chapter 63 - When the Mighty Falls
For the past two days, Ira had managed to escape every situation that involved him.
But now?
Now, Aarav wasn’t giving her the option.
At breakfast, instead of sitting across the table, he pulled out the chair right next to hers and sat down—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Ira stiffened. She started to get up, but his deep voice stopped her.
“If you leave this table, I will personally carry you back here, Mrs. Malhotra.”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Try me.”
A flash of warning passed between them, but Ira knew better than to call his bluff.
So, with clenched fists, she stayed.
And Aarav?
He simply smirked, cutting a piece of fruit and placing it on her plate. “Eat.”
Her nostrils flared, but she didn’t argue. If ignoring him wasn’t working, she would just endure it.
But Aarav Malhotra wasn’t a man to be endured.
Later that evening, as Ira walked into the living room, she found Aarav sitting alone, a drink in his hand. Not his usual whiskey—just plain water.
She hesitated, but something about the way he was staring into the distance made her pause.
He looked... lost.
“Ira,” he said suddenly, without looking at her. “Sit with me.”
She should’ve walked away. She should’ve.
But something in his voice—something vulnerable—made her stay.
She sat on the farthest corner of the couch. “What do you want, Aarav?”
He exhaled slowly, then turned his gaze to her. “Do you know how many times I’ve been hurt in my life?”
She blinked at the unexpected question. “What?”
His lips curled in a bitter smile. “Zero.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Aarav took another sip of water, setting the glass down. “I’ve never let anyone close enough to hurt me, Ira. Not emotionally. Not mentally. Not in any way.”
She stayed silent, her heart beating slightly faster.
“And then you came along.” His voice dropped lower. “And suddenly, I wasn’t untouchable anymore.”
Her breath hitched.
“You made me feel things I never wanted to feel. You made me need you, even when I swore I never needed anyone.”
His eyes locked onto hers. “And when you pushed me away… it hurt more than anything I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Ira swallowed. Hard.
She wasn’t prepared for this. For him to break down his walls like this.
He wasn’t supposed to say things like this.
He wasn’t supposed to mean them.
“I don’t know how to fix this, Ira,” he murmured. “I don’t know how to be the man you deserve.”
She should’ve said something. Anything.
But for the first time, she didn’t have words.
Aarav let out a dry chuckle. “I guess this is karma, huh?”
She frowned. “What?”
He leaned back against the couch. “I’ve always been the one in control. The one who makes the rules. And now? Now, I’m the one begging for another chance.”
His jaw clenched. “It’s humiliating.”
A flicker of pain crossed Ira’s face.
She knew Aarav Malhotra. Knew his pride, his arrogance.
For him to admit this? To accept defeat?
It wasn’t easy for him.
And yet…
She wasn’t ready to let her walls down.
Not yet.
So, she stood up, her voice quiet. “You’re right, Aarav. It is humiliating.”
His eyes flashed.
She hesitated, but then turned away. “Maybe now you know what it feels like.”
And with that, she left him alone in the dimly lit room.
Aarav stared after her, a bitter smile on his lips.
She was still hurt.
Still angry.
But she had listened.
And that was enough for now.
Because if there was one thing he knew how to do—it was win.
And he was going to win her back.
No matter what it took.
Aarav sat in the dimly lit room long after Ira left, her words ringing in his ears.
"Maybe now you know what it feels like."
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his jaw tightening.
She was still hurting. He had seen it in her eyes, in the way her voice had wavered even when she tried to sound strong.
He had broken something between them.
And he was going to fix it.
No matter what it took.
With newfound determination, he went to the Vihaan room and woke him up....
"Need your help," he said the moment Vihaan picked up.
Vihaan groaned. "It’s past midnight, Aarav. Can your billionaire problems wait until morning?"
"No." Aarav’s voice was sharp. "It’s about Ira."
There was a pause. Then, Vihaan sighed. "Go on."
"I need to know everything she loves. Every little thing that makes her smile."
Vihaan chuckled. "Trying to win my bhabhi back, huh?"
Aarav didn’t reply.
Vihaan exhaled. "Alright, listen up. Ira is simple. She doesn’t care about expensive gifts or grand gestures. She likes small things—things that mean something."
Aarav leaned forward. "Like?"
"Like reading when it rains. Like dancing in the kitchen when no one’s watching. Like finding flowers in unexpected places. Like—" Vihaan paused. "Like the way you used to look at her before you ruined it."
Aarav clenched his jaw. "I get it."
Vihaan sighed again. "No, you don’t. You think you can buy your way out of this. But Ira bhabhi? She needs to feel it, Aarav. She needs to believe that you regret hurting her. And that takes more than just saying it."
Aarav was silent for a moment before nodding. "Then I’ll make her believe it."
Vihaan smirked. "Good luck, bhai. You're going to need it."
The First Attempt – A Morning Surprise
The next morning, Ira stepped out of her room, expecting another exhausting day of avoiding Aarav.
But what she didn’t expect—was the sight in front of her.
Right outside her door, on the floor, lay a single book.
Her favorite book. The one she always read when she needed comfort.
Her breath hitched.
She bent down, picking it up carefully. There was a small note tucked between the pages.
"I know I can't erase the past. But maybe I can start making better memories. One page at a time."
No name. No signature.
But she knew exactly who it was from.
Her fingers tightened around the note, her heart betraying her anger with a sudden ache.
Damn him.
Damn him for knowing exactly how to get to her.
She turned abruptly, but Aarav was nowhere in sight.
Still, she felt him.
And that scared her more than anything else.
Because despite everything…
A part of her still wanted to forgive him.
And that was dangerous.
Too dangerous.
Hidden from sight, Aarav watched as Ira picked up the book, her fingers lingering on the note longer than she probably realized.
A slow smirk tugged at his lips.
She wasn’t indifferent.
She wasn’t unaffected.
And that meant he still had a chance.
This wasn’t over.
Not by a long shot.
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