Chapter 42 - Hidden Emotions
The Malhotra mansion had seen many lively mornings, but today, it was on a whole new level.
The dining table was filled with every possible breakfast dish—hot aloo parathas, crispy dosas, steaming idlis, butter toast, and fresh-cut fruits. But more than the food, the real spice was the family chaos.
"Pass the butter!" Kabir called out, reaching across the table.
"Here!" Vihaan tossed it—without looking.
SPLAT! The butter landed straight onto Rajesh Malhotra’s sleeve.
The room went silent.
Rajesh slowly looked down at his now butter-stained shirt. "Kabir."
Kabir gulped. "Yes, Bade Papa?"
"Run."
And Kabir did.
The whole table exploded with laughter. Even Aarav, who usually ate quietly, had an amused smirk as he sipped his coffee.
Sitting beside him, Ira chuckled while cutting a piece of toast. She loved moments like these—when the Malhotras weren’t just powerful businessmen but a warm, crazy family.
"By the way, Holika Dahan is in just two days," Nandini reminded everyone. "We need to finalize everything today!"
Sunita nodded. "Yes, Ira beta, you are handling it, right?"
Ira smiled. "Of course, Maa. Everything is under control."
Aarav raised an eyebrow at her. "You say that now, but by evening, you’ll be running around, giving everyone orders like a drill sergeant."
Ira gasped, nudging him. "Excuse me?! I do not give orders—I delegate responsibilities."
"Same thing," Vihaan muttered, making the younger ones snicker.
As breakfast continued with more jokes, playful fights, and discussions, Ira felt a wave of happiness.
She had never imagined herself in a family like this, but here she was—right in the middle of it.
And she loved it.
After breakfast, the women of the house gathered in the kitchen for traditional Holi sweets preparation.
Sunita Maa, Nandini, Anika, and Ira were all busy making gujiyas, laddoos, and thandai.
"Beta, roll the laddoos properly," Sunita instructed as Ira struggled to make a perfectly round one.
Ira pouted. "It’s not working!"
Anika giggled. "Here, let me—"
But before Anika could help, Aarav walked into the kitchen, casually rolling up his sleeves.
Ira looked at him, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Aarav shrugged. "Water."
He grabbed a glass and took a sip, but then—his sharp eyes caught her sneaky little act.
Ira, thinking no one was watching, quickly stole a piece of the sweet filling and popped it into her mouth.
Aarav smirked. Busted.
Walking closer, he leaned in slightly. "Mrs. Malhotra, stealing is a crime."
Ira froze mid-chew, her cheeks puffed like a guilty squirrel. "I—I was just tasting!"
Aarav, still smirking, swiped a tiny bit of sweet filling from the corner of her lips with his thumb—then popped it into his mouth.
"Hmm," he mused. "Tastes better this way."
Ira turned red.
Anika and Nandini gasped dramatically. "Oooooooh."
Sunita smacked Aarav’s arm lightly. "Stop troubling my bahu!"
Aarav chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."
But as he left the kitchen, his eyes lingered on Ira for a moment longer.
And Ira? Her heart was racing.
The Malhotra mansion was always full of life, but tonight, it was on a whole new level.
After a long day of Holi preparations, the family gathered in the living room to relax. The servants had just served tea and snacks, and the atmosphere was warm, filled with laughter and chatter.
Ira sat beside Aarav, unknowingly leaning into him as she laughed at one of Vihaan’s stupid jokes. Aarav didn’t move away. He just let her stay close, secretly enjoying the warmth of her presence.
Kabir was scrolling through his phone while Vihaan and Hitesh were playfully arguing about something. Sunita and Rajesh sat nearby, amused by their children’s antics.
That’s when it happened.
Anika’s phone vibrated on the table.
Nothing unusual—except for the bright red heart emoji that popped up on the screen.
Every single male in the room froze.
Aarav’s eyes narrowed. Kabir’s head snapped up. Vihaan, who had been mid-sip of his tea, nearly choked.
Silence.
Anika, completely unaware, casually reached for her phone.
And then—
"STOP!"
She blinked in confusion as her three brothers pounced like lions spotting prey.
Aarav, Kabir, and Vihaan practically surrounded her, their eyes locked on the screen.
"Who. Is. That?" Aarav’s voice was dangerously calm.
"Why is there a red heart?!" Kabir demanded, looking personally offended.
Vihaan gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, you have a boyfriend!"
Anika’s eyes widened. "WHAT?! NO!"
"Then explain this!" Kabir snatched the phone before she could react, holding it out like it was evidence in a crime scene.
Anika groaned. "It’s just my best friend, Vaishnavi!"
"Nice try," Vihaan folded his arms. "That’s what every girl says before running away to get married in secret."
Anika looked done. "I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED! IT'S JUST VAISHNAVI!"
But her brothers weren’t listening. They had already jumped to conclusions.
"How long have you been dating?" Kabir asked, pacing the room like an investigator.
"Does she treat you well?" Aarav’s deep voice was laced with threat.
"Does she send you food? If not, she’s not the one." Vihaan nodded, completely serious.
Anika was losing her mind. "SHE. IS. A. GIRL!!! MY BEST FRIEND!!"
But the three brothers were now in full possessive mode.
"What if she’s a guy disguised as a girl?" Kabir whispered.
"Yeah! I mean, did you check her ID? What if she’s catfishing you?" Vihaan gasped.
Aarav didn’t say anything. He just crossed his arms and stared at her like an angry father who just found out his daughter was talking to a boy.
Anika looked at Ira for help.
Ira, who had been laughing uncontrollably, finally wiped her tears. "Guys, calm down! Vaishnavi is literally her childhood best friend!"
"But why the red heart?!" Kabir still wasn’t convinced.
Anika sighed, grabbing her phone. "Because she loves me, idiot! Like a sister!"
Aarav still didn’t look happy. "Show me the chat."
Anika groaned. "Oh my god! You guys are worse than Dad!"
But she opened the chat anyway.
As soon as they saw "Bestieee, I love you " from Vaishnavi, the brothers finally relaxed.
Aarav cleared his throat. "Okay. Fine."
Kabir shrugged. "False alarm, I guess."
Vihaan sighed. "I was ready to break someone’s bones."
Anika threw a pillow at them. "YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY!"
Sunita and Rajesh, who had been watching with amusement, shook their heads. "It’s nice to see how much they love you," Sunita teased.
Anika rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips.
Despite their insane protectiveness, she wouldn’t trade her brothers for the world.
Everyone had gone to bed, but Aarav stood alone on the balcony, staring at the night sky.
Aarav stood alone on the balcony, his hands resting on the cold railing as he stared at the night sky. The city lights flickered in the distance, but his mind was far from the view. His thoughts were consumed by her.
Ira.
He exhaled sharply, tilting his head up as if the stars could give him answers to the mess inside him. Since when had she become such an inseparable part of his life?
At first, she was just a deal. A temporary arrangement. A name on a contract. But now? Now, she was everywhere. In his home, in his thoughts… in him.
She had settled into his life so effortlessly, like she belonged there. Like she belonged with him.
His fingers curled into a fist against the railing. He hated this feeling—this unknown, powerless feeling. Aarav Malhotra was never powerless. He controlled everything around him, kept his emotions locked away where they couldn’t be used against him. But Ira… she was breaking those walls without even trying.
She had tamed his chaotic world.
The mansion that once felt like just a structure of bricks and glass now felt like home. Her voice filled the silence he never realized suffocated him. Her laughter echoed in the hallways, replacing the loneliness he had lived with for years. Her presence had brought warmth to his life.
And that scared him.
Because what would happen when she left?
A deep frown settled on his face. He had never thought about it before. He had convinced himself that this marriage was temporary, that he could walk away from it untouched, unaffected.
But could he?
Could he really go back to a life where she wasn’t there?
Would he be able to wake up and not find her beside him? Would he be able to sit at the breakfast table without her making sure he ate? Would he be able to come home after a long day and not find her waiting for him?
No.
The answer hit him harder than he expected. No, he wouldn’t be able to.
His grip on the railing tightened as a bitter realization settled in his heart.
Ira wasn’t just his wife on paper anymore. She had become something far more dangerous.
She had become his necessity.
And the worst part?
He didn’t even know when it happened.
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