Chapter 27 - Uninvited Shadows
Ira walked down the grand staircase, her saree flowing around her as she stepped into the dining hall. The Malhotra family was already seated, waiting for her.
She took her place beside Aarav, stealing a glance at him. He was calm, as always, but there was a tension in his posture, as if he was still thinking about their conversation upstairs.
Nandini smiled as Ira settled in. “Beta, I heard your first day at the office went well.”
Ira nodded politely. “Yes, chachi. It was a good experience.
Kabir smirked. “That’s it? ‘A good experience’? Bhabhi, come on! You were walking in there like some queen, and Bhai was right beside you like a king. I bet half the office was stunned.”
Ira felt the weight of Aarav’s gaze but chose to ignore it as she answered, “I was just doing my job, kabir.”
Anika clicked his tongue. “Sure, sure. But I’m telling you, soon people will forget Bhai is the boss. They’ll call you boss lady instead.”
Ira blushed slightly, but before she could respond, Aarav finally spoke, his voice deep and calm.
“She doesn’t need a title. She is my wife. That’s enough.”
The room fell into a brief silence at his words.
Rajesh Aarav's father smiled approvingly. Sunita, Aarav’s mother, gave a small nod. Vihan looked amused but didn’t comment further.
Just as the conversation was settling, the butler entered and leaned toward Aarav. “Sir, there’s a guest at the door asking for you.”
Aarav’s brows furrowed. “Who?”
The butler hesitated. “Miss Ritika, sir.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Ira felt her breath hitch. Ritika?
Aarav’s fingers clenched around his fork. “Send her away.”
Before the butler could leave, Sunita, who had been silent until now, frowned. “Wait. Ritika? The same girl who worked at the office?”
Aarav didn’t respond, but his mother turned to him. “Aarav, if she’s here, there must be a reason.”
“She’s not welcome,” Aarav said coldly.
Ira glanced at him, feeling the anger beneath his calm words.
Sunita sighed. “At least hear what she has to say.”
Aarav’s jaw tightened. He hated this. But when his dadaji also gave him a look of quiet insistence, he finally exhaled sharply.
“Fine. Bring her to the sitting area.”
Ira didn’t realize she was gripping the edge of the table until Aarav’s hand gently covered hers under the table.
His touch was firm, possessive.
“You don’t have to meet her if you don’t want to,” he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear.
Ira looked at him, seeing the silent promise in his eyes.
He would protect her.
But Ira straightened her shoulders. She didn’t need to hide.
“I’ll come with you.”
Aarav studied her for a moment, then gave a slow nod.
Kabir, meanwhile, muttered, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
Ritika was already seated when they arrived in the lavish sitting area.
She looked up, her eyes flickering between Ira and Aarav.
Ira noticed that Ritika’s expression wasn’t smug this time. Instead, she looked… desperate.
Aarav didn’t sit. He remained standing, arms crossed, towering over her. “You have two minutes. Talk.”
Ritika swallowed hard, looking nothing like the confident woman from earlier at the office.
“I… I came to apologize,” she said finally. “I shouldn’t have spoken to Ira like that today.”
Ira blinked in surprise.
Aarav didn’t react. His face remained unreadable.
“I was angry, Aarav. Angry because of—” Ritika hesitated, then looked straight at Ira. “Because of you.”
Ira’s hands clenched, but before she could speak, Aarav’s voice cut through the air like ice.
“You’re wasting your time, Ritika.”
Ritika flinched. “Aarav, please. I just want to explain—”
“I don’t care,” Aarav said sharply. His voice held no emotion. “Your apology doesn’t matter to me, because you don’t matter to me.”
Ritika’s breath hitched, her face turning pale.
Ira could see the hurt in her eyes.
A part of her wanted to feel bad, but another part reminded her of the things Ritika had said.
Ritika looked down, struggling to compose herself. “I understand now. I was holding onto something that was never mine. But I truly am sorry, Ira.”
Ira wasn’t sure if she believed her.
Still, she gave a polite nod. “If you really mean it, then move on, Ritika. We all have.”
Ritika’s eyes glistened for a second before she stood up. She glanced at Aarav one last time, then turned to leave.
As she walked past, Ira noticed something.
Ritika was trembling.
As if she was afraid.
After Ritika left, Aarav exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
“Are you okay?” Ira asked softly.
Aarav looked at her, his expression still tense. “I should have fired her long ago.”
He hadn’t said a word after their little moment, but the way his fingers drummed against the chair told her he was anything but calm.
“Do you always get this mad when someone talks to me?” she asked, keeping her tone light.
Aarav didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, his eyes dark and unreadable. “I don’t get mad, sweetheart. I just don’t tolerate.”
Ira shivered at the way he said it—low, controlled, yet carrying an edge of something far more dangerous.
Before she could press further, Aarav’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening before he stood up. “I have a few things to take care of. Go and have your dinner.”
Ira rolled her eyes. “I’m not a kid, Aarav. I can manage—”
His sharp gaze cut her off. “i said go sweetheart.”
Something in his tone made her swallow her words.
As soon as he left, Ira let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. What was that about?
Later that Night – A Secret Meeting
Ritika struggled against the grip on her arm as she was dragged into a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Her heart pounded against her ribs as Vihaan Malhotra stood in front of her, his usual playful demeanor nowhere to be seen.
“W-what is this? You can’t just—”
Vihaan stepped closer, his smile chilling. “You made a mistake today, Ritika.”
She swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled darkly. “You do. My brother doesn’t appreciate people messing with his wife. And when Aarav Malhotra doesn’t appreciate something… well, let’s just say the consequences aren’t pleasant.”
Her knees nearly gave out. “I-I was just talking to her. I didn’t mean—”
Vihaan tilted his head. “You didn’t mean to make my bhabhi small? To mess with my bhabhi confidence?” His voice turned colder. “You see, Ritika, my brother is a patient man—until someone touches what’s his.”
Ritika’s breath hitched as Vihaan’s men closed in, the shadows around her growing darker.
“This is your only warning,” Vihaan murmured. “Disappear from bhabhi life, or next time, no one will recognize you.”
And with that, he stepped back, watching as the terror in Ritika’s eyes grew.
No one would ever link this back to the Malhotras. No one would ever know Aarav had given the command. Not even Ira.
Because when it came to his wife, Aarav Malhotra was ruthless.
Back at Home
After dinner and meeting with ritika ira was feeling frustrated so she went to take shower...... After a while when
Ira stepped out of the shower, drying her hair when she felt Aarav’s presence behind her.
“You’re back late,” she said, glancing at him through the mirror.
Aarav loosened his tie, his gaze locked onto her reflection. “Got caught up with something.”
Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes—darker than usual—held an edge of something dangerous, something raw.
He stepped closer, his hands resting on her waist as he whispered against her ear, “You have no idea what I’d do for you, Ira.”
She turned slightly, her heart racing. “Aarav…”
His fingers traced slow circles on her hip. “If someone tries to hurt you, sweetheart…” His voice was velvet-soft, but there was a lethal promise in it. “They won’t live to try again.”
Ira didn’t know why his words were both terrified and thrilled her.
All she knew was that she was playing with fire.
And she wasn’t sure she wanted to stop.
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