," I said quietly. She opened them slowly, and I placed the box in her hands. She opened it carefully, and the pearl necklace glowed softly under the room light.
Her eyes widened with genuine excitement.
"Wow... it is so beautiful." She looked at me immediately.
"Thank you." I watched her reaction carefully.
"Do you like it?" She nodded quickly without hesitation.
"I love it." Her happiness was completely real.
Pure. Honest. Good. Very good. I gently lifted the necklace from the box.
"Turn around." She moved her hair aside obediently, and I clasped the pearls carefully around her neck. They rested perfectly against her skin. She touched them softly before hugging me tightly again. "Thank you," she whispered this time, much softer than before.
We leaned back against the bed together while the cartoon continued playing on the television. She kept eating fruits slowly beside me. Within five minutes, her head slipped gently onto my shoulder. I looked down and realized she had fallen asleep again.
I smiled faintly. The doctor truly had not been exaggerating.
She really could fall asleep anywhere now.
My fingers moved softly through her hair while I made sure she stayed comfortable.
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened slightly, and Maa stepped inside quietly.
She was about to speak, but I raised a finger toward my lips.
She noticed Aarohi sleeping peacefully and nodded silently before whispering, "The doctor is here." I carefully lowered Aarohi onto the pillow, covered her properly with the blanket, and stepped outside. "Call the doctor here," I said quietly.
A minute later, the doctor entered the room carrying Aarohi's reports.
"Good evening," she greeted professionally.
"Good evening, doctor," I replied before sitting across from her.
She opened the file and began explaining the detailed blood reports from yesterday.
I listened carefully to every word, every number, every instruction.
"She is doing fine," the doctor explained calmly, "but from tomorrow the second month begins properly." I nodded immediately. "So precautions must increase now." "What kind?" I asked seriously. "First, hydration. She must drink more water and fruit juices.
Second, only slow walking. No sudden movements.
Absolutely no stairs." I nodded again while memorizing every instruction carefully.
"I noticed she is sleeping a lot lately," I added quietly.
The doctor smiled faintly. "That is because of the medicine change.
Her body is adjusting. It is completely normal. "
She continued writing prescriptions before looking at me more seriously this time.
"You must be extremely careful until delivery.
" My expression hardened instantly. "I will.
" She continued calmly, "Her stomach has already started growing slightly, which means no risks should be taken now.
No stress. No cold drinks. No chilled food. "
"Understood," I replied immediately. Then I added quietly, "We are shifting downstairs tomorrow." The doctor looked satisfied with that answer. "Good. That is the safest option." She closed the file slowly and stood up. "Take care of her."
My eyes moved automatically toward the bedroom door where Aarohi still slept peacefully, unaware of everything happening around her. My voice came out quieter this time. "I always do." Even if it means destroying anyone who tries to come near her.