His Angel

Chapter - 37

It was already 6:55 PM.

Aarav could arrive any minute now.

My heart was pounding so fast.

I was nervous.

I had never worn this kind of dress before. What if I messed up?

I took a deep breath.

"Relax, Siya... you won't mess up. Don't overthink. It's just Aarav... only Aarav."

But then again... what if I mess up?

No, no, Siya. Don't think too much.

Maa had already left, and Anaya was helping me get ready.

I was lost in my thoughts when Anaya suddenly clapped her hands. "Bhabhi, now you're ready! And stop thinking too much—you're looking very, very pretty."

I smiled shyly. "Are you sure?"

"Of course! Now, let's click some pictures!"

Before I could protest, Anaya clicked a solo picture of me, then took a few selfies with me.

Just as we finished, my phone beeped.

A message from Aarav.

Come to the basement parking, Siya. I'm almost there.

I quickly typed a reply and told Anaya, "He asked me to come to the basement parking."

Anaya grinned. "Then what are you waiting for? Go, Bhabhi! And don't forget to tell me everything later!"

Blushing, I grabbed my small purse and left for the basement parking.

When I reached, Aarav was already there.

Standing near his black Rolls-Royce Phantom—his favorite car. He had told me that before.

Dressed in an all-black suit, looking as powerful as ever.

His eyes met mine.

And then...

He didn't move.

Not even a little.

Just staring at me.

His expression was unreadable.

Why wasn't he saying anything?

Why wasn't he moving?

Did I... not look good?

A small wave of panic hit me.

I froze in my spot, overthinking again.

Maybe this dress wasn't right?

Maybe he didn't like it?

Maybe I should have worn the saree instead?

I lowered my gaze, suddenly feeling self-conscious. My vision blurred as I felt tears gathering in my eyes.

Before I could stop them, I heard a deep breath—then a voice, low and intense.

"Angel..."

And the next moment, Aarav pulled me into his arms.

His embrace was firm, warm, and safe.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" His voice was laced with concern. "You don't want to go? That's okay, totally okay. We don't have to."

I shook my head quickly. "No... I..."

He cupped my face, his thumb gently wiping away a tear. "Yes? Tell me, you know you can tell me anything."

I nodded hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Am I... not looking good in this outfit?"

Aarav's brows furrowed. I rushed to explain. "I didn't want to wear it, but Anaya—"

Before I could finish, he exhaled sharply. "Thank God she told you to wear it."

I blinked at him in surprise.

"I never knew my Angel could look this beautiful," he murmured, his eyes roaming over me with something unreadable yet intense. "But listen to me— I don't care what you wear. To me, you always look beautiful."

My breath hitched.

"Now tell me, are you uncomfortable in this dress? If you are, you can change—"

Before he could finish, I shook my head. "No, no... I like it. It's just... I never wore anything like this before, so..."

Aarav tilted his head slightly. "Angel, just because you've never done something before, doesn't mean you can't do it now, right?"

I thought about it for a second. He was right.

I nodded slowly.

His lips curved into a soft smirk. "Then don't overthink. What matters is what you like and what you are comfortable in. Nothing else matters."

I let his words sink in and finally smiled. "You're right."

"Hmm," he hummed approvingly. "Now, let's go."

He opened the passenger door for me like a true gentleman.

Once I was seated, he walked around and slid into the driver's seat.

I looked at him, surprised. "You're driving?"

He glanced at me and smirked. "Yes. Tonight, I'm not a king or a businessman. I'm just your husband. And I want my wife's time only for me. No disturbance."

His words made my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't stop the small smile that formed on my lips.

As we reached the restaurant, I couldn't help but admire it.

It was modern, yet it had a royal touch—just like him.

Everything about the place spoke of elegance and power.

Aarav led me inside, and I quickly noticed something... the whole restaurant was empty.

No other guests.

Just us.

Before I could ask, he gently took my hand and guided me to a corner table.

He pulled out a chair for me.

I hesitated for a second before sitting down, and then he took the seat opposite me.

As I glanced around, still taking in the surroundings, an attendant walked up to us.

"Sir, Ma'am, what would you like to order?" he asked politely.

Aarav picked up the menu.

I thought he would place the order, but instead, he handed it to me.

"Angel, you do the ordering."

My eyes widened.

Me?

How could I?

I had never done this before.

What if I ordered something wrong?

What should I even choose?

How do people order in places like this?

I felt my palms sweat as my mind raced.

I was still lost in my thoughts when Aarav's voice pulled me back.

"Angel, he's waiting."

I glanced at the attendant, who stood patiently.

Panic settled in my chest.

"Aarav... you do it, please." I whispered, hoping he wouldn't be upset.

For a moment, he just looked at me.

Then, with a small nod, he turned to the attendant and said, "We will call you when we are ready to order."

The attendant bowed slightly and walked away.

I let out a breath of relief.

But then... guilt crept in.

I said no to Aarav.

And not just that—I did it in front of someone else.

I should have listened to him.

How could I refuse a king?

I lowered my gaze, feeling embarrassed.

Maybe I made a mistake...

Before my thoughts could spiral further, I felt warm hands gently holding mine.

"Siya," Aarav's deep voice pulled me back. "I can gladly do anything you ask me to, but this is our date. And I want my angel to order food for us."

I lifted my gaze to meet his.

His eyes held no anger, no disappointment—just patience.

"Is it wrong for me to want my wife to order for me?" he asked softly.

I stared at him, my heart squeezing.

He wasn't wrong.

But...

"I've never done it before," I whispered.

Aarav smiled slightly. "And I told you before—just because you've never done something doesn't mean you never will."

I bit my lip. "But I don't know what to order."

"It's not that difficult, Siya," he reassured me. "You just have to say the names of the dishes you like to eat."

That should be simple, right?

But...

"What if the names are in English? What if I don't know how to say them?" I mumbled.

Aarav sighed, shaking his head fondly. "They have Indian dishes too, with Indian names. You'll be fine."

I opened my mouth to say something, but then I froze.

A memory hit me.

Taiji's voice.

"Siya? At a restaurant? She doesn't even know anything about the outside world. They'll have English dishes—she won't know how to pronounce them or how to eat them. I don't want her embarrassing us."

I remembered standing there, hearing her words, watching as Natasha nodded in agreement.

"Taiji said..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Back then, I had laughed it off.

But now...

Now I realized how much of a fool they made me feel.

Tears burned in my eyes before I could stop them.

Aarav's chair scraped against the floor as he immediately moved closer, sitting beside me.

His fingers gently wiped my tears away.

"I don't like your tears, Angel," he murmured. "Yet you always start crying."

I sniffled.

Aarav held my hand gently, his warmth grounding me.

"Siya, what others told you doesn't matter. You can do anything. Just trust yourself once."

I looked at him, searching for something in his eyes. And then, finally, I nodded.

"Okay," Aarav said, his voice softer now. "Open the menu and tell me which dish you want to eat. Just say the names, hmm?"

I hesitated but nodded, slowly opening the menu.

Scanning the list, I finally whispered, "Butter Naan... with Shahi Paneer."

Aarav smiled. "Okay, we'll eat that."

I frowned. "But you don't like—"

"Today is our date, Angel. And I want to eat what my wife wants to eat."

I blinked at him.

He always had a way of making my heart feel so full.

Before the attendant came, I hesitated again.

Aarav must have noticed because he whispered, "When he comes, just say what you told me. I'm right here with you."

I nodded.

The attendant returned.

And this time, I took a deep breath and placed the order myself.

"Butter Naan with Shahi Paneer... and Brown Rice with Dal Tadka," I said softly.

Aarav's head turned slightly. "Brown Rice and Dal Tadka?"

I looked at him shyly. "Because... you love them."

For a moment, he just stared at me.

Then, his lips curved into the smallest smile.

A proud smile.

The attendant took our order and left.

As I glanced around, my eyes landed on a table near the large glass window. The night view outside was breathtaking—the city lights twinkling like stars, the sky deep and endless.

I looked at Aarav hesitantly. "Can we sit there?" I asked, pointing at the table by the glass.

Aarav leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Angel, if you want a romantic dinner with a view, all you had to do was tell me."

My cheeks warmed instantly. "It's not that, I just..." I trailed off, realizing he was enjoying my reaction.

Shaking his head with a small chuckle, he stood up. "Come on, let's sit there."

We moved to the table by the glass, and as I sat down, my eyes immediately went back to the view. It was so beautiful.

"The night looks so pretty," I whispered, almost to myself.

"It is," Aarav agreed.

I turned to him with a small smile—only to realize he wasn't looking outside at all.

He was looking at me.

Did he even hear what I said?

Before I could ask, he spoke in a low voice, "But nothing in this world is as beautiful as my wife."

My breath caught in my throat.

Heat rushed to my cheeks so fast I was sure he noticed.

I had no words to respond. None.

Aarav, as always, knew exactly how to make me speechless.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, our food arrived.

We both started eating in comfortable silence.

I knew Aarav didn't like talking while eating, and honestly, I was grateful for the moment to calm my racing heart.

After a while, I saw him mixing the Brown Rice with Dal Tadka.

I didn't think much of it until he lifted a spoonful and held it out toward me.

I blinked at him.

Then, I glanced around, feeling nervous. What if someone saw?

Aarav sighed. "No one is here, Angel. Just us."

I swallowed and hesitantly leaned forward, taking the bite he offered.

The warmth of the food and the tenderness of his gesture melted something inside me.

I hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of Butter Naan with some Shahi Paneer and held it out to him.

Aarav raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything—he simply leaned in and took the bite.

A small, shy smile played on my lips.

We finished the rest of our meal in the same quiet, comfortable way.

And as I sat there, still feeling the warmth of the moment, I realized something—

Even in silence, Aarav had a way of making me feel cherished.

After dinner, he suddenly looked at me and said, "Angel, would you like to dance with me?"

I blinked, caught off guard. Dance?

I hesitated. "I... I don't know how to do a couple dance," I admitted, my fingers nervously playing with the fabric of my dress.

Aarav smiled, his eyes holding a warmth that made my heart race. "Then let me teach you."

I looked at his outstretched hand. Should I?

But before my overthinking could take over, I found myself nodding and placing my hand in his.

He guided me to the center of the restaurant, the soft glow of the lights making the place feel even more magical.

"Put one hand on my shoulder," he instructed gently.

I did.

He took my other hand in his and placed his other hand on my waist.

I felt my heart beat a little faster.

And then... the music started.

"Agar Tum Saath Ho..."

As we swayed to the soft melody, I couldn't help but smile. The warmth of his touch, the way he led me effortlessly—it all felt so natural.

For the first time, I wasn't overthinking. I wasn't scared. I was just... happy.

And in that moment, I realized something—

I liked him.

Shivji always heard my prayers. I prayed for happiness, and He gave me happiness... in Aarav.

But... did he like me too?

That thought tried to creep into my mind, but I pushed it away.

For now, I just wanted to live this moment. With him.

As the song ended, Aarav pulled away slightly, his intense gaze holding mine.

Then, he reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box.

"For you," he said, handing it to me.

Curious, I opened it—and my breath hitched.

Inside lay a beautiful angel wing pendant with a heart.

It was delicate. Elegant. Perfect.

"Do you like it?" Aarav asked.

I nodded quickly. "It's beautiful."

But then, guilt crept in. "I... I didn't bring any gift for you. I should have also..." I mumbled.

Aarav chuckled softly.

He tilted my chin up, making me look at him.

"Just smile for me, Angel. That's enough for me."

My heart melted at his words.

He took the pendant from the box and gently fastened it around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Perfect," he murmured, stepping back to admire it.

I touched the pendant, feeling its cool surface against my skin.

And in that moment, I knew—

I didn't just like him.

I was falling for him.

I was waiting for her in the basement parking, leaning against the car, checking my watch every now and then.

And then she came.

The moment I saw her in that red floral-lace midi dress, I was speechless.

I had seen her many times before, but today... today, she looked different. Breathtaking. My eyes didn't want to look away.

But then, I noticed the tears in her eyes.

"Angel," I called her softly.

She lowered her gaze, trying to blink them away.

Without thinking, I pulled her into a hug. Why does she always start crying?

I held her close, trying to understand. And when I did, it made me angry—not at her, but at the thoughts in her mind. She was overthinking. Again.

She didn't know that it didn't matter what she wore. She could wear anything, and she would still be the most beautiful woman in my eyes.

I cupped her face gently. "Don't overthink. What matters is what you like and what you are comfortable in. Nothing else matters."

She nodded.

We sat in the car, and I took the driver's seat. I didn't want my angel to feel uncomfortable in front of strangers. This date wasn't just about us—it was about making her comfortable with the world.

When we reached the restaurant, I told her to order the food.

I saw her expression change immediately—hesitation, doubt, fear.

I could have ordered for both of us, but I didn't. Not today.

She needed to know that she belonged. That she wasn't meant to stay hidden or feel left out.

I leaned forward slightly. "Angel, it's not difficult. Just say the names of the dishes you like."

She bit her lip. "But... I don't know the names."

"They have Indian dishes too," I reassured her.

She still looked unsure. And then she mumbled, "Taiji said..."

That was all I needed to hear.

I clenched my jaw, my hands tightening into fists under the table. Those people. They had made her believe she didn't belong anywhere. That she wasn't good enough. They made my angel doubt herself.

I reached out, gently holding her hand.

"Siya, what others told you doesn't matter. You can do anything. Just trust yourself once."

She looked at me, searching for something in my eyes. And then, finally, she nodded.

She ordered the food.

And when she added Brown Rice with Dal Tadka—my favorite—I felt something warm spread in my chest. She remembered.

After dinner, I asked her to dance.

She hesitated again. "I... don't know how to do a couple dance."

"Then I'll teach you," I said simply.

She placed her hand on my shoulder, and I held her waist, leading her as the music played.

"Agar Tum Saath Ho..."

This was my first dance with my wife.

The only woman I had ever danced with before was Anaya.

But with Siya... it felt different.

She smiled throughout the dance, looking genuinely happy. And in that moment, I knew—she was my happiness.

When the song ended, I took out a small box from my pocket and handed it to her.

She opened it, her eyes widening as she saw the angel wing pendant with a heart.

"Did you like it?" I asked.

She nodded quickly. But then, she looked down. "I... I didn't bring any gift for you. I should have also..."

I shook my head, amused.

I tilted her chin up. "Just smile for me, Angel. That's enough."

She smiled.

I took the pendant and clasped it around her neck. It suited her. Because she was my angel.

I wanted to tell her then and there—how much I adored her, how much I loved her.

But I stopped myself.

I needed to wait a little longer.

When I confessed, I didn't want her to feel awkward or uncomfortable.

I told my best friend that I'm writing a book. At first, she was shocked—like, completely speechless. Then, the shock turned into excitement, and she practically demanded that I send it to her as soon as possible.

She read it last night. And this morning, she called me, her voice filled with so much happiness that it made my heart melt. She said so many sweet things, and for a moment, I couldn't believe it was real.

I had planned to tell her after I finished the book. But I just couldn't control it—I had to share it with her. And honestly? I'm so glad I did.