chapter 87 - The Price of Touching Her
Ira stirred slightly, her body feeling heavy, her mind clouded with exhaustion and pain. A soft warmth surrounded her, a comforting presence so close that she could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing. Slowly, she forced her eyes open, her vision blurry at first before it adjusted to the dim lighting of the bedroom.
Aarav was there.
Sitting beside her on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his face buried in his palms. His shirt was crumpled, the first two buttons undone as if he had hastily pulled at them in frustration. The soft lamp light cast shadows over his features, highlighting the tension in his jaw, the dark circles under his eyes, and the undeniable storm raging within him.
The moment she shifted, his head snapped up.
"Ira..." His voice was hoarse, thick with emotions he couldn’t contain. In an instant, he cupped her face, his touch both gentle and desperate. His eyes roamed over her, searching for any sign of pain, any discomfort.
She tried to smile, to reassure him, but before she could even part her lips, he pulled her into his arms.
His hold was unrelenting, his body tense as if letting go would mean losing her again. "You scared the hell out of me, Ira," he whispered, his lips brushing against her hair. "I swear... if you ever do this again, I won’t survive."
Tears welled up in her eyes, not from pain but from the sheer intensity of his words, of his love. She felt his body trembling against hers, his breaths ragged, uneven.
"Aarav..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, weak, but he heard it. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his fingers ghosting over her face as if trying to memorize every inch of her.
"You are mine, Ira," he murmured, his voice raw, filled with something so deep, so powerful that it sent shivers down her spine. "I don’t care what started this marriage—I don’t care about anything anymore. All I know is that I can’t breathe without you."
Her heart clenched. The walls he had built around himself were crumbling right before her eyes, his every word carving itself into her soul.
"You don’t get to leave me. Ever. Do you understand?" His grip on her tightened slightly, his eyes dark with unspoken fears. "I will destroy anyone who even dares to think of hurting you again."
A sob escaped her lips, her hands clinging to his shirt. "I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to—"
"No." His thumb brushed away her tears, his touch achingly tender. "It wasn’t your fault. Don’t you dare blame yourself."
She nodded, unable to form words, overwhelmed by everything he was saying—everything he was showing her.
Then, in a voice so soft, yet filled with a depth of emotion that stole her breath, he whispered, "I love you, Ira. I love you so damn much it’s killing me."
Her eyes widened. For a moment, all she could do was stare at him, her own heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.
He exhaled shakily, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead, then another to her closed eyelids. "I won’t let anything happen to you ever again. That’s a promise."
She let out a broken sigh, her fingers tracing his jaw, his lips, before whispering, "I love you too, Aarav."
A raw sound escaped his throat, a mix between relief and desperation. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, his breath mingling with hers. "Say it again."
She smiled, weak but full of warmth. "I love you."
Aarav let out a shuddering breath before sealing his lips over hers, not in a rush of passion, but in a promise—a devotion deeper than anything else in the world.
And as he held her close, watching her slowly drift into sleep in the safety of his arms, he knew one thing for sure—
She wasn’t just his addiction.
She was his salvation.
The room was filled with a warm glow from the bedside lamp as Ira stirred slightly, still tucked under the covers. Aarav sat beside her, his fingers brushing gently over her forehead. He had barely moved since she had been brought back home, his eyes never leaving her face, as if afraid she would disappear if he looked away even for a second.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Sunita entered with a tray of food, followed closely by Nandini chachi, who was holding a bowl of freshly made soup. The rich aroma filled the room, making Ira scrunch her nose in her sleep. Aarav glanced at them and sighed. "Mom, Chachi, she needs rest. I don't think she's ready to eat just yet."
Sunita gave her son a stern look before sitting on the edge of the bed. "She needs nourishment, Aarav. She’s weak, and if she doesn’t eat properly, how will she recover?"
Nandini nodded in agreement. "Beta, just a few bites."
Ira, hearing their voices, slowly opened her eyes, groaning. "No food...please..." she mumbled, snuggling deeper into the blanket.
Aarav smirked slightly, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. "See? Even in this condition, she’s still just as stubborn."
Sunita sighed. "Ira, beta, for me? Just a little?"
Hearing the soft plea, Ira pouted and reluctantly sat up with Aarav’s help. He adjusted the pillows behind her while she sulked like a child. The family chuckled at her adorable expressions.
Just then, Rajesh and Hitesh walked in, their expressions filled with concern. "How is she now?" Rajesh asked, his deep voice laced with worry.
"She’s awake, finally. And she’s being a brat about eating," Kabir teased, walking in behind them.
Ira narrowed her eyes at him. "I’m not a brat. I just don’t want to eat!"
Hitesh chuckled, shaking his head. "Beta, you gave us all a big scare. You don’t know how worried we were. We are just glad you are back home safe."
Anika, who had been standing quietly, suddenly spoke up, her voice playful, "Bhabhi, you should have seen Aarav bhai! He was ready to burn down the whole city."
Ira glanced at Aarav, who remained quiet, his intense gaze still fixed on her. His silence spoke volumes. She knew how much her disappearance had affected him, how much pain he had gone through in the past few hours.
Feeling emotional, she reached out and gently placed her hand over his. Aarav's fingers instinctively curled around hers, holding on tightly, as if reassuring himself that she was truly there with him.
"Enough of the emotional moments!" Kabir suddenly announced. "Bhabhi, you have no idea how boring this house was without you. We need to lighten up the mood."
Anika grinned. "Yes! And since you’re finally awake, we should celebrate."
Aarav rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. His family’s attempts to cheer Ira up were working. For the first time in days, he felt like he could breathe again.
Sunita shook her head fondly. "Before any celebrations, she’s eating this soup. And no more arguments, Ira."
Ira groaned dramatically, making everyone laugh. Aarav chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Looks like you have no choice, Mrs. Malhotra."
Ira pouted, but a faint smile played on her lips as she leaned into Aarav’s touch. He was here, her family was here, and despite everything, she was safe. That was all that mattered.
The moment Ira finally drifted into sleep, Aarav, Vihaan, and Kabir exchanged a single glance. No words were needed. Their rage was a silent, burning force that propelled them forward, down to the basement where Rajat and Rehan were tied up, their faces already bruised from the earlier beating.
Aarav stood in front of them, his eyes dark, his hands curling into fists. There was no trace of the calm, composed businessman—only a man possessed by vengeance.
"You made a mistake," Aarav said coldly, crouching down to their level. "You touched what's mine. And now, I’ll make sure you regret every breath you take."
Vihaan grabbed a crowbar from the table and swung it hard against Rehan’s knee. A sickening crack echoed through the basement as a bloodcurdling scream tore from his lips.
"That’s for daring to even look at her," Vihaan spat, his face a mask of fury.
Kabir was less patient. He grabbed Rajat by the hair and slammed his face against the concrete floor, leaving a trail of blood. "You think you can buy people like Rohan to do your dirty work? Money won't save you now."
Aarav stepped forward, taking a knife from the table and tracing the sharp edge down Rajat’s cheek. "Tell me, Rajat. Do you know what pain truly feels like?"
Rajat whimpered, his body trembling. But Aarav wasn’t done. He pressed the blade against his hand before slowly digging it into the flesh, making Rajat howl.
Rehan, still panting from the shattered kneecap, tried to plead. "P-Please! It was just—"
"Just a game to you?" Aarav cut him off, his voice deadly calm. "Ira is my wife. My life. And you thought you could take her from me?" He pulled out a gun, resting it against Rehan’s forehead. "You don’t deserve a quick death."
Vihaan smirked darkly. "Let’s break them piece by piece first."
They spent the next hour ensuring that neither Rajat nor Rehan would ever walk the same way again. Bones snapped, screams filled the air, but none of it was enough to quench the fire inside Aarav.
When he finally stepped back, his hands drenched in their blood, he took a deep breath and turned to his brothers. "Burn the bodies. I don’t want a single trace left."
Vihaan and Kabir nodded, dragging the barely conscious figures away. Aarav wiped the blood off his hands and whispered, "No one touches my wife and lives to tell the tale."
Then, without a second glance, he walked out of the basement, his mind only on one thing—returning to Ira.
I wiped the blood off my hands, my breath steady despite the massacre I had just committed. The bodies lay lifeless behind me, but I felt no remorse. No guilt. No hesitation.
Because they had touched her.
Fucker who laid eyes on her. Who dared to think they could take what was mine.
I had given them what they deserved. No, I had given them less than what they deserved. Because if I truly unleashed the wrath burning inside me, their suffering would have lasted far longer.
But I had better things to do.
Like getting back to my wife.
Ira. My sweet, stubborn little wife, who had no idea of the war I would wage for her. The fire I would set to the world if anyone dared to harm her.
She was safe now. And now that my hands were no longer occupied with dealing with the bastards who took her, I knew exactly where they belonged.
On her.
Claiming every inch of her soft, tempting body. Mapping out every curve, every mark, every fucking breath she took.
And I wasn’t letting her go.
Not now. Not ever.
With that thought, I stepped out of the basement, leaving behind the blood, the screams, and the scent of death. They didn’t deserve to linger in my mind.
Only she did.
And I was done being away from her.